Yarn winding device and textile machine including the same

Abstract

 An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for simplifying wiring in a yarn winding unit 2. The yarn winding unit 2 includes a winding unit main body 6 and a unit controller 7. The winding unit main body 6 includes a plurality of components to which at least a yarn supplying section 3, a yarn winding section 5, and a yarn splicing section 8 correspond. The yarn supplying section 3 supplies a yarn 4. The yarn winding section 5 winds the yarn 4 supplied from the yarn supplying section 3. The yarn splicing section 8 is provided between the yarn supplying section 3 and the yarn winding section 5 to splice the yarn 4. The unit controller 7 controls operation of the winding unit main body 6. At least one (3, 11, 12) of the plurality of components includes a motor (15, 36, 41). The winding unit includes a remote I/O board (3r, 11r, 12r). The remote I/O board (3r, 11r, 12r) is configured to be able to communicate with the unit controller 7. The remote I/O board (3r, 11r, 12r) receives a control signal from the unit controller 7 to control operation of the component (3, 11, 12) including the motor (15, 36, 41) based on the received instruction (Fig.1).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a yarn winding device and a textile machine including the yarn winding device.

Background of the Invention

[0002] The Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai) No. 2003-2540 discloses an automatic winder as an example of a textile machine. The automatic winder is an apparatus that splices yarns unwound from a plurality of yarn supplying bodies and winds the yarns into a winding package.

[0003] In general, in the automatic winder as disclosed in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai) No. 2003-2540, stepping motors provided in a lower yarn sucking and guiding member, and an upper yarn sucking and guiding member are connected to a control device via an enormous number of communication lines.

[0004] Meanwhile, accompanying improvements in functions of the automatic winder, it has become difficult to ensure a space allowing the enormous number of communication lines to be arranged in each winding unit of the automatic winder. Furthermore, the presence of the enormous number of communication lines makes maintenance difficult.

[0005] A method for solving this problem is to increase arrangement intervals between the winding units arranged in a line. However, increasing the arrangement intervals reduces the arrangement density of the winding units, thus reducing productivity.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances. An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for simplifying wiring in a yarn winding device.

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, a yarn winding device includes a winding unit main body and a winding unit control means. The winding unit main body includes a plurality of components including at least a yarn supplying section, a yarn winding section, and a yarn splicing section. The yarn supplying section supplies a yarn. The yarn winding section winds the yarn supplied from the yarn supplying section. The yarn splicing section is provided between the yarn supplying section and the yarn winding section to splice the yarn. The winding unit control means controls operation of the winding unit main body. At least one of the plurality of components includes a motor. The yarn winding device includes a component control means. The component control means is configured to be able to communicate with the winding unit control means. The component control means receives a control signal from the winding unit control means to control operation of the component including the motor based on the received control signal. That is, in general, a large number of electric wires are required to drive the motor. Thus, by providing the component control means the large number of electric wires are not required to be extended to the winding unit control means. This simplifies wiring in the yarn winding device.

[0008] The Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai) No. 2003-2540 refers to no problems inherent in the motor.

[0009] In the above-described yarn winding device, each of the components and a corresponding one of the component control means are preferably configured as a module, and each module can be installed in and removed from the winding unit main body. The thus configured yarn winding device offers high maintainability.

[0010] In the yarn winding device, at least any two of the plurality of components include respective motors. The component control means provided in each of the components is configured to be able to communicate with the winding unit control means. The component control means receives a control signal from the winding unit control means, and controls an operation of the corresponding component including the corresponding motor in accordance with the received control signal. The winding unit control means simultaneously transmits a control signal to the plurality of component control means. Therefore, operations of the plurality of components can be synchronized without imposing a heavy burden on the winding unit control means.

[0011] A textile machine includes a large number of the yarn winding devices. That is, the textile machine provided according to the present invention exerts the above-described excellent effects.

[0012] Other features, elements, processes, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] 

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a winding unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the winding unit.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0015] In the present embodiment, an automatic winder 1 includes a large number of winding units 2 arranged in a lateral direction of the sheet of Figure 1. In each of the winding units 2, a yarn winding section 5 winds a yarn 4 supplied from a yarn supplying section 3.

