YARN WINDING MACHINE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
5 The present invention relates to a yarn winding
machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as an art in this field, there is
10 known a yarn withdrawal method of a winding package that
is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2-75674. In the yarn withdrawal method of
the winding package, when a suction mouth adapted to suck
a yarn end from the package is adjacent to the package, an
15 initial driving to reversely rotate a winding drum at a low
speed is started and, after the rotation is performed a set
number of times, the winding drum is switched to a normal
reverse rotation, which is faster.
20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a yarn winding machine, when the yarn end from the
package is sucked and caught, a double withdrawal in which
a yarn on a surface of the package is also sucked and caught
may occur, which may cause defect to the package.
25 An object of the present invention is to provide a
yarn winding machine capable of preventing defect in the
package.
A yarn winding machine comprises a winding device
adapted to form a package by winding a yarn; a first catching
30 and guiding device having a suction opening adapted to suck
the yarn from the package , the first catching and guiding
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device being adapted to suck and catch the yarn and to guide
the yarn; and a control section adapted to control the first
catching and guiding device, wherein the control section
is adapted to control the first catching and guiding device
5 to perform a catching operation at a catching region to suck
and catch the yarn from the package, a standby operation
to be under standby at a standby region that is further away
from the package than the catching region, and a guiding
operation to guide the yarn to a target region, and the
10 control section is adapted to adjust at least one of a
stopped position of the suction opening at the standby
region, a period of time the suction opening is stopped at
the standby region, a speed at which the suction opening
moves from the catching region to the standby region, and
15 acceleration of the suction opening moving from the
catching region to the standby region.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an automatic winder
20 including a winder unit according to one embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view and a block diagram
illustrating a structure of the winder unit;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged left-side view illustrating a
portion in proximity to a traverse device of the winder
25 unit;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged right-side view of a portion
in proximity to a cradle of the winder unit;
FIG. 5 is a left-side view of the winder unit;
FIG. 6 is a left-side view of the winder unit;
30 FIG. 7 is a left-side view of the winder unit;
FIG. 8 is a left-side view illustrating a package
3/35
moving to a non-contact position or a contact position;
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relation between
rotational speeds of the package and operations of an
upper-yarn catching member;
5 FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a relation between
the rotational speeds of the package and the operations of
the upper-yarn catching member according to an alternative
embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a relation between
10 the rotational speeds of the package and the operations of
the upper-yarn catching member according to a still further
alternative embodiment; and
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a relation between
the rotational speeds of the package and the operations of
15 the upper-yarn catching member according to a further
alternative embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will
20 be hereinafter described in detail with reference to the
attached drawings. The same reference numerals are
denoted on the same or corresponding portions throughout
the drawings, and redundant description will be omitted.
An overall configuration of an automatic winder 1
25 including a winder unit (yarn winding machine) 10 of the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
1. "Upstream" and "downstream" in the present
specification respectively indicate upstream and
downstream in a travelling direction of a yarn 20 at the
30 time of yarn winding.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the automatic winder 1
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includes a plurality of the winder units 10 arranged next
to each other, an automatic doffing device 80 and a machine
setting device 90.
Each of the winder units 10 is capable of forming a
5 package 30 by winding a yarn 20 unwound from a yarn supplying
bobbin 21 while traversing the yarn 20.
When the package 30 is fully wound in each winder unit
10, the automatic doffing device 80 travels to a position
of the relevant winder unit 10 and removes the fully-wound
10 package 30 from the winder unit 10. The automatic doffing
device 80 may supply an empty bobbin to the winder unit 10
after removing the package 30.
The machine setting device 90 includes a setting
section (input section) 91 and a display section 92. The
15 setting section 91 is capable of performing setting to each
wider unit 10 when an operator inputs a predetermined set
value (control value) or selects an appropriate control
method. The display section 92 is capable of displaying
a winding status of the yarn 20 of each winder unit 10,
20 contents of an occurred trouble, or the like.
Next, a configuration of the winder unit 10 will be
specifically described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8 . As
illustrated in FIG. 2, each winder unit 10 includes a
winding unit main body 16 and a unit control section
25 (control section) 50.
The winding unit main body 16 includes a yarn
unwinding assisting device 12, a tension applying device
13, a splicer device (yarn joining device) 14 and a clearer
(yarn defect detecting section) 15 sequentially arranged
30 from a side of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in a yarn
travelling path between the yarn supplying bobbin 21 and
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a contact roller (winding device) 29.
A yarn supplying section 11 adapted to supply the yarn
20 to the winding bobbin 22 is provided in a lower part of
the winding unit main body 16 in a direction of machine
5 height. The yarn supplying section 11 is capable of holding
at a predetermined position, the yarn supplying bobbin 21
transported by a bobbin transportation system, which is not
illustrated.
By lowering a regulating member 40, which covers a
10 core tube of the yarn supplying bobbin 21, in conjunction
with unwinding of the yarn 20 from the yarn supplying bobbin
21, the yarn unwinding assisting device 12 assists the
unwinding of the yarn 20 from the yarn supplying bobbin 21.
The regulating member 40 makes contact with a balloon of
15 the yarn 20, which is formed in an upper portion of the yarn
supplying bobbin 21 with swinging and centrifugal force of
the yarn 20 unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin 21, and
controls the balloon to an appropriate size to assist
unwinding of the yarn 20. A sensor (not illustrated)
20 adapted to detect a chase section of the yarn supplying
bobbin 21 is provided in proximity to the regulating member
40. When the sensor detects lowering of the chase section,
the yarn unwinding assisting device 12 can lower the
regulating member 40 with, e.g., an air cylinder (not
25 illustrated) following the chase section.
