WINDING MACHINE, AUTOMATIC WINDER, AND METHOD FOR
INSPECTING YARN JOINED PORTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. 5 . Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a yarn winding
machine, an automatic winder, and a method for inspecting
a yarn joined portion.
10 2. Description of the Related Art
A yarn winding machine adapted to wind a yarn of a
yarn supplying bobbin into a package is known. In the yarn
winding machine, after a yarn defect is removed or the yarn
supplying bobbin is replaced, a yarn joining operation of
15 joining a lower yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin and an
upper yarn from a package is carried out by a yarn joining
device. In such a yarn winding machine, when settings such
as a yarn type, a count, and the like are changed to produce
a package of a predetermined specification, for example,
20 a yarn joining nozzle in the yarn joining device is replaced
or a set item (e.g., joint length, twist applying time, or
the like) in the yarn joining device is adjusted.
When the setting is changed in the yarn winding
machine, a dimension or a strength of a yarn joined portion
25 of the yarn, which is a portion joined by the yarn joining
device, is inspected to check whether or not the replaced
yarn joining nozzle is an appropriate nozzle or whether or
not adjustment in the yarn joining device is appropriately
made.
30 Specifically, sampling of the yarn including the yarn
joined portion is carried out a plurality of times for each
3
yarn winding machine in which the setting has been changed.
Then, the dimension of the yarn joined portion is visually
inspected, and the strength of the yarn joined portion is
inspected with a separately arranged measuring instrument
(see e.g., JP S55-101561A and JP H01-024706B5 ).
However, when the dimension of the yarn joined
portion is visually inspected, inspection accuracy may not
be maintained constant. Furthermore, when the strength of
the yarn joined portion is inspected by the measuring
10 instrument, time and effort are greatly required such as
carefulness is required in associating the yarn winding
machine and the sampled yarn, and the like.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
15 It is an object of the present invention to provide
a yarn winding machine, an automatic winder, and a method
for inspecting a yarn joined portion which facilitate
inspection of a dimension and a strength in a yarn joined
portion and which enables inspection accuracy to be
20 maintained constant.
A yarn winding machine of the present invention
includes a winding section adapted to wind a yarn of a yarn
supplying bobbin supported by a bobbin supporting section;
a yarn joining device adapted to join a yarn from the yarn
25 supplying bobbin and a yarn from a package between the
bobbin supporting section and the winding section; a
dimension acquiring section adapted to acquire a dimension
of a yarn joined portion where the yarn is joined by the
yarn joining device; a strength acquiring section adapted
30 to acquire a strength of the yarn joined portion; and a
control section capable of switching between a normal mode
4
in which the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin is wound to
form a package and an inspection mode in which the dimension
and the strength of the yarn joined portion acquired by the
dimension acquiring section and the strength acquiring
section are output as inspection 5 values.
An automatic winder of the present invention includes
a plurality of the yarn winding machines described above;
and a machine control device capable of controlling the
plurality of yarn winding machines, wherein the control
10 section is arranged on the machine control device.
A method for inspecting a yarn joined portion of the
present invention is a method for inspecting a dimension
and a strength of a yarn joined portion of a yarn using a
dimension acquiring section and a strength measuring
15 section arranged in a yarn winding machine, in the yarn
winding machine adapted to wind the yarn unwound from a yarn
supplying bobbin supported by a bobbin supporting section
with a winding section to produce a package, the method
including a yarn joining step, a first winding step, a
20 dimension acquiring step, a gripping step, a second winding
step, and a strength acquiring step. In the yarn joining
step, a yarn from the bobbin supporting section and a yarn
from the winding section are joined. In the first winding
step after the yarn joining step, the winding section winds
25 the yarn until a yarn joined portion of the yarn is passed
through the dimension acquiring section, the yarn joined
portion not being wound into the package. In the dimension
acquiring step, the dimension acquiring section acquires
a dimension of the yarn joined portion of the yarn wound
30 in the first winding step. In the gripping step after the
dimension acquiring step, the yarn is gripped at upstream
5
in a yarn travelling direction of the strength measuring
section. In the second winding step, the winding section
pulls the yarn by winding the yarn gripped in the gripping
step. In the strength acquiring step, the strength
measuring section acquires the tension of the yarn 5 pulled
in the second winding step.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an automatic winder
10 including a winder unit according to one embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a schematic
configuration of the winder unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the winder
unit of FIG. 2;
15 FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a state
where a clamp cover of a lower yarn catching section of FIG.
2 is opened;
FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating a state
where the clamp cover of the lower yarn catching section
20 of FIG. 2 is closed;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processes
in an inspection mode; and
FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a schematic
configuration of a winder unit according to an alternative
25 embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of the present invention will be
hereinafter described with reference to the drawings. The
30 same reference numerals are denoted on the same components
in the description of the drawings, and redundant
6
description will be omitted. The dimensional ratio in the
drawings may not necessarily match the dimensional ratio
in the description.
First, with reference to FIG. 1, an overall
configuration of an automatic winder 1 including a 5 winder
unit (yarn winding machine) 10 of one embodiment will be
described. “Upstream” and “downstream” respectively
refer to upstream and downstream in a travelling direction
of a yarn at the time of yarn winding.
10 As illustrated in FIG. 1, the automatic winder 1
includes a plurality of winder units 10 arranged side by
side, an automatic doffing device 80, and a machine control
device 90 as main components. The winder unit 10 is a device
adapted to wind a yarn Y unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin
15 B into a winding bobbin WB while traversing the yarn Y to
produce a package P.
When the package P is fully wound in each winder unit
10, the automatic doffing device 80 travels to a position
of the winder unit 10, discharges the fully-wound package
20 P from the winder unit 10, and supplies an empty winding
bobbin WB to the winder unit 10.
