EP3037374B1

EP3037374B1 - Textile machine

Info

Publication number: EP3037374B1
Application number: EP15196739.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tsutomu Mekata
Original assignee: Murata Machinery Ltd
Current assignee: Murata Machinery Ltd
Priority date: 2014-12-24
Filing date: 2015-11-27
Publication date: 2017-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-27
Also published as: JP2016117584A; CN105734741A; CN105734741B; EP3037374A1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a textile machine equipped with a work carrier capable of travelling with respect to plural winding units.

2. Description of the Related Art

Textile machines are known in the art. Such textile machines include plural winding units arranged side-by-side and a work carrier capable of travelling to a desired one of the winding units. The work carrier performs various operations (for example, a yarn joining operation, a bobbin setting operation, a doffing operation and the like) with respect to the winding units. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-77577 (Patent Document 1) discloses an example of such a textile machine.
The spinning machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes multiple spinning units arranged side-by-side, a yarn joining carrier, and a blower box. The yarn joining carrier is capable of travelling in a direction in which the spinning units are arranged. When yarn breakage occurs in a certain spinning unit, the yarn joining carrier travels to a position of that spinning unit and performs the yarn joining operation in that spinning unit.
In the spinning machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, a suction duct, which is connected to the blower box, is arranged on a back side of the spinning machine. The suction duct is arranged parallel to a rail on which the yarn joining carrier travels and supplies suction air current to the yarn joining carrier. US6474461 , which is considered to represent the closest prior art with respect to claim 1, discloses a textile machine comprising all of the features of the preamble of claim

1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the spinning machines like the one disclosed in Patent Document 1, because the suction duct is present on the back side of the yarn joining carrier, it is difficult to access the yarn joining carrier from the back side of the spinning machine to perform maintenance of the yarn joining carrier. Therefore, when maintenance is to be performed of the components arranged on the back side of the yarn joining carrier, it is necessary to remove the yarn joining carrier from the spinning machine by removing the yarn joining carrier from an end of the rail toward a side of the spinning machine. This is a time taking and tedious task.
One approach to address this issue could be to prepare a space for maintenance on one or both sides of the rail and move the yarn joining carrier into this space thereby causing the back side and the like of the yarn joining carrier to be exposed. In this approach, because it is not necessary to remove the yarn joining carrier from the rail, the maintenance work can be performed efficiently.
With the increase in the scale of the textile plants in recent years, the number of winding units in one textile machine has increased, and there has been a demand to increase the number of the work carriers. As a result, textile machines have been developed in which plural work carriers are caused to travel on a common travelling route (rail).
In order to prevent the efficiency of the textile machine from decreasing greatly, it is desirable that some of the work carriers are able to continue their operations while other work carriers are stopped for the maintenance. However, even if spaces are secured for maintenance at both the ends of the rail, when the number of the work carriers travelling on the same rail is three or more, the operations of the work carriers located at the ends of the rail are highly restricted when performing the maintenance of a central work carrier. For example, provided that there are three work carriers, in order to move the central work carrier to one end of the rail, it is necessary to move one more work carrier to the same end of the rail. Accordingly, until the maintenance of the central work carrier is over, other work carriers that do not require any maintenance must be kept in a standby state where they are not operating. This decreases the efficiency of the entire textile machine.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a textile machine in which the working efficiency of the entire textile machine is not decreased even when maintenance is performed of a work carrier.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a textile machine includes a first winding-unit group that includes at least one winding unit; a second winding-unit group that includes at least one winding unit, wherein a direction of arrangement of the winding unit in the first winding-unit group is same as a direction of arrangement of the winding unit in the second winding-unit group; at least one work carrier; and a first space arranged between the first winding-unit group and the second winding-unit group that can be used when performing maintenance of the work carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an overall configuration of a spinning machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a winding unit included in the spinning machine.
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an example of a spinning machine in which the yarn-path layout is different.
FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an overall configuration of an automatic winder according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of a spinning machine 100 according to the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification, "upstream" and "downstream" respectively mean, in a configuration in which a spinning unit 1 included in the spinning machine 100 spins a sliver 11 and winds a spun yarn 13, upstream and downstream with respect to a running direction of the sliver 11 and the spun yarn 13.
The spinning machine (textile machine) 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a first spinning-unit group (first winding-unit group) 10 including plural spinning units (winding units) 1 arranged side-by-side, a second spinning-unit group (second winding-unit group) 20 including plural spinning units 1 arranged side-by-side, and a yarn joining carrier (work carrier) 30 that joins ends of the spun yarn 13 when the spun yarn 13 becomes discontinuous in any of the spinning units 1 because of yarn breakage or the like.
A motor box 40 is arranged on one side and a blower box 50 is arranged on other side of the spinning machine 100. A not-shown driving source that is common with plural spinning units 1 is arranged inside the motor box 40. A blower (air source) 51 is arranged inside the blower box 50.
A front side of the spinning machine 100 is the side on which an operator route is arranged. An operator can access a desired spinning unit 1 while being in the operator route. A back side of the spinning machine 100 is the side that is on the other side of the side on which the operator route is arranged.
