DESCRIPTION
YARN WINDING MACHINE
TECHNICAL FIELD
5 [0001] The present invention relates to a yarn winding machine. In more detail, the
present invention relates to a configuration for guiding a yarn to a yarn joining device at a
time of yarn joining.
BACKGROUND ART
10 [0002] A yarn winding machine such as an automatic winder is known in which a spun
yarn wound on a yarn supply bobbin is rewound on a winding package with removal of
defects of the spun yam.
[0003] When the automatic winder rewinds the yarn, a yarn defect detection device
(clearer) monitors the presence or absence of a yarn defect of the spun yarn unwound
15 from the yarn supply bobbin, and in this condition, the spun yarn is guided through a
number of yarn guides and the like to a traversing device, and the traversing device
traverses the yarn and simultaneously winds the yam on a surface of the winding package
that is rotating. When a yarn defect is detected, the yarn is cut and a portion containing
the yarn defect is removed, and then the yarn having been cut is connected (yarn joining)
20 by a yarn joining device, to restart the winding into the package.
[0004] In order that the yarn joining device performs the yarn joining, it is necessary
that a yarn of the package side and a yam of the yarn supply bobbin side are guided to the
yarn joining device. Conventionally, a suction stream is generated at a distal end of a
pipe-shaped yarn guide member to thereby suck and catch a yarn, and then the yarn guide
25 member is swung so that the yarn is guided to the yarn joining device.
[0005] A configuration of such a conventional automatic winder will be briefly
described with reference to FIG. 17. FIG. 17 is a side view showing an outline of a
winder unit 90 included in a conventional automatic winder. The winder unit 90 is
configured to rewind a spun yarn 20 of a yarn supply bobbin 21 into a package 30. The
5 winder unit 90 includes a yam joining device 14 that performs the yarn joining, yam
guide pipes (an upper yarn guide pipe 91, a lower yarn guide pipe 92), a tension applying
device 12 that applies an adequate tension to the yarn, a clearer 17, and a cutter 16
arranged at the immediately upstream side of the clearer 17.
[0006] The yarn guide pipes 9 1 and 92 are connected to a negative pressure source (not
10 shown), and configured such that a suction stream is generated at each of a suction port
91a of the upper yarn guide pipe 91 and a suction port 92a of the lower yarn guide pipe 92.
The upper yarn guide pipe 91 is configured to swing up and down about a pivot point 91 b.
Likewise, the lower yarn guide pipe 92 is configured to swing up and down about a pivot
point 92b.
15 [0007] The clearer 17 is configured to detect a yarn defect (yarn fault) by, for example,
monitoring the thickness of the yarn 20 that is traveling. The cutter 16 is configured to
cut the yarn 20 immediately upon detection of a yarn defect by the clearer 17.
[0008] A yarn joining operation performed in a case where a yarn defect is detected in
the above-described conventional automatic winder will be described. When the clearer
20 17 detects a yarn defect while the yarn is being wound, the cutter 16 cuts the yam 20.
As a result, a yam end existing at the downstream side of the cutter 16 is wound into the
package 30 that is rotating. On the other hand, a yarn existing at the upstream side of
the cutter 16 is sucked and caught by the suction port 92a of the lower yarn catch pipe 92
that stands by at the upstream side of the tension applying device 12. Then, the upper
25 yarn guide pipe 91 is swung up, and additionally the package 30 is rotated in a reverse
direction. As a result, the yarn end is pulled out from the package 30 and sucked by the
suction port 91a of the upper yarn guide pipe 91. This situation is shown in FIG. 20.
[0009] Then, as shown in FIG. 19, the upper yarn guide pipe 9 1, which is sucking and
holding the yarn (upper yarn) of the package 30 side, is swung down. Thereby, the
5 upper yarn of the package 30 side is introduced to the yarn joining device 14. Then, as
shown in FIG. 20, the lower yarn guide pipe 92, which is sucking and holding the yarn
(lower yam) of the yam supply bobbin 2 1 side, is swung up. Thereby, the lower yam of
the yarn supply bobbin 21 side is introduced to the yarn joining device 14. In this
condition, the yarn joining device 14 is actuated so that the yarn joining is performed
10 between the upper yarn and the lower yarn, to thereby achieve a continuous state of the
yarn between the package 30 and the yarn supply bobbin 21. Performing the yam
joining in the above-described manner enables the winding of the yarn into the package
30 to be continued.
[OOIO] In the conventional automatic winder, as described above, the upper yam guide
15 pipe 91 and the lower yarn guide pipe 92 are swung up and down at different timings.
This is because simultaneously swinging the upper yarn guide pipe 91 and the lower yarn
guide pipe 92 causes interference between the two yarn guide pipes 91 and 92 that are
swinging.
[OOI I] When the cutter 16 cuts the yarn 20 as described above, a portion of the yam 20
20 existing between the cutter 16 and the suction port 92a of the lower yarn guide pipe 92
that stands by at the downstream side of the tension applying device 12 is sucked by the
lower yarn guide pipe 92. At this time, the portion of the yarn 20 sucked by the lower
yarn guide pipe 92 exists at the upstream side of the clearer 17. Therefore, the presence
or absence of a yarn defect therein is not checked by the clearer 17. That is, there is a
25 high possibility that the portion sucked by the lower yarn guide pipe 92 is a yarn having
no yam defect (a yarn whose yam quality has no problem). However, in the
above-described configuration, a portion of the yam sucked by the lower yarn guide pipe
92 is discarded. Therefore, at a time of the yarn joining operation performed in a case
where the clearer 17 detects a yarn defect, a portion of the yarn 20 existing between the
5 cutter 16 and the suction port 92a of the lower yarn guide pipe 92 that stands by at the
downstream side of the tension applying device 12 results in a waste yarn.
[0012] In this respect, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a relay
pipe (corresponding to the lower yarn guide pipe described above) stands by at the
immediately upstream side of a slub catcher (corresponding to the clearer described
10 above). In such a configuration, in a case where the slub catcher detects a yarn defect so
that a yarn is cut, only a portion of the yarn existing at the immediately upstream side of
the slub catcher is sucked by the relay pipe. Thus, the configuration disclosed in Patent
Document 1 can reduce the amount of the yarn sucked by the relay pipe (lower yarn guide
pipe) in a case where a yarn defect is detected so that the yarn is cut, as compared with
15 the configuration shown in FIG. 17.
PRIOR-ART DOCUMENTS
PATENT DOCUMENTS
[OO 131 Patent Document 1 : Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 200 1 - 192 175
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0014] In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, for the yarn joining, it is
necessary that, after the relay pipe having caught the lower yarn is once swung down and
25 retracted, the upper yam is guided to the yarn joining device by means of a suction mouth
(corresponding to the upper yarn catch pipe described above) and then the relay pipe is
again swung up so that the lower yarn is guided to the yam joining device. This is
because the relay pipe implements both a function for sucking and catching the lower
yarn in a case where the slub catcher cuts the yarn and a function for sucking and catching
5 a yam of a new yarn supply bobbin provided after replacement. Moreover, this is also
because the relay pipe is once retracted downward for the purpose of avoiding
interference between the relay pipe and the suction mouth that is also swung up and
down.
[0015] In this manner, the relay pipe having sucked and caught the lower yarn has to
10 be swung up and down. Therefore, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1
involves a problem that a time required for the yarn joining operation increases to result
in deterioration in the production efficiency of the package.
[0016] Additionally, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to
remove loosening of the yarn which occurs when the relay pipe is swung down, the relay
15 pipe sucks the loosened yarn. A portion of the yarn sucked at this time is discarded, thus
resulting in a waste yarn. Therefore, in the configuration disclosed Patent Document 1,
the amount of the yam sucked by the relay pipe in a case where the yarn is cut is smaller
than that in the configuration shown in FIG. 17, but the yarn loosened when the relay pipe
is subsequently swung down is also sucked. Eventually, the amount of the lower yarn
20 sucked by the relay pipe is not so different from that of the automatic winder shown in
FIG. 17 described above. Accordingly, in the configuration disclosed in Patent
Document 1, an effect of reducing a waste yarn generated when a yarn defect is detected
so that the yarn joining is performed cannot be expected.
[0017] Furthermore, the configurations as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or as shown
25 in FIG. 17, in which the yarn end is guided by swinging the yam guide member (the relay
pipe of Patent Document 1, or the yarn guide pipes 91 and 92 shown in FIG. 17), involves
a problem of a complicated mechanism because a mechanism for driving and swinging
the yarn guide member is required. Additionally, the complicated mechanism results in
less freedom in layout design. Moreover, other configuration parts have to be arranged
5 such that they do not interfere with the yarn guide member that is swinging. In this
respect as well, the layout is limited.
[0018] The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described
above, and a primary object of the present invention is to provide a yarn winding machine
that is able to improve the degree of freedom in a layout, to guide a yarn to a yarn joining
10 device in a short time, and also to reduce the amount of a waste yarn which is generated
in yarn joining.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS AND EFFECTS THEREOF
[0019] Problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above, and next,
means for solving the problems and effects thereof will be described.
15 [0020] In an aspect of the present invention, a yarn winding machine having the
following configuration is provided. The yarn winding machine includes a bobbin
support part, a winding part, a yarn joining device, a yarn guide part, a yarn catch part,
and a driving part. The bobbin support part supports a yarn supply bobbin. The
winding part winds a yarn from the yam supply bobbin into a package. The yarn joining
20 device is arranged between the bobbin support part and the winding part, and configured
to perform yam joining between a yarn of the yarn supply bobbin side and a yarn of the
package side under a state where a yarn extending from the yarn supply bobbin to the
package is disconnected. The yarn guide part guides the yarn of the package side to the
yarn joining device under a state where the yarn is disconnected. The yarn catch part is
25 arranged so as to face a yam travel path between the winding part and the yarn joining
device, and configured to catch the yarn of the yarn supply bobbin side under a state
where the yarn is disconnected. The driving part moves the yarn catch part in such a
direction that the yarn caught by the yarn catch part is introduced to the yarn joining
device while keeping a condition in which the yarn is across the yarn joining device.
5 [0021] In this manner, the yam catch part, that is configured to catch the yarn of the
yarn supply bobbin side under a state where the yarn is disconnected, is arranged at a
position facing the yarn travel path between the winding part and the yarn joining device.
Therefore, when performing the yam joining, the yarn can be caught at a position where
the yam is introduced to the yam joining device. This can shorten a time cycle of the
10 yarn joining. Additionally, since any complicated drive member is not necessary, the
entire configuration of the yarn winding machine is simple.
[0022] Preferably, the above-described yarn winding machine is configured as follows.
The yarn winding machine includes a yarn defect detection device and a yarn
disconnecting part. The yarn defect detection device is arranged between the bobbin
15 support part and the winding part, and configured to detect a yarn defect. The yarn
disconnecting part puts the yarn between the yarn supply bobbin and the package into a
disconnection state, based on a disconnection signal that is supplied when the yarn defect
detection device detects a yarn defect.
[0023] In this configuration, when a yarn defect is detected, the yam disconnecting part
20 disconnects the yarn, and the yarn of the yarn supply bobbin side thus disconnected is
caught by the yarn catch part. This can shorten a time cycle required for the yarn
joining.