The machine control device 90 includes a setting
section 91 and a display section 92 as main components. The
setting section 91 enables an operator to input a
25 predetermined set value or select an appropriate control
method to carry out setting with respect to each winder unit
10. The display section 92 is configured to be able to
display winding status of the yarn Y in each winder unit
10, content of trouble that occurred, and the like. The
30 display section 92 may be configured by a touch panel, and
the setting section 91 may be included in the display
7
section 92.
Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a description will
be specifically made on a configuration of the winder unit
10. As illustrated in FIG. 2, each winder unit 10 includes
a unit main body 60, a bobbin supporting section 11, a 5 yarn
unwinding assisting device 15, a yarn tension applying
device 21, a tension sensor (yarn tension detecting device)
25, a yarn joining device 31, a lower yarn catching section
33, an upper yarn catching section 37, a yarn monitoring
10 device 41, a winding section 51, and a unit control section
70 as main components.
The unit main body 60 supports the yarn unwinding
assisting device 15, the yarn tension applying device 21,
the tension sensor 25, the yarn joining device 31, the lower
15 yarn catching section 33, the upper yarn catching section
37, the yarn monitoring device 41, and the winding section
51. The unit main body 60 has the unit control section 70,
to be described in detail later, incorporated therein.
The unit main body 60 includes a setting section 61
20 and a display section 63. The setting section 61 enables
an operator to input a predetermined set value or select
an appropriate control method to carry out setting with
respect to the winder unit 10. The display section 63
displays winding status of the yarn Y in the winder unit
25 10, content of trouble that occurred, inspection values
acquired in the inspection mode, and the like. The display
section 63 may be configured by a touch panel, and the
setting section 61 may be included in the display section
63.
30 The bobbin supporting section 11 holds the yarn
supplying bobbin B, which has been conveyed by a bobbin
8
conveying system (not illustrated), at a predetermined
position.
The yarn unwinding assisting device 15 assists
unwinding of the yarn Y from the yarn supplying bobbin B
by lowering a regulating member 16 covering a core tube 5 ube of
the yarn supplying bobbin B accompanying the unwinding of
the yarn Y from the yarn supplying bobbin B. The regulating
member 16 is brought into contact with a balloon of the yarn
Y formed at an upper part of the yarn supplying bobbin B
10 by rotation and a centrifugal force of the yarn Y unwound
from the yarn supplying bobbin B to control the balloon of
the yarn Y to an appropriate size. A sensor (not
illustrated) for detecting a chase portion of the yarn
supplying bobbin B is arranged in proximity to the
15 regulating member 16. When this sensor detects lowering
of the chase portion, the yarn unwinding assisting device
15 lowers the regulating member 16 by an air cylinder (not
illustrated), for example, following the lowering of the
chase portion.
20 The tension applying device 21 applies a
predetermined tension on the travelling yarn Y. The
tension applying device 21 may be a gate-type tension
applying device in which movable comb teeth are arranged
with respect to fixed comb teeth. The movable comb teeth
25 are swung by a rotary solenoid so that the movable comb teeth
are engaged with or released from the fixed comb teeth. A
disc-type tension applying device, for example, may be
adopted instead of the gate-type tension applying device
21 described above.
30 The tension sensor 25 is arranged between the yarn
tension applying device 21 and the yarn joining device 31,
9
and is mounted on the upper surface of a guide plate 23.
The tension sensor 25 measures the tension of the travelling
yarn Y, and transmits a tension measurement signal to the
unit control section 70.
The yarn joining device 31 joins a lower 5 yarn from
the yarn supplying bobbin B and an upper yarn from the
package P after the yarn monitoring device 41 detects a yarn
defect and cuts the yarn, after yarn breakage occurs during
unwinding of the yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin B, and
10 the like. A device that uses fluid such as compressed air
may be used as the yarn joining device 31 adapted to join
the upper yarn and the lower yarn.
A lower yarn catching section (gripping section) 33
adapted to catch a yarn end of the lower yarn and guide the
15 yarn end to the yarn joining device 31 is arranged below
the yarn joining device 31. The lower yarn catching section
33 includes a lower yarn pipe arm 34, a lower yarn suction
port 34A formed at a distal end of the lower yarn pipe arm
34, and a clamp cover 35 adapted to open/close the lower
20 yarn suction port 34A, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B.
The lower yarn pipe arm 34 is supported by the unit
main body 60 so as to be swingable with an axis A1 as the
center (see FIG. 2). An appropriate negative pressure
source is connected to the lower yarn pipe arm 34. The lower
25 yarn pipe arm 34 generates a suction flow at the lower yarn
suction port 34A to suck and catch the yarn end of the lower
yarn.
As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the clamp cover 35 is biased
by a spring and the like (not illustrated) so that a clamping
30 section 35A, which is an opposing section with respect to
the lower yarn suction port 34A, closes the lower yarn
10
suction port 34A. According to such a configuration, the
clamp cover 35 is normally in a state of closing the lower
yarn suction port 34A. In the present embodiment, the yarn
Y pulled by the winding section 51 is required to be securely
gripped to inspect the strength in the inspection m5 ode.
Thus, the spring having a spring constant that can withstand
the pulling is used.
Normally, the lower yarn suction port 34A is made of
metal, and the clamping section 35A is made of resin. In
10 order to securely grip the yarn Y pulled by the winding
section 51, the spring of the clamping section 35A for
closing the lower yarn suction port 34A is required to be
made stronger than in the conventional art. Furthermore,
a solenoid application voltage of the yarn tension applying
15 device 21 may be increased in the case of a low count yarn
having a high strength, and the like.
