EP4382467A1

EP4382467A1 - Yarn threading apparatus and false-twist texturing machine

Info

Publication number: EP4382467A1
Application number: EP23209674.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hidekazu Chikada; Takefumi Sasagawa; Taishi Hirose
Original assignee: TMT Machinery Inc
Current assignee: TMT Machinery Inc
Priority date: 2022-12-09
Filing date: 2023-11-14
Publication date: 2024-06-12
Also published as: JP2024083275A; TW202424300A; CN118166460A

Abstract

A package with a proper shape is obtained while formation of straight winding on a bobbin is prevented when yarn threading onto the bobbin is performed. A yarn threading apparatus 60 includes a yarn holding member 61, a yarn threading arm 62 having a yarn engagement portion 62a, a traverse guide 72, and a control unit 64. The yarn engagement portion 62a is arranged to be engaged with a yarn Y that is held by the yarn holding member 61 while the yarn threading arm 62 is moving from a standby position to a yarn threading position, and when the yarn threading arm 62 is at the yarn threading position, the yarn Y is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a. The control unit 64 controls the traverse guide 72 to move to the outside of a predetermined traveling range M and controls the traverse guide 72 to catch the yarn Y disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a, and then controls the traverse guide 72 to perform reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M. When the traverse guide 72 is performing reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M and the yarn Y does not exist on a movement trace of the yarn threading arm 62 between the yarn threading position and the standby position, the control unit 64 moves the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a yarn threading apparatus configured to thread a yarn to a winding device and a false-twist texturing machine including the yarn threading apparatus.
A winding device configured to form a package by winding a yarn onto a bobbin is structured such that a yarn is wound onto a bobbin sandwiched between and attached to paired bobbin holders that are attached to a cradle to be rotatable, while the yarn is traversed within a predetermined traversal range by a traverse guide that reciprocally moves in the axial direction of the bobbin. In such a winding device, after a completed package is discharged, an empty bobbin on which no yarn is wound is set in the cradle. Onto the bobbin which is set in the cradle, a yarn is threaded to the bobbin by the yarn threading apparatus.
Patent Literature 1 ( Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-194596 ) discloses a yarn threading apparatus which includes a yarn holding member (a sucking pipe of Patent Literature 1) configured to suck and hold a yarn sent from the upstream side in a yarn running direction and a yarn threading member (yarn threading arm of Patent Literature 1) configured to thread the yarn held by the yarn holding member to a bobbin supported by a pair of bobbin holders. At the leading end of the yarn threading member, a yarn engagement portion with which the yarn is engaged is provided. The yarn threading member is movable between a yarn threading position where the yarn can be threaded to a hook (yarn threading portion of Patent Literature 1) formed on one of the paired bobbin holders and a standby position. The following will describe a flow from threading of the yarn to the bobbin by the yarn threading apparatus to winding of the yarn onto the bobbin.
To begin with, the yarn sent from the upstream side is sucked and held by the yarn holding member. At this stage, the yarn threading member is at the standby position. Subsequently, the yarn threading member is moved from the standby position toward the yarn threading position. While the yarn threading member is moving from the standby position to the yarn threading position, the yarn held by the yarn holding member is engaged with the yarn engagement portion. When the yarn threading member reaches the yarn threading position, the yarn engaged with the yarn engagement portion is hooked by the hook of the rotating bobbin holder. Immediately after this, the yarn hooked by the hook is cut by a cutter attached to the cradle. With this, the yarn holding member becomes no longer to hold the yarn and the yarn threading to the hook is completed. The yarn threaded to the hook is bunch-wound onto a region outside the traversal range of the bobbin, while being kept engaged with the yarn engagement portion of the yarn threading member. The bunch winding is formed to make it possible to fetch a yarn end portion of the yarn, in order to connect yarn ends of yarns of packages with each other in a later process. When the bunch winding is completed, the yarn threading member moves to the standby position. While the yarn threading member is returning from the yarn threading position to the standby position, the yarn is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion in the traversal range. The yarn disengaged from the yarn engagement portion is caught by a traverse guide that has started reciprocal movement, and the yarn is traversed along the axial direction of the bobbin. As a result, the yarn is wound onto the bobbin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, the yarn threading apparatus of Patent Literature 1 described above is disadvantageous in that straight winding is formed on the bobbin. To be more specific, in the yarn threading apparatus of Patent Literature 1, the yarn threading member is arranged so that the yarn engagement portion moves to pass through the vicinity of the center of the traversal range of the yarn, and the yarn is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion at around the center. On this account, during a time period from the disengagement of the yarn from the yarn engagement portion to the catch of the yarn by the reciprocating traverse guide having reached the vicinity of the center of the traversal range, straight winding is disadvantageously formed as the yarn is wound onto the same part at around the center of the bobbin more than once. Such a straight winding obstructs unwinding of the yarn from the package.
Under this circumstance, the inventors of the subject application conceived of the following idea. To begin with, before a traverse guide starts reciprocal movement, a yarn is released in advance from a yarn engagement portion of a yarn threading member at a yarn threading position. Then the yarn is held by another member different from the yarn threading member so that the yarn is wound onto a portion of a bobbin, which is outside a traversal range. Subsequently, the yarn released from the yarn engagement portion and held by the another member is caught by the traverse guide. With this arrangement, the yarn is not located in the traversal range before the yarn is caught by the traverse guide, and hence the formation of straight winding is prevented.
However, the above-described arrangement involves a problem that occurs when the yarn threading member is returned from the yarn threading position to the standby position. If the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position immediately after the release of the yarn from the yarn engagement portion, the yarn threading member disadvantageously hooks the yarn held by the another member while the yarn threading member is returning to the standby position, as detailed below with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15. On this account, after the yarn is caught by the traverse guide and the yarn is disengaged from the another member, the yarn threading member must be returned to the standby position. In this connection, while the yarn threading member is being returned from the yarn threading position to the standby position, the yarn in traversal may be unintentionally engaged with the yarn engagement portion of the yarn threading member. If the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position with the yarn being engaged with the yarn engagement portion, a fulcrum of traversal of the yarn is disadvantageously moved from the intended fulcrum to the yarn engagement portion. This may cause problems such as yarn breakage and an abnormal package shape due to improper traversal of the yarn by the traverse guide.
An object of the present invention is to obtain a package with a proper shape while preventing formation of straight winding on a bobbin when yarn threading onto the bobbin is performed.
A yarn threading apparatus of the present invention, which is for threading a yarn to a bobbin holder supporting a bobbin on which the yarn is wound, comprises: a traverse guide which is configured to traverse the yarn within a predetermined traversal range by performing reciprocal movement within a predetermined traveling range along an axial direction of the bobbin holder; a yarn holding member which is configured to temporarily hold the yarn; a yarn threading member which includes a yarn engagement portion with which the yarn held by the yarn holding member is engaged and is movable between a yarn threading position where the yarn engaged with the yarn engagement portion is threaded to a part outside the traversal range of the bobbin and a standby position; and a control unit which is configured to control drive of the yarn threading member and the traverse guide, the yarn engagement portion being arranged so that the yarn that is held by the yarn holding member is engaged with the yarn engagement portion while the yarn threading member is moving from the standby position to the yarn threading position, and the yarn is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion when the yarn threading member is at the yarn threading position, on a movement trace of the yarn threading member between the yarn threading position and the standby position, there is a region where the yarn engagement portion is in contact with the yarn caught by the traverse guide performing the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range, the yarn holding member canceling holding of the yarn in accordance with yarn threading to the part outside the traversal range of the bobbin, the traverse guide being movable to the outside of the predetermined traveling range along the axial direction, the control unit controlling the traverse guide to perform the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range after the traverse guide is moved to the outside of the predetermined traveling range in the axial direction and the yarn disengaged from the yarn engagement portion is caught by the traverse guide, and the control unit controlling the yarn threading member to move to the standby position when the traverse guide is performing the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range and the yarn caught by the traverse guide does not exist on the movement trace of the yarn threading member between the yarn threading position and the standby position.
According to this aspect of the present invention, before the traverse guide starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range (i.e., before the yarn is traversed within the traversal range), the yarn is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion when the yarn threading member is at the yarn threading position, and the yarn is caught by the traverse guide. On this account, during a time period from the disengagement of the yarn from the yarn engagement portion to the catch of the yarn by the traverse guide, the yarn does not exist in the traversal range and hence the formation of straight winding in the traversal range is avoided. In this arrangement, however, if the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position immediately after the release of the yarn from the yarn engagement portion, the yarn threading member disadvantageously hooks the yarn disengaged from the yarn engagement portion, while the yarn threading member is returning to the standby position. On this account, after the yarn is caught by the traverse guide, the yarn threading member must be returned to the standby position. For example, in order to avoid the contact between the yarn threading member and the yarn, the traverse guide may perform reciprocal movement within a range in which the traverse guide does not make contact with the yarn threading member, while the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position. In this case, however, the yarn caught by the traverse guide that performs reciprocal movement within the range in which the traverse guide does not make contact with the yarn threading member is wound only a part of the entire traversal range of the bobbin. Consequently, the amount of the yarn wound on the part of the bobbin is larger than the amount of the yarn wound on the remaining part. To put it differently, when the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position, the part of the wound package swells and the shape of the package becomes irregular. In this regard, according to the aspect of the present invention, the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position in such a way that, after the traverse guide starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range, the yarn threading member does not make contact with the yarn caught by the traverse guide. On this account, when the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position, the yarn is equally wound onto the entirety of the traversal range of the bobbin, with the result that the shape of the package is less likely to become irregular. According to the aspect of the present invention, it is therefore possible to obtain the package with a proper shape while preventing formation of straight winding on the bobbin when yarn threading onto the bobbin is performed.
Preferably, the yarn threading apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that the yarn threading member is driven by a first motor.
This aspect of the present invention makes it possible to precisely control the timing to move the yarn threading member.
Preferably, the yarn threading apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that the traverse guide is driven by a second motor, and the first motor and the second motor are controlled by the common control unit.
According to this aspect of the present invention, a time lag in signal transmission between a control unit driving the first motor and a control unit driving the second motor is eliminated, and precise control of timings to drive the traverse guide and the yarn threading member is facilitated.
