CN105506793B

CN105506793B - Special yarn spinning equipment in spinning machine

Info

Publication number: CN105506793B
Application number: CN201510647505.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 河合泰之; 槌田大辅; 佐藤江平
Original assignee: Toyota Industries Corp
Current assignee: Toyota Industries Corp
Priority date: 2014-10-10
Filing date: 2015-10-09
Publication date: 2020-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-09
Also published as: JP2016079512A; JP6164190B2; CN105506793A; EP3018239B1; EP3018239A2; ES2655662T3; EP3018239A3

Abstract

The invention discloses special yarn spinning equipment in a spinning machine. A special yarn spinning apparatus adapted to be used in a spinning machine includes a plurality of apron drafting devices configured to switch fiber bundles to be fed, respectively. The special yarn weaving device further comprises a connecting device and an anti-twisting device. The connecting device connects the rear end of the fiber bundle fed by at least one apron drafting device which is operated before the switching feeding in the apron drafting device and the front end of the fiber bundle fed by another apron drafting device which is started after the switching feeding in the apron drafting device. The anti-twist device holds and conveys the fiber bundle at a position downstream of the joining device so as to prevent the twist from propagating from the twist device to the joined fiber bundle in the joining device.

Description

Special yarn spinning equipment in spinning machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a special yarn spinning apparatus in a spinning machine, and more particularly, to an apparatus for spinning special yarns having different colors or different fiber kinds in a spinning machine by controlling feeding of fiber bundles fed from a plurality of fiber bundle supply sources.

Background

Fig. 14 shows an apparatus for producing a combination or effect yarn in a spinning machine, which is disclosed in PCT international publication No.2011/018685 and spins the yarn while changing a mixing ratio of two different kinds of rovings. The drafting device comprises three

bottom rollers

81, 82, 83, pressure rollers 81A, 83A corresponding to the

bottom rollers

81, 83 respectively, aprons (or belts) 82A, 82B for the pressure rollers corresponding to the bottom rollers 82, and a presser device 85 arranged downstream of the bottom rollers 81. In this draft device, the press roller 81A is used for both the base roving S and the color roving T. The base roving S is drafted through the

bottom rollers

81, 82, 83 and their corresponding press rollers 81A, aprons 82A, and press rollers 83A, while the color roving T is drafted and conveyed by the bottom rollers 81, 82 and their corresponding press rollers 81A and aprons 82B. After passing through the roller pair formed by the bottom roller 81 and the press roller 81A, the base roving S and the color roving T are combined by the press device 85 to form a pattern yarn. The presser device 85 is any one of a suction, a fixed bar, and a member rotatable on its axis at a position away from the yarn path, which is placed at a position corresponding to the outlet of the color roving T. The yarn guide member 87 is placed downstream of the presser device 85.

In the device of the above-cited publication, when the rotation speed of the bottom roller 82 of the color roving T is zero, the yarn is spun only from the base roving S without blending the color roving T. When the color roving T is supplied with the rotation of the bottom roller 82, a mixed yarn of the base roving S and the color roving T is produced. The mixing ratio of the colored rovings T of the textile yarn per unit length is changed by controlling the rotation speed of the bottom roller 82. However, in this device, the winding twist in the yarn due to the winding twist device (not shown) is propagated to the roving passing through the presser device 85 and the yarn guide member 87 or to a position where the roving is held by the roller pair including the bottom roller 81 and the press roller 81A. When the feeding of the roving is switched from the base roving S to the color roving T, the untwisted ends of the color roving T need to be joined to the twisted ends of the base roving S. However, it is difficult to successfully join the untwisted color roving T to the base roving S that is twisted, and therefore it is very difficult to produce a yarn that is manufactured by switching the feeding between the base roving S and the color roving T.

The present invention, which has been made in view of the above problems, relates to providing a special yarn device of a spinning machine capable of changing a bundle of raw material fibers when weaving special yarns containing various colors and materials.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a special yarn spinning apparatus adapted to be used in a spinning machine including a plurality of apron drafting devices each configured to switch a fiber bundle to be fed. The special yarn weaving device further comprises a connecting device and an anti-twisting device. The connecting device connects the rear end of the fiber bundle fed from at least one apron drafting device which has been operated before the switching feeding in the apron drafting device and the front end of the fiber bundle fed from another apron drafting device which has been started after the switching feeding in the apron drafting device. The anti-twist device holds and conveys the fiber bundle at a position downstream of the joining device so as to prevent the twist from propagating from the twist device to the joined fiber bundle in the joining device.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