As illustrated in FIG. 4A, when the lower yarn pipe
arm 34 is located at the lowest point, an opener cam 69B
acts on a protrusion 35B formed on the clamp cover 35. The
20 clamp cover 35 is thereby swung in the direction in which
the lower yarn suction port 34A is opened. The opener cam
69B is fixed to the unit main body 60 via an attachment
section 69A. FIG. 4A illustrates a state where the lower
yarn pipe arm 34 is located at the lowest point, but the
25 lower yarn suction port 34A can be opened by a similar
mechanism even when the lower yarn pipe arm 34 is located
at the uppermost point. According to such a configuration
of the lower yarn catching section 33, the lower yarn pipe
arm 34 is swung with the yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin
30 B sucked and caught to be gripped (held), so that the yarn
from the yarn supplying bobbin B is delivered to the yarn
11
joining device 31.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper yarn catching
section 37 adapted to catch a yarn end of the upper yarn
and guide the yarn end to the yarn joining device 31 is
arranged above the yarn joining device 31. The upper 5 yarn
catching section 37 includes an upper yarn pipe arm 38, and
an upper yarn suction port 39 formed at a distal end of the
upper yarn pipe arm 38. The upper yarn pipe arm 38 is
supported by the unit main body 60 so as to be swingable
10 with an axis A2 as the center. An appropriate negative
pressure source is connected to the upper yarn pipe arm 38.
The upper yarn pipe arm 38 generates a suction flow at the
upper yarn suction port 39 to suck and catch the yarn end
of the upper yarn.
15 The yarn monitoring device 41 includes a head 43
provided with a sensor (not illustrated) for detecting a
thickness (dimension) of the yarn Y, and an analyzer 45 for
processing a yarn thickness signal from the sensor. The
yarn monitoring device 41 detects a yarn defect such as slub
20 by monitoring the yarn thickness signal from the sensor.
A cutting device 47 is provided in proximity to the head
43 to immediately cut the yarn Y when the yarn monitoring
device 41 detects the yarn defect.
The yarn monitoring device 41 detects the thickness
25 (dimension) of the yarn in continuation for a predetermined
length to acquire the shape of the yarn joined portion
and/or the yarn defect. In other words, the thickness and
the length (dimension) of the yarn joined portion and/or
the yarn defect can be detected. Thus, for example, a shape
30 in which both ends of the yarn joined portion are thick like
a lump and a shape in which the thickness is gradually
12
changed from both ends toward the center such that the
central portion of the yarn joined portion becomes thick
can be recognized and distinguished.
After the yarn Y is cut with the cutting device 47,
the upper yarn suction port 39 is swung downward with 5 the
upper yarn, which is the yarn end from the package P, being
sucked by the upper yarn suction port 39 of the upper yarn
catching section 37, so that the yarn end of the upper yarn
is delivered to the yarn joining device 31. The lower yarn
10 suction port 34A is swung upward with the lower yarn, which
is the yarn end from the yarn supplying bobbin B, being
sucked by the lower yarn suction port 34A of the lower yarn
catching section 33, so that the yarn end of the lower yarn
is delivered to the yarn joining device 31. The upper yarn
15 and the lower yarn are thus joined by the yarn joining device
31.
The winding section 51 includes a cradle 52, a contact
roller 53, a traverse device 55, and a guide plate 56, and
is supported by a unit main body 60. The cradle 52 is
20 adapted to removably support the winding bobbin WB. The
contact roller 53 is arranged to be able to rotate while
making contact with the peripheral surface of the winding
bobbin WB or the peripheral surface of the package P. The
traverse device 55 traverses the yarn Y. An example of the
25 traverse device 55 is an arm type traverse device. The
guide plate 56 guides the yarn Y located upstream to the
traverse area. A traverse fulcrum 57 made of ceramics is
arranged upstream of the guide plate 56. The traverse
device 55 traverses the yarn Y in a direction indicated with
30 an arrow in FIG. 2 with the traverse fulcrum 57 as a center.
The cradle 52 is supported by the unit main body 60
13
so as to be swingable with a swing axis A3 as the center.
An increase in a diameter of the yarn layer of the package
P accompanying the winding of the yarn Y around the winding
bobbin WB can be absorbed by the swinging of the cradle 52.
A package driving motor 59 configured by a servo 5 motor
is attached to the cradle 52. The package driving motor
59 rotationally drives the winding bobbin WB to wind the
yarn Y around the winding bobbin WB. A motor shaft of the
package driving motor 59 is coupled with the winding bobbin
10 WB so as to be relatively non-rotatable when the winding
bobbin WB is supported by the cradle 52 (so-called direct
rotation configuration).
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the unit control section
70 includes, for example, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I/O port,
15 and a communication port. The ROM stores a program for
controlling each section of the winder unit 10. Each
component of the winder unit 10 and the machine control
device 90 are connected to the I/O port and the
communication port, thus enabling communication of the
20 control information and the like. The unit control section
70 thus can control the operation of each section of the
winder unit 10. For example, the unit control section 70
feedback controls the yarn tension applying device 21 to
obtain an optimum tension that does not cause yarn breakage
25 and the like based on a tension value input from the tension
sensor 25.
The winder unit 10 configured as described above can
enter the inspection mode for every winder unit 10 by the
operation of the operator made through the setting section
30 61 arranged in the unit main body 60. In other words, by
the operation of the operator made through the setting
14
section 61 arranged in the unit main body 60, an inspection
control section 100 in the unit control section 70 switches
from a normal mode in which the yarn Y of the yarn supplying
bobbin B is wound to form the package P to an inspection
mode in which the dimension and the strength of the 5 yarn
joined portion acquired by a dimension acquiring section
110 and a strength acquiring section 120 are output as
inspection values.
The inspection mode is, for example, a mode adopted
10 in the following situations. In other words, the
inspection mode is adopted in a case of checking whether
replacement is made to an appropriate yarn joining nozzle
in the yarn joining device 31, and in a case of checking
whether or not the twist applying air pressure, the joint
15 length, or the twist applying time of the yarn joining
device 31 are appropriately set after the adjustment of the
yarn joining device 31.
In the present embodiment, the strength acquiring
section 120 includes a gripping section 121 adapted to grip
20 the yarn Y pulled out from the yarn supplying bobbin B, a
pulling section 123 adapted to pull the yarn Y gripped by
the gripping section 121, and a strength measuring section
125 adapted to measure the strength of the yarn Y between
the gripping section 121 and the pulling section 123.