[0016] The winding unit 2 includes a winding unit main body 6 and a unit controller 7 (winding unit control means) that controls an operation of the winding unit main body 6.

[0017] The winding unit main body 6 includes the yarn supplying section 3, the yarn winding section 5, and a yarn splicing section 8. The yarn supplying section 3 supplies a yarn 4. The yarn winding section 5 winds the yarn 4 supplied from the yarn supplying section 3. The yarn splicing section 8 is provided between the yarn supplying section 3 and the yarn winding section 5 to splice the yarn 4. The winding unit main body 6 includes, in addition to the above-described components, a tension applying section 9, a yarn clearer section 10, a relay pipe section 11 (lower yarn sucking, catching, and guiding means), and a suction mouth section 12 (upper yarn sucking, catching, and guiding means). The tension applying section 9 is provided between the yarn supplying section 3 and the yarn splicing section 8 to apply an appropriate tension to the traveling yarn 4. The yarn clearer section 10 is provided between the yarn splicing section 8 and the yarn winding section 5 to detect a defect in the traveling yarn 4. When the yarn clearer section 10 cuts the yarn 4 or the yarn 4 is broken, the relay pipe section 11 sucks, catches, and guides the yarn 4 on the yarn supplying section 3 side to the yarn splicing section 8. Similarly, when the yarn clearer section 10 cuts the yarn 4 or the yarn 4 is broken, the suction mouth section 12 sucks, catches, and guides the yarn 4 on the yarn winding section 5 side to the yarn splicing section 8. The above-described components are supported on a support frame L.

[0018] The yarn supplying section 3 includes a cylindrical body 13 and a driving mechanism 14. The cylindrical body 13 covers a winding tube Bf of a spinning bobbin B to adjust the diameter of a balloon generated when the yarn 4 is unwound. The driving mechanism 14 moves the cylindrical body 13 in an axial direction of the winding tube Bf. The driving mechanism 14 includes a stepping motor 15, a toothed belt (not shown in the drawings), an upper end limit switch 16, and a lower end limit switch 17. The toothed belt transmits power from the stepping motor 15 to the cylindrical body 13. The upper end limit switch 16 and the lower end limit switch 17 detect the position of the cylindrical body 13. Furthermore, the yarn supplying section 3 is configured as what is called a bobbin tray type. That is, the winding tube Bf fixed to a tray 18 is sequentially fed in a vertical direction of page of Figure 1 by a conveying belt (not shown in the drawings). A winding tube replacing the winding tube Bf located in an illustrated winding position stands by upstream of the winding tube Bf in a conveying direction of the conveying belt. The yarn supplying section 3 further includes a winding tube standby sensor 19 that detects a presence of a winding tube in the standby position.

[0019] The yarn winding section 5 includes a cradle 22 and a traverse drum 23. The cradle 22 supports a winding tube 20 around which the yarn 4 is wound and the cradle 22 is swingable around a cradle shaft 21. The traverse drum 23 rotates while making contact with the winding tube 20 or a package P formed by winding the yarn 4 around an outer periphery of the winding tube 20 (hereinafter simply referred as the package P). A traverse groove is formed in an outer peripheral surface of the traverse drum 23. The traverse groove traverses the traveling yarn 4 with respect to the package P. The yarn winding section 5 further includes an angle sensor 24 that detects a swinging angle of the cradle 22.

[0020] The yarn splicing section 8 includes an air nozzle (not shown in the drawings) and an electromagnetic valve 26. The air nozzle ejects air to a yarn end of the yarn 4 on the yarn supplying section 3 side and a yarn end of the yarn 4 on the yarn winding section 5 side to entangle both yarn ends together. The electromagnetic valve 26 controls an air pressure supplied to the air nozzle.

[0021] The tension applying section 9 is configured as what is called a gate type. The tension applying section 9 includes a fixed comb 27, a movable comb 28, and a solenoid 29. The movable comb 28 approaches or moves away from the fixed comb 27. The solenoid 28 pivotally moves the movable comb 28.