Drawings

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, may best be understood by making reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a special yarn weaving device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a spinning machine with the special yarn weaving device of FIG. 1;

fig. 3A is a schematic view of the special yarn spinning apparatus of fig. 1, showing a state in which a yarn is being spun from a first roving;

fig. 3B is a schematic view similar to fig. 3A, but showing a state in which the first roving has been cut and the feed of the second roving is started;

fig. 4A is a schematic view of the special yarn weaving apparatus of fig. 1, showing a state in which both a front end of a second roving and a rear end of a first roving are present in a guide member;

fig. 4B is a schematic view similar to fig. 4A, but showing a state where the leading end of a second roving is being joined to the trailing end of the first roving;

fig. 5 is a schematic view of the special yarn weaving apparatus of fig. 1, showing a state in which the second roving and the first roving, which have been joined together, are passing through the anti-twist member;

fig. 6 is a schematic side view of a special yarn weaving apparatus according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the special yarn weaving apparatus of FIG. 6, showing a state corresponding to FIG. 3A;

fig. 8 is a schematic side view of a special yarn weaving apparatus according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the special yarn weaving apparatus of FIG. 8, showing a state corresponding to FIG. 3A;

fig. 10 is a schematic side view of a special yarn weaving apparatus according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the shape of the suction slit;

fig. 12A and 12B are schematic views showing the shape of a suction slit according to other embodiments;

FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a special yarn weaving apparatus according to yet another embodiment;

fig. 14 is a schematic plan view of a conventional drafting device.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment)

A special yarn spinning apparatus in a spinning machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which spins a special yarn from a plurality of kinds of rovings (two kinds of rovings in the present invention) that are suspended from a creel of the spinning machine, will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 5.

With reference to fig. 2, a special yarn spinning apparatus, designated by the numeral 10, is suitable for use in spinning machines. The spinning machine has a fiber bundle supply source 11 from which a plurality of fiber bundles (i.e., the first roving S1 and the second roving S2 in the illustrated embodiment) are independently and intermittently supplied. The fiber bundle supply 11 has two

roving spools

13A, 13B from which a creel 12 of a spinning machine is suspended. The special yarn weaving apparatus 10 has a winding-twisting device 18 having a traveler 17 running on a ring 16, while a spool 15 mounted on a spindle 14 rotates for winding-twisting the yarn Y.

The special yarn weaving apparatus 10 includes a drafting device 21 provided downstream of the fiber bundle supply source 11, a joining device 22 connecting ends of the first and second rovings S1, S2 fed by the drafting device 21, an anti-twist device 23 preventing the propagation of the winding twist from the winding twist device 18 to the first and second rovings S1, S2 in the joining device 22, and a control device 24 (shown in fig. 1) controlling the feeding of the first and second rovings S1, S2 to the drafting device 21 and the anti-twist device 23.

The specific yarn weaving apparatus 10 will be described in detail below. As shown in fig. 1, the draft device 21 of the special yarn weaving apparatus 10 includes a front roller pair 25, a first apron pair 26 provided upstream of the front roller pair 25 and feeding a first roving S1 to the front roller pair 25, and a second apron pair 27 also provided upstream of the front roller pair 25 and feeding a second roving S2 to the front roller pair 25. In other words, the drafting device 21 comprises a first and a second pair of

aprons

26, 27 for the first and the second rovings S1, S2, respectively, and a front pair of rollers 25 shared in common by the first and the second pair of

aprons

26, 27.

In the spinning machine, one drafting device 21 and one counterweight arm 28 are provided for any two adjacent spinning tables. The front roller pair 25 includes a front bottom roller 25A and a front top roller 25B, and the front top roller 25B is supported by a balance weight arm 28 via a support arm 29.

The first pair of aprons 26 comprises a middle bottom apron 30 and a middle top apron 31. An intermediate bottom apron 30 is wrapped around the apron pin, intermediate bottom roller 32 and tensioner. The intermediate top apron 31 is wound around an intermediate top roller 34 and a cradle supported by a support shaft, the intermediate top roller 34 being rotatably supported by opposite ends of the support shaft supported by support arms 33 fixed to the counterweight arms 28. The first apron pair 26 and the front roller pair 25 cooperate to form the apron drafting assembly of the invention.

The second pair of aprons 27 includes a rear bottom apron 35 (shown in fig. 3, 4 and 5) and a rear top apron 36. The rear bottom apron 35, which shares the apron pin and tensioner with the intermediate bottom apron 30, is wound on the rear bottom roller 37 while passing the outer periphery of the intermediate bottom roller 32. The second apron pair 26 and the front roller pair 25 also cooperate to form the apron drafting assembly of the invention.