25 In the present embodiment, the inspection control
section 100 activates the yarn monitoring device 41 as the
dimension acquiring section 110, the lower yarn catching
section 33 as the gripping section 121, the winding section
51 as the pulling section 123, and the tension sensor 25
30 as the strength measuring section 125.
The inspection control section 100 performs the
15
inspection of the yarn joined portion through the flow
(inspection method) illustrated in FIG. 5. The inspection
control section 100 causes the winding section 51 to wind
the yarn Y for a predetermined length and causes the yarn
monitoring device 41 to acquire the average 5 thickness
information (dimension) of the yarn Y (preparation step S1).
In the preparation step S1, the inspection control section
100 does not activate the cutting device 47 even when a
defect is found in the yarn Y. If the thickness information
10 of the yarn Y is stored in a storage section and the like
(not illustrated) in advance, the preparation step S1 can
be omitted.
Next, the inspection control section 100 causes the
cutting device 47 to cut the travelling yarn Y (cutting step
15 S2). The inspection control section 100 then causes the
yarn joining device 31 to join the yarn Y cut in the cutting
step S2 (yarn joining step S3). The inspection control
section 100 then causes the winding section 51 to wind the
yarn Y (first winding step S4). In the first winding step
20 S4, the yarn Y is wound until the yarn joined portion joined
in the yarn joining step S3 is passed through the detecting
section of the yarn monitoring device 41. In this case,
the yarn joined portion is not wound into the package P.
In the first winding step S4, the yarn Y is wound at a
25 prescribed speed lower than the speed when the yarn Y of
the yarn supplying bobbin B is wound into the package P
(product) (normal mode).
The inspection control section 100 causes the yarn
monitoring device 41 to acquire the thickness of the yarn
30 joined portion of the yarn Y wound by the winding section
51 in the first winding step S4 (dimension acquiring step
16
S5). The inspection control section 100 then causes the
yarn monitoring device 41 to acquire the thickness
(dimension) of the yarn continuously for a predetermined
length. The shape of the yarn joined portion is thereby
acquired. In the inspection mode, the inspection c5 ontrol
section 100 operates the yarn monitoring device 41 as the
dimension acquiring section 110.
The inspection control section 100 then causes the
lower yarn catching section 33 to grip the yarn Y (gripping
10 step S6). In the inspection mode, the inspection control
section 100 operates the lower yarn catching section 33 as
the gripping section of the strength acquiring section. In
the gripping step S6, the yarn Y is gripped by the lower
yarn catching section 33 at the upstream of the tension
15 sensor 25. Next, the inspection control section 100 causes
the winding section 51 to wind the yarn Y gripped by the
lower yarn catching section 33 in the gripping step S6 to
pull the yarn Y, thus causing the yarn Y to break (fall off)
(second winding step S7). In the second winding step S7,
20 the yarn Y is wound at a prescribed speed lower than the
speed when the yarn Y of the yarn supplying bobbin B is wound
into the package P (product) (normal mode).
The inspection control section 100 causes the tension
sensor 25 to acquire the tension at the time of yarn breakage
25 (falling off) of the yarn Y pulled by the winding section
51 in the second winding step S7 (strength acquiring step
S8). In the inspection mode, the inspection control
section 100 operates the tension sensor 25 as the strength
measuring section of the strength acquiring section. In
30 the strength acquiring step S8, the lower yarn catching
section 33 is in a state where the clamping section 35A (see
17
FIG. 4A) (lower yarn suction port 34A) is located at a
position at which the clamping section 35A is rotated upward
from the lowest point by a predetermined angle (state
illustrated in FIG. 4B). When the tension sensor 25 is
operated as the strength detecting section, the dist5 ortion
amount generated by the yarn Y at the timing of yarn breakage
is converted to a load value, and the strength of the yarn
Y is detected in grams.
Next, the inspection control section 100 determines
10 whether or not the cycle from the cutting step S2 to the
strength acquiring step S8 is repeated for a plurality of
times (e.g., ten times) (step S9). When the inspection
control section 100 determines that the cycle is not
repeated for a plurality of times (S9: NO), the process is
15 returned to the cutting step S2, the cycle is repeated until
it is performed for a plurality of times, and the thickness
and the strength of the yarn joined portion are inspected.
When the inspection control section 100 determines that the
cycle is repeated for a plurality of times (S9: YES), the
20 thickness and the strength of the yarn joined portion
acquired from the series of inspection processes are output
as inspection values to the display section 63 of the unit
main body 60.
Next, a description will be made on the operations
25 and effects of the winder unit 10 of the present embodiment.
In the winder unit 10 of the present embodiment, the
inspection control section 100 performs the inspection mode,
the thickness and the strength of the yarn joined portion
are acquired between the bobbin supporting section 11 and
30 the winding section 51, and such thickness and strength are
displayed on the display section 63 of the unit main body
18
60 as inspection values. Thus, the thickness of the yarn
joined portion is output as an inspection value in the
winder unit 10, and hence the inspection accuracy can be
maintained constant compared to the visual inspection.
Furthermore, the strength of the yarn joined portion 5 is
output as an inspection value in the winder unit 10, and
hence the inspection can be easily performed compared to
a case where measurement is performed using a measuring
instrument.
10 Furthermore, in the winder unit 10 of the present
embodiment, when the thickness and the strength of the yarn
joined portion are inspected, an existing device arranged
in the winder unit 10 is used so that a new member is not
required to be added. In other words, in the winder unit
15 10 of the present embodiment, the thickness of the yarn
joined portion is inspected using the existing yarn
monitoring device 41, the yarn is gripped using the lower
yarn catching section 33, the yarn is pulled using the
winding section 51, and the strength of the yarn at the time
20 of yarn breakage is measured using the tension sensor 25.
Thus, the number of components can be reduced and the
structure can be simplified.
