BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a yarn winding unit and a yarn winding machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Conventionally, as a technique in such a field, there is known a spinning machine
described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
2011-37608. The spinning machine includes a cradle device adapted to hold a package, an air
cylinder adapted to drive a cradle arm of the cradle device, a supply line adapted
to supply compressed air from a compressed air source to the air cylinder, and a control
section adapted to control the supply of the compressed air to the air cylinder. In
the spinning machine, for example, the cradle device is installed on a frame of the
spinning machine, and the air cylinder is also separately installed on the frame of
the spinning machine.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] When performing a maintenance operation on the cradle device, cumbersome operations
such as detaching the cradle device, the air cylinder, and the control section respectively
from the frame, detaching an air pipe associated with the air cylinder, and the like
are required. In this type of yarn winding machine, the maintenance operation of the
cradle device is desired to be simplified.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a yarn winding unit and a yarn winding
machine in which a maintenance operation of a cradle device is simplified.
[0005] A yarn winding unit of the present invention includes a frame and a cradle device.
The cradle device includes a cradle arm adapted to rotatably hold a package around
which a spun yarn is wound, a driving section adapted to drive the cradle arm, and
a control section adapted to control the driving section. The cradle device is a module
provided detachably to the frame.
[0006] According to the yarn winding unit, the cradle arm, the driving section, and the
control section are collectively attachable to or detachable from the frame as a module
of the cradle device. Thus, when performing the maintenance operation of the cradle
device, all components of the cradle device can be detached from the frame at once.
Therefore, the maintenance operation of the cradle device can be easily performed.
[0007] In the yarn winding unit of the present invention, the driving section is the air
cylinder. The yarn winding unit includes a plurality of air pipes. The plurality of
air pipes are provided on the frame and are adapted to guide compressed air to the
air cylinder. The plurality of air pipes are provided as a pipe group. Accordingly,
a structure of the entire yarn winding unit can be simplified.
[0008] The cradle device further includes a first connecting section adapted to connect
the air cylinder and the air pipes. The air pipes are provided with a second connecting
section adapted to be connected to the first connecting section. The second connecting
section includes a valve adapted to pass through the compressed air from the air pipes
to the first connecting section when the first connecting section is connected, and
to shut the compressed air from the air pipes when the first connecting section is
not connected.
[0009] In the yarn winding unit adapted to supply the compressed air from the air pipes
to the cradle device, a compressed air path for the air cylinder can also be connected
by the connection of the first and second connecting sections, and the cradle device
can be easily attached or detached. When the first connecting section of the cradle
device is detached from the second connecting section, leakage of the compressed air
from the air pipes can be prevented.
[0010] The cradle arm includes two holding arms adapted to hold the package, and package
holding sections respectively provided on the holding arms and adapted to rotatably
hold the package by the holding arms. The respective cradle device includes: a swing
shaft adapted to enable swinging of the cradle arm, a supporting section adapted to
support the swing shaft and the driving section, and fixed on the frame, and an opening-and-closing
shaft adapted to open and close the cradle arm by moving one of the holding arms between
a holding position for holding the package and a releasing position for releasing
the package. The opening-and-closing shaft is located opposite the package holding
sections with respect to the swing shaft.
[0011] The package holding section and the opening-and-closing shaft are located away from
one another. Therefore, even if a width of the package is changed, both holding arms
can hold the package in an almost parallel state.
[0012] The cradle device includes a supporting section adapted to swingably support the
cradle arm and fixed to the frame, and the driving section adapted to swing the cradle
arm with respect to the supporting section. The driving section includes a first driving
device adapted to swing the cradle arm by moving a prescribed point of application
of force of the cradle arm with respect to the supporting section, and a second driving
device adapted to swing the cradle arm by moving the point of application of force
by moving the first driving device with respect to the supporting section. A moved
amount of the point of application of force by the second driving device is greater
than a moved amount of the point of application of force by the first driving device.
[0013] The cradle arm can be swung by moving the point of application of force of the cradle
arm by the first driving device. The cradle arm can also be swung at a greater angle
by more greatly moving the point of application of force of the cradle arm by the
second driving device. Therefore, the first driving device and the second driving
device can be used according to purpose to swing the cradle arm at different movable
widths.
[0014] A yarn winding machine includes a frame, and a plurality of cradle devices. Each
cradle device includes a cradle arm adapted to rotatably hold a package around which
a spun yarn is wound, a driving section adapted to drive the cradle arm, and a control
section adapted to control the driving section. Each of the cradle devices is an independent
module provided detachably to the frame.
[0015] According to the yarn spinning machine, the cradle arm, the driving section, and
the control section are collectively attachable to or detachable from the frame as
a module of the cradle device. Thus, when performing the maintenance operation of
each cradle device, all of the components of the cradle device can be detached from
the frame at once. Therefore, the maintenance operation of the cradle device can be
easily performed.
[0016] In the yarn winding machine, the driving section is an air cylinder. The yarn winding
machine further includes a compressed air source adapted to supply compressed air
to the air cylinder of each of the cradle devices, and a plurality of air pipes provided
on a frame and adapted to guide the compressed air supplied from the compressed air
source to the air cylinder of each of the cradle devices. The plurality of air pipes
are collectively provided as a pipe group. Since the plurality of air pipes provided
on the frame are provided as the pipe group, the structure of the entire yarn winding
machine can be simplified.
[0017] Each cradle device further includes a first connecting section adapted to connect
the air cylinder and the air pipes. The air pipes are provided with a plurality of
second connecting sections adapted to be connected to the first connecting section
of each of the cradle devices. The second connecting section includes a valve adapted
to pass through the compressed air from the air pipes to the first connecting section
when the first connecting section is connected, and to shut the compressed air from
the air pipes when the first connecting section is not connected.
[0018] In the yarn winding machine adapted to supply the compressed air from the air pipes
to each of the cradle devices, a compressed air path for the air cylinder can also
be connected by the connection of the first and second connecting sections, and the
cradle device can be easily attached or detached. Even when the first connecting section
is detached from the second connecting section in some of the plurality of cradle
devices, the compressed air from the air pipes is shut in the second connecting section,
and the supply of the compressed air to other cradle devices is not influenced. Even
when performing the maintenance operation of some of the cradle devices, a yarn winding
operation can be continued in the other cradle devices.
