Supply device

Abstract

To provide a supply device capable of distinguishing a bobbin where a thread is wound around a core tube from a bobbin where a thread is not wound around a core tube, and conveying them to different positions.SOLUTION: A supply device includes a conveyor group, a yarn layer sensor 61, a core tube sensor 62 and a control device. The conveyor group includes a plurality of conveyors arranged being adjacent to the conveyance direction of a bobbin 91 and for conveying the bobbin 91. The control device controls the conveyor group based on the detection result of the core tube sensor 62 and the yarn layer sensor 61, conveys the bobbin 91 which has the yarn layer to a relay position for supplying it to a yarn winding machine, and conveys the bobbin 91 which does not have the yarn layer to the recovery position. When conveying the bobbin 91 to the relay position or the recovery position, the control device operates the conveyor positioned on the down stream side, out of the plurality of conveyors, at a faster speed than the conveyor positioned on the upstream side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention mainly relates to a supplying device that supplies a bobbin around which a yarn produced by a spinning machine is wound, to a yarn winding machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a bobbin supplying device including a parts feeder, a bobbin feed conveyor, and a bobbin sorting device. The parts feeder is provided with a spiral passage. The spiral passage transports bobbins fed into the bobbin supplying device to the bobbin feed conveyor. The bobbin feed conveyor transports the bobbins supplied from the spiral passage to the bobbin sorting device. The bobbin sorting device includes a bobbin introduction conveyor that transports the bobbins downstream. The bobbin sorting device sorts and arranges the bobbins introduced by the bobbin introduction conveyor into a plurality of bobbin passages.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses that the feeding speeds of a bobbin feed conveyor and a bobbin introduction conveyor are made different in order to prevent bobbins from being supplied in a continuous state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-064797 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Patent Document 1 does not disclose how to distinguish between bobbins with thread wound around a core tube and bobbins without thread wound around a core tube and transport them separately, so that bobbins without thread wound around a core tube may be transported to the yarn winding machine.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a supplying device that can distinguish between bobbins with thread wound around a core tube and bobbins without thread wound around a core tube and transport them to different positions while eliminating the need for a continuous bobbin supply.

[0007] The problem to be solved by the present invention has been described above. Next, the means for solving this problem and the effects thereof will be described.

[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a supplying device having the following configuration. That is, the supplying device supplies a bobbin, in which a yarn produced by a spinning machine is wound around a core tube, to a yarn winding machine. The supplying device includes a conveyor group, a yarn layer sensor, a core tube sensor, and a control device. The conveyor group includes a plurality of conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in a conveying direction of the bobbin and conveying the bobbin. The yarn layer sensor detects the bobbin having a yarn layer conveyed by the conveyor group. The core tube sensor detects the bobbin having no yarn layer conveyed by the conveyor group. The control device controls the conveyor group. Based on detection results of the core tube sensor and the yarn layer sensor, the control device controls the conveyor group to convey the bobbin having a yarn layer to a relay position for supplying the bobbin to the yarn winding machine, and to convey the bobbin having no yarn layer to a recovery position. When transporting the bobbin to the relay position or the collection position, the control device operates one of the plurality of conveyors located downstream at a higher speed than the other of the conveyors located upstream.

[0009] This allows the downstream conveyor to operate faster than the upstream conveyor, eliminating the need for bobbins to be tied together. Also, by providing a yarn layer sensor, a core tube sensor, a recovery position, and a relay position, bobbins with yarn wound around a core tube and bobbins without yarn wound around a core tube can be distinguished and transported to different positions.

[0010] The supplying device preferably includes a collection sensor for detecting the bobbin being transported to the collection position.

[0011] This makes it possible to detect whether or not there is a bobbin to be transported to the collection position.

[0012] The supply device is preferably configured as follows: That is, the control device drives the conveyor group to transport the bobbin having no yarn layer to the collection position, and the collection sensor detects the bobbin while being transported from the conveyor group to the collection position, but does not detect the bobbin when it has reached the collection position.

[0013] This makes it possible to detect not only the presence of a bobbin to be transported to the collection position, but also the timing at which the bobbin has reached the collection position.