The tension applying device 13 applies a
predetermined tension on the travelling yarn 20. The
tension applying device 13 may be, e.g., a gate type in which
movable comb teeth are arranged with respect to fixed comb
30 teeth. The movable comb teeth can be swung by a rotary
solenoid such that the movable comb teeth and the fixed comb
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teeth are engaged with each other or released from each
other. The tension applying device 13 may be, e.g., a disc
type other than the above-described gate type.
The splicer device 14 joins a lower yarn from the yarn
5 supplying bobbin 21 and an upper yarn from the package 30
at the time of a yarn cut performed by the clearer 15 upon
detection of a yarn defect, at the time of a yarn breakage
during unwinding of the yarn 20 from the yarn supplying
bobbin 21, or the like. As a yarn joining device adapted
10 to join the upper yarn and the lower yarn in such a manner,
a mechanical type, a type that uses fluid such as compressed
air, or the like may be employed.
The clearer 15 includes a clearer head 49 in which
a sensor (not illustrated) adapted to detect a thickness
15 of the yarn 20 is arranged, and an analyzer 52 adapted to
process a yarn thickness signal from the sensor. The
clearer 15 detects a yarn defect such as a slub by monitoring
the yarn thickness signal from the sensor. A cutter 39 is
provided in proximity to the clearer head 49 to immediately
20 cut the yarn 20 when the clearer 15 detects the yarn defect.
The clearer 15 may detect a presence or an absence of a
foreign substance included in the yarn 20 as a presence or
an absence of the yarn defect.
Below and above the splicer device 14, there are
25 respectively provided a lower-yarn catching member (second
catching and guiding device) 25 adapted to catch a yarn end
from the yarn supplying bobbin 21 and to guide the yarn end
to the splicer device 14 and an upper-yarn catching member
(first catching and guiding device) 26 adapted to catch a
30 yarn end from the package 30 and to guide the yarn end to
the splicer device 14. The lower-yarn catching member 25
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includes a lower-yarn pipe arm 33 and a lower-yarn suction
opening 32 that is formed at a tip end of the lower-yarn
pipe arm 33. The upper-yarn catching member 26 includes
an upper-yarn pipe arm 36 and an upper-yarn suction opening
5 (suction opening) 35 that is formed at a tip end of the
upper-yarn pipe arm 36.
The lower-yarn pipe arm 33 and the upper-yarn pipe
arm 36 are respectively swingable with shafts 34 and 37 as
a center. An appropriate negative pressure source is
10 connected to each of the lower-yarn pipe arm 33 and the
upper-yarn pipe arm 36. By generating suction flow in the
lower-yarn suction opening 32 and the upper-yarn suction
opening 35, the yarn ends of the upper yarn and the lower
yarn can be sucked and caught. The upper-yarn catching
15 member 26 is swung independently from the lower-yarn
catching member 25 with a motor 38 . As the motor 38, various
types of motors such as a servomotor, a step motor or an
induction motor may be employed.
As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, the upper-yarn
20 catching member 26 is arranged in a movable manner such that
the upper-yarn suction opening 35 is positioned at a
catching region Rl, a standby region R2 and a yarn joining
region (target region) R3. The catching region Rl is
located in proximity to the package 30 and is a region where
25 a yarn end 30a of the package 30 can be caught. The standby
region R2 is a region where the upper-yarn suction opening
35 is further away from the package 30 than the catching
region Rl by the upper-yarn pipe arm 36 of the upper-yarn
catching member 26 being swung in a direction to be further
30 away from the package 30 than the catching region Rl. The
yarn joining region R3 is a region where the yarn end 30a,
/ 35
which has been caught in the catching region Rl, is guided
to the splicer device 14 and can be joined by the splicer
device 14. The standby region R2 and the yarn joining
region R3 are regions where the upper-yarn catching member
5 26 is positioned when moving from the catching region Rl
to the splicer device 14.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the winding unit main body
16 includes a cradle (winding device) 23 adapted to support
the winding bobbin 22 in a removable manner and a contact
10 roller 29 capable of rotating while making contact with a
peripheral surface of the winding bobbin 22 or a peripheral
surface of the package 30. The winding unit main body 16
includes in proximity to the cradle 23, an arm-type traverse
device (winding device) 70 adapted to traverse the yarn 20.
15 The winder unit 10 is capable of winding the yarn 20 around
the package 30 while traversing the yarn 20 with the
traverse device 70.
A guide plate 28 is arranged slightly upstream of a
traverse position to guide the upstream yarn 20 to the
20 traverse portion. A ceramic traverse fulcrum 27 is
arranged further upstream of the guide plate 28. The
traverse device 70 traverses the yarn 20 in a winding width
direction of the package 30 (a direction indicated by an
arrow in FIG. 2) with the traverse fulcrum 27 as a fulcrum.
25 The cradle 23 is capable of swinging with a swinging
shaft 48 as a center. An increase in a yarn layer diameter
of the package 30 associated with winding of the yarn 20
around the winding bobbin 22 can be absorbed with swinging
the cradle 23.
30 A package driving motor (driving section, winding
device) 41 formed of, e.g., a servomotor is mounted to the
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cradle 23. The winder unit 10 winds the yarn 20 by
rotationally driving the winding bobbin 22 with the package
driving motor 41. The package driving motor 41 is capable
of rotationally driving the winding bobbin 22 (the package
5 30) in a winding direction as well as in an unwinding
direction A.