[0019] The cradle arm includes two holding arms adapted to hold the package, and package
holding sections respectively provided on the holding arms and adapted to rotatably
hold the package by the holding arms. The respective cradle device includes a swing
shaft adapted to enable swinging of the cradle arm, a supporting section adapted to
support the swing shaft and the driving section, and fixed on the frame, and an opening-and-closing
shaft adapted to open and close the cradle arm by moving one of the holding arms between
a holding position for holding the package and a releasing position for releasing
the package. The opening-and-closing shaft is located opposite the package holding
sections with respect to the swing shaft.
[0020] The package holding section and the opening-and-closing shaft are located away from
one another. Therefore, even if the width of the package is changed, both holding
arms can sandwich and hold the package in an almost parallel state.
[0021] The yarn winding machine further includes a doffing device adapted to perform a doffing
operation of the package with respect to the cradle device. The doffing device includes
a cradle operating section adapted to open and close the cradle arm. Since the opening
and closing of the cradle arm are performed by the cradle operating section of the
doffing device, workability of the doffing operation is improved.
[0022] The yarn winding machine further includes a draft device adapted to draft a fiber
bundle, and an air-jet spinning device adapted to spin using whirling airflow, the
fiber bundle drafted by the draft device. In the yarn winding machine including the
air-jet spinning device, the maintenance operation of the cradle device can be easily
performed.
[0023] Each cradle device includes a supporting section adapted to swingably support the
cradle arm and fixed to the frame, and the driving section adapted to swing the cradle
arm with respect to the supporting section. The driving section includes a first driving
device adapted to swing the cradle arm by moving a prescribed point of application
of force of the cradle arm with respect to the supporting section, and a second driving
device adapted to swing the cradle arm by moving the point of application of force
by moving the first driving device with respect to the supporting section. A moved
amount of the point of application of force by the second driving device is greater
than a moved amount of the point of application of force by the first driving device.
[0024] The cradle arm can be swung by moving the point of application of force of the cradle
arm by the first driving device. The cradle arm can also be swung at a greater angle
by more greatly moving the point of application of force of the cradle arm by the
second driving device. Therefore, the first driving device and the second driving
device can be used according to the purpose to swing the cradle arm at different movable
widths.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a spinning machine according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of a spinning unit of the spinning machine of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a supply path of compressed air for driving
a cradle arm;
FIG. 4 is a side view of a doffing device of the spinning machine of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a cradle device of a spinning unit and a
frame;
FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating the cradle device of the spinning unit and the
frame; and
FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating the cradle device of the spinning unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] A spinning machine (yarn winding machine) according to one embodiment of the present
invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. "Upstream" and "downstream"
respectively refer to upstream and downstream in a travelling direction of a yarn
during spinning.
[0027] A spinning machine 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of spinning units
(winding units) 2 arranged in line. The spinning machine 1 includes a yarn joining
cart 3, a doffing cart 4, a blower box 93, and a motor box 5.
[0028] Each spinning unit 2 includes a draft device 7, an air-jet spinning device 9, a yarn
accumulating device 12, and a winding device 13 arranged in this order from upstream
to downstream. The draft device 7 is arranged in proximity to an upper end of a frame
6 of the spinning machine 1. A fiber bundle 8 fed from the draft device 7 is spun
by the air-jet spinning device 9. A spun yarn 10 produced by the air-jet spinning
device 9 is fed via a yarn accumulating roller 21 and wound by the winding device
13, thus forming a package 45. A bobbin 48 (to be described later), and a yarn layer
of the spun yarn 10 wound around the bobbin 48 are collectively referred to as the
package 45. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like, in the present embodiment, the
spinning unit 2 forms a cylindrical package (cheese package) 45 using the cylindrical
bobbin 48, but may also form a conical package (cone package) using a conical bobbin.
[0029] The draft device 7 drafts a sliver 15 to obtain the fiber bundle 8. As illustrated
in FIG. 2, the draft device 7 includes four roller pairs, i.e., a back roller pair
16, a third roller pair 17, a middle roller pair 19 provided with an apron belt 18,
and a front roller pair 20. A bottom roller of each of the roller pairs 16, 17, 19,
and 20 is driven by power from the motor box 5, or by power of electric motors (not
illustrated) arranged in each spinning unit 2. Each of the roller pairs 16, 17, 19,
and 20 is driven with a different rotation speed. As a result, the draft device 7
can draft the sliver 15 supplied from the upstream to form the fiber bundle 8, and
feed the fiber bundle 8 to the air-jet spinning device 9 located downstream.
[0030] The air-jet spinning device 9 applies twists to the fiber bundle 8 using whirling
airflow to produce the spun yarn 10. Although detailed description and illustration
will be omitted, the air-jet spinning device 9 includes a fiber guiding section, a
whirling airflow generating nozzle, and a hollow guide shaft body. The fiber guiding
section guides the fiber bundle 8 fed from the draft device 7 to a spinning chamber
formed inside the air-jet spinning device 9. The whirling airflow generating nozzle
is arranged at a periphery of a path of the fiber bundle 8 to generate the whirling
airflow in the spinning chamber. This whirling airflow causes fiber ends of the fiber
bundle 8 in the spinning chamber to be reversed and to whirl. The hollow guide shaft
body guides the spun yarn 10 from the spinning chamber to an outside of the air-jet
spinning device 9. Driving and stopping of the air-jet spinning device 9 are controlled
by a unit controller (not illustrated).
[0031] The yarn accumulating device 12 is arranged downstream of the air-jet spinning device
9. The yarn accumulating device 12 includes the yarn accumulating roller 21, a yarn
hooking member 22, an upstream guide 23, an electric motor 25, a downstream guide
26, and an accumulated amount sensor 27.