[0014] The supply device is preferably configured as follows. That is, the supply device includes a shutter and a shutter sensor. The shutter switches between a state in which a path for transferring the bobbin from the conveyor group to the collection position is opened and a state in which the path is closed. The shutter sensor detects the bobbin transported by the conveyor group. After determining that the bobbin has reached the collection position, if the shutter sensor detects the bobbin, the control device drives the conveyor group in a direction in which the bobbin moves away from the collection position until the shutter sensor no longer detects the bobbin. The relay position is a position that receives the bobbin from a transfer position of the conveyor group. The shutter sensor is capable of detecting whether the bobbin is present at least in one of the relay position and the transfer position, or whether the bobbin is present at both the relay position and the transfer position. The shutter sensor is disposed with its optical axis directed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor at the transfer position so as to be able to detect both the relay position and the transfer position of the conveyor.

[0015] As a result, even if a bobbin that is not to be collected remains on the conveyor group, the bobbin can be moved away from the shutter so as not to be pinched by the shutter. Also, since the shutter sensor has a function of detecting the bobbins at the delivery position and the relay position, the number of sensors can be reduced compared to a configuration in which sensors are provided individually.

[0016] In the above-mentioned supply device, it is preferable that the control device closes the shutter regardless of the detection result of the shutter sensor after driving the conveyor group in a direction away from the bobbin recovery position and a threshold time has elapsed.

[0017] This allows the shutter to be closed even if the shutter sensor continues to detect the bobbin at the relay position.

[0018] In the supplying device, it is preferable that the control device determines whether or not the bobbin is present at the relay position based on a detection result of the shutter sensor after driving the conveyor group.

[0019] When it is desired to identify the presence of a bobbin at the relay position, the conveyor group is driven to move the bobbin present at the transfer position from the transfer position, and therefore, after the bobbin at the transfer position is moved, the shutter sensor can be used to detect whether or not the bobbin is present at the relay position.

[0020] The above-mentioned supply device is preferably configured as follows: That is, the conveyor group includes an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor. The downstream conveyor is disposed downstream of the upstream conveyor in the conveying direction. An entrance sensor is provided upstream of the center of the downstream conveyor in the conveying direction. An exit sensor is provided downstream of the center of the downstream conveyor in the conveying direction.

[0021] This makes it possible to detect at what position on the downstream conveyor the bobbin is present.

[0022] The supply device is preferably configured as follows: That is, when the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor are restarted from a state in which they are stopped, if the inlet sensor detects the bobbin, the control device restarts the drive of the upstream conveyor after restarting the drive of the downstream conveyor and after the inlet sensor no longer detects the bobbin.

[0023] This can prevent the bobbins from becoming stuck together at the position where the upstream conveyor joins the downstream conveyor.

[0024] In the above-described supply device, it is preferable that, after resuming driving of the downstream conveyor, when a first threshold time has elapsed, the control device resumes driving of the upstream conveyor regardless of the detection result of the inlet sensor.

[0025] This may allow the abnormality to be resolved without calling an operator.

[0026] The supply device is preferably configured as follows: an upstream outlet sensor is provided downstream of the center of the upstream conveyor in the conveying direction, and the control device increases the conveying speed of the upstream conveyor when a second threshold time has elapsed without the upstream outlet sensor detecting the bobbin.

[0027] This makes it possible to prevent the intervals between the bobbins from becoming excessively long, thereby improving the efficiency of transporting the bobbins.

[0028] In the supply device, it is preferable that the group of conveyors includes at least four of the conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in the conveying direction.

[0029] This allows the bobbins to be transported efficiently. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart of a process for transporting a bobbin to a relay position and a collection position. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing how a conveyor speed difference causes bobbins to become disjointed; [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing how the series of bobbins is broken by driving the conveyor in the reverse direction. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of the conveyor when it is transported to a relay position. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow when the conveyor is transported to a collection position. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart of a process for determining whether or not a bobbin is present at a relay position based on a detection result of a delivery sensor. [Figure 10] 11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams showing the state before and after the fourth conveyor is driven in the reverse direction. [Figure 11] 11 is a flowchart of a process for starting driving of a conveyor when operation is resumed from a temporary stop. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the positions of an Nth inlet sensor and an Nth outlet sensor. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow in which the third inlet sensor no longer detects the bobbin as a result of the third conveyor starting to drive, and then the second conveyor starts to drive. [Figure 14] 11 is a flowchart of a process for increasing the speed of the Nth conveyor in accordance with the detection result of the Nth exit sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0032] First, an overview of the supplying device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In the following description, the upstream and downstream in the direction in which the bobbin 91 is transported will simply be referred to as upstream and downstream.