[0024] In the above-described yarn winding machine, it is preferable that the yam
disconnecting part is a cutter arranged between the yarn catch part and the yarn defect
25 detection device.
[0025] Accordingly, disconnection (cutting) of the yarn at a predetermined position is
reliably achieved by the cutter. Therefore, catching of the yarn by the yarn catch part is
reliably achieved. Furthermore, since the disconnection of the yarn is performed at a
predetermined position, the amount of a waste yarn which is generated when the yarn of
5 the yam supply bobbin side is subjected to the yarn joining can be made constant. This
makes management of the waste yarn easy.
[0026] In the above-described yam winding machine, it is preferable that the yarn
catch part is an air suction part configured to catch a yarn by means of an air suction
force.
10 [0027] Accordingly, the disconnected yarn can be sucked and caught by the air suction
force. Additionally, applying the suction force at a time of a winding operation, too, can
collect cotton fly generated from the yarn.
[0028] In the above-described yarn winding machine, the yarn catch part may be a
clamp portion configured to catch a yarn by gripping the yarn.
15 [0029] In this case, simultaneously with disconnection of the yarn by the cutter, the
clamp portion catches the yarn. Accordingly, cutting and catching of the yarn are
reliably achieved.
[0030] The above-described yarn winding machine may be configured as follows.
The yam catch part is a clamp portion arranged between the yarn joining device and the
20 winding part, and the clamp portion also acts as a yarn disconnecting part by gripping a
yarn that is traveling.
[003 11 In this case, the yarn catch part simultaneously disconnects and catches the yarn
by causing the clamp portion to grip the yarn between the yarn supply bobbin and the
winding part. Thus, since disconnection of the yarn is achieved by the clamp portion,
25 the yarn end is caught without fail.
[0032] Preferably, the above-described yam winding machine is configured as follows.
The yarn guide part is configured to guide the yarn of the package side to the yarn joining
device by moving from the package side to the yarn supply bobbin side beyond the yarn
joining device under a state where the yarn of the package side is sucked and caught by
5 the yarn guide part. A yarn retraction part is formed in the yarn guide part. The yarn
retraction part is configured to retract a yarn extending from the yarn supply bobbin to the
yarn catch part, from a trajectory along which the yarn guide part moves so as to guide a
yarn to the yarn joining device.
[0033] Retracting the yarn existing between the yarn supply bobbin and the yam catch
10 part allows the yarn guide part that is swingable to guide the yarn to the yarn joining
device.
[0034] In the above-described yarn winding machine, it is preferable that the yam
retraction part is an inclined portion formed in an advance surface that advances at a time
when the yarn guide part moves so as to guide the yam to the yarn joining device.
15 [0035] In this configuration, the yarn existing between the yarn supply bobbin and the
yarn catch part is pushed aside and thus retracted by the inclined portion, and then the
yarn guide part is moved. This prevents the yam guide part from being tangled in the
yarn. Therefore, the yarn guide part is able to guide the yarn to the yarn joining device.
[0036] In the above-described yarn winding machine, it is preferable that a yarn
20 accumulation device is arranged between the winding part and the yam joining device.
[0037] Accordingly, the winding of the yarn into the package is not interrupted during
the yam joining. Therefore, a winding state of the package is not disordered.
Moreover, this configuration shortens a time cycle of the yam joining, which can prevent
run-out of the yarn accumulated on the yarn accumulation device. This allows removal
25 of a yarn fault or replacement of a bobbin to be performed without interrupting the
winding of the yam into the package.
[0038] Preferably, the above-described yarn winding machine is configured as follows.
The yarn guide part includes a yarn sucking and ejecting part and a second yarn catch part.
The yarn sucking and ejecting part sucks a yarn of the winding part side and blows off the
5 yarn to a position at an upstream side of the yarn joining device with respect to a yarn
winding direction. The second yam catch part is arranged at an upstream side of the
yarn joining device, and configured to catch and introduce the yarn blown off by the yarn
sucking and ejecting part to the yam joining device.
[0039] Accordingly, since the yarn is blown off and thereby guided to the yarn joining
10 device, the configuration for guiding the yarn is simple. As a result, the degree of
freedom in a layout of configuration parts is improved. Moreover, since guiding of the
yarn to the yarn joining device is completed merely by blowing off the yarn, a time
required for the operation for guiding the yarn is shortened and thus the production
efficiency of the package is improved.
15 [0040] In the above-described yarn winding machine, it is preferable that the yarn
guide part includes a deflection guide member that guides the yarn blown off by the yarn
sucking and ejecting part to the second yarn catch part.
[0041] Since the yam blown off by the yarn sucking and ejecting part is guided to the
second yarn catch part by the deflection guide member, the yarn sucking and ejecting part
20 and the second yarn catch part can be freely arranged. This improves the degree of
freedom in a layout.
[0042] Preferably, the above-described yarn winding machine is configured as follows.
The deflection guide member is a tube-like member, in which a slit is formed along a
longitudinal direction of a tube. The deflection guide member is arranged at a position
25 deviated from the yarn travel path through which the yarn travels at a time of yam
winding.
[0043] The deflection guide member having such a tube-like shape allows the yam to
pass through the inside of the tube and thereby reliably guides the yam to the yarn catch
part. Since the slit is formed in the deflection guide member having a tube-like shape,
5 the yarn having been guided to the yarn catch part can be drawn out through the slit.
Moreover, since the deflection guide member is not connected with other members, the
yarn drawn out through the slit is not in contact with the deflection guide member. In
the above-described configuration, at a time of the normal winding, the yarn is able to
travel outside the deflection guide member. This can prevent deterioration in the quality
10 of the yarn, which may otherwise be caused by contact with the deflection guide member.
[0044] In the above-described yam winding machine, it is preferable that the yarn is
wound on a predetermined portion of the yarn accumulation device.
[0045] Since the yarn is wound on the predetermined portion, the yarn end of the yarn
wound on the yarn accumulation device is also located at the predetermined portion at a
15 time of yarn disconnection. Accordingly, by sucking this predetermined portion, the
yarn end can be caught for the yarn joining. Therefore, a large suction port such as a
suction mouth for sucking and catching the yarn end from the package is not necessary.
This makes the shape of the yarn guide part simple, and thus the degree of freedom in a
layout is improved. Additionally, since the suction port can be made small, the air
20 consumption is reduced.
[0046] In the above-described yarn winding machine, it is preferable that the yarn
guide part sucks and blows off the yarn of the winding part side that is wound on the yarn
accumulation device.
[0047] It is easy to catch the yam end of the yarn wound on the yam accumulation
25 device. Therefore, the yarn of the winding part side is able to be reliably sucked and
caught, and then blown off.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0048] [FIG. 11 A schematic side view of a winder unit included in an automatic
5 winder according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 21 A diagram illustrating a configuration of a yarn accumulation device.
[FIG. 31 A diagram showing a situation where a yarn supply bobbin becomes
empty.
[FIG. 41 A diagram showing a situation where a new yam supply bobbin is fed.
10 [FIG. 51 A diagram showing a situation where a lower yarn is introduced to a
lower yarn blow-up part.
[FIG. 61 A perspective view of an external appearance showing an outline of
the lower yarn blow-up part.
[FIG. 71 A partial cross-sectional side view showing a configuration of the
15 lower yarn blow-up part.
[FIG. 81 A diagram showing a situation where a yarn trap sucks and catches the
lower yarn.
[FIG. 91 A diagram showing a situation where the lower yarn is introduced to a
yarn joining device.
20 [FIG. 101 A perspective view of an external appearance showing a
configuration of a deflection guide member.
[FIG. 111 A diagram showing a situation where an upper yarn is guided by the
deflection guide member.
[FIG. 121 A diagram showing a situation where the upper yarn is drawn out
25 from the deflection guide member.
[FIG. 131 A diagram showing a situation where the upper yarn is introduced to
the yarn joining device.
[FIG. 141 A diagram showing a modification of the first embodiment.
[FIG. 151 A schematic side view of a winder unit included in an automatic
5 winder according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 161 A diagram illustrating a configuration of a yarn accumulation device
included in the winder unit according to the second embodiment.
[FIG. 171 A schematic side view of a winder unit included in a conventional
automatic winder.
10 [FIG. 181 A diagram showing a situation where an upper yarn and a lower yarn
are sucked and caught in a conventional winder unit.
[FIG. 191 A diagram showing a situation where the upper yam is introduced to
a yarn joining device in the conventional winder unit.
[FIG. 201 A diagram showing a situation where the lower yarn is introduced to
15 the yarn joining device in the conventional winder unit.
EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0049] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of a winder unit 2 included in an automatic
20 winder (yarn winding machine) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The automatic winder of this embodiment is configured with a number of winder units 2
arranged side by side. This automatic winder includes a machine management device
(not shown) and a blower box (not shown). The machine management device
collectively manages the winder units 2. The blower box includes a compressed air
25 source and a negative pressure source.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the winder unit 2 mainly includes a bobbin support part 7
and a winding part 8. The winder unit 2 is configured to unwind a yam (spun yarn) 20
from a yarn supply bobbin 21 that is supported on the bobbin support part 7 and rewind
the yarn into a package 30. FIG. 1 shows a state of the winder unit 2 at a time of normal
5 winding. In the description herein, the "time of normal winding" indicates a state where
the yam is continuous between the yam supply bobbin 21 and the package 30 and
additionally the yarn is being unwound from the yarn supply bobbin 21 and wound into
the package 30.
[005 11 The bobbin support part 7 is configured to hold the yarn supply bobbin 21 in a
10 substantially upright state. The bobbin support part 7 is also configured to discharge the
yarn supply bobbin 21 that is empty. The winding part 8 includes a cradle 23 and a
traverse drum 24. The cradle 23 is configured such that a wound bobbin 22 is mounted
thereon. The traverse drum 24 is configured to traverse the yam 20 and drive the wound
bobbin 22.
15 [0052] The traverse drum 24 is arranged opposed to the wound bobbin 22. The
traverse drum 24 is driven in rotation, and thereby the wound bobbin 22 is accordingly
rotated. This enables the yam 20 accumulated on a yarn accumulation device 18, which
will be described later, to be wound on the wound bobbin 22. A traverse groove (not
shown) is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the traverse drum 24. The
20 traverse groove allows the yarn 20 to be traversed (cross-wound) with a predetermined
width. In the above-described configuration, the yam 20 is wound on the wound bobbin
22 while being traversed, to form the package 30 having a predetermined length and a
predetermined shape. In the following description, the terms "upstream side" and
"downstream side" mean the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to a
25 direction of traveling of the yam.
[0053] Each of the winder units 2 includes a control part 25. The control part 25 is
composed of hardware such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown), and software
such as a control program accumulated in the RAM. The hardware and the software
cooperate with each other, to thereby control each configuration part of the winder unit 2.
5 The control part 25 included in each winder unit 2 is configured to communicate with the
machine management device. Accordingly, the machine management device can
collectively manage operations of the plurality of winder units 2 included in the automatic
winder.