[0032] The yarn hooking member 22 can be engaged (hooked) with the spun yarn 10. The yarn
hooking member 22 integrally rotates with the yarn accumulating roller 21 while being
engaged with the spun yarn 10 to guide the spun yarn 10 to an outer peripheral surface
of the yarn accumulating roller 21. The yarn hooking member 22 is supported in a relatively
rotatable manner with respect to the yarn accumulating roller 21. The yarn accumulating
device 12 is configured to generate a torque against the relative rotation of the
yarn hooking member 22 with respect to the yarn accumulating roller 21 by a torque
generating means (not illustrated) including a magnetic means, for example. Such a
resistance torque enables the yarn hooking member 22 to rotate following a rotation
of the yarn accumulating roller 21. As a result, the yarn hooking member 22 and the
yarn accumulating roller 21 can integrally rotate. When a force that overcomes the
resistance torque is applied on the yarn hooking member 22, the yarn hooking member
22 can relatively rotate with respect to the yarn accumulating roller 21.
[0033] The yarn accumulating roller 21 can accumulate the spun yarn 10 by winding the spun
yarn 10 around the outer peripheral surface thereof. The yarn accumulating roller
21 is rotatably driven at a prescribed rotation speed by the electric motor 25 controlled
by the unit controller. The spun yarn 10 guided to the outer peripheral surface of
the yarn accumulating roller 21 by the yarn hooking member 22 is wound to tighten
the yarn accumulating roller 21 by the rotation of the yarn accumulating roller 21,
and the spun yarn 10 located upstream of the yarn accumulating device 12 is pulled.
Accordingly, the spun yarn 10 can be continuously pulled out from the air-jet spinning
device 9.
[0034] When the spun yarn 10 on the yarn accumulating roller 21 becomes greater than or
equal to a prescribed amount, a contacting area between the yarn accumulating roller
21 and the spun yarn 10 becomes large, and a slip or the like hardly occurs. Therefore,
by rotatably driving the yarn accumulating roller 21 with the spun yarn 10 of the
prescribed amount or more wound around the yarn accumulating roller 21, the spun yarn
10 can be pulled out from the air-jet spinning device 9 at a stable speed without
causing a slip or the like.
[0035] The accumulated amount sensor 27 detects, in a non-contacting manner, an accumulated
amount of the spun yarn 10 wound around the yarn accumulating roller 21, and transmits
the accumulated amount to the unit controller.
[0036] The upstream guide 23 is arranged slightly upstream of the yarn accumulating roller
21. The upstream guide 23 appropriately guides the spun yarn 10 with respect to the
outer peripheral surface of the yarn accumulating roller 21. The upstream guide 23
prevents a twist of the spun yarn 10 propagating from the air-jet spinning device
9 from being transmitted downstream of the upstream guide 23.
[0037] The downstream guide 26 is arranged slightly downstream of the yarn accumulating
roller 21. The downstream guide 26 regulates a path of the spun yarn 10 swung by the
rotating yarn hooking member 22, and guides the spun yarn 10 while stabilizing a travelling
path of the spun yarn 10 located downstream.
[0038] A yarn clearer (yarn defect detection device) 52 is arranged on a front side of the
frame 6 of the spinning machine 1, and at a position between the air-jet spinning
device 9 and the yarn accumulating device 12. The spun yarn 10 spun by the air-jet
spinning device 9 is passed through the yarn clearer 52 before being wound by the
yarn accumulating device 12. The yarn clearer 52 monitors a thickness of the travelling
spun yarn 10, and when a yarn defect of the spun yarn 10 is detected, the yarn clearer
52 transmits a yarn defect detection signal to the unit controller. The yarn clearer
52 may detect presence or absence of foreign substances contained in the spun yarn
10, in addition to the yarn defect of the thickness of the spun yarn 10.
[0039] Upon receiving a yarn defect detection signal, the unit controller immediately stops
ejection of compressed air from the whirling airflow generating nozzle of the air-jet
spinning device 9. Accordingly, the whirling airflow is stopped, the twist of the
fiber bundle 8 is stopped, and introduction of the fiber bundle 8 to the air-jet spinning
device 9 is also stopped. A continuation of the fibers is disconnected in the air-jet
spinning device 9, and the spun yarn 10 is cut. Thereafter, the unit controller further
stops the draft device 7 and the like. The unit controller transmits a control signal
to the yarn joining cart 3, and the yarn joining cart 3 travels to the front of the
spinning unit 2. Thereafter, the unit controller drives the air-jet spinning device
9 and the like again, the yarn joining cart 3 performs the yarn joining operation,
and the winding is resumed. In this case, after the air-jet spinning device 9 resumes
the spinning and until the winding is resumed, the yarn accumulating device 12 accumulates
the spun yarn 10 continuously fed from the air-jet spinning device 9 around the yarn
accumulating roller 21 to remove slackening of the spun yarn 10.
[0040] The winding device 13 includes a cradle arm 71, a winding drum 72, and a traverse
device 75.
[0041] The winding drum 72 is adapted to be driven while making contact with an outer peripheral
surface of the package 45. The traverse device 75 includes a traverse guide 76 capable
of being engaged with the spun yarn 10. The winding device 13 drives the winding drum
72 with an electric motor (not illustrated) while reciprocating the traverse guide
76 by a driving means (not illustrated). The package 45 making contact with the winding
drum 72 can be rotated and the spun yarn 10 can be wound into the package 45 while
being traversed.
[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cradle arm 71 can rotatably support the bobbin 48,
and is swingably supported about a supporting shaft (swing shaft) 70. Therefore, even
if a yarn layer diameter of the package 45 is increased accompanying the winding of
the spun yarn 10, the increase in the yarn layer diameter is absorbed by the swinging
of the cradle arm 71, and the surface of the package 45 can be appropriately made
in contact with the winding drum 72 continuously.
