FIBER BUNDLE CONDENSING DEVICE OF SPINNING MACHINE

Abstract

 A fiber bundle condensing device (11) of a spinning machine includes a suction pipe (14) that is disposed downstream of a drafting device (10), and an air-permeable apron (15) mounted on the suction pipe in such a manner as to surround the suction pipe (14). The fiber bundle condensing device (11) condenses a fiber bundle (F) drafted by the drafting device (10). The fiber bundle condensing device (11) includes a guide member (41) that is attached to the suction pipe (14) at a position corresponding to a mounting position of the air-permeable apron (15) and includes a guide surface (42) adapted to guide movement of the air-permeable apron (15), and a suction slit (43) formed in the guide surface (42); and a fixation tape (51) to fix the guide member (43) to the suction pipe (14).

Description

BACKGROUND ART

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fiber bundle condensing device of a spinning machine.

[0002] A spinning machine, such as a yarn twisting machine and a roving machine, generally includes a drafting device that stretches or drafts a fiber bundle which is a material of a yarn and a fiber bundle condensing device that condenses the fiber bundle drafted by the drafting device. The fiber bundle condensing device of a spinning machine also includes a suction pipe which has a guide surface and an air-permeable apron which is mounted on the guide surface of the suction pipe in a surrounding manner. A suction slit is formed in the guide surface of the suction pipe (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-95233, for example). When the fiber bundle condensing device condenses a fiber bundle, the air-permeable apron moves while being in contact with the guide surface of the suction pipe. Thus, the guide surface of the suction pipe wears gradually due to the friction with the air-permeable apron.

[0003] The wear of guide surface of the suction pipe progresses with the use. In such case, if the whole suction pipe needs to be replaced each time the wear amount of the guide surface has reached a specified level, the replacement cost will be increased. In view of the circumstances, in a conventional fiber bundle condensing device, it is proposed to form a guide surface on a thin-walled guide member, which is a separate member from the suction pipe, and to form a suction slit in the guide surface of the guide member (see Chinese Examined Utility Model Application Publication No. 202482530, for example). In such fiber bundle condensing device, the thin-walled guide member is attached to the suction pipe. Therefore, when the guide surface is worn due to the friction with the air-permeable apron, only the guide member needs to be replaced, eliminating the replacement of the suction pipe.

[0004] When attaching a guide member to a suction pipe, as described above, the guide member needs to be fixed to the suction pipe in order to prevent the guide member from moving while the fiber bundle condensing device is operating. As the means for such purpose, the conventional fiber bundle condensing device uses a screw to fix the guide member to the suction pipe, or otherwise an adhesive agent is applied to the suction pipe to fix the guide member. However, such fixing means each have a problem as follows.

[0005] First, fixing the guide member to the suction pipe with a screw involves an increase in the number of parts or components used, leading to an increase in the cost. Furthermore, fixing with a screw complicates the structure of the fiber bundle condensing device, and such complicated structure may catch cotton fly easily.

[0006] Meanwhile, in the case of the guide member that is fixed to the suction pipe with an adhesive agent, when replacing the worn or used guide member with a new one, detachment of the used guide member from the suction pipe is troublesome and care must be taken so as not to damage the suction pipe during the removal work. Furthermore, the adhesive agent must also be removed in order to detach the used guide member. Thus, it takes much work and hours to replace the guide member.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances above, and is directed to providing a fiber bundle condensing device of a spinning machine that permits a guide member having a suction slit to be fixed to a suction pipe and also permits replacement of the guide member with ease.

SUMMARY

[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a fiber bundle condensing device of a spinning machine that includes a suction pipe that is disposed downstream of a drafting device, and an air-permeable apron mounted on the suction pipe in such a manner as to surround the suction pipe. The fiber bundle condensing device condenses a fiber bundle drafted by the drafting device. The fiber bundle condensing device includes a guide member that is attached to the suction pipe at a position corresponding to a mounting position of the air-permeable apron and includes a guide surface adapted to guide movement of the air-permeable apron, and a suction slit formed in the guide surface; and a fixation tape to fix the guide member to the suction pipe.

[0009] Other aspects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The disclosure, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view showing a schematic configuration of a fiber bundle condensing device of a spinning machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for illustrating the structure of a suction pipe used in the fiber bundle condensing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a guide member;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the suction pipe to which the guide member is attached;

FIG. 6 shows the suction pipe as viewed in the direction of VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view for illustrating a first variant of attachment form of a fixation tape; and

FIG. 8 is a view for illustrating a second variant of attachment form of the fixation tape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The following will describe an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view showing a schematic configuration of a fiber bundle condensing device of a spinning machine according to the present embodiment.

