|
(11) | EP 0 965 553 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Traverse apparatus having rotating wings |
| (57) The invention provides a traverse apparatus having rotating wings which is capable
of providing a well-formed cone-shaped package and therefor comprises two yarn guide
rotating wings 10a and 10b that rotate in opposite directions, and elliptical driven
gear 14 provided at the input section of the yarn guide rotating wings 10a and 10b,
and an elliptical drive gear 16 engaged with the driven gear 14 and provided at the
output section of a drive motor 21, wherein the yam guide rotating wings 10a and 10b
are pulsated and rotated by means of the gears 14 and 16 to change the traverse speed
in the axial direction of a cone-shaped package 2, and the engagement of the gears
14 and 16 is set so that the traverse speed is fast on the shorter diameter side 2a
of the package 2 and slow at the longer diameter side 2b of the package 2. The amount
of yarn 1 wound is small on the shorter diameter side 2a and large on the longer diameter
side 2b, thereby making it possible to provide a well-formed cone-shaped package 2. |
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a traverse apparatus having rotating wings for rotating two yarn guide rotating wings in opposite directions. More particularly, the present invention relates to a traverse apparatus having rotating wings employed when a yarn is wound as a cone-shaped package.
Background of the Invention
[0002] A traverse apparatus having rotating wings rotates two yarn guide rotating wings disposed one over the other in opposite directions at a constant speed, and transfers a yarn wound around a package to the yarn guide rotating wings alternately, and guides the yarn to a yarn guide plate disposed along the locus of movement of the yarn guide rotating wings, thereby reciprocally traversing the yarn wound around the package in the axial direction.
[0003] An improved traverse apparatus of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2560918, which describes a traverse apparatus having rotating wings. In this traverse apparatus having rotating wings, the number of two yarn guide rotating wings disposed together is differentiated, and their rotation speeds is differentiated by means of the inverse of the number ratio of the two different rotating wing numbers, thereby differentiating the traverse speeds of the forward and backward paths, i .e., the wind number of the forward and backward paths.
[0004] In such a traverse apparatus having rotating wings, although the upper and lower yarn guide rotating wings for substantially traversing yarn rotate in opposite directions, since their rotating wings rotate at a constant speed, the traverse speed is constant at the right and left ends of the package. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to form a cone-shaped package using the above traverse apparatus having rotating wings, it is difficult to obtain a well-shaped package.
[0005] That is, when a cone-shaped package is formed, there is a need to increase the traverse speed on the shorter diameter side to reduce the amount of yarn wound there, and decrease the traverse speed on the longer diameter side to increase the amount of yarn wound there. In the above traverse apparatus having rotating wings, however, the traverse speed is the same on both the longer and shorter diameter sides of the package, thus making it difficult to obtain a cone-shaped package.
[0006] In view of the foregoing circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a traverse apparatus having rotating wings in which a well-formed cone-shaped package can be obtained.
Summary of the Invention
[0007] To achieve the above object, a traverse apparatus having rotating wings according to the present invention comprises two yarn guide rotating wings that rotate in opposite directions, an elliptical driven gear provided at the input section of the yarn guide rotating wing, and an elliptical drive gear engaged with the driven gear and provided at the output section of a drive motor, wherein the yarn guide rotating wing is pulsated and rotated by means of the gears to change the traverse speed in the axial direction of a cone-shaped package, and an engagement of the gears is set so that the traverse speed is faster on the shorter diameter side of the package and slower on the longer diameter side thereof.
[0008] According to the present invention, the yarn guide rotating wing is pulsated and rotated by employing the elliptical drive gear and the driven gear to change the traverse speed in the axial direction of the cone-shaped package. In addition, the engagement of the above drive and driven gears are set so that the traverse speed is fast on the shorter diameter side of the package and is slower on the longer diameter side thereof. Thus, the amount of yarn wound there is small on the shorter diameter side of the package and is large on the longer diameter side thereof, so that a well-shaped cone-shaped package can be obtained.
[0009] In addition, the gears may engage in such a way as to be positioned on a path in which a minimum traverse speed using the yarn guide rotating wing is changed from the longer diameter side to the shorter diameter side of the cone-shaped package and so as to be positioned on the path in which a maximum traverse speed is changed from the shorter diameter side to the longer diameter side.