[0043] An air cylinder (driving section, first driving device) 60 is connected to the cradle
arm 71. The air cylinder 60 is configured as a double-action type pneumatic cylinder,
and includes a piston rod 61, a piston 62 fixed to the piston rod 61, a contact pressure
port 63, and a back pressure port 64. The air cylinder 60 can supply air from the
contact pressure port 63 and the back pressure port 64 into a cylinder case of the
air cylinder 60. If there is a difference in air pressure of the air supplied to the
contact pressure port 63 and the back pressure port 64, the air pushes the piston
62 and drives the piston rod 61. When the piston rod 61 is pushed upward (direction
towards the cradle arm 71), the cradle arm 71 is swung towards a front side of the
spinning unit 2 (leftward in FIG. 2) with the supporting shaft (the swing shaft) 70
as a center, and the package 45 is moved in a direction away from the winding drum
72. When the piston rod 61 is pushed downward (direction of moving away from the cradle
arm 71), the cradle arm 71 is swung towards the rear side of the spinning unit 2 (rightward
in FIG. 2) with the supporting shaft 70 as the center, and the package 45 is pushed
against the winding drum 72. FIG. 2 is a side view describing the structure of the
spinning unit 2, where mounting of a cradle device 100 to the frame 6 is schematically
illustrated in a simplified manner. The structure of the cradle device 100 is as illustrated
in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the contact pressure port 63 is connected to a contact
pressure compressed air source 65 provided in a blower box 93. The back pressure port
64 is connected to the contact pressure compressed air source 65 through a depressurization
valve 67. An electromagnetic valve (control section) 63a is arranged between the contact
pressure port 63 and the contact pressure compressed air source 65. Whether or not
to supply air pressure to the contact pressure port 63 can be switched by control
of the unit controller. An electromagnetic valve (control section) 64a is arranged
between the back pressure port 64 and the depressurization valve 67. Supplying and
stopping of air pressure to the back pressure port 64 can be controlled by the unit
controller.
[0045] In order to drive the piston rod 61 slightly upward, the air cylinder 60 is provided
with a lifter port 68 adapted to supply compressed air and provided separately from
the back pressure port 64. The lifter port 68 is connected to a lifter compressed
air source 69. When the compressed air from the lifter compressed air source 69 is
supplied to the lifter port 68, the piston rod 61 is pushed slightly upward, and the
package 45 can be slightly moved away from the winding drum 72. Such driving of the
package 45 is used to finely adjust the winding speed of the spun yarn 10 and adjust
the accumulated amount of the spun yarn 10 of the yarn accumulating device 12. An
electromagnetic valve (control section) 68a is arranged between the lifter port 68
and the lifter compressed air source 69. Supplying and stopping of the air pressure
to the lifter port 68 can be controlled by the unit controller.
[0046] Although details will be described later, each supply path of the compressed air
to the air cylinder 60 is connected by a male connector section 103 and a female connector
section 107. The male connector section 103 includes the electromagnetic valves 68a,
63a, and 64a described above. The female connector section 107 includes a valve 107b,
to be described later.
[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the yarn joining cart 3 includes a splicer (yarn joining
device) 43, a suction pipe 44, and a suction mouth 46. When yarn breakage or yarn
cut occurs in a spinning unit 2, according to the control signal from the unit controller,
the yarn joining cart 3 travels on a rail 41 fixed to the frame 6 (see FIG. 1) to
the target spinning unit 2 and stops thereat to perform the yarn joining operation.
[0048] The suction pipe 44 can be swung vertically with a shaft as a center, and can suck
and catch a yarn end fed from the air-jet spinning device 9 (upper yarn) to guide
the yarn end to the splicer 43. The suction mouth 46 can be swung vertically with
a shaft as the center, and can suck and catch a yarn end from the package 45 (lower
yarn) to guide the yarn end to the splicer 43. Although description on the detailed
configuration of the splicer 43 will be omitted, the upper yarn and the lower yarn
are joined by twisting the yarn ends by means of the whirling airflow.
[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the doffing cart 4 includes a doffing device 59. The doffing
device 59 performs a bobbin setting operation of supplying the bobbin 48 to the cradle
arm 71 to prepare for the winding of the spun yarn 10, and a doffing operation of
detaching the fully-wound package 45 from the cradle arm 71. The doffing cart 4 is
provided with a travelling wheel 92 at a lower part, and upon receiving an instruction
to perform the bobbin setting operation or the doffing operation with respect to a
spinning unit 2, the doffing cart 4 travels to the target spinning unit 2 on a travelling
path 91 formed on the frame 6. The doffing cart 4 stops in front of the spinning unit
2, as instructed, and performs the bobbin setting operation or the doffing operation
(or both operations).
[0050] In order to perform the bobbin setting operation, the doffing device 59 includes
a bobbin supplying section 50, a suction pipe 88, and a cradle operating arm (cradle
operating section) 89. The suction pipe 88 is swingable and extendable. The suction
pipe 88 sucks and catches the spun yarn 10 discharged from the air-jet spinning device
9, and guides the caught spun yarn 10 to the winding device 13.
[0051] The bobbin supplying section 50 is swingable with a swing shaft 50a as a center,
and can clamp the bobbin 48 with a bobbin clamping section 51. The doffing device
59 swings the bobbin supplying section 50 with the bobbin 48 clamped by the bobbin
clamping section 51 to supply the bobbin 48 to a position between a pair of bobbin
holders 105 of the cradle arm 71. The bobbin supplying section 50 includes a bunch-winding
roller 53 for performing a bunch-winding operation. The bunch-winding operation refers
to straight winding of the spun yarn 10 around the bobbin 48 to fix the spun yarn
10 to the bobbin 48.
[0052] In the bobbin setting operation and the doffing operation, in order to detachably
mount the bobbin 48 or the package 45 to the cradle arm 71, the cradle operating arm
89 performs an operation of opening and closing the cradle arm 71. When the cradle
operating arm 89 pushes an operation lever 71d of the cradle arm 71, the cradle arm
71 opens, and the bobbin 48 or the package 45 can be detached from the cradle arm
71. When the cradle operating arm 89 releases the operation lever 71d, the cradle
arm 71 returns to a closed state. When the cradle arm 71 is in the closed state, the
cradle arm 71 holds and rotatably supports the bobbin 48 or the package 45.
[0053] A position of the cradle arm 71 differs between the bobbin setting operation and
the doffing operation due to an amount of wound thickness of the package 45. A position
of the cradle operating arm 89 can be changed according to a position of the cradle
arm 71 with a cam mechanism or the like (not illustrated).