A motor shaft of the package driving motor 41 is
coupled to the winding bobbin 22 so as not to be relatively
rotatable with respect to the winding bobbin 22 when the
10 winding bobbin 22 is supported by the cradle 23 (a so-called
direct drive system). Operation of the package driving
motor 41 is controlled by a package driving control section
(control section) 42. The package driving control section
42 controls the package driving motor 41 to operate or stop
15 in response to a drive signal from the unit control section
50. As the package driving motor 41, various types of
motors such as a step motor or an induction motor may be
employed without being limited to the servomotor.
An angle sensor (diameter acquiring section) 44
20 adapted to detect an angle of the cradle 23 is mounted to
the swinging shaft 48. The angle sensor 44 is formed of,
e.g., a rotary encoder and transmits an angle signal, which
corresponds to the angle of the cradle 23, to the unit
control section 50. Since the angle of the cradle 23
25 changes as a wound diameter of the package 30 increases,
the diameter of the package 30 can be detected by detecting
a swing angle of the cradle 23 with the angle sensor 44.
Any appropriate configuration may be employed to detect the
diameter of the package 30 other than the angle sensor 44.
30 For example, a configuration that uses a Hall IC or an
absolute type encoder may be employed to detect the diameter
10 / 35
of the package 30.
Next, a layout of a configuration of the traverse
device 70 and a configuration in proximity to the traverse
device 70 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. In
5 the present embodiment, since the contact roller 29 is
arranged such that an axial direction thereof corresponds
to a lateral direction of the winding unit main body 15,
a side view such as FIG. 3 can be a view in the axial direction
of the contact roller 29. In FIG. 3, rotation of the package
10 30 in the winding direction is clockwise and rotation of
the package 30 in the unwinding direction is
counterclockwise.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the traverse device 70
includes a traverse driving motor 76, an output shaft 77
15 and a traverse arm (traverse guide) 74.
The traverse driving motor 76 is adapted to drive the
traverse arm 74 and is formed of a servomotor or the like.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, operation of the traverse driving
motor 76 is controlled by a traverse control section 78.
20 The traverse driving motor 76 may be another motor such as
a step motor or a voice coil motor.
The traverse control section 78 is formed of hardware
such as a dedicated microprocessor or the like and is
adapted to control the traverse driving motor 76 to operate
25 or stop in response to a signal from the unit control section
50.
Power of the traverse driving motor 76 is transmitted
to a base-end portion of the traverse arm 74 via an output
shaft 77 illustrated in FIG. 3. Since a rotor of the
30 traverse driving motor 76 forwardly and reversely rotates,
the traverse arm 74 swings into and/or out of the page of
11 / 35
FIG. 3 (in a left-right direction (traverse direction) of
FIG. 2) . The traverse arm 74 in FIG. 3 indicates a position
at a traverse end portion.
A hook-shaped yarn guiding section 73 is formed at
5 a tip-end portion of the traverse arm 74. The yarn guiding
section 73 can hold and guide the yarn 20. The yarn guiding
section 73 reciprocates the yarn 20 in a state of holding
the yarn 20, thereby allowing traverse of the yarn 20.
Next, a configuration of the cradle 23 will be
10 described in further detail with reference to FIG. 4. As
illustrated in FIG. 4, the winding unit main body 16
includes a swinging plate 17 adapted to be capable of
swinging with the swinging shaft 48 as a center. The cradle
23 swings with the swinging shaft 48 as a center in a unified
15 manner with the swinging plate 17. A spring 18 formed as
a tension spring to gradually decrease contact pressure and
an air cylinder 60 are connected to the swinging plate 17.
A predetermined swinging torque can be applied to the cradle
23 with the spring 18 and the air cylinder 60.
20 The air cylinder 60 is configured as a double-acting
cylinder that includes a piston 601 in an interior thereof.
In FIG. 4, compressed air of air pressure PI and compressed
air of air pressure P2 are respectively supplied to a
cylinder chamber in a right side and a cylinder chamber in
25 a left side of a drawing of the piston 601.
An electro-pneumatic regulator 61 is connected to a
pipe that supplies the compressed air of the air pressure
P2 to the air cylinder 60. The electro-pneumatic regulator
61 is capable of adjusting the air pressure P2 steplessly.
30 The electro-pneumatic regulator 61 performs control of the
air pressure P2 based on a control signal input from the
12 / 35
unit control section 50.
In a configuration illustrated in FIG. 4, since force
of the air cylinder 60 to pull the cradle 23 increases when
the air pressure P2 is decreased, torque that causes the
5 cradle 23 to swing to a front side of the winding unit main
body 16 with the swinging shaft 48 as a center increases.
Since the contact roller 29 is arranged closer to the front
side of the winding unit main body 16 than the swinging shaft
48, contact pressure between the package 30 and the contact
10 roller 29 can be increased with the decrease in the air
pressure P2. On the contrary, since the force of the air
cylinder 60 to pull the cradle 23 is weakened when the air
pressure P2 is increased, torque that causes the cradle 23
to swing to a rear side of the winding unit main body 16
15 with the swinging shaft 48 as a center increases.
Consequently, the contact pressure between the package 30
and the contact roller 29 can be weakened. By further
increasing the air pressure P2, the package 30 can even be
located away from a surface of the contact roller 29.
20 The air cylinder 60 can swing the cradle 23 and thereby
move the package 30. In this case, the package 30 can be
moved to a position where the package 30 is located away
from the contact roller 29 (a position where the package
30 is not in contact with the contact roller 29) and a
25 position where the package 30 is in contact with the contact
roller 29.
