BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a yarn unwinding assisting device which is applied
to an automatic winder to assist to unwind a yarn from a bobbin.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] As illustrated in Fig. 1, an automatic winder includes a plurality of winding devices
2 to unwind a yarn Y from a bobbin B and to wind the yarn on a winding cylinder, a
doffing device 7 to doff a package fully wound with each winding device 2, and the
like. Each winding device 2 is provided with a yarn unwinding assisting device to
assist to unwind the yarn Y by regulating a balloon which is formed when the yarn
Y is unwound from the bobbin B and by applying a proper tension thereto.
[0003] As illustrated in Fig. 8, a conventional yarn unwinding assisting device 9 includes,
for example, a fixed cylinder 90 that is held in a fixed condition when a yarn Y is
unwound from a bobbin B, a movable cylinder 91 that is fit onto the fixed cylinder
90 and moves in response to the unwinding of the yarn Y, an elevating/lowering machinery
92 to elevate and lower the movable cylinder 91. A holder 93 supporting the fixed
cylinder 90 is attached to a frame 95 of the winding device 2 with a mounting bolt
94 so that the yarn unwinding assisting device 9 is fixed above the bobbin B. In order
to function the yarn unwinding assisting device 9 properly, a height position thereof
needs to be set in accordance with a vertical size of the bobbin B. When the vertical
size of the bobbin B changes, the height position of the yarn unwinding assisting
device 9 also needs to be adjusted.
[0004] With the conventional yarn unwinding assisting device 9, when adjusting the height
position thereof with respect to the bobbin B according to a vertical size of the
bobbin B, an operator first needs to hold the yarn unwinding assisting device 9 in
one hand, and then to hold tools, such as, a wrench or a screwdriver in the other
hand. Next, the operator looses the mounting bolt 94 using such tools to release the
fixed state of the yarn unwinding assisting device 9. Subsequently, the operator moves
the yarn unwinding assisting device 9, which the operator is holding in one hand,
to a desired height position according to the vertical size of the bobbin B. At this
time, in response to movement of the yarn unwinding assisting device 9, the holder
93 and the mounting bolt 94 slide along a sliding groove (not illustrated) which is
formed on the frame 95 in a vertical direction. Then, the mounting bolt 94 which has
been moved to the desired height position is tightened using such a tool to reattach
the yarn unwinding assisting device 9 thereto. In this way, the height position of
the yarn unwinding assisting device 9 with respect to the bobbin B is conventionally
adjusted using tools.
[0005] However, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the automatic winder is provided with the plurality
of winding devices 2, and therefore a great deal of time and effort are necessary
for operators to adjust the height position of the yarn unwinding assisting device
9 using such tools as described above. In addition, if winding devices 2 are arranged
without any interval as in the automatic winder illustrated in Fig. 1, working space
is limited, which makes it difficult to adjust the height position using tools.
[0006] In particular, where a magazine-type supplying device is employed as a bobbin supplying
device for supplying a bobbin B to the winding device 2, working space is hardly secured.
Thus, it is difficult for an operator to use such a tool at a position where the mounting
bolt 94 is located, which further increases the burden of the operator.
[0007] Further, in a yarn unwinding assisting device disclosed in e.g. Japanese Unexamined
Patent Application Publication No.
2009-242028, an elevating/lowering machinery exclusive to a fixed cylinder to elevate and lower
the fixed cylinder by a motor is provided apart from an elevating/lowering machinery
exclusive to a movable cylinder so as to automatically adjust the height position
of the fixed cylinder with respect to a bobbin according to a vertical size of the
bobbin.
[0008] However, installing the elevating/lowering machinery exclusive to the fixed cylinder
provided with a motor or the like in each winding device of the automatic winder will
increase costs of the automatic winder as a whole.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a yarn unwinding assisting device
whose height position with respect to a bobbin can be easily adjusted without using
a tool.