Preferably, the yarn threading apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that the control unit is able to switch traveling speed of the traverse guide performing the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range between first speed and second speed that is lower than the first speed, and the control unit controls the traveling speed of the traverse guide to be the second speed when the yarn threading member is moved to the standby position.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the traveling speed of the traverse guide is arranged to be low when the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position. This elongates the time during which the yarn threading member does not make contact with the yarn caught by the traverse guide. On this account, when the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position, the contact between the yarn threading member and the yarn caught by the traverse guide is avoided even if there is a time lag in signal transfer for driving the yarn threading member and the timing to drive the yarn threading member is deviated.
Preferably, the yarn threading apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that the control unit sets the traveling speed of the traverse guide at the second speed during an initial period which is, in the axial direction of the bobbin holder, from start of the reciprocal movement of the traverse guide from an end portion on one side of the predetermined traveling range to arrival of the traverse guide at an end portion on the other side of the predetermined traveling range for the first time, and the control unit controls the traveling speed of the traverse guide to be the first speed during a second period that is after the initial period.
As the traveling speed of the traverse guide changes, the helix angle of the yarn wound onto the bobbin changes accordingly. According to the aspect of the present invention, the traveling speed of the traverse guide that performs reciprocal movement in order to traverse the yarn changes once. On this account, the helix angle changes at only one part, and hence the shape of the package is maintained to be beautiful as compared to a case where the helix angle changes at plural parts.
Preferably, the yarn threading apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that, before the traverse guide starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range, the control unit moves the yarn threading member to an intermediate position which is between the yarn threading position and the standby position and where the yarn threading member does not make contact with the yarn.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the yarn threading member is moved to the intermediate position in advance before the traverse guide performs the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range. Thereafter, while the traverse guide member performs the reciprocal movement and the yarn is traversed, the yarn threading member at the intermediate position is returned to the standby position. On this account, the time required for returning the yarn threading member to the standby position is shortened as compared to a case where the yarn threading member is returned from the yarn threading position to the standby position. The risk of contact between the yarn threading member rapidly returning to the standby position and the yarn caught by the traverse guide is therefore reduced, even if the timing to drive the yarn threading member is slightly deviated.
Preferably, the yarn threading apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that the control unit calculates a timing to move the yarn threading member to the standby position in advance, based on the traveling speed of the traverse guide and the traveling speed of the yarn threading member.
According to this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to calculate a timing to return the yarn threading member to the standby position in advance based on the traveling speed of each of the traverse guide and the yarn threading member and in consideration of the time lag of signal transfer for driving the yarn threading member. On this account, timings to drive the yarn threading member and the traverse guide are less likely to be deviated from each other, and the contact between the yarn threading member and the yarn caught by the traverse guide is accurately avoided.
Preferably, the yarn threading apparatus of the present invention further comprises a sensor which is provided to detect a location of the traverse guide, the control unit determining a timing to move the yarn threading member to the standby position based on the location of the traverse guide detected by the sensor.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the timing to drive the yarn threading member is determined based on the current location of the traverse guide. It is therefore unnecessary to perform a complicated calculation process for calculating the timing to drive the yarn threading member.
Preferably, the yarn threading apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that the yarn engagement portion is a rod member.
Because the yarn engagement portion of the aspect of the present invention is a rod member, the weight of the yarn threading member is reduced. On this account, when the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position by a predetermined driving force, the yarn threading member is swiftly returned to the standby position as compared to a case where the yarn threading member is heavy. Due to this, the risk of contact between the yarn threading member and the yarn caught by the traverse guide is further reduced.
Preferably, the yarn threading apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that the yarn threading member includes a main body to which the yarn engagement portion is attached, and the main body is made of resin.
Because the main body of the aspect of the present invention is made of resin, the weight of the yarn threading member is reduced. On this account, when the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position by a predetermined driving force, the yarn threading member is swiftly returned to the standby position as compared to a case where the yarn threading member is heavy. Due to this, the risk of contact between the yarn threading member and the yarn caught by the traverse guide is further reduced.
Preferably, the yarn threading apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that the yarn threading member is swingable between the yarn threading position and the standby position about a rotational shaft which is formed at a base end portion of the yarn threading member.
According to this aspect of the present invention, the yarn threading member is swiftly returned from the yarn threading position to the standby position as the yarn threading member is swung.
Preferably, the yarn threading apparatus of the present invention further comprises a yarn hooking portion which is formed on the bobbin holder, when the yarn threading member is at the yarn threading position, yarn threading to the part outside the traversal range of the bobbin being performed as the yarn engaged with the yarn engagement portion is threaded to the yarn hooking portion, the yarn being disengaged from the yarn engagement portion in accordance with the yarn threading to the yarn hooking portion, the yarn threading apparatus further comprising a bunch guide which holds the yarn disengaged from the yarn engagement portion, at a part outside the traversal range, and the bunch guide being arranged so that, before the traverse guide starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range, the yarn held by the bunch guide is caught by the traverse guide outside the predetermined traveling range so that the yarn is disengaged from the bunch guide.
According to this aspect of the present invention, on account of the presence of the yarn hooking portion, the yarn is smoothly disengaged from the yarn engagement portion. The yarn disengaged from the yarn engagement portion is then held by the bunch guide at a position outside the traversal range, and the yarn is bunch-wound at a part outside the traversal range of the bobbin. Thereafter, before the traverse guide starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range, the yarn held by the bunch guide is caught by the traverse guide outside the predetermined traveling range, and hence the yarn is disengaged from the bunch guide. On this account, until the yarn disengaged from the yarn engagement portion and held by the bunch guide is caught by the traverse guide, the yarn does not exist in the traversal range and hence the formation of straight winding in the traversal range is avoided.
A false-twist texturing machine of the present invention comprises: a yarn supplying unit which is configured to supply a yarn; a processing unit which is configured to false-twist the yarn supplied from the yarn supplying unit; and a winding unit which is configured to wind the yarn false-twisted by the processing unit, the winding unit including: a winding device which is configured to form a package by winding the yarn onto a bobbin attached to a bobbin holder; and one of the yarn threading apparatuses described above.
According to this aspect of the present invention, before the traverse guide starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range (i.e., before the yarn is traversed within the traversal range), the yarn is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion when the yarn threading member is at the yarn threading position, and the yarn is caught by the traverse guide. On this account, during a time period from the disengagement of the yarn from the yarn engagement portion to the catch of the yarn by the traverse guide, the yarn does not exist in the traversal range and hence the formation of straight winding in the traversal range is avoided. In this arrangement, however, if the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position immediately after the release of the yarn from the yarn engagement portion, the yarn threading member disadvantageously hooks the yarn disengaged from the yarn engagement portion, while the yarn threading member is returning to the standby position. On this account, after the yarn is caught by the traverse guide, the yarn threading member must be returned to the standby position. For example, in order to avoid the contact between the yarn threading member and the yarn, the traverse guide may perform reciprocal movement within a range in which the traverse guide does not make contact with the yarn threading member, while the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position. In this case, however, the yarn caught by the traverse guide that performs reciprocal movement within the range in which the traverse guide does not make contact with the yarn threading member is wound only a part of the entire traversal range of the bobbin. Consequently, the amount of the yarn wound on the part of the bobbin is larger than the amount of the yarn wound on the remaining part. To put it differently, when the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position, the part of the wound package swells and the shape of the package becomes irregular. In this regard, according to the aspect of the present invention, the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position in such a way that, after the traverse guide starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range, the yarn threading member does not make contact with the yarn caught by the traverse guide. On this account, when the yarn threading member is returned to the standby position, the yarn is equally wound onto the entirety of the traversal range of the bobbin, with the result that the shape of the package is less likely to become irregular. According to the aspect of the present invention, it is therefore possible to obtain the package with a proper shape while preventing formation of straight winding on the bobbin when yarn threading onto the bobbin is performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a false-twist texturing machine related to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a winding unit.
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing a yarn threading arm which is at around an end portion of a bobbin attached to a bobbin holder and is at a yarn threading position.
FIG. 4 is a partial front elevation showing the yarn threading arm which is at around the end portion of the bobbin attached to the bobbin holder and is at the yarn threading position, when viewed in a base width direction.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical structure of the false-twist texturing machine.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a winding unit when the yarn threading arm is at a standby position and a yarn is held by a yarn holding member.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the winding unit when the yarn threading arm has been moved to the yarn threading position.
FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of an end portion of a bobbin and its surroundings, showing a yarn engaged with a yarn engagement portion of the yarn threading arm when the yarn threading arm is at the yarn threading position.
FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the end portion of the bobbin and its surroundings, showing the yarn held by a bunch guide while bunch winding is being formed.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the winding unit when the yarn threading arm has been moved to an intermediate position.
FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the end portion of the bobbin and its surroundings, showing the yarn caught by a traverse guide after the completion of the bunch winding.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the winding unit when the yarn threading arm is returned to the standby position.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of yarn threading performed by the yarn threading apparatus of the embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a reference drawing showing a state of a winding unit when, in the yarn threading apparatus of the embodiment, the yarn threading arm is moved to the standby position immediately after the yarn is released from the yarn engagement portion.
FIG. 15 is a side view of the winding unit when FIG. 14 is viewed in the direction of an arrow XV.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following will describe an embodiment of the present invention with reference to figures.