The unit control section 50 includes, e.g., a Central
Processing Unit (CPU), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read
Only Memory (ROM), an Input-and-Output (I/O) port and a
30 communication port. A program to control each component
of the winding unit main body 16 is recorded in the ROM.
13 / 35
Each section, which is provided in the winding unit main
body 16, and the machine setting device 90 are connected
to the I/O port and the communication port, allowing
communication of control information or the like.
5 Consequently, the unit control section 50 can control
operations of each section provided in the winding unit main
body 16.
The unit control section 50 transmits a drive signal
to the package driving control section 42 to control a
10 rotational driving (rotational speed) of the package
driving motor 41. The unit control section 50 controls
operations of the lower-yarn catching member 25 and the
upper-yarn catching member 26 (swings of the lower-yarn
pipe arm 33 and the upper-yarn pipe arm 36) . Specifically,
15 the unit control section 50 controls the motor 38 of the
upper-yarn catching member 26 to perform a catching
operation at the catching region Rl to suck and catch the
yarn 20 , a standby operation to be under standby at the
standby region R2 and a guiding operation to guide the yarn
20 20 to the yarn joining region R3.
The unit control section 50 adjusts the upper-yarn
catching member 26 according to the package diameter of the
package 30 detected by the angle sensor 44, a length of the
yarn defect in the yarn 20 detected by the clearer 15 and
25 a rotational speed of the package 30. The unit control
section 50 adjusts at least one of a stopped position of
the upper-yarn suction^opening 35 at the standby region R2,
a period of time the upper-yarn suction opening 35 is
stopped at the standby region R2, a speed at which the
30 upper-yarn catching member 26 moves from the catching
region Rl to the standby region R2 and acceleration of the
14 / 35
upper-yarn catching member 26 moving from the catching
region Rl to the standby region R2.
Specifically, the unit control section 50 sets, e.g. ,
a period of standby time (stopping time) of the upper-yarn
5 catching member 26 at the standby region R2 based on the
length of the yarn defect of the yarn 20 detected by the
clearer 15. The unit control section 50 sets a separation
distance between the package 30 and the catching region Rl
and a separation distance between the package 30 and the
10 stopped position of the upper-yarn suction opening 35 at
the standby region R2 to be large according to an increase
in the diameter of the package 30 detected by the angle
sensor 44. That is, the unit control section 50 controls
the upper-yarn catching member 26 such that the upper-yarn
15 suction opening 35 is further away from the package 30 as
the diameter of the package becomes large . The unit control
section 50 sets the stopped position of the upper-yarn
suction opening 35 at the standby region R2 according to
the rotational speed (a yarn guiding speed) of the package
20 30.
The setting section 91 of the machine setting device
90 illustrated in FIG. 1 sets a number of rotations, which
is a number of times the package 30 is rotated at a yarn-end
catching speed (to be described later in detail) in the
25 unwinding direction A when continuation of the yarn 20 is
disconnected (hereinafter referred to as a "yarn
disconnection and the like") by a yarn cut performed by the
clearer 15 upon detection of the yarn defect, a yarn
breakage during unwinding of the yarn 20 from the yarn
30 supplying bobbin 21, or the like. The setting section 91
sets the number of rotations of the package 30 based on.
15 / 35
e.g., the diameter of the package 30 detected by the angle
sensor 44, or the like. In a case, e.g. , where the diameter
of the package 30 is small, the setting section 91 sets the
number of rotations large since the yarn end 30a is unlikely
5 to come off a surface of the package 30. In a case where
the diameter of the package 30 is large, the setting section
91 sets the number of rotations small since the yarn end
30a is likely to come off the surface of the package 30.
The setting section 91 transmits the set number of rotations
10 of the package 30 to the unit control section 50.
The setting section 91 may set the number of rotations
of the package 30 in the unwinding direction A at-the time
of the yarn disconnection and the like based on information
that has been set and input in advance. In other words,
15 the setting section 91 sets the number of rotations of the
package 30 based on information input from the setting
section 91 with a key operation and the like by an operator.
In such a configuration, the operator can set the number
of rotations of the package 30 to a desired number.
20 In the above-described winder unit 10, when the yarn
disconnection and the like occurs, the lower yarn and the
upper yarn are required to be joined by the splicer device
14. Thus, the lower yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin
21 is required to be caught by the lower-yarn suction
25 opening 32, and the upper yarn from the package 30 is
required to be caught and withdrawn by the upper-yarn
suction opening 35. Control of a withdrawal operation of
the upper yarn and a yarn withdrawal method both performed
in the winder unit 10 will be described in detail with
30 reference to FIGS. 2 to 9.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the surface of the package
16 / 35
30 is in contact with the contact roller 29 during winding
operation before the yarn disconnection and the like occurs.
As just described, a position of the package 30 where the
package 30 is in contact with the contact roller 29 is
5 hereinafter referred to as a "contact position" and is
indicated by a reference symbol "Q2" in FIGS. 4 and 8.
Immediately after the yarn disconnection and the like
occurs during the winding operation, the unit control
section 50 transmits a drive signal to the
10 electro-pneumatic regulator 61. Since the
electro-pneumatic regulator 61 is driven based on the drive
signal, the air pressure P2 of the air cylinder 60 is changed,
thereby, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8, causing the cradle
23 to be driven in a direction to be located away from the
15 contact roller 29. The unit control section 50 transmits
a drive signal to the traverse control section 78 to drive
the traverse driving motor 76 and causes the traverse arm
74 to be under standby at a position located at one end in
the traverse direction.