[0010] In order to achieve the above object, a yarn unwinding assisting device of an automatic
winder according to the present invention is a yarn unwinding assisting device that
is provided with a yarn unwinding assisting unit including a first regulating cylinder
that assists to unwind a yarn from a bobbin in a fixed condition, a second regulating
cylinder that moves according to the unwinding of the yarn from the bobbin to assist
the unwinding and, a moving structure for moving the second regulating cylinder, and
a height adjusting structure that adjusts a height position of the yarn unwinding
assisting unit in the direction of a yarn path. The height adjusting structure includes
a guiding member extendedly fixed in a vertical direction, a clamping member that
is attached to the yarn unwinding assisting unit, moves along the guiding member and
is capable of clamping the guiding member, and an operation lever to manipulate the
clamping member to clamp the guiding member or release a clamping state.
[0011] Preferably, the guiding member is a shaft, and includes a rotation regulating member
which is extendedly arranged parallel to the shaft, guides the clamping member in
the direction of a yarn path and also regulates rotation of the yarn unwinding assisting
unit around the shaft.
[0012] Preferably, the rotation regulating member is provided within a range of predetermined
height positions with respect to the shaft. When located outside the range of the
predetermined height positions, the clamping member will be removed from the rotation
regulating member, which allows the yarn unwinding assisting unit to rotate around
the shaft.
[0013] A mark to position the yarn unwinding assisting unit is preferably provided on the
guiding member.
[0014] Preferably the yarn unwinding assisting unit and the clamping member are connected
to each other with one attachable member.
[0015] In the yarn unwinding assisting device of the automatic winder according to the present
invention, the above configuration allows operators to adjust a height position of
the yarn unwinding assisting unit with respect to the bobbin by only manipulating
the operation lever provided in the height adjusting structure to clamp the guiding
member with the clamping member or to release the clamping state. That is, the height
position of the yarn unwinding assisting unit can be easily adjusted with respect
to the bobbin without using tools as in the conventional unit, which lessens the burdens
of operators.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Fig. 1 is a front view illustrating an overall configuration of an automatic winder.
[0017] Fig. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating a configuration of a winding device.
[0018] Fig. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of a yarn unwinding assisting device according
to the present invention.
[0019] Figs. 4A and 4B are partially cutaway side views of a yarn unwinding assisting unit;
Fig. 4A shows a state in which a movable cylinder is lowered and Fig. 4B shows a state
in which the movable cylinder is elevated.
[0020] Fig. 5 is a front view of the yarn unwinding assisting device according to the present
invention.
[0021] Fig. 6 is a partially cutaway top view of the yarn unwinding assisting device according
to the present invention.
[0022] Figs. 7A and 7B are partially cutaway side views according to another embodiment
of the present invention; Fig. 7A shows a state in which the movable cylinder is lowered
and Fig. 7B shows a state in which the movable cylinder is elevated.
[0023] Fig. 8 is a side view illustrating a conventional yarn unwinding assisting device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] A yarn unwinding assisting device of an automatic winder (hereinafter simply referred
to as a "yarn unwinding assisting device") according to the present invention will
be described.
[0025] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the automatic winder includes a plurality of winding devices
2 arranged in a straight line. The automatic winder includes a bobbin supplying device
6 that supplies a bobbin B to each winding device 2, and a doffing device 7 that performs
a doffing operation. The automatic winder 2 also includes a machine control device
8 that controls each of the winding devices 2, the bobbin supplying device 6, and
the doffing device 7.
[0026] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the winding device 2 is provided with a yarn unwinding
assisting device 1, a tension applying device 22, a yarn joining device 23, and a
slub catcher 24, which are sequentially arranged upward from downward in this order.
The winding device 2 also includes a traverse drum 25 that traverses a yarn Y in a
given wide range, a guide plate 26 arranged to face to a traverse area of the traverse
drum 25, and a cradle 27 that rotatably supports a package P.
[0027] The winding device 2 includes a relay pipe 28 and a suction mouth 29 that suck and
catch a broken yarn to relay the yarn to a yarn joining device 23. The yarn Y drawn
out of the bobbin B is inspected to determine whether the yarn contains any yarn defect
while passing through from the tension applying device 22 to the slub catcher 24.
If a yarn defect is detected in the yarn Y, the defective portion will be cut with
a cutter provided in the yarn joining device 23 and a cutter provided in the slub
catcher 24, and be sucked and removed.