[0010] By doing this, the average traverse speed on the path from the longer diameter side to the shorter diameter side of the package is slower than that on the path from the shorter diameter side to the longer diameter side. Thus, the length of a yarn wound on the path from the longer diameter side to the shorter diameter side becomes longer than that of a yarn wound on the path from the shorter diameter side to the longer diameter side. In addition, the wind number on the path from the longer diameter side to the shorter diameter side becomes larger than that on the path from the shorter diameter side to the longer diameter side. As a result, the yarn release action is improved.
[0012] In general, if the wind number (number of coils) during winding is excessive, the compression inside the package advances as the winding diameter increases. As shown in Figure 6A, the internal yarn layer is deformed, resulting in a bulge in the package such that both end faces protrude. To prevent this, the wind number required for obtaining a proper package shaped like that shown in Figure 6B is currently determined from experience depending on the yarn count and the material of the yarn.
[0013] On the other hand, in Figures 7A and 7B describe the wind number from the viewpoint of ease of release. Figure 7A shows a package with a small wind number, and the curvature R of the yarn is small at the release point at which the yarn is released from the package surface. Figure 7B shows a package with a large wind number, wherein the curvature R is large at the release point.
[0014] When these packages are compared with each other, in the case of the package with a small curvature R shown in Figure 7A, the yarn is easily released from the package surface, the release balloon rise is initiated well, frictional contact with the low-wound yarn is small, and the yarn in the lower layer hardly moves. In the case of the package with the large curvature R shown in Figure 7B, frictional contact with the low-wound yarn is large, thus causing the rise of the release balloon to be poorly initiated. In addition, the rotating release yarn is moved due to friction with the package surface, and winds a fluff or the like of the lower layer yarn, and thus, the yarn in the lower layer moves in the release direction.
[0015] In the case of yarn in the lower layer that is moved as described above, the package is tapered and cone-wound, the wind number is large, and the winding angle is small. Thus, the coil is easily loosened, and yarn cutting caused by tangling with the release yarn is likely to occur. If the angle θ shown in Figure 7B is as large as possible, the curvature R becomes small, thus improving the release action. It is possible to increase the angle θ by making adjustment so as to increase the wind number, however, as described previously, the maximum wind number is limited by the need to obtain a properly shaped package.
[0016] In the case where the release point moves from the longer diameter side to the shorter diameter side, i.e., in the case where the release point moves in the same direction as the yarn lead-out direction, the angle θ of the package with a small wind number becomes larger than that of the package with a large wind number. In the case where the release point moves from the shorter diameter side to the longer diameter side in the opposite direction from the yarn lead-out direction, the angle θ of the package with a large wind number becomes larger. Therefore, during winding, the apparatus offers a superior release action when the wind number on the path from the longer diameter side to the shorter diameter side is larger than that on the path from the shorter diameter side to the longer diameter side.
[0017] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstance. According to the present invention, the wind number ratio between the forward path and the backward path is changed without changing the total wind numbers of forward and backward, thereby making it possible to perform winding with improved yarn release action and ensure that the package shape is properly maintained.
[0018] In addition, the above traverse apparatus having rotating wings comprises a sensor for detecting the rotation speed of the package and a control section for adjusting the rotation speed of the drive motor according to the output of the sensor, wherein the control section may maintain a relationship between package rotation and yarn guide rotating wing rotation irrespective of the package rotation speed.
[0019] By doing this, in the case where the package is contacted, rotated, and driven by means of the friction drum, even if there is some slip between the friction drum and the package when rotation is initiated after yarn splicing, the relationship between the package rotation and the yarn guide rotating wing rotation is maintained by means of the above sensor and the control section, thereby making it possible to form a proper package free from traverse disturbance.
Brief Description of the Drawing
[0020]
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a traverse apparatus having rotating wings according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic view showing the relationship among a drive gear and a driven gear of the traverse apparatus having rotating wings, a momentary state of a yarn to be wound around a package, and the traverse speed.
Figure 3 is a schematic view showing an outlook of release of the yarn wound around the package.
Figure 4 is a schematic view showing the relationship among the drive gear and the driven gear of the traverse apparatus having rotating wings, the average state of the yarn wound around the package, and the traverse speed.
Figure 5 is a schematic view showing the relationship among the drive gear and the driven gear of the traverse apparatus having rotating wings embodied according to the present invention, the average state of the yarn to be wound around the package, and the traverse speed.
Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the relationship between the wind number and package deformation (bulge), and Figure 6A is a schematic view of a bulge package in which the wind number is too high, and Figure 6B is a schematic view of a package with a proper wind number.
Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the relationship between the wind number and the yarn release action, and Figure 7A is a schematic view showing a state in which the yarn is released from a package with less wind number, and Figure 7B is a schematic view showing a state in which the yarn is released from a package with more wind number.