(Overall Structure of False-Twist Texturing Machine 1)

FIG. 1 is a profile showing the overall structure of a false-twist texturing machine 1 of the present embodiment. Hereinafter, a vertical direction to the sheet of FIG. 1 is defined as a base longitudinal direction, and a left-right direction to the sheet is defined as a base width direction. A direction orthogonal to the base longitudinal direction and the base width direction is defined as the up-down direction (vertical direction) in which the gravity acts. These directions will be consistently used in the following descriptions.
The false-twist texturing machine 1 can perform false twisting of yarns Y made of, for example, synthetic fibers such as nylon (polyamide fibers). The false-twist texturing machine 1 includes a yarn supplying unit 2 for supplying the yarns Y, a processing unit 3 which performs the false twisting of the yarns Y supplied from the yarn supplying unit 2, and a winding unit 4 which winds the yarns Y processed by the processing unit 3 onto bobbins Bw. The yarn supplying unit 2, the processing unit 3, and the winding unit 4 include constituent features, and the constituent features are provided to form plural lines in a base longitudinal direction orthogonal to a yarn running surface (surface orthogonal to the direction in which FIG. 1 is viewed) in which yarn paths are provided to extend to the winding unit 4 from the yarn supplying unit 2 via the processing unit 3.
The yarn supplying unit 2 includes a creel stand 7 retaining yarn supply packages Ps, and supplies the yarns Y to the processing unit 3. In the processing unit 3, the following members are provided in this order from the upstream in a yarn running direction: first feed rollers 11; twist-stopping guides 12; first heaters 13; coolers 14; false-twisting devices 15; second feed rollers 16; an interlacing device 17; third feed rollers 18; a second heater 19; and fourth feed rollers 20. The winding unit 4 winds the yarns Y for which false twisting has been performed at the processing unit 3 onto the bobbins Bw by winding devices 21, and forms wound packages Pw.
The false-twist texturing machine 1 includes a main base 8 and a winding base 9 which are placed to be spaced apart from each other in the base width direction. The main base 8 and the winding base 9 are provided to extend in a substantially same length in the base longitudinal direction, and placed to oppose each other. An upper part of the main base 8 is connected to an upper part of the winding base 9 by a supporting frame 10. Each device forming the processing unit 3 is mainly attached to the main base 8 or the supporting frame 10. The main base 8, the winding base 9, and the supporting frame 10 form a working space 22 in which an operator performs an operation such as yarn threading to each device. The yarn paths are formed so that the yarns Y are able to run mainly around the working space 22.
The false-twist texturing machine 1 includes units which are termed spans each of which includes a pair of the main base 8 and the winding base 9 placed to oppose each other. In one span, each device is placed so that the yarns Y running while being aligned in the base longitudinal direction can be false-twisted at the same time. For example, twelve winding devices 21 are provided for the winding base 9 in one span to form three stages and four rows. In the false-twist texturing machine 1, the spans are placed in a symmetrical manner in the left-right direction of the sheet, with a center line C of the base width direction of the main base 8 as a symmetry axis (main base 8 is shared between the left span and the right span), and the spans are aligned in the base longitudinal direction.

(Processing Unit)

The following will describe each constituent feature of the processing unit 3. The first feed rollers 11 are provided to send the yarns Y supplied from the yarn supplying unit 2 to the first heater 13. The first feed rollers 11 are placed above the winding base 9 (as shown in FIG. 1). The first feed rollers 11 are aligned in the base longitudinal direction.
Each twist-stopping guide 12 prevents twisting which has been applied to the yarn Y at the later-described false-twisting device 15 from being propagated to the upstream of each twist-stopping guide 12 in the yarn running direction. The twist-stopping guides 12 are placed downstream of the first feed rollers 11 in the yarn running direction, and placed upstream of the first heater 13 in the yarn running direction. The twist-stopping guides 12 are, for example, provided for the yarns Y supplied from the yarn supplying unit 2, respectively, and aligned in the base longitudinal direction.
Each first heater 13 heats the yarn Y sent from the first feed rollers 11, and is placed at the supporting frame 10 (as shown in FIG. 1). The first heaters 13 are provided for the respective yarns Y supplied from the yarn supplying unit 2, and aligned in the base longitudinal direction.
Each cooler 14 cools the yarn Y heated at each first heater 13. The coolers 14 are placed downstream of the first heaters 13 in the yarn running direction, and placed upstream of the false-twisting devices 15 in the yarn running direction. The coolers 14 are provided for the respective yarns Y supplied by the yarn supplying unit 2, and aligned in the base longitudinal direction.
Each false-twisting device 15 is configured to twist the yarn Y. The false-twisting devices 15 are placed immediately downstream of the coolers 14 in the yarn running direction. The false-twisting devices 15 are aligned in the base longitudinal direction. For example, twelve false-twisting devices 15 are provided in one span.
The second feed rollers 16 are rollers for sending the yarns Y twisted by the false-twisting devices 15 toward the interlacing device 17. The second feed rollers 16 are provided on the downstream side in the yarn running direction of the false-twisting devices 15 in the main base 8. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarns Y by the second feed rollers 16 is higher than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarns Y by the first feed rollers 11. The yarns Y are therefore drawn between the first feed rollers 11 and the second feed rollers 16.
The interlacing device 17 is configured to interlace the yarns Y by injecting air thereto. The interlacing device 17 is provided below the second feed rollers 16 in the main base 8.
The third feed rollers 18 are rollers for sending the yarns Y interlaced by the interlacing device 17 toward the second heater 19. The third feed rollers 18 are provided below the interlacing device 17 in the main base 8. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarns Y by the third feed rollers 18 is lower than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarns Y by the second feed rollers 16. The yarns Y are therefore relaxed between the second feed rollers 16 and the third feed rollers 18.
The second heater 19 is configured to heat the yarns Y supplied from the third feed rollers 18. The second heater 19 is provided below the third feed rollers 18 in the main base 8. The second heater 19 extends along the up-down direction, and one second heater 19 is provided in one span.
The fourth feed rollers 20 are rollers for sending the yarns Y thermally treated by the second heater 19 toward the winding device 21. The fourth feed rollers 20 are provided at a lower part of the winding base 9. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarns Y by the fourth feed rollers 20 is lower than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarns Y by the third feed rollers 18. The yarns Y are therefore relaxed between the third feed rollers 18 and the fourth feed rollers 20.
In the processing unit 3 arranged as described above, the yarns Y drawn between the first feed rollers 11 and the second feed rollers 16 are twisted by the false-twisting devices 15. The twist formed by the false-twisting device 15 is propagated to the twist-stopping guide 12, but is not propagated to the upstream in the yarn running direction of the twist-stopping guide 12. The yarn Y which is twisted and drawn is heated at each first heater 13 and thermally set. After that, the yarn Y is cooled at each cooler 14. The yarn Y is untwisted at the downstream of the false-twisting device 15. However, each filament is maintained to be wavy in shape on account of the thermal setting described above. After being false-twisted by the false-twisting device 15, the yarns Y are interlaced by the interlacing device 17 while being relaxed between the second feed rollers 16 and the third feed rollers 18, and then the yarns Y are guided to the downstream side in the yarn running direction. Furthermore, the yarns Y are thermally set at the second heater 19 while being relaxed between the third feed rollers 18 and the fourth feed rollers 20. Finally, the yarn Y sent from each fourth feed roller 20 is wound by each winding device 21, and forms each wound package Pw.

(Structure of Winding Unit 4)

The winding unit 4 includes plural winding devices 21. Each winding device 21 is configured to form a wound package Pw by winding a yarn Y sent from the fourth feed rollers 20 onto a bobbin Bw. As shown in FIG. 2, the winding device 21 includes a pair of cradle arms 40, a contact roller 50, and a yarn threading apparatus 60.
The paired cradle arms 40 are arranged to be able to sandwich the bobbin Bw. To be more specific, each of the paired cradle arms 40 includes a bobbin holder 41 that holds the bobbin Bw to be rotatable. The ends of the bobbin Bw are rotatably supported by the cradle arms 40 through the bobbin holders 41. To put it differently, the bobbin Bw is mounted to be sandwiched between the paired bobbin holders 41. On the bobbin holder 41 on one side in the base longitudinal direction, a hook 41a (yarn hooking portion of the present invention) is formed to thread the yarn Y to the bobbin Bw (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). Among the paired cradle arms 40, the cradle arm 40 on one side in the base longitudinal direction is provided with a cutter 40a. In this connection, the one side in the base longitudinal direction is the side close to a yarn threading position of the later-described yarn threading arm 62, and is the right side in FIG. 2. In the cradle arm 40, the cutter 40a is positioned on the side opposite to the traverse guide 72 (described later) in the base width direction.
The contact roller 50 is rotationally driven in a constant direction while being in contact with the circumferential surface of the bobbin Bw or the wound package Pw, and is therefore able to wind the yarn Y by rotating the bobbin Bw. This contact roller 50 is driven by a package driving motor 88 (see FIG. 5). The contact rollers 50 of the winding devices 21 are simultaneously driven by the package driving motor 88 that is commonly provided for plural spindles. Each contact roller 50 may be driven by a package driving motor 88 provided for each spindle. The package driving motor 88 is, for example, a stepping motor or a servo motor.

