BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a creel stand.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Regarding a technology of a creel stand in which a yarn feeding package is supplied
by a creel robot, Patent document 1 discloses a technology in which a pair of creel
stands capable of holding a plurality of yarn feeding packages are arranged opposite
each other across a passage along which a self-propelled yarn feeding package changer
travels. In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the yarn feeding package
changer rotates 180 degrees by rotating device, an operation of changing the empty
take-up tube and the yarn feeding package can be performed also in any of the creel
stands arranged opposite each other.
(Prior Art Documents)
(Patent Documents)
(Problems to be Solved)
[0004] Incidentally, when a yarn feeding package is supplied to a creel stand by a creel
robot, a reaction force when moving the yarn feeding package, which is a heavy load,
to the creel stand from the creel robot acts on the creel stand, easily causing the
creel stand to sway and tilt significantly. Consequently, there is room for an improvement
in that a distance between the creel stand and the creel robot becomes unstable, making
it difficult for the creel robot to supply the yarn feeding package. In particular,
in recent years, the height of creel stands has tended to be higher than in the past,
which has resulted in significant swaying and tilting of the creel stands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described technical problems,
and an object thereof is to provide a creel stand that enables a creel robot to supply
a yarn feeding package with high reliability.
(Means for Solving Problems)
[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is
a creel stand in which a yarn feeding package to a peg is supplied by a creel robot,
the creel stand comprising:
a pair of stand bodies arranged on both sides sandwiching a movement passage along
which the creel robot moves and configured to support the peg; and
a beam mechanism configured to couple the pair of stand bodies at an upper position
above the creel robot, wherein
at least one stand body among the pair of stand bodies includes a stand engagement
mechanism engaged with an extension member extending in a direction of the one stand
body from the upper position of the creel robot along a direction parallel to the
movement passage of the creel robot.
[0007] According to the above-described first aspect of the creel stand, due to the portions
being coupled to each other by the beam mechanism at an upper position above the creel
robot in the stand body, the pair of stand bodies have high rigidity as a single structure.
Consequently, even when a reaction force generated when the creel robot supplies the
yarn feeding package to the peg of one stand body is applied to the stand body, sway
and tilt of the stand body is reduced by the high rigidity of stand bodies and dispersion
of the reaction force to the other stand body via the beam mechanism. Moreover, since
tilt of the stand body is reduced, a distance between the one stand body and the other
stand body and a distance between the creel robot and the stand body are each constantly
maintained. Accordingly, it becomes possible for the creel robot to supply the yarn
feeding package to the peg with high reliability.
[0008] Moreover, in the high rigid structure in which the stand bodies are coupled to each
other by the beam mechanism, the creel robot travels and stops along the stand body
in the state where the extension member and the stand engagement mechanism are engaged
with each other. Accordingly, even when the number of arranged pegs on the stand body
increases and the creel stand and/or the creel robot become taller and become easy
to cause tilt and sway, the distance between the stand body and the creel robot can
always be maintained constant. Consequently, it becomes possible for the creel robot
to supply the yarn feeding package to the peg with high reliability.
[0009] A second aspect of the present invention is the creel stand in the above-described
first aspect, wherein preferably the stand engagement mechanism is a rail including
a flange longitudinally provided in an up-and-down direction, wherein
the flange is sandwiched with at least two rollers provided rotatably around a rotation
axis in the up-and-down direction provided on the extension member.
[0010] According to the above-described second aspect of the creel stand, the flange longitudinally
provided in the up-and-down direction is sandwiched with the rollers provided rotatably
around the rotation axis in the up-and-down direction provided on the extension member.
Accordingly, the distance between the creel robot and the stand body is regulated
by the length of the extension member. Consequently, even when receiving a reaction
force that tips the stand body and/or the creel robot, the distance between the creel
robot and the stand body can be maintained constant.