[0054] The winder unit 2 also includes various devices provided in a yarn travel path
10 between the bobbin support part 7 and the winding part 8. More specifically, in the yarn
travel path, an unwinding assist device 10, a lower yarn blow-up part 11, a tension
applying device 12, an upper yarn catch part (second yarn catch part) 13, a yarn joining
device 14, a yarn trap (yarn catch part) 15, a cutter (yarn disconnecting part) 16, a clearer
(yarn defect detection device) 17, an upper yarn pull-out part (yarn sucking and ejecting
15 part) 48, and a yarn accumulation device 18, are arranged in this order from the bobbin
support part 7 side toward the winding part 8 side.
[0055] The unwinding assist device 10 assists the unwinding of the yarn 20 by bringing
a movable member 40 into contact with a balloon, which is generated above the yam
supply bobbin 21 as a result of the yarn 20 being unwound from the yam supply bobbin
20 2 1 and thrown around, and thereby appropriately controlling the size of the balloon.
[0056] The lower yarn blow-up part 11 is an air sucker device, which is configured to
blow up a lower yarn of the yam supply bobbin 21 side toward the yarn joining device 14
side at a time of replacing the yam supply bobbin 21 (details will be given later).
[0057] The tension applying device 12 applies a predetermined tension to the yarn 20
25 that is traveling. In this embodiment, the tension applying device 12 is configured as a
gate type in which a movable comb is arranged relative to a fixed comb. The movable
comb is configured to be swung by a rotary type solenoid such that the combs are brought
into engagement or disengagement. However, a configuration of the tension applying
device 12 is not limited to this. For example, a disk type tension applying device is also
5 adoptable.
[0058] The upper yarn catch part 13 is arranged near the yarn joining device 14 (to be
exact, at the immediately upstream side of the yarn joining device 14). The upper yarn
catch part 13 is configured to suck and catch an upper yarn of the yarn accumulation
device 18 side at a time of yarn joining (details will be given later).
10 [0059] The yarn trap 15 is arranged between the winding part 8 and the yarn joining
device 14 (to be exact, at the upstream side of the cutter 16 and at the immediately
downstream side of the yarn joining device 14). A distal end of the yarn trap 15 is
formed as a tube-like member, which is provided close to the travel path of the yarn 20.
The yarn trap 15 is arranged such that the distal end thereof is directed to the yarn travel
15 path, and connected to a negative pressure source (not shown). In this configuration, the
suction air stream is generated at the distal end of the yarn trap 15, and thereby dusts such
as cotton fly adhering to the traveling yarn 20 can be sucked and removed. In this
manner, the yarn trap 15 is formed as an air suction part. When the cutter 16 cuts the
yarn 20, the yarn trap 15 sucks and catches the lower yarn of the yarn supply bobbin 21
20 side (details will be given later).
[0060] The clearer 17 is configured to detect a yarn defect (yarn fault) such as a slub
by monitoring a yarn thickness of the yarn 20. When the clearer 17 detects a yarn defect,
the clearer 17 transmits a disconnection signal to, for example, the control part 25. The
disconnection signal instructs to cut and remove the yarn defect. The cutter 16 is
25 arranged at the immediately upstream side of the clearer 17, for immediately cutting the
yarn 20 in response to the disconnection signal.
[0061] The yarn joining device 14 performs yarn joining between the lower yam of the
yarn supply bobbin 21 side and the upper yarn of the yarn accumulation device 18 side
when the yarn is disconnected between the yam supply bobbin 21 and the package 30,
5 which occurs, for example, at a time of yarn cutting in which the clearer 17 detects a yarn
defect so that the cutter 16 cuts the yarn, at a time of yarn breakage in which the yarn
being unwound from the yarn supply bobbin 21 is broken, or at a time of replacing the
yarn supply bobbin 21. As the yarn joining device 14, one using fluid such as
compressed air, mechanical one, or the like, is adoptable.
10 [0062] The upper yarn pull-out part 48 is an air sucker device, and configured to pull
out the upper yarn of the yarn accumulation device 18 side toward the yarn joining device
14 side at a time of the yam joining (details will be given later).
[0063] The yarn accumulation device 18 is configured to wind up and temporarily
accumulate the yarn 20 unwound from the yarn supply bobbin 21. In this manner, the
15 yam accumulation device 18 is interposed between the bobbin support part 7 and the
winding part 8, and a certain amount of the yarn 20 is accumulated on the yam
accumulation device 18. Accordingly, even when the unwinding of the yarn from the
yarn supply bobbin 21 is interrupted for some reason (for example, during the yarn
joining operation), the winding part 8 is able to wind the yam accumulated on the yarn
20 accumulation device 18. Therefore, the winding of the yarn 20 into the package 30 can
be continued. Thus, since a winding operation of the winding part 8 is not interrupted
by the yarn joining operation or the like, the package 30 can be produced stably at a high
speed. Additionally, unlike the conventional yarn winding machine, sucking and
catching of the yam from the package 30 is not performed in every yarn joining operation.
25 This can prevent occurrence of disorder in a surface of the package 30. Moreover, since
occurrence of a yarn breakage in the winding part 8 is reduced, falling of the yarn onto an
edge surface of the package 30 or occurrence of a failure in the winding shape is
prevented.
[0064] A bobbin feeder 26 of magazine type is arranged at the front side of the winder
5 unit 2. The bobbin feeder 26 includes a rotary magazine can 27. The magazine can 27
is configured to hold a plurality of extra yarn supply bobbins 21. The bobbin feeder 26
intermittently drives and rotates the magazine can 27, and thereby feeds a new yarn
supply bobbin 21 to the bobbin support part 7. The bobbin feeder 26 includes a yarn end
holder 28 for sucking and holding a yarn end of the yarn supply bobbin 21 held on the
10 magazine can 27.
[0065] Next, the yarn accumulation device 18 will be described with reference to FIG.
2. As shown in FIG. 2, the yam accumulation device 18 mainly includes a yarn
accumulation roller 32 and a roller drive motor 33.
[0066] The yarn accumulation roller 32 is a substantially cylindrical member and
15 configured to accumulate the yarn 20 by winding the yarn 20 on an outer circumferential
surface thereof. The roller drive motor 33 is configured to drive and rotate the yarn
accumulation roller 32 around the central axis thereof. An operation of the roller drive
motor 33 is controlled by the control part 25. Herein, an end portion of the yarn
accumulation roller 32 at the side where the roller drive motor 33 is arranged will be
20 called a proximal end portion, and the opposite end portion will be called a distal end
portion.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 2, a proximal side taper portion 32a is formed in the proximal
end portion of the yarn accumulation roller 32. The proximal side taper portion 32a has
a tapered shape whose diameter increases toward an end portion. On the other hand, a
25 distal side taper portion 32b is formed in the distal end portion of the yarn accumulation
roller 32. The distal side taper portion 32b has a tapered shape whose diameter increases
toward an end portion. Forming such taper portions prevents the yarn 20 from slipping
off from the end portions of the yam accumulation roller 32. In the yam accumulation
roller 32, a portion having a cylindrical shape (a portion having a substantially constant
5 diameter) will be called a cylindrical portion 32c. The cylindrical portion 32c also has
an extremely small taper for moving the accumulated yarn toward the downstream side.
[0068] A guide tube 34 of the upper yarn pull-out part 48 is arranged near a boundary
portion between the proximal side taper portion 32a and the cylindrical portion 32c of the
yarn accumulation roller 32 (a configuration of the upper yarn pull-out part 48 will be
10 described later). The guide tube 34 is a tube-like member, and arranged such that one
end portion (suction side end portion 34a) thereof is located close to the surface of the
yarn accumulation roller 32. At a time of the normal winding, the yarn of the yam
supply bobbin 21 side is introduced into the guide tube 34 through the other end portion
(ejection side end portion 34b) of the guide tube 34, and then pulled out from the suction
15 side end portion 34a toward the surface of the yarn accumulation roller 32. Thus, at a
time of the normal winding, the guide tube 34 guides the yarn 20 of the yarn supply
bobbin 21 to the surface of the yarn accumulation roller 32.
[0069] The yarn accumulation roller 32 having the yarn 20 wound thereon is rotated in
one direction, and thereby a tensile force is applied to the yarn 20 existing at the upstream
20 side (yarn supply bobbin 21 side) of the yarn accumulation device 18. This enables the
yarn 20 to be unwound from the yam supply bobbin 21 and wound on the surface of the
yarn accumulation roller 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the yarn 20 is guided to the boundary
portion between the proximal side taper portion 32a and the cylindrical portion 32c.
Therefore, while the yarn 20 is sequentially wound on the cylindrical portion 32c, the
25 yarn 20 pushes up a preceding yarn layer from the proximal end portion side. As a
result, the yarn 20 accumulated on the yarn accumulation roller 32 is pushed by the newly
wound yarn 20, and sequentially fed toward the distal end portion side on the surface of
the cylindrical portion 32c. In this manner, the yarn 20 is, while being orderly arranged
into a spiral shape, regularly wound on the outer circumferential surface of the yarn
5 accumulation roller 32 from the proximal end portion side. In the following description,
a rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 32 at a time of the normal winding will be
called a "positive rotation", and a rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 32 in a
direction opposite to the positive rotation will be called a "reverse rotation".
[0070] On the other hand, the yarn 20 accumulated on the yarn accumulation roller 32
10 is pulled out from the distal side taper portion 32b of the yarn accumulation roller 32, and
fed toward the downstream side (winding part 8 side). In the distal side taper portion
32b, the yarn 20 accumulated on the yarn accumulation roller 32 is pulled out toward the
downstream side through a pull-out guide 37 that is arranged on an extension of the
central axis of the yarn accumulation roller 32. Since the yarn 20 is pulled out toward
15 the extension of the central axis of the yarn accumulation roller 32, it is possible to pull
out the yam 20 from the yarn accumulation roller 32 irrespective of a state of rotation of
the yarn accumulation roller 32. To be specific, in any of the cases where the yarn
accumulation roller 32 is in the positive rotation, the yarn accumulation roller 32 is in the
reverse rotation, and the rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 32 is stopped, the
20 winding part 8 is able to unwind the yarn 20 from the yarn accumulation roller 32 and
wind the yam 20 into the package 30.
[0071] A rubber band (O-ring) 32d is arranged in a boundary portion between the
cylindrical portion 32c and the distal side taper portion 32b of the yam accumulation
roller 32. When the yarn 20 is pulled out from the yarn accumulation roller 32, the yarn
25 20 passes between the rubber band 32d and the surface of the yam accumulation roller 32.
Due to the distal side taper portion 32b, the rubber band 32d itself is inhibited from being
dragged by the yarn and falling off. In the above-described configuration, an adequate
tensile force caused by the rubber band 32d fastening the yam accumulation roller 32 can
be applied to the yarn 20 unwound from the yarn accumulation roller 32. This can
5 stabilize the unwinding of the yarn 20. Furthermore, it is possible to unwind the yarn
while untangling a mass of the yarn. This can prevent a trouble called slaffing in which
a mass of the yarn on the yarn accumulation roller 32 wholly falls off at one time. This
also exerts an effect of preventing generation of a balloon, which is otherwise generated
by a yarn being thrown around when unwound.