(Structure of Yarn Threading Apparatus 60)

The yarn threading apparatus 60 is configured to thread the yarn Y to the bobbin Bw that is mounted to be sandwiched between the paired bobbin holders 41. The yarn threading apparatus 60 includes a yarn holding member 61, the above-described hook 41a, the yarn threading arm 62 (equivalent to a yarn threading member of the present invention), a traverse unit 63, a control unit 64, and a bunch guide 65.
As shown in FIG. 6, the yarn holding member 61 is configured to temporarily suck and hold the yarn Y sent from the fourth feed rollers 20. The yarn holding member 61 is connected to a negative pressure source and is able to suck the yarn Y. The yarn holding member 61 is configured to cancel the holding of the yarn Y in accordance with yarn threading to a part outside a later-described traversal range r of the bobbin Bw. A specific mechanism of canceling the holding of the yarn Y will be explained in the description of yarn threading below.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the yarn threading arm 62 includes a yarn engagement portion 62a with which the yarn Y sucked and held by the yarn holding member 61 is engaged and a main body 62c to which the yarn engagement portion 62a is attached. The main body 62c is a member made of resin. The yarn threading arm 62 is movable between a yarn threading position where yarn threading to the hook 41a is performed (i.e., the position of the yarn threading arm 62 in FIG. 7) and a standby position (i.e., the position of the yarn threading arm 62 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6). The yarn threading arm 62 moves between the yarn threading position and the standby position by rotating about a rotational shaft 62b that is formed at a base end portion of the main body 62c and extends along the up-down direction. To be more specific, the yarn threading arm 62 is swingable about the rotational shaft 62b to reciprocate between the yarn threading position and the standby position. This swing to reciprocate will be explained with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. When the yarn threading arm 62 moves from the standby position (shown in FIG. 6) toward the yarn threading position (shown in FIG. 7), the yarn threading arm 62 swings clockwise about the rotational shaft 62b when viewed from above. When the yarn threading arm 62 moves from the yarn threading position (shown in FIG. 7) toward the standby position (shown in FIG. 6), the yarn threading arm 62 swings counterclockwise about the rotational shaft 62b when viewed from above. The standby position is a position of the yarn threading arm 62 where the yarn threading arm 62 does not make contact with a part of the yarn Y between the fourth feed roller 20 and the yarn holding member 61 and where the yarn threading arm 62 does not make contact with the yarn Y traversed by the traverse guide 72. The yarn threading arm 62 is driven by a yarn threading arm driving motor 89 (first motor of the present invention; see FIG. 5). The yarn threading arm driving motor 89 is, for example, a stepping motor or a servo motor.
The yarn engagement portion 62a is formed at a leading end portion of the main body 62c of the yarn threading arm 62. The yarn engagement portion 62a is, for example, a rod member made of metal. The yarn engagement portion 62a may not be made of metal. The yarn engagement portion 62a is arranged to be engaged with the yarn Y that is held by the yarn holding member 61 while the yarn threading arm 62 is moving from the standby position to the yarn threading position. When the yarn threading arm 62 is at the yarn threading position, the yarn Y is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a on account of the yarn threading to the hook 41a. To be more specific, the yarn engagement portion 62a is provided with a first portion 62a1 and a second portion 62a2 as shown in FIG. 4. The first portion 62a1 and the second portion 62a2 of the yarn engagement portion 62a are portions with which the yarn Y held by the yarn holding member 61 is engaged while the yarn threading arm 62 is moving from the standby position to the yarn threading position. The second portion 62a2 of the yarn engagement portion 62a is a portion where the yarn Y is disengaged on account of the yarn threading to the hook 41a, when the yarn threading arm 62 is at the yarn threading position. To be more specific, a supporting portion 95 of the second portion 62a2, which supports the yarn Y from below, is tilted downward. As the yarn Y is moved downward by the downward force along the supporting portion 95 tilted downward, the yarn Y is disengaged from the second portion 62a2. When the yarn threading arm 62 is at the standby position, the first portion 62a1 is closer to the yarn Y sucked and held by the yarn holding member 61 than the second portion 62a2 is to the yarn Y. To put it differently, when the yarn threading arm 62 is at the yarn threading position, the second portion 62a2 is closer to the traversal range r (see FIG. 6) than the first portion 62a1 is to the traversal range r.
The traverse unit 63 is configured to traverse the yarn Y wound onto the bobbin Bw, along the base longitudinal direction (axial direction of the bobbin holder 41) and within the traversal range r. The traversal range r is a range on the circumferential surface of the bobbin Bw, where the yarn Y is wound along the axial direction of the bobbin Bw. To be more specific, this traverse unit 63 includes an endless timing belt 71 provided in the vicinity of the contact roller 50 and a traverse guide 72 fixed to the timing belt 71. The timing belt 71 is mounted over driven pulleys 81 and 82 provided at the respective end portions in the reciprocal movement direction of the traverse guide 72 and a driving pulley 83 driven by a traverse guide driving motor 90 (second motor of the present invention). As the traverse guide driving motor 90 is driven, the rotational force of the driving pulley 83 is transferred to the timing belt 71, and the traverse guide 72 fixed to the timing belt 71 performs reciprocal movement between the driven pulley 81 and the driven pulley 82. The traverse guide driving motor 90 is, for example, a stepping motor or a servo motor. As the driving pulley 83 is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise, the traverse guide 72 performs reciprocal movement. As the traverse guide 72 performs reciprocal movement within a predetermined traveling range M along the base longitudinal direction, the yarn Y is traversed within the traversal range r. The predetermined traveling range M is a traveling range of the traverse guide 72 corresponding to the traversal range r, in a range in which the traverse guide 72 is able to perform reciprocal movement along the base longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, the traverse guide 72 is able to catch the yarn Y when moving from one side (right side in FIG. 2) to the other side (left side in FIG. 2) in the base longitudinal direction, and is not able to catch the yarn Y when moving from the other side to the one side in the base longitudinal direction. The traverse guide 72 is movable to the outside of the predetermined traveling range M, along the base longitudinal direction.
The false-twist texturing machine 1 of the present embodiment includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a traversing fulcrum guide 100 and a guide body 101 which are provided between the fourth feed roller 20 and the winding device 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the yarn Y fed by the fourth feed roller 20 is supplied to the winding device 21 while being guided by the traversing fulcrum guide 100 and the guide body 101, and the yarn Y is then wound onto the bobbin Bw while being traversed by the traverse guide 72.
In the yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, a region where the yarn engagement portion 62a makes contact with the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 performing reciprocal movement in the predetermined traveling range M exists on the movement trace of the yarn threading arm 62 between the yarn threading position and the standby position. To put it differently, when the yarn threading arm 62 is at a predetermined position between the yarn threading position and the standby position, the yarn engagement portion 62a may make contact with the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 performing reciprocal movement in the predetermined traveling range M. The case where the yarn engagement portion 62a makes contact with the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 will be detailed later with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15.
The bunch guide 65 holds the yarn Y disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a to maintain the yarn Y at a bunch winding position x (see, e.g., FIG. 2) which is outside the traversal range r of the bobbin Bw. The bunch winding position x is a position where bunch winding of the yarn Y is performed and is outside the traversal range r of the bobbin Bw attached to the bobbin holder 41. The bunch winding is formed to make it possible to fetch a yarn end portion of the yarn Y, in order to connect yarn ends of yarns Y of plural wound packages Pw with each other in a later process.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the bunch guide 65 is, for example, a bended rod member extending in the base longitudinal direction. The bunch guide 65 is provided below the yarn threading arm 62 at the yarn threading position. The bunch guide 65 has a holding portion 65a that holds the yarn Y while restricting the movement of the yarn Y into the traversal range r and a guide portion 65b that guides the yarn Y disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a to the holding portion 65a. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide portion 65b is provided on the traversal range r side of the holding portion 65a in the base longitudinal direction. The guide portion 65b is partially provided on the yarn path of the yarn Y traveling from the traversing fulcrum guide 100 to the hook 41a. To put it differently, the guide portion 65b is partially provided on the yarn path of the yarn Y hooked by the hook 41a, which is on the upstream side of the hook 41a in the yarn running direction.
The holding portion 65a includes an inclined portion 65a1 which is inclined downward toward the bunch winding position x from the traversal range r in the base longitudinal direction and a horizontal portion 65a2 which extends horizontally in the base longitudinal direction. The inclined portion 65a1 and the horizontal portion 65a2 are integrally formed. The inclined portion 65a1 is a portion by which movement of the yarn Y into the traversal range r is restricted, whereas the horizontal portion 65a2 is a portion by which the yarn Y is held at a predetermined height. The predetermined height is a height at which the yarn Y is easily caught when the traverse guide 72 moves along the base longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the predetermined height is a height at which the held yarn Y by the horizontal portion 65a2 does not make contact with other members of the winding device 21. The horizontal portion 65a2 prevents the yarn Y from moving to a location that is lower than the predetermined height.
The bunch guide 65 is positioned so that the yarn path of the yarn Y held by the holding portion 65a intersects with the movement track of the traverse guide 72. The holding portion 65a and the guide portion 65b are integrally formed. The guide portion 65b is tilted downward from the traversal range r in the base longitudinal direction toward the bunch winding position x. In the present embodiment, the tilt angle of the inclined portion 65a1 relative to the horizontal plane is larger than the tilt angle of the guide portion 65b relative to the horizontal plane. The inclined portion 65a1 having a larger inclination angle relative to the horizontal plane restricts the movement of the yarn Y held by the horizontal portion 65a2 into the traversal range r.
As shown in FIG. 4, the guide portion 65b is partially provided on the traversal range r side of the yarn engagement portion 62a of the yarn threading arm 62 at the yarn threading position. The bunch guide 65 is provided on the bobbin holder 41 side of the traverse guide 72 in a yarn running direction which is a direction in which the yarn Y runs. That is to say, the bunch guide 65 is provided on the bobbin holder 41 side of the traverse guide 72 in the base width direction.
As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 64 is configured to control the drive of the package driving motor 88, the yarn threading arm driving motor 89, and the traverse guide driving motor 90. The control unit 64 controls timings to drive the yarn threading arm driving motor 89 and the traverse guide driving motor 90 based on a signal sent from a rotation number detection sensor (not illustrated) that monitors the number of rotations of the bobbin holder 41. To be more specific, when the rotation number detection sensor detects that the number of rotations of the bobbin holder 41 reaches a target value, the control unit 64 starts the yarn threading by driving each of the yarn threading arm driving motor 89 and the traverse guide driving motor 90 at a suitable timing. The rotation number detection sensor includes, for example, a magnet attached to a part of the bobbin holder 41 and a magnetic sensor attached to the cradle arm 40. The rotation number detection sensor is configured to monitor the number of rotations of the bobbin holder 41 by detecting, by using the magnetic sensor, the cycle of magnetism generated by the magnet that rotates in accordance with the rotation of the bobbin holder 41. The control of the yarn threading arm driving motor 89 and the traverse guide driving motor 90 by the control unit 64 will be detailed in the description of the yarn threading below. The control unit 64 may be commonly provided for all winding devices 21, or may be provided for each winding device 21. The control unit 64 for controlling the drive of the package driving motor 88 may be different from a control unit for controlling the drive of the yarn threading arm driving motor 89 and the traverse guide driving motor 90.

