Yarn winding apparatus

Abstract

In a yarn winding apparatus, the state of a yarn is accurately detected with a simple structure. In a traverse device, a fulcrum guide 61 serving as a fulcrum of traversal is conductive or intermediate-conductive at least at a contact portion with a yarn. A static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 outputs a signal corresponding to the quantity of static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61. When the maximum change quantity ΔE of the static electricity quantity indicated the signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 during a period from a time point before a predetermined time to the present is equal to or less than a threshold ΔEa (S102: YES), a controller 52 outputs a first signal which indicates that the state of the yarn at the fulcrum guide 10 is a predetermined state (S103). When the maximum change quantity ΔE is above the threshold ΔEa (S102: NO), the controller 52 outputs a second signal which indicates that the state of the yarn at the fulcrum guide 61 is not the predetermined state (S104).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a yarn winding apparatus.

[0002] In a yarn breakage detector of Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. S48-98132), a collector is provided for a running yarn. The collector is in contact with the yarn and detects static electricity generated by the contact with the running yarn. In Patent Literature 1, yarn breakage is detected based on the static electricity detected by the collector. Patent Literature 2 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2015-78455) describes, as a yarn winding apparatus, a spun yarn take-up winder configured to wind a yarn spun out from a spinning apparatus.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Here, assume that a yarn breakage detector recited in Patent Literature 1 is provided in a yarn winding apparatus recited in Patent Literature 2. In this case, in the yarn breakage detector of Patent Literature 1, because dedicated collectors are provided for yarns, respectively, the number of parts is large on account of the collectors. In the case above, furthermore, it is necessary to secure a space for arranging the collectors in the yarn winding apparatus where the yarn breakage detector is provided. For these reasons, when providing a yarn breakage detector recited in Patent Literature 1 in a yarn winding apparatus recited in Patent Literature 2, the structure of the yarn winding apparatus may become disadvantageously complicated.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a yarn winding apparatus which is capable of detecting the state of a yarn with a simple structure.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, a yarn winding apparatus includes at least one traverse device configured to traverse at least one running yarn and winding the at least one yarn traversed by the at least one traverse device onto at least one bobbin, the at least one traverse device each including a fulcrum guide that makes contact with the yarn and serves as a fulcrum for traversal, the fulcrum guide being conductive or intermediate-conductive at least at a contact portion with the yarn, and a static electricity quantity detection unit being provided to detect static electricity quantity of static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide.

[0006] In this aspect of the present invention, the state of the yarn can be detected based on a detection result of the static electricity quantity generated in the fulcrum guide.

[0007] Furthermore, if, being different from the present invention, a dedicated contact member where static electricity is generated due to the contact with a yarn is provided and the quantity of static electricity generated in the contact member is detected, the number of parts increases and a space for the contact member needs to be secured, with the result that the configuration of the yarn winding apparatus becomes complex. In this regard, according to the present invention, in the yarn winding apparatus provided with the traverse device including the fulcrum guide, the static electricity quantity generated in the fulcrum guide due to the contact between the yarn and the fulcrum guide is detected. It is therefore possible to simplify the configuration of the yarn winding apparatus as compared to the case where the dedicated contact member is additionally provided.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the invention, the yarn winding apparatus of the first aspect further includes a controller which is configured to output a yarn state signal indicating a state of the yarn at the fulcrum guide based on the static electricity quantity in the fulcrum guide detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit.

[0009] According to the aspect of the present invention, the controller outputs the yarn state signal based on the quantity of static electricity in the fulcrum guide. It is therefore possible to detect the state of the yarn based on the yarn state signal.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the invention, the yarn winding apparatus of the second aspect is arranged such that the controller outputs the yarn state signal based on magnitude relationship between a value of a parameter related to the static electricity quantity in the fulcrum guide detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit and a threshold.

[0011] According to the aspect of the present invention, the controller outputs the yarn state signal based on the magnitude relationship between the value of the parameter related to the static electricity quantity in the fulcrum guide and the threshold. It is therefore possible to detect whether the state of the yarn at the fulcrum guide is the predetermined state based on the yarn state signal.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the yarn winding device of the third aspect is arranged such that the value of the parameter is the maximum value of a change in the static electricity quantity in the fulcrum guide detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit.

[0013] According to the aspect of the present invention, the controller outputs the yarn state signal based on the magnitude relationship between the maximum value of the change of the static electricity quantity in the fulcrum guide and the threshold. It is therefore possible to detect whether the state of the yarn at the fulcrum guide is the predetermined state based on the yarn state signal.

[0014] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the yarn winding device of the third aspect is arranged such that the static electricity quantity detection unit detects the static electricity quantity by detecting a voltage or current generated in the fulcrum guide by the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide, and the value of the parameter is the value of the voltage or current detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit.

[0015] According to the aspect of the present invention, the controller outputs the yarn state signal based on the magnitude relationship between the value of the voltage or current generated in the fulcrum guide by the static electricity generated in the at least one fulcrum guide and the threshold. It is therefore possible to detect whether the state of the yarn at the at least one fulcrum guide is the predetermined state based on the yarn state signal.