[0013] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a fiber bundle condensing device 11 is disposed downstream of a drafting device 10. The drafting device 10 includes a delivery roller pair 12. The delivery roller pair 12 includes a lower front roller 12a and an upper front roller 12b. The upper front roller 12b is supported by a support member 19.

[0014] The fiber bundle condensing device 11 includes a delivery portion 13, a suction pipe 14, an air-permeable apron 15, and an apron guide 16. The delivery portion 13 includes a lower nip roller 18a and an upper nip roller 18b. The lower nip roller 18a rotates integrally with a rotational shaft 17. A gear (not shown) is mounted to the rotational shaft 17. The gear is engaged with an intermediate gear 20. The intermediate gear 20 is engaged with a gear (not shown) that rotates integrally with the lower front roller 12a. With this configuration, the rotational force of the lower front roller 12a is transmitted to the lower nip roller 18a via the intermediate gear 20.

[0015] The upper nip roller 18b is pressed against the lower nip roller 18a via the air-permeable apron 15. This pressing mechanism configures a nip portion 13a of the delivery portion 13. The air-permeable apron 15 and a fiber bundle F are placed on the nip portion 13a of the delivery portion 13. As is the case of the upper front roller 12b of the drafting device 10, the upper nip roller 18b is supported by a pressing arm (not shown) via a support member 19 at every two spindle stations of the spinning machine.

[0016] The suction pipe 14 is disposed downstream of the drafting device 10. More specifically, the suction pipe 14 is disposed downstream of the delivery roller pair 12 of the drafting device 10 and upstream of the nip portion 13a of the delivery portion 13 in a direction X in which the fiber bundle F is moved (hereinafter, the moving direction X). The suction pipe 14 is connected to a suction source (not shown) via a connection pipe 21.

[0017] The air-permeable apron 15 is an endless belt having no ends, and formed of a woven fabric, such as the one having an appropriate air permeability. The air-permeable apron 15 is mounted in such a manner as to surround the suction pipe 14, the apron guide 16, and the lower nip roller 18a so that the air-permeable apron 15 passes through the nip portion 13a of the delivery portion 13. The air-permeable apron 15 transfers the fiber bundle F in the X direction while moving with the rotation of the lower nip roller 18a. A tip end 22a of the suction nozzle 22 is located below the apron guide 16. The suction nozzle 22 is adapted to suck the fiber bundle F discharged from the drafting device 10 when a fiber break has occurred. A distal end (not shown) of the suction nozzle 22 is connected to a single pneumatic duct (not shown) which is common to all of the spindle stations of the spinning machine.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view for illustrating the structure of the suction pipe 14 used in the fiber bundle condensing device 11 of FIG. 1.

[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the suction pipe 14 is a hollow and elongated pipe. The suction pipe 14 is disposed so as to extend in a direction crossing the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. In other words, the suction pipe 14 extends longitudinally and perpendicularly to the plane of the sheet of FIG. 1. The suction pipe 14 is made of aluminum and formed, for example, by extrusion molding. The suction pipe 14 includes three outer surfaces, namely, outer surfaces 31, 32, and 33. Hereinafter, the outer surfaces will be referred to as the first outer surface 31, the second outer surface 32, and the third outer surface 33, respectively.

[0020] The first outer surface 31 is positioned so as to extend along the moving path of the fiber bundle F and formed in a curved shape protruding outward. A plurality of suction holes 35 is formed in the first outer surface 31. The suction holes 35 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe 14. The intervals correspond to the positions of the spindle stations. Each suction hole 35 is formed in a slit shape extending in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe 14.

[0021] The second outer surface 32 is formed continuously from a first side 31a of the first outer surface 31, having a curved shape protruding inward. The third outer surface 33 is formed continuously from a second side 31b of the first outer surface 31, having a curved shape protruding inward. The second outer surface 32 and the third outer surface 33 are connected to each other at their sides located away from the first outer surface 31.

[0022] A guide member 41 is attached to the suction pipe 14. The guide member 41 is a thin-walled member made of a metal. The guide member 41 is attached to the suction pipe 14 at a position corresponding to the mounting position of the air-permeable apron 15. It is to be noted that, in the present disclosure, a plurality of the guide members 41 are disposed at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe 14. It is also to be noted, however, that only one of the guide members 41 is illustrated in FIG. 2 and description herein is made with reference to this representative guide member 14. The guide members 41 are attached to the suction pipe 14 corresponding to the respective suction holes 35. Each guide member 41 includes a guide surface 42 that is formed along the moving path of the fiber bundle F to guide the movement of the air-permeable apron 15. The air-permeable apron 15 moves with the rotation of the lower nip roller 18a while being in contact with the guide surface 42 of the guide member 41. The guide surface 42 is formed in a curved shape protruding outward, conforming to the first outer surface 31 of the suction pipe 14.