(Yarn Threading)

The following will describe a series of actions from the threading of the yarn Y to the hook 41a by the yarn threading apparatus 60 to the traversal performed by the traverse guide 72 and the winding of the yarn onto the bobbin Bw, with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the yarn threading performed by the yarn threading apparatus 60. When the yarn threading is performed, an empty bobbin Bw on which no yarn Y is wound is supported by the paired bobbin holders 41.
To begin with, in order to rotate the bobbin Bw and the bobbin holders 41 in an integral manner, the control unit 64 drives the package driving motor 88 to rotate the contact roller 50 (step S1). Subsequently, the control unit 64 controls the yarn threading arm driving motor 89 so that the yarn threading arm 62 is positioned at the standby position (step S2). The order of the step S1 and the step S2 may be reversed, or these steps may be simultaneously executed. When the yarn threading arm 62 is at the standby position, the yarn Y supplied from the fourth feed roller 20 is sucked and held by the yarn holding member 61 (see FIG. 6).
Subsequently, the control unit 64 causes the traverse guide 72 to be on standby at a position on one side of the predetermined traveling range M in the base longitudinal direction (i.e., on the right side in the plane of FIG. 6) (step S3) . In other words, the control unit 64 causes the traverse guide 72 to be on standby outside the predetermined traveling range M, before the yarn threading arm 62 starts to move from the standby position to the yarn threading position. It is noted that the position where the traverse guide 72 is on standby is, for example, set in advance and stored in the control unit 64. The position where the traverse guide 72 is on standby is typically in the vicinity of the bunch guide 65.
When the rotation number detection sensor (not illustrated) detects that the number of rotations of the bobbin holders 41 reaches a target value, the control unit 64 drives the yarn threading arm driving motor 89 to move the yarn threading arm 62 about the rotational shaft 62b from the standby position to the yarn threading position (step S4). While the yarn threading arm 62 is moving from the standby position to the yarn threading position, the yarn Y sucked and held by the yarn holding member 61 is engaged with the first portion 62a1 and the second portion 62a2 of the yarn engagement portion 62a.
The mechanism of the engagement of the yarn Y with the yarn engagement portion 62a will be specifically described below. To begin with, while the yarn threading arm 62 is moving from the standby position to the yarn threading position, the first portion 62a1 makes contact with a part of the yarn Y sucked and held by the yarn holding member 61, which is on the upstream of the yarn holding member 61 in the yarn running direction. After the first portion 62a1 makes contact with the yarn Y, the yarn threading arm 62 further moves toward the yarn threading position, with the result that the yarn Y is engaged with the first portion 62a1. Furthermore, before the yarn threading arm 62 reaches the yarn threading position, the yarn Y engaged with the first portion 62a1 is engaged with both the first portion 62a1 and the second portion 62a2. At this stage, the yarn Y is tensioned between the first portion 62a1 and the second portion 62a2 (see FIG. 8). An end portion of the yarn Y engaged with the yarn engagement portion 62a, which is on the downstream side in the yarn running direction, is maintained in a state of being sucked and held by the yarn holding member 61 (see FIG. 7).
As shown in FIG. 8, when the yarn threading arm 62 reaches the yarn threading position, a part of the yarn Y, which is between the first portion 62a1 and the second portion 62a2, is hooked by the hook 41a of the bobbin holder 41 that rotates in a direction indicated by a full-line arrow in FIG. 8. The yarn Y hooked by the hook 41a is wound onto an end portion of the bobbin Bw on account of the rotation of the bobbin Bw. The end portion of the bobbin Bw is positioned outside the traversal range r. At this stage, the yarn Y hooked by the hook 41a and engaged with the second portion 62a2 is pulled downward in accordance with the rotation of the bobbin holder 41. As a result, the yarn Y is moved downward along the supporting portion 95 tilted downward, and is eventually disengaged from the second portion 62a2. In summary, in the present embodiment, the yarn Y is disengaged from the second portion 62a2 as the yarn Y is hooked by the hook 41a formed on the bobbin holder 41. The yarn Y having been disengaged from the second portion 62a2 makes contact with the guide portion 65b of the bunch guide 65. Thereafter, the yarn Y moves along the inclination of the guide portion 65b and reaches the holding portion 65a. As shown in FIG. 9, the holding portion 65a holds the yarn Y at the bunch winding position x of the bobbin Bw.
The yarn Y disengaged from the second portion 62a2 and held by the bunch guide 65 is held by the bunch guide 65 at a part on the upstream of the hook 41a in the yarn running direction, and the yarn Y is engaged with the first portion 62a1 at a part on the downstream of the hook 41a in the yarn running direction. In this state, as the bobbin holder 41 further rotates, the yarn Y hooked by the hook 41a is guided to the position where the cutter 40a is provided on the cradle arm 40, and the yarn Y is cut by the cutter 40a. A part of the yarn Y having been cut by the cutter 40a, which is on the downstream of the cutter 40a in the yarn running direction, is sucked by the yarn holding member 61 and collected. With this, the yarn holding member 61 becomes no longer holds the yarn Y.
When the yarn Y is held by the bunch guide 65 as above, the bobbin Bw and the bobbin holders 41 integrally rotate, with the result that bunch winding is formed at the bunch winding position x (step S5).
While the bunch winding is being performed, the control unit 64 drives the yarn threading arm driving motor 89 so as to move the yarn threading arm 62 to the intermediate position (position of the yarn threading arm in FIG. 10) (step S6). The intermediate position is a position where the yarn threading arm 62 does not make contact with the yarn Y held by the bunch guide 65, and is a position between the yarn threading position and the standby position. The intermediate position is preferably as close as possible to the standby position. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when viewed in the up-down direction, the intermediate position is a position of the yarn threading arm 62 after the yarn threading arm 62 is rotated counterclockwise about the rotational shaft 62b for about 60 degrees from the standby position.
When the bunch winding is completed, the control unit 64 drives the traverse guide driving motor 90 to start, in the predetermined traveling range M, the reciprocal movement of the traverse guide 72 that waits outside the predetermined traveling range M (step S7). To put it differently, in the step S7, the control unit 64 controls the traverse guide 72 to move to the outside of the predetermined traveling range M in the base longitudinal direction, controls the traverse guide 72 to catch the yarn Y disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a through the bunch guide 65, and then controls the traverse guide 72 to perform reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M. The time for completing the bunch winding is, for example, set in advance and stored in the control unit 64. As shown in FIG. 11, after starting the movement and before starting the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M, the traverse guide 72 catches the yarn Y held by the bunch guide 65. In accordance with further movement of the traverse guide 72, the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 moves along the inclination of the inclined portion 65a1 and the guide portion 65b of the holding portion 65a (see FIG. 4), and is then disengaged from the guide portion 65b. In other words, the bunch guide 65 is arranged so that, before the traverse guide 72 starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M, the yarn Y held by the bunch guide 65 is caught by the traverse guide 72 outside the predetermined traveling range M and is disengaged from the bunch guide 65.
The control unit 64 is able to switch the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 performing reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M, between a first speed and a second speed. The first speed is traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 when the yarn Y is traversed in the traversal range r in order to wind the yarn Y onto the bobbin Bw. The first speed is a value that varies in accordance with, for example, the winding speed of winding the yarn Y onto the bobbin Bw, the helix angle, and the tension at the time of the winding. The second speed is lower than the first speed, e.g., a third of the first speed. The control unit 64 controls the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 to be the second speed during an initial period which is from the start of the reciprocal movement of the traverse guide 72 from the end portion on one side (right side in the plane of FIG. 2) in the base longitudinal direction of the predetermined traveling range M to the first arrival of the traverse guide 72 at the end portion on the other side (left side in the plane of FIG. 2) in the base longitudinal direction of the predetermined traveling range M (step S8). To put it differently, the control unit 64 sets the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 at the second speed in the first forward travel of the traverse guide 72 within the predetermined traveling range M.
As shown in FIG. 12, when the traverse guide 72 is traveling within the predetermined traveling range M at the second speed and the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 does not exist on the movement trace of the yarn threading arm 62 between the yarn threading position and the standby position, the control unit 64 moves the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position (step S9; see a full-line arrow in FIG. 12). To put it differently, the control unit 64 sets the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 at the second speed when the yarn threading arm 62 is moved to the standby position without allowing the yarn threading arm 62 to make contact with the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 performing the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M. In the step S9, a timing at which the control unit 64 moves the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position is calculated in advance. To be more specific, based on the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 and the traveling speed of the yarn threading arm 62, the control unit 64 calculates the timing to the move the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position in advance.
The control unit 64 controls the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 to be the first speed during a second period which is after the initial period in which the traverse guide 72 is moved at the second speed (step S10). The second period is, for example, a period from the end of the initial period to the formation of a completed wound package Pw.
As the traverse guide 72 holding the yarn Y repeats the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M at the first speed, the yarn Y is wound onto the bobbin Bw and the formation of the wound package Pw is completed. In this way, the winding of the yarn Y is completed. Once the winding of the yarn Y is completed, the rotation of the bobbin Bw is stopped, the completed wound package Pw is sent from the cradle arm 40 to an unillustrated package storage unit, and an empty bobbin Bw is newly set at the cradle arm 40. Then the above-described steps S1 to S10 are executed again. The sending of the wound package Pw from the cradle arm 40 and the setting of the empty bobbin Bw to the cradle arm 40 are not described.