[0011] A third aspect of the present invention is the creel stand in the above-described
first or second aspect, wherein preferably
the beam mechanism includes a coupling rod-like member coupling the pair of stand
bodies to each other, and
the coupling rod-like member includes a dimensional adjustment mechanism capable of
adjusting a length dimension in an axial direction.
[0012] According to the above-described third aspect of the creel stand, when the beam mechanism
is attached to the stand body, the distance between the pair of stand bodies can be
finely adjusted by the dimensional adjustment mechanism.
[0013] A fourth aspect of the present invention is the creel stand in the above-described
preceding aspects, wherein preferably a plurality of the beam mechanisms are arranged
in a longitudinal direction of the stand body.
[0014] According to the above-described fourth aspect of the creel stand, since the plurality
of the beam mechanisms are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the stand body
and therefore higher rigidity can be obtained as the structure in which the stand
bodies are coupled to each other by the plurality of beam mechanisms, sway and tilt
of the stand body can further be reduced. Consequently, it becomes possible for the
creel robot to supply the yarn feeding package to the peg with high reliability.
[0015] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the creel stand in the above-described
preceding aspects, wherein preferably the beam mechanism includes a diagonal member
forming a trussed structure.
[0016] According to the above-described fifth aspect of the creel stand, since the beam
mechanism includes the diagonal member forming the trussed structure and therefore
higher rigidity can be obtained as the structure in which the stand bodies are coupled
to each other by the beam mechanisms, sway and tilt of the stand body can further
be reduced. Consequently, it becomes possible for the creel robot to supply the yarn
feeding package to the peg with high reliability.
[0017] The creel stand according to the present invention may be formed of merely the configuration
described as the creel stand described in the above-described first aspect, or may
be formed of freely combining the configuration described in the above-described first
aspect with the configuration(s) described in any of the above-described second to
fifth aspects, to the extent that consistency can be achieved. When combining the
configuration described in the above-described first aspect with the configuration(s)
described in any of the above-described second to fifth aspects, all or part of the
configuration described in the above-described first aspect can be combined with all
or part of configurations of described in the above-described second to fifth aspects,
to the extent that consistency can be achieved.
(Advantageous Effects of the Invention)
[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a creel stand that
enables a creel robot to supply a yarn feeding package with high reliability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating an overall arrangement configuration
example of a false-twist texturing system.
FIG. 2 is an example of a perspective diagram schematically illustrating the false-twist
texturing system.
FIG. 3 is a view schematically illustrating a configuration of a peg provided in the
stand body.
FIG. 4 is a view of an upper portion of the stand bodies and a creel robot as viewed
from a longitudinal direction of the stand bodies.
DESCRIPTIONS OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described
with reference to the drawings.
(Overview of False-Twist Texturing System 1)
[0021] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating an overall arrangement configuration
example of a false-twist texturing system 1. In a false-twist texturing system 1,
a yarn feeding package in which a yarn is wound around a cylindrical take-up tube
is supplied to a creel stand 30 by a creel robot 50 that moves on a rail 20 extending
in a linear shape. Moreover, when supplying the yarn feeding package to the creel
stand 30, the creel robot 50 collects an empty take-up tube around which no yarn is
wound from the creel stand 30. The "yarn" used herein is exemplified by synthetic
fibers, such as polyester. The "yarn feeding package" is a windingtype package for
supplying a yarn (synthetic fiber) used in a manufacturing process, such as a false-twist
texturing machine. The yarn feeding package is composed of a take-up tube having a
cylindrical shape of a center part, and the yarn wound around the take-up tube, and
is held by inserting a peg 31B described later (refer to FIG. 3) inside the take-up
tube. The rail 20 corresponds to a "movement passage" used in the present invention.