[0028] As illustrated in Fig. 3, the yarn unwinding assisting device 1 is attached to a
frame 21 of the winding device 2 with a mounting member 20, and above the bobbin,
assists to unwind the bobbin B, which is erectly fixed onto a conveying tray 61. The
yarn unwinding assisting device 1 is provided with the yarn unwinding assisting unit
U including a fixed cylinder (first regulating cylinder) 11, a movable cylinder (second
regulating cylinder) 13 and the like, all of which will be described below. The yarn
unwinding assisting unit U regulates a size of a balloon which is formed with the
yarn Y unwound form the bobbin B with the yarn unwinding assisting unit U, and applies
a proper tension to the yarn Y. An embodiment of the present invention describes the
movable cylinder and the fixed cylinder as a cylindrical tube. However, it may be
acceptable to employ a cylindrical member having a slit on a part thereof for introducing
a yarn, or a cylindrical member having a narrow portion whose diameter is narrower
than the diameter of the cylindrical member on a certain portion so as to regulate
the balloon.
[0029] The yarn unwinding assisting unit U includes the fixed cylinder 11 supported by a
first holder 10 and the movable cylinder 13 supported by a second holder 12. In order
to assist to unwind the yarn Y, the fixed cylinder 11 regulates the spread of the
balloon in a fixed state, and the movable cylinder 13 moves in response to the unwinding
of the yarn Y from the bobbin to regulate the spread of the balloon.
[0030] The fixed cylinder 11 and the movable cylinder 13 are both cylindrical bodies whose
upper and lower ends are opened. The movable cylinder 13 is fit onto the fixed cylinder
11. A lower end portion of the fixed cylinder 11 is provided with a yarn guide 14.
A tapered introducing port 15 expanding downward is formed at a lower end of the movable
cylinder 13. A central axis line of the bobbin B aligns with a central axis line of
the fixed cylinder 11 and the movable cylinder 13.
[0031] A pair of supporting arms 16 which face each other are fixed to the movable cylinder
13, and a sensor 17 to sense a chase portion 60 of the bobbin B is arranged on each
of the supporting arms 16. The sensors 17 are optical sensors including a light receiving
portion and a floodlighting portion to sense the height of the chase portion 60.
[0032] Further, as illustrated in Fig. 4A, the yarn unwinding assisting unit U includes
an elevating/lowering mechanism 3 (moving structure) for moving the movable cylinder
13 in the direction of a yarn path. The entire elevating/lowering mechanism 3 is completely
surrounded by a surrounding structure 4 to keep out dust so that fluff or fly waste
generated in an unwinding process will not adhere to the inside of the elevating/lowering
mechanism 3. The elevating/lowering mechanism 3 is provided with a screw member 30
extendedly fixed in a vertical direction, an elevating/lowering guide 31 extendedly
arranged parallel to the screw member 30, and a slider 32 to be guided by the elevating/lowering
guide 31.
[0033] The screw member 30 and the elevating/lowering guide 31 are supported by an upper
supporting member 33 on an upper end side and supported by a lower supporting member
34 on a lower end side. The screw member 30 is inserted into a bearing 35 provided
on both the upper supporting member 33 and the lower supporting member 34 to be supported
to rotate around a screw axis. The screw member 30 is screwed with a nut member 36
capable of ascending and descending in response to the rotation of the screw member
30. The nut member 36 is fixed to the slider 32. The upper supporting member 33 is
fixed to the surrounding structure 4, but the lower supporting member 34 is not fixed
thereto.
[0034] The elevating/lowering mechanism 3 includes a motor M as a driving source to rotationally
drive the screw member 30 and a toothed belt 37 as a conveying member to convey power
of the motor M. The toothed belt 37 is engaged with a pulley attached to an output
shaft of the motor M and a pulley attached to the screw member 30 to convey the power
of the motor M to the screw member 30. With the above described configuration, the
screw member 30 is driven to rotate around the screw axis according to the rotation
of the motor M in either normal or reverse direction, which elevates or lowers the
nut member 36 screwed with the screw member 30 and accordingly elevates and lowers
the slider 32.