Moreover, in the winder unit 10 of the present
embodiment, the inspection control section 100 repeats a
25 series of cycles of causing the dimension acquiring section
110 to acquire the thickness of the yarn joined portion,
and then causing the strength acquiring section 120 to
acquire the strength of the yarn joined portion for a
plurality of times. Thus, the inspection accuracy can be
30 further improved.
In the winder unit 10 of the present embodiment, the
19
inspection control section 100 controls the winding section
51 so that the yarn joined portion is located between the
yarn monitoring device 41 and the winding section 51 when
the strength of the yarn joined portion is inspected in the
inspection mode. Thus, the strength of the 5 yarn joined
portion can be inspected smoothly during winding of the yarn
Y while preventing the yarn joined portion from being wound
into the package P after the inspection of the thickness
of the yarn joined portion.
10 Furthermore, in the winder unit 10 of the present
embodiment, the inspection control section 100 does not
activate the cutting device 47 even when the defect of the
yarn is detected in the inspection mode. Thus, both the
thickness and the strength of one yarn joined portion can
15 be reliably inspected.
In the winder unit 10 of the present embodiment, the
motor shaft of the package driving motor 59 has a so-called
direct rotation configuration in which the motor shaft is
coupled with the winding bobbin WB so as to be relatively
20 non-rotatable when the winding bobbin WB is supported by
the cradle 52. Thus, even the low count yarn having a
relatively high strength can be stably wound.
One embodiment of the present invention has been
described above, but the present invention is not limited
25 to the above-described embodiment.

In the automatic winder 1 of the above-described
embodiment, an example of inspecting the thickness of the
yarn joined portion using the existing yarn monitoring
30 device 41 has been described by way of example, but a
dedicated dimension acquiring section may be separately
20
arranged. Similarly, the strength measuring section, the
gripping section, and the pulling section serving as the
strength acquiring section may be arranged as dedicated
devices.
<5 Second alternative embodiment>
In the automatic winder 1 of the above-described
embodiment, an example in which the inspection control
section 100 is arranged in the unit main body 60, and the
inspection mode is executed for every winder unit 10 by the
10 operation of the operator through the setting section 61
arranged in the unit main body 60 has been described by way
of example, but the present invention is not limited
thereto.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the inspection
15 control section 100 may be arranged in the machine control
device 90 in the automatic winder 1 including a plurality
of winder units (yarn winding machines) 10, and the machine
control device 90 capable of controlling the plurality of
winder units 10. The inspection control section 100 having
20 such a configuration can execute the inspection mode with
respect to all the winder units 10 arranged in the automatic
winder 1 or with respect to one or a plurality of selected
winder units 10 by the operation of the operator through
the setting section 91 arranged in the machine control
25 device 90. Whether to execute the inspection mode with
respect to all the winder units 10 or to execute the
inspection mode with respect to one or a plurality of
selected winder units 10 may be selectable when the operator
operates through the setting section 91.
30 In the automatic winder 1 having the above
configuration, the inspection mode may be executed all at
21
once with respect to a plurality of winder units 10 or the
inspection mode may be executed with respect to one or a
plurality of selected winder units 10. Thus, even in the
automatic winder 1 including a plurality of winder units
10, the dimension and the strength of the yarn 5 joined
portion can be efficiently inspected.

In the above-described embodiment, the motor shaft
of the package driving motor 59 has been described with the
10 winder unit 10 having a so-called direct rotation
configuration in which the motor shaft is coupled with the
winding bobbin WB so as to be relatively non-rotatable by
way of example, but the present invention is not limited
thereto. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a winding
15 section 251 may include a traverse drum 255 having a
traverse groove 255A formed on the peripheral surface. The
traverse drum 255 is rotatable by the driving force of a
motor 259 with the axis A3 of the motor 259 as the center,
and is supported by the unit main body 60. The winding
20 section 251 may be a winder unit 210 having a so-called
driven rotation configuration in which the package P
follows the rotation of the traverse drum 255.
In the winder unit 210 having the driven rotation
configuration, the rotation of the package P may slip with
25 respect to the rotation of the traverse drum 255 when the
low count yarn having a relatively high strength is wound.
The inspection control section 100 thus brings the traverse
drum 255 into contact with the surface of the package P at
a contacting pressure higher than that in the normal mode,
30 rotates the traverse drum 255 at a rotation speed lower than
that in the normal mode, or rotates the traverse drum 255
22
at a driving force higher than that in the normal mode to
avoid such a slip.

In the above-described embodiment, an example of
using the lower yarn catching section 33 as the 5 gripping
section 121 of the strength acquiring section 120 has been
described by way of example, but the present invention is
not limited thereto. For example, the inspection control
section 100 may activate the yarn tension applying device
10 21 as the gripping section 121. In such a case, the yarn
tension applying device 21 reliably grips the yarn Y so that
the yarn Y is not displaced, as opposed to the normal mode.
More specifically, the movable gate is further moved toward
the fixed gate from the state where the yarn tension
15 applying device 21 grips the yarn Y in a zigzag manner, so
that the yarn Y can be sandwiched by the movable gate and
the fixed gate.
Furthermore, a pre-clearer, which is a device
arranged upstream of the yarn tension applying device 21
20 and which is adapted to remove an extremely thick portion
of the yarn Y, the unwound defect portion of the yarn Y,
or the like, may be used as the gripping section 121 of the
strength acquiring section 120. A kink preventer arranged
in the yarn supplying section may be used as the gripping
25 section 121 of the strength acquiring section 120. The kink
preventer is a device that includes a member (e.g.,
brush-like member) adapted so as to be brought into contact
with the yarn supplying bobbin B to apply an unwinding
resistance to prevent the yarn Y from being unwound in
30 excess when the lower yarn catching section 33 sucks the
yarn Y of the yarn supplying bobbin B to unwind the yarn
23
Y from the yarn supplying bobbin B so as to guide the yarn
Y to the yarn joining device 31. The yarn tension applying
device 21, the pre-clearer, and the kink preventer are all
devices arranged upstream of the strength measuring section
1255 .