[0016] According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the yarn winding apparatus of the second aspect is arranged such that the traverse devices are individually provided for yarns, respectively, the static electricity quantity detection unit detecting the static electricity quantity in each of the fulcrum guides of the traverse devices, and the controller outputs the yarn state signal based on a difference between the quantity of the static electricity in each of the fulcrum guides detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit and the quantity of the static electricity in a fulcrum guide different from the each of the fulcrum guides.

[0017] According to this aspect of the present invention, when plural traverse devices are provided, the controller outputs the yarn state signal based on a difference between the static electricity quantity at each fulcrum guide and the static electricity quantity at another fulcrum guide. It is therefore possible to detect whether the state of the yarn at the fulcrum guide is the predetermined state based on the yarn state signal.

[0018] According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the take-up winder of the sixth aspect is arranged such that the fulcrum guides are lined up in a single row, and the controller outputs the yarn state signal based on a difference between the quantity of the static electricity in each of the fulcrum guides detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit and the quantity of the static electricity in a fulcrum guide next to the each of the fulcrum guides.

[0019] When multiple fulcrum guides are aligned in a row and the states of the yarns at the fulcrum guides are the same, the difference between the static electricity quantity at each fulcrum guide and the static electricity quantity at a neighboring fulcrum guide is likely to be minimum. When the state of the yarn is changed at a fulcrum guide, the difference between the static electricity quantity at that fulcrum guide and the static electricity quantity at a neighboring fulcrum guide is likely to be increased. In contrast, in the present invention, the controller outputs the yarn state signal based on a difference between the static electricity quantity at a fulcrum guide and the static electricity quantity at a neighboring fulcrum guide. It is therefore possible to detect whether the state of the yarn at the fulcrum guide is the predetermined state based on the yarn state signal.

[0020] According to an eighth aspect of the invention, the yarn winding device of any one of the first to seventh aspects further includes a supporting member which is conductive and supports the fulcrum guide, the fulcrum guides being insulated from the supporting member.

[0021] According to the aspect of the present invention, because the fulcrum guide that is conductive or intermediate-conductive is insulated from the conductive supporting member, no current flows from the fulcrum guide to the supporting member when the static electricity is generated in that fulcrum guide. As a result, the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide by the contact between the yarn and the fulcrum guide increases, making it easier to detect the state of yarn based on the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide.

[0022] According to a ninth aspect of the invention, the yarn winding apparatus of any one of the first to seventh aspects is arranged such that the fulcrum guides are intermediate-conductive, a supporting member which is conductive and supports the fulcrum guides is provided, and the fulcrum guides are electrically connected to the supporting member.

[0023] From the perspective of detecting the state of a yarn based on the quantity of static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide, the quantity of static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide due to contact between the fulcrum guide and the yarn is preferably large. On the other hand, considering the effects of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide on the yarn, the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide is preferably not too large. According to the aspect of the present invention, the fulcrum guide that is intermediate-conductive is electrically connected to the supporting member that is conductive. With this, when static electricity is generated in the fulcrum guide, a current flows from the fulcrum guide to the supporting member. Due to this, the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide does not become too large. On the other hand, because the fulcrum guide is intermediate-conductive, a current is less likely to flow from the fulcrum guide to the supporting member as compared to a case where the fulcrum guide is conductive. Therefore, the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide due to the contact between the yarn and the fulcrum guide does not become too small, and the state of yarn can be detected based on the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide.

[0024] According to the present invention, the state of the yarn can be detected based on a detection result of the static electricity quantity generated in the fulcrum guide. Furthermore, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the yarn winding apparatus as compared to a case where a dedicated contact member in which static electricity is generated due to contact with a running yarn is additionally provided.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of oil supply guides and a drawing unit of a spun yarn take-up winder of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a take-up unit and a winding unit of the spun yarn take-up winder of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a fulcrum guide and its supporting structure. FIG. 4(a) is a block diagram showing the electrical connection relationship between a fulcrum guide, a static electricity quantity detection circuit, and a controller of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4(b) is a flowchart showing the processing flow for outputting a yarn state signal in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5(a) is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for outputting a yarn state signal in a modification 1, and FIG. 5(b) is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for outputting a yarn state signal in a modification 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for outputting a yarn state signal in a modification 3. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a fulcrum guide and its supporting structure in a modification 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The following will describe a preferred embodiment of the present invention.<Outline of Spun Yarn Take-Up Winder>

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a spun yarn take-up winder 1 of the present embodiment (a yarn winding apparatus of the present invention) includes a plurality of oil supply guides 10, a drawing unit 3, a take-up unit 4, and a winding unit 5. The following description uses a vertical direction, a front-rear direction, and a left-right direction which are defined as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The vertical direction is a direction in which the gravity acts. The front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the vertical direction are orthogonal to one another. The following description also uses (i) the upper side and the lower side in the vertical direction, (ii) the right side and the left side in the left-right direction, and (iii) the front side and the rear side in the front-rear direction which are defined as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.<Oil Supply Guide>

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, above the spun yarn take-up winder 1, a spinning unit 2 is provided. The spinning unit 2 has yarn spinning units 2A aligned in a row in the left-right direction. Each yarn spinning unit 2A spins out multiple filaments F made of a molten fibrous material such as polyester, to form a single yarn Y.