[0022] The creel stand 30 includes a pair of stand bodies 30A, 30B arranged at both sides
sandwiching the rail 20 and coupled to each other by the beam mechanism 40. A raw
yarn storage unit 26 is provided at a position adjacent to the stand body 30B in a
longitudinal direction. The yarn feeding packages to be supplied to the stand bodies
30A, 30B are supplied from a plant-wide conveyance device to the raw yarn storage
unit 26 and are temporarily stored in the raw yarn storage unit 26. Then, the yarn
feeding packages stored therein are removed from the raw yarn storage unit 26 by the
creel robot 50 and are carried to the creel stand 30.
[0023] A machine base 10 is provided at a position, which is adjacent to the stand body
30A and an opposite side to the rail 20. Although not illustrated, a machine base
is provided adjacent also to the stand body 30B. The machine base 10 mainly includes,
for example, a false-twist texturing machine 12 and a winding machine 14. The yarn
unwound from the yarn feeding package is supplied from the creel stand 30 to the false-twist
texturing machine 12. In the false-twist texturing machine 12, the yarn unwound from
the yarn feeding package is false-twisted. The false-twisted yarn is wound by the
winding machine 14.
[0024] The empty take-up tube around which no yarn is wound, obtained by unwinding all the
yarn from the yarn feeding package, is collected by the creel robot 50 from the creel
stand 30. The collected empty take-up tube is carried by the creel robot 50 to an
empty take-up tube collection box 22 provided, for example, adjacent to the stand
body 30A in the longitudinal direction and is collected into the empty take-up tube
collection box 22.
(Description of Creel Stand 30)
[0025] FIG. 2 is an example of a perspective diagram schematically illustrating the false-twist
texturing system 1. FIG. 2 omits illustration of the false-twist texturing machine
12, the winding machine 14, and the empty take-up tube collection box 22, which are
illustrated with FIG. 1. Since the stand bodies 30A, 30B have the same configurations,
the stand body 30A is mainly described below, and a detailed description of the stand
body 30B configuration is omitted.
[0026] The stand body 30A is configured so that a plurality of column supports 31 extending
in a vertical direction and arranged in two rows along the rail 20, and a plurality
of partition plates 32 are supported by the column supports 31 at predetermined intervals.
A peg 31B described below (refer to FIG. 3) that supports the take-up tube is provided
in the column support 31 near the rail 20 among the plurality of column supports 31.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a view schematically illustrating a configuration of a peg 31B provided
in the stand body 30A.
[0028] The column support 31 is provided with a rotary cylinder 31A capable of rotating
around the column support 31 in a longitudinal direction of the column support 31
as an axial direction. The peg 31B and a claw 31C are provided on the rotary cylinder
31A. The peg 31B and the claw 31C rotate integrally as the rotary cylinder 31A rotates.
[0029] Although a detailed description of the configuration of the creel robot 50 is omitted,
the creel robot 50 includes an engagement portion 52 capable of moving in the up-and-down
direction, and a peg rotation mechanism 51 that rotates the engagement portion 52.
When the creel robot 50 supplies the yarn feeding package to the creel stand 30, and
when the creel robot 50 collects the empty take-up tube from the creel stand 30, the
creel robot 50 engages the engagement portion 52 with the claw 31C of the creel stand
30, and, in that state, drives the peg rotation mechanism 51 to rotate the engagement
portion 52. Consequently, the claw 31C rotates, and the peg 31B also rotates accordingly.
By rotating the peg 31B to be directed to the creel robot 50 side, the creel robot
50 can supply the yarn feeding package and collect the empty take-up tube.
[0030] When replacing of the take-up tube, particularly when supplying the yarn feeding
packages to the stand bodies 30A, 30B, a reaction force generated when the heavy yarn
feeding package is supported by the peg 31B is applied to the stand bodies 30A, 30B.
In order to reduce sway or tilt of the stand bodies 30A, 30B due to such a reaction
force, the stand bodies 30A, 30B are coupled to each other by the beam mechanism 40
to form a single structure. The beam mechanism 40 couples the stand bodies 30A, 30B
to each other at an upper position above the creel robot 50 so as not to interfere
the movement of the creel robot 50 moving between the stand bodies 30A, 30B.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a view of an upper portion of the stand bodies 30A, 30B and the creel robot
50 as viewed from a longitudinal direction of the stand bodies 30A, 30B.