In the above-described embodiment, an example in
which the strength acquiring section 120 measures the
breakage strength of the yarn Y in step S8 has been described
10 by way of example, but the present invention is not limited
thereto, and for example, a reference value may be set in
a tension measuring range by the tension sensor 25 and
whether or not the strength of the yarn Y is greater than
or equal to the reference value may be measured.
15 In the dimension acquiring step S5 of the
above-described embodiment, the yarn Y has been described
by way of example in which the winding section 51 is
controlled such that the yarn joined portion is located
between the yarn monitoring device 41 and the winding
20 section 51, but the yarn Y may be fed from the winding bobbin,
that is, the winding bobbin WB may be reversely rotated
after the yarn joined portion is wound around the winding
bobbin WB so that the yarn joined portion is located between
the lower yarn catching section 33 and the winding section
25 51.
In the above-described embodiment, the device that
uses fluid such as compressed air has been described by way
of example as the yarn joining device 31 adapted to join
the upper yarn and the lower yarn, but a mechanical knotter
30 and the like may also be used.
A yarn winding machine of the present invention
24
includes a winding section adapted to wind a yarn of a yarn
supplying bobbin supported by a bobbin supporting section;
a yarn joining device adapted to join a yarn from the yarn
supplying bobbin and a yarn from a package between the
bobbin supporting section and the winding 5 section; a
dimension acquiring section adapted to acquire a dimension
of a yarn joined portion where the yarn is joined by the
yarn joining device; a strength acquiring section adapted
to acquire a strength of the yarn joined portion; and a
10 control section capable of switching between a normal mode
in which the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin is wound to
form a package and an inspection mode in which the dimension
and the strength of the yarn joined portion acquired by the
dimension acquiring section and the strength acquiring
15 section are output as inspection values.
In the yarn winding machine, when the control section
performs the inspection mode, the dimension and the
strength of the yarn joined portion are acquired between
the bobbin supporting section and the winding section, and
20 the acquired dimension and strength are output as
inspection values. The dimension of the yarn joined
portion is output as an inspection value in the yarn winding
machine, and hence the inspection accuracy can be
maintained constant compared to the visual inspection.
25 Furthermore, the strength of the yarn joined portion is
output as an inspection value in the yarn winding machine,
and hence the inspection can be easily performed compared
to the measurement using a measuring instrument. The yarn
winding machine herein may be, for example, a single winding
30 unit, and the control section may be arranged in the winding
unit. The yarn winding machine herein may be an automatic
25
winder including a plurality of winding units, and the
control section may be able to collectively control the
plurality of winding units.
In the yarn winding machine of the present invention,
in the inspection mode, the control section may cause 5 se the
dimension acquiring section to acquire the dimension of the
yarn joined portion, and then cause the strength acquiring
section to acquire the strength of the yarn joined portion.
According to the yarn winding machine having such a
10 configuration, both the dimension and the strength of one
yarn joined portion can be reliably inspected.
In the yarn winding machine of the present invention,
in the inspection mode, the control section may repeat, for
a plurality of times, a series of cycles of causing the
15 dimension acquiring section to acquire the dimension of the
yarn joined portion, and then causing the strength
acquiring section to acquire the strength of the yarn joined
portion.
According to the yarn winding machine having such a
20 configuration, the inspection accuracy can be further
improved.
The yarn winding machine of the present invention may
further include a yarn tension detecting device adapted to
measure a tension of the yarn wound by the winding section,
25 wherein the strength acquiring section may include a
gripping section (holding section) adapted to grip (hold)
the yarn pulled out from the yarn supplying bobbin, a
pulling section adapted to pull the yarn gripped by the
gripping section, and a strength measuring section adapted
30 to measure a strength of the yarn being pulled by the pulling
section between the gripping section and the pulling
26
section, and the control section may activate the yarn
tension detecting device as the strength measuring section
in the inspection mode.
According to such a configuration, the strength of
the yarn can be measured using the yarn tension 5 detecting
device which is standardly provided in the yarn winding
machine without separately arranging a dedicated device for
measuring the strength of the yarn, and hence the number
of components can be reduced and the configuration can be
10 simplified. Furthermore, since the yarn pulled out from
the yarn supplying bobbin is gripped by the gripping section
when measuring the strength of the yarn, the portion where
the strength has been measured can be prevented from being
wound into the package (that is, prevented from forming a
15 package including the portion where the strength has been
measured).
The yarn winding machine of the present invention may
further include a yarn catching section adapted to grip the
yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin and deliver the yarn
20 to the yarn joining device when the yarn is cut, wherein
the control section may activate the yarn catching section
as the gripping section in the inspection mode.
According to the yarn winding machine having such a
configuration, the yarn is gripped using the yarn catching
25 section which is standardly provided in the yarn winding
machine without separately arranging a dedicated device for
gripping the yarn when measuring the strength of the yarn,
and hence the number of components can be reduced and the
configuration can be simplified.
30 In the yarn winding machine of the present invention,
the control section may control the winding section such
27
that the yarn joined portion is located between the yarn
catching section and the winding section when the strength
of the yarn joined portion is inspected in the inspection
mode.
According to the yarn winding machine having 5 such a
configuration, for example, the strength of the yarn joined
portion can be smoothly inspected during the winding of the
yarn while preventing the yarn joined portion from being
wound into the package after the inspection on the dimension
10 of the yarn joined portion.
The yarn winding machine of the present invention may
include a yarn monitoring device adapted to monitor
presence or absence of a defect of the yarn based on at least
the dimension of the yarn, wherein the control section may
15 activate the yarn monitoring device as the dimension
acquiring section in the inspection mode.
According to the yarn winding machine having such a
configuration, the dimension of the yarn joined portion is
inspected using the yarn monitoring device, and hence the
20 number of components can be reduced and the configuration
can be simplified.
The yarn winding machine of the present invention may
further include a cutting device adapted to cut the yarn
when the defect of the yarn is detected by the yarn
25 monitoring device, wherein the control section may not
activate the cutting device even when the defect of the yarn
is detected in the inspection mode.