[0023] A suction slit 43 is formed in the guide surface 42 of the guide member 41. The guide member 41 is attached to the suction pipe 14 so that the suction slit 43 is aligned with the suction hole 35 of the first outer surface 31 of the suction pipe 14. It is preferable that the suction hole 35 of the suction pipe 14 have the same shape and the same dimension as those of the suction slit 43. With the suction hole 35 thus formed before attaching the guide member 41 to the suction pipe 14, the guide member 41 may be attached to the suction pipe 14 easily and precisely by aligning the suction slit 43 with the suction hole 35. It is to be noted, however, that the shape and dimension of the suction hole 35 need not necessarily be the same as those of the suction slit 43. For example, the suction hole 35 may be a hole which is greater than the suction slit 43 and has a different shape from that of the suction slit 43.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a front view of the guide member 41, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the guide member 41 taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

[0025] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the guide member 41 has a rectangular shape in a front view. The guide member 41 has two bent portions, namely, bent portions 45 and 46, formed at opposite ends thereof. Hereinafter the bent portion 45 is referred to as the first bent portion 45 and the bent portion 46 as the second bent portion 46. The first bent portion 45 is formed by bending a portion of the guide member 41 near one end of the suction slit 43 in the longitudinal direction thereof so as to bend from the first side 42a of the guide surface 42. The second bent portion 46 is formed by bending another portion of the guide member 41 near the other end of the suction slit 43 in the longitudinal direction thereof so as to bend from the second side 42b of the guide surface 42. The first bent portion 45 is bent conforming to the curved shape of the boundary between the first outer surface 31 and the second outer surface 32 of the suction pipe 14. The second bent portion 46 is bent conforming to the curved shape of the boundary between the first outer surface 31 and the third outer surface 33 of the suction pipe 14.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a side view of the suction pipe 14 to which the guide member is attached, and FIG. 6 shows the suction pipe 14 as viewed in the direction of VI of FIG. 5.

[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the guide member 41 is attached to the suction pipe 14 such that the guide surface 42 of the guide member 41 overlaps with the first outer surface 31 of the suction pipe 14. The first bent portion 45 of the guide member 41 is disposed so as to overlap with the second outer surface 32 of the suction pipe 14. The second bent portion 46 is disposed so as to overlap with the third outer surface 33 of the suction pipe 14. In this way, the first bent portion 45 is hooked onto the second outer surface 32, and the second bent portion 46 is hooked onto the third outer surface 33.

[0028] The guide member 41 is fixed to the suction pipe 14 with a fixation tape 51. The fixation tape 51 is an adhesive tape having an adhesive layer on one side of the substrate of the tape. Examples of the fixation tape 51 may include a resin tape including a resin substrate, a paper tape including a paper substrate, and a metallic tape including a metallic substrate. In terms of the easiness of attaching the fixation tape 51, the fixation tape 51 should preferably be a resin tape. In terms of the durability of the fixation tape 51, the fixation tape 51 should preferably be a metallic tape.

[0029] The fixation tape 51 is attached to the second outer surface 32 and the third outer surface 33 of the suction pipe 14. The fixation tape 51 includes a first portion 51a and a second portion 51b. When the fixation tape 51 is attached to the suction pipe 14, the first portion 51a overlaps with the first bent portion 45 of the guide member 41 on the second outer surface 32 of the suction pipe 14, and the second portion 51b overlaps with the second bent portion 46 of the guide member 41 on the third outer surface 33 of the suction pipe 14.

[0030] As described above, in the present embodiment, the guide member 41 is fixed to the suction pipe 14 of the fiber bundle condensing device 11 with the fixation tape 51. Thus, when the guide surface 42 of the guide member 41 is worn due to the friction with the air-permeable apron 15, the guide member 41 may be detached from the suction pipe 14 by removing the fixation tape 51 attached to the second outer surface 32 and the third outer surface 33 of the suction pipe 14, in order to replace the guide member 41.

[0031] Meanwhile, when attaching the guide member 41 to the suction pipe 14, first, the guide surface 42 of the guide member 41 is disposed on the first outer surface 31 of the suction pipe 14 in an overlapping manner. At this time, the first bent portion 45 is hooked onto the second outer surface 32 of the suction pipe 14 and the second bent portion 46 is hooked onto the third outer surface 33 of the suction pipe 14. Next, the position of the suction hole 35 of the suction pipe 14 and the position of the suction slit 43 of the guide member 41 are aligned. Then, the fixation tape 51 is attached to the second outer surface 32 and the third outer surface 33 of the suction pipe 14. More specifically, the fixation tape 51 is attached such that the first portion 51a overlaps with the first bent portion 45 of the guide member 41 and the second portion 51b overlaps with the second bent portion 46 of the guide member 41. In this way the suction pipe 14 may be fixed to the guide member 41.