The rear top apron 36 is wound around the rear top roller 38 and the tensioner formed in the apron cradle of the intermediate top roller 34, the rear top roller 38 being rotatably supported by opposite ends of a support bearing 38A, the support bearing 38A being supported by a support arm fixed to the counterweight arm 28. The rear top apron 36 sharing the tensioner with the intermediate top apron 31 is wound on the rear top roller 38 while passing through the outer periphery of the intermediate top roller 34.

The first roving S1 is fed to the first apron pair 26 via the first horn 39, and the second roving S2 is fed to the second apron pair 27 via the second horn 40. The front roller motor 41 that drives the front bottom roller 25A, the intermediate roller motor 42 that drives the intermediate bottom roller, and the rear roller motor 43 that drives the rear bottom roller 37 are independently controlled by the control device 24 via

inverters

44, 45, and 46, respectively.

The coupling device 22 has a funnel shape including a guide portion 22A tapering downstream and a cylindrical portion 22B connected to a tapered outlet end of the guide portion 22A. The guide portion 22A has a diameter at its entrance greater than the maximum spacing distance between the first and second rovings S1, S2 fed from the pair of front rollers 25.

The anti-twisting device 23 is formed of a conveying roller pair 47 serving as a conveying roller, and the conveying roller pair 47 includes a bottom roller 47A and a top roller 47B, the bottom roller 47A being driven by a conveying roller motor 48. The conveyance roller motor 48 is controlled by the control device 24 via an inverter 49. The top roller 47B of the conveying roller pair 47 is supported by the support arm 29, and this support arm 29 also supports the front top roller 25B.

The control device 24 is provided with a microcomputer and operates according to programmed data stored in a memory of the microcomputer to control the

motors

41, 42, 43 via the

inverters

44, 45, 46 and the conveying roller motor 48 via the inverter 49. The control device 24 controls the feeding of the first roving S1 and the second roving S2 by controlling the middle roller motor 42 and the rear roller motor 43, respectively.

The operation of the above-described special yarn weaving apparatus 10 will be described below. In the special yarn weaving apparatus 10, the first roving S1 unwound from the first roving bobbin 13A suspended from the creel 12 is fed to the first apron pair 26 via the first bell mouth 39, and the second roving S2 unwound from the second roving bobbin 13B is fed to the second apron pair 27 via the second bell mouth 40. The first roving S1 and the second roving S2 are made of the same material and the same thickness but with different colored fibers.

While the yarn Y is spun by the first roving S1, the front roller pair 25, the first apron pair 26, and the conveying roller pair 47 are driven, but the second apron pair 27 is kept stopped. In the case where the first apron pair 26 is driven, the first roving S1 from the first roving bobbin 13A is fed to the first apron pair 26 and drafted into napping between the front roller pair 25 and the first apron pair 26. The napping then coming out of the pair of front rollers 25 travels through the linking device 22, the anti-twisting device 23 (the pair of delivery rollers 47), the thread guide 19 (shown in fig. 2) and the traveler 17 to be woven into the yarn Y. The spun yarn is then wound around a bobbin 15.

While the yarn Y is spun by the second roving S2, the front roller pair 25, the second apron pair 27, and the conveying roller pair 47 are driven. In the case where the second apron pair 27 is driven, the second roving S2 from the second roving bobbin 13B is fed to the second apron pair 27 and drafted into napping between the front roller pair 25 and the second apron pair 27. The napped yarn leaving the front roller pair 25 then travels through the joining device 22, the anti-twist device 23 (the conveying roller pair 47), the thread guide 19 and the traveler 17 to be woven into a yarn Y.

The feeding of the first roving S1 and the second roving S2 is switched at a controlled timing, and only one of the first roving S1 and the second roving 52 is fed to the front roller pair 25 except during the feed switching operation. The length of the first roving S1 fed per unit time is determined by the apron speed of the first apron pair 26, and the length of the second roving S2 fed per unit time is determined by the apron speed of the second apron pair 27.

The middle bottom roller 32 is stopped while stopping feeding the first roving S1. With the intermediate bottom roller 32 stopped, the first apron pair 26 is stopped. Accordingly, the first roving S1 that is woven thereafter is cut at a position between the nip point (nip point) of the first apron pair 26 and the nip point of the front roller pair 25. In the case of resuming the feeding of the first roving S1, the middle bottom roller 32 is restarted to drive the first apron pair 26 so that the first roving S1 is smoothly drafted between the front roller pair 25 and the first apron pair 26.