[0033] The supplying device 1 supplies a bobbin 91 to a yarn winding machine such as an automatic winder. The bobbin 91 is a yarn supplying bobbin formed by winding yarn produced by a spinning machine around a core tube. The yarn winding machine winds the yarn wound around the bobbin 91 to form a package. As shown in FIG. 1, the supplying device 1 includes a receiving unit 10, an individualizing unit 20, a conveying unit 29, a setting unit 30, and a control device 40.

[0034] 1 accommodates a plurality of bobbins 91 formed by a spinning machine. The accommodation body 90 is a box-shaped member with an opening formed on the upper side. The accommodation body 90 is tilted by an operator or an unillustrated loading device so that the opening faces downward, whereby the plurality of bobbins 91 accommodated in the accommodation body 90 are loaded into the receiving section 10.

[0035] The receiving section 10 has a retention section 11, a restriction section 12, and an input section 13. The bobbins 91 input from the container 90 are temporarily retained in the retention section 11. The retention section 11 has an inclined surface that decreases in height toward the downstream side, and the bobbins 91 can be transported by their own weight. The bobbins 91 may be transported by a conveyor instead of the inclined surface.

[0036] The limiting section 12 is provided between the retention section 11 and the input section 13 in the transport direction of the bobbins 91. The limiting section 12 is capable of moving up and down. As the limiting section 12 moves up and down, the limiting section 12 changes its position between an elevated state and a lowered state. While the limiting section 12 is in the elevated state, the movement of the bobbins 91 is prevented. While the limiting section 12 is in the lowered state, the movement of the bobbins 91 is permitted. In addition, as the limiting section 12 switches between the elevated state and the lowered state at a predetermined timing, the supply amount of bobbins 91 from the retention section 11 to the input section 13 can be adjusted.

[0037] The input section 13 has an inclined surface that decreases in height toward the downstream side. The input section 13 transports the bobbins 91 by their own weight and inputs them into the individualizing section 20.

[0038] The individualizing unit 20 separates the multiple bobbins 91 inserted from the input unit 13 of the receiving unit 10 into individual bobbins 91 and transports them one by one. The individualizing unit 20 includes a vertical conveyor 21 and a support table 25. The vertical conveyor 21 has a belt and a motor. The motor drives the belt in the vertical direction, causing the vertical conveyor 21 to move in the vertical direction. The support table 25 is fixed to the vertical conveyor 21. The support table 25 supports the bobbin 91 placed thereon and transports the bobbin 91 upward. The bobbin 91 transported by the vertical conveyor 21 is supplied to the setting unit 30 via a transport unit 29. The details of the transport unit 29 will be described later.

[0039] The setting unit 30 sets the bobbins 91 supplied from the individualizing unit 20 on a tray 92. The tray 92 is movable along a transport path 93 formed by a conveyor or the like. The bobbins 91, while being set on the tray 92, move along the transport path 93 and are supplied to the yarn winding machine.

[0040] The control device 40 shown in Fig. 2 includes a calculation device such as a CPU, a RAM, and a storage. The storage is an HDD, an SSD, a flash memory, or the like. The storage stores a program related to the supply device 1 and data such as conditions required for executing the program. The calculation device reads the program stored in the storage into the RAM and executes it. In this way, the control device 40 performs various controls related to the supply device 1.