[0035] The surrounding structure 4 surrounds the entire elevating/lowering mechanism 3 so
as to prevent fluff or fly waste, which is generated in the unwinding process, from
adhering thereto. The surrounding structure 4 includes an upper cover portion 40 to
cover the motor M or the like to keep out dust or fly waste. The upper supporting
member 33 is fixed to the upper cover portion 40, and a first holder 10 to support
the fixed cylinder 11 is fixed to an outer surface thereof.
[0036] In order to keep out dust and fly waste, the surrounding structure 4 is provided
with an accordion member 41 (stretchable member) that covers the screw member 30,
the elevating/lowering guide 31, the slider 32 and the like, and a non-stretchable
cup-shaped member 42. The accordion member 41 is cylindrical and stretchable. The
accordion member 41 is arranged so as to stretch in a vertical direction to cover
the periphery of the screw member 30 and the elevating/lowering guide 31. The upper
end of the accordion member 41 is connected to the upper cover portion 40 and the
lower end thereof is connected to the cup-shaped member 42 through a ring-shaped connecting
member 43.
[0037] The cup-shaped member 42 arranged at the lower end of the accordion member 41 is
made of hard materials, such as, resin or metal, and is non-stretchable. The cup-shaped
member 42, whose upper end and lower end is respectively opened and closed, is connected
to the connecting member 43 to cover the screw member 30, the elevating/lowering guide
31 and the like from the lower side. In this way, the surrounding structure 4 completely
covers the entire elevating/lowering mechanism 3 so that dust or fly waste will not
enter inside thereof.
[0038] The slider 32 is fixed to an inner surface of the ring-shaped connecting member 43,
and a second holder 12 to support the movable cylinder 13 is fixed to an outer surface
of the ring-shaped connecting member 43. Therefore, as the slider 32 is elevated and
lowered by the motor M, the connecting member 43, the second holder 12, and the cup-shaped
member 42 are integrally elevated and lowered, which also elevates and lowers the
movable cylinder 31.
[0039] Since the upper end side of the accordion member 41 is fixed to the upper cover portion
40, the upper end side thereof will not move upward and downward when the movable
cylinder 13 is elevated and lowered. However, the lower end side of the accordion
member 41 will move upward and downward since the lower end side thereof is attached
to the connecting member 43, which stretches the accordion member 41 in the vertical
direction in accordance with the upward and downward movement of the movable cylinder
13. As the movable cylinder 13 is lowered, the accordion member 41 will be extended
(Fig. 4A). Meanwhile, as the movable cylinder 13 is elevated, the accordion member
41 will be shrunk (Fig. 4B). The surrounding structure 4 is configured so that any
gap where dust or fly waste can enter there into will not be formed even if the movable
cylinder 13 is elevated or lowered by extending and shrinking the accordion member
41 in response to the upward and downward movement of the movable cylinder 13.
[0040] As described above, the accordion member 41 (stretchable member) covering the elevating/lowering
mechanism 3 is mounted so as to be stretched in the vertical direction. The second
holder 12 supporting the movable cylinder 13 is fixed to the outer surface of the
connecting member 43, which is elevated and lowered together with the slider 32 on
an outer surface of the surrounding structure 4, to elevate and lower (move) the movable
cylinder 13. This configuration allows the elevating/lowering mechanism 3 to elevate
and lower the movable cylinder 13 via the second holder 12 while the elevating/lowering
mechanism 3 is completely protected from dust or the like. Therefore, fluff or fly
waste made in unwinding the yarn Y will not adhere to the inside of the elevating/lowering
mechanism 3. Even when the elevating/lowering mechanism 3 is suspended in the vicinity
of the bobbin B as in an embodiment of the present invention, the elevating/lowering
mechanism 3 will not malfunction due to fluff or fly waste. Furthermore, it will not
be necessary to conduct maintenance for the elevating/lowering mechanism 3, which
is conventionally required to regularly conduct to eliminate fluff or fly waste.
[0041] Where the surrounding structure 4 is arranged in the vicinity of the bobbin B as
in an embodiment of the present invention, the yarn Y drawn out of the bobbin B which
is being conveyed on the conveying tray 61 sometimes comes into contact with a lower
portion of the surrounding structure 4, which may make a split on a portion thereof
and consequently the capability to keep out dust or fly waste deteriorates. However,
in the embodiment of the present invention, the lower side portion of the surrounding
structure 4 is formed with the hard cup-shaped member 42 which is non-stretchable,
and therefore the lower portion thereof will not be torn even when the yarn Y comes
into contact therewith. Accordingly, the capability of the surrounding structure 4
to keep out dust or fly waste will not deteriorate.