[0029] The oil supply guides 10 are individually provided for the respective yarn spinning units 2A. That is, each oil supply guide 10 is provided for a single yarn Y formed of multiple filaments F spun out from the corresponding yarn spinning unit 2A. The oil supply guides 10 are lined up to form a single row in the left-right direction. The oil supply guide 10 gathers the filaments F spun out from the corresponding yarn spinning unit 2A into a single yarn Y, and applies oil to the yarn Y.<Drawing Unit>

[0030] The drawing unit 3 is provided below the oil supply guides 10. The drawing unit 3 includes five godet rollers 11a to 11e. Each of the five godet rollers 11a to 11e has an axis parallel to the front-rear direction, and is rotationally driven by an unillustrated motor. Each of the five godet rollers 11a to 11e includes an unillustrated heater therein. The five godet rollers 11a to 11e are housed in a thermal insulation box 12 which is rectangular parallelepiped in shape. In a right side wall member of the thermal insulation box 12, a yarn inlet 12a through which the yarns Y are introduced into the thermal insulation box 12 and a yarn outlet 12b through which the yarns Y go outside from the thermal insulation box 12 are formed.

[0031] The yarns Y to which oil is applied by the oil supply guides 10 are aligned in a row by the yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide units 9A and 9B, and are guided by the guide roller 13 into the thermal insulation box 12 through the yarn inlet 12a.

[0032] To be more specific, the yarn guide unit 9A is provided below the oil supply guides 10. The yarn guide unit 9A includes yarn guides 45 aligned in a row in the left-right direction. The yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide unit 9A are individually provided for the respective yarns Y. The yarns Y to which oil is applied by the oil supply guides 10 are aligned in a row in the left-right direction by the yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide unit 9A.

[0033] The yarn guide unit 9B is provided below the yarn guide unit 9A. The yarn guide unit 9B includes yarn guides 45 aligned in a row in the front-rear direction. The yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide unit 9B are individually provided for the respective yarns Y. The alignment direction of the yarns Y is changed between the yarn guide unit 9A and the yarn guide unit 9B, and the yarns Y are aligned in a row in the front-rear direction by the yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide unit 9B.

[0034] The guide roller 13 is a roller having an axis substantially parallel to the front-rear direction and is provided below the yarn guide unit 9B. The yarns Y aligned in a row in the front-rear direction by the yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide unit 9B are conveyed by the guide roller 13 and introduced into the thermal insulation box 12 through the yarn inlet 12a. The yarns Y introduced into the thermal insulation box 12 are wound onto the five godet rollers 11a to 11e in order.

[0035] The upstream three godet rollers 11a to 11c are heating rollers for preheating the yarns Y before drawing the yarns Y. The surface temperatures of the godet rollers 11a to 11c are arranged to be equal to or higher than a glass transition temperature of the yarns Y. The yarns Y introduced into the thermal insulation box 12 through the yarn inlet 12a are preheated to a drawable temperature, i.e., the glass transition temperature or higher, while being conveyed by the upstream three godet rollers 11a to 11c.

[0036] The downstream two godet rollers 11d and 11e are heating rollers for thermally setting the drawn yarns Y. The surface temperatures of the godet rollers 11d and 11e are arranged to be higher than those of the upstream three godet rollers 11a to 11c. The surface speeds of the downstream two godet rollers 11d and 11e are higher than those of the upstream three godet rollers 11a to 11c.

[0037] The yarns Y preheated by the godet rollers 11a to 11c are drawn on account of a difference between the surface speeds of the godet roller 11c and the godet roller 11d. Thereafter, the yarns Y are further heated to high temperatures while being conveyed by the downstream two godet rollers 11d and 11e. As a result, the drawn state is thermally set. The yarns Y having been drawn in this way go out from the thermal insulation box 12 through the yarn outlet 12b. The yarns Y having exited the thermal insulation box 12 through the yarn outlet 12b are sent toward the take-up unit 4 by the guide roller 14.

[0038] In a yarn path between the yarn outlet 12b and the guide roller 14, interlacing guides 8 and yarn guide units 9C and 9D are provided. The interlacing guides 8 are provided for the respective yarns Y and are lined up in a row in the front-rear direction. Each interlacing guide 8 is configured to interlace the yarn Y. Because the structure of the interlacing guide 8 has been known, further details are not explained.

[0039] The yarn guide unit 9C is provided in a yarn path immediately upstream of the interlacing guides 8. The yarn guide unit 9D is provided in a yarn path immediately downstream of the interlacing guides 8. Each of the yarn guide units 9C and 9D has yarn guides 45 aligned in a row in the front-rear direction at approximately the same intervals as the interlacing guides 8. The yarn guides 45 of each of the yarn guide units 9C and 9D are individually provided for the respective yarns Y. The yarns Y are aligned in a row in the front-rear direction by the yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide unit 9C and the yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide unit 9D. The yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide units 9C and 9D support portions of the yarns Y, which are located upstream and downstream of portions of the yarns Y where interlacing is performed by the interlacing guides 8.

[0040] The guide roller 14 is a roller having an axis substantially parallel to the front-rear direction and is provided in a yarn path immediately downstream of the yarn guide unit 9D. The yarns Y aligned in a row in the front-rear direction by the yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide unit 9D are supplied to the take-up unit 4 by the guide roller 14.<Take-Up Unit>

[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the take-up unit 4 includes godet rollers 21 and 22.