When the feeding of the second roving S2 is stopped, the rear bottom roller 37 is stopped. In the case of the stopped bottom roller 37, the second apron pair 27 is stopped. Thus, the second roving S2 that is woven thereafter is cut at a position between the nip point of the second pair of aprons 27 and the nip point of the front roller pair 25. With the feed of the second roving S2 resumed, the rear bottom roller 37 is thus restarted to drive the second apron pair 27, so that the second roving S2 is smoothly drafted between the front roller pair 25 and the second apron pair 27.

Referring to fig. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B to 5, a process for switching from weaving by the first roving S1 to weaving by the second roving S2 will be described below. It is to be noted that in the drawings, the middle top apron 31 of the first apron pair 26 and the rear top apron 36 of the second apron pair 27 are omitted for illustration.

In the state of fig. 3A in which the yarn Y is being spun by the first roving S1, the first roving S1 passes through the first apron pair 26 (only the middle bottom apron 30 is shown), the front roller pair 25, the linking device 22, and the conveying roller pair 47 so as to be drafted into napping, while the second roving S2 is at a stop with its front end S2A located between the front roller pair 25 and the second apron pair 27 (only the rear bottom apron 35 is shown).

When switching the feed from the first roving S1 to the second roving S2, the feed of the first roving S1 is stopped by stopping the first pair of aprons 26 and the feed of the second roving S2 is started by starting the second pair of aprons 27. With the first apron pair 26 thus stopped, the first roving S1 is cut at a position between the nip position of the front roller pair 25 and the leading end of the nip position of the first apron pair 26. The feeding of the first roving S1 is stopped at such a timing after the feeding of the second roving S2 is started, that the leading end S2A of the second roving S2 is located downstream of the cut trailing end S1A of the first roving S1, as shown in fig. 3B, so that the leading end S2A and the trailing end S1A overlap for joining. In this state of fig. 3B, the front end S2A of the second roving S2 is spaced apart from the cut rear end S1A of the first roving S1 in the axial direction of the front roller pair 25.

In the state of fig. 3B, the feeding of the second roving S2 is continued so that the leading end S2A of the second roving S2 reaches the linking device 22, as shown in fig. 4A. The feeding of the second roving S2 is further continued such that the leading end S2A of the second roving S2 moves along the guide portion 22A of the hitch 22 and approaches the severed trailing end S1A of the first roving S1. As the leading end S2A of the second roving S2 enters the cylindrical portion 22B of the hitch 22, the leading end S2A engages the severed trailing end S1A of the first roving S1 while moving together through the cylindrical portion 22B of the hitch 22, as shown in fig. 4B. While being further moved, the cut rear end S1A of the first roving S1 and the front end S2A of the second roving S2 are joined together in a twisted state, as shown in fig. 5. Thus, the switching from the spinning by the first roving S1 to the spinning by the second roving S2 is completed.

In the case of switching from the second roving S2 to the first roving S1, the above description of replacing the first roving S1 and the second roving S2 with the second roving S2 and the first roving S1, respectively, is applicable.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention provide the following effects.

(1) The special yarn spinning apparatus 10 is suitable for use in a spinning machine having a plurality of apron drafting devices configured to switch fiber bundles to be fed. The special yarn weaving apparatus 10 is provided with a joining device 22 in which the rear end of the fiber bundle fed by the apron draft device that has been operated before the switching feed and the front end of the fiber bundle fed by the apron draft device that starts to operate after the switching feed are joined, and an anti-twist device 23 provided downstream of the joining device 22, the anti-twist device 23 holding and conveying the fiber bundle to prevent the propagation of the twist from the twisting device 18.

In the configuration in which the special yarn weaving apparatus 10 includes the anti-twist device 23, unlike the conventional special yarn weaving apparatus, the rear end of one of the fiber bundles and the front end of the other fiber bundle in the linking device 22 pass through the anti-twist device 23 without being twisted during the switching of the fiber bundles. Therefore, the ends of the fiber bundle are joined in the joining device 22 in an untwisted state, and the twist from the twisting device 18 is transmitted to the joined ends of the fiber bundle only after passing through the anti-twisting device 23. In the case where the joined fiber bundle is twisted by winding, a yarn Y in which the rear end of the fiber bundle fed by the apron draft device that has been operated before the switching feeding and the front end of the fiber bundle fed by the apron draft device that starts to operate after the switching feeding are successfully joined can be formed. Thus, when weaving special yarns with different colors or different kinds of fibers, the material fiber bundles are successfully switched.