[0042] Further, as Figs. 4A and 4B clearly indicate, when the movable cylinder 13 is lowered,
the cup-shaped member 42 also moves downward. Thus, the height position H of the surrounding
structure 4 from a base surface 62 also gradually descends according to the downward
movement. Therefore, attention must be paid so that the cup-shaped member 42 will
not come into contact with the base surface 62 when the movable cylinder 13 is lowered
according to the unwinding of the yarn Y.
[0043] The yarn unwinding assisting unit U is provided with the above described fixed cylinder
11, movable cylinder 13, elevating/lowering mechanism 3 and surrounding structure
4, all of which are integrally connected using the first holder 10, the second holder
12 and the like.
[0044] As illustrated in Fig. 5, the yarn unwinding assisting device 1 includes a casing
18, where a control section 19 to control the yarn unwinding assisting unit U is stored.
The casing 18 is fixed to the frame 21 of the winding device 2. The control section
19 includes a driving circuit to drive the motor M, a power supply or the like. As
illustrated in Fig. 6, a cover 18a is attached to the rear of the casing 18, and the
cover 18a is removed to store the control section 19 therein.
[0045] Further, one side face of the casing 18 and one side face of the upper cover portion
40 are respectively provided with a rubber bush 38, which connects a wiring 39 from
the control section 19 to the motor M. Thereby, the control section 19 is electrically
connected to the motor M. Furthermore, the wiring 39 from the control section 19 is
also connected to a sensor 17 (this wiring connection is not illustrated).
[0046] The yarn unwinding assisting device 1 with the above-described configuration assists
to unwind the yarn Y from the bobbin B. As the yarn Y is being unwound from the bobbin
B, the chase portion 60 of the bobbin B gradually descends. When detecting the descent
of the chase portion 60, the sensor 17 transmits a detection signal to the control
section 19. Subsequently, the control section 19 that has received the detection signal
drives the motor M of the elevating/lowering mechanism 3 covered with the above surrounding
structure 4 to lower the slider 32 to the predetermined position and also lower the
movable cylinder 13 to a new operating position according to the height change of
the chase portion 60. The movable cylinder 13 is repeatedly lowered according to the
height change of the chase portion 60 until the amount of the yarn wound onto the
bobbin B is reduced to about one third.
[0047] Positioning adjustment of the entire yarn unwinding assisting unit U is carried out
along a yarn path which is formed while the yarn Y unwound from the bobbin B is wound
into a package P. In an embodiment of the present invention, since a yarn path extends
vertically upward from a yarn supplying bobbin, the positioning adjustment of the
entire yarn unwinding assisting unit U is described as height adjustment. Where a
yarn path is formed in an oblique upward direction, the position of the yarn unwinding
assisting unit U is adjusted to be disposed obliquely above the yarn path. The height
position of the entire yarn unwinding assisting unit U will be set according to a
vertical size of the bobbin B. Therefore, if the vertical size of the bobbin B to
be used changes, the height position of the yarn unwinding assisting unit U needs
to be adjusted. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the yarn unwinding assisting device
1 includes a height adjusting structure 5 for adjusting the height position of the
yarn unwinding assisting unit U with respect to the bobbin B.
[0048] The height adjusting structure 5 includes a shaft 50 as a guiding member to guide
the yarn unwinding assisting unit U in the vertical direction, a clamping member 51
capable of clamping the shaft 50 and releasing a clamping state, and an operation
lever 52 to manipulate the clamping member 51 to clamp the shaft 50 or to release
the clamping state. An upper end and a lower end of the shaft 50 are respectively
fixed to a pair of upper and lower projected portions 53 horizontally extending from
a side face of the casing 18.