Figure 8 is a schematic view of the traverse apparatus having rotating wings according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a schematic view showing a state when the yarn is transferred using the yarn guide rotating wing of the traverse apparatus having rotating wings of the embodiment shown in Figure 8, and Figure 9A is a drawing showing the first step of the operations, and Figure 9B is a drawing of the second step of the operations, and Figure 9C is a drawing showing the third step of the operations.
Figure 10 is a schematic view showing the holding plate of the traverse apparatus having rotating wings in the embodiment of Figure 8.
Figure 11 is a side view of the traverse apparatus having rotating wings in the embodiment of Figure 8.
Figure 12 is a schematic view of a conventional traverse apparatus having rotating wings.
Figure 13 is a schematic view showing a state when a yarn to be traversed is twisted by a conventional traverse apparatus having rotating wings.
Figure 14 is a schematic view showing a package when alternate twisting is performed by a conventional traverse apparatus having rotating wings.
Figure 15 is a schematic view showing a state when a striped pattern is produced in a cloth using the package of Figure 14.
Detailed Description of the preferred Embodiments
[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a traverse apparatus having rotating wings according to this embodiment which is used as a traverse mechanism of an automatic winder.
[0023] An automatic winder winds around a cone-shaped package 2 a yarn 1 released from a yarn supply bobbin (not shown in the drawing) while cutting and removing defective portions of the yarn 1. The cone-shaped package 2 is contacted, rotated, and driven by a friction drum 5 while the left and right ends of that bobbin 3 are supported able to be rotated by a bobbin holder 4. The friction drum 5 is supported by a bearing 6 at both the right and left ends thereof, and is rotated and driven by a winding motor 7, a belt 8, or the like. In the vicinity of the friction drum 5, there is disposed a traverse apparatus having rotating wings 9 for traversing the yarn 1 to be wound around the package 2.
[0024] The traverse apparatus having rotating wings 9 comprises two yarn guide rotating wings 10a and 10b rotated in opposite directions by means of a gear mechanism (not shown in the drawing) and a yarn guide plate 12 having a guide section 11 formed in the shape of a mound along the locus of movement of these yarn guide rotating wings 10a and 10b. The yarn 1 moving from the yarn supply bobbin (not shown in the drawing) to the package 2 is transferred to the above yarn guide rotating wings 10a and 10b alternately, and is guided to the guide section 11 of the yarn guide plate 12 and is traversed. In the yarn guide rotating wings 10a and 10b, their rotary shafts 13a and 13b are slightly displaced so as to be rotated at identical speeds in opposite directions by a publicly known gear mechanism (not shown in the drawing).
[0025] At the input section of the gear mechanism of the yarn guide rotating wings 10a and 10b, an elliptical driven gear 14 is provided with its rotary shaft 15 being eccentrically set. At the driven gear 14, an elliptical drive gear 16 is engaged with its rotary shaft 17 being eccentrically set. Elliptical shapes of these driven and drive gears 14 and 16 are formed, respectively, so as to be constantly engaged with each other. The drive gear 16 is rotated and driven by means of a drive motor 21 via a transmission mechanism 20 comprising a pulley 18, a belt 19, or the like. The transmission mechanism 20 may be a sprocket, a chain, or a gear train or similar device.
[0026] With this structure, when the drive motor 21 is rotated at a constant speed, the driven gear 14 is pulsated and rotated via the drive gear 16. Here, pulsating rotation means that while the driven gear 14 is rotated 360 degrees, its angular velocity is changed. More specifically, the angular velocity of the driven gear 14 reaches a maximum when the longer diameter section 16a of the drive gear 16 is engaged with the shorter diameter section 14b of the driven gear 14, as shown in Figure 1. Conversely, the angular velocity of the driven gear 14 reaches a minimum when the shorter diameter section 16b of the drive gear 16 is engaged with the longer diameter section 14a of the driven gear 14.
[0027] When the driven gear 14 is thus pulsated and rotated, the yarn guide rotating wings 10a and 10b are pulsated and rotated at identical speeds in opposite directions. The traverse speed of the yarn 1 changes along the axial direction of the package 2. More specifically, the gear ratio is set so that the single-reciprocating traverse movement in which the yarn 1 moves from the shorter diameter end 2a of the package 2 to the longer diameter end 2b, and is returned to the shorter diameter end 2a again is equivalent to one rotation of the driven gear 14. Thus, the maximum traverse speed and the minimum traverse speed each are produced once between single reciprocating traverse movement of the yarn 1.