20 The package 30 is moved away from the contact roller
29 and is held at a predetermined position where the package
30 is not in contact with the contact roller 29. The
position of the moved package 30 of this time is hereinafter
referred to as a "non-contact position" and is indicated
25 by a reference symbol "Ql" in FIG. 8. Simultaneously, the
unit control section 50 transmits the drive signal to the
package driving control section 42 to decelerate and stop
the rotation of the package 30 and then to start rotating
the package 30 in the unwinding direction (a direction
30 indicated by an arrow A) . At this time, as illustrated in
FIG. 9, the unit control section 50 rotationally drives the
17 / 35
package driving motor 41 at the yarn-end catching speed (a
first speed).
The unit control section 50 sets the yarn-end
catching speed, e.g., as follows. In the case where the
5 diameter of the package 30 is small, since the yarn end 30a
is unlikely to come off the surface of the package 30, the
unit control section 50 sets the yarn-end catching speed
so as to slowly rotate the package 30. In the case where
the diameter of the package 30 is large, since the yarn end
10 30a is likely to come off the surface of the package 30,
the unit control section 50 sets the yarn-end catching speed
faster in comparison with the case where the diameter of
the package 30 is small.
Furthermore, the unit control section 50 swings the
15 upper-yarn pipe arm 36 by transmitting a drive signal to
the upper-yarn catching member 26 and, as illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 9, moves the upper-yarn suction opening 35 to
a position at the catching region Rl in proximity to the
surface of the package 30. Then, under a state where the
20 package 30 at the non-contact position Ql is being rotated
at the yarn-end catching speed in the unwinding direction
A, the upper-yarn suction opening 35 performs the catching
operation. With the above-described catching operation,
the yarn end 30a of the upper yarn connected to the package
25 30 can be sucked and caught by the upper-yarn suction
opening 35.
When the package 30 is rotated at the yarn-end
catching speed the number of times set by the setting
section 91 and the yarn end 30a is sucked and caught by the
30 upper-yarn suction opening 35 in the above-described
catching operation, the unit control section 50 drives the
/ 35
cradle 23 in a direction to be closer to the contact roller
29. Consequently, the package 30 returns to the contact
position Q2 where the package 30 is in contact with the
contact roller 29. At this time, since the rotation of the
5 package 30 in the unwinding direction A is continued, the
package 30 rotates in the unwinding direction A while being
in contact with the contact roller 29, and thereby the
contact roller 29 rotates with the package 30.
When the yarn end 30a of the package 30 is sucked and
10 caught by the upper-yarn suction opening 35, the unit
control section 50 controls the upper-yarn catching member
26 to swing the upper-yarn pipe arm 36 and, as illustrated
in FIGS. 6 and 9, moves the upper-yarn suction opening 35
to a position at the standby region R2 where the upper-yarn
15 suction opening 35 is located away from the package 30 and
then stops the upper-yarn suction opening 35.
Simultaneously, the unit control section 50 transmits the
drive signal to the package driving control section 42 and,
as illustrated in FIG. 9, rotationally drives the package
20 30 under the yarn guiding speed, which is faster than the
yarn-end catching speed, in the unwinding direction A.
With the above-described catching operation, the upper yarn
of the package 30 is further sucked and caught by the
upper-yarn suction opening 35.
25 Subsequently, the unit control section 50 controls
the upper-yarn catching member 26 to swing the upper-yarn
pipe arm 36 and, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9, moves the
upper-yarn suction opening 35 to the yarn joining region
R3. Simultaneously, the unit control section 50 transmits
30 the drive signal to the package driving control section 42
to decelerate and stop the rotation of the package 30.
19 / 35
Consequently, the package 30 stops to be rotationally
driven. As described above, the yarn end 30a of the package
30 is caught by the upper-yarn suction opening 35 and the
yarn 20 is guided to the splicer device 14.
5 As described above, in the winder unit 10 of the
present embodiment, the unit control section 50 controls
the upper-yarn catching member 26 to perform the catching
operation to suck and catch the yarn end 30a of the package
30 at the catching region Rl, and then to perform the standby
10 operation to stop and be under standby at the standby region
R2 where the upper-yarn catching member 26 is further away
from the package 30 than the catching region Rl. The
standby operation of the upper-yarn catching member 26 is
adjusted according to the diameter of the package 30, the
15 length of the yarn defect included in the yarn 20 and the
rotational speed of the package 30. Accordingly, this
allows prevention of a double withdrawal in the winder unit
10 in which a yarn 20 on the surface of the package 30 is
also sucked and caught when sucking the yarn end 30a from
20 the package 30. In addition, the yarn end 30a of the package
30 can be reliably caught. In the winder unit 10, a defect
in the package 30 thus can be prevented.
In the present embodiment, when the upper-yarn
catching member 26 is located at the standby region R2 after
25 catching at the catching region Rl the yarn end 30a of the
package 30 rotating at the yarn-end catching speed, the unit
control section 50 controls the package driving motor 41
to rotationally drive the package 30 at the yarn guiding
speed that is faster than the yarn-end catching speed.
30 Consequently, in the winder unit 10, the yarn 20 can be
guided to the splicer device 14 at a high speed by the
20 / 35
upper-yarn catching member 26, thereby allowing reduction
in time. In the winder unit 10, operation efficiency thus
can be improved.