[0041] Next, the transport unit 29 will be described in detail.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the conveying section 29 conveys the bobbin 91 by a plurality of conveyors, and conveys the bobbin 91 to a collection position or a relay position. The collection position is a position of the collection section 55 that collects the bobbin 91 that does not have a thread layer. In this specification, "not having a thread layer" includes not only a state where no thread is wound around the core tube, but also a state where a small amount of thread is wound around the core tube. In other words, a bobbin 91 that is determined by the device side to have almost or no thread layer corresponds to a bobbin 91 that does not have a thread layer. The relay position is a position through which the bobbin 91 passes in order to be set in the yarn winding machine. The relay position is, for example, a part of the setting section 30. The relay position may be a position provided between the conveying section 29 and the setting section 30 in the conveying direction. In addition, a position of the conveyor group 50 for transferring the bobbin 91 to the relay position is called a transfer position.

[0043] The conveying section 29 includes a conveyor group 50 that conveys the bobbin 91. The conveyor group 50 is composed of a plurality of conveyors. Specifically, the conveyor group 50 includes, in order from the upstream side, a first conveyor 51, a second conveyor 52, a third conveyor 53, and a fourth conveyor 54. Each conveyor includes a drive source and a belt. The drive source generates power in response to a command from the control device 40, and the belt is driven by this drive force. When two adjacent conveyors are selected from the plurality of conveyors that constitute the conveyor group 50, the conveyor on the upstream side corresponds to the upstream conveyor, and the conveyor on the downstream side corresponds to the downstream conveyor. In this embodiment, the number of conveyors that constitute the conveyor group 50 is four, but may be other than four.

[0044] The speed of each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 can be changed in response to a command from the control device 40. In this embodiment, the speed can be changed in two stages, low speed and high speed, but the speed may be changed in multiple stages or continuously. The driving source can rotate in both forward and reverse directions. This allows the control device 40 to drive each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in either the forward or reverse direction. The forward direction is the direction in which the bobbin 91 is transported downstream (in other words, toward the relay position).

[0045] The conveying section 29 includes sensors for detecting the bobbin 91, including a yarn layer sensor 61, a core tube sensor 62, a recovery sensor 63, a shutter sensor 64, a delivery sensor 65, a first exit sensor 71, a second entrance sensor 72, a second exit sensor 73, a third entrance sensor 74, a third exit sensor 75, and a fourth entrance sensor 76. All of these sensors are transmissive optical sensors. That is, when the bobbin 91 is not present in the detection area, the light projected by the light projecting section is irradiated onto the light receiving section. When the bobbin 91 is present in the detection area, the light projected by the light projecting section is blocked by the bobbin 91, so that the light is not irradiated onto the light receiving section. Note that instead of the transmissive optical sensors, reflective optical sensors may be used. Furthermore, these sensors are not limited to optical sensors, and for example, contact sensors may be used. Furthermore, the detection ranges of the shutter sensor 64 and the delivery sensor 65 are similar. Therefore, the shutter sensor 64 may have the function of the delivery sensor 65, and the delivery sensor 65 may be omitted.

[0046] Next, the above-mentioned sensors and the control of the conveyor group 50 performed by the control device 40 in accordance with the detection results of the sensors will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0047] During operation of the conveying section 29, the control device 40 receives the detection results of the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 (S101).

[0048] As shown in FIG. 5, the thread layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 are arranged adjacent to each other in the conveying direction. The thread layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 detect the bobbin 91 conveyed by the fourth conveyor 54. Specifically, the detection height of the thread layer sensor 61 is higher than the height of the core tube placed on the conveying surface of the fourth conveyor 54 and is lower than the upper end of the bobbin 91 with a thread layer placed on the conveying surface. Therefore, the thread layer sensor 61 does not detect the bobbin 91 without a thread layer, but detects only the bobbin 91 with a thread layer. The detection height of the core tube sensor 62 is higher than the conveying surface of the fourth conveyor 54 and is lower than the upper end of the core tube placed on the conveying surface. Therefore, the core tube sensor 62 detects both the bobbin 91 with a thread layer and the bobbin 91 without a thread layer. The thread layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 are used to detect the presence of the bobbin 91 and to detect whether or not the bobbin 91 has a thread layer.

