Spinning-nozzle cleaning device and cleaning method for a spinning machine

Abstract

 A cleaning device, which cleans a metal frame surface of a spinning nozzle during a spinning process, is provided with: a blade 12 that extends in the radial direction of the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle, and has a blade tip portion 120 having a length corresponding to the radial dimension; a mechanism 11 which allows the blade 12 to rotate centered on the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle; and a blade pressing means 121 which presses the blade tip portion 120 of the blade 12 onto the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle so as to be made in contact therewith uniformly over the length direction. Thus, the blade, which is allowed only to turn around without revolving and vibrating, is shifted along the shape of the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to a spinning-nozzle cleaning device for cleaning a metal frame surface of spinning-nozzle of a spinning machine, and a cleaning method for the spinning machine.

Prior Art

[0002] Conventionally, with respect to the spinning-nozzle cleaning device for cleaning impurities adhering to the metal frame surface of a spinning nozzle, those of a turning/revolving type have been known. In accordance with this system, two or more metal blades are made in contact with the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle, and allowed to turn aroundwhile revolving thereon so that the metal frame surface is cleaned. However, when, during the cleaning process, the spinning process of a spinning thread is stopped, it is not possible to obtain stable physical properties of the spinning thread immediately after the cleaning process; therefore, it is preferable to carry out the cleaning process while the thread is being spun from the metal frame surface of the spinning-nozzle. Here, the resulting problem is that, when the cleaning process is carried out without stopping the spinning thread, the thread tends to entangle with the revolving blade to fail to carry out an effective cleaning operation.

[0003] In order to solve this problem, a cleaning device of a turning/vibration type in which the blade turns around while vibrating without revolving has been developed (see patent document 1). In this cleaning device, a metal blade is allowed to turn around along a turning track by a turning means and also to vibrate by a vibration means, and in accordance with this system, a cleaning process is carried out with a spinning process being carried out without causing threads to entangle with the blade. However, the metal frame surface to be cleaned has a shape with a slightly swelled center portion, with the result that the blade tip of the vibrating blade tends to collide with the metal frame surface causing damages thereon.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-88562.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the objective of this invention is to provide a spinning-nozzle cleaning device which is provided with a blade that is allowed to only turn around without revolving and vibrating, and allows the blade to shift along the shape of the metal frame surface of the spinning-nozzle, and a cleaning method for a spinning machine.

[0006] A spinning-nozzle cleaning device in accordance with the present invention, which cleans a metal frame surface of a spinning nozzle during a spinning process, is provided with: a blade that extends in the radial direction of the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle, and has a blade tip portion having a length corresponding to the radial dimension; a mechanism which allows the blade to turn around the center of the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle; and a blade pressing means which presses the blade tip portion of the blade onto the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle so as to be made in contact therewith uniformly over the length direction.

[0007] Preferably, the blade pressing means is provided with a reciprocal driving source, and a mechanism which, when the reciprocal driving source makes the blade tip portion of the blade in contact with the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle, supports the blade tip portion so that it is allowed to shift along the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle so as to freely rock thereon.

[0008] More preferably, a tilt supporting means, which allows the blade face of the blade to tilt toward the turning direction with respect to the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle, is installed.

[0009] A cleaning method for a spinning machine of the present invention is characterized in that the spinning machine is cleaned by using the above-mentioned spinning-nozzle cleaning device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] 

Fig. 1 is a side view that shows a spinning-nozzle cleaning device in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a cleaning means;

Fig. 3 is a front view that explains ablade-pressingmeans;

Fig. 4 is a side view that explains a tilt supporting means;

Fig. 5 is a plan view that explains the trace of a turning process of a blade;

Fig. 6 is a front view that shows a self-propelled control device provided with the nozzle cleaning device; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view that corresponds to Fig. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Referring to attached Figures, the following description will discuss one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a side view that shows a spinning-nozzle cleaning device of the present invention. A metal frame of the spinning-nozzle 5 in a spinning machine is provided with a plurality of nozzle holes 51 through which spinning threads are spun, and upon spinning threads from these nozzle holes 51, adhesive matters adhere to a metal frame surface of the spinning-nozzle 50 that forms a lower plane of the metal frame of the spinning-nozzle 5. In order to remove these adhesive matters, a spinning-nozzle cleaning device, which is located right below the metal frame of the spinning-nozzle 5, cleans the metal frame surface 50.