In the present embodiment, the unit control section
5 50 controls the package driving motor 41 to rotationally
drive the package 30 at the yarn-end catching speed the
number of rotations set by the setting section 91. Then,
after the package 30 is rotated the number of rotations,
the unit control section 50 controls the package driving
10 motor 41 to proceed to the operation of rotationally driving
the package 30 at the yarn guiding speed. In this manner,
in the winder unit 10, by assuming without using a sensor
and the like that the upper-yarn catching member 26 has
caught the yarn end 30a of the package 30, switching from
15 the yarn-end catching speed to the yarn guiding speed can
be performed with a simple configuration and control.
In the present embodiment, when continuation of the
yarn 20 is disconnected, the unit control section 50
controls the traverse arm 74 to be under standby at one end
20 of the traverse direction. Therefore, in the winder unit
10, when performing the yarn joining operation or the like
upon disconnection of the yarn 20, the yarn 20 can be
prevented from being caught in the traverse arm 74.
Consequently, damage on the traverse arm 74 and/or a
25 disconnection of the yarn 20 guided by the upper-yarn
catching member 2 6 can be prevented.
In the present embodiment, when the upper-yarn
catching member 26 catches the yarn end 30a of the package
30, in other words, when the upper-yarn suction opening 35
30 of the upper-yarn catching member 26 is located at the
catching region Rl, the air cylinder 60 of the winder unit
21 / 35
10 brings the package 30 and the contact roller 29 into the
non-contact state. Consequently, in the winder unit 10,
when catching the yarn end 30a of the package 30, the yarn
end 30a can be prevented from being sandwiched between the
5 package 30 and the contact roller 29 and from sticking to
the surface of the package 30. In the winder unit 10, the
yarn end 30a of the package 30 thus can be reliably caught.
In the present embodiment, the upper-yarn catching
member 26 is driven by the independently arranged motor 38.
10 In the winder unit 10, operation of the upper-yarn catching
member 26 thus can be independently and accurately
controlled.
The present invention is not limited to the
above-described embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 10,
15 the unit control section 50 may control the package driving
motor 41 such that the rotational speed of the package 30
at the yarn-end catching speed is changed in two stages.
The yarn-end catching speed includes the first speed at
which the upper-yarn catching member 26 starts catching the
20 yarn end 30a of the package 30 and a second speed that is
faster than the first speed.
The unit control section 50 controls the package
driving motor 41 such that the package 30 is rotated under
the second speed after being rotationally driven under the
25 first speed. Consequently, the yarn end 30a of the package
30 can be reliably caught by the upper-yarn suction opening
35 of the upper-yarn catching member 26.
As illustrated in FIG. 11, the unit control section
50 rotationally drives the package 30 at the yarn-end
30 catching speed in the unwinding direction A, and causes the
upper-yarn suction opening 35 of the upper-yarn catching
22 / 35
member 26 to be located at the catching region Rl to catch
the yarn end 30a of the package 30. After rotationally
driving the package 30 in the unwinding direction A a
predetermined number of times, the unit control section 50
5 moves the upper-yarn suction opening 35 of the upper-yarn
catching member 26 in the direction to be located away from
the package 30 and rotationally drives the package 30 in
the winding direction. Then, after rotationally driving
the package 30 in the winding direction a predetermined
10 number of times, the unit control section 50 rotationally
drives the package 30 at the yarn-end catching speed in the
unwinding direction A and causes the upper-yarn suction
opening 35 of the upper-yarn catching member 26 to be
located at the catching region Rl again.
15 Subsequently, the unit control section 50
rotationally drives the package 30 at the yarn guiding speed
in the unwinding direction A and causes the upper-yarn
suction opening 35 of the upper-yarn catching member 26 to
be located at the standby region R2. Consequently, since
20 a slack of the yarn 20 can be eliminated on the package 30,
the upper-yarn catching member 26 can be prevented from
catching the yarn 20 that is located on a surface layer of
the package 30.
In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the package
25 30 is rotationally driven in the winding direction after
being rotationally driven at the yarn-end catching speed
in the unwinding direction A. However, the rotational
driving in the unwinding direction A may be maintained
instead of rotationally driving the package 30 in the
30 winding direction at this point. Even in this case, the
slack of the yarn 20 can be eliminated on the package 30.
23 / 35
In this case, a stopping time at the catching region Rl when
the upper-yarn suction opening 35 temporarily moves to the
catching region Rl may be short.
As illustrated in FIG. 12, when the upper-yarn
5 catching member 26 is located at the catching region Rl and
the standby region R2, the unit control section 50 may
control the rotational speed of the package driving motor
41 to be constant.
In the above-described embodiment, the package 30 is
10 rotationally driven directly by the package driving motor
41, however, in the present invention, any method in which
the contact roller 29 is rotationally driven to rotate the
package 30 may be employed. In this case, if the package
30 is moved to the non-contact position Ql and is rotated
15 in the unwinding direction A, a mechanism for rotating the
package 30 in the unwinding direction A is further provided
in the winder unit 10. In the case of the method in which
the contact roller 29 is rotationally driven to rotate the
package 30, the rotational speed of the package 30 is not
20 directly controlled, but rotational speed of the contact
roller 29 is controlled.
In the above-described embodiment, although the unit
control section 50 controls the rotational speeds (yarn-end
catching speed, yarn guiding speed) of the package 30 by
25 controlling the package driving motor 41, a peripheral
speed of the package 30 (travelling speed of the yarn 20)
merely needs to be controlled as the rotational driving of
the package 30.
In the above-described embodiment, although the
30 arm-type traverse device 70 is described as an example, the
traverse device may be a drum having a traverse groove, a
24 / 35
belt-type traverse or a rod-type traverse.
In the above-described embodiment, although the
configuration in which the winder unit 10 includes the air
cylinder 60 is described as an example, the winder unit 10
5 does not necessarily include the air cylinder 60.