Each spinning unit 1 includes, as shown in FIG. 2, a sliver supplying section 2, a yarn supplying section 3, a yarn quality monitoring device 7, a yarn pooling device 8, and a winding device 9 in this order from upstream to downstream.
In the sliver supplying section 2, a container, such as a can, in which the sliver 11 is stored, is arranged.
The yarn supplying section 3 forms the spun yarn 13 by spinning the sliver 11 supplied from the sliver supplying section 2, and supplies the spun yarn 13 to the winding device 9. The yarn supplying section 3 included in the spinning unit 1 according to the present embodiment includes a drafting device 4, a spinning device 5, and a delivery roller 6 and a nip roller 61.
The drafting device 4 includes four drafting rollers and an opposing roller opposing each drafting roller. The four drafting rollers are a back roller 41, a third roller 42, a middle roller 44 over which a rubber apron belt 43 is stretched, and a front roller 45 in this order from the upstream side. Each drafting roller is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed.
The drafting device 4 nips and stretches (drafts) the sliver 11, which is supplied from the sliver supplying section 2 via a sliver guide 21, between the drafting rollers and the opposing rollers, so that the sliver 11 attains a predetermined thickness thereby forming a fiber bundle 12.
Twists are applied to the fiber bundle 12, which is formed by the drafting device 4, by the spinning device 5 arranged immediately downstream of the front roller 45. Thus, the spun yarn 13 is formed. A device that uses a swirling air current to apply the twists to the fiber bundle 12 is employed as the spinning device 5.
The delivery roller 6 and the nip roller 61 are arranged downstream of the spinning device 5. By rotating the delivery roller 6 and the nip roller 61 in a state in which the spun yarn 13, which is formed by the spinning device 5, is nipped between the delivery roller 6 and the nip roller 61, the spun yarn 13 can be conveyed to the downstream side.
By the yarn supplying section 3 configured as explained above, the spun yarn 13 is supplied to the winding device 9. The delivery roller 6 and the nip roller 61 can be omitted, and instead, the spun yarn 13 can be pulled from the spinning device 5 with the later-explained yarn pooling device 8.
The yarn quality monitoring device 7 arranged downstream of the yarn supplying section 3 monitors a state (thickness and the like) of the running spun yarn 13 by using a light transmission sensor to detect a yarn defect (thin yarn, thick yarn, contamination of foreign matter, and the like) in the spun yarn 13. Alternatively, the yarn quality monitoring device 7 can be configured with an electrostatic capacitance sensor, for example.
When the yarn quality monitoring device 7 detects a yarn defect, spinning by the spinning device 5 is stopped, whereby the strength of the spun yarn 13 in the section of the spinning device 5 decreases and the spun yarn 13 becomes discontinuous. Instead of making the spun yarn 13 discontinuous with the spinning device 5, the spun yarn 13 can be cut by using a cutter.
The yarn pooling device 8 includes a yarn pooling roller 81, an electric motor 82, and a yarn hooking member 83. The yarn pooling roller 81 is rotationally driven by the electric motor 82. When the yarn pooling roller 81 rotates, the spun yarn 13 is wound on a circumferential surface thereof and temporarily pooled. The yarn pooling device 8 is arranged between the winding device 9 and the yarn supplying section 3 and functions as a kind of a buffer.
The winding device 9 winds the spun yarn 13 around a bobbin 92 while traversing the spun yarn 13 thereby forming a package 91. The winding device 9 includes a cradle arm 93 and a winding drum 94.
The cradle arm 93 includes a supporting section 95 capable of rotatably supporting the bobbin 92 or the package 91. By pivoting the cradle arm 93, the circumferential surface of the bobbin 92 or the package 91 can be brought in contact with the circumferential surface of the winding drum 94. When the winding drum 94 is rotationally driven in a state in which the bobbin 92 or the package 91 is in contact therewith, the bobbin 92 or the package 91 is rotated following the rotation of the winding drum 94. With this, the spun yarn 13 is wound around the bobbin 92 or the package 91. A not shown traversing groove is formed on the circumferential surface of the winding drum 94. The spun yarn 13 that is wound around the bobbin 92 or the package 91 is traversed within a predetermined width by this traversing groove.
The yarn joining carrier 30 includes a yarn joining device 35 that performs yarn joining. The yarn joining carrier 30 is configured such that it can travel (move) to a desired one of the plural spinning units 1. The yarn joining device 35 is a splicer device that can apply twists to yarn ends by using a swirling air current thereby forming a joint.
Although not specifically shown in the drawings, the yarn joining carrier 30 includes guiding members that, when the spun yarn 13 becomes discontinuous in the spinning unit 1, catch the yarn ends and guide the caught yarn ends to the yarn joining device 35.
When the spun yarn 13 becomes discontinuous in a certain spinning unit 1, the yarn joining carrier 30 travels to the spinning unit 1 in which the yarn discontinuation has happened, and catches the yarn ends in that spinning unit 1 and joins the yarn ends. When the spun yarn 13 becomes continuous, a winding operation in that spinning unit 1 is resumed.