[0028] Specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, when the yarn 1 is positioned at the shorter diameter end 2a of the package 2, the engagement of the drive and driven gears 16 and 14 is set to permit the longer diameter section 16a of the drive gear 16 to be engaged with the shorter diameter section 14b of the driven gear 14 so that the traverse speed is maximal, and when the yarn 1 is positioned at the longer diameter end 2b of the package 2, such engagement is set to permit the shorter diameter section 16b of the drive gear 16 to be engaged with the longer diameter section 14a of the driven gear 14 so that the traverse speed is minimal. Thereby, the winding angle θ of the package 2 becomes maximal at the shorter diameter end 2a and minimal at the longer diameter end 2b.
[0029] According to this embodiment having the above structure, the elliptical drive gear 16 and the driven gear 14 are employed, thereby to pulsate and rotate the yarn guide rotating wings 10a and 10b and change the traverse speed in the axial direction of the cone-shaped package 2. In addition, the engagement of the drive gear 16 and the driven gear 14 is set so that the traverse speed is fast at the shorter diameter end 2a of the package 2 and slow at the longer diameter end 2b. Thus, the amount of yarn 1 wound becomes small on the shorter diameter side and large on the longer diameter side, and a well-formed cone-shaped package 2 can be obtained.
[0030] In the traverse apparatus having rotating wings 9, as shown in Figure 2, when the yarn 1 is traversed from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b, the traverse speed is gradually decreased. When the yarn 1 is traversed from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a, the traverse speed is gradually increased. Since these speed change rates are the same, the winding angle of the yarn 1 wound from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b becomes identical to the winding angle of the yarn 1 wound from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a.
[0031] After winding is completed, when the yarn 1 of the cone-shaped package 2 is released in the next step, the winding angle pattern of the yarn released from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b becomes identical to that of the yarn 1 released from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a, thereby impairing the release performance. In order to improve the release performance, the winding angle of the yarn 1 when released from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b should preferably be much smaller than that of the yarn 1 when released from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a. In the above embodiment, however, since the winding angle from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b is identical to that from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a, there is room for improvement regarding the release performance.
[0032] This fact can be understood by examining the average of the traverse speeds. In the above embodiment, the traverse speed is actually changed along the axial direction of the package 2, as indicated by the winding angle θ of Figure 2. However, since the traverse speed is maximal at the shorter diameter end 2a and is minimal at the longer diameter end 2b, the average traverse speed from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b becomes identical to that from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a.
[0033] Assuming that the yarn 1 is wound at that average traverse speed, when that winding angle is virtually represented, as shown in Figure 4, the winding angle of the yarn 1a wound from the short diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b becomes identical to that of a yarn 1b wound from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a. Assuming that the yarn 1 of such a package 2 is released, as shown in Figure 3, the winding angle of the yarn 1b when the yarn 1b wound from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a is released from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b (in hardly released direction) becomes identical to that of the yarn 1a when the yarn 1a wound from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b is released from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a (in easily released direction), thus impairing the release performance of the former yarn 1b. To enhance the release performance of this yarn 1b, the winding angle of the former yarn 1b may be decreased as indicated by the dashed line 26.
[0034] As shown in Figure 5, the present invention is configured such that the engagement position between the above driven gear 14 and the drive gear 16 is set so that the maximum traverse speed is shifted to the path from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b, and the minimum traverse speed is shifted to the path from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a. In the case of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, with respect to the drive gear 16 and the driven gear 14, at the shorter diameter end 2a, the immediately preceding part of the longer diameter section 16a of the drive gear 16 are engaged with the immediately preceding part of a shorter diameter section 14b of the driven gear 14. In addition, at the longer diameter end 2b, the immediately preceding part of the shorter diameter section 16b of the drive gear 16 is engaged with the immediately preceding part of the longer diameter section 14a of the driven gear 14.
[0035] Thus, by setting the engagement of the gears 14 and 16, the average traverse speed from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b (indicated by the broken line 23 in Figure 5) is faster than that from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a (indicated by the dashed line 24 in Figure 5). Assuming that the yarn 1 is wound at these average traverse speeds 23 and 24, when the winding angles of the yarns 1a and 1b are virtually represented, the winding angle of the yarn 1a wound from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b is increased, the yarn 1a has a shorter yarn length and has fewer windings, as indicated by the broken line 25 in Figure 5. The winding angle of the yarn 1b wound from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a is decreased, the yarn 1b has a longer yarn length and has more windings, as indicated by the dashed line 26 in Figure 5.