According to the yarn winding machine having such a
configuration, both the dimension and the strength of one
30 yarn joined portion can be reliably inspected.
The yarn winding machine of the present invention may
28
include a setting section capable of accepting execution
of the inspection mode from an operator, wherein the control
section may switch to the inspection mode upon accepting
an execution command of the inspection mode from the setting
5 section.
According to the yarn winding machine having such a
configuration, the operator can measure the dimension and
the strength of the yarn joined portion at any timing. Thus,
for example, the inspection mode can be executed after
10 changing the setting (lot), and the setting of the yarn
joining device can be adjusted based on the inspection
result.
An automatic winder of the present invention includes
a plurality of the yarn winding machines described above;
15 and a machine control device capable of controlling the
plurality of yarn winding machines, wherein the control
section is arranged on the machine control device.
According to the automatic winder having such a
configuration, the inspection mode may be executed all at
20 once with respect to the plurality of yarn winding machines,
or the inspection mode may be executed selectively with
respect to one or a plurality of yarn winding machines.
Thus, even in the automatic winder including the plurality
of yarn winding machines, the dimension and the strength
25 of the yarn joined portion can be efficiently inspected.
A method for inspecting a yarn joined portion of the
present invention is a method for inspecting a dimension
and a strength of a yarn joined portion of a yarn using a
dimension acquiring section and a strength measuring
30 section arranged in a yarn winding machine, in the yarn
winding machine adapted to wind the yarn unwound from a yarn
29
supplying bobbin supported by a bobbin supporting section
with a winding section to produce a package, the method
including a yarn joining step, a first winding step, a
dimension acquiring step, a gripping step, a second winding
step, and a strength acquiring step. In the yarn 5 joining
step, a yarn from the bobbin supporting section and a yarn
from the winding section are joined. In the first winding
step after the yarn joining step, the winding section winds
the yarn until a yarn joined portion of the yarn is passed
10 through the dimension acquiring section, the yarn joined
portion not being wound into the package. In the dimension
acquiring step, the dimension acquiring section acquires
a dimension of the yarn joined portion of the yarn wound
in the first winding step. In the gripping step after the
15 dimension acquiring step, the yarn is gripped at upstream
in a yarn travelling direction of the strength measuring
section. In the second winding step, the winding section
pulls the yarn by winding the yarn gripped in the gripping
step. In the strength acquiring step, the strength
20 measuring section acquires the tension of the yarn pulled
in the second winding step.
In the method for inspecting the yarn joined portion,
the dimension and the strength of the yarn joined portion
are acquired as numerical values using the dimension
25 acquiring section and the strength measuring section
arranged in the yarn winding machine. Thus, the inspection
accuracy can be maintained constant compared to the visual
inspection, and the inspection can be easily performed
compared to the measurement performed using the measuring
30 instrument.
In the method for inspecting the yarn joined portion
30
of the present invention, the yarn winding machine may
include a cutting device adapted to cut the yarn, and the
method may further include a cutting step of cutting the
yarn with the cutting device before the yarn joining step.
In the method for inspecting the yarn 5 joined portion,
the yarn can be cut regardless of the presence or absence
of the yarn defect, and the yarn joined portion of the yarn
can be formed for inspection. Furthermore, even in the yarn
winding machine without a dedicated device for cutting the
10 yarn, the yarn can be cut using the cutting device which
is standardly provided in the winding machine.
In the method for inspecting the yarn joined portion
of the present invention, the steps from the cutting step
to the strength acquiring step may be repeatedly performed.
15 According to the method for inspecting the yarn
joined portion, the inspection accuracy can be further
improved.
In the method for inspecting the yarn joined portion
of the present invention, the dimension acquiring section
20 may monitor presence or absence of a defect of the yarn based
on the dimension of the yarn, and the strength measuring
section may measure a tension of the yarn wound by the
winding section.
According to the method for inspecting the yarn
25 joined portion, even in the yarn winding machine without
a dedicated device for acquiring the dimension of the yarn
and a dedicated device for acquiring the strength of the
yarn, the dimension and the strength of the yarn can be
acquired using the device for monitoring the presence or
30 absence of the defect of the yarn (yarn monitoring device)
and the yarn tension detecting device which are standardly
31
provided in the yarn winding machine.
In the method for inspecting the yarn joined portion
of the present invention, the cutting device may not cut
the yarn even when the defect of the yarn is detected by
the dimension acquiring section between the 5 dimension
acquiring step and the gripping step.
According to the method for inspecting the yarn
joined portion, both the dimension and the strength of one
yarn joined portion can be reliably inspected.
10 The method for inspecting the yarn joined portion of
the present invention further includes a preparation step
of acquiring thickness information of the yarn with the yarn
monitoring device before the cutting step, wherein in the
preparation step, the winding section may wind the yarn by
15 a predetermined length and the dimension acquiring section
may acquire the thickness information of the yarn without
activating the cutting device even when a defect is found
in the yarn.
According to the method for inspecting the yarn
20 joined portion, even when the thickness information of the
yarn that becomes an index in determining the defect of the
yarn is not stored, the information can be acquired in the
course of the inspection on the yarn joined portion, and
the inspection on the dimension and the strength of the yarn
25 can be performed.
In the first winding step and the second winding step
of the method for inspecting the yarn joined portion of the
present invention, the winding section may wind the yarn
at a prescribed speed lower than a winding speed of the yarn
30 in producing the package. The prescribed speed referred
to herein can tolerate a very small speed variation.
32
According to the method for inspecting the yarn
joined portion, a strength and elongation property can be
measured.
According to the present invention, the inspection
on the dimension and the strength at the yarn joined 5 portion
can be facilitated, and the inspection accuracy can be
maintained constant.