[0032] The beam mechanism 40 includes longitudinal coupling members 41A, 41B, a lateral
coupling member 42, and diagonal members 43A, 43B. The longitudinal coupling members
41A, 41B and the lateral coupling member 42 correspond to a "coupling rod-like member"
used in the present invention.
[0033] The longitudinal coupling member 41A is a long rod-like member, and is fixed to an
upper portion of the stand body 30A taking a posture along the vertical direction.
The longitudinal coupling member 41A is coupled to, for example, the column support
31 of the stand body 30A. The longitudinal coupling member 41B is fixed to an upper
portion of the stand body 30B.
[0034] The lateral coupling member 42 is a long rod-like member, and couples tip portions
of the longitudinal coupling members 41A, 41B to each other. The lateral coupling
member 42 is coupled to the longitudinal coupling members 41A, 41B at a substantially
right angle. The longitudinal coupling members 41A, 41B and the lateral coupling member
42 may be coupled to each other using a jig, or may be coupled to each other by welding
or the like.
[0035] The longitudinal coupling members 41A, 41B and the lateral coupling member 42 each
have a dimensional adjustment mechanism capable of length adjustment. Examples of
the dimensional adjustment mechanism include a mechanism in which a rod member is
inserted into a long cylinder and the rod member is advanced or retreated with respect
to the cylinder to adjust the length.
[0036] The diagonal members 43A, 43B respectively are diagonally coupled to the longitudinal
coupling members 41A, 41B and the lateral coupling member 42 to form a trussed structure.
A strength of the beam mechanism 40 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal
direction of the stand bodies 30A, 30B can be increased by providing the diagonal
members 43A, 43B.
[0037] A plurality of the beam mechanisms 40 are provided in the longitudinal direction
of the stand bodies 30A, 30B (refer to FIGs. 1 and 2). Moreover, the beam mechanism
40 is coupled to a connection member 45 extending in the longitudinal direction. Consequently,
the beam mechanism 40 can prevent from toppling in the longitudinal direction of the
stand bodies 30A, 30B and the strength of the beam mechanism 40 can be increased.
[0038] Thus, by coupling the stand bodies 30A, 30B arranged to be separated from each other
with the beam mechanism 40, the creel stand 30 can be into the single structure, and
the rigidity of the creel stand 30 can be improved.
[0039] The creel stand 30 includes a long C-shape steel 35 provided at an upper portion
of the stand body 30A. The C-shape steel 35 corresponds to a "stand engagement mechanism"
used in the present invention. The C-shape steel 35 extends along a direction parallel
to the rail 20, i.e., along the longitudinal direction of the stand body 30A, (refer
to FIGs. 1 and 2).
[0040] At an upper portion of the stand body 30A, a support plate 36 is provided as to bridge
over two column supports 31 aligned in a line in the direction orthogonal to the rail
20. A plurality of the support plates 36 are provided in the longitudinal direction
of the stand body 30A at predetermined intervals. The C-shape steel 35 is supported
at a position near the creel robot 50 in the support plate 36 as viewed from the longitudinal
direction of the stand body 30A. The C-shape steel 35 is provided to take a posture
in which an open portion faces upward, as viewed from the longitudinal direction thereof.
One side surface of the C-shape steel 35, provided in this way, extending in the up-and-down
direction corresponds to a "flange" used in the present invention.
[0041] The C-shape steel 35 functions as a guide passage for the creel robot 50. As illustrated
in FIG. 4, the creel robot 50 includes an extension member 53A extending from the
upper position thereof toward the stand body 30A. The extension member 53A is located
at an upper position above the stand body 30A and has a tip portion extending to the
position of the C-shape steel 35. A pair of rollers 54 are provided at a lower tip
portion of the extension member 53A. The pair of rollers 54 each rotate around the
up-and-down direction as a rotation axis. The pair of rollers 54 rotate so as to sandwich
one side surface of the C-shape steel 35 therebetween.