[0013] The nozzle cleaning device is provided with a cleaning means 1 that scrapes the adhesive matters adhering to the metal frame surface 50 off, a lubricant applying means 3 that applies silicone oil to the metal frame surface 50 and a thread suction means 2 that sucks thread during a cleaning process. This thread suction means 2 is used for sucking and removing unnecessary threads during the cleaningprocess, because the cleaning process is carried out while threads are being spun, in order to provide stablethreadphysicalpropertiesevenafterthecleaningprocess. Moreover, the lubricant applying means 3 is used for applying silicone oil to the metal frame surface 50 in order to prevent the cleaning means 1 from damaging the metal frame surface 50.

[0014] The cleaning means 1 is provided with a blade mechanism 10. This blade mechanism 10 has a blade 12 attached onto its upper side, and carries out a cleaning process by allowing a blade tip portion on the tip of the blade 12 to contact with the metal frame surface 50 and turning the blade mechanism 10 around by using the turning mechanism 11. The thread suction means 2 is provided with a thread receiving member 20 used for efficiently receiving thread spun from the metal frame surface 50. This thread receiving member 20 is located right below the metal frame surface 50, and has an opening with a comparatively large area on the side facing the metal frame surface 50. A first suction pipe member 21 is connected to this thread receiving member 20, and a suction path connecting member 22, made of a flexible hose, is connected to the downstream side of this first suction pipe member 21; moreover, to this suction path connecting member 22 are connected a second suction pipe member 23 and a suction source 25 having a blower 24 so that a thread suction path is formed.

[0015] The first suction pipe member 21, which is located near the metal frame of the spinning-nozzle 5 that has a high temperature, is made of metal, and a plurality of small holes are formed on the upstream side of the thread receiving member 20 and the first suction pipe member 21, in order to prevent the viscosity of threads from increasing, without causing a temperature drop in the metal frame surface 50. Further, a turning current applying means 26, which applies a turning current to the first suction pipe member 21 is installed in a connecting portion between the thread receiving member 20 and the first suction pipe member 21. This turning current applying means 26 is arranged to blow compressed air in an eccentric direction with respect to the axis of the first suction pipe member 21 so that threads to be sucked into the first suction pipe member 21 are sucked in a manner so as to entangle with one another in a combined state; thus, it becomes possible to prevent the threads from adhering to the thread suction path. Moreover, a plurality of small holes are formed on the downstream side of the first suction pipe member 21 so that the flow rate of threads inside the thread suction path is maintained uniformly.

[0016] Figs. 2 to 5 are explanatory drawings for the cleaning means, and referring to the respective drawings, the following description will discuss the cleaning means in more detail. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the cleaning means, as described above which allows the turning mechanism 11 to turn the blade 12 so that the metal frame surface 50 is cleaned. The turning mechanism 11 is provided with a rotary diskmember 14 that supports a sleeve member 13, and a rotation-number detecting gear 15 is coupled to the rotary disk member 14. Further, a center shaft 16 is formed in the center of the rotation-number detecting gear 15, and a turning-use driving source 17 made of an electric motor rotates the center shaft 16 so that the rotary disk member 14 is allowed to rotate together with the rotation-number detecting gear 15 while the blade mechanism 10 is allowed to turn.

[0017] The rotation-number detecting gear 15 has a plurality of teeth 15a formed on the circumference thereof with equal intervals so that a combination of a sensor and a detector (not shown) detects the number of the teeth 15a passing through it to find the rotation angle of the rotary disk member 14. Moreover, as will be described in detail later, a blade pressing means 121 is installed in the blade mechanism 10 so that the contact pressure of the blade tip portion 120 onto the metal frame surface 50 is made uniform, and by installing a tilt-supporting means 100 therein, it becomes possible to prevent damages to the metal frame surface 50. Furthermore, a reciprocal driving source 18 (air cylinder in the present embodiment) is installed below the blade mechanism 10.