[0022] The yarn clearer section 10 includes a yarn thickness detecting section, an analyzer, a cutter 32, and a solenoid. The yarn thickness detecting section outputs a signal corresponding to the thickness of the traveling yarn 4. The analyzer analyzes the signal output from the yarn thickness detecting section to recognize a defect in the yarn 4. The cutter 32 cuts the traveling yarn 4. The solenoid drives the cutter 32.

[0023] The relay pipe section 11 includes a stepping motor 36, an upper end limit switch 37, and a lower end limit switch 38. The stepping motor 36 pivotally moves a relay pipe 34 around a shaft 35. The upper end limit switch 37 and the lower end limit switch 38 detect a pivotal movement angle of the relay pipe 34.

[0024] The suction mouth section 12 includes a stepping motor 41, an upper end limit switch 42, and a lower end limit switch 43. The stepping motor 41 pivotally moves a suction mouth 39 around a shaft 40. The upper end limit switch 42 and the lower end limit switch 43 detect a pivotal movement angle of the suction mouth 39.

[0025] Next, a configuration of the winding unit 2 will be described in further detail with reference to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, remote Input/Output (I/O) boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r are respectively provided in the yarn winding section 5, the suction mouth section 12, the yarn splicing section 8, the relay pipe section 11, the tension applying section 9, and the yarn supplying section 3, which are the components of the winding unit 2.

[0026] Each of the remote I/O boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r contains a Controller Area Network (CAN) communication module. Each of the remote I/O boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r includes a microcomputer with corresponding numbers of input and output ports. Each of the remote I/O boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r is connected to the unit controller 7 so that communication can be carried out with the unit controller 7 via a communication line 44. Each of the remote I/O boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a Read Only Memory (ROM) (which are not shown in the drawings), and the like. The ROM stores control programs allowing hardware such as the CPU to control the components.

[0027] The unit controller 7 and the remote I/O boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r constitute the CAN according to the present embodiment. The unit controller 7 corresponds to a master station that transmits control signals (messages). Each of the remote I/O boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r corresponds to a slave station that receives the control signals (messages). Each of the messages transmitted by the unit controller 7 as the master station includes an ID. In accordance with the ID included in the received message, each of the remote I/O boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r selectively processes the received messages. For example, the remote I/O board 5r determines that only messages which includes 5 as an ID are intended for the remote I/O board 5r. The remote I/O board 5r ignores messages including numbers other than 5 as an ID.

[0028] The angle sensor 24 is connected to the input port of the remote I/O board 5r provided in the yarn winding section 5. Output signals from the angle sensor 24 are input to the remote I/O board 5r. The unit controller 7 can refer to the swinging angle of the cradle 22 via the remote I/O board 5r.

[0029] A stepping motor 41 is connected via a motor driver 45 to the remote I/O board 12r (component control means) provided in the suction mouth section 12. In the present embodiment, the stepping motor 41 is a Permanent Magnet (PM) type stepping motor. The stepping motor 41 and the motor driver 45 are connected by a plurality of power supply lines 46. The motor driver 45 and the remote I/O board 12r are connected by a plurality of signal lines 47. The plurality of signal lines 47 include (1) a signal line through which pulses are transmitted from the remote I/O board 12r to the motor driver 45, (2) a signal line through which a rotating direction of the stepping motor 41 is controlled, (3) a signal line through which an ENABLE value for the motor driver 45 is controlled, (4) a signal line through which an excitation mode for the stepping motor 41 is controlled, (5) a signal line through which the motor driver 45 is reset, (6) a signal line through which an electric current value supplied to the stepping motor 41 from the motor driver 45 is controlled, and (7) a signal line through which an abnormal state of the motor driver 45 is detected. The motor driver 45 is provided as close as possible to the stepping motor 41 in order to reduce a transmission loss in the power supply lines 46. In the conventional yarn winding device, the motor driver 45 is connected directly to the unit controller 7 via a signal line.
Thus, in the conventional yarn winding device, signal lines (1) to (7) extended from the motor driver 45 to the unit controller 7 in Figure 2. However, according to the present embodiment, the signal lines 47 extend only from the motor driver 45 to the remote I/O board 12r. The wiring in the winding unit 2 according to the present embodiment is much simpler than the wiring in the conventional yarn winding device. As shown by a dashed line in Figure 1, the remote I/O board 12r is provided in a casing of the shaft 40.