(2) In the above embodiment, rovings are used as the fiber bundle, the joining device 22 is a funnel shape including the guide portion 22A tapered downstream and the cylindrical portion 22B connected to the tapered outlet end of the guide portion 22A, and the upstream side of the guide portion 22A has a diameter larger than the spacing distance between the first and second rovings S1, S2 coming out from the front roller pair 25. Such a configuration makes it possible to have a simple structure that allows the front end of a roving to be spliced to the cut rear end of another roving to be fed to the anti-twisting device 23.

(3) In the case of switching the feeding of the fiber bundle, the control device 24 controls to drive the intermediate roller motor 42 and the rear roller motor 43 so as to stop the feeding of the fiber bundle to be woven after a predetermined timing after starting the feeding of another fiber bundle. Thus, in the case where the leading end of the other fiber bundle is located downstream of the cut-off trailing end of the fiber bundle to be woven later, the ends of the rovings are joined in the joining device 22 and conveyed to the anti-twist device.

(4) The conveying roller pair 47 serving as the anti-twist device 23 has a conveying function so that the fiber bundle (the first roving S1 or the second roving S2) from the front roller pair 25 is conveyed to the anti-twist device 23 without difficulty and has no conveying function at the linking device 22.

(second embodiment)

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 6 and 7. The second embodiment differs from the special yarn weaving apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment in the construction of the joining device 22. For the purpose of description, similar or identical parts or elements are denoted by the same reference numerals since counterparts have been used in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in fig. 6 and 7, the joining device 50 includes a belt conveyor 51 for conveying the first roving S1 and the second roving S2. The belt conveyor 51 corresponds to the conveyor of the present invention. The belt conveyor 51 that conveys the fiber bundle from the front roller pair 25 to the conveying roller pair 47 includes a driving shaft 52, an idle shaft, and a belt 53 wound around the driving shaft 52 and the idle shaft. The belt 53 is inclined such that the upper surface of the belt 53 extends tangentially to both the front bottom roller 25A and the bottom roller 47A of the conveying roller pair 47. The drive shaft 52 is driven to rotate by the front bottom roller 25A via a transmission mechanism (not shown).

The guide member 54 is placed above the upper surface of the belt conveyer 51 to guide the first roving S1 and the second roving S2 conveyed by the belt conveyer 51 toward the anti-twist device 23 so as to bring the first and second rovings S1, S2 together for engagement thereof. As shown in fig. 7, the guide member 54 includes two guide plates 54A arranged in a merged manner in the feeding direction of the roving. The spacing distance between the guide plates 54A at the upstream end is greater than the maximum spacing distance between the first and second rovings S1 and 52.

The belt conveyor 51 conveys the first roving S1 and the second roving S2 toward the anti-twist device 23 before being twisted in the linking device 50. Thus, the joined two rovings which are not twisted are moved in a stable manner until they pass the anti-twist device 23.

The above-described second embodiment of the present invention provides the following effects and effects (1) and (3) described above according to the first embodiment.

(5) The linking device 50 provided with a belt conveyor 51 allows the two rovings to move in a steady state until they pass the anti-twist device 23 before being twisted.

(third embodiment)

A special yarn weaving apparatus according to a third embodiment will be described below with reference to fig. 8 and 9. The third embodiment is different from the special yarn weaving apparatus 10 according to the first and second embodiments in the configuration of the conveying roller pair. Further, the third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the linking device 50 is provided with a belt conveyer 51 and the guide member 54 is omitted. For the purpose of description, similar or identical parts or elements are denoted by the same reference numerals since counterparts have been used in the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, the conveying roller pair 55 serving as the anti-twisting device is disposed with its axis extending in a direction intersecting with the axis of the roller of the draft device 21. In this configuration, the pair of conveying rollers 55 rotating applies a force to the first roving S1 and the second roving S2 fed from the pair of front rollers 25 of the draft device 21 in a manner that causes the rovings S1, S2 to be connected and linked.

In switching the feeding from the first roving S1 to the second roving S2, in a case where the feeding of the second roving S2 is started and the leading end S2A of the second roving S2 is placed in contact with one of the roller surfaces of the conveying roller pair 55, the second roving S2 receives such a force from the conveying roller pair 55 as to cause the leading end S2A of the second roving S2 to move close to the trailing end S1A of the first roving S1. The front end S2A of the second roving S2 is guided to a position linked with the rear end S1A of the first roving S1, and the front end S2A of the second roving S2 and the rear end S1A of the first roving S1 pass through the conveying roller pair 55 in a linked state.