[0018] Fig. 3 is a front view that explains the blade pressing means. The blade tip portion 120 that has a laterally elongated shape and is made of metal is attached to the tip of the blade 12, and the blade tip portion 120 is made in contact with the metal frame surface 50, and shifted while turning around in this state so that adhesive matters adhering to the metal frame surface 50 are removed. When the blade tip portion 120 is allowed to apply a uniform contact pressure along the tilted metal frame surface 50, it is possible to effectively carry out a cleaning process; therefore, a mechanism that allows the blade tip portion 120 to shift along the metal frame surface 50 in a manner so as to rock thereon is installed in the blade pressing means. This rocking support mechanism has a structure in which two end shafts 121a and 121a' of the blade tip portion 120 are supported by a blade-tip holder member 121c in its frame, with a neck swing shaft 121b of the blade tip holder member 121c being supported by a main body member 122 in its frame.

[0019] In the blade pressing means of this type, as shown in Fig. 3A, first, the blade 12 is placed right below the metal frame surface 50, and as shown in Fig. 3B, the reciprocal driving source 18 pushes the blade 12 up so that the blade tip portion 120 is pressed onto the metal frame surface 50. Then, the rocking support mechanism is operated so that the blade-tip holder member 121c is allowed to pivot along the tilt of the metal frame surface 50 centered on the neck swing shaft 121b, and the blade tip portion 120 is distorted along the curved face of the metal frame surface 50 with the two end shafts 121a and 121a' serving as the supporting points; thus, the contact pressure of the blade tip portion 120 to the metal frame surface 50 is uniformly maintained.

[0020] Fig. 4 is a side view that explains the tilt supporting means. As shown in Fig. 4A, the blade 12 is supported on the upper portion of a blade supporting member 123, and the lower portion of the blade supporting member 123 is frame-supported by the upper portion of a tilt link member 124 through a link shaft 123a, and the lower portion of the tilt link member 124 is further frame-supported by the upper portion of a push-up link member 19 through a link shaft 124a. Further, the lower portion of the push-up link member 19 is connected to the reciprocal driving source 18 through the inside of a sleeve member 13. Moreover, the blade supporting member 123, which communicates with the inside of a casing member 125 installed in the sleeve member 13, is frame-supported by a blade tilt shaft 125a placed inside the casing member 125. By using such a link mechanism, the blade 12 is allowed to turn aroundwhile the push-up link member 19 is pushed up by the reciprocal driving source 18 so that, as will be described later in detail, in response to the turning direction, the blade face of the blade 12 is allowed to tilt with respect to the metal frame surface 50 of the spinning nozzle.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 4B, in the case when the blade 12 is turned and shifted in the forward rotation direction α1 (rightward in the Figure) , since the tip of the blade 12 is made in contact with the metal frame surface 50, the blade 12 is allowed to tilt in the reverse direction β1 (counterclockwise in the Figure) to the advancing direction, centered on the blade tilt shaft 125a, by a frictional force between the blade 12 and the metal frame surface 50, and the blade supporting member 123 is further made in contact with the stopper 125b placed inside the casing member 125 so that it is allowed to turn around and shift with the tilt angle θ of the blade face of the blade 12 with respect to the metal frame surface 50 being maintained at an angle smaller than 90 degrees (about 88 degrees in the present embodiment). Moreover, as shown in Fig. 4C, in the case when the blade 12 is turned and shifted in the reverse rotation direction α2 (leftward in the Figure), in the same manner as described above, the blade 12 is allowed to tilt in the reverse direction β2 (clockwise in the Figure) to the advancing direction, and turned around and shifted. In the case when the blade 12 is turned and shifted while maintaining a state (state shown in Fig. 4A) having right angles with respect to the metal frame surface 50, the blade 12 vibrates (so-called shaking state), and causes damages to the metal frame surface 50; however, by allowing the blade 12 to slightly tilt in response to the turning direction (about 2 degrees in the present embodiment) as described above, it is turned around and shifted smoothly, thereby making it possible to prevent the generation of vibration and the subsequent damages to the metal frame surface 50.