Because the yarn joining carrier 30 is capable of travelling with respect to plural spinning units 1, one yarn joining carrier 30 can be commonly used to perform the yarn joining operation in the plural spinning units 1. The spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment includes three yarn joining carriers 30. The spinning machine 100 is configured such that the yarn joining operation in the plural spinning units 1 included in each of the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20 is shared among the three yarn joining carriers 30.
A rail 34 is arranged on an upper front side of the spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment. Accordingly, the yarn joining carriers 30 can be caused to travel on the rail 34 and positioned in front of a desired spinning unit 1 among the plural spinning units 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, a yarn path of the spun yarn 13 is arranged on the front side of each spinning unit 1. Accordingly, the yarn joining carriers 30 are arranged on the side of the spinning units 1 that faces the yarn path but on an outer side of the spinning units 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the blower 51 that generates suction air current and the like required by the spinning units 1 to perform the winding operation is arranged inside the blower box 50. Each spinning unit 1 is connected to the blower 51 by a pipe 52 arranged on the back side of the spinning machine 100. The pipe 52 is configured as a duct that is arranged parallel to the arrangement direction of the plural spinning units 1. Fiber waste and the like generated in each spinning unit 1 are transported inside the pipe 52 by the action of the suction air current and collected in a not shown collecting section included in the blower box 50.
In the spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sliver supplying section 2 is arranged on the front side (that is, toward the yarn path that is the running route of the spun yarn 13 in the spinning units 1) but on a lower side. Accordingly, because the space inside the spinning machine 100 is also narrow, it is difficult to arrange the yarn joining carriers 30 on the front-lower side of the spinning machine 100. Consequently, the yarn joining carriers 30 are arranged so as to travel on a front-upper side.
The important parts (yarn joining device 35 and the like) of the yarn joining carrier 30 are arranged on a side closer to the yarn path. That is, the yarn joining device 35 and the like are arranged on a side far from the front side of the yarn joining carrier 30. Moreover, because the front side of the yarn joining carrier 30 is covered with a cover, it is difficult for the operator to access the yarn joining device 35 and the like from the front side of the yarn joining carrier 30. Moreover, to make the surface area required to install the spinning machine 100 compact, the yarn joining carrier 30 is arranged at a position close to the spinning units 1. Accordingly, it is practically impossible for the operator to enter into a space between the spinning unit 1 and the yarn joining carrier 30 and perform maintenance.
In the spinning machine 100, as shown in FIG. 1, the plural spinning units 1 are divided into the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20. Each of the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20 includes plural spinning units. Moreover, a first space for carrier (first space) 31 is arranged between the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20. That is, in the spinning machine 100, the first space for carrier 31 is provided in a mid-portion of the plural spinning units 1 that are arranged side-by-side.
With this arrangement, the operator can easily perform the maintenance of the yarn joining device 35 and the like by moving the yarn joining carrier 30 to the first space for carrier 31.
Similar spaces for maintenance are also arranged, other than the first space for carrier 31, in the spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment. Concretely, a second space for carrier (second space) 32 is arranged between the motor box 40 and the first spinning-unit group 10, and a third space for carrier (third space) 33 is arranged between the blower box 50 and the second spinning-unit group 20.
While the first space for carrier 31 is arranged on one side of the first spinning-unit group 10, the second space for carrier 32 is arranged on the other side. While the first space for carrier 31 is arranged on one side of the second spinning-unit group 20, the third space for carrier 33 is arranged on the other side.
The first space for carrier 31 is arranged for a central yarn joining carrier 30a among the three yarn joining carriers 30. The second space for carrier 32 is arranged for a yarn joining carrier 30b that is close to the motor box 40. The third space for carrier 33 is arranged for a yarn joining carrier 30c that is close to the blower box 50. However, the yarn joining carrier 30c can be accommodated in the first space for carrier 31 while the yarn joining carrier 30a is performing the yarn joining operation in the first spinning-unit group 10, and the yarn joining carrier 30b can be accommodated in the first space for carrier 31 while the yarn joining carrier 30a is performing the yarn joining operation in the second spinning-unit group 20.
In the present embodiment, the yarn joining carrier 30a can perform the yarn joining operation in both the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20. However, it is allowable to modify the configuration such that the yarn joining carrier 30a can perform the yarn joining operation in only one of the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20.
In this manner, by having a configuration in which the maintenance of the yarn joining carrier 30a is performed by accommodating it in the centrally located first space for carrier 31, restriction is relaxed to some extent on the operation of the yarn joining carriers 30b and 30c while the yarn joining carrier 30a is under maintenance. That is, even if the yarn joining carrier 30a is stopped in the first space for carrier 31 for its maintenance, the yarn joining carrier 30b can as usual perform the yarn joining operation with respect to the first spinning-unit group 10, and the yarn joining carrier 30c can as usual perform the yarn joining operation with respect to the second spinning-unit group 20. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the working efficiency of the entire spinning machine 100.