[0030] The upper end limit switch 42 and the lower end limit switch 43 are connected to the input ports of the remote I/O board 12r.

[0031] The electromagnetic valve 26 is connected via a transistor (not shown in the drawings) to the output port of the remote I/O board 8r provided in the yarn splicing section 8.

[0032] The stepping motor 36 is connected via a motor driver 49 to the remote I/O board 11r (component control means) provided in the relay pipe section 11. The stepping motor 36 is a PM type stepping motor as described above. The stepping motor 36 and the motor driver 49 are connected by a plurality of power supply lines 50. The motor driver 49 and the remote I/O board 11r are connected by a plurality of signal lines 51. A description of the power supply lines 50 and the signal lines 51 is the same as the power supply lines 46 and the signal lines 47, and is thus omitted. The upper end limit switch 37 and the lower end limit switch 38 are connected to the input ports of the remote I/O board 11r. In the present embodiment, as shown by a dashed line in Figure 1, the remote I/O board 11r is provided in a casing of the shaft 35.

[0033] The solenoid 29 is connected to the remote I/O board 9r in the tension applying section 9 via a solenoid driver 52. A plurality of signal lines 52d connecting the solenoid driver 52 and the remote I/O board 9r include, for example, a constant current control signal line. The remote I/O board 9r outputs a constant current control signal to the solenoid driver 52 to allow the solenoid 29 to pivotally move the movable comb 28. Consequently, an appropriate tension is applied to the yarn 4.

[0034] A stepping motor 15 is connected via a motor driver 53 to the remote I/O board 3r (component control means) provided in the yarn supplying section 3. In the present embodiment, the stepping motor 15 is also a PM type stepping motor.
The stepping motor 15 and the motor driver 53 are connected by a plurality of power supply lines 54. The motor driver 53 and the remote I/O board 3r are connected by a plurality of signal lines 55. A description of the power supply lines 54 and the signal lines 55 is the same as the power supply lines 46 and the signal lines 47, and is thus omitted. The upper end limit switch 16, the lower end limit switch 17, and the winding tube standby sensor 19 are connected to the input ports of the remote I/O board 3r. As shown in Figure 1, in the present embodiment, the remote I/O board 3r is provided in a support arm M, which supports the cylindrical body 13.

[0035] The unit controller 7 includes a CPU and a ROM, and the like (which are not shown in the drawings). The ROM stores control programs allowing hardware such as the CPU to control the winding unit 2.

[0036] Next, operation of the unit controller 7 and the remote I/O boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r will be described.

<During normal Operation>

[0037] The CPU on the remote I/O board 5r monitors, at predetermined time intervals, the swinging angle of the cradle 22 according to signals transmitted by the angle sensor 24. The CPU on the remote I/O board 5r transmits the swinging angle to the unit controller 7 in response to a request from the unit controller 7.
The unit controller 7 determines the winding diameter of the package P in accordance with the swinging angle of the cradle 22 received from the remote I/O board 5r. The unit controller 7 feeds back the winding diameter of the package P for, for example, the rotation speed of the traverse drum 23.

[0038] The CPU on the remote I/O board 9r transmits an appropriate signal to the solenoid driver 52 so as to apply a predetermined tension to the traveling yarn 4. Accordingly, the relative position of the movable comb 28 is adjusted with respect to the fixed comb 27. The tension applied to the traveling yarn 4 is appropriately adjusted according to the relative positional relationship between the movable comb 28 and the fixed comb 27

[0039] The CPU on the remote I/O board 3r transmits an appropriate signal to the motor driver 53 so as to place the cylindrical body 13 at an appropriate position with respect to the winding tube Bf. A movable area of the cylindrical body 13 is limited by the presence of the upper end limit switch 16 and the lower end limit switch 17. For example, when the cylindrical body 13 reaches the upper end limit switch 16 to turn on the upper end limit switch 16 (conducting state), the remote I/O board 3r transmits a predetermined signal to the motor driver 53 to allow the motor driver 53 to immediately stop an elevating movement of the cylindrical body 13. Furthermore, the remote I/O board 3r monitors the state of a signal from the winding tube standby sensor 19 to determine the presence of the winding tube Bf at the standby position.