[0036] In such a package 2, the yarn 1a (indicated by the broken line 25 in Figure 5) wound from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b is released from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a. In addition, the yarn 1b (indicated by the dashed line 26 in Figure 5) wound from the longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a is released from the shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b. As shown in Figure 3, in the above package 2, the winding angle of the yarn 1a when it is released from the easily released longer diameter end 2b to the shorter diameter end 2a is increased as indicated by the broken line 25 (corresponding to broken line 25 in Figure 5), thereby improving the release performance. In addition, the winding angle of the yarn 1b when it is released from the hardly released shorter diameter end 2a to the longer diameter end 2b is decreased as indicated by the dashed line 26 (corresponding to dashed line 26 in Figure 5), thereby improving the release performance.
[0037] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the maximum traverse speed is set between the shorter diameter end 2a and the center section 2c of the package 2, and the minimum traverse speed is set between the longer diameter end 2b and the center section 2c of the package 2. Thus, as in the aforementioned embodiment shown in Figure 2, the winding angle θ of the shorter diameter end 2a is greater than that of the longer diameter end 2b, and a winding quantity of the yarn 1 on the shorter diameter side is smaller than that of the yarn 1 on the longer diameter side, so that a well-formed cone-shaped package 2 can be obtained. The advantage of this embodiment is that a well-shaped cone-shaped package 2 can be obtained in a similar manner to that in the aforementioned embodiment, and a package 2 with good release action can be obtained.
[0038] As shown in Figure 1, a sensor 27 for detecting the rotation speed of the package 2 is disposed in the vicinity of the bobbin holder 4 of the above package 2. In addition, a control section 28 for adjusting the rotation speed of the above drive motor 21 according to the output of that sensor 27 is provided. Thereby, the relationship between the rotation of the package 2 and the rotation of the yarn guide rotating wings 10a and 10b may be maintained by means of the control section 28 irrespective of the rotation speed of the package 2.
[0039] By doing this, after the automatic winder has temporarily stopped the friction drum 5 and the package 2 during cutting and removal of defective portions of the yarn 1, and has spliced the yarn 1, even if the rotation of the package 2 is not increased because there is some slip between the friction drum 5 and the package 2 when the stopped friction drum 5 is restarted, a predetermined relationship between the rotation of the package 2 and the rotation of the yarn guide rotating wings 10a and 10b is maintained by means of the above sensor 27 and the control section 28, thereby making it possible to form a proper package 2 free from traverse disturbance.
[0040] In a general automatic winder, a traverse drum with an engraved traverse groove (not shown in the drawings) is rotated and driven in contact with the package 2. Thus, if there is some slip between the traverse drum and the package 2 when the temporarily stopped traverse drum is restarted at the time of yarn splicing, traversing is done in a state in which rotation of the package 2 is not increased, thus producing traverse disturbance.
[0041] Conversely, in this embodiment, a predetermined relationship between the rotation of the package 2 and the rotation of the yarn guide rotating wings 10a and 10b is always maintained by means of the above sensor 27 and the control section 28, thereby making it possible to form a proper package 2 free from traverse disturbance even if there a slip is produced between the friction drum 5 and the package 2 at the time of yarn splicing.
[0042] The traverse apparatus having rotating wings shown in Figure 12 rotates two yarn guide rotating wings b1 and b2 with rotary shafts a1 and a2 being slightly displaced in opposite directions at the same speed, pushes a yarn d wound around a package c at the side section of the yarn guide rotating wing b, and moves the yarn d along a yarn guide plate e. In addition, the traverse apparatus transfers the yarn d at both ends of the package c from the side section of one yarn guide rotating wing b1 to the side section another yarn guide rotating wing b2, thereby making it possible to reciprocate it in the axial direction of the package c (Refer to the Japanese Patent laid open (Tokkai-Hei) No. 9-86793).
[0043] In such a traverse apparatus having rotating wings, as shown in Figure 13, the yarn d is pushed at the side section of the yarn guide rotating wing b, is rolled on the yarn guide plate e, and is traversed. Thus, when the yarn d is traversed from the right to the left and vice versa, a twist in the yarn d is produced in the reverse direction. As a result, as shown in Figure 14, an S-twist section g and a Z-twist section h are produced alternately at the yarn d wound around the package c.
[0044] The package c of the yarn d at which periodic alternating twists are thus produced is low in commodity value. For example, in the case where the package c around which the yarn d is wound is to serve as a weft such as air jet room, when the width of a woven fabric matches the false twisting period, an undesireable striped pattern is produced on the woven fabric i, as shown in Figure 15.