A width 31w of the first space for carrier 31, which is arranged between the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20, is larger than a width 30w of the yarn joining carrier 30. For example, the magnitude of the difference between the width 31w of the first space for carrier 31 and the width 30w of the yarn joining carrier 30 is set such that the operator can enter into the first space for carrier 31 from the operator route that is present on the front side of the spinning machine 100. This difference is, for example, equal to or smaller than the width of one spinning unit 1. With this arrangement, it becomes easy for the operator, who is present in the first space for carrier 31, to access the yarn joining carrier 30 over the entire width of the yarn joining carrier 30. Accordingly, the efficiency in performing the maintenance of the yarn joining carrier 30 can be increased. The "width" in the present embodiment refers to the length in the direction in which the spinning units 1 are arranged side-by-side in the spinning machine 100.
It is preferable that the first space for carrier 31 is arranged at a position that roughly equally divides the plural spinning units 1 that are arranged side-by-side. In other words, it is preferable that the number of spinning units 1 in the first spinning-unit group 10 is roughly equal to the number of spinning units 1 in the second spinning-unit group 20. With this arrangement, when the central yarn joining carrier 30a is accommodated in the first space for carrier 31 for maintenance purpose, an imbalance is prevented from being generated in the number of spinning units 1 whose maintenance work is handled by the remaining yarn joining carriers 30b and 30c. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the working efficiency of the entire spinning machine 100.
Next, a relation between the pipe 52, the rail 34 and the first space for carrier 31 will be explained.
As shown in FIG. 1, a portion of the pipe 52, which supplies the suction air current to each spinning unit 1, is arranged in the first space for carrier 31. In other words, the pipe 52 is arranged across the first spinning-unit group 10, the second spinning-unit group 20, and the first space for carrier 31. Because the pipe 52 is not made discontinuous because of the presence of the first space for carrier 31, the route over which the suction air current is supplied from the blower box 50, which is arranged on one side of the spinning machine 100, to each spinning unit 1 can be made simple.
The rail 34 that determines the travelling routes of the three yarn joining carriers 30 is arranged across the first spinning-unit group 10, the second spinning-unit group 20, the first space for carrier 31, the second space for carrier 32, and the third space for carrier 33. This arrangement allows the configuration for moving the plural yarn joining carriers 30 among the plural spinning- unit groups 10 and 20 and the spaces for carriers 31 to 33 to be made simple.
As explained above, the spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment includes the first spinning-unit group 10, the second spinning-unit group 20, and the three yarn joining carriers 30. Plural spinning units 1 are arranged in the first spinning-unit group 10, and plural spinning units 1 are arranged in the second spinning-unit group 20. The direction of arrangement of the spinning units 1 in the first spinning-unit group 10 is the same as the direction of arrangement of the spinning units 1 in the second spinning-unit group 20. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, both the front side of the first spinning-unit group 10 and the front side of the second spinning-unit group 20 face toward the same direction with respect to the operator route. The first space for carrier 31 for maintenance of the yarn joining carrier 30 is arranged between the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20.
With this configuration, the maintenance of the yarn joining carrier 30 can be suitably performed by accommodating the yarn joining carrier 30 in the first space for carrier 31. Specifically, in the spinning machine 100 that includes three yarn joining carries 30 as in the present embodiment, because the maintenance of the central yarn joining carrier 30a can be performed by accommodating it in the first space for carrier 31, the travelling and operation of the yarn joining carriers 30b and 30c arranged on either side are not much affected. As a result, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the efficiency of the entire spinning machine 100 even when the maintenance of the yarn joining carrier 30 is being performed.
In the spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment, the width 30w of the yarn joining carrier 30 is smaller than the width 31w of the first space for carrier 31. For example, the width 30w of the yarn joining carrier 30 is smaller than the width 31w of the first space for carrier 31 but larger than a width of the yarn joining device 35. Moreover, the width 30w of the yarn joining carrier 30 is larger than the width of any of the spinning units 1.
With this configuration, it becomes easy for the operator to access the entire width of the yarn joining carrier 30 via the first space for carrier 31. Accordingly, the maintenance of the yarn joining carrier 30 can be performed efficiently.
In the spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment, the plural spinning units 1 are divided into the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20.
With this configuration, because no spinning unit 1 is arranged in the first space for carrier 31, there is no spinning unit 1 that will become an obstacle when the operator is performing the maintenance in the first space for carrier 31, whereby the maintenance can be performed efficiently.
The spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment further includes the blower 51 and the pipe 52. A portion of the pipe 52 is arranged in the first space for carrier 31. The blower 51 supplies air to each spinning unit 1. The air to be supplied from the blower 51 to the spinning units 1 passes through the pipe 52.
With this configuration, although the first space for carrier 31 is present, the pipe 52 can be arranged across the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20, and an air-supply route from the blower 51 can be made simple.
The spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment includes the rail 34 that movably guides the yarn joining carriers 30. The rail 34 is arranged across the first spinning-unit group 10, the first space for carrier 31, and the second spinning-unit group 20.
With this configuration, because the yarn joining carriers 30 can be moved with respect to the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20, operation can be performed on plural spinning units 1 by using one yarn joining carrier 30.