10 [0072] An upper limit sensor 36 and a lower limit sensor 35 are arranged near the yam
accumulation roller 32. The upper limit sensor 36 detects that the amount of the yam 20
on the yarn accumulation roller 32 reaches a predetermined upper limit value or more.
The lower limit sensor 35 detects that the amount of the yarn 20 on the yarn accumulation
roller 32 falls below a predetermined lower limit value. Results of detection obtained by
15 the lower limit sensor 35 and the upper limit sensor 36 are sent to the control part 25.
[0073] When it is detected that the amount of the yam accumulated on the yarn
accumulation roller 32 falls below the lower limit value, the control part 25 appropriately
controls the roller drive motor 33 to increase the speed of rotation of the yarn
accumulation roller 32. This increases the speed of winding of the yarn 20 onto the yarn
20 accumulation roller 32. At a time of the normal winding, the speed of rotation of the
traverse drum 24 is substantially constant, and therefore the speed of unwinding of the
yarn 20 from the yarn accumulation roller 32 into the package 30 side is substantially
constant. The control part 25 controls the roller drive motor 33 such that the speed of
winding of the yarn 20 onto the yarn accumulation roller 32 is higher than the speed of
25 unwinding of the yarn 20 from the yarn accumulation roller 32. As a result, the amount
of the yam 20 accumulated on the yarn accumulation roller 32 can be gradually increased.
[0074] On the other hand, when it is detected that the amount of the yarn accumulated
on the yam accumulation roller 32 reaches the upper limit value or more, the control part
25 appropriately controls the roller drive motor 33 to reduce the speed of rotation of the
5 yarn accumulation roller 32. This reduces the speed of winding of the yarn 20 onto the
yarn accumulation roller 32. The control part 25 controls the roller drive motor 33 such
that the speed of winding of the yarn 20 onto the yarn accumulation roller 32 is lower
than the speed of unwinding of the yarn 20 from the yam accumulation roller 32.
Thereby, the amount of the yarn 20 on the yarn accumulation roller 32 can be gradually
10 reduced. The above-described control enables the amount of the yarn 20 accumulated
on the yarn accumulation roller 32 to be kept in the range from the lower limit value or
more and less than the upper limit value.
[0075] Next, an operation for replacing the yam supply bobbin 21 will be described.
[0076] When the yarn of the yarn supply bobbin 21 runs out, the yam remaining on the
15 yarn supply bobbin 21 is fully wound on the yarn accumulation device 18. This causes
the yarn to be discontinuous between the yarn supply bobbin 21 (empty bobbin) and the
yam accumulation device 18, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, in order to continue the
winding of the yarn 20, it is necessary to feed a new yarn supply bobbin 21 and then
connect a yarn of this new yarn supply bobbin 21 to the yarn accumulated on the yam
20 accumulation device 18 (yarn joining). Even when the yarn supply bobbin 21 becomes
empty, a predetermined amount of the yarn 20 is accumulated on the yarn accumulation
device 18. Therefore, it is not necessary to interrupt the winding of the yarn 20 into the
package 30 performed in the winding part 8, until the accumulated yam 20 runs out. In
the following, the operation for replacing the yarn supply bobbin 21 will be described in
25 sequence.
[0077] Firstly, the control part 25 drives the bobbin support part 7, to discharge the
empty bobbin. Then, the control part 25 drives the magazine can 27 of the bobbin
feeder 26, to feed a new yam supply bobbin 2 1 to the bobbin support part 7. At this time,
as shown in FIG. 4, the new yam supply bobbin 21 is fed with an inclined attitude. As
5 described above, the yarn end of the yam supply bobbin 21 held on the magazine can 27
is sucked and held by the yarn end holder 28. Therefore, a situation is created in which
the yarn 20 stretches between the yarn end holder 28 and the yarn supply bobbin 21 fed
from the magazine can 27. In the following description, when particularly needed, the
yarn 20 of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side will be referred to as a lower yarn 20a.
10 [0078] Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the control part 25 drives the bobbin support part 7,
to make the new yarn supply bobbin 2 1 stand upright, and also drives a yarn displacement
member 43 that is arranged near the lower yarn blow-up part 1 1. The yarn displacement
member 43 is engageable with the lower yarn 20a existing between the yarn supply
bobbin 21 and the yarn end holder 28, and movable toward the lower yarn blow-up part
15 11. When the yarn displacement member 43 is driven while being engaged with the
lower yam 20a, the yarn displacement member 43 displaces the lower yarn 20a toward
the lower yam blow-up part 11, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0079] The lower yarn blow-up part 11 is in the shape of a block as shown in a
perspective view of an external appearance of FIG. 6. The block has a yarn introduction
20 hole 4 1 and a slit 42 that communicates with the yarn introduction hole 4 1. The lower
yam 20a is displaced by the yam displacement member 43, and introduced into the yarn
introduction hole 41 through the slit 42.
[0080] Here, the lower yarn blow-up part I 1 will be described in more detail with
reference to a partial cross-sectional side view of FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, an air
25 ejection nozzle 44 that communicates with the yam introduction hole 41 is formed in the
lower yarn blow-up part 11. The air ejection nozzle 44 is a circular hole having an
elongated shape. The air ejection nozzle 44 is connected to an appropriate compressed
air source 46 via an electromagnetic valve 45. The electromagnetic valve 45 is
controlled by the control part 25. In the above-described configuration, when the control
5 part 25 puts the electromagnetic valve 45 into an open state, compressed air is supplied
through the air ejection nozzle 44 into the yam introduction hole 41.
[0081] An ejection port of the air ejection nozzle 44 is formed such that air is ejected
toward the downstream side with respect to the direction of traveling of the yarn 20.
Accordingly, when the compressed air is ejected through the air ejection nozzle 44, an air
10 stream flowing toward the downstream side (upward in FIG. 7) with respect to the
direction of traveling of the yarn 20 is generated in the yarn introduction hole 41. As a
result, the lower yarn 20a introduced into the yarn introduction hole 41 is blown off
toward the downstream side by the air stream.
[0082] Here, the description of the operation for replacing the yarn supply bobbin 21
15 will be resumed. After the yarn displacement member 43 introduces the lower yarn 20a
into the yarn introduction hole 41, the control part 25 cuts the lower yarn 20a between the
yam supply bobbin 21 and the yam end holder 28 by means of a cutter (not shown), and
additionally opens the electromagnetic valve 45 to supply the compressed air to the air
ejection nozzle 44. As a result, an air stream flowing toward the downstream side is
20 generated in the yarn introduction hole 4 1. This air stream blows off the lower yarn 20a
toward the downstream side.
[0083] The yarn trap 15 described above is arranged at the downstream side of the
lower yarn blow-up part 1 1. The suction stream is generated at the distal end of the yarn
trap 15. The lower yam 20a blown off by the lower yarn blow-up part 11 is sucked and
25 caught by the yarn trap 15. This situation is shown in FIG. 8. The yarn trap 15 is
arranged at the downstream side of the yarn joining device 14. Therefore, in a state
where the yam trap 15 catches the lower yarn 20a, the lower yarn 20a existing between
the yarn trap 15 and the yarn supply bobbin 21 is across the yarn joining device 14.
[0084] A yarn trap driver 47 is arranged near the yam trap 15. The yarn trap driver
5 47 is configured to drive the yarn trap 15 in a direction toward and away from the yarn
travel path. An operation of the yarn trap driver 47 is controlled by the control part 25.
After the yarn trap 15 sucks and catches the lower yarn 20% the control part 25 actuates
the yarn trap driver 47 to thereby drive the yam trap 15 in the direction away from the
yam travel path. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 9, the lower yam 20a is moved back (to the
10 left in FIG. 9) under the state where the lower yarn 20a is across the yarn joining device
14. As a result, the lower yarn 20a is introduced to the yam joining device 14. In the
above-described manner, the lower yarn 20a can be introduced to the yarn joining device
14 by means of the lower yarn blow-up part 1 1 and the yarn trap 15. Accordingly, it can
be considered that the lower yarn blow-up part 1 1 and the yarn trap 15 form a lower yarn
15 guide part.
[0085] As thus far described, the lower yarn 20a is blown off and thereby guided to the
downstream side of the yarn joining device 14 by means of the air stream. This enables
the lower yarn to be quickly guided with a simple configuration, as compared with, for
example, a lower yarn guide member (the lower yarn guide pipe 92 shown in FIG. 17)
20 included in the conventional winder unit. After an operation for guiding the lower yarn
20a to the yarn joining device 14 is completed, the control part 25 puts the
electromagnetic valve 45 into a closed state. This can prevent wasteful consumption of
the compressed air.
[0086] Around a time of performing the above-described control for guiding the lower
25 yarn 20a to the yarn joining device 14, the control part 25 performs a control for guiding
the yarn of the yam accumulation device 18 side to the yarn joining device 14. A
specific description will be given below. In the following description, when particularly
needed, the yarn 20 of the yarn accumulation device 18 side will be referred to as an
upper yarn 20b.
5 [0087] Firstly, the upper yarn pull-out part 48 will be described with reference to FIG.
2. The upper yarn pull-out part 48 includes the above-mentioned guide tube 34 and an
air ejection nozzle 49 that communicates with the inside of the guide tube 34. The air
ejection nozzle 49 is a circular hole having an elongated shape. The air ejection nozzle
49 is connected to the appropriate compressed air source 46 via an electromagnetic valve
10 51. The electromagnetic valve 51 is controlled by the control part 25. In the
above-described configuration, when the control part 25 puts the electromagnetic valve
51 into an open state, compressed air is supplied through the air ejection nozzle 49 into
the guide tube 34.
[0088] An ejection port of the air ejection nozzle 49 is formed such that air is ejected
15 toward the ejection side end portion 34b (such that air is ejected in a direction away from
the surface of the yarn accumulation roller 32). Accordingly, when the compressed air
is ejected through the air ejection nozzle 49, an air stream flowing toward the ejection
side end portion 34b is generated in the guide tube 34. As a result, air is ejected from
the ejection side end portion 34b. On the other hand, along with the air stream generated
20 in the guide tube 34, a suction stream is generated in the opposite end portion (suction
side end portion 34a).
[0089] To guide the upper yarn 20b of the yarn accumulation device 18 side to the yarn
joining device 14, the control part 25 puts the electromagnetic valve 5 1 into the open state
so that the compressed air is supplied through the air ejection nozzle 49 into the guide
25 tube 34. Under this condition, the control part 25 appropriately controls the roller drive
motor 33, thereby causing a reverse rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 32. As a
result, a yarn end is unwound from the proximal end portion side of the cylindrical
portion 32c of the yam accumulation roller 32. This yarn end is sucked by the suction
stream generated in the suction side end portion 34a of the guide tube 34, and introduced
5 into the guide tube 34.