<During Yarn Splicing>

[0040] When the CPU in the yarn clearer section 10 transmits a signal indicating that the yarn 4 has been cut or broken to the unit controller 7, the CPU in the unit controller 7 transmits a control signal for yarn splicing to all of the remote I/O boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r at once. The control signal includes a predetermined ID clearly indicating that the control signal is intended for the remote I/O board 12r and the remote I/O board 11r.

[0041] Upon receiving the control signal for yarn splicing from the CPU in the unit controller 7, the CPU on the remote I/O board 12r transmits a predetermined signal to the motor driver 45 to allow the motor driver 45 to pivotally move the suction mouth 39 around the shaft 40, thus moving a mouth 56 of the suction mouth 39 closer to the package P. During the pivotal movement of the suction mouth 39, when the upper end limit switch 42 is turned on (conducting state), the CPU on the remote I/O board 12r transmits a predetermined signal to the motor driver 45 to allow the motor driver 45 to immediately stop the pivotal movement of the suction mouth 39. Then, when a yarn sensor (not shown in the drawings) detects that the yarn adhering to a peripheral surface of the package P has been sucked into the suction mouth 39, the CPU on the remote I/O board 12r controls the suction mouth 39 to pivotally move around the shaft 40. As a result, the yarn 4 sucked and caught in the suction mouth 39 can be guided to the yarn splicing section 8. During the pivotal movement of the suction mouth 39, when the lower end limit switch 43 is turned on (conducting state), the CPU on the remote I/O board 12r transmits a predetermined signal to the motor driver 45 to allow the motor driver 45 to immediately stop the pivotal movement of the suction mouth 39.

[0042] As described above, upon receiving the control signal for yarn splicing from the CPU in the unit controller 7, the CPU on the remote I/O board 11r transmits a predetermined signal to the motor driver 49 to allow the motor driver 49 to slightly pivotally move the relay pipe 34 around the shaft 35. Thus, a suction port 57 is opened, and the yarn 4 on the yarn supplying section 3 side is sucked into the suction port 57. After an elapse of a predetermined period of time from the pivotal movement, the CPU on the remote I/O board 11r transmits a predetermined signal to the motor driver 49. As a result, the relay pipe 34 is pivotally moved in the opposite direction to draw the yarn 4 out from the spinning bobbin B. The relay pipe 34 then guides the yarn 4 to the yarn splicing section 8. As is the case with the suction mouth 39, the upper end limit switch 37 and the lower end limit switch 38 work effectively on the series of operations of the relay pipe 34.

[0043] Simultaneous reception of the control signal for yarn splicing from the CPU in the unit controller 7 allows the operation in which the suction mouth section 12 sucks, catches, and guides the yarn 4 on the package P side to the yarn splicing section 8 to be synchronized with the operation in which the relay pipe section 11 sucks, catches, and guides the yarn 4 on the yarn supplying section 3 side to the yarn splicing section 8.

[0044] Once the guiding is completed, the CPU on the remote I/O board 12r transmits a signal indicating the completion of the guiding to the unit controller 7. Similarly, once the guiding is completed, the CPU on the remote I/O board 11r transmits the signal indicating the completion of the guiding to the unit controller 7. Upon receiving the signal indicating the completion of the guiding from both the remote I/O board 12r and the remote I/O board 11r, the CPU in the unit controller 7 transmits the control signal for the yarn splicing operation to the remote I/O board 8r. Upon receiving the control signal from the unit controller 7, the CPU on the remote I/O board 8r appropriately operates the electromagnetic valve 26 to splice the yarn 4 on the package P side and the yarn 4 on the yarn supplying section 3 side, which have been guided to the yarn splicing section 8.