[0049] The control device 40 judges whether or not the bobbins 91 are consecutively connected based on the detection results of the thread layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 (S102). The consecutive connection of the bobbins 91 means that two bobbins 91 are positioned without a gap in the conveying direction. The control device 40 judges whether or not the consecutive connection of the bobbins 91 occurs based on the length of time that the thread layer sensor 61 or the core tube sensor 62 detects the bobbins 91. In other words, if the consecutive connection of the bobbins 91 does not occur, the thread layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 do not detect the bobbins 91 when the space between the bobbins 91 passes through the thread layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62. On the other hand, if the consecutive connection of the bobbins 91 occurs, the thread layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 continue to detect the bobbins 91, so that the time that the thread layer sensor 61 or the core tube sensor 62 continuously detects the bobbins 91 becomes longer. Here, since the length of the bobbin 91 and the transport speed of the fourth conveyor 54 are known, it is possible to calculate the time required for one bobbin 91 to pass the yarn layer sensor 61 or the core tube sensor 62. Therefore, when the yarn layer sensor 61 or the core tube sensor 62 detects the bobbin 91 continuously for a time longer than the calculated time, the control device 40 determines that a series of bobbins 91 has occurred.

[0050] As shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 5, the third conveyor 53 is driven at a low speed, and the fourth conveyor 54 is driven at a high speed. Therefore, even if a series of bobbins 91 occurs at the stage of being transported on the third conveyor 53, the front bobbin 91 is transported at high speed by the fourth conveyor 54, so that the series of bobbins 91 is eliminated as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 5. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 5, a series of bobbins 91 does not occur at the time when the bobbins pass the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62. Therefore, the control device 40 determines that there is no series of bobbins 91 (S102). If the control device 40 determines that there is no series of bobbins 91, it omits the process of step S103 described later.

[0051] On the other hand, as shown in the top diagram of Fig. 6, when two bobbins 91 are transported overlapping each other, the series of bobbins 91 will be broken up when the bobbins 91 are placed on the fourth conveyor 54 and transported at high speed. However, at the same time that the series of bobbins 91 is broken up, the rear bobbin is transported by the fourth conveyor 54. As a result, the series of bobbins 91 will be created again. In this case, the control device 40 determines that the series of bobbins 91 exists (S102).

[0052] When the control device 40 determines that there is a series of bobbins 91, it drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the reverse direction, and then drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the forward direction (S103). At this time, the control device 40 drives the upstream conveyor at a low speed when driving in the reverse direction, and drives the downstream conveyor at a high speed when driving in the reverse direction. Specifically, when driving in the reverse direction, as shown in the third diagram from the top of FIG. 6, the third conveyor 53 (and the first conveyor 51 and the second conveyor 52, not shown) is driven at a high speed, and the fourth conveyor 54 is driven at a low speed. When driving in the forward direction, as shown in the fourth diagram from the top of FIG. 6, the third conveyor 53 (and the first conveyor 51 and the second conveyor 52, not shown) is driven at a low speed, and the fourth conveyor 54 is driven at a high speed. This makes it possible to eliminate the series of bobbins 91, as shown in the fourth diagram from the top of FIG. 6.

[0053] In this embodiment, a speed difference is set for the conveyor in both the reverse direction and the forward direction, but a speed difference may be set for the conveyor in only one of the reverse direction and the forward direction.

[0054] Next, the control device 40 judges whether the bobbin 91 has a thread layer or not based on the detection results of the thread layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 (S104). That is, when both the thread layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 detect the bobbin 91 as shown in Fig. 7, the control device 40 judges that the bobbin 91 has a thread layer. When only the core tube sensor 62 of the thread layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 detects the bobbin 91 as shown in Fig. 8, the control device 40 judges that the bobbin 91 does not have a thread layer. In this way, the thread layer sensor 61 is a sensor for detecting the bobbin 91 having a thread layer, and the core tube sensor 62 is a sensor for detecting the bobbin 91 not having a thread layer in cooperation with the thread layer sensor 61.

[0055] Instead of the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62, a line sensor may be used to distinguish and detect the bobbin 91 having a yarn layer from the bobbin 91 having no yarn layer.

[0056] When the control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 has a yarn layer, it transports the bobbin 91 to a relay position as shown in FIG. 7 (S105).