[0042] By sandwiching the one side surface of the C-shape steel 35 between the pair of rollers
54 of the creel robot 50, a distance between the creel robot 50 and the stand body
30A is regulated by a length of the extension member 53A. Consequently, even when
receiving a reaction force that tips the stand body 30A or the creel robot 50, the
distance between the creel robot 50 and the stand body 30A can be maintained constant.
[0043] Also at an upper portion of the stand body 30B, a support plate 37 is provided so
as to bridge over two column supports 31, similarly to the stand body 30A. A plurality
of the support plates 37 are provided in the longitudinal direction of the stand body
30B at predetermined intervals. The long C-shape steel 38 is provided on the plurality
of the support plates 37 to take a posture in which an open portion faces upward,
as viewed from the longitudinal direction thereof. The C-shape steel 38 also functions
as a guide passage for the creel robot 50.
[0044] The creel robot 50 includes an extension member 53B extending from the upper position
thereof toward the stand body 30B. The extension member 53B is located an upper position
above the stand body 30B and has a tip portion extending to the position of the C-shape
steel 38. One roller 55 is provided at a lower tip portion of the extension member
53B. The roller 55 rotates around the up-and-down direction as a rotation axis. This
roller 55 is provided between both side surfaces of the C-shape steel 38 and rotates
while being in contact with the both side surfaces.
(Description of Advantageous Effects)
[0045] As described above, the creel stand 30 of the present embodiment is configured as
the single structure formed by coupling the stand bodies 30A, 30B, arranged to be
separated from each other, by the beam mechanism 40. Therefore, high rigidity can
be obtained compared with a case where the stand bodies 30A, 30B are arranged independently
from each other. Moreover, for example, even when a reaction force generated when
the heavy yarn feeding package is supplied from the creel robot 50 to the peg 31B
of the stand body 30A is applied to the stand body 30A, the reaction force is distributed
to the stand body 30B through the beam mechanism 40, thereby reducing swaying and
tilting. Furthermore, the stand bodies 30A, 30B arranged to be separated from each
other are coupled to each other by the beam mechanism 40, it is possible to prevent
each of the stand bodies 30A, 30B from tipping. In addition, by connecting one of
the stand bodies 30A, 30B to a wall or ceiling of a factory, swaying, tilting, or
tipping can further be suppressed. Such advantageous effects become more pronounced
as the height of the stand bodies 30A, 30B increases.
[0046] Moreover, since the distance between the stand bodies 30A, 30B and the creel robot
50 is maintainable at a constant distance by reducing tilt of the stand bodies 30A,
30B, it becomes possible for the creel robot 50 to supply the yarn feeding package
to the stand bodies 30A, 30B with high reliability.
[0047] Furthermore, since the plurality of beam mechanisms 40 are provided in the longitudinal
direction of the stand bodies 30A, 30B, it is possible to further reduce swaying and
tilting of the stand bodies 30A, 30B. Consequently, it becomes possible for the creel
robot 50 to supply the yarn feeding package to the stand bodies 30A, 30B with high
reliability.
[0048] Moreover, since it is possible to adjust the lengths of the longitudinal coupling
members 41A, 41B and the lateral coupling member 42 of the beam mechanism 40, it can
be adjusted in accordance with a distance between the stand bodies 30A, 30B when attaching
the beam mechanism 40 to the stand bodies 30A, 30B. Furthermore, since the length
of the longitudinal coupling members 41A, 41B can be adjusted, the lateral coupling
member 42 can be attached closely to, for example, a beam, ceiling, or the like of
the factory, and swaying or tipping of the stand bodies 30A, 30B can be prevented.