[0045] In view of the foregoing circumstances, the traverse apparatus having rotating wings of the automatic winder shown in Figures 8 to 11 is designed so as not to produce a twist in the yarn. This traverse apparatus having rotating wings will be described below.
[0046] An automatic winder winds a yarn 1 released from a yarn supply bobbin (not shown in the drawings) around a cone-shaped winding package 2 while cutting and removing defective sections of the yarn 1. The winding package 2 is supported able to be rotated by means of a holder (not shown in the drawings) at the right and left ends thereof, and is contacted, rotated, and driven by means of a friction drum 5, as shown in Figure 10. A traverse apparatus having rotating wings 9 for traversing the yarn 1 around the package 2 is disposed in the vicinity of the friction drum 5.
[0047] The traverse apparatus having rotating wings 9 has two yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b with rotary shafts 35a and 35b being slightly displaced, as shown in Figure 8. Each of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b is rotated in the opposite direction at the same speed by means of a publicly known gear mechanism housed in a gear case 37, as shown in Figure 11. The gear ratio of the above gear mechanism is set so that these yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b overlap at both ends (both traverse ends) of the winding package 2.
[0048] Yarn holding sections 38a and 38b, respectively, for holding the yarn 1 moving from the yarn supply bobbin to the winding package 2, are provided at the tips of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b. Each of the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b is formed stepwise, i.e., at a lower section in the forward rotation direction and at an upper section in the backward rotation direction of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b so as to transfer the held yarn 1 from the yarn holding section 38a of one yarn guide rotating wing 36a to the yarn holding section 38b of the other yarn guide rotating wing 36b, as shown in Figures 9A, 9B and 9C.
[0049] More specifically, the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b have lower step sections 39a and 39b in the forward rotation direction of the respective yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b, upper step sections 40a and 40b in the backward rotation direction, and U-shaped cavity sections 41a and 41b provided at connection sections thereof for substantially holding the yarn 1. The lower step sections 39a and 39b, and the upper step sections 40a and 40b are formed centrosymmetrically at both ends of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b around the rotary shafts 35a and 35b of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b provided therewith.
[0050] U-shaped grooved ceramic parts may be engaged in the cavity sections 41a and 41b to prevent wear. The upper step sections 40a and 40b are arc-shaped around the rotary shafts 35a and 35b of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b provided therewith. As shown in Figures 9A, 9B and 9C, the lower step section 39b (also 39a) are tapered so as to push up the yarn 1 held on the yarn holding section 38a of the yarn guide rotating wing 36a together with the relative rotation of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b, remove the yarn 1, and transfer it to the yarn holding section 38b, and these sections 39a and 39b serve as the yarn removing section (hereinafter, designated by reference numeral 39).
[0051] The yarn removing section 39b (also 39a) is formed so that the front parts thereof are depressed beneath the yarn 1 held at the cavity section 41a of the other yarn holding section 38a, as shown in Figure 9A, and an intermediate part is formed so as to push up the depressed yarn 1 in the cavity section 41a, as shown in Figure 9B, and a rear part is formed so as to be overlapped with or higher than the upper step section 40a of another yarn holding section 38a, as shown in Figure 9C and Figure 1, and entirely, these sections are tapered and lower than the above upper step section 40a.
[0052] The tapered shape of each of the yarn removing sections 39a and 39b is formed centrosymmetrically at both ends of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b with respect to the rotary shafts 35a and 35b of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b provided therewith. As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2C, the deviation quantity of the rotary shafts 35a and 35b of the two yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b is set so that the yarn removing section 39b of one yarn guide rotating wing 36b is overlaid on the upper step section 40a of the other yarn guide rotating wing 36a. Thereby, the length between the rotary shaft 35a of the yarn guide rotating wing 36a and the upper step section 40a essentially matches that between the rotary shaft 35b of the yarn guide rotating wing 36b and the rear part of the yarn removing section 39b.
[0053] According to this kind of structure, these two yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b are rotated in opposite directions, and every time these yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b overlap each other at both ends (both traverse ends) of the winding package 2, as shown in Figures 9A, 9B and 9C, the yarn 1 in the cavity section 41a of the holding section 38a of one yarn guide rotating wing 36a (the upper side in Figure 9) is pushed up and removed by the yarn removing section 39b of the other yarn guide rotating wing 36b (the lower side in Figure 9), and is securely transferred to the cavity section 41b of the holding section 38b of the other yarn guide rotating wing 36b (the lower side in Figure 9).