[0090] In the conventional automatic winder as shown in FIG. 17, it is necessary that
the suction port 91a of the upper yarn guide pipe 91 for sucking and catching a yarn end
of a yarn wound into the package 30 is enlarged with respect to a width direction of the
package. The reason therefor is as follows. Since the yarn is traversed when being
10 wound on the surface of the package 30, where on the package 30 with respect to the
width direction thereof the yarn end of the yarn wound into the package 30 is positioned
is uncertain after the clearer 17 detects a yarn defect so that the cutter 16 cuts the yarn or
after the yarn of the yarn supply bobbin 21 is fully wound. Therefore, in order to
reliably suck and catch the yarn end, it is necessary to generate the suction stream
15 throughout the entire width of the package 30.
[009I] In this respect, in the automatic winder of this embodiment, the yarn 20 is
regularly wound on the yarn accumulation roller 32 while being orderly arranged from the
boundary portion between the cylindrical portion 32c and the proximal side taper portion
32a. This is achieved because, at a time of the normal winding, the guide tube 34 guides
20 the yarn of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side to the boundary portion between the cylindrical
portion 32c and the proximal side taper portion 32a. Accordingly, after the clearer 17
detects a yarn defect so that the cutter 16 cuts the yarn or after the yarn of the yarn supply
bobbin 21 is fully wound, the yarn end of the yarn wound on the yarn accumulation roller
32 is always positioned near the boundary portion between the cylindrical portion 32c and
25 the proximal side taper portion 32a. Therefore, by generating the suction stream only in
this boundary portion, the yarn end can be reliably sucked. That is, by generating the
suction stream in the guide tube 34, the yarn end can be reliably sucked. Thus, in the
automatic winder of this embodiment including the yam accumulation device 18, unlike
the conventional configuration, an enlarged suction port for sucking the upper yarn is not
5 required. This enables a suction stream sufficient for sucking the upper yarn to be
generated by less energy.
[0092] The yarn end sucked into the guide tube 34 is, along with the air stream
generated in the guide tube 34, blown out from the ejection side end portion 34b. Air
ejection from the ejection side end portion 34b is oriented toward a position where a yarn
10 inlet 6 1 of a deflection guide member 60 is arranged.
[0093] As shown in a perspective view of FIG. 10, the deflection guide member 60 is a
curved tube-like member having the yarn inlet 61 at one end side thereof and a yarn outlet
62 at the other end side thereof. Air ejected from the ejection side end portion 34b of the
guide tube 34 flows through the yarn inlet 61 into the deflection guide member 60, and is
15 guided through a curved path while passing through the inside of the curved deflection
guide member 60, and then is discharged through the yarn outlet 62 to the outside of the
deflection guide member 60. Accordingly, the upper yarn 20b blown out together with
the air ejected from the upper yarn pull-out part 48 is, along with an air stream flowing in
the curved path inside the deflection guide member 60, guided from the yarn inlet 61 to
20 the yarn outlet 62, as shown in FIG. 11. In this manner, the upper yarn pull-out part 48
is able to blow off the upper yarn (the yarn of the winding part side) and guides the upper
yarn to a position at the upstream side of the yarn joining device 14.
[0094] The yarn outlet 62 leads to a position where the upper yarn catch part 13 is
arranged. The upper yarn catch part 13 is connected to the negative pressure source (not
25 shown) and configured such that a suction stream is generated in a suction stream
generation port that is provided at the distal end of the upper yarn catch part 13. A
movable lid 13a is arranged in the suction stream generation port of the upper yarn catch
part 13. The lid 13a is driven by the control part 25, and switched between a state where
the suction stream generation port is closed and a state where the suction stream
5 generation port is open.
[0095] Around a time when the upper yarn pull-out part 48 pulls out the upper yam
20b from the yarn accumulation device 18, the control part 25 drives the lid 13a to open
the suction stream generation port of the upper yarn catch part 13, so that a suction stream
is generated in the upper yarn catch part 13. In the above-described configuration, the
10 upper yarn 20b guided to the yarn outlet 62 of the deflection guide member 60 can be
sucked and held by the upper yarn catch part 13. When it is not necessary to generate a
suction stream in the upper yarn catch part 13, the control part 25 performs a control to
close the suction stream generation port with the lid 13a. This can prevent air from
flowing into the upper yarn catch part 13, and therefore can prevent wastefbl consumption
15 of energy. Here, instead of the configuration in which the presence or absence of a
suction air stream is controlled by opening and closing a lid, a configuration in which, for
example, an air flow is controlled by means of an electromagnetic valve may be also
adoptable.
[0096] As shown in FIG. 10, the deflection guide member 60 has a slit 63 through
20 which the outside and inside of the deflection guide member 60 are communicated with
each other. The slit 63 is formed along a longitudinal direction of the tube-like
deflection guide member 60, and connects the yarn inlet 61 and the yarn outlet 62 to each
other. In this embodiment, the deflection guide member 60 has a substantially U-like
shape, and the slit 63 is formed along an inner portion of this U-like shape.
25 [0097] Since such a slit 63 is formed in the deflection guide member 60, when the
upper yarn 20b guided to the yarn outlet 62 is sucked and caught by the upper yarn catch
part 13, the upper yam 20b is drawn out through the slit 63 to the outside of the deflection
guide member 60, as shown in FIG. 12.
[0098] The upper yarn 20b drawn out from the deflection guide member 60 is further
5 sucked by the upper yarn catch part 13, and thereby the upper yam 20b can be introduced
to the yam joining device 14, as shown in FIG. 13. As described above, the upper yam
20b is guided to a position at the upstream side of the yarn joining device 14 by means of
the upper yarn pull-out part 48, the deflection guide member 60, and the upper yarn catch
part 13. Accordingly, it can be considered that the upper yarn pull-out part 48, the
10 deflection guide member 60, and the upper yarn catch part 13, form an upper yarn guide
part (yarn guide part).
[0099] As thus far described, the air stream is used to blow off the upper yarn 20b and
guide the upper yarn 20b to the upstream side of the yam joining device 14. This
enables the upper yarn to be quickly guided with a simple configuration, as compared
15 with, for example, an upper yarn guide member (the upper yarn guide pipe 91 shown in
FIG. 17) included in the conventional winder unit. Therefore, a time required for the
yarn joining operation is shortened, and thus the production efficiency of the package 30
is improved.
[OIOO] After an operation for guiding the upper yarn 20b to the yarn joining device 14
20 is completed, the control part 25 stops the reverse rotation of the yarn accumulation roller
32 and additionally puts the electromagnetic valve 51 into a closed state. Then, the
control part 25 closes the lid 13a of the upper yarn catch part 13. Then, the control part
25 actuates the yarn joining device 14, thus performing yam joining between the upper
yarn 20b and the lower yarn 20a.
25 [0101] After the yarn joining is completed, the control part 25 starts a positive rotation
of the yarn accumulation roller 32, thus starting to unwind the yarn from the new yarn
supply bobbin 21. Around a time of starting the positive rotation of the yarn
accumulation roller 32, the control part 25 drives the yarn trap 15 to a position close to
the yarn travel path, and restarts to suck and remove cotton fly. Additionally, the control
5 part 25 opens the lid 13a of the upper yarn catch part 13 for a short time. Thereby, a
piece of the yarn (the upper yarn having been cut in the yarn joining) caught by the upper
yam catch part 13 is sucked and removed. Thus, the normal winding operation shown in
FIG. 1 can be restarted.
[O102] As described above, the upper yarn 20b is drawn out from the inside of the
10 deflection guide member 60. Accordingly, at a time of the normal winding (the state
shown in FIG. I), the yarn 20 does not pass through the inside of the deflection guide
member 60. Here, if the yarn 20 passed through the inside of the deflection guide
member 60 during the normal winding operation, the yarn 20 might be in contact with the
deflection guide member 60 and thus damaged to deteriorate the quality of the yarn. In
15 this respect, in the above-described configuration, the yarn 20 is not in contact with
deflection guide member 60 during the normal winding operation. Therefore,
deterioration in the quality of the yarn is prevented.
[0103] As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the deflection guide member 60 is not
connected with other members. More specifically, the deflection guide member 60 is
20 arranged such that the yarn inlet 61 of the deflection guide member 60 is spaced apart
from the upper yarn pull-out part 48. Likewise, the deflection guide member 60 is
arranged such that the yam outlet 62 of the deflection guide member 60 is spaced apart
from the upper yarn catch part 13. In this manner, a space is formed between the
deflection guide member 60 and the other members. Therefore, the yarn 20 drawn out
25 from the deflection guide member 60 is able to travel without any contact with the
deflection guide member 60. In this point as well, damage to the yarn 20 which may be
caused by contact with the deflection guide member 60 is prevented at a time of the
normal winding. Thus, deterioration in the quality of the yam is prevented.
[O104] Furthermore, as described above, the yam 20 is blown off and thereby guided.
5 Therefore, a member driven into large movement, such as the yarn guide pipes 91 and 92
shown in FIG. 17, is not necessary. Accordingly, the configuration of the automatic
winder is simplified, and additionally the degree of freedom in a layout of configuration
parts is increased. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a path through which the upper
yarn 20b is guided is curved because of the deflection guide member 60. Therefore,
10 even though a direction in which the yarn is blown out from the upper yarn pull-out part
48 is not oriented to the position where the upper yarn catch part 13 is arranged, the upper
yam 20b can be guided to the upper yarn catch part 13. Thus, devising the shape of the
deflection guide member 60 allows a free layout of the positions of the upper yam
pull-out part 48 and the upper yarn catch part 13.
15 [0105] Next, an operation performed in a case where the clearer 17 detects a yarn
defect will be described.
[0106] When the clearer 17 detects a yarn defect at a time of the normal winding as
shown in FIG. 1, the control part 25 actuates the cutter 16 to cut the yarn 20. At this
time, a yarn end at the upstream side of the cutter 16 is sucked and caught by the yarn trap
20 15 that is arranged at the immediately upstream side of the cutter 16. On the other hand,
a yarn end at the downstream side of the cutter 16 is wound on the yarn accumulation
roller 32 that is in the positive rotation. As a result, a portion of the yarn containing the
yarn defect is wound to the proximal end portion side of the yarn accumulation roller 32.
[0107] At this time, the state of the lower yarn 20a and the upper yarn 20b is similar to
25 the state shown in FIG. 8. However, in a case where the cutter 16 cuts the yarn 20, the
end of the yam having been cut is directly sucked and caught by the yarn trap 15.
Therefore, the operation for blowing the lower yarn 20a upward by the lower yarn
blow-up part 11 is not necessary. In this point, this operation is different from the
operation for replacing the yarn supply bobbin 21. Accordingly, in the configuration of
5 this embodiment, when the yarn is disconnected between the yarn supply bobbin 21 and
the package 30, the yarn end of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side is, at the downstream side
of the yarn joining device 14, caught by the yarn trap 15.
[O108] On the other hand, in the conventional automatic winder, as shown in FIG. 18
and the like, when the cutter 16 cuts the yarn 20, the yarn end of the lower yarn is sucked
10 and caught at the upstream side of the tension applying device 12. Then, as shown in
FIG. 20, the lower yam guide pipe 92 is swung upward under a state where the lower yarn
is sucked and caught by the lower yarn guide pipe 92. Thereby, the yarn end of the
lower yarn is guided to the downstream side of the yarn joining device. Such an
operation that involves the large swinging of the lower yarn guide pipe 92 requires a time.