(Modified Examples)
[0049] While this embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present
invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment but can be changed in various
ways within a scope recited in the claims. For example, in the above-described embodiment,
the beam mechanism 40 is configured of the plurality of members, but may be configured
of merely one member. Moreover, the column support 31 may be lengthened and an upper
portion of the lengthened column support 31 may be used as the longitudinal coupling
member 41A. Moreover, the dimensional adjustment mechanism for the beam mechanism
40 may be a mechanism in which a plurality of small rod members are coupled to form
one long rod member and the length is adjusted by adjusting the number of small rod
members. Furthermore, as long as the movement of the creel robot 50 is not hindered,
the stand bodies 30A, 30B may be coupled to each other only by a lateral coupling
member 42 without using the longitudinal coupling members 41A, 41B.
[0050] Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the beam mechanism 40 couples the stand
bodies 30A, 30B along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the
stand bodies 30A, 30B, but the beam mechanism 40 may couple them along a direction
of diagonally intersecting with respect to the longitudinal direction, for example.
[0051] Furthermore, the C-shape steel 35 which is a stand engagement mechanism is provided
in the upper portion of the stand body 30A and the one side surface of the C-shape
steel is sandwiched by the pair of rollers 54 provided at the lower tip portion of
the extension member 53A, but it is not limited to such an example. For example, a
C-shape steel may be provided near a center of the stand body 30A in the up-and-down
direction taking a posture in which an open portion faces the creel robot 50 side,
and a member may be provided extending from the tip of the extension member 53A to
the C-shape steel toward a vertically lower side, so that the C-shape steel is sandwiched
by the pair of rollers. Even in this case, the distance between the stand body 30A
and the creel robot 50 can be maintained constant. Moreover, the stand engagement
mechanism may be provided on each of the stand bodies 30A, 30B.
[0052] Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the pair of rollers 54 provided at the
lower tip portion of the extension member 53A is capable of rotating in a state where
the one side surface of the C-shape steel 35 is sandwiched therebetween, but in addition
there to, a load of the creel robot 50 may be applied to a web of the C-shape steel
35. By providing, for example, a roller between the roller 54 on the side opposite
to the web of the C-shape steel among the pair of rollers 54 and the web, so as to
enable to slide between the roller 54 and the web, the load of the creel robot 50
can be applied to the web of the C-shape steel 35. When the load of the creel robot
50 can be applied to the web of the C-shape steel 35, the creel robot 50 will lean
against the stand body 30A, and the weight of the creel robot 50 can make the stand
body 30A more stable. Moreover, by stabilizing the stand body 30A, it is possible
to also stabilize the stand body 30B coupled to the stand body 30A by the beam mechanism
40.
[0053] Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the extension members 53A, 53B are provided
extending toward both of the pair of stand bodies 30A, 30B from the upper position
of the creel robot 50, but it is not limited to this example. For example, only the
extension member (53A or 53B) may be provided extending from the upper position of
the creel robot 50 toward only any one of the pair of stand bodies 30A, 30B. In this
case, it is preferable to provide the C-shape steel (35 or 38) at the upper portion
of the stand body (30A or 30B) on the side having the extension member, so as to rotate
the pair of rollers 54 provided at the lower tip portion of the extension member in
the state where the one side surface of the C-shape steel (35 or 38) is sandwiched
therebetween.
[0054] Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the pair of rollers 54 are configured
to rotate with one side surface of the C-shape steel 35 sandwiched therebetween, but
the member is not limited to such a C-shape steel and may be any member (e.g., an
L-shape steel) including a flange that can be sandwiched between the pair of rollers
54.
(Reference Numerals)
[0055]
20 Rail
30 Creel stand
30A, 30B Stand body
35, 38 C-shape steel
40 Beam mechanism
41A, 41B Longitudinal coupling member
42 Lateral coupling member
50 Creel robot
53A,53B Extension member
54, 55 Roller