In addition to the effects (1) and (3) described above according to the first embodiment and (5) according to the second embodiment, the third embodiment provides the following effect.

(6) According to the configuration in which the conveying roller pair 55 is disposed with its axis extending in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the roller of the draft device 21, the rotating conveying roller pair 55 applies a force to the first roving S1 and the second roving S2 fed from the draft device 21, which causes the first and second rovings S1, S2 to move close to each other so as to be combined and linked. Accordingly, the rear end S1A of the first roving S1 and the front end S2A of the second roving S2 may be smoothly coupled without using the guide member 54. The conveying roller pair 55 serves as a coupling device of the present invention.

(fourth embodiment)

A special yarn weaving apparatus according to a fourth embodiment will be described below with reference to fig. 10 and 11. The fourth embodiment differs from the above-described embodiments in the construction of the coupling device. For the purpose of description, similar or identical parts or elements are denoted by the same reference numerals since counterparts have been used in the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to fig. 10, the suction duct 56 is disposed parallel to the axis of the front roller pair 25 and extends between the front roller pair 25 and the conveying roller pair 47. The suction pipe 56 has a substantially triangular shape in cross section, and the surface of the suction pipe 56 formed by one side of the triangular face faces the passage of the fiber bundle from the front roller pair 25 to the conveying roller pair 47, and the surface of the suction pipe 56 formed by the other two sides of the triangle is located below the passage of the fiber bundle. The suction pipe 56 has a suction slit 57 in the surface facing the fiber bundle passage. Further, a drive roller 58 is disposed below the suction pipe 56.

An endless belt 59 is wound around the driving roller 58 and the suction pipe 56, forming a suction slit 57 on the surface of the suction pipe 56. The drive roller 58 rotates in a counterclockwise direction in fig. 10. With the rotation of the drive roller 58, the conveyor belt 59 is driven to move in the direction from the front roller pair 25 to the conveying roller pair 47 on the surface of the suction pipe 56 having the suction slit 57.

As shown in fig. 11, the suction slit 57 is formed obliquely with respect to the moving direction of the fiber bundle (vertical direction in fig. 11) in the upstream and downstream regions of the suction slit 57. In the present embodiment, the suction slit 57 is inclined rightward as viewed from the upstream side of the suction slit 57 or from the upper side in fig. 11.

The suction slit 57 has an upstream edge 57A and a downstream edge 57B, the upstream edge 57A has a width W1, the downstream edge 57B has a width W2 smaller than W1, and the suction slit 57 has a guide edge 60, the guide edge 60 serving to convey the fiber bundle on one lateral side or on the right side in fig. 11 in the width direction of the suction slit 57. The leading edge 60 includes an upstream portion 60A and a downstream portion 60B formed continuously with the upstream portion 60A, and the upstream portion 60A is more inclined than the downstream portion 60B. Further, the upstream portion 60A and the downstream portion 60B of the guide edge 60 are smoothly connected in a curved line. The other side edge, i.e., the side edge 61, is formed such that a portion of the side edge 61 crosses an imaginary line L1 extending parallel to the direction of movement of the fiber bundle and passing through the downstream end 60DP of the leading edge 60.

According to the present embodiment, the front roller pair 25 feeds the fiber bundle to a region corresponding to the width W1 of the upstream edge 57A of the suction slit 57. After passing through the region corresponding to the upstream edge 57A of the suction slit 57, the end of the fiber bundle is pulled leftward in fig. 11 by the suction airflow from the suction slit 57, so that the end of the fiber bundle passes through the region corresponding to the width W2 of the downstream edge 57B of the suction slit 57. In other words, the fiber bundle is moved on the suction slit 57 by the conveying belt 59 while passing through the area corresponding to the width W2 of the downstream edge 57B of the suction slit 57.

For example, when switching feed from the first roving S1 to the second roving S2, the first roving S1 passes through a region corresponding to the width W1 of the upstream edge 57A of the suction slit 57 (which is spaced apart from the imaginary line L1 of the suction slit 57), and the trailing end S1A of the first roving S1 moves along the guide edge 60 under the influence of suction from the suction slit 57.

The second roving S2 starts to be fed and moves adjacent to the imaginary line L1 in the region corresponding to the width W1 of the upstream edge 57A of the suction slit 57. The leading end S2A of the second roving S2A moves along the leading edge 60 of the suction slit 57 under the influence of suction from the suction slit 57.