[0054] In order to facilitate yarn removal, it is preferable to form the rear part of the yarn removing section 39b of the lower yarn holding section 38b so as to be slightly higher than the upper step section 40a of the upper yarn holding section 38a, as shown in Figure 2C and Figure 1. If it is formed too high, however, the yarn removing section 39b causes the yarn 1 to jump up and slip off the holding section 38b. The rear part should therefore be formed at a suitable height. Actually, as shown in Figure 2C and Figure 1, it is sufficient that the upper step section 40a of the upper yarn holding section 38a overlaps the rear part of the yarn removing section 39b of the lower yarn holding section 38b.
[0055] According to the traverse apparatus having rotating wings 9 of this embodiment, the yarn 1, which is held by the yarn holding section 38a of one yarn guide rotating wing 36a and then traversed as shown in Figures 9A, 9B and 9C, is transferred to the yarn holding section 38b of the other yarn guide rotating wing 36b at one end of the winding package 2, and the yarn 1 is subsequently traversed in the reverse direction by means of the other yarn guide rotating wing 36b. Then, the yarn 1 traversed in the reverse direction by the other yarn guide rotating wing 36b is transferred to the yarn holding section 38a of yarn guide rotating wing 36a at the other end of the winding package 2. Thus, the yarn 1 is transferred alternately to the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b at both ends of the package 2, and is reciprocally traversed.
[0056] Thus, according to the traverse apparatus having rotating wings 9 of this embodiment, the yarn 1 moving from the yarn supply bobbin to the winding package 2 is transferred alternately in air and traversed at the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b provided at the tip end of each of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b. Thus, the yarn guide plate e required for guiding the yarn d in a conventional apparatus of the type shown in Figure 5 is eliminated, and the problem that alternate twists of the yarn d shown in Figure 14 are produced by the yarn d being rolled in contact with the yarn guide plate e is avoided. According to the traverse apparatus having rotating wings 9, a high quality winding package 2 with less twisted yarn 1 can be manufactured.
[0057] According to the traverse apparatus having rotating wings 9 of this embodiment, the yarn 1 is held by the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b at the tip ends of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b, and is traversed in an arc-shape. Thus, the yarn path length from the yarn guide 42 shown in Figure 11 to the winding point 43 of the package 2 via the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b is essentially constant during the traversing operation, and variations in the tension of the yarn 1 to be wound are greatly reduced. Thereby, a properly shaped and less crumbling package can be obtained.
[0058] In a conventional apparatus like that shown in Figure 12, the yarn d is pushed to the side of the yarn guide rotating wing b, and is traversed along the yarn guide plate e, thus making the above yarn path length (see Figure 11) different at both ends and the center section of the package c. Therefore, variations in the tension of the yarn d to be wound cannot be avoided. According to the traverse apparatus having rotating wings 9 of this embodiment, as shown above, the yarn 1 is held at the tip end of each of the yarn guide rotating wings 38a and 38b, and is traversed in an arc-shaped path. Thereby, the above yarn path length becomes constant, thus making it possible to minimize variations in the tension of the yarn 1.
[0059] An automatic winder to which the above traverse apparatus having rotating wings 9 is mounted winds the yarn 1 of the yarn supply bobbin around the winding package 2 while cutting and removing defective sections. Thus, the yarn 1 may be cut to remove such defective sections. In the cut yarn 1 cut in this manner, an upper yarn 1a thereof is positioned on the side of the winding package 2, and a lower yarn 1b is positioned on the side of the yarn supply bobbin. These yarns, respectively, are held by a conventional suction mouse, are moved to the yarn splicing apparatus 44 shown in Figures 10 and 11, and spliced thereto.
[0060] Normally, as shown in Figure 10, the spliced yarn 1 slips off from the yarn holding section 38b (38a) of the yarn guide rotating wing 36b (36a) because its position is uncertain. In addition, as shown in Figures 9A, 9B and 9C, when the yarn 1 is transferred and traversed, the yarn 1 is thought to slip off from the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b for any number of reasons. Thus, in the case where the yarn 1 slips off from the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b, the yarn 1 must engage the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b again. A holding plate 45 shown in Figures 10 and 11 has been invented to ensure such engagement.