[0054] The doffing device 59 includes a guiding section 58. The guiding section 58 is swung
with a supporting shaft 58a as a center to guide the fully-wound package 45 received
from the cradle arm 71 to a package receiving section 84. The package receiving section
84 includes an inclined portion 81 for rolling and moving the package 45, and a placing
portion 82 on which the rolled package 45 is temporarily placed. The placing portion
82 has a function of a conveyor, and transports the package 45 in an arrangement direction
of the spinning units 2 to transfer the package 45 to a next process. The function
of the conveyor may be omitted.
[0055] The winding device 13 described above will be described in detail with reference
to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 to FIG. 7. Hereinafter, based on an up and down relationship
of the cradle device 100 under a state illustrated in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, a term having
a concept of "top" and/or "bottom" is sometimes used in describing a positional relationship
of each section. When using a term having a concept of "front" and/or "back" in describing
the positional relationship of each section, a front side of the spinning machine
1 (left side in FIG. 6) is referred to as "front", and a rear side of the spinning
machine (right side of FIG. 6) is referred to as "back".
[0056] The winding device 13 includes the cradle device 100 adapted to hold the package
45. The cradle device 100 includes a supporting leg section (supporting section) 101
fixed to the frame 6, the cradle arm 71 enabled to swing towards front and back with
respect to the supporting leg section 101, the air cylinder 60 adapted to swing the
cradle arm 71, and another lift-up air cylinder (driving section, second driving device)
160. The cradle device 100 includes the male connector section 103. The male connector
section 103 connects a flow path of compressed air to be supplied to the air cylinder
60 and a flow path of compressed air to be supplied to the air cylinder 160 to a flow
path located on the frame 6 side. The cradle device 100 is an assembly in which the
supporting leg section 101, the cradle arm 71, the air cylinder 60, the lift-up air
cylinder 160, and the male connector section 103 are integrally assembled as a module.
The cradle device 100 can be detachably mounted in one group as a module with respect
to the frame 6. The cradle device 100 includes a compressed air pipe tube for connecting
the male connector section 103 and each port of the air cylinder 60, and a compressed
air pipe tube for connecting the male connector section 103 and a port of the lift-up
air cylinder 160. The compressed air pipe tubes are not illustrated.
[0057] The supporting leg section 101 is fixed to a horizontal surface 6a and a vertical
surface 6b of the frame 6 located below the winding drum 72. The supporting leg section
101 includes an engagement groove 101a to be engaged with a lock member 6c provided
on the horizontal surface 6a. The engagement groove 101a is engaged with the lock
member 6c to position the cradle device 100 with respect to the frame 6. By screwing
the cradle device 100 to the vertical surface 6b at a screwing portion 101b provided
in the supporting leg section 101, the cradle device 100 is detachably mounted to
the frame 6.
[0058] The supporting shaft 70 of the cradle arm 71 is mounted to the supporting leg section
101. The cradle arm 71 is swingably supported about the supporting shaft 70 with respect
to the supporting leg section 101. A rotation link 161 having a rotation shaft 161a
is provided at a lower plate portion 102 of the supporting leg section 101. The rotation
shaft 161a penetrates through the lower plate portion 102 in a thickness direction
(the arrangement direction of the spinning units 2). At a position located away from
the rotation shaft 161a in a rotation diameter direction, the rotation link 161 and
a lower end portion 60a of the cylinder case of the air cylinder 60 are coupled. A
tip-end 61a of the piston rod 61 of the air cylinder 60 is coupled to a point of application
of force 71h located at a back end portion of a plate 71f extending backward from
the cradle arm 71. The air cylinder 160 is arranged opposite to the air cylinder 60
with the lower plate portion 102 therebetween. At the position located away from the
rotation shaft 161a in the rotation diameter direction, the rotation link 161 and
a tip-end 160a of a piston rod of the air cylinder 160 are coupled. An upper end 160b
of the cylinder case of the air cylinder 160 is coupled to the lower plate portion
102.
[0059] When the compressed air is supplied to the air cylinder 160 and the piston rod is
retracted into the cylinder case, the rotation link 161 rotates about the rotation
shaft 161a (counterclockwise in FIG. 7). Accompanied with such a rotation, the lower
end portion 60a of the air cylinder 60 is pushed up by the rotation link 161. The
entire air cylinder 60 is thereby pushed upward at a relatively large stroke. As a
result, as illustrated with a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 7, the point of application
of force 71h is moved diagonally upward, and the cradle arm 71 is swung forward (leftward
in FIG. 7). Accordingly, the package 45 moves away from the winding drum 72 with a
relatively large gap.
[0060] As already described in the description of FIG. 2, the point of application of force
71h is pushed up also by the driving of the air cylinder 60, and the cradle arm 71
is swung forward. When the air cylinder 160 is driven, the point of application of
force 71h is moved more greatly than when the air cylinder 60 is driven, and the cradle
arm 71 is swung forward at a larger angle. The driving of the cradle arm 71 by the
air cylinder 160 is carried out when the package 45 is greatly separated from the
winding drum 72 in the doffing operation, for example. The compressed air from one
of the electromagnetic valves 63a, 64a, and 68a is supplied to the port of the air
cylinder 160. The air cylinder 60 and the lift-up air cylinder 160 are respectively
used according to the purpose as the driving source of the cradle arm 71 to swing
the cradle arm 71 at two different movable widths (lengths) corresponding to the purpose.
[0061] The cradle arm 71 includes holding arms 71a and 71b extending substantially parallel
to one another to sandwich and hold the package 45. Bobbin holders (package holding
sections) 105 are respectively arranged at a position facing one another at the package
holding position of the holding arms 71a and 71b. One bobbin holder 105 is rotatably
supported by the holding arm 71a through a bearing (not illustrated). The other bobbin
holder 105 is rotatably supported by the holding arm 71b through a bearing (not illustrated).
The two bobbin holders 105 facing one another respectively make contact with both
ends of the bobbin 48 of the package 45 to sandwich and clamp the package 45. The
package 45 becomes integral with the two bobbin holders 105 and rotates with respect
to the cradle arm 71 by the driving force of the winding drum 72.
[0062] The holding arm 71a is axially supported by an opening-and-closing shaft 71c with
respect to the holding arm 71b. The holding arm 71a can be swung about the opening-and-closing
shaft 71c to move towards or move away from the holding arm 71b. The holding arm 71a
is urged in a direction towards the holding arm 71b by a built-in spring (not illustrated).