With the first roving passing along the suction slot 57, the leading end S2A of the second roving S2 moves close to the first roving S1 under the influence of suction from the suction slot 57 after moving past the upstream edge 57A of the suction slot 57. Accordingly, the trailing end S1A of the first roving S1 and the leading end S2A of the second roving S2 are combined and tied. The napping (fleece) resulting from the joining of the first and second rovings S1, S2 and coming out of the anti-twist device 23 is twisted.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, which may be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention, as exemplified below.

The shape of the suction slit 57 of the coupling device is not limited to that of the fourth embodiment shown in fig. 11. For example, the side edges 61 of the suction slit 57 may not necessarily be straight, but it may comprise two different straight side edges, i.e. a downstream edge portion extending parallel to the downstream portion 60B of the guide edge 60 and transversely to the imaginary line L1 and an upstream portion extending parallel to the imaginary line L1. The downstream edge portion of the side edge 61 may be inclined at a smaller angle relative to the imaginary line L1 than the downstream portion 60B of the guide edge 60, and the upstream portion of the side edge 61 may be inclined less relative to the imaginary line L1 and across the imaginary line L1 than the upstream portion of the guide edge 60.

As shown in fig. 12A, the suction slit 57 may have a side edge 61 that is not straight but includes two straight side edges, i.e., a downstream portion 61B extending in substantially the same direction as the downstream portion 60B of the guide edge 60 and an upstream portion 61A extending in an opposite direction to the upstream portion 60A of the guide edge 60 with respect to an imaginary line L1. Both the upstream portion 61A and the downstream portion 61B cross the imaginary line L1, and the upstream end of the downstream portion 61B is located on the side of the imaginary line L1 adjacent to the guide edge 60. Further, the upstream edge 57A of the suction slit 57 crosses the imaginary line L1, and the width W1 of the upstream edge 57A is larger than the case where the suction slit 57 has the upstream edge 57A that does not cross the imaginary line L1.

In the case of switching the feeding of the roving in the textile apparatus (with the suction slit of fig. 12A in the suction pipe 56), if the leading end of the fiber bundle entering the suction slit 57 is located in the area corresponding to the upstream portion 61A of the side edge 61, the leading end of the fiber bundle moves along the upstream portion 61A of the side edge 61. While moving along the upstream portion 61A, the leading end of the fiber bundle approaches the cut-off trailing end of the fiber bundle to be joined therewith.

Alternatively, if the leading end of the fiber bundle entering the suction slit 57 is located in an area other than the above-described area corresponding to the upstream portion 61A of the side edge 61 or in areas generally corresponding to the upstream portion 60A and the downstream portion 60B of the guide edge 60, the leading end of the fiber bundle moves along the upstream portion 60A of the guide edge 60. While moving along the downstream portion 60B near the downstream end 60DP, the leading end of the fiber bundle approaches the severed trailing end of the fiber bundle to be joined therewith.

The suction slit 57 of fig. 12A having the side edge 61 including the downstream portion 61B and the upstream portion 61A may be modified in such a manner that the downstream portion 61B and the upstream portion 61A are formed of two different straight sides, respectively. In each of the two straight sides forming the downstream portion 61B and the upstream portion 61A, one of the upper and lower straight sides may be inclined at a different angle from the other of the upper and lower straight sides.

As shown in fig. 12B, the suction slit 57 may have a general Y shape. In the suction slit 57 having such a shape, the guide edge 60 is formed by a plurality of sides, and the upstream portion 61A and the downstream portion 61B of the side edge 61 may also be formed by a plurality of straight sides.

The shape of the suction slit 57 is not limited to that of the above-described embodiment, but the guide edge 60 may be formed of a single straight edge, including the shape of fig. 12B, as long as the width W1 of the upstream edge 57A is larger than the width W2 of the downstream edge 57B.

The suction slit 57 may be partially curved. For example, at least a portion of the leading edge 60 may be curved, at least a portion of the side edge 61 may be curved, or portions of the upstream edge 57A and the downstream edge 57B of the suction slit 57 may be curved.

The suction slit 57 shown in fig. 11, 12A and 12B may be formed in an inverted shape. For example, in the case of the suction slit 57 of fig. 11, the guide edge 60 on the right side and the side edge 61 on the left side as viewed in the drawing may be reversed.

As shown in fig. 13, a bottom roller 47A of a conveying roller pair 47 forming a part of the anti-twisting device 23 may be used as the front bottom roller 25A of the draft device 21. The front bottom roller 25A has a diameter large enough to allow the guide member 64 to function as the linking device 22 to be disposed between the front top roller 25B and the top roller 47B of the conveying roller pair 47. The guide member 64 is configured such that the spacing distance between the two rovings S1, S2 fed by the front bottom roller 25A and the front top roller 25B is narrowed, as in the case of the guide member 54 in the second embodiment. Although the conveying roller pair 47 shares the front bottom roller 25A with the draft device 21, the top roller 47B does not function as a draft roller.