[0061] As illustrated, the holding plate 45 is disposed in the lower vicinity of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b along the axial direction of the winding package 2, and has a yarn contact section 46 with which the yarn 1 slipping off from the yarn holding section 38a and 38b comes into contact at the time of yarn splicing. The yarn 1 slipping off from the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b is tensioned at a predetermined tension between the winding package 2 and the yarn supply bobbin, thus coming into contact with the yarn contact section 46 of the holding plate 45. As shown in Figure 10, the yarn contact section 46 is formed in the shape of a mound crossing the arc locus of the yarn removing section 39b (39a) in sync with rotation of the yarn guide rotating wing 36b (36a). The contact section 46 is molded at a height lower than the arc locus of the cavity section 41b (41a) in accompany with the rotation of the yarn guide rotating wing 36b (36a).
[0062] With this structure, as shown in Figure 10, the yarn 1 slipping off from the yarn holding section 38b is held at the yarn contact section 46 of the holding plate 45 at the time of yarn splicing, and is formed in the shape of a mound. Thus, the yarn 1 is scooped up by the yarn removing section 39b of the yarn holding section 38b of that yarn guide rotating wing 36b by restarting the rotation of the yarn guide rotating wing 36b, and automatically engages the cavity section 41b of that yarn holding section 38b again. Since the yarn contact section 46 is formed at a height lower than the arc locus of the cavity section 41b, the yarn 1 engaged the cavity section 41b neither comes into contact with nor interferes with the yarn contact section 46 during traversing. The alternate twisting usually caused by contact is avoided.
[0063] The holding plate 45 in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, is similar in shape to the conventional yarn guide plate e shown in Figure 12. However, the function of the holding plate 45 is completely different from the conventional plate e. Unlike the conventional yarn guide plate e, the plate 45 does not have a function for guiding the yarn d to be traversed. At the time of yarn splicing, the yarn 1 slipping off from the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b is temporarily held so as to engage the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b again. After the yarn 1 engages the yarn holding sections 38a and 38b, there is no contact with the yarn 1.
[0064] At both of the most traverse ends (see Figure 9C), as indicated by a virtual line 47 of Figure 10, both ends of the yarn contact section 46 may be formed so that yarn removal is assisted when the yarn 1 in the cavity section 41b (41a) is pushed into contact with the yarn contact section 46 of the holding plate 45. Thus, as shown in Figures 9A, 9B and 9C, the yarn 1 in the cavity section 41a (41b) is removed by the yarn removing section 39b (39a) of another yarn guide rotating wing 36b (36a). Further, as indicated by a virtual line 47 of Figure 10, the yarn is pushed into contact with the yarn contact section 46 of the holding plate 45 and is removed. Thus, the yarn 1 is removed with certainty and transferred in a timely manner because the position at which the yarn 1 is removed becomes stable.
[0065] As shown in Figure 11, the above holding plate 45 is provided so as to cover the lower section of the yarn guide rotating wings 36a and 36b, which rotates at a high speed, thus serving as a safety cover. In addition, in Figure 10, at a position opposite to both the traverse right and left ends of the holding plate 45, there may be provided an auxiliary guide (not shown in the drawings) for pressing the yarn 1 to be transferred from one yarn guide rotating wing 36a (36b) to the other yarn guide rotating wing 36b (36a), respectively.
[0066] As has been described, the traverse apparatus having rotating wings according to the present invention has the following advantages over the prior art.
[0067] According to the traverse apparatus having rotating wings, a well-formed cone-shaped package can be produced.
1. A traverse apparatus having rotating wings characterized in that:
two yarn guide rotating wings rotate in opposite directions;
an elliptical driven gear is provided at an input section of the yarn guide rotating wing; and
an elliptical drive gear engages the driven gear and is provided at an output section of a drive motor, wherein the yarn guide rotating wing is pulsated and rotated by means of said said gears to change the traverse speed in the axial direction of a cone-shaped package, and the engagement of said gears is set so that the traverse speed is fast along the shorter diameter side of the package and is slow along the longer diameter side thereof.
2. A traverse apparatus having rotating wings as claimed in claim 1 characterized in
that the engagement of said gears is set so as to be positioned on a path in which
a minimum traverse speed using the yarn guide rotating wing is changed from the longer
diameter side to the shorter diameter side of the cone-shaped package and so as to
be positioned on a path so that the maximum traverse speed is changed from the shorter
diameter side to the longer diameter side.
3. A traverse apparatus having rotating wings as claimed in claim 1 characterized in
that:
a sensor for detecting the rotation speed of said package, and a control section for adjusting the rotation speed of said drive motor according to the output of the sensor, wherein the control section maintains a relationship between the rotation of the package and of the yarn guide rotating wing irrespective of the package rotation speed.