[0032] According to the fiber bundle condensing device 11 of the present embodiment, the guide member 41 which has the guide surface 42 provided with the suction slit 43 is fixed to the suction pipe 14 with the fixation tape 51. Thus, the guide member 41 may be detached from the suction pipe 14 easily by removing the fixation tape 51 from the suction pipe 14, and the guide member 41 may be attached to the suction pipe 14 easily by attaching the fixation tape 51 to the suction pipe 14. Accordingly, the guide member 41 may be replaced easily. Furthermore, since no fasteners such as screws are used to fix the guide member 41, an increase in the number of parts and components resulting from the use of such fasteners and hence catching of cotton fly may be prevented. Furthermore, since there is no need of applying an adhesive agent to fix the guide member 41, the work of removing such an adhesive agent is eliminated.

[0033] In the present embodiment, although a single strip or sheet of the fixation tape 51 is used to fix a single guide member 41, the fixation of the guide member 41 is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, two guide members 41 that are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe 14 may be fixed with a single strip or sheet of the fixation tape 51. Or, alternatively, three or more guide members 41 (not shown) that are adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe 14 may be fixed with a single strip or sheet of the fixation tape 51. By fixing a plurality of guide members 41 with a single strip or sheet of the fixation tape 51 as described above, man-hours for attaching the fixation tape 51 may be reduced.

[0034] Furthermore, as another example of the attachment of the fixation tape 51, as illustrated in FIG. 8, in order to fix a plurality of the guide members 41 (two guide members are illustrated in the example of FIG. 8) that are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe 14, for example, one strip or sheet of the fixation tape 51 may be used for the adjacent first bent portions 45, and another strip or sheet of the fixation tape 51 may be used for the adjacent second bent portions 46.

[0035] A fiber bundle condensing device (11) of a spinning machine includes a suction pipe (14) that is disposed downstream of a drafting device (10), and an air-permeable apron (15) mounted on the suction pipe in such a manner as to surround the suction pipe (14). The fiber bundle condensing device (11) condenses a fiber bundle (F) drafted by the drafting device (10). The fiber bundle condensing device (11) includes a guide member (41) that is attached to the suction pipe (14) at a position corresponding to a mounting position of the air-permeable apron (15) and includes a guide surface (42) adapted to guide movement of the air-permeable apron (15), and a suction slit (43) formed in the guide surface (42); and a fixation tape (51) to fix the guide member (43) to the suction pipe (14).

Claims

1. A fiber bundle condensing device (11) of a spinning machine comprising:

a suction pipe (14) that is disposed downstream of a drafting device (10); and

an air-permeable apron (15) mounted on the suction pipe (14) in such a manner as to surround the suction pipe (14), the fiber bundle condensing device (11) condensing a fiber bundle (F) drafted by the drafting device (10), characterized in that

the fiber bundle condensing device (11) includes:

a guide member (41) that is attached to the suction pipe (14) at a position corresponding to a mounting position of the air-permeable apron (15) and includes a guide surface (42) adapted to guide movement of the air-permeable apron (15), and a suction slit (43) formed in the guide surface (42); and

a fixation tape (51) to fix the guide member (41) to the suction pipe (14).

2. The fiber bundle condensing device (11) of the spinning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that
the suction pipe (14) includes:

a first outer surface (31) that is positioned so as to extend along a moving path of the fiber bundle (F);

a second outer surface (32) formed continuously from a first side (31a) of the first outer surface (31); and

a third outer surface (33) formed continuously from a second side (31 b) of the first outer surface (31),

the guide member (41) includes:

a first bent portion (45) which is bent from the guide surface (42) near one end of the suction slit (43) in the longitudinal direction of the suction slit (43); and

a second bent portion (46) which is bent from the guide surface (42) near the other end of the suction slit (43) in the longitudinal direction thereof,

the first bent portion (45) is disposed on the second outer surface (32), and the second bent portion (46) is disposed on the third outer surface (33),
the fixation tape (51) is attached to the second outer surface (32) and the third outer surface (33) of the suction pipe (14) such that a portion of the fixation tape (51) overlaps with the first bent portion (51a) and another portion of the fixation tape (51) overlaps with the second bent portion (46).

3. The fiber bundle condensing device (11) of the spinning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
the fiber bundle condensing device (11) includes a plurality of the guide members (41), and the guide members (41) are disposed at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe (14), and
at least two of the guide members (41) that are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe (14) are fixed with a single sheet of the fixation tape (51).

4. The fiber bundle condensing device (11) of the spinning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fixation tape (51) is a resin tape.

5. The fiber bundle condensing device (11) of the spinning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fixation tape (51) is a metallic tape.

Drawing