[0045] As described above, in the present embodiment, the winding unit 2 includes the winding unit main body 6 and the unit controller 7. The winding unit main body 6 includes the plurality of components including at least the yarn supplying section 3, the yarn winding section 5, and the yarn splicing section 8. The yarn supplying section 3 supplies the yarn 4. The yarn winding section 5 winds the yarn 4 supplied from the yarn supplying section 3. The yarn splicing section 8 is provided between the yarn supplying section 3 and the yarn winding section 5 to splice the yarn 4. The unit controller 7 controls the operation of the winding unit main body 6. At least one (3, 11, 12) of the plurality of components includes the motor (15, 36, 41). The winding unit includes the remote I/O boards (3r, 11r, 12r). Each of the remote I/O boards (3r, 11r, 12r) is configured to be able to communicate with the unit controller 7. Each of the remote I/O boards (3r, 11r, 12r) receives the control signal from the unit controller 7 to control the operation of the corresponding component (3, 11, 12) including the corresponding motor (15, 36, 41) in accordance with the received control signal. That is, in general, a large number of electric wires are required to drive the motors. Thus, by providing the remote I/O boards, a large number of electric wires are not required to be extended to the unit controller 7. This simplifies wiring in the winding unit 2. As a result, according to the present embodiment, a decrease in the arrangement density of the winding unit 2 can be avoided. Thus, a large number of the winding units 2 can be arranged in a line even in a limited space. Therefore, productivity of a textile machine as a whole is also improved.

[0046] In the above-described embodiment, the remote I/O boards are provided in the yarn supplying section 3, the relay pipe section 11, and the suction mouth section 12. However, as a different embodiment, the remote I/O board may be provided exclusively in one of the yarn supplying section 3, the relay pipe section 11, and the suction mouth section 12. For example, the remote I/O board may be provided exclusively in the suction mouth section 12. Furthermore, instead of the communication lines 44, wireless communication may be adopted for the communication between each of the remote I/O boards (3r, 11r, 11r) and the unit controller 7. Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the CAN is constructed so as to effectively utilize the characteristics of the CAN. However, as a different embodiment, the yarn winding unit may be configured without utilizing the CAN.

[0047] In the above-described embodiment, each of the components (3, 11, 12) and the corresponding one of the remote I/O boards (3r, 11r, 12r) are configured as a module so that each module can be installed in and removed from the winding unit main body 6. That is, the yarn supplying section 3 can be installed on and removed from the support frame L together with the remote I/O board 3r. Similarly, the relay pipes section 11 can be installed on and removed from the support frame L together with the remote I/O board 11r. The suction mouth section 12 can be installed on and removed from the support frame L together with the remote I/O board 12r. This configuration offers high maintainability.

[0048] Moreover, first, the components (3, 11, 12) can be easily verified for operation. That is, provided that an environment is established which allows transmission of the same control signal as those transmitted to the remote I/O boards (3r, 11r, 12r) by the unit controller 7, the components (3, 11, 12) can be independently and comprehensively verified for operation. For example, provided that the components (3, 11, 12) are verified for operation in a textile machine manufacturing factory, the components (3, 11, 12) can be mounted directly in the winding unit 2 in a yarn production site. As a result, a winding operation can be started immediately after the mounting of the components (3, 11, 12). This enables the productivity to be improved.

[0049] Second, the present invention reduces cumbersomeness associated with a change of the type of the product. That is, a change of type of the product may require replacement of each of the components (3, 11, 12) with another type. However, when the components and the remote I/O boards are configured as modules as described above, almost no or no change is required for the control signals transmitted to the remote I/O boards (3r, 11r, 12r) by the unit controller 7. Furthermore, the adoption of the remote I/O boards allows the components combined with the respective remote I/O boards as modules to be easily mounted in the winding unit 2. As a result, function expandability of the winding unit 2 is improved.

[0050] Each of the remote I/O boards previously a speed control pattern for the motor controlled by the corresponding remote I/O board. Thus, upon receiving an appropriate control signal from the unit controller 7, each of the remote I/O boards can control the corresponding motor in accordance with the stored speed control pattern. Alternatively, a plurality of speed control patterns may be stored in each of the remote I/O boards so that the remote I/O board can select one of the speed control patterns according to a control signal from the unit controller 7 and control the motor according to the selected speed control pattern.

[0051] Furthermore, at least any two of the plurality of components (for example, 11, 12) include the respective motors (36, 41). The remote I/O board (11r, 12r) provided in each of these components is configured to be able to communicate with the unit controller 7. The remote I/O board (11r, 12r) receives a control signal from the unit controller 7 to control the operation of the corresponding component (11, 12) including the corresponding motor (36, 41) in accordance with the received control signal. The unit controller 7 simultaneously transmits control signals to the plurality of remote I/O boards (11r, 12r). Accordingly, operations of the plurality of components (11, 12) can be synchronized without imposing a heavy burden on the unit controller 7.