[0042] The godet roller 21 has an axis parallel to the left-right direction, and is provided below the guide roller 14. In a yarn path that is between the guide roller 14 and the godet roller 21 in the vertical direction and is immediately upstream of the godet roller 21, a yarn guide unit 9E is provided. The yarn guide unit 9E includes yarn guides 45 aligned in a row in the left-right direction. The yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide unit 9E are individually provided for the respective yarns Y. The alignment direction of the yarns Y is changed between the yarn guide roller 14 and the yarn guide unit 9E, the yarns Y are aligned in a low in the left-right direction by the yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide unit 9E, and then the yarns Y are taken up by the godet roller 21. The godet roller 21 is rotationally driven by an unillustrated motor and sends the yarns Y aligned in the left-right direction by the yarn guides 45 of the thread guide unit 9E, toward the godet roller 22.

[0043] The godet roller 22 has an axis parallel to the left-right direction, and is provided on the rear side of the godet roller 21 in the front-rear direction. In a yarn path immediately upstream of the godet roller 22, a yarn guide unit 9F is provided. The yarn guide unit 9F includes yarn guides 45 aligned in a row in the left-right direction. The yarn guide units 9F are individually provided for the respective yarns Y. The yarns Y are aligned in a row in the left-right direction by the yarn guides 45 of the yarn guide unit 9F. The godet roller 22 is rotationally driven by an unillustrated motor and sends, toward the winding unit 5, the yarns Y aligned in the left-right direction by the yarn guides 45 of the thread guide unit 9F.

[0044] The take-up unit 4 further includes a guide rail 23 extending upward in the vertical direction toward the rear side in the front-rear direction. The godet roller 22 and the yarn guide unit 9F are attached to a slider 24 that is movable along the guide rail 23. The slider 24 is connected to an unillustrated motor by an unillustrated pulley, belt, etc. As this motor is driven, the slider 24 moves along the guide rail 23. With this arrangement, the godet roller 22 and the yarn guide unit 9F are movable between (i) a rear position which is indicated by solid lines in FIG. 2 and where winding of the yarns Y is performed and (ii) a front position which is indicated by one-dot chain lines in FIG. 2, which is closer to the godet roller 21 than the rear position and where yarn threading is performed.<Winding Unit>

[0045] The winding unit 5 includes traverse devices 30, a turret 71, two bobbin holders 72, and a contact roller 73. The traverse devices 30 are provided for the respective yarns Y, and are aligned in a row in the front-rear direction. Each traverse device 30 includes a fulcrum guide 61 and a traverse guide 62.

[0046] The fulcrum guides 61 of the respective traverse devices 30 are lined up in a row in the front-rear direction. The fulcrum guides 61 of the traverse devices 30 are attached to sliders 67, respectively. The sliders 67 are supported to be movable in the front-rear direction along a guide rail 68 extending in the front-rear direction. The sliders 67 are connected to an unillustrated cylinder. As this cylinder is driven, the sliders 67 move in the front-rear direction along the guide rail 68. With this arrangement, the fulcrum guides 61 are movable between (i) positions where the fulcrum guides 61 are separated from one another in the front-rear direction and where the winding of the yarns Y is performed and (ii) positions where the fulcrum guides 61 are gathered to the front side in the front-rear direction and where the yarn threading is performed. In the present embodiment, the slider 67 is equivalent to a supporting member of the present invention. The slider 67 and the guide rail 68 are conductive. In the present embodiment, when a member is conductive, the member is made of a material such as metal, whose volume resistivity is 10 -8< Ω·cm or less.

[0047] The following will describe the fulcrum guide 61 and the supporting structure of supporting the fulcrum guide 61 by the slider 67. As shown in FIG. 3, the slider 67 has a protruding portion 67A which is cylindrical in shape and protrudes rightward. The protruding portion 67A is conductive in the same manner as the other parts of the slider 67.

[0048] The fulcrum guide 61 is a cylindrical member that is conductive or intermediate-conductive, and the yarn Y makes contact with the outer circumference of the fulcrum guide 61. The inner diameter of the fulcrum guide 61 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the protruding portion 67A, and the protruding portion 67A is inserted into the fulcrum guide 61. When a member is intermediate-conductive in the present embodiment, for example, the member is made of a material such as zirconia, whose volume resistivity is 10 -7< Ω·cm or less and 10 -8< Ω·cm or more. Both when the fulcrum guide 61 is conductive and when the fulcrum guide 61 is intermediate-conductive, an electric current flows in the fulcrum guide 61 due to the static electricity generated by the contact between the running yarn Y and the fulcrum guide 61. Note that, when the fulcrum guide 61 is intermediate-conductive, the magnitude of the electric current is small as compared to the case where the yarn guide 61 is conductive.

[0049] Between the protruding portion 67A and the fulcrum guide 61, a cylindrical insulator 69 that is insulating is provided. As a result, the fulcrum guide 61 and the protruding portion 67A are insulated by the insulator 69. In the present embodiment, when a member is insulating, the member is made of a material such as resin, whose volume resistivity is 10 8< Ω·cm or more.