[0057] When the control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 does not have a yarn layer, it transports the bobbin 91 to the collection position as shown in FIG. 8. Specifically, the control device 40 opens the shutter 56 and transports the bobbin 91 to the collection position (S106). The shutter 56 is disposed between the fourth conveyor 54 and the collection section 55. When the shutter 56 is open, the bobbin 91 can be transported from the fourth conveyor 54 to the collection section 55. When the shutter 56 is closed, the bobbin 91 cannot be transported to the collection section 55 because the shutter 56 blocks the bobbin 91 from moving toward the collection section 55. In addition, as shown in the second diagram from the top in FIG. 8, while the bobbin 91 is being transported to the collection position, the fourth conveyor 54 is driven at a low speed. This makes it possible to prevent the next bobbin 91 that is transported adjacent to the fourth conveyor 54 from being collected at the collection position. The process of changing the fourth conveyor 54 to a low speed may be omitted.

[0058] Next, the control device 40 judges whether the bobbin 91 has reached the collection position (S107). This judgment is made using the detection result of the collection sensor 63. As shown in FIG. 8, the collection sensor 63 is arranged in the collection section 55. The collection sensor 63 detects the bobbin 91 while it is being transported from the fourth conveyor 54 to the collection position, but does not detect the bobbin 91 that has reached the collection position. Therefore, the control device 40 judges that the bobbin 91 has reached the collection position when the collection sensor 63 detects the bobbin 91 and then no longer detects it.

[0059] As shown in the third diagram from the top in Fig. 8, if the shutter 56 is closed when the bobbin 91 reaches the collection position, there is a possibility that the next bobbin 91 will be caught in the shutter 56. Therefore, the control device 40 performs the following process. That is, the control device 40 determines whether or not the shutter sensor 64 has detected the bobbin 91 (S108). As shown in Fig. 8, the shutter sensor 64 is a sensor for determining whether or not the bobbin 91 is present in the vicinity of the shutter 56.

[0060] In detail, the shutter sensor 64 is disposed within the range of the length of the bobbin 91 with the shutter 56 as a reference. Therefore, in a situation where the shutter sensor 64 does not detect the bobbin 91, the bobbin 91 will not be caught by the shutter 56 even if the shutter 56 is closed. Therefore, when the shutter sensor 64 does not detect the bobbin 91, the control device 40 closes the shutter 56 and drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the forward direction (S109). Thereafter, the control device 40 performs the processes from step S101 onwards for the next bobbin 91.

[0061] On the other hand, if the shutter 56 is closed while the shutter sensor 64 detects the bobbin 91, there is a possibility that the bobbin 91 will be pinched by the shutter 56. Therefore, when the shutter sensor 64 detects the next bobbin 91 at the timing when the bobbin 91 reaches the collection position, the control device 40 drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the reverse direction (S110). While driving each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the reverse direction, the control device 40 again determines whether or not the shutter sensor 64 has detected the bobbin 91 (S111). As described above, when the shutter sensor 64 no longer detects the bobbin 91, the bobbin 91 will not be pinched by the shutter 56 even if the shutter 56 is closed. Therefore, when the shutter sensor 64 no longer detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 closes the shutter 56 and drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the forward direction (S109).

[0062] It should be noted that even if each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 is driven in the reverse direction, the shutter sensor 64 may continue to detect the bobbin 91. In this case, the process does not proceed, so the control device 40 performs the following process. That is, the control device 40 determines whether or not the threshold time has elapsed in a state in which the shutter sensor 64 has not detected the bobbin 91 (S112). If the threshold time has elapsed, the control device 40 closes the shutter 56 and drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the forward direction (S109).

[0063] 4 includes multiple processes shown below, but each process is independent, and each process can have its own effect even if only each process is executed individually. That is, each process is a process for breaking up the string of bobbins (S102 and S103), a process for changing the transport destination depending on whether or not there is a yarn layer (S104 to S106), a process for driving the conveyor group 50 until the collection position reaches the bobbin 91 (S106 and S107), and a process for preventing the bobbin 91 from being caught by the shutter 56 (S108 to S112).