In the above-described embodiment, although an
assumption is made that the upper-yarn catching member 26
has caught the yarn 20 when the package 30 is rotationally
driven in the unwinding direction A the number of rotations
10 set by the setting section 91, a sensor may be provided in
the upper-yarn catching member 26, and the sensor may detect
that the yarn 20 has been caught by the upper-yarn catching
member 26.
In the above-described embodiment, the diameter of
15 the package 30 is detected by detecting the swing angle of
the cradle 23 with the angle sensor 44. However, the
package diameter may be detected by another method. The
diameter of the package 30 can be obtained based on, e.g.,
a total length of the yarn 20 that has been wound around
20 the package 30, a winding speed of the yarn 20 and a yarn
type (a thickness or the like of the yarn 20).
The diameter of the package 30 may also be obtained
by measuring time from the start of winding the yarn 20.
In a case where the winding speed and the yarn type (the
25 thickness or the like of the yarn 20) are known, the diameter
of the package 30 can be obtained by calculating based on
the time elapsed from the start of winding the yarn 20. By
storing in advance a relation between the time elapsed from
the start of winding and the diameter of the package 30 in
30 the unit control section 50, the diameter of the package
30 can be obtained based on the elapsed time. When the
25 / 35
winding is interrupted by the yarn disconnection, the yarn
joining operation, or the like, measurement of the elapsed
time from the start of winding is interrupted.
The diameter of the package 30 may also be calculated
5 based on the travelling speed of the yarn 20. Specifically,
a traverse angle is calculated by the travelling speed of
the yarn 20 and the traverse speed. Furthermore, the
peripheral speed of the package 30 is obtained based on the
traverse angle and the yarn travelling speed. Then, the
10 diameter of the package 30 is calculated based on the
rotational speed of the package 30 and the peripheral speed
of the package 30.
A yarn winding machine according to the present
invention includes a winding device adapted to form a
15 package by winding a yarn, a first catching and guiding
device adapted to suck and catch the yarn from the package
and to guide the yarn, and a control section adapted to
control the first catching and guiding device. The first
catching and guiding device includes a suction opening
20 adapted to suck the yarn from the package. The control
section is adapted to control the first catching and guiding
device to perform a catching operation at a catching region
to suck and catch the yarn from the package, a standby
operation to be under standby at a standby region that is
25 further away from the package than the catching region, and
a guiding operation to guide the yarn to a target region.
The control section is adapted to adjust at least one of
a stopped position of the suction opening at the standby
region, a period of time the suction opening is stopped at
30 the standby region, a speed at which the suction opening
moves from the catching region to the standby region, and
26 / 35
acceleration of the suction opening moving from the
catching region to the standby region.
In the yarn winding machine, the control section
controls the first catching and guiding device to perform
5 the catching operation at the catching region to suck and
catch the yarn from the package and then to perform the
standby operation to be under standby at the standby region
where the first catching and guiding device is further away
from the package than the catching region. The standby
10 operation of the first catching and guiding device is
adjusted according to a diameter of the package and/or a
length of a yarn defect included in the yarn. This allows
prevention of a double withdrawal in which a yarn on a
surface of the package is also sucked and caught when
15 sucking a yarn end from the package. In addition, the yarn
from the package can be reliably caught. Therefore, in the
yarn winding machine, defect in the package can be prevented.
Furthermore, in the yarn winding machine, the standby
operation can be appropriately adjusted according to the
20 diameter of the package and/or the length of the yarn defect
included in the yarn.
In one embodiment, the control section may adjust
operation of the first catching and guiding device
according to the diameter of the package and a rotational
25 speed of the package. With this configuration, in the yarn
winding machine, the yarn of the package can be further
reliably caught. Furthermore, in the yarn winding machine,
the yarn from the package, which is being caught by the first
catching and guiding device, is prevented from being
30 released from a caught status and the yarn on the surface
of the package is prevented from being caught.
27 / 35
In one embodiment, the yarn winding machine further
includes a diameter acquiring section adapted to acquire
the diameter of the package. The control section may adjust
operation of the first catching and guiding device such that
5 a distance from the package to the catching region and a
distance from the package to the standby region become large
according to an increase in the diameter of the package
acquired by the diameter acquiring section. With this
configuration, in the yarn winding machine, the yarn from
10 the package can be appropriately sucked and caught
according to the diameter of the package.
In one embodiment, the yarn winding machine further
includes a yarn defect detecting section adapted to detect
the length of the yarn defect when the yarn defect is
15 included in the yarn being wound around the package. The
control section may adjust the operation of the first
catching and guiding device according to the length of the
yarn defect detected by the yarn defect detecting section.
With this configuration, in the yarn winding machine, since
20 a standby time of the suction opening at the standby region
can be set long in a case where the length of the yarn defect
is large, the yarn defect can be appropriately removed.
In one embodiment, the yarn winding machine may
further include an input section adapted to input a control
25 value relating to the adjustment. With this configuration,
in the yarn winding machine, since an operator can input
a desired control value, the yarn from the package can be
appropriately sucked and caught.
In one embodiment, the yarn winding machine further
30 includes a motor adapted to independently drive the first
catching and guiding device. With this configuration, in
28 / 35
the yarn winding machine, the operation of the first
catching and guiding device can be independently and
accurately controlled.