The opening-and-closing shaft 71c is provided at a position opposite to the bobbin
holder 105 when seen from the supporting shaft 70. The opening-and-closing shaft 71c
is located below the supporting shaft 70. The bobbin holder 105 is located above the
supporting shaft 70.
[0063] An operation lever 71d extending further upward from the position of the bobbin holder
105 is attached to an upper end portion of the holding arm 71a. The operation lever
71d is operated by the cradle operating arm 89 of the doffing device 59 (see FIG.
4).
[0064] In the doffing operation, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when the operation lever 71d
is pushed in the direction of moving away from the holding arm 71b by the cradle operating
arm 89 (see FIG. 4), the holding arm 71a is swung with the opening-and-closing shaft
71c as the center against an urging force of the built-in spring, and the holding
arm 71a moves to a releasing position P2. When the bobbin holders 105 move away from
one another, the package 45 is released and the package 45 is detached from the cradle
arm 71. In the bobbin setting operation, the operation lever 71d is pushed in the
direction of moving away from the holding arm 71b, and then the bobbin supplying section
50 supplies the bobbin 48 to a predetermined position and the cradle operating arm
89 releases the operation lever 71d. The holding arm 71a returns to a holding position
P1 by the urging force of the built-in spring, and the bobbin 48 is sandwiched and
held between the bobbin holders 105.
[0065] The male connector section 103 is provided on the lower plate portion 102 of the
supporting leg section 101 so as to face the vertical surface 6b of the frame 6. The
male connector section 103 is connected to each of the ports 63, 64, and 68 of the
air cylinder 60 through a compressed air pipe tube (not illustrated). The male connector
section 103 includes the electromagnetic valves 63a, 64a, and 68a (see FIG. 2). The
supply of the compressed air to each of the ports 63, 64, and 68 is controlled according
to a control signal from the unit controller to control the operation of the air cylinder
60. The male connector section 103 includes three connecting ports 103a provided in
correspondence with each of the electromagnetic valves 63a, 64a, and 68a and projected
out towards the frame 6. The connecting ports 103a are inserted to connecting ports
107a of the female connector section 107 (described later) provided on the frame 6
side.
[0066] On the vertical surface 6b of the frame 6, the female connector section 107 is provided
at a position corresponding to the male connector section 103. The female connector
section 107 includes three connecting ports 107a that receive the three connecting
ports 103a, respectively. The female connector section 107 is formed as one component
having the three connecting ports 107a.
[0067] In the frame 6, a compressed air pipe L69 that connects the lifter compressed air
source 69 and one connecting port 107a, a compressed air pipe L65 that connects the
contact pressure compressed air source 65 and another connecting port 107a, and a
compressed air pipe L67 that connects the depressurization valve 67 and still another
connecting port 107a are arranged. Specifically, a pipe unit 109 extending in the
arrangement direction of the spinning units 2 is mounted on an inner wall of the frame
6. The compressed air pipes L65, L67, and L69 are three parallel hollow tubes extending
in the pipe unit 109 in an extending direction of the pipe unit 109. The three compressed
air pipes L65, L67, and L69 are provided as a pipe group.
[0068] One pipe unit 109 extends over a plurality of spinning units 2. In the entire spinning
machine 1, a plurality of pipe units 109 are coupled at several coupling portions.
The compressed air pipes L65, L67, and L69 adjacent to one another at the coupling
portion are respectively connected with an extendable extension pipe (not illustrated)
. An insert port is provided on both ends of the extension pipe. The insertion port
can be detachably mounted to an opening at the end of the compressed air pipes L65,
L67, and L69 without using a tool. The compressed air pipes L65, L67, and L69 adjacent
via the extension pipe are continuously coupled, and the compressed air pipes L65,
L67, and L69 are used to supply the compressed air to the plurality of spinning units
2. Through the use of the extension pipe, the compressed air pipes L65, L67, and L69
of each pipe unit 109 can be connected to one another without a tool, and the operation
can be efficiently performed even in a narrow place. The pipe unit 109 may be provided
for each spinning unit 2.
[0069] Under a state in which the cradle device 100 is mounted to the frame 6, each of the
connecting ports 103a of the male connector section 103 is inserted to each of the
connecting ports 107a of the female connector section 107. Accordingly, each of the
compressed air pipes L65, L67, and L69 on the frame 6 side is connected to the port
of the corresponding air cylinder 60 or the port of the lift-up air cylinder 160.
A valve 107b (see FIG. 2) for preventing the leakage of the compressed air when the
male connector section 103 is detached is provided at each of the connecting ports
107a of the female connector section 107.
[0070] The valve 107b includes a valve body (not illustrated) urged from the compressed
air pipes L65, L67, and L69 towards the connecting port 107a on the flow path of the
compressed air. Under a state in which the male connector section 103 is not connected
to the female connector section 107, the valve body closely makes contact with the
connecting port 107a to block the connecting port 107a. Accordingly, the compressed
air pipes L65, L67, and L69 are shut from the outside. When the male connector section
103 is connected to the female connector section 107, the flow path of the air is
formed by having the connecting ports 103a of the male connector section 103, which
is inserted to the connecting ports 107a, pushing the valve body, and the compressed
air pipes L65, L67, and L69 are connected to the male connector section 103.
[0071] A specific example of the valve 107b includes a check valve. The check valve is a
device mounted to a pipe of a fluid to prohibit backflow of the fluid. The check valve
is an example of the valve 107b, and a function of the check valve may be realized
by providing a shutter or the like for preventing air leakage on the compressed air
pipes L65, L67, and L69.
[0072] If the male connector section 103 is connected to the female connector section 107,
the valve 107b is opened to pass through the compressed air from the compressed air
pipes L65, L67, and L69 to the male connector section 103. If the male connector section
103 is detached from the female connector section 107, the valve 107b is closed, and
the compressed air from the compressed air pipes L65, L67, and L69 is shut such that
the compressed air does not leak outside. Even if the cradle device 100 of a spinning
unit 2 is detached from the frame 6, since the compressed air does not leak out from
the compressed air pipes L65, L67, and L69, the operation of other spinning units
2 is not required to be stopped. The cradle device 100 receives the supply of the
compressed air from the three compressed air pipes L65, L67, and L69, but similar
configuration can be realized when receiving the supply of the compressed air from
two or four or more compressed air pipes.