In the spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment, the yarn joining carrier 30 is arranged such that the side on which the yarn path, which is the running route of the spun yarn 13, is arranged and an operation side of the yarn joining carrier 30 face each other, and the yarn joining carriers 30 travel with respect to the first spinning-unit group 10 and the second spinning-unit group 20. The operation side of the yarn joining carrier 30 is a side, among plural sides of the yarn joining carrier 30, from which the spun yarn 13 is guided from the spinning units 1 to the yarn joining device 35. For example, a guiding member that guides the spun yarn 13 from the spinning units 1 to the yarn joining device 35 is arranged so as to advance and retract from the operation side toward the spinning units 1.
In the spinning machine 100 having such a configuration, it is difficult to secure a space for maintenance of the yarn joining carrier 30 when the yarn joining carrier 30 is facing the spinning unit 1. On the other hand, the important parts of the yarn joining carrier 30 are generally arranged on the side thereof that is close to the yarn path. Accordingly, as explained above, it is particularly effective to provide the first space for carrier 31 for the maintenance.
In the spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment, the spinning unit 1 includes, in its height direction, the spinning device 5 that forms the spun yarn 13 by spinning the sliver 11 supplied from the sliver supplying section 2 arranged on a lower side in a height direction, and the winding device 9 that forms the package 91 by winding on an upper side of the spinning device 5 the spun yarn 13 spun by the spinning device 5.
In the spinning machine 100 having such a configuration, the yarn joining carrier 30 is generally arranged so as to face an upper part of the spinning unit 1 so that the yarn joining carrier 30 does not interfere with the sliver supplying section 2. However, the spinning device 5 and the winding device 9 are arranged in the upper part of the spinning unit 1. Therefore, it is highly difficult to secure a space for maintenance of the yarn joining carrier 30 in a state in which the yarn joining carrier 30 faces the upper part of the spinning unit 1. On the other hand, the important parts of the yarn joining carrier 30 are usually arranged on the side that is close to the spinning units 1. Accordingly, as explained above, it is particularly effective to provide the first space for carrier 31 for the maintenance.
In the spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment, three yarn joining carriers 30 are provided.
With this configuration, because the plural yarn joining carriers 30 can divide the operation to be done in plural spinning units 1, the operation can be performed efficiently.
The spinning machine 100 according to the present embodiment includes the second space for carrier 32 and the third space for carrier 33. While the first space for carrier 31 is arranged on one side of the first spinning-unit group 10, the second space for carrier 32 is arranged on the other side. While the first space for carrier 31 is arranged on one side of the second spinning-unit group 10, the third space for carrier 33 is arranged on the other side.
With this configuration, maintenance of the yarn joining carriers 30 can be performed by using the second space for carrier 32 and the third space for carrier 33. Particularly, in the spinning machine 100 that includes plural yarn joining carriers 30, the maintenance of the yarn joining carrier 30b located close to the second space for carrier 32 can be performed in the second space for carrier 32, and the maintenance of the yarn joining carrier 30c located close to the third space for carrier 33 can be performed while it is in the third space for carrier 33. Therefore, the travelling and operation of the remaining yarn joining carriers 30 are not much affected even if maintenance is being performed on a certain yarn joining carrier 30.
A second embodiment according to the present invention will be explained below. In the explanation of the second embodiment, the parts that are the same or similar to those explained with respect to the first embodiment will be shown with the same reference symbols in the drawings and explanation thereof will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 4, an automatic winder 100x according to the second embodiment includes a winder unit 1x that unwinds a yarn from a yarn supplying bobbin and winds the unwound yarn around a winding bobbin. In the automatic winder 100x, plural winder units 1x are arranged side-by-side to form a winder-unit group 60. The motor box 40 is arranged on one side and the blower box 50 is arranged on the other side of the automatic winder 100x.
The winder unit 1x unwinds the spun yarn 13 from the yarn supplying bobbin that has been set in the yarn supplying section 3, and winds the unwound spun yarn 13 into the package 91 in the winding device 9 while monitoring the spun yarn 13 for any yarn defect with the yarn quality monitoring device 7. If a yarn defect is detected by the yarn quality monitoring device 7, the spun yarn 13 is disconnected, and a yarn joining operation is performed by the yarn joining device 35 (although not shown in the drawings, each winder unit 1x includes a guiding member that, when the spun yarn 13 is disconnected in a winder unit 1x, catches yarn ends of the disconnected spun yarn 13 and guides the yarn ends to the yarn joining device 35). Upon completion of the yarn joining operation, the winding operation by the winding device 9 is resumed.
A doffing carrier 30x is capable of travelling in a direction (longitudinal direction of the rail 34) in which the winder units 1x are arranged side-by-side. The doffing carrier 30x, in response to a doffing request from a particular winder unit 1x, stops after travelling to that winder unit 1x, and performs a doffing operation on that winder unit 1x. The doffing operation means an operation of removing the package 91, on which the spun yarn 13 of a predetermined length has been wound, from the winder unit 1x. The doffing carrier 30x can be configured to perform, in addition to performing the doffing operation, a bobbin setting operation of setting an empty winding bobbin in the winder unit 1x.