[0052] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. The above-described embodiments can be varied as described below.

[0053] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the traverse drum 23 is adopted as a device that traverses the yarn 4 with respect to the package P. However, as another embodiment, an arm type traverse device may be adopted which includes an arm provided with a yarn guide at a tip thereof and swinging at a high speed while gripping the yarn 4. Alternatively, a belt type traverse device may be adopted which includes a toothed belt, a yarn guide fittingly provided on the toothed belt, and a motor that reciprocates the toothed belt.

[0054] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the yarn supplying section 3 is configured as what is called the bobbin tray type such that the winding tube Bf fixed on the tray 18 is supplied to the yarn supplying section 3 via the conveying belt. However, the yarn supplying section 3 may be of what is called a magazine type. The magazine type yarn supplying section includes a large number of winding tube accommodating holes in each of which the winding tube Bf is accommodated so that the winding tubes Bf can be sequentially fed to a winding position through the respective winding tube accommodating holes.

[0055] The above-described embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to the automatic winder 1. However, as another embodiment, the present invention is applicable to a spinning machine.

[0056] Furthermore, the numbers of the motors connected to the remote I/O boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r as well as the numbers of the input and output ports of the remote I/O boards shown in Figure 2 are not limited to those shown in the Figure 2. A configuration in which the remote I/O boards 5r, 12r, 8r, 11r, 9r, 3r includes more input and output ports is useful for providing additional functions or changing specifications.

[0057] In the above-described embodiment, the tension applying section 9 is configured as the gate type. However, the tension applying section 9 may be of a disc type. The disc type tension applying section allows the yarn to travel between two discs rubbing against one another to apply tension to the yarn 4. The tension applying section 9 is also configured as a module, allowing the gate type tension applying section 9 to be easily replaced with the disc type. In this specification, a solenoid coil is a subordinate concept of the motor.

[0058] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the yarn splicing device 8 is configured as the air nozzle type. However, the yarn splicing device 8 may be of a disc splicer type. The disc splicer type yarn splicing section allows yarn ends to be provided between a pair of discs rubbing against one another so that the yarns can be untwisted and then spliced again by the relative rotation of the pair of discs.

[0059] In the above-described embodiment, the PM type stepping motor is described as an example of the motor. However, the present invention is not limited to the stepping motor. Any of various other motors such as a servo motor and a voice coil motor can be adopted.

[0060] In the above-described embodiment, the slave station is operated upon receiving the control signal from the master station. However, the slave stations can be adapted to communicate with each other via the communication line 44.

[0061] While the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those specifically set out and described above. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications of the present invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A yarn winding device comprising:

a winding unit main body (6) including a plurality of components including at least a yarn supplying section (3) that supplies a yarn, a yarn winding section (5) that winds the yarn supplied from the yarn supplying section (3), and a yarn splicing section (8) that is provided between the yarn supplying section (3) and the yarn winding section (5) to splice the yarn; and

a winding unit control means (7) controlling operation of the winding unit main body (6),

characterized in that at least one of the plurality of the components includes a motor, and
a component control means is provided in the at least one component and configured to be able to communicate with the winding unit control means (7), and the component control means receives a control signal from the winding unit control means (7) to control operation of the component including the motor in accordance with the received control signal.

2. The yarn winding device according to Claim 1, characterized in that each of the components and a corresponding component control means are configured as a module, and
each module can be installed in and removed from the winding unit main body (6).

3. The yarn winding device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2,
characterized in that at least any two of the plurality of components respectively include a motor,
the component control means is provided in each of the at least any two components and configured to be able to communicate with the winding unit control means (7), and the component control means receives a control signal from the winding unit control means (7) to control operation of the corresponding component including the corresponding motor, and
the winding unit control means (7) simultaneously transmits a control signal to the plurality of component control means.

4. A textile machine characterized by comprising a large number of the yarn winding devices according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

Drawing