[0050] To the slider 67, a yarn guide 70 provided in a yarn path on the upstream of the fulcrum guide 61 is attached. With this, when the slider 67 moves in the front-rear direction, the fulcrum guide 61 and the yarn guide 70 move in the front-rear direction.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the traverse guides 62 of the traverse devices 30 are provided downstream of the corresponding fulcrum guides 61 in the running direction of the yarns Y, and are aligned in a row in the front-rear direction. Each traverse guide 62 is driven by an unillustrated motor to traverse the yarn Y in the front-rear direction about the fulcrum guide 61.

[0052] The turret 71 is a disc-shaped member having an axis parallel to the front-rear direction. The turret 71 is rotationally driven by an unillustrated motor. The two bobbin holders 72 have axes in parallel to the front-rear direction, and are rotatably supported at an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the turret 71. To each bobbin holder 72, bobbins B provided for the respective yarns Y are attached to be aligned in the front-rear direction. The two bobbin holders 72 are rotationally driven by unillustrated motors, respectively.

[0053] As the upper bobbin holder 72 is rotationally driven, the yarns Y traversed by the traverse devices 30 are wound onto bobbins B, so that packages P are formed. After the completion of the formation of the packages P, the positions of the two bobbin holders 72 are changed upside down as the turret 71 is rotated. As a result, the bobbin holder 72 having been at the lower position is moved to the upper position. This allows the yarns Y to be wound onto bobbins B attached to this bobbin holder 72, so as to form packages P. Meanwhile, the bobbin holder 72 having been at the upper position is accordingly moved to the lower position so that collection of packages P becomes possible.

[0054] The contact roller 73 is a roller having an axis parallel to the front-rear direction. The contact roller 73 is provided immediately above the upper bobbin holder 72. The contact roller 73 is configured to make contact with the yarns Y on surfaces of packages P formed by winding the yarns Y onto bobbins B attached to the upper bobbin holders 72, so as to apply a contact pressure to the surfaces of the unfinished packages P.<Detection of State of Yarn at Fulcrum Guide>

[0055] The following describes detection of the states of the yarns Y at the multiple fulcrum guides 61 of the traverse devices 30.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the spun yarn take-up winder 1 includes static electricity quantity detection circuits 51 and a controller 52, in addition to the above-described arrangement. The static electricity quantity detection circuits 51 are provided for the respective fulcrum guides 61 of the traverse devices 30 and are electrically connected to the corresponding fulcrum guides 61. Each static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 outputs a signal corresponding to the quantity of static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61. In the present embodiment, a combination of the static electricity quantity detection circuits 51 is equivalent to a static electricity quantity detection unit of the present invention.

[0057] The controller 52 is configured to output, for each of the static electricity quantity detection circuits 51, a yarn state signal indicating whether the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is a predetermined state based on the signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51. In this connection, when the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is the predetermined state, for example, the tension of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 falls within a normal range or the yarn Y is not broken at around the fulcrum guide 61. On the other hand, when the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is not the predetermined state, for example, the tension of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is out of the normal range or the yarn Y is broken at around the fulcrum guide 61.

[0058] In addition to the above, for example, although not detailed below, the controller 52 controls an unillustrated motor of the spun yarn take-up winder 1.

[0059] The following will detail the output of the yarn state signal by the controller 52. The controller 52 outputs the yarn state signal by performing processing for each of the static electricity quantity detection circuits 51 according to the flowchart in FIG. 4(b). The flowchart in FIG. 4(b) is detailed as follows. To begin with, the controller 52 calculates the maximum change quantity ΔE which is the maximum value of a change in static electricity quantity during a period from a time point before a predetermined time to the present, based on a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 during that period (S101). In the present embodiment, the value of the maximum change quantity ΔE is equivalent to a value of a parameter related to the quantity of static electricity of the present invention.

[0060] Subsequently, the controller 52 determines whether the maximum change quantity ΔE is (i) equal to or less than a threshold ΔEa or (ii) above the threshold ΔEa (S102). When the maximum change quantity ΔE is equal to or less than the threshold ΔEa (S102: YES), the controller 52 outputs, as a yarn state signal, a first signal which indicates that the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is a predetermined state (S103). When the maximum change quantity ΔE is above the threshold ΔEa (S102: NO), the controller 52 outputs, as the yarn state signal, a second signal which indicates that the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is not the predetermined state (S104). After the output of the yarn state signal in S103 or S104, the process goes back to S101.<Effects>

[0061] In the present embodiment, the state of the yarn Y can be detected based on a detection result of the static electricity quantity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 due to the contact between the running yarn Y and the fulcrum guide 61.

[0062] Furthermore, if, being different from the present invention, a dedicated contact member where static electricity is generated due to the contact with a yarn Y is additionally provided, the number of parts increases and a space for the contact member needs to be secured, with the result that the configuration of the spun yarn take-up winder 1 becomes complex. In this regard, according to the present embodiment, in the spun yarn take-up winder 1 provided with the traverse device 30 including the fulcrum guide 61, the static electricity quantity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 due to the contact between the yarn Y and the fulcrum guide 61 is detected. It is therefore possible to simplify the configuration of the spun yarn take-up winder 1 as compared to the case where the dedicated contact member is additionally provided.