In the present embodiment, some of the winder units 1x in the winder-unit group 60 are arranged so as to be movable in a direction away from the travelling route of the doffing carrier 30x. Concretely, in the automatic winder 100x according to the present embodiment, the two winder units 1x (hereinafter, "movable winder-unit group 62") that have been enclosed within a two-dash line in FIG. 4 can be moved toward the back side (in a direction away from the rail 34) of the automatic winder 100x. In order to easily move the movable winder-unit group 62, as shown in FIG. 4, a rail and the like is arranged below thereof.
In the automatic winder 100x according to the present embodiment, when one or two doffing carriers 30x are arranged, the movable winder-unit group 62 forms the package 91 in the same manner as the other winder units 1x. The maintenance of the doffing carrier 30x can be performed by moving the doffing carrier 30x to the end of the rail 34. However, when three or more doffing carriers 30x are arranged, the movable winder-unit group 62 is moved to the back side thereby preparing a space in that place for maintenance of the central doffing carrier 30x.
In the present embodiment, the movable winder-unit group 62 includes two adjacent winder units 1x. However, the number of winder units 1x included in the movable winder-unit group 62 is not particularly limited. In other words, the movable winder-unit group 62 can include one winder unit 1x or three or more winder units 1x. However, the number of the winder units 1x included in the movable winder-unit group 62 shall not exceed half of the total number of the winder units 1x in the automatic winder 100x.
In the present embodiment, a space for maintenance of the doffing carrier 30x is formed by moving the movable winder-unit group 62 to the back side. Instead of moving the movable winder-unit group 62, the space for maintenance can be formed by removing the movable winder-unit group 62 from the automatic winder 100x.
As explained above, the automatic winder 100x according to the present embodiment includes the winder-unit group 60 having plural winder units 1x arranged side-by-side, and one doffing carrier 30x. Among the plural winder units 1x of the winder-unit group 60, the two winder units 1x arranged in the mid-portion of the winder-unit group 60 are removable, or movable in the direction away from the travelling route of the doffing carriers 30x.
With this configuration, because the space for maintenance of the doffing carrier 30x can be formed by removing or moving a certain winder unit 1x, the maintenance of the doffing carrier 30x can be performed at the mid-portion of the winder-unit group 60. Particularly, in a configuration in which three or more doffing carriers 30x are arranged, by forming the space for maintenance of the doffing carrier 30x at the mid-portion of the winder-unit group 60, because the maintenance of the central doffing carrier 30x can be performed in this space, the travelling and the operations of the doffing carriers 30x arranged on both the sides of the central doffing carrier 30x are not much affected. As a result, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the working efficiency of the entire automatic winder 100x.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained above. The structure explained above however can be modified as explained below.
The devices and the like that do not become obstacle when the operator performs maintenance of the yarn joining carrier 30 can be arranged in the first space for carrier 31. For example, an assisting device that assists the spinning units 1 (1y) and/or the winder units 1x can be arranged in the first space for carrier 31. For example, the assisting device is a housing that houses a display screen and/or a control substrate. In the layout of the automatic winder 100x, the assisting device can be a device that processes the yarn supplying bobbin. A height of the assisting device shall be lower than a height of the spinning units 1 (1y) and/or the winder units 1x. A top surface of the assisting device is at a lower level than a lower surface of the yarn joining carrier 30 and/or the doffing carrier 30x. With this configuration, even if the assisting device is present in the first space for carrier 31, the operator can access the yarn joining carrier 30 and/or the doffing carrier 30x from the first space for carrier 31.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, the yarn path of the spun yarn 13 is bent by the yarn pooling device 8. However, the yarn path from the sliver supplying section 2 to the winding device 9 can be straight or substantially straight.
A spinning machine 100y having a yarn path different from the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. In the spinning machine 100y, the sliver 11 is pulled upward from the sliver supplying section 2 arranged on the back side of the spinning machine 100y, and the sliver 11 is supplied to the front side of the spinning unit 1y. The spun yarn 13 is formed by spinning the sliver 11 with the spinning device 5 that is arranged in the upper part of the spinning unit 1y, and the spun yarn 13 is wound with the winding device 9 arranged in the front-lower part of the spinning unit 1y. A yarn joining carrier 30y includes the yarn joining device 35 for joining the yarn ends when the spun yarn 13 becomes discontinuous in the spinning unit 1y. The spinning machine 100 according to the first embodiment can include the spinning unit 1y shown in FIG. 3 in which the spun yarn 13 runs from the top to the bottom in the height direction instead of the spinning unit 1 shown in FIG. 2 in which the spun yarn 13 runs from the bottom to the top.
As the yarn joining device 35 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a knotter or a piecer device can be used instead of the splicer device.
In the first embodiment, each of the first space for carrier 31, the second space for carrier 32, and the third space for carrier 33 has a width that is slightly larger than a width of one yarn joining carrier 30. However, one or more of the spaces for carriers 31 to 33 can have a width that is equal to or larger than a combined width of two yarn joining carriers 30. When this configuration is adopted, two or more yarn joining carriers 30, for example, can be stopped in one space for carrier at the same time. The width of the yarn joining carrier 30 can be equal to the width of the first space for carrier 31 or can be larger than the width of the first space for carrier 31.