In the connecting device 50, the conveyor carrying the rovings S1, S2 need not be a belt conveyor 51, but the bottom apron of the apron device may be used. In such a case, the rovings S1, S2 may be guided closer to the anti-twist device 23 as compared with the case of using the belt conveyor 51, because the endless apron is wound around the driving roller and the apron frame. An engaged apron may be used for the bottom apron.

The meshed aprons may be used for the conveyors so that the conveyors may not interfere with the joined fiber bundles in the event that the fiber bundles are to be joined using positive and negative air pressure. Furthermore, the conveyor will be lighter than if a non-perforated belt is used.

In the linking device 50, the conveyor carrying the rovings S1, S2 does not have to have a belt 53, endless belt or apron, but a single or multiple rollers may be used.

The conveyor may be driven by the bottom roller 47A, the front top roller 25B or the top roller 47B of the conveying roller pair 47 and by the front bottom roller 25A. In addition, the conveyor may be provided with its own drive.

In the case where the suction air is used to join the plurality of rovings while they are being conveyed from the draft device 21 to the anti-twist device 23, an air passage may be formed in the rollers and belt forming the conveyor.

In the case where the coupling device 50 has the guide member 54 in the second embodiment, the belt conveyer 51 may be replaced with an ultrasonic vibration plate. In such a case, the first and second rovings S1, S2 fed by the front roller pair 25 and moving on the ultrasonic plate toward the anti-twist device 23 receive a very small contact resistance, so that the rovings S1, S1 are moved to the anti-twist device 23 by the thrust force of the front roller pair 25.

The guide plate 54A of the guide member 54 may be formed of an ultrasonic vibration plate. In this case, the two rovings S1, S2 fed by the front roller pair 25 may be easily guided so as to move close to each other.

Although the special yarn weaving apparatus 10 is configured to use the first and second rovings S1, S2 from the

roving bobbins

13A, 13B as a fiber bundle for drafting and weaving the yarn Y, a sliver may be used as the fiber bundle.

The tow supply 11 may include more than two tows that can be fed independently. For example, it may be so configured that three different fiber bundles (rovings) are fed independently so that the yarn includes three fibers of a predetermined length in any order in succession, or two fiber bundles of a predetermined length in any order in succession.

Claims

1. A special yarn spinning apparatus (10) in a spinning machine, comprising a plurality of apron drafting devices (25, 26, 27), wherein the apron drafting devices (25, 26, 27) comprise a front roller pair (25) and a plurality of apron pairs (26, 27), the apron pairs (26, 27) are arranged behind the front roller pair (25) and can respectively and independently feed a plurality of fiber bundles to the front roller pair (25),

the method is characterized in that:

the special yarn weaving device (10) comprises a connecting device (22, 50) and an anti-twisting device (23),

wherein the linking device (22, 50) links downstream of the front roller pair (25) the rear end (S1A) of the fiber bundle fed by one of the apron pairs (26, 27) that has been operated before switching the feeding and the front end (S2A) of the fiber bundle fed by the other of the apron pairs (26, 27) that has been activated after switching the feeding, and

wherein the anti-twist-up device (23) holds and conveys the joined fiber bundle at a position downstream of the joining device (22, 50) to prevent the propagation of twist-up from the twist-up device (18) to the joined fiber bundle in the joining device (22, 50),

the connecting device (22, 50) comprises a conveyor (51) for conveying the fiber bundle,

the joining device (22, 50) is formed by a suction slit (57), wherein the suction slit (57) is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the fiber bundle in regions upstream and downstream of the suction slit (57), wherein the suction slit (57) has a guide edge (60), the guide edge (60) being one of lateral side edges in the width direction of the suction slit (57), and wherein the other lateral side edge traverses an imaginary line (L1) extending parallel to the direction of movement of the fiber bundle and passing through a downstream end (60 DP) of the guide edge (60).

2. The special yarn spinning device (10) in a spinning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveyor (51) is formed by meshed aprons.

3. The special yarn spinning apparatus (10) in a spinning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the anti-twist-up device (23) is formed by a transport roller (55), the transport roller (55) is disposed with its axis extending in a direction intersecting with an axis of a roller of the apron drafting device (25, 26, 27), and the transport roller (55) serves as the joining device (50).