15 As a result, in the conventional automatic winder, a total time required for the yarn
joining operation is increased. In this embodiment, however, the lower yam is caught at
the downstream side of the yarn joining device 14. Therefore, the operation for guiding
the yarn end of the lower yarn to the downstream side of the yarn joining device 14,
which is needed in the conventional automatic winder, is not necessary. Accordingly, a
20 total time required for the yam joining operation can be shortened, and thus the
production efficiency of the package 30 is improved.
[O109] Moreover, in this embodiment, when the cutter 16 cuts the yarn 20, only a short
portion of the lower yarn existing between the yam trap 15 and the cutter 16 is sucked by
the yam trap 15. On the other hand, in the conventional automatic winder shown in FIG.
25 18 and the like, when the cutter 16 cuts the yarn, a portion of the lower yarn extending
between the cutter 16 and the upstream side of the tension applying device 12 is sucked
by the lower yarn catch pipe 92. As described above, the portion sucked by the lower
yarn catch pipe 92 is discarded after the yarn joining is completed. Although, in this
embodiment as well, a portion of the lower yam sucked by the yarn trap 15 is also
5 discarded after the yarn joining is completed, the portion of the lower yarn sucked by the
yarn trap 15 is a very short portion as mentioned above. Therefore, the amount of a
discard portion of the yarn 20 is minimized. Accordingly, the configuration of this
embodiment can minimize the amount of a waste yarn which is generated when the yarn
joining operation is performed upon detection of a yarn defect.
10 [0110] Then, the control part 25 drives the yarn trap 15 in the direction away from the
yarn travel path, and thereby the lower yarn 20a sucked and caught by the yarn trap I5 is
introduced to the yarn joining device 14 (similar to the state shown in FIG. 9). In this
respect, for example, in a case of the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is
necessary that, in order to avoid interference between the relay pipe (lower yarn guide
15 pipe) and the suction mouth (upper yarn guide pipe), the relay pipe having sucked and
caught the lower yarn at the downstream side of the yam joining device is once swung
down. Since it is necessary to once swing down the relay pipe, a total time required for
the yarn joining operation is increased in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document
1. On the other hand, in this embodiment, there is no yam guide pipe that is swingable.
20 Therefore, the problem of interference of yarn guide pipes does not occur in the first place.
Accordingly, in this embodiment, as described above, the lower yam 20a can be
introduced to the yarn joining device 14 immediately after the yarn trap 15 sucks and
catches the lower yarn 20a. This can shorten a time required for the yarn joining
operation.
25 [Ol 1 11 Around the time of driving the yarn trap 15 in the direction away from the yam
travel path, the control part 25 causes a reverse rotation of the yarn accumulation roller 32,
and at the same time puts the electromagnetic valve 5 1 into the open state. Additionally,
the control part 25 opens the lid 13a. Thus, the upper yarn 20b is introduced to the yarn
joining device 14 (similar to the state shown in FIG. 13). Under this condition, the
5 reverse rotation of the yam accumulation roller 32 is continued for a predetermined time
period. Thereby, the portion containing the yarn defect, which has been wound on the
yarn accumulation roller 32, is pulled out and sucked by the upper yarn catch part 13.
Thus, the portion containing the yarn defect detected by the clearer 17 can be removed.
Then, the control part 25 actuates the yam joining device 14, to perform yarn joining.
10 [0112] As described above, also in the yam joining operation performed upon
detection of a yam defect, the upper yarn 20b is blown off and guided by means of
ejected air. This can quickly guide the upper yam 20b with a simple configuration, as
compared with the upper yarn guide member (the upper yarn guide pipe 9 1 shown in FIG.
17) included in the conventional winder unit. Moreover, in the yarn joining operation
15 performed upon detection of a yarn defect, the lower yarn 20a can be guided to the yarn
joining device 14 simply by driving the yarn trap 15 under a state where the lower yarn
20a is sucked and caught by the yarn trap 15. Therefore, in a case where a yarn defect is
detected, the lower yarn 20a is easily and quickly guided. In this manner, also in a case
where a yarn defect is detected, a time required for the yarn joining operation is shortened,
20 and thus the production eficiency of the package 30 is improved.
[0113] As thus far described, the automatic winder of this embodiment includes the
bobbin support part 7, the winding part 8, the yarn joining device 14, the yarn guide part,
the yarn trap 15, and the yarn trap driver 47. The bobbin support part 7 supports the
yarn supply bobbin 21. The winding part 8 winds the yarn from the yam supply bobbin
25 21 into the package 30. The yam joining device 14 is arranged between the bobbin
support part 7 and the winding part 8, and configured to perform yarn joining between the
yarn of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side and the yarn of the package 30 side under a state
where the yarn extending from the yarn supply bobbin 21 to the package 30 is
disconnected. The yarn guide part guides the yarn of the package 30 side to the yarn
5 joining device 14 under a state where the yarn is disconnected. The yam trap 15 is
arranged so as to face the yarn travel path between the winding part 8 and the yarn joining
device 14, and configured to catch the yarn of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side under a
state where the yarn is disconnected. The yarn trap driver 47 moves the yarn trap in
such a direction that the yarn caught by the yarn trap is introduced to the yarn joining
10 device 14 while keeping a condition in which the yarn is across the yarn joining device
14.
[0114] In this manner, the yarn trap 15, which is configured to catch the yarn of the
yarn supply bobbin 21 side under a state where the yarn is disconnected, is arranged at a
position facing the yarn travel path between the winding part 8 and the yarn joining
15 device 14. Therefore, when performing the yarn joining, the yarn can be caught at a
position where the yarn is introduced to the yarn joining device 14. This can shorten a
time cycle of the yarn joining. Additionally, since any complicated drive member is not
necessary, the entire configuration of the automatic winder is simple.
[O 1 151 The automatic winder of this embodiment includes the clearer 17 and the cutter
20 16. The clearer 17 is arranged between the bobbin support part 7 and the winding part 8,
and configured to detect a yarn defect. The cutter 16 puts the yarn between the yarn
supply bobbin 21 and the package 30 into a disconnection state, based on the
disconnection signal that is supplied when the clearer 17 detects a yarn defect.
[0116] In this configuration, when a yarn defect is detected, the cutter 16 disconnects
25 the yarn, and the yarn of the yarn supply bobbin 21 side thus disconnected is caught by
the yarn trap 15. This can shorten a time cycle required for the yarn joining. Moreover,
since the disconnection (cutting) of the yarn at a predetermined position is reliably
achieved by the cutter 16, catching of the yarn by the yarn trap 15 is reliably achieved.
Furthermore, since the disconnection of the yarn is performed at a predetermined position,
5 the amount of the waste yarn which is generated when the yarn of the yam supply bobbin
21 side is subjected to the yarn joining can be made constant. This makes management
of the waste yarn easy.
[OI 171 In the automatic winder of this embodiment, the yarn trap 15 is an air suction
part configured to catch a yarn by means of an air suction force.
10 [O 1 181 Accordingly, the disconnected yarn can be sucked and caught by the air suction
force. Additionally, applying the suction force at a time of the winding operation, too,
can collect cotton fly generated from the yarn.
[O 1 191 In the automatic winder of this embodiment, the yarn accumulation device 18 is
arranged between the winding part 8 and the yarn joining device 14.
15 [O120] Accordingly, the winding of the yarn into the package 30 is not interrupted
during the yarn joining. Therefore, a winding state of the package 30 is not disordered.
Moreover, this configuration shortens a time cycle of the yarn joining, which can prevent
run-out of the yarn accumulated on the yarn accumulation device 18. This allows
removal of a yarn fault or replacement of a bobbin to be performed without interrupting
20 the winding of the yarn into the package 30.
[0121] In the automatic winder of this embodiment, the upper yarn guide part includes
the upper yarn pull-out part 48 and the upper yarn catch part 13. The upper yarn
pull-out part 48 sucks the yarn accumulated on the yarn accumulation device 18, and
blows off the yarn to a position at the upstream side of the yarn joining device 14. The
25 upper yam catch part 13 is arranged at the upstream side of the yarn joining device 14,
and configured to catch and introduce the upper yarn 20b thus blown off by the upper
yarn pull-out part 48 to the yarn joining device 14.
[O122] Accordingly, since the upper yarn 20b is blown off and thereby guided to the
yam joining device 14, the configuration for guiding the upper yarn 20b is simple. As a
5 result, the degree of freedom in a layout of configuration parts is improved. Moreover,
since guiding of the upper yarn 20b to the yarn joining device 14 is completed merely by
blowing off the upper yarn 20b, a time required for the operation for guiding the upper
yarn 20b is shortened and thus the production efficiency of the package 30 is improved.
[0123] In the automatic winder of this embodiment, the upper yarn guide part further
10 includes the deflection guide member 60 that guides the upper yarn 20b, which has been
blown off by the upper yarn pull-out part 48, to the upper yam catch part 13.
[O124] Since the upper yam 20b blown off by the upper yarn pull-out part 48 is guided
to the upper yarn catch part 13 by the deflection guide member 60, the upper yarn pull-out
part 48 and the upper yarn catch part 13 can be freely arranged. This improves the
15 degree of freedom in a layout.
[0125] In the automatic winder of this embodiment, the deflection guide member 60 is
a tube-like member, in which the slit 63 is formed along a longitudinal direction of a tube.
The deflection guide member 60 is arranged at a position deviated from the yarn travel
path through which the yarn travels at a time of yarn winding.
20 [O126] The deflection guide member 60 having such a tube-like shape allows the upper
yarn 20b to pass through the inside of the tube and thereby reliably guides the upper yarn
20b to the upper yarn catch part 13. Since the slit 63 is formed in the deflection guide
member 60 having a tube-like shape, the upper yarn 20b having been guided to the upper
yarn catch part 13 can be drawn out through the slit 63. Moreover, since the deflection
25 guide member 60 is not connected with other members, the yarn 20 drawn out through the
slit 63 is not in contact with the deflection guide member 60. In the above-described
configuration, at a time of the normal winding, the yarn 20 is able to travel outside the
deflection guide member 60. This can prevent deterioration in the quality of the yarn 20,
which may otherwise be caused by contact with the deflection guide member 60.
5 [O127] In the automatic winder of this embodiment, the yarn is wound on a
predetermined portion of the yarn accumulation device 18 (the boundary portion between
the cylindrical portion 32c and the proximal side taper portion 32a).
[0128] Since the yarn is wound on the predetermined portion, the yarn end of the yam
wound on the yarn accumulation device 18 is also located at the predetermined portion at
10 a time of yarn disconnection. Accordingly, by sucking this predetermined portion, the
yarn end can be caught for the yarn joining. Therefore, a large suction port such as a
suction mouth for sucking and catching the yarn end from the package 30 is not necessary.
This makes the shape of the upper yarn pull-out part 48 simple, and thus the degree of
freedom in a layout is improved. Additionally, since the suction port of the upper yarn
15 pull-out part 48 can be made small, the air consumption is reduced.
[0129] In the automatic winder of this embodiment, the yarn guide part sucks and
blows off the yarn (upper yam) of the winding part 8 side that is wound on the yarn
accumulation device 18.