[0063] In the present embodiment, the controller 52 outputs a yarn state signal indicating the state of the yarn Y based on a signal corresponding to the static electricity quantity generated in the fulcrum guide 61, which is output by the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51. Specifically, based on the magnitude relationship between the maximum change quantity ΔE which is the maximum value of a change in the quantity of static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 and the threshold ΔEa, the controller 52 outputs a yarn state signal indicating whether the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is the predetermined state. It is therefore possible to detect whether the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is the predetermined state based on the yarn state signal.

[0064] In the present embodiment, the fulcrum guide 61 is conductive or intermediate-conductive and the slider 67 supporting the fulcrum guide 61 is conductive, whereas the fulcrum guide 61 is insulated from the slider 67 by the insulator 69. Therefore, when static electricity is generated in the fulcrum guide 61, a current does not flow from the fulcrum guide 61 to the slider 67. As a result, the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 by the contact between yarn Y and the fulcrum guide 61 increases, making it easier to detect the state of yarn Y based on the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61.<Modifications>

[0065] A preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0066] In the embodiment above, the controller 52 outputs the yarn state signal based on the maximum change quantity ΔE which is the maximum value of a change in the quantity of static electricity in the fulcrum guide 61. The disclosure, however, is not limited to this.

[0067] In a modification 1, a static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 is configured to detect a voltage generated in a fulcrum guide 61 by static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61, and to output a signal corresponding to the voltage value V. In this regard, the larger the static electricity quantity generated in the fulcrum guide 61, the larger the above voltage value V. In the modification 1, the voltage value V is equivalent to the value of the parameter related to the quantity of the static electricity of the present invention.

[0068] A controller 52 then outputs a yarn state signal by performing processing for each of the static electricity quantity detection circuits 51 according to the flowchart in FIG. 5(a). To be more specific, to begin with, the controller 52 obtains a voltage value V based on a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 (S201).

[0069] Subsequently, the controller 52 determines whether the voltage value V falls within a range of equal to or greater than a voltage value Va and equal to or less than a voltage value Vb (S202). In the modification 1, each of the voltage value Va and the voltage value Vb corresponds to a threshold of the present invention.

[0070] When the voltage value V falls within the range of equal to or greater than the voltage value Va and equal to or less than the voltage value Vb (S202: YES), the controller 52 outputs a first signal as the yarn state signal (S203). When the voltage value V is less than the voltage value Va or the voltage value V is greater than the voltage value Vb (S202: NO), the controller 52 outputs a second signal as the yarn state signal (S204). After the output of the yarn state signal in S203 or S204, the process goes back to S201.

[0071] In the modification 1, the controller 52 outputs the yarn state signal based on the magnitude relationship between the voltage value V of the voltage generated in the fulcrum guide 61 by the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 and the voltage values Va and Vb that are thresholds. It is therefore possible to detect whether the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is the predetermined state based on the yarn state signal.

[0072] In a modification 2, a static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 is configured to detect a current generated in a fulcrum guide 61 by static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61, and output a signal corresponding to the current value I. In this regard, the larger the static electricity quantity generated in the fulcrum guide 61, the larger the above current value I. In the modification 2, the current value I is equivalent to the value of the parameter related to the quantity of the static electricity of the present invention.

[0073] A controller 52 then outputs the yarn state signal by performing processing for each of the static electricity quantity detection circuits 51 according to the flowchart in FIG. 5(b). To be more specific, to begin with, the controller 52 obtains a current value I based on a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 (S301).

[0074] Subsequently, the controller 52 determines whether the current value I falls within a range of equal to or greater than a current value Ia and equal to or less than a current value Ib (S302). In the modification 2, each of the current value Ia and the current value Ib corresponds to a threshold of the present invention.

[0075] When the current value I falls within the range of equal to or greater than the current value Ia and equal to or less than the current value Ib (S302: YES), the controller 52 outputs a first signal as the yarn state signal (S303). When the current value I is less than the current value Ia or the current value I is greater than the current value Ib (S302: NO), the controller 52 outputs a second signal as the yarn state signal (S304). After the output of the yarn state signal in S303 or S304, the process goes back to S301.

[0076] In the modification 2, the controller 52 outputs the yarn state signal based on the magnitude relationship between the current value I of the current generated in the fulcrum guide 61 by the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 and the current values Ia and Ib that are thresholds. It is therefore possible to detect whether the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is the predetermined state based on the yarn state signal.

[0077] The yarn state signal may be output based on the magnitude relationship between the value of the parameter related to the static electricity quantity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 and the threshold, the value of the parameter is different from the maximum change quantity ΔE of the static electricity quantity generated in the fulcrum guide 61, the voltage value V of the voltage generated in the fulcrum guide 61 by the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 and the current value I of the current generated in the fulcrum guide 61 by the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61.

[0078] Alternatively, the yarn state signal may be output based on a difference in static electricity quantity between fulcrum guide 61. For example, in the modification 3, the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 outputs a signal corresponding to the quantity of static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61. The controller 52 then outputs a yarn state signal by performing processing for each of the static electricity quantity detection circuits 51 according to the flowchart in FIG. 6.

[0079] To be more specific, to begin with, the controller 52 calculates a static electricity quantity difference Ed between static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from a static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 and static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from a static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for a neighboring fulcrum guide 61 (S401).

[0080] In this regard, for the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for the frontmost fulcrum guide 61, a difference between the static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for the frontmost fulcrum guide 61 and the static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for a fulcrum guide 61 provided immediately to the rear of the frontmost fulcrum guide 61 is calculated as the static electricity quantity difference Ed.