(Effects)

The yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment includes the yarn holding member 61 temporarily holding the yarn Y, the yarn threading arm 62 having the yarn engagement portion 62a, the traverse guide 72, and the control unit 64. The yarn engagement portion 62a is arranged to be engaged with the yarn Y that is held by the yarn holding member 61 while the yarn threading arm 62 is moving from the standby position to the yarn threading position, and when the yarn threading arm 62 is at the yarn threading position, the yarn Y is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a. In the yarn threading apparatus 60, a region where the yarn engagement portion 62a makes contact with the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 performing reciprocal movement in the predetermined traveling range M exists on the movement trace of the yarn threading arm 62 between the yarn threading position and the standby position. The yarn holding member 61 is configured to cancel the holding of the yarn Y in accordance with yarn threading to a part outside the traversal range r of the bobbin Bw. The traverse guide 72 is movable to the outside of the predetermined traveling range M, along the base longitudinal direction. The control unit 64 controls the traverse guide 72 to move to the outside of the predetermined traveling range M in the base longitudinal direction and controls the traverse guide 72 to catch the yarn Y disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a, and then controls the traverse guide 72 to perform reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M. When the traverse guide 72 is performing reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M and the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 does not exist on the movement trace of the yarn threading arm 62 between the yarn threading position and the standby position, the control unit 64 moves the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position.
The false-twist texturing machine 1 of the present embodiment includes the yarn supplying unit 2 for supplying the yarns Y, the processing unit 3 which performs the false twisting of the yarns Y supplied from the yarn supplying unit 2, and the winding unit 4 which winds the yarns Y false-twisted by the processing unit 3 onto the bobbins Bw. The winding unit 4 includes the winding device 21 which is configured to form the wound package Pw by winding the yarn Y onto the bobbin Bw attached to the bobbin holder 41 and the yarn threading apparatus 60.
According to the present embodiment, before the traverse guide 72 starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M (i.e., before the yarn Y is traversed within the traversal range r), the yarn Y is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a when the yarn threading arm 62 is at the yarn threading position, and the yarn Y is caught by the traverse guide 72 through the bunch guide 65. On this account, during the time period from the disengagement of the yarn Y from the yarn engagement portion 62a to the catch of the yarn Y by the traverse guide 72, the yarn Y is not positioned in the traversal range r and hence the formation of straight winding in the traversal range r is avoided. In this arrangement, however, if the yarn threading arm 62 is returned to the standby position immediately after the release of the yarn Y from the yarn engagement portion 62a, the yarn threading arm 62 disadvantageously hooks the yarn disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a and held by the bunch guide 65, while the yarn threading arm 62 is returning to the standby position.
This disadvantage will be detailed below with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15. To begin with, when the yarn threading arm 62 reaches the yarn threading position after the step S4 of the present embodiment, the yarn Y is released from the yarn engagement portion 62a and the yarn Y is held by the bunch guide 65. If the yarn threading arm 62 is returned to the standby position immediately after the operation above, the yarn engagement portion 62a disadvantageously hooks the yarn Y held by the bunch guide 65 while the yarn threading arm 62 is returning from the yarn threading position to the standby position. To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the yarn Y held by the bunch guide 65 is hooked by the yarn engagement portion 62a which is returning to the standby position, at a position upstream of the bunch guide 65 in the yarn running direction. This problem occurs due to the reason described below. As shown in FIG. 15, in the arrangement of the yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, as the yarn threading arm 62 moves from the yarn threading position to the standby position, the yarn engagement portion 62a moves downward. As shown in FIG. 15, when the yarn threading arm 62 is at a predetermined position between the yarn threading position and the standby position, the position of a part of the yarn engagement portion 62a in the up-down direction is identical with a position in the up-down direction of the yarn Y running between the bunch guide 65 and the traversing fulcrum guide 100. Due to this, the yarn Y held by the bunch guide 65 is disadvantageously hooked by the yarn engagement portion 62a. If the yarn threading arm 62 is returned to the standby position with the yarn Y being engaged with the yarn engagement portion 62a, a fulcrum of traversal of the yarn Y is disadvantageously moved from the intended fulcrum (traversing fulcrum guide 100) to the yarn engagement portion 62a. This may cause problems such as yarn breakage and an abnormal shape of the wound package Pw due to improper traversal of the yarn Y by the traverse guide 72.
On this account, after the yarn Y is caught by the traverse guide 72 and the yarn Y is disengaged from the bunch guide 65, the yarn threading arm 62 must be returned to the standby position. However, the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 similarly involves the problem that the yarn engagement portion 62a disadvantageously hooks the yarn Y while the yarn threading arm 62 is returning from the yarn threading position to the standby position. This is because, when the yarn threading arm 62 is at a predetermined position between the yarn threading position and the standby position, the position of a part of the yarn engagement portion 62a in the up-down direction is identical with the position in the up-down direction of the yarn Y running between the traverse guide 72 and the traversing fulcrum guide 100. On this account, in the yarn threading apparatus 60, a region where the yarn engagement portion 62a makes contact with the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 performing reciprocal movement in the predetermined traveling range M exists on the movement trace of the yarn threading arm 62 between the yarn threading position and the standby position. Therefore, depending on the position of the traversed yarn Y in the base longitudinal direction, the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 is disadvantageously engaged with the yarn engagement portion 62a. For example, in order to avoid the contact between the yarn threading arm 62 and the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72, the traverse guide 72 may perform reciprocal movement within a range in which the traverse guide 72 does not make contact with the yarn threading arm 62, while the yarn threading arm 62 is returned to the standby position. In this case, however, the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 that performs reciprocal movement within the range in which the traverse guide 72 does not make contact with the yarn threading arm 62 is wound only a part of the entire traversal range r of the bobbin Bw. Consequently, the amount of the yarn wound on the part of the bobbin Bw is larger than the amount of the yarn Y wound on the remaining part. To put it differently, when the yarn threading arm 62 is returned to the standby position, the part of the wound package Pw swells and the shape of the package becomes irregular. In this regard, according to the present embodiment, the yarn threading arm 62 is returned to the standby position in such a way that, after the traverse guide 72 starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M, the yarn threading arm 62 does not make contact with the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72. On this account, when the yarn threading arm 62 is returned, the yarn Y is equally wound onto the entirety of the traversal range r of the bobbin Bw, with the result that the shape of the wound package Pw is less likely to become irregular. According to the present embodiment, it is therefore possible to obtain the wound package Pw with a proper shape while preventing formation of straight winding on the bobbin Bw when yarn threading onto the bobbin Bw is performed.
In the yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, the yarn threading arm 62 is driven by the yarn threading arm driving motor 89. This arrangement makes it possible to precisely control the timing to move the yarn threading arm 62.
In the yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, the traverse guide 72 is driven by the traverse guide driving motor 90, and the yarn threading arm driving motor 89 and the traverse guide driving motor 90 are controlled by the common control unit 64. With this arrangement, a time lag in signal transmission between a control unit 64 driving the yarn threading arm driving motor 89 and a control unit 64 driving the traverse guide driving motor 90 is eliminated, and precise control of timings to drive the traverse guide 72 and the yarn threading arm 62 is facilitated.
In the yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, the control unit 64 is able to switch the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 performing reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M between the first speed and the second speed that is lower than the first speed, and controls the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 to the second speed when the yarn threading arm 62 is moved to the standby position. With this arrangement, the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 is arranged to be low when the yarn threading arm 62 is returned to the standby position. This elongates the time during which the yarn threading arm 62 does not make contact with the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72. On this account, when the yarn threading arm 62 is returned to the standby position, the contact between the yarn threading arm 62 and the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 is avoided even if there is a time lag in signal transfer for driving the yarn threading arm 62 and the timing to drive the yarn threading arm 62 is deviated.
In the yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, the control unit 64 arranges the traveling speed of the traverse guide to be the second speed during the initial period which is, in the base longitudinal direction, from the start of the reciprocal movement of the traverse guide 72 from the end portion on one side of the predetermined traveling range M to the arrival of the traverse guide 72 at the end portion on the other side of the predetermined traveling range M for the first time. The control unit 64 then controls the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 to be the first speed during the second period after the initial period. As the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 changes, the helix angle of the yarn Y wound onto the bobbin Bw changes accordingly. According to the present embodiment, the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 that performs reciprocal movement in order to traverse the yarn Y changes once. On this account, the helix angle changes at only one part, and hence the shape of the wound package Pw is maintained to be beautiful as compared to a case where the helix angle changes at plural parts.
In the yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, before the traverse guide 72 starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M, the control unit 64 moves the yarn threading arm 62 to the intermediate position which is between the yarn threading position and the standby position and where the yarn threading arm 62 does not make contact with the yarn Y. In the present embodiment, the yarn threading arm 62 is moved to the intermediate position in advance before the traverse guide 72 performs the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M. Thereafter, while the traverse guide 72 performs the reciprocal movement and the yarn Y is traversed, the yarn threading arm 62 at the intermediate position is returned to the standby position. On this account, the time required for returning the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position is shortened as compared to a case where the yarn threading arm 62 is returned from the yarn threading position to the standby position. The risk of contact between the yarn threading arm 62 rapidly returning to the standby position and the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 is therefore reduced, even if the timing to drive the yarn threading arm 62 is slightly deviated.
In the yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, based on the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 and the traveling speed of the yarn threading arm 62, the control unit 64 calculates the timing to move the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position in advance. With this arrangement, it is possible to calculate a timing to return the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position in advance based on the traveling speed of each of the traverse guide 72 and the yarn threading arm 62 and in consideration of the time lag of signal transfer for driving the yarn threading arm 62. On this account, timings to drive the yarn threading arm 62 and the traverse guide 72 are less likely to be deviated from each other, and the contact between the yarn threading arm 62 and the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 is accurately avoided.
In the yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, the yarn engagement portion 62a is a rod member. Because the yarn engagement portion 62a is a rod member, i.e., a narrow member, the weight of the yarn threading arm 62 is reduced. On this account, when the yarn threading arm 62 is returned to the standby position by a predetermined driving force, the yarn threading arm 62 is swiftly returned to the standby position as compared to a case where the yarn threading arm 62 is heavy. Due to this, the risk of contact between the yarn threading arm 62 and the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 is further reduced. Furthermore, because the shape of the yarn engagement portion 62a with which the yarn Y can be engaged is formed simply by bending a rod member, the processing can be easily done. Moreover, the yarn engagement portion 62a is preferably a columnar or cylindrical rod member. With this arrangement, because a cross section of the yarn engagement portion 62a is a curved surface, the yarn Y engaged with the yarn engagement portion 62a is less likely to be damaged, with the result that decrease in quality of the yarn Y is suppressed.
In the yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, the yarn threading arm 62 includes the main body 62c to which the yarn engagement portion 62a is attached, and the main body 62c is made of resin. Because the main body 62c is made of resin, the weight of the yarn threading arm 62 is reduced. On this account, when the yarn threading arm 62 is returned to the standby position by a predetermined driving force, the yarn threading arm 62 is swiftly returned to the standby position as compared to a case where the yarn threading arm 62 is heavy. Due to this, the risk of contact between the yarn threading arm 62 and the yarn Y caught by the traverse guide 72 is further reduced.
In the yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment, the yarn threading arm 62 is swingable between the yarn threading position and the standby position about the rotational shaft 62b formed at the base end portion of the yarn threading arm 62. With this arrangement, the yarn threading arm 62 is swiftly returned from the yarn threading position to the standby position as the yarn threading arm 62 is swung.
The yarn threading apparatus 60 of the present embodiment includes the hook 41a formed on the bobbin holder 41, and when the yarn threading arm 62 is at the yarn threading position, yarn threading to the outside of the traversal range r of the bobbin Bw is performed as the yarn Y engaged with the yarn engagement portion 62a is hooked by the hook 41a. The yarn engagement portion 62a is arranged so that the yarn Y is disengaged in accordance with yarn threading to the hook 41a. The yarn threading apparatus 60 further includes the bunch guide 65 that holds, outside the traversal range r, the yarn Y disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a. The bunch guide 65 is arranged so that, before the traverse guide 72 starts reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M, the yarn Y held by the bunch guide 65 is caught by the traverse guide 72 outside the predetermined traveling range M so that the yarn Y is disengaged from the bunch guide 65. In the present embodiment, on account of the presence of the hook 41a, the yarn Y is smoothly disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a. The yarn Y disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a is then held by the bunch guide 65 at a position outside the traversal range r, and the yarn Y is bunch-wound at a part outside the traversal range r of the bobbin Bw. Thereafter, before the traverse guide 72 starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M, the yarn Y held by the bunch guide 65 is caught by the traverse guide 72 outside the predetermined traveling range M, and hence the yarn Y is disengaged from the bunch guide 65. On this account, until the yarn Y disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a and held by the bunch guide 65 is caught by the traverse guide 72, the yarn Y does not exist in the traversal range r and hence the formation of straight winding in the traversal range r is avoided.