33

We claim:
1. A yarn winding machine comprising:
a bobbin supporting section adapted to support a yarn
5 supplying bobbin;
a winding section adapted to wind a yarn of the yarn
supplying bobbin supported by the bobbin supporting
section;
a yarn joining device adapted to join a yarn from the
10 bobbin supporting section and a yarn from the winding
section between the bobbin supporting section and the
winding section;
a dimension acquiring section adapted to acquire a
dimension of a yarn joined portion where the yarn is joined
15 by the yarn joining device;
a strength acquiring section adapted to acquire a
strength of the yarn joined portion; and
a control section capable of switching between a
normal mode in which the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin
20 is wound to form a package and an inspection mode in which
the dimension and the strength of the yarn joined portion
acquired by the dimension acquiring section and the
strength acquiring section are output as inspection values.
25 2. The yarn winding machine according to claim 1,
wherein in the inspection mode, the control section causes
the dimension acquiring section to acquire the dimension
of the yarn joined portion, and then causes the strength
acquiring section to acquire the strength of the yarn joined
30 portion.
34
3. The yarn winding machine according to claim 2,
wherein in the inspection mode, the control section repeats,
for a plurality of times, a series of cycles of causing the
dimension acquiring section to acquire the dimension of the
yarn joined portion, and then causing the 5 strength
acquiring section to acquire the strength of the yarn joined
portion.
4. The yarn winding machine according to any one of
10 claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
a yarn tension detecting device adapted to measure
a tension of the yarn wound by the winding section,
wherein the strength acquiring section includes
a gripping section adapted to grip the yarn
15 pulled out from the yarn supplying bobbin,
a pulling section adapted to pull the yarn
gripped by the gripping section, and
a strength measuring section adapted to
measure a strength of the yarn being pulled by the pulling
20 section between the gripping section and the pulling
section, and
the control section activates the yarn tension
detecting device as the strength measuring section in the
inspection mode.
25
5. The yarn winding machine according to claim 4,
further comprising a yarn catching section adapted to grip
the yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin and deliver the yarn
to the yarn joining device when the yarn is cut,
30 wherein the control section activates the yarn
catching section as the gripping section in the inspection
35
mode.
6. The yarn winding machine according to claim 5,
wherein the control section controls the winding section
such that the yarn joined portion is located between 5 the
yarn catching section and the pulling section when the
strength of the yarn joined portion is inspected in the
inspection mode.
10 7. The yarn winding machine according to any one of
claims 1 to 6, further comprising a yarn monitoring device
adapted to monitor presence or absence of a defect of the
yarn based on at least the dimension of the yarn,
wherein the control section activates the yarn
15 monitoring device as the dimension acquiring section in the
inspection mode.
8. The yarn winding machine according to claim 7,
further comprising a cutting device adapted to cut the yarn
20 when the defect of the yarn is detected by the yarn
monitoring device,
wherein the control section does not activate the
cutting device even when the defect of the yarn is detected
in the inspection mode.
25
9. The yarn winding machine according to any one of
claims 1 to 8, further comprising a setting section capable
of accepting execution of the inspection mode from an
operator,
30 wherein the control section switches to the
inspection mode upon accepting an execution command of the
36
inspection mode from the setting section.
10. An automatic winder comprising:
a plurality of the yarn winding machines according
to any one of the claims 1 to 9; 5 ; and
a machine control device capable of controlling the
plurality of yarn winding machines,
wherein the control section is arranged on the
machine control device.
10
11. A method for inspecting a yarn joined portion,
the method being for inspecting a dimension and a strength
of a yarn joined portion of a yarn using a dimension
acquiring section and a strength measuring section arranged
15 in a yarn winding machine, in the yarn winding machine
adapted to wind the yarn unwound from a yarn supplying
bobbin supported by a bobbin supporting section with a
winding section to produce a package, the method
comprising:
20 a yarn joining step of joining a yarn from the bobbin
supporting section and a yarn from the winding section;
a first winding step of, after the yarn joining step,
causing the winding section to wind the yarn until a yarn
joined portion of the yarn formed in the yarn joining step
25 is passed through the dimension acquiring section, the yarn
joined portion not being wound into the package;
a dimension acquiring step of causing the dimension
acquiring section to acquire a dimension of the yarn joined
portion of the yarn wound in the first winding step;
30 a gripping step of, after the dimension acquiring
step, gripping the yarn at upstream in a yarn travelling
37
direction of the strength measuring section;
a second winding step of causing the winding section
to pull the yarn by winding the yarn gripped in the gripping
step; and
a strength acquiring step of causing the 5 strength
measuring section to acquire a strength of the yarn pulled
in the second winding step.
12. The method for inspecting the yarn joined
10 portion according to claim 11, wherein
the yarn winding machine includes a cutting device
adapted to cut the yarn, and
the method further includes a cutting step of cutting
the yarn with the cutting device before the yarn joining
15 step.
13. The method for inspecting the yarn joined
portion according to claim 12, wherein the steps from the
cutting step to the strength acquiring step are repeatedly
20 performed.
14. The method for inspecting the yarn joined
portion according to claim 13, wherein the dimension
acquiring section monitors presence or absence of a defect
25 of the yarn based on the dimension of the yarn, and the
strength measuring section measures a tension of the yarn
wound by the winding section.
15. The method for inspecting the yarn joined
30 portion according to claim 14, wherein the cutting device
does not cut the yarn even when the defect of the yarn is
38
detected by the dimension acquiring section between the
dimension acquiring step and the gripping step.
16. The method for inspecting the yarn joined
portion according to claim 14 or 15, further comprising 5 ing a
preparation step of acquiring thickness information of the
yarn with the dimension acquiring section before the cutting step,wherein in the preparation step, the winding section winds the yarn by a predetermined length and the dimension acquiring section acquires the thickness information of the yarn without the cutting device cutting the yarn even when a defect is found in the yarn.
15 17. The method for inspecting the yarn joined
portion according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein in the first winding step and the second winding step, the winding section winds the yarn at a prescribed speed lower than a winding speed of the yarn in producing the package.