[0081] For the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for the rearmost fulcrum guide 61, a difference between the static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for the rearmost fulcrum guide 61 and the static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for a fulcrum guide 61 provided immediately to the front of the rearmost fulcrum guide 61 is calculated as the static electricity quantity difference Ed.

[0082] For a static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for a fulcrum guide 61 that is neither the frontmost fulcrum guide 61 nor the rearmost fulcrum guide 61, a difference between the static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for the subject fulcrum guide 61 and the static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for a fulcrum guide 61 provided immediately to the front of or to the rear of the subject fulcrum guide 61 is calculated as the static electricity quantity difference Ed. Alternatively, for example, an average value of (i) a difference between static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from a static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for a given fulcrum guide 61 and static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from a static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 which is provided for a fulcrum guide 61 immediately to the front of the given fulcrum guide 61 and (ii) a difference between static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for the given fulcrum guide 61 and static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from a static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 which is provided for a fulcrum guide 61 immediately to the rear of the given fulcrum guide 61 may be calculated as the static electricity quantity difference Ed.

[0083] Subsequently, the controller 52 determines whether the static electricity quantity difference Ed is (i) equal to or less than a threshold Eda or (ii) above the threshold Eda (S402). When the static electricity quantity difference Ed is equal to or less than the threshold Eda (S402: YES), the controller 52 outputs a first signal as the yarn state signal (S403). When the static electricity quantity difference Ed is above the threshold Eda (S402: NO), the controller 52 outputs a second signal as the yarn state signal (S404). After the output of the yarn state signal in S403 or S404, the process goes back to S401.

[0084] In the modification 3, when there are plural fulcrum guides 61, the controller 52 outputs the yarn state signal based on a difference between the static electricity quantity at a fulcrum guide 61 and the static electricity quantity at another fulcrum guide 61. It is therefore possible to detect whether the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is the predetermined state based on the yarn state signal.

[0085] When, as in the modification 3, multiple fulcrum guides 61 are aligned in a row and the states of the yarns Y at the fulcrum guides 61 are the same, the difference between the static electricity quantity at each fulcrum guide 61 and the static electricity quantity at a neighboring fulcrum guide 61 is likely to be minimum. When the state of the yarn Y is changed at a fulcrum guide 61, the difference between the static electricity quantity at that fulcrum guide 61 and the static electricity quantity at a neighboring fulcrum guide 61 is likely to be increased. In this regard, in the modification 3, the controller 52 outputs the yarn state signal based on a difference between the static electricity quantity at each fulcrum guide 61 and the static electricity quantity at a neighboring fulcrum guide 61. It is therefore possible to detect whether the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is the predetermined state based on the yarn state signal.

[0086] In the modification 3, a difference between the static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for each fulcrum guide 61 and the static electricity quantity indicated by a signal output from a static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 provided for an fulcrum guide 61 which is not next to the each fulcrum guide 61 may be calculated as the static electricity quantity difference Ed. In this case, the traverse devices 30 having the fulcrum guides 61 may or may not be lined up to form a single line.

[0087] In the embodiment above, the fulcrum guides 61 are conductive or intermediate-conductive and the slider 67 supporting the fulcrum guides 61 is conductive, whereas each fulcrum guide 61 is insulated from the slider 67 by the insulator 69. However, the disclosure is not limited to this.

[0088] In a modification 4, fulcrum guides 61 are intermediate-conductive. On the other hand, the slider 67 is conductive in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. In the modification 4, as shown in FIG. 7, the insulator 69 (see FIG. 3(a)) is not provided between each fulcrum guide 61 and the protruding portion 67A of the slider 67, and each fulcrum guide 61 is electrically connected to the slider 67 as each fulcrum guide 61 is directly in contact with the protruding portion 67A of the slider 67.

[0089] From the perspective of detecting the state of a yarn Y based on the quantity of static electricity generated in a fulcrum guide 61, the quantity of static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 due to contact between the fulcrum guide 61 and the yarn Y is preferably large. On the other hand, considering the effects of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 on the yarn Y, the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 is preferably not too large.

[0090] In the modification 4, the fulcrum guide 61 that is intermediate-conductive is electrically connected to the slider 67 that is conductive. With this, when static electricity is generated in the fulcrum guide 61, a current flows from the fulcrum guide 61 to the slider 67. Due to this, the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 does not become too large. On the other hand, because the fulcrum guide 61 is intermediate-conductive, a current is less likely to flow from the fulcrum guide 61 to the slider 67 as compared to a case where the fulcrum guide 61 is conductive. Therefore, the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 due to the contact between the yarn Y and the fulcrum guide 61 does not become too small, and the state of yarn Y can be detected based on the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61.

[0091] In the examples above, the fulcrum guide 61 is entirely conductive or intermediate-conductive. The disclosure, however, is not limited to this arrangement. The fulcrum guide 61 may be conductive or intermediate-conductive only at its part including a contact portion with the yarn Y. Also in this case, it is possible to cause the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 to output a signal corresponding to the quantity of the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide 61 due to the contact with the yarn Y.