[0049] The clamping member 51 is attached to the yarn unwinding assisting unit U at a back
side thereof. The yarn unwinding assisting unit U is supported with the shaft 50 and
the clamping member 51, and is suspended above the bobbin B. The clamping member 51
is movable along the shaft 50 when the shaft 50 is not clamped thereby. Since the
yarn unwinding assisting unit U integrally moves with the clamping member 51, the
yarn unwinding assisting unit U is guided in the vertical direction along the shaft
50.
[0050] The yarn unwinding assisting unit U and the clamping member 51 are connected to each
other with a detachable member (not illustrated), such as a screw. Therefore, an operator
can remove the suspended yarn unwinding assisting unit U at once by simply removing
such a detachable member, which makes it easy to carry out maintenance.
[0051] The operation lever 52 attached to the clamping member 51 enables the clamping member
51 to clamp the shaft 50 when rotating in one direction, and also enables the clamping
member 51 to release the shaft 50 when rotating in the other direction. Once the clamping
member 51 clamps the shaft 50 by manipulating the operation lever 52, a tightening
force is applied thereto, and accordingly the clamping member 51 is fixed to the shaft
50. Thereby the yarn unwinding assisting unit U is positioned and fixed.
[0052] When adjusting the height position of the yarn unwinding assisting unit U with respect
to the bobbin B according to a change of a vertical size of the bobbin B, an operator
first manipulates the operation lever 52 to release the clamping state of the clamping
member 51, and then moves the yarn unwinding assisting unit U along the shaft 50 to
a desired location according to the vertical size of the bobbin B. Then, by manipulating
the operation lever 52 once again so that the clamping member 51 can clamp the shaft
50 to position and fix the yarn unwinding assisting unit U at the desired location.
[0053] By simply manipulating the operation lever 52 on the front side of the yarn unwinding
assisting device 1 to clamp the shaft with the clamping member 51 or release the shaft,
operators can adjust the height position of the yarn unwinding assisting unit U with
respect to the bobbin B. That is, the height position of the yarn unwinding assisting
unit U can be easily adjusted with respect to the bobbin B without using tools.
[0054] Marks (not illustrated) may be made on the shaft 50 so as to position the yarn unwinding
assisting unit U. The marks may be, for example, scales on the shaft 50 made in regular
intervals in a vertical direction. Such scales may be directly made on the shaft 50
if doing so will not damage the clamping member 51 when it clamps the shaft 50. Making
such scales on the shaft 50 enables operators to adjust the height position of the
yarn unwinding assisting unit U more easily.
[0055] In an embodiment of the present invention, a guiding member for guiding the clamping
member 51 in the vertical direction is configured with the shaft 50 only. Therefore,
with the above-described configuration, the clamping member 51 rotates around the
shaft 50. Accordingly, when the clamping member 51 rotates around the shaft 50, the
yarn unwinding assisting unit U also rotates around the shaft 50. If the yarn unwinding
assisting unit U rotates even slightly even if the yarn unwinding assisting unit U
is positioned to the desired height position, a central axial line of the fixed cylinder
11 and the movable cylinder 13 will depart from a central axial line of the bobbin
B.
[0056] For this reason, the height adjusting structure 5 includes a rotation regulating
member 54 to regulate the rotation of the yarn unwinding assisting unit U around the
shaft 50. The rotation regulating member 54 is extendedly arranged parallel to the
shaft 50, and fixed to the side face of the casing 18. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and
6, the rotation regulating member 54 is engaged with a concavity 55 formed in a vertical
direction on the clamping member 51, and thus the clamping member 51 slides in the
vertical direction guided by the rotation regulating member 54.
[0057] With this engagement, the clamping member 51 will not be rotated around the shaft
50. Consequently, the rotation of the yarn unwinding assisting unit U around the shaft
50 is regulated. Accordingly, the yarn unwinding assisting unit U is moved and positioned
at the desired location while the central axis line of the bobbin B aligns with the
central axis line of the fixed cylinder 11 and the movable cylinder 13.
[0058] Further, as illustrated in Fig. 5, a vertical size of the rotation regulating member
54 is made shorter than the one of the shaft 50, and is fixed to the side face of
the casing 18 to be located within the range of desired height positions with respect
to the shaft 50. Therefore, by moving the clamping member 51 upward or downward along
the shaft 50 to be located outside the range of the desired height positions, the
engagement of the rotation regulating member 54 with the concavity 55 is released
and the clamping member 51 can be removed from the rotation regulating member 54.