(Modifications)

The following will describe modifications of the above-described embodiment. The members identical with those in the embodiment above will be denoted by the same reference signs and the explanations thereof may not be repeated.
In the embodiment above, based on the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 and the traveling speed of the yarn threading arm 62, the control unit 64 calculates the timing to the move the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position in advance. In this regard, the control unit 64 may not calculate the timing to move the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position in advance. For example, the yarn threading apparatus 60 may include a sensor configured to detect the location of the traverse guide 72. The control unit 64 may determine the timing to move the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position based on the location of the traverse guide 72 detected by the sensor. With this arrangement, the timing to drive the yarn threading arm 62 is determined based on the current location of the traverse guide 72. It is therefore unnecessary to perform a complicated calculation process for calculating the timing to drive the yarn threading arm 62.
In the embodiment, the yarn threading arm driving motor 89 and the traverse guide driving motor 90 are controlled by the common control unit 64. In this regard, the yarn threading arm driving motor 89 and the traverse guide driving motor 90 may be controlled by different control units 64, respectively.
In the embodiment above, the control unit 64 is able to switch the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 performing reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M, between the first speed and the second speed. Alternatively, the control unit 64 may set the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 performing reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M only at the first speed. In this case, the control unit 64 moves the yarn threading arm 62 to the standby position when the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 is the first speed.
In the embodiment above, the control unit 64 arranges the traveling speed of the traverse guide to be the second speed during the initial period which is, in the base longitudinal direction, from the start of the reciprocal movement of the traverse guide 72 from the end portion on one side of the predetermined traveling range M to the arrival of the traverse guide 72 at the end portion on the other side of the predetermined traveling range M for the first time. The control unit 64 then controls the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 to be the first speed during the second period after the initial period. Alternatively, the control unit 64 may change the traveling speed of the traverse guide to the second speed at a given timing while the traverse guide 72 is performing reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M. For example, the control unit 64 may set the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 at the first speed until a given timing comes after the traverse guide 72 starts the reciprocal movement from the end portion on one side of the predetermined traveling range M, and may switch the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 to the second speed at the given timing. In this case, the control unit 64 preferably sets the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 at the second speed when the yarn threading arm 62 is moved to the standby position. In this case, furthermore, after the yarn threading arm 62 is moved to the standby position, the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 is preferably switched to the first speed again.
In the embodiment above, the second period is a period from the end of the initial period to the formation of a completed wound package Pw. However, the second period is not limited to this arrangement. For example, during a period from the end of the initial period to the formation of a completed wound package Pw, the second period may be switched to another period in which the traveling speed of the traverse guide 72 is different from the first speed.
In the embodiment above, the control unit 64 moves the yarn threading arm 62 to the intermediate position in advance before causing the traverse guide 72 to start the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M. In this regard, the control unit 64 may not move the yarn threading arm 62 to the intermediate position. In this case, after the traverse guide 72 starts reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M, the control unit 64 moves the yarn threading arm 62 from the yarn threading position to the standby position.
In the embodiment above, the yarn threading arm 62 is driven by the yarn threading arm driving motor. Alternatively, the yarn threading arm 62 may be driven by an air cylinder, for example. In this case, members such as a solenoid valve for moving the air cylinder are controlled by the control unit 64.
In the embodiment above, before the yarn threading arm 62 is moved from the standby position to the yarn threading position, the control unit 64 drives the package driving motor 88 that rotationally drives the contact roller 50 which is provided to rotate the bobbin Bw and the bobbin holder 41 in an integral manner. Alternatively, the control unit 64 may drive the package driving motor 88 after the yarn threading arm 62 reaches the yarn threading position.
In the embodiment above, the control unit 64 moves the yarn threading arm 62 to the intermediate position while the bunch winding is being performed. In this regard, the control unit 64 may move the yarn threading arm 62 to the intermediate position at any time after the yarn threading arm 62 is moved to the yarn threading position and the yarn Y is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a and before the traverse guide 72 performs reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range M. For example, the control unit 64 may move the yarn threading arm 62 to the intermediate position after the formation of bunch winding.
In the embodiment above, the guide portion 65b is partially on the traversal range r side of the yarn engagement portion 62a of the yarn threading arm 62 at the yarn threading position. Alternatively, the guide portion 65b may be entirely on the traversal range r side of the yarn engagement portion 62a of the yarn threading arm 62 at the yarn threading position. The bunch guide 65 may include only the holding portion 65a.
In the embodiment above, the bunch guide 65 is a bended rod member. Alternatively, the bunch guide 65 may be a straight rod member. In this case, the bunch guide 65 is tilted downward from the traversal range r in the base longitudinal direction toward the bunch winding position x. The bunch guide 65 may be a plate member or a member having a different shape.
In the embodiment above, the holding portion 65a and the guide portion 65b are integrally formed. Alternatively, the holding portion 65a and the guide portion 65b may be different members.
In the embodiment above, the bunch guide 65 is provided on the bobbin holder side of the traverse guide 72 in the base width direction. Alternatively, the bunch guide 65 may be provided on the fourth feed roller 20 side of the traverse guide 72 in the base width direction.
In the embodiment above, the yarn engagement portion 62a is a rod member. In this regard, the yarn engagement portion 62a may not be a rod member. In the embodiment above, the yarn engagement portion main body 62c is made of resin. In this regard, the main body 62c may not be made of resin.
In the embodiment above, the yarn engagement portion 62a is arranged so that the yarn Y is disengaged in accordance with yarn threading to the hook 41a. The yarn engagement portion 62a, however, may not be arranged in this way. For example, the yarn engagement portion 62a may be arranged so that the yarn Y is disengaged by utilizing a predetermined yarn disengagement operation different from the traversal by the traverse guide 72. In this case, the hook 41a may not be formed on the bobbin holder 41.
In the embodiment above, the yarn Y disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a while the yarn threading arm 62 is at the yarn threading position is held by the bunch guide 65. In this regard, the yarn Y disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a while the yarn threading arm 62 is at the yarn threading position may be held by a member different from the bunch guide 65. Alternatively, the yarn Y disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a while the yarn threading arm 62 is at the yarn threading position may be directly caught by the traverse guide 72. In this case, the control unit 64 causes the traverse guide 72 to catch the yarn Y at a location outside the predetermined traveling range M.
In the embodiment above, bunch winding to the bunch winding position x of the bobbin Bw is performed while the yarn Y is held by the bunch guide 65. In this regard, bunch winding to the bunch winding position x of the bobbin Bw may be performed while the yarn Y is engaged with the yarn engagement portion 62a of the yarn threading arm 62 at the yarn threading position. In this case, after the completion of the bunch winding, for example, the yarn Y is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion 62a by utilizing the above-described yarn disengagement operation by the traverse guide 72.
In the embodiment above, the yarn threading arm 62 is swingable about the rotational shaft 62b between the yarn threading position and the standby position. In this regard, the yarn threading arm 62 may not be swingable about the rotational shaft 62b between the yarn threading position and the standby position. For example, the yarn threading arm 62 may move along a V-shaped movement trace between the yarn threading position and the standby position.
In the embodiment above, the yarn threading apparatus 60 is applied to the winding device 21 of the false-twist texturing machine 1. The yarn threading apparatus 60 may be applied not only to the winding device of the false-twist texturing machine 1 but also to a winding device of a rewinder.