[0073] Next, effects of the spinning unit 2 and the spinning machine 1 will be described.
[0074] In the spinning unit 2, the cradle device 100 can be collectively attached to or
detached from the frame 6 as a module. When performing the maintenance operation of
the cradle device 100, all components of the cradle device 100 can be attached to
or detached from the frame 6 at once. Therefore, the maintenance operation of the
cradle device 100 can be easily performed. Furthermore, since the compressed air pipes
L65, L67, and L69 provided on the frame 6 are also provided as a pipe group, the configuration
of the entire spinning unit 2 and the entire spinning machine 1 can be simplified.
[0075] Since the compressed air path can be connected with the male connector section 103
of the cradle device 100 and the female connector section 107 of the frame 6, a cumbersome
operation such as attaching or detaching the tube does not arise and the cradle device
100 can be easily attached or detached. A plurality of cradle devices 100 of the spinning
machine 1 can be individually detached from the frame 6 as a module. Even if at least
one of the plurality of cradle devices 100 is detached, since flow of the compressed
air from the compressed air pipes L65, L67, and L69 to the outside is shut by the
valve 107b of the female connector section 107, a supplying state of the compressed
air to other cradle devices 100 is hardly influenced. Thus, even when performing the
maintenance operation on at least one of the cradle devices 100, the yarn winding
operation can be continued in the other cradle devices 100.
[0076] The opening-and-closing shaft 71c adapted to open and close the cradle arm 71 of
the cradle device 100 is provided below the supporting shaft 70 of the cradle arm
71. The bobbin holder 105 and the opening-and-closing shaft 71c are located away from
one another. Thus, even if the width of the package 45 is changed, change in an angle
formed by the holding arm 71a and the holding arm 71b for sandwiching the package
45 is small. The package 45 can be sandwiched and held under a state in which the
holding arm 71a and the holding arm 71b are almost parallel. As a result, a shift
in rotational axis of the bobbin holders 105 is small, and the held package 45 can
be smoothly rotated. In the conventional spinning machine, the swing shaft of the
cradle arm may extend across the plurality of spinning units 2, and may be commonly
used for the plurality of spinning units 2. In the conventional spinning machine,
arranging the opening-and-closing shaft of the holding arm at a position lower than
the swing shaft of the cradle arm is difficult. In the spinning machine 1, since the
cradle device 100 is individually modularized for every spinning unit 2, the supporting
shaft 70 and the opening-and-closing shaft 71c can be relatively freely arranged.
As a result, the above-described configuration is achieved.
[0077] The doffing device 59 performs the opening and closing of the cradle arm 71 by the
cradle operating arm 89 to detach the package 45 or mount the bobbin 48. Thus, workability
of the doffing operation is improved.
[0078] One embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present
invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and modifications may be made within
a scope of not changing the gist described in each claim.
[0079] In the embodiment, the male connector section 103 is arranged to horizontally face
the female connector section 107 provided on the vertical surface 6b of the frame
6, but the male connector section (the first connecting section) and the female connector
section (the second connecting section) may be arranged to vertically face one another
in the present invention. For example, the female connector section may be provided
on the horizontal surface 6a of the frame 6 with the connecting port directed upward,
and the male connector section may be arranged at the corresponding position of the
supporting leg section 101 with the connecting port directed downward. Combination
of the male connector section and the female connector section is not limited to those
described in the embodiment, and the male connector may be provided on the frame 6
and the female connector may be provided on the cradle device 100.
[0080] In the embodiment, the compressed air path is connected with the male connector section
(the first connecting section) 103 and the female connector section (the second connecting
section) 107, but the first and second connecting sections of the present invention
may be connecting sections for connecting electrical wiring.
[0081] For example, in the spinning machine 1 and the spinning unit 2 of the embodiment,
the spun yarn 10 is pulled out from the air-jet spinning device 9 by the yarn accumulating
roller 21. The present invention may be applied to a spinning machine and a spinning
unit in which a spun yarn is pulled out from the air-jet spinning device with a delivery
roller and a nip roller.
[0082] In the spinning machine 1 and the spinning unit 2 of the embodiment, the whirling
airflow of the air-jet spinning device 9 is stopped when the yarn defect is detected,
and the spun yarn 10 is cut. The present invention may be applied to a spinning machine
and a spinning unit in which a spun yarn is cut using a cutter.
[0083] In the spinning machine 1 and the spinning unit 2 of the embodiment, the yarn path
is arranged such that the spun yarn 10 travels downward from the draft device 7 at
an upper part towards the winding device 13 at a lower part. The present invention
may be applied to a spinning machine and a spinning unit in which a yarn path is arranged
to travel from bottom to top.
[0084] In the spinning machine 1 and the spinning unit 2 of the embodiment, the air-jet
spinning device 9 may include a needle held by the fiber guiding section, and arranged
to protrude into the spinning chamber. The needle prevents the twists of the fiber
bundle 8 from being propagated towards the upstream of the air-jet spinning device
9. In place of the needle, the air-jet spinning device 9 may prevent the propagation
of the twist of the fiber bundle 8 by a downstream edge of the fiber guiding section.
The air-jet spinning device 9 may include a pair of air-jet nozzles adapted to apply
twists in opposite directions from one another.
[0085] In the spinning machine 1 and the spinning unit 2 of the embodiment, the bottom rollers
of the draft device 7 and the traverse mechanism of the traverse device 75 are commonly
driven for a plurality of spinning units 2. The present invention may be applied to
a spinning machine and a spinning unit in which each section of the spinning unit
(e.g., the draft device, the air-jet spinning device, the yarn winding device, or
the like) is independently driven for each spinning unit 2.
[0086] The present invention is not limited to the air-jet spinning machine, and can be
applied to other yarn winding machines such as an open-end spinning machine, an automatic
winder, and the like.