[0130] It is easy to catch the yarn end of the yarn wound on the yarn accumulation
20 device 18. Therefore, the yarn of the winding part 8 side is able to be reliably sucked
and caught, and then blown off.
[013 11 Next, a modification of the above-described first embodiment will be described.
In a description of the modification given below, configuration parts identical or similar
to those of the above-described first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference
25 numerals as those of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. In
this modification, as shown in FIG. 14, the yam accumulation device 18 is not provided.
[0132] In this modification, instead of the upper yam guide part (the upper yarn
pull-out part 48, the deflection guide member 60, and the upper yarn catch part 13) of the
first embodiment, an upper yarn guide pipe 91 is provided as the upper yarn guide part
5 (yarn guide part). In this modification, the upper yarn guide pipe 91 guides the upper
yarn 20b of the package 30 side to the yam joining device 14. A configuration of the
upper yarn guide pipe 91 is similar to the configuration of the upper yarn guide pipe 91
included in the conventional automatic winder shown in, for example, FIG. 17.
Therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
10 [0133] FIG. 14 shows a situation where, in a case where the clearer 17 detects a yarn
defect so that the cutter 16 cuts the yarn 20, the lower yarn 20a is sucked and held by the
yarn trap 15 while the upper yarn guide pipe 91 is swung up to suck and catch the upper
yarn 20b. In this state, if the upper yarn guide pipe 91 is swung down in order to guide
the upper yam 20b to the yarn joining device 14, the upper yarn guide pipe 91 would
15 move in a trajectory on which the lower yam 20a between the yarn trap 15 and the yarn
supply bobbin 21 exists. Thus, if the upper yam guide pipe 91 having the conventional
configuration is swung down, this upper yarn guide pipe 91 would be tangled in the lower
yarn 20a, which may hinder introduction of the upper yarn 20b to the yarn joining device
14.
20 [O134] Therefore, in this embodiment, a yarn retraction part is formed in the upper yarn
guide pipe 91. The yarn retraction part temporarily retracts the lower yarn 20a
extending to the yarn trap 15 from the yam supply bobbin 21. More specifically, an
advance surface 91c that advances at a time when the upper yarn guide pipe 91 is swung
down is configured as an inclined portion. Accordingly, when the upper yarn guide pipe
25 91 is swung down, the lower yarn 20a can be pushed aside by the advance surface 91c
that is configured as the inclined portion. This allows the upper yarn guide pipe 91 to
pass without being tangled in the lower yarn 20a. As a result, the upper yarn 20b can be
introduced to the yarn joining device 14. Here, it may be also acceptable that a
mechanism for retracting the lower yarn 20a at a time when the upper yam guide pipe 91
5 is swung down is provided independently of the upper yam guide pipe 91.
[0135] As described above, a configuration is also possible in which the upper yarn
20b is guided to the yarn joining device 14 by means of the conventional yarn guide
member (upper yarn guide pipe 91). In this configuration as well, when the cutter 16
cuts the yarn 20, the lower yarn 20a is sucked and caught by the yarn trap 15, and then
10 directly introduced to the yam joining device 14. Therefore, as compared with the
conventional configuration (the configuration shown in FIG. 17) in which both the upper
yam 20b and the lower yarn 20a are guided by means of the yarn guide pipes 91 and 92, a
simple configuration is achieved and additionally a time required for the yam joining is
shortened.
15 [0136] As thus far described, the automatic winder of this modification is configured as
follows. The upper yarn guide pipe 91 serving as the yarn guide part is configured to
guide the yarn of the package 30 side to the yarn joining device 14 by swinging from the
package 30 side to the yarn supply bobbin 21 side beyond the yarn joining device 14
under a state where the yarn of the package 30 side is sucked and caught by the upper
20 yarn guide pipe 91. Moreover, the yarn retraction part is formed in the yarn guide part.
The yarn retraction part is configured to retract the yarn extending from the yarn supply
bobbin to the yarn catch part, from the trajectory along which the upper yarn guide pipe
91 is swung so as to guide the upper yam 20b to the yarn joining device 14.
[0137] Retracting the yarn existing between the yarn supply bobbin 21 and the yarn
25 trap 15 allows the upper yarn guide pipe 91 that is swingable to guide the yam to the yarn
joining device 14.
[0138] In the automatic winder of the modification described above, the yarn retraction
part is an inclined portion formed in the advance surface that advances at a time when the
yarn guide part is swung so as to guide the yam to the yarn joining device.
5 [0139] In this configuration, the lower yarn 20a existing between the yam supply
bobbin 2 1 and the yarn trap 15 is pushed aside and thus retracted by the inclined portion,
and then the upper yam guide pipe 91 is swung. This prevents the upper yarn guide pipe
91 from being tangled in the lower yarn 20a. Therefore, the upper yarn guide pipe 91 is
able to guide the upper yarn 20b to the yarn joining device 14.
10 [O140] Next, another modification of the embodiment described above will be
described. A configuration of this modification is the same as that of the winder unit
100 shown in FIG. 14, except that a clamp portion is provided instead of the yarn trap 15.
[0141] The clamp portion is configured to grip the yam. The clamp portion is
arranged such that it is not in contact with a yam path at a time of the normal winding.
15 The clamp portion is configured to grip the yarn between the clearer 17 and the yarn
joining device 14 in response to a control signal supplied from the control part 25.
Similarly to the yarn trap 15 of the embodiment described above, the clamp portion is
configured to be moved in the direction away from the yarn path by the driving part.
[0142] In this configuration, when the clearer 17 detects a yarn fault, the control part
20 25 causes the cutter 16 to cut the yarn, and simultaneously transmits the control signal to
the clamp portion to thereby cause the clamp portion to grip the yam end of the lower
yarn after the cutting. Under this condition, the control part 25 causes the driving part to
retract the clamp portion. As a result, the yam end gripped by the clamp portion is
directly introduced to the yarn joining device 14.
25 [0143] As described above, in the automatic winder of this modification, the yarn catch
part is the clamp portion configured to catch the yarn by gripping the yarn.
[O144] In this case, simultaneously with disconnection of the yarn by the cutter, the
clamp portion catches the yarn. Accordingly, cutting and catching of the yam are
reliably achieved.
5 [0145] Next, still another modification of the embodiment described above will be
described. A configuration of this modification is the same as that of the winder unit
100 shown in FIG. 14, except that the clamp portion is provided instead of the yarn trap
15 and that the cutter 16 is not provided.
[0146] In this configuration, when the clearer 17 detects a yarn fault, the control part
10 25 transmits the control signal to the clamp portion, to cause the clamp portion to grip the
yarn that is traveling. As a result, the yarn is torn at a position between the clamp
portion and the winding part 8. Under this condition, the control part 25 causes the
driving part to retract the clamp portion. As a result, the yam end gripped by the clamp
portion is directly introduced to the yarn joining device 14. In this manner, the yarn can
15 be disconnected by the clamp portion. Therefore, it can be said that the clamp portion of
this modification also acts as the yarn disconnecting part.
[0147] In this manner, the clamp portion serves as both the yarn disconnecting part and
the yarn catch part, thereby enabling the disconnected yarn to be reliably caught. That is,
in a configuration in which the yam is cut by a cutter, gripping of the yam may be failed
20 if a timing when the cutter cuts the yarn and a timing when the clamp portion grips the
yarn are not in synchronization. In this respect, in the above-described configuration in
which the yarn is disconnected by causing the clamp portion to grip and tear the yarn, the
yarn has been already gripped at the time point when the yarn is disconnected, and
therefore no failure in gripping the yarn occurs. Accordingly, the yarn disconnected
25 upon detection of a yam defect can be reliably introduced to the yarn joining device 14.
[0148] As thus far described, in the automatic winder of this modification, the yarn
catch part is the clamp portion arranged between the yam joining device and the winding
part, and the clamp portion also acts as the yarn disconnecting part by gripping the yarn
that is traveling.
5 [O149] In this case, the yarn catch part simultaneously disconnects and catches the yarn
by causing the clamp portion to grip the yarn between the yarn supply bobbin and the
winding part. Thus, since disconnection of the yarn is achieved by the clamp portion,
the yarn end is caught without fail.
[0150] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In a
10 description of the modification given below, configuration parts identical or similar to
those of the above-described first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference
numerals as those of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
[0151] As shown in FIG. 15, a winder unit 100 included in an automatic winder
according to this embodiment includes a yarn accumulation device of different type from
15 that of the above-described first embodiment. In the following, this yarn accumulation
device 64 will be described with reference to FIG. 16.
[0152] As shown in FIG. 16, the yam accumulation device 64 includes a rotation shaft
casing 70, a yarn accumulation part 71, and a yarn guide part 72. The rotation shaft
casing 70 includes a cylindrical tube portion 78 that is open at the upper side thereof, and
20 a flange portion 79 that is formed at an open end portion of the tube portion 78. The
upper yarn pull-out part 48 is arranged at the immediately upstream side of the yarn
accumulation device 64.
[0153] The yarn accumulation part 71 is arranged above the flange portion 79. The
yarn accumulation part 71 includes a support plate 81 having a disk shape, a plurality of
25 rod members 82 that protrude upward from the support plate 81, and a mounting plate 83
having a disk shape to which distal end portions of the plurality of rod members 82 are
connected. The yarn accumulation part 71 is arranged such that there is a gap between
the support plate 81 and the flange portion 79. A winding tube 75, which will be
described later, is rotatable within the gap.
5 [0154] The plurality of rod members 82 are arranged side by side at regular intervals
on the circumference of a circle that is perpendicular to the vertical direction. These rod
members 82 define a substantially cylindrical shape of the yarn accumulation part 71.
The yarn 20 is wound on an outer circumferential portion of the yarn accumulation part
71 having a substantially cylindrical shape defined by the plurality of rod members 82.
10 Thereby, the yarn 20 is accumulated on the yarn accumulation part 71.
[0155] The yarn guide part 72 is arranged within the rotation shaft casing 70. In the
rotation shaft casing 70, an introduction hole 80 is formed in a lower portion (at the end
opposite to the yarn accumulation part 71 side) of the tube portion 78. The guide tube
34 of the upper yarn pull-out part 48 is connected to the introduction hole 80. The yam
15 20 pulled out from the yarn supply bobbin 21 is guided to the introduction hole 80 by the
guide tube 34, and led through the introduction hole 80 to the yarn guide part 72.
[0156] Within the tube portion 78, the rotation shaft casing 70 and a rotation shaft 73
are arranged. The rotation shaft 73 is mounted to the yarn accumulation part 71 in a
relatively rotatable manner. A servomotor (yam accumulation driving part) 55 is
20 incorporated between the rotation shaft 73 and the tube portion 78, and thus the positive
rotation and the reverse rotation of the rotation shaft 73 are allowed. A yarn passage 74
in the shape of an axial hole is provided at the center of the rotation shaft 73.
[0157] A winding tube (winding means) 75 having a cylindrical shape is fixed to one
end of the rotation shaft 73 (an end portion thereof opposite to the introduction hole 80
25 side). The winding tube 75 is slightly inclined upward, and obliquely extends out
through the gap between the rotation shaft casing 70 (flange portion 79) and the support
plate 81. A part of a distal end portion of the winding tube 75 slightly protrudes out
from the rotation shaft casing 70. The winding tube 75 is rotatable integrally with the
rotation shaft 73. The inside of the winding tube 75 is connected to the yarn passage 74.