Claims

A yarn threading apparatus (60) for threading a yarn (Y) to a bobbin holder (41) supporting a bobbin (Bw) on which the yarn (Y) is wound, comprising:
a traverse guide (72) which is configured to traverse the yarn (Y) within a predetermined traversal range (r) by performing reciprocal movement within a predetermined traveling range (M) along an axial direction of the bobbin holder (41);

a yarn holding member (61) which is configured to temporarily hold the yarn (Y);

a yarn threading member (62) which includes a yarn engagement portion (62a) with which the yarn (Y) held by the yarn holding member (61) is engaged and is movable between a yarn threading position where the yarn (Y) engaged with the yarn engagement portion (62a) is threaded to a part outside the traversal range (r) of the bobbin (Bw) and a standby position; and

a control unit (64) which is configured to control drive of the yarn threading member (62) and the traverse guide (72),

the yarn engagement portion (62a) being arranged so that the yarn (Y) that is held by the yarn holding member (61) is engaged with the yarn engagement portion (62a) while the yarn threading member (62) is moving from the standby position to the yarn threading position, and the yarn (Y) is disengaged from the yarn engagement portion (62a) when the yarn threading member (62) is at the yarn threading position,

on a movement trace of the yarn threading member (62) between the yarn threading position and the standby position, there is a region where the yarn engagement portion (62a) is in contact with the yarn (Y) caught by the traverse guide (72) performing the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range (M),

the yarn holding member (61) canceling holding of the yarn (Y) in accordance with yarn threading to the part outside the traversal range (r) of the bobbin (Bw),

the traverse guide (72) being movable to the outside of the predetermined traveling range (M) along the axial direction,

the control unit (64) controlling the traverse guide (72) to perform the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range (M) after the traverse guide (72) is moved to the outside of the predetermined traveling range (M) in the axial direction and the yarn (Y) disengaged from the yarn engagement portion (62a) is caught by the traverse guide (72), and

the control unit (64) controlling the yarn threading member (62) to move to the standby position when the traverse guide (72) is performing the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range (M) and the yarn (Y) caught by the traverse guide (72) does not exist on the movement trace of the yarn threading member (62) between the yarn threading position and the standby position.
The yarn threading apparatus (60) according to claim 1, wherein, the yarn threading member (62) is driven by a first motor (89).
The yarn threading apparatus (60) according to claim 2, wherein,
the traverse guide (72) is driven by a second motor (90), and

the first motor (89) and the second motor (90) are controlled by the common control unit (64).
The yarn threading apparatus (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein,
the control unit (64) is able to switch traveling speed of the traverse guide (72) performing the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range (M) between first speed and second speed that is lower than the first speed, and

the control unit (64) controls the traveling speed of the traverse guide (72) to be the second speed when the yarn threading member (62) is moved to the standby position.
The yarn threading apparatus (60) according to claim 4, wherein,
the control unit (64) sets the traveling speed of the traverse guide (72) at the second speed during an initial period which is, in the axial direction of the bobbin holder (41), from start of the reciprocal movement of the traverse guide (72) from an end portion on one side of the predetermined traveling range (M) to arrival of the traverse guide (72) at an end portion on the other side of the predetermined traveling range (M) for the first time, and

the control unit (64) controls the traveling speed of the traverse guide (72) to be the first speed during a second period that is after the initial period.
The yarn threading apparatus (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, before the traverse guide (72) starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range (M), the control unit (64) moves the yarn threading member (62) to an intermediate position which is between the yarn threading position and the standby position and where the yarn threading member (62) does not make contact with the yarn (Y).
The yarn threading apparatus (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, the control unit (64) calculates a timing to move the yarn threading member (62) to the standby position in advance, based on the traveling speed of the traverse guide (72) and the traveling speed of the yarn threading member (62).
The yarn threading apparatus (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising
a sensor which is provided to detect a location of the traverse guide (72),

the control unit (64) determining a timing to move the yarn threading member (62) to the standby position based on the location of the traverse guide (72) detected by the sensor.
The yarn threading apparatus (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, the yarn engagement portion (62a) is a rod member.
The yarn threading apparatus (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein,
the yarn threading member (62) includes a main body (62c) to which the yarn engagement portion (62a) is attached, and

the main body (62c) is made of resin.
The yarn threading apparatus (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, the yarn threading member (62) is swingable between the yarn threading position and the standby position about a rotational shaft (62b) which is formed at a base end portion of the yarn threading member (62) .
The yarn threading apparatus (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising
a yarn hooking portion (41a) which is formed on the bobbin holder (41),

when the yarn threading member (62) is at the yarn threading position, yarn threading to the part outside the traversal range (r) of the bobbin (Bw) being performed as the yarn (Y) engaged with the yarn engagement portion (62a) is threaded to the yarn hooking portion (41a),

the yarn (Y) being disengaged from the yarn engagement portion (62a) in accordance with the yarn threading to the yarn hooking portion (41a),

the yarn threading apparatus (60) further comprising a bunch guide (65) which holds the yarn (Y) disengaged from the yarn engagement portion (62a), at a part outside the traversal range (r), and

the bunch guide (65) being arranged so that, before the traverse guide (72) starts the reciprocal movement within the predetermined traveling range (M), the yarn (Y) held by the bunch guide (65) is caught by the traverse guide (72) outside the predetermined traveling range (M) so that the yarn (Y) is disengaged from the bunch guide (65).
A false-twist texturing machine (1) comprising:
a yarn supplying unit (2) which is configured to supply a yarn (Y);

a processing unit (3) which is configured to false-twist the yarn (Y) supplied from the yarn supplying unit (2); and

a winding unit (4) which is configured to wind the yarn (Y) false-twisted by the processing unit (3),

the winding unit (4) including:
a winding device (21) which is configured to form a package (Pw) by winding the yarn (Y) onto a bobbin (Bw) attached to a bobbin holder (41); and

the yarn threading apparatus (60) of any one of claims 1 to 12.