In other words, operators can release the regulation on rotation of the yarn unwinding
assisting unit U around the shaft 50.
[0059] When an operator releases the regulation on rotation of the yarn unwinding assisting
unit U to rotate around the shaft 50 as indicated with an arrow in Fig. 6, the surrounding
structure 4 provided backward the casing 18 is moved, and consequently working space
is secured therein. Thus, the operator can remove the cover 18a on the back of the
casing 18 and take the control section 19 out of the casing 18 to carry out maintenance.
That is, the above configuration allows operators to intentionally release the regulation
on rotation that is required to adjust the height position of the yarn unwinding assisting
unit U, which eventually secures working space for maintenance.
[0060] The yarn unwinding assisting device 1 according to the present invention is not limited
to the above described embodiment. In the above embodiment of the present invention,
the bobbin supplying device 6 of the automatic winder is a tray-type supplying device.
However, a magazine-type supplying device may be employed. Further, scales for positioning
the yarn unwinding assisting unit U are made on the shaft 50, but may be made in the
front or the side face of the rotation regulating member 54 or the casing 18 where
operators can visually confirm a position easily when adjusting the height position
thereof.
[0061] The accordion member 41 (stretchable member) is adapted to cover the elevating/lowering
mechanism 3 to keep out dust, such as fluff and fly waste. However, the stretchable
member is not limited to this and may be other members that can protect the elevating/lowering
mechanism 3 from dust, such as fluff and fly waste, and is stretchable in the vertical
direction according to the upward and downward movement of the movable cylinder. For
example, the stretchable member may be a plurality of connected cylinders which are
configured to be stretchable in the vertical direction by fitting the plurality of
cylinders, whose diameters are different, in order of diameter.
[0062] Fig. 4 illustrates the surrounding structure 4 including the accordion member 41
and the cup-shaped member 42. However, the surrounding structure 4 is not limited
to this configuration. Fig. 7 illustrates an explanatory configuration. In Fig. 7,
the upper side of the connecting member 43 is structured with a first accordion member
41a as in the configuration in Fig. 4, and the lower side of the connecting member
43 is structured with a second accordion member 42b whose lower end is closed, not
with the cup-shaped member 42. An upper end of the second accordion member 41b is
attached to the connecting member 43. A lower supporting member 34 to support both
the screw member 30 and the elevating/lowering guide 31 is fixed to a lower end of
the second accordion member 41b. Other configurations are the same as in Fig. 4.
[0063] According to this configuration, when the movable cylinder 13 is elevated or lowered
by elevating and lowering the slider 32 by the motor M, the upper end of the second
accordion member 41b moves upward and downward but the lower end thereof does not
move upward and downward because the lower end thereof is fixed to the lower supporting
member 34. Therefore, according to the upward and downward movement of the movable
cylinder 13, not only the first accordion member 41a but also the second accordion
member 41b is stretchable in the vertical direction. When the movable cylinder 13
is lowered, the first accordion member 41a extends and the second accordion member
41b shrinks (Fig. 7A). When the movable cylinder 13 is elevated, the first accordion
member 41a shrinks and the second accordion member 41b extends (Fig. 7B). Also with
this configuration, a gap where fluff or fly waste can enter into will not be formed
on the surrounding structure 4 even if the movable cylinder 13 is elevated and lowered,
which maintains the capability to keep out fluff or fly waste.
[0064] As Figs. 7A and 7B clearly indicate, with this configuration, the lower position
of the second accordion member 41b will not fluctuate even if the movable cylinder
13 is elevated and lowered, and accordingly the height position H of the surrounding
structure 4 from the base surface 62 will not fluctuate. Unlike an embodiment illustrated
in Fig. 4, there is no need to pay attention to the height position H from the base
surface 62 to suspend the elevating/lowering mechanism 3. However, unlike the embodiment
illustrated in Fig. 4, the second accordion member 41b forming the lower end of the
surrounding structure 4 is stretchable, and thus could tear due to a contact of the
yarn Y therewith. Since fluff and fly waste might enter into from the torn portion,
attention needs to be paid to this point.