[0022] Fig. 5 is a plan view that explains the turning locus of the blade. As described above, since the number of the blade 12 is one in the present invention, the length of the blade tip portion 120 of the blade 12 corresponds to the radius φ of the metal frame surface 50 so that the blade tip portion 120 is allowed to turn around the center of the metal frame surface 50 to clean the metal frame surface 50. Moreover, in order to prevent cleaning irregularities, it is rotated clockwise (forward rotation direction) α1 (see Fig. 5A), and then rotated counterclockwise (reverse rotation direction) α2 (see Fig. 5B), and these operations are repeated. In order to eliminate the cleaning remainder, the rotation angle of the blade 12 is detected by the rotation-number detecting gear 15 and controlled so as to make rotations of 360 degrees or more (about 370 degrees in the present embodiment).

[0023] Fig. 6 is a front view that shows a self-propelled control device having a nozzle cleaning device, and Fig. 7 is a plan view that corresponds to Fig. 6. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the spinning-nozzle cleaning device SC is installed in the self-propelled control device RC so that the self-propelled control device RC is placed on a rail RA along a plurality of spinning machines SM provided with the metal frame of the spinning-nozzle 5 so as to travel thereon. When a spinning machine SM to be cleaned is designated by a signal from the control device, the self-propelled control device RC starts to travel, and stops at the position of the designated spinning machine SM. After the stop, an advancing/backing mechanism FR, installed in the self-propelled control device RC, sets the nozzle-cleaning device SC right below the metal frame surface 50, and the blade 12 of each of the blade mechanisms 10 is set right below the metal frame surface 50 by an elevating mechanism; thus, as described above, the reciprocal driving source 18 raises the blade 12 to start the cleaning process.

[0024] In accordance with the present invention, upon conducting a cleaning operation while a spinning process is continuously carried out, the blade is only turned around and shifted without allowing it to revolve and vibrate so that it becomes possible toeffectivelyprevententangledthreadsontotherevolvingblade and damages to the metal frame surface of the spinning-nozzle due to the vibrating blade, and consequently to carry out the cleaning process effectively. Moreover, by further installing the blade-pressing means, the blade tip of the blade can be turned and shifted in a manner so as to fit to the shape of the metal frame surface of the spinning-nozzle; thus, it becomes possible to positively remove adhesive matters on the metal frame surface of the spinning-nozzle effectively. Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, in order to reduce entangled threads onto the blade to a minimum, not a plurality of blades, but a single blade is installed to be turned around and shifted, and by repeating forward and reverse rotations, it becomes possible to carry out an effective cleaning process even by the use of the single blade.

Claims

1. A spinning-nozzle cleaning device, which cleans a metal frame surface of a spinning nozzle during a spinning process, comprising:

a blade that extends in the radial direction of the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle, and has a blade tip portion having a length corresponding to the radial dimension;

a mechanism which allows the blade to rotate centered on the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle; and

a blade pressing means which presses the blade tip portion of the blade onto the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle so as to be made in contact therewith uniformly over the length direction.

2. The spinning-nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein: the blade pressing means is provided with a reciprocal driving source, and a mechanism which, when the reciprocal driving source makes the blade tip portion of the blade in contact with the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle, supports the blade tip portion so that it is allowed to shift along the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle so as to freely rock thereon, is installed.

3. The spinning-nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a tilt supporting means, which allows the blade face of the blade to tilt toward the turning direction with respect to the metal frame surface of the spinning nozzle, is further installed.

4. A cleaning method for a spinning machine, wherein the spinningmachine is cleaned by using the spinning-nozzle cleaning device disclosed in any one of claims 1 to 3.

Drawing