The spinning machine 100 according to the first embodiment can include four or more yarn joining carriers 30. When this configuration is adopted, depending on the number of the yarn joining carriers 30, plural spaces for carriers can be arranged in the mid-portion of the plural spinning units 1 that are arranged side-by-side. For example, when four yarn joining carriers 30 are arranged, two spaces for carriers can be arranged in the mid-portion of the plural spinning units 1. It is desirable that, from the point of view of maintaining the working efficiency of all the plural yarn joining carriers 30, those two spaces for carriers divide the plural spinning units 1 substantially into three equal parts. The spinning machine 100 can includes, for example, ten yarn joining carriers 30.
The configuration that includes the first space for carrier 31 like the first embodiment can be employed for the doffing carrier 30x according to the second embodiment. One work carrier can be configured to perform two or more of the yarn joining operation, the doffing operation, and the bobbin setting operation.
The yarn pooling device 8 can be omitted from the spinning unit 1 according to the first embodiment and/or the winder unit 1x according to the second embodiment. In the spinning unit 1y shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the yarn pooling device 8, or instead of the yarn pooling device 8, a delivery roller and a nip roller can be arranged.
A separate driving source can be arranged for each spinning unit 1 or each winder unit 1x. When this configuration is adopted, the motor box 40 can be omitted.
The winding drum 94 having the traversing grove can be replaced with a combination of a winding drum, without a traversing grove, and a traversing guide to perform traversing of the spun yarn 13.
The yarn quality monitoring device 7 can be arranged at any other place as far as it is arranged downstream of the spinning device 5.
The present invention can be applied to, apart from the spinning machine 100 (air spinning machine) shown in the first embodiment, an open-end spinning machine that forms a spun yarn by first separating a fiber bundle, such as a sliver or a thick yarn, into very small fibers or a very small fiber bundle, and then re-bundling the separated very small fibers or the very small fiber bundle while applying twists thereto.
The application of the present invention is not limited only to spinning machines and automatic winders, however, the present invention can be widely applied to general textile machines that include plural winding units arranged side-by-side and work carriers.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a textile machine includes a first winding-unit group, a second winding-unit group, and at least one work carrier. The first winding-unit group includes at least one winding unit. The second winding-unit group includes at least one winding unit. A direction of arrangement of the winding unit in the first winding-unit group is same as a direction of arrangement of the winding unit in the second winding-unit group. A first space is arranged between the first winding-unit group and the second winding-unit group that can be used when performing maintenance of the work carrier.
With this configuration, the maintenance of the work carrier can be suitably performed by accommodating the work carrier in the first space. Accordingly, because the maintenance of the work carrier can be performed in between the first winding-unit group and the second winding-unit group, it is not necessary, as in the conventional configuration, to move the work carrier to one of the ends of the textile machine, and therefore the maintenance of the work carrier can be performed efficiently.
In the above textile machine, it is preferable that the width of the work carrier is equal to or smaller than the width of the first space.
With this configuration, it becomes easy for the operator to access the entire width of the work carrier via the first space, and the maintenance of the work carrier can be performed efficiently.
In the above textile machine, it is preferable that a winding unit is arranged not in the first space but in the first winding-unit group and the second winding-unit group.
With this configuration, because no winding unit is arranged in the first space, there is no winding unit that will become an obstacle when the operator is performing the maintenance of the work carrier in the first space, and the maintenance can be performed efficiently.
In the above textile machine, it is preferable that the textile machine further includes an air source and a pipe. The air source is for supplying air to each of the winding units. The pipe is for supplying the air from the air source to the winding units. Moreover, a portion of the pipe is arranged in the first space.
With this configuration, although the first space is arranged, the pipe can be arranged across the first winding-unit group and the second winding-unit group, and an air-supply route from the air source can be made simple.
In the above textile machine, it is preferable that the textile machine further includes a rail that movably guides the work carrier. Moreover, it is preferable that the rail is arranged across the first winding-unit group, the first space, and the second winding-unit group.
With this configuration, because the work carriers can be moved with respect to the first winding-unit group and the second winding-unit group, operation can be performed on plural winding units by using one work carrier.
In the above textile machine, it is preferable that the work carrier is arranged such that the side on which a yarn path, which is a running route of a yarn, is arranged and a operation side of the work carrier face each other, and the work carrier is capable of moving with respect to the first winding-unit group and the second winding-unit group.
In the textile machine having such a configuration, it is difficult to secure a space for maintenance of the work carrier when the work carrier is facing the winding unit. On the other hand, important parts of the work carrier are generally arranged on the side thereof that is close to the yarn path. Accordingly, as explained above, it is particularly effective to provide the first space for the maintenance.
In the above textile machine, it is preferable that the winding unit includes a spinning device that forms a spun yarn by spinning a sliver supplied from a sliver supplying section arranged on a lower side in a height direction of the winding unit; and a winding device that winds the spun yarn, which is spun by the spinning device, on an upper side in the height direction of the winding unit and forms a package.