1. A yarn winding unit comprising:
a frame (6), and
a cradle device (100) including a cradle arm (71) adapted to rotatably hold a package
(45) around which a spun yarn (10) is wound, a driving section (60, 160) adapted to
drive the cradle arm (71), and a control section (63a, 64a, 68a) adapted to control
the driving section (60, 160), the cradle device (100) being a module provided detachably
to the frame (6).
2. The yarn winding unit according claim 1, wherein the driving section (60, 160) is
an air cylinder,
the yarn winding unit further comprising a plurality of air pipes (L65, L67, L69)
adapted to guide compressed air to the air cylinder (60, 160) and collectively provided
on the frame (6) as a pipe group.
3. The yarn winding unit according to claim 2, wherein the cradle device (100) further
includes a first connecting section (103) adapted to connect the air cylinder (60,
160) and the air pipes (L65, L67, L69),
the air pipes (L65, L67, L69) are provided with a second connecting section (107)
adapted to be connected to the first connecting section (103), and
the second connecting section (107) includes a valve (107b) adapted to pass through
the compressed air from the air pipes (L65, L67, L69) to the first connecting section
(103) when the first connecting section (103) is connected, and to shut the compressed
air from the air pipes (L65, L67, L69) when the first connecting section (103) is
not connected.
4. The yarn winding unit according to any one of claim 1 through claim 3, wherein the
cradle arm (71) includes:
two holding arms (71a, 71b) adapted to hold the package (45), and
package holding sections (105) respectively provided on the holding arms (71a, 71b),
and adapted to rotatably hold the package (45) by the holding arms (71a, 71b),
the respective cradle device (100) includes:
a swing shaft (70) adapted to enable swinging of the cradle arm (71),
a supporting section (101) adapted to support the swing shaft (70) and the driving
section (60, 160), and fixed on the frame (6), and
an opening-and-closing shaft (71c) adapted to open and close the cradle arm (71) by
moving one of the holding arms (71a, 71b) between a holding position for holding the
package (45) and a releasing position for releasing the package (45), the opening-and-closing
shaft (71c) being located opposite the package holding sections (105) with respect
to the swing shaft (70).
5. The yarn winding unit according to claim 1, wherein the cradle device (100) includes:
a supporting section (101) adapted to swingably support the cradle arm (71) and fixed
to the frame (6), and
the driving section (60, 160) adapted to swing the cradle arm (71) with respect to
the supporting section (101),
the driving section includes:
a first driving device (60) adapted to swing the cradle arm (71) by moving a prescribed
point of application of force of the cradle arm (71) with respect to the supporting
section (101), and
a second driving device (160) adapted to swing the cradle arm (71) by moving the point
of application of force by moving the first driving device (60) with respect to the
supporting section (101), and
a moved amount of the point of application of force by the second driving device (160)
is greater than a moved amount of the point of application of force by the first driving
device (60).
6. A yarn winding machine comprising the yarn winding unit according to claim 1, wherein
a plurality of corresponding cradle devices (100), each of the cradle devices (100)
being an independent module, are provided detachably to the frame (6).
7. The yarn winding machine according claim 6, wherein the driving section (60, 160)
is an air cylinder,
the yarn winding machine further comprising:
a compressed air source (65, 69) adapted to supply compressed air to the air cylinder
of each of the cradle devices (100), and
a plurality of air pipes (L65, L67, L69) adapted to guide the compressed air from
the compressed air source (65, 69) to the air cylinder (60, 160) of each of the cradle
devices (100) and collectively provided on the frame (6) as a pipe group.
8. The yarn winding machine according to claim 7, wherein each of the cradle devices
(100) further includes a first connecting section (103) adapted to connect the air
cylinder (60, 160) and the air pipes (L65, L67, L69),
the air pipes (L65, L67, L69) are provided with a second connecting section (107)
adapted to be connected to the first connecting section (103), and
the second connecting section (107) includes a valve (107b) adapted to pass through
the compressed air from the air pipes (L65, L67, L69) to the first connecting section
(103) when the first connecting section (103) is connected, and to shut the compressed
air from the air pipes (L65, L67, L69) when the first connecting section (103) is
not connected.
9. The yarn winding machine according to any one of claim 6 through claim 8, wherein
the cradle arm (71) includes:
two holding arms (71a, 71b) adapted to hold the package (45), and
package holding sections (105) respectively provided on the holding arms (71a, 71b),
and adapted to rotatably hold the package (45) by the holding arms (71a, 71b),
the respective cradle device (100) includes:
a swing shaft (70) adapted to enable swinging of the cradle arm (71),
a supporting section (101) adapted to support the swing shaft (70) and the driving
section (60, 160), and fixed on the frame (6), and
an opening-and-closing shaft (71c) adapted to open and close the cradle arm (71) by
moving one of the holding arms (71a, 71b) between a holding position for holding the
package (45) and a releasing position for releasing the package (45), the opening-and-closing
shaft (71c) being located opposite the package holding sections (105) with respect
to the swing shaft (70).
10. The yarn winding machine according to claim 9, further comprising a doffing device
(59) adapted to perform a doffing operation of the package (45) with respect to the
cradle device (100),
wherein the doffing device (59) includes a cradle operating section (89) adapted to
open and close the cradle arm (71).
11. The yarn winding machine according to any one of claim 6 through claim 10, further
comprising:
a draft device (7) adapted to draft a fiber bundle (8), and
an air-jet spinning device (9) adapted to spin using whirling airflow, the fiber bundle
(8) drafted by the draft device (7).
12. The yarn winding machine according to claim 6, wherein each of the cradle devices
(100) includes:
a supporting section (101) adapted to swingably support the cradle arm (71) and fixed
to the frame (6), and
the driving section (60, 160) adapted to swing the cradle arm (71) with respect to
the supporting section (101),
the driving section includes:
a first driving device (60) adapted to swing the cradle arm (71) by moving a prescribed
point of application of force of the cradle arm (71) with respect to the supporting
section (101), and
a second driving device (160) adapted to swing the cradle arm (71) by moving the point
of application of force by moving the first driving device (60) with respect to the
supporting section (101), and
a moved amount of the point of application of force by the second driving device (160)
is greater than a moved amount of the point of application of force by the first driving
device (60).