In one embodiment, the winding device may include a
5 driving section adapted to rotationally drive the package
in an unwinding direction under a first speed when the first
catching and guiding device is located at the catching
region, and adapted to rotationally drive the package in
the unwinding direction under a second speed, which is
10 higher than the first speed, when the first catching and
guiding device is located at the standby region. With this
configuration, in the yarn winding machine, a sufficient
length of the yarn can be sucked and caught by the first
catching and guiding device.
15 In one embodiment, the yarn winding machine may
further include a yarn supplying section adapted to supply
the yarn to be wound around the package, a second catching
and guiding device adapted to catch the yarn from the yarn
supplying section and to guide the yarn, and a yarn joining
20 device adapted to join the yarn from the package guided by
the first catching and guiding device and the yarn from the
yarn supplying section guided by the second catching and
guiding device after continuation of the yarn between the
yarn supplying section and the package is disconnected.
25 With this configuration, in the yarn winding machine, since
the yarn is guided under a state where the yarn on the surface
of the package is prevented from being caught, yarn joining
operation can be appropriately performed and then winding
of the yarn around the package can be smoothly resumed,
30 In one embodiment, a yarn supplying bobbin around
which a yarn is wound may be set in the yarn supplying section,
29 / 35
with this configuration, in the yarn winding machine, the
yarn joining operation can be appropriately performed and
then the winding of the yarn around the package can be
smoothly resumed.
5 In one embodiment, the yarn winding machine may
further include a traverse guide provided independently
from a contact roller adapted to rotate in contact with the
package, and adapted to traverse the yarn wound around the
package. The control section may control the traverse
10 guide to be under standby at one end in a traverse direction
when continuation of the yarn is disconnected. With this
configuration, in the yarn winding machine, when the yarn
joining operation or the like is performed upon
disconnection of continuation of the yarn, the yarn is
15 prevented from being caught in the traverse guide.
30 / 35

' ORIGINAL ' 5 2 6 4^^^^ 1 3
WE CLAIM Q ^ I^Qy 2Q15
1. A yarn winding machine comprising:
a winding device adapted to form a package by winding
a yarn;
5 a first catching and guiding device having a suction
opening adapted to suck the yarn from the package , the first
catching and guiding device being adapted to suck and catch
the yarn and to guide the yarn; and
a control section adapted to control the first
10 catching and guiding device,
wherein the control section is adapted to control the
first catching and guiding device to perform a catching
operation at a catching region to suck and catch the yarn
from the package, a standby operation to be under standby
15 at a standby region that is further away from the package
than the catching region, and a guiding operation to guide
the yarn to a target region, and
the control section is adapted to adjust at least one
of a stopped position of the suction opening at the standby
20 region, a period of time the suction opening is stopped at
the standby region, a speed at which the suction opening
moves from the catching region to the standby region, and
acceleration of the suction opening moving from the
catching region to the standby region.
25
2. The yarn winding machine according to claim 1,
wherein the control section is adapted to adjust operation
of the first catching and guiding device according to a
diameter of the package and a rotational speed of the
30 package.
31 / 35
10
orr-MAL • M*2i«
3. The yarn winding machine according to claim 2,
further comprising a diameter acquiring section adapted to
acquire the diameter of the package,
wherein the control section is adapted to adjust
operation of the first catching and guiding device such that
a distance from the package to the catching region and a
distance from the package to the standby region become large
according to an increase in the diameter of the package
acquired by the diameter acquiring section.
4 . The yarn winding machine according to any one of
claim 1 through claim 3, further comprising a yarn defect
detecting section adapted to detect a length of a yarn
defect when the yarn defect is included in the yarn being
15 wound around the package,
wherein the control section is adapted to adjust
operation of the first catching and guiding device
according to the length of the yarn defect detected by the
yarn defect detecting section.
20
5. The yarn winding machine according to any one of
claim 1 through claim 4, further comprising an input section
adapted to input a control value relating to the adjustment.
25 6. The yarn winding machine according to any one of
claim 1 through claim 5, further comprising a motor adapted
to independently drive the first catching and guiding
device.
30 7. The yarn winding machine according to any one of
claim 1 through claim 6, wherein the winding device includes
32 / 35
O K I ^ I N A L 0 4 NOV 28U
/"*\.
«j ^ o 't DEI J 3
a driving section adapted to rotationally drive the package
in an unwinding direction under a first speed when the first
catching and guiding device is located at the catching
region, and adapted to rotationally drive the package in
5 the unwinding direction under a second speed when the first
catching and guiding device is located at the standby region,
the second speed being higher than the first speed.
8 . The yarn winding machine according to any one of
10 claim 1 through claim 7, further comprising:
a yarn supplying section adapted to supply the yarn
to be wound around the package;
a second catching and guiding device adapted to catch
the yarn from the yarn supplying section and to guide the
15 yarn; and
a yarn joining device adapted to join the yarn from
the package guided by the first catching and guiding device
and the yarn from the yarn supplying section guided by the
second catching and guiding device after continuation of
20 the yarn between the yarn supplying section and the package
is disconnected.
9. The yarn winding machine according to claim 8,
wherein a yarn supplying bobbin around which a yarn is wound
25 can be set in the yarn supplying section.
10. The yarn winding machine according to any one
of claim 1 through claim 9, further comprising a traverse
guide provided independently from a contact roller adapted
30 to rotate in contact with the package, the traverse guide
being adapted to traverse the yarn wound around the package.
33 / 35
10
0!^;'^:^NAt /""%. u h
M
M EL 13
0 4 my Z013
wherein the control section is adapted to control the
traverse guide to be under standby at one end in a traverse
direction when continuation of the yarn is disconnected.
5 11. A yarn winding machine, substantially as
herein described with reference to accompanying drawings
and examples.