5 [OI 581 In the above-described configuration, the yarn 20 is led through the introduction
hole 80 of the yarn guide part 72 into the rotation shaft casing 70, and then passes through
the yarn passage 74 and the inside of the winding tube 75, and then is discharged from the
distal end of the winding tube 75. As a result, the yarn 20 is guided to a side surface
portion of the yarn accumulation part 71. Accordingly, when the servomotor 55 is
10 driven in a positive direction, the winding tube 75 is rotated together with the rotation
shaft 73, thus winding the yarn 20 around the side surface portion.
[0159] In the yarn accumulation part 71, each of the plurality of rod members 82 is
arranged such that it is inclined more inward of the yarn accumulation part 71 at a
location farther from its end at the support plate 81 side and closer to its end at the
15 mounting plate 83 side. Such inclination of the rod member 82 causes the yarn wound
on the yarn accumulation part 71 to move upward in a sliding manner. Accordingly,
when the winding tube 75, which will be described later, continuously wind the yam 20,
the yarn wound on the inclined portion moves upward. Thus, in the side surface portion
formed of the rod members 82, the yarn 20 is accumulated while being orderly arranged
20 into a spiral shape.
[O160] Similarly to the above-described first embodiment, the upper yam pull-out part
48 includes the guide tube 34 and the air ejection nozzle 49. As shown in FIG. 16, the
air ejection nozzle 49 is connected to the electromagnetic valve 51 that is controlled by
the control part 25. The electromagnetic valve 51 is connected to the compressed air
25 source 46. An air ejection port of the air ejection nozzle 49 is formed such that air is
ejected toward the upstream side with respect to the direction of traveling of the yarn.
[0161] In the second embodiment, to pull out the yarn from the yarn accumulation
device 64, the control part 25 stops the servomotor 55 and puts the electromagnetic valve
5 1 into the open state, to generate an air stream in the guide tube 34. Thereby, the yarn
5 can be pulled out from the yarn accumulation device 64.
[0162] As shown in FIG. 16, in this embodiment as well, a direction in which air is
ejected from the upper yarn pull-out part 48 is oriented to a position where the yarn inlet
61 of the deflection guide member 60 is arranged. In this second embodiment as well,
the above-described configuration enables the upper yarn of the yarn accumulation device
10 64 side to be guided to the yarn joining device 14.
[0163] Next, a modification of the above-described second embodiment will be
described. In the yarn accumulation device 64 of the second embodiment, the rod
members 82 are inclined in order that the yam is wound while being orderly arranged in
the yarn accumulation part 71. However, such a configuration causes a problem that the
15 yarn wound on the rod members 82 is loosened as the yarn moves upward. Accordingly,
instead of inclining the rod members, a member that actively transfers the yarn upward
may be provided. For example, it may be acceptable that a yarn in a yarn accumulation
part is actively transferred upward by means of a roller member.
[0164] While some preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications
20 thereof have been described above, the above-described configurations can be changed,
for example, as follows.
[0165] In the above-described first embodiment, to pull out the yarn from the yarn
accumulation device 18, the roller drive motor 33 causes a reverse rotation of the yarn
accumulation roller 32. However, in a case where the upper yam pull-out part 48
25 pulling out the upper yarn 20b exerts a sufficiently strong force, it may be acceptable to
merely put the roller drive motor 33 into a neutral mode.
[0166] In the foregoing description of the embodiments, because the description is
given based on the drawings, the lower yarn 20a is firstly guided and then the upper yam
20b is guided. However, this is not limiting. The upper yarn 20b may be firstly guided.
5 In the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 17, if the lower yarn 20a and the upper
yam 20b are simultaneously guided, a problem arises that the two yarn guide pipes 91 and
92 interfere with each other. Therefore, the upper yarn and the lower yarn cannot be
simultaneously guided. However, in the configurations of the above-described
embodiments or modifications thereof, the number of yarn guide pipes is at most one.
10 Therefore, the problem of interference between yarn guide pipes does not occur.
Accordingly, in the automatic winders according to the above-described embodiments or
modifications thereof, the lower yarn 20a and the upper yarn 20b can be simultaneously
guided.
[O167] In the above, the yarn trap 15 can be driven in the direction toward and away
15 from the yam travel path. However, this configuration may be omitted, and instead the
yam trap 15 may be fixed at a position away from the yarn travel path (position that
allows the lower yarn 20a to be introduced to the yarn joining device 14). However,
such a configuration cannot bring the yarn trap 15 close to the yarn travel path at a time of
the normal winding. Therefore, it is difficult to strongly apply the suction stream to the
20 yarn 20, and there is a possibility that cotton fly adhering to the yarn 20 cannot be reliably
removed. Such a configuration also involves a possibility that, when a yarn defect is
detected so that the yarn 20 is cut, a yarn end of the lower yarn cannot be caught.
Accordingly, it is preferable that the yarn trap 15 can be driven in the direction toward
and away from the yarn travel path, as described in the embodiments above.
25 [0168] The shape of the deflection guide member 60 is not limited to the one adopted
in the above-described embodiments. Any appropriate shape is adoptable, as long as the
air ejected from the upper yarn pull-out part 48 can be appropriately guided to the upper
yarn catch part 13. For example, in a case where it is possible to arrange the upper yarn
catch part 13 at a position to which air ejected from the upper yarn pull-out part 48 is
5 oriented, the upper yarn 20b can be guided to the upper yam catch part 13 without the
deflection guide member 60. In such a case, therefore, the deflection guide member 60
can be omitted.
[0169] It is not always necessary that each winder unit 2 includes the control part 25,
and instead a plurality of winder units may be controlled by a single control part. In the
10 description given above, the single control part 25 collectively controls a plurality of
members. However, this is not limiting. For example, an individual control part may
be provided corresponding to each member to be controlled.
[0170] The control part 25 is composed of hardware and software. However, it may
be acceptable that the function of the control part 25 is partially or wholly implemented
15 by hardware dedicated therefor.
[0171] In the above-described embodiments, the yarn supply bobbin 21 is fed to the
winder unit 2 by means of the bobbin feeder 26 of magazine type. However, this
configuration is not limiting. For example, in a possible alternative configuration, a tray
having the yarn supply bobbin 21 set thereon may be transported along an appropriate
20 path, to thereby feed the yarn supply bobbin 21 to the winder unit 2.
[0172] In the above-described embodiments, the winding part 8 is configured to
traverse the yarn 20 by means of the traverse drum 24. Instead, for example, an
arm-type traverse mechanism may be adopted to traverse the yarn 20.
[0173] The present invention is not limited to an automatic winder, and the present
25 invention is applicable to other types of yarn winding machines including a yam joining
device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0174] 2 winder unit
5 7 bobbin support part
8 winding part
1 1 lower yarn blow-up part
12 upper yarn catch part
14 yarn joining device
15 yam trap (yarn catch part)
16 cutter
17 clearer (yarn fault detection device)
18 yarn accumulation device
25 control part
15 34 guide tube
49 air ejection nozzle
48 upper yarn pull-out part
60 deflection guide member

52
CLAlMS
1 . A yarn winding machine comprising:
a bobbin support part that supports a yarn supply bobbin;
5 a winding part that winds a yarn from the yam supply bobbin into a package;
a yarn joining device arranged between the bobbin support part and the winding
part, and configured to perform yam joining between a yarn of the yarn supply bobbin
side and a yarn of the package side under a state where a yam extending from the yarn
supply bobbin to the package is disconnected;
10 a yarn guide part that guides the yarn of the package side to the yarn joining
device under a state where the yam is disconnected;
a yarn catch part arranged so as to face a yam travel path between the winding
part and the yarn joining device, and configured to catch the yarn of the yarn supply
bobbin side under a state where the yarn is disconnected; and
15 a driving part that moves the yarn catch part in such a direction that the yarn
caught by the yarn catch part is introduced to the yarn joining device while keeping a
condition in which the yarn is across the yarn joining device.
2. The yarn winding machine according to claim 1, comprising:
20 a yarn defect detection device arranged between the bobbin support part and the
winding part, and configured to detect a yarn defect; and
a yarn disconnecting part that puts the yarn between the yam supply bobbin and
the package into a disconnection state, based on a disconnection signal that is supplied
when the yarn defect detection device detects a yarn defect.
The yarn winding machine according to claim 2, wherein
the yarn disconnecting part is a cutter arranged between the yarn catch part and
the yam defect detection device.
5 4. The yarn winding machine according to claim 3, wherein
the yarn catch part is an air suction part configured to catch a yarn by means of
an air suction force.
5. The yarn winding machine according to claim 3, wherein
10 the yarn catch part is a clamp portion configured to catch a yarn by gripping the
yarn.
The yarn winding machine according to claim 2, wherein
the yarn catch part is a clamp portion arranged between the yarn joining device
15 and the winding part, and the clamp portion also acts as a yam disconnecting part by
gripping a yarn that is traveling.
7. The yarn winding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
the yarn guide part is configured to guide the yarn of the package side to the
20 yarn joining device by moving from the package side to the yarn supply bobbin side
beyond the yam joining device under a state where the yarn of the package side is sucked
and caught by the yarn guide part,
a yarn retraction part is formed in the yarn guide part, the yam retraction part
being configured to retract a yarn extending from the yarn supply bobbin to the yarn catch
25 part, from a trajectory along which the yarn guide part moves so as to guide a yarn to the
yarn joining device.
8. The yarn winding machine according to claim 7, wherein
the yarn retraction part is an inclined portion formed in an advance surface that
5 advances at a time when the yarn guide part moves so as to guide the yarn to the yarn
joining device.
9. The yarn winding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
a yarn accumulation device is arranged between the winding part and the yam
10 joining device.
10. The yarn winding machine according to claim 9, wherein
the yarn guide part includes:
a yarn sucking and ejecting part that sucks a yarn of the winding part
15 side and blows off the yam to a position at an upstream side of the yarn joining device
with respect to a yarn winding direction; and
a second yarn catch part arranged at an upstream side of the yarn
joining device, and configured to catch and introduce the yarn blown off by the yarn
sucking and ejecting part to the yarn joining device.
20
11. The yarn winding machine according to claim 10, wherein
the yarn guide part includes a deflection guide member that guides the yarn
blown off by the yam sucking and ejecting part to the second yarn catch part.
25 12. The yarn winding machine according to claim 1 1, wherein
the deflection guide member is a tube-like member, in which a slit is formed
along a longitudinal direction of a tube,
the deflection guide member is arranged at a position deviated from the yarn
travel path through which the yarn travels at a time of yarn winding.
5
13. The yarn winding machine according to claim 12, wherein
the yarn is wound on a predetermined portion of the yam accumulation device.
14. The yam winding machine according to claim 13, wherein
10 the yarn guide part sucks and blows off the yam of the winding part side that is
wound on the yarn accumulation device.
Dated this 12'~ day of February 2013
Of Anand a