In the textile machine having such a configuration, the work carrier is generally arranged so as to face an upper part of the winding unit so that the work carrier does not interfere with the sliver supplying section. Therefore, it is highly difficult to secure a space for maintenance of the work carrier in a state in which the work carrier faces the winding unit. On the other hand, important parts of the work carrier are generally arranged on the side that is close to the winding units. Accordingly, as explained above, it is particularly effective to provide the first space for the maintenance.
In the above textile machine, it is preferable that the textile machine includes two or more work carriers.
With this configuration, the operation on many winding units can be performed efficiently by using the plural work carriers.
In the above textile machine, it is preferable that the textile machine further includes at least one of a second space and a third space. The second space is arranged on other side of the first winding-unit group with the first space being arranged on one side of the first winding-unit group, and the third space is arranged on other side of the second winding-unit group with the first space being arranged on one side of the second winding-unit group.
With this configuration, the maintenance of the work carrier can be performed by using the second space or the third space. Particularly, in the textile machine that includes plural work carriers, the maintenance of a work carrier located close to the second space can be performed in the second space, and the maintenance of a work carrier located close to the third space can be performed in the third space. Therefore, the travelling and operation of the remaining work carriers are not much affected even if maintenance is being performed on a certain work carrier.
The above textile machine preferably includes an assisting device that assists the winding units and is arranged in the first space, and a top surface of the assisting device is located at a lower level than a lower surface of the work carrier. With this configuration, the first space can be used effectively.
In the above textile machine, it is preferable that at least one of the winding units is arranged in the first space, and the winding unit arranged in the first space or other plural winding units are removable or movable in a direction away from a travelling route of the work carrier.
With this configuration, because a desired number of the winding units can be removed, or moved, a maintenance space for the work carrier can be formed, and the first space can be used effectively.
In the above explanation, the meaning of "plural" also includes "a predetermined number of".

Claims

A textile machine (100; 100x; 100y) comprising:
a first winding-unit group (10) that includes at least one winding unit (1; 1x; 1y);

a second winding-unit group (20) that includes at least one winding unit (1; 1x; 1y), wherein a direction of arrangement of the winding unit (1; 1x; 1y) in the first winding-unit group (10) is the same as a direction of arrangement of the winding unit (1; 1x; 1y) in the second winding-unit group (20);

at least one work carrier (30; 30x; 30y); characterized by

a first space (31) arranged between the first winding-unit group (10) and the second winding-unit group (20) that can be used when performing maintenance of the work carrier (30; 30x; 30y).
The textile machine (100; 100x; 100y) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a width (30w) of the work carrier (30; 30x; 30y) is equal to or smaller than a width (31w) of the first space (31).
The textile machine (100; 100x; 100y) as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein a winding unit (1; 1x; 1y) is arranged not in the first space (31) but in the first winding-unit group (10) and the second winding-unit group (20).
The textile machine (100; 100x; 100y) as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
an air source (51) adapted to supply air to each of the winding units (1; 1x; 1y); and

a pipe (52) through which the air that is supplied from the air source (51) to the winding units (1; 1x; 1y) passes,

wherein a portion of the pipe (51) is arranged in the first space (31).
The textile machine (100; 100x; 100y) as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, further comprising a rail (34) adapted to movably guide the work carrier (30; 30x; 30y),
wherein the rail (34) is arranged across the first winding-unit group (10), the first space (1), and the second winding-unit group (20).
The textile machine (100; 100x; 100y) as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the work carrier (30; 30x; 30y) is arranged such that a side on which a yarn path, which is a running route of a yarn (13), is arranged and a work side of the work carrier (30; 30x; 30y) face each other, and the work carrier (30; 30x; 30y) is adapted capable of moving with respect to the first winding-unit group (10) and the second winding-unit group (20).
The textile machine (100) as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the winding unit (1) includes:
a spinning device (5) adapted to form a spun yarn (13) by spinning a sliver (11) supplied from a sliver supplying section (2) arranged on a lower side in a height direction of the winding unit (1); and

a winding device (9) adapted to wind the spun yarn (13), which is spun by the spinning device (5), on an upper side in the height direction of the winding unit (1) and forms a package (91).
The textile machine (100; 100x; 100y) as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein two or more work carriers (30; 30x; 30y) are provided.
The textile machine (100; 100x; 100y) as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, further includes at least one of a second space (32) and a third space (33),
the second space (32) being arranged on other side of the first winding-unit group (10) with the first space (31) being arranged on one side of the first winding-unit group (10), and
the third space (33) being arranged on other side of the second winding-unit group (20) with the first space (31) being arranged on one side of the second winding-unit group (20).
The textile machine (100; 100x; 100y) as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, further includes an assisting device adapted to assist the winding units (1; 1x; 1y) and arranged in the first space (31), and
a top surface of the assisting device is located at a lower level than a lower surface of the work carrier (30; 30x; 30y) .
The textile machine (100; 100x; 100y) as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the winding units (1; 1x; 1y) is arranged in the first space (31), and
the winding unit (1; 1x; 1y) arranged in the first space (31) or other plural winding units (1; 1x; 1y) are removable or movable in a direction away from a travelling route of the work carrier (30; 30x; 30y).