[0092] In this case, the fulcrum guide 61 may be conductive or intermediate-conductive at a part including a contact portion with the yarn Y, and that part of the fulcrum guide 61 may be insulated from the slider 67. Alternatively, the fulcrum guide 61 may be intermediate-conductive at a part including a contact portion with the yarn Y, and that part of the fulcrum guide 61 may be electrically connected to the slider 67.

[0093] In the example above, the fulcrum guides 61 of the multiple traverse devices 30 are supported by the respective sliders 67, and these sliders 67 are movable in the front-rear direction along the guide rail 68. The disclosure, however, is not limited to this. For example, the fulcrum guides 61 of the respective traverse devices 30 may be supported by a supporting member that is fixed and does not move in the front-rear direction. In this case, the fulcrum guides 61 of the traverse devices 30 may be supported by individual supporting members, respectively, or two or more fulcrum guides 61 may be supported by a common supporting member. While in the examples above the supporting member supporting the fulcrum guide 61 is conductive, the supporting member supporting the fulcrum guide 61 may be insulating.

[0094] In the examples above, the controller 52 outputs a yarn state signal indicating whether the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is a predetermined state. The disclosure, however, is not limited to this. The controller 52 may be configured to output a yarn state signal indicating a state of the yarn Y different from whether the state of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61 is a predetermined state, based on a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51. For example, the controller 52 may be configured to output a yarn state signal indicating the magnitude of the tension of the yarn Y at the fulcrum guide 61, based on a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51.

[0095] While in the examples above the spun yarn take-up winder 1 includes the controller 52 configured to output a yarn state signal indicating the state of the yarn Y based on a signal output from the static electricity quantity detection circuit 51, the disclosure is not limited to this arrangement. For example, the spun yarn take-up winder may not include the controller 52. Multiple static electricity quantity detection circuits 51 of a spun yarn take-up winder may be connected to an external processing apparatus such as a PC, and processes such as detection of the state of a yarn Y based on a signal output from each static electricity quantity detection circuit 51 may be performed by the processing apparatus.

[0096] In the examples above, the fulcrum guide 61 has cylindrical shape, and the yarn Y is in contact with the outer circumference of the fulcrum guide 61. The disclosure, however, is not limited to this. The fulcrum guide 61 may have another structure that can make contact with a yarn Y and support the yarn Y as a fulcrum for traversal.

[0097] In the examples above, the present invention is applied to a spun yarn take-up winder configured to form packages by winding running yarns Y. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The present invention may be applied to a yarn winding apparatus including a traverse device with a fulcrum guide, which is different from a spun yarn take-up winder. In this case, the yarn winding apparatus may not be limited to an apparatus which includes multiple traverse devices and winds multiple yarns, and may include only one traverse device and wind one yarn.

Claims

1. A yarn winding apparatus (1) comprising at least one traverse device (30) configured to traverse at least one running yarn (Y) and winding the at least one yarn (Y) traversed by the at least one traverse device (30) onto at least one bobbin (B), the at least one traverse device (30) each including a fulcrum guide (61) that makes contact with the yarn (Y) and serves as a fulcrum for traversal, the fulcrum guide (61) being conductive or intermediate-conductive at least at a contact portion with the yarn (Y), and a static electricity quantity detection unit (51) being provided to detect static electricity quantity of static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide (61).

2. The yarn winding apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a controller (52) which is configured to output a yarn state signal indicating a state of the yarn (Y) at the fulcrum guide (61) based on the static electricity quantity in the fulcrum guide (61) detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit (51).

3. The yarn winding apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein, the controller (52) outputs the yarn state signal based on magnitude relationship between a value of a parameter related to the static electricity quantity in the fulcrum guide (61) detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit (51) and a threshold.

4. The yarn winding apparatus (1) according to claim 3, wherein, the value of the parameter is the maximum value of a change in the static electricity quantity in the fulcrum guide (61) detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit (51).

5. The yarn winding apparatus (1) according to claim 3, wherein, the static electricity quantity detection unit (51) detects the static electricity quantity by detecting a voltage or current generated in the fulcrum guide (61) by the static electricity generated in the fulcrum guide (61), and the value of the parameter is the value of the voltage or current detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit (51).

6. The yarn winding apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein, the traverse devices (30) are individually provided for yarns (Y), respectively, the static electricity quantity detection unit (51) detecting the static electricity quantity in each of the fulcrum guides (61) of the traverse devices (30), and the controller (52) outputs the yarn state signal based on a difference between the quantity of the static electricity in each of the fulcrum guides (61) detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit (51) and the quantity of the static electricity in a fulcrum guide (61) different from the each of the fulcrum guides (61).

7. The yarn winding apparatus (1) according to claim 6, wherein, the fulcrum guides (61) are lined up in a single row, and the controller (52) outputs the yarn state signal based on a difference between the quantity of the static electricity in each of the fulcrum guides (61) detected by the static electricity quantity detection unit (51) and the quantity of the static electricity in a fulcrum guide (61) next to the each of the fulcrum guides (61).

8. The yarn winding apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a supporting member (67) which is conductive and supports the fulcrum guide (61), the fulcrum guide (61) being insulated from the supporting member (67).

9. The yarn winding apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, the fulcrum guides (61) are intermediate-conductive, a supporting member (67) which is conductive and supports the fulcrum guide (61) is provided, and the fulcrum guide (61) are electrically connected to the supporting member (67).

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