[0064] Next, a process of detecting whether or not the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position using the delivery sensor 65 when restarting operation from a temporary stop will be described with reference to Figs.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 10, the delivery sensor 65 is disposed at the delivery position with its optical axis facing in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor so that both the relay position and the delivery position are included in the detection range. Therefore, the delivery sensor 65 can detect whether the bobbin 91 is present at least in one of the relay position and the delivery position, or whether the bobbin 91 is not present at both the relay position and the delivery position. In other words, when the delivery sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91, it cannot be determined whether the bobbin 91 is present at both the relay position and the delivery position, or only at one of the relay position and the delivery position. In particular, when resuming operation from a temporary stop, since the operator may manually place the bobbin 91 during the temporary stop, it cannot be accurately determined whether the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position even if the past control history is referred to.

[0066] As described above, the shutter sensor 64 may also function as the delivery sensor 65. In this case, the shutter sensor 64 must be (1) provided at the most downstream of the conveyor group 50 and arranged so as to detect the bobbin 91 transported by the conveyor group 50, and (2) arranged so as to detect whether the bobbin 91 is present at at least one of the relay position and the delivery position, or whether the bobbin 91 is present at both the relay position and the delivery position. When the shutter sensor 64 also functions as the delivery sensor 65, the shutter sensor 64 detects the bobbin 91 at the relay position. Therefore, in the determination of step S111 described above, if the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position, the shutter sensor 64 continues to detect the bobbin 91 even if each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 is driven in the reverse direction. For the above reasons, when the shutter sensor 64 also functions as the delivery sensor 65, it is more preferable to perform the processes of steps S111 and S112.

[0067] Therefore, the control device 40 performs the following process when restarting operation from a temporary stop. That is, the control device 40 judges whether the delivery sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91 (S201). If the delivery sensor 65 does not detect the bobbin 91, the control device 40 judges that the bobbin 91 is not present at the relay position (S205).

[0068] When the delivery sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 drives each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 in the reverse direction (S202) as shown in Fig. 10. As a result, if the bobbin 91 is at the delivery position, the bobbin 91 is retreated from the delivery position. The time for driving the fourth conveyor 54 in the reverse direction may be, for example, a predetermined time. Alternatively, it may be until the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 detect the bobbin 91 and then no longer detect it. Note that when there is a space between the delivery position and the collection position to retreat the bobbin 91, each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 may be driven in the forward direction.

[0069] Next, the control device 40 again determines whether the delivery sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91 (S203). At this point, the bobbin 91 is not present at the delivery position. Therefore, if the delivery sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position (S204). On the other hand, if the delivery sensor 65 does not detect the bobbin 91, the control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 is not present at the relay position (S205).

[0070] As a result, when the operation is resumed from a temporary stop, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position. The process after the operation is resumed will be briefly described. The control device 40 determines that the bobbin 91 has reached the transfer position when the yarn layer sensor 61 and the core tube sensor 62 change from a state in which the bobbin 91 is detected to a state in which the bobbin is not detected. Thereafter, if the transfer sensor 65 detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 moves the bobbin 91 at the transfer position to the relay position. As a result, it is determined that the bobbin 91 is not present at the transfer position, and that the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position. Note that a shutter is present at the relay position, and when the shutter is opened, it is determined that the bobbin 91 is not present at the relay position. The absence of the bobbin 91 at the relay position is one of the conditions for moving the bobbin 91 at the transfer position to the relay position.

[0071] Next, a process for starting the driving of each conveyor of the conveyor group 50 when the operation is resumed from a temporary stop will be described with reference to Figs. 11 to 14.

[0072] If all the conveyors constituting the conveyor group 50 were to start driving at the same time, there is a possibility that the bobbins 91 would be stuck together. Therefore, in this embodiment, in this control, the conveyors are driven in order starting from the downstream conveyor. In this control, basically, after it is confirmed that the bobbins 91 will not be stuck together, the drive of each conveyor is resumed.

[0073] In this control, the control device 40 uses the detection results of the first exit sensor 71 to the fourth entrance sensor 76, which are arranged as shown in Fig. 12. The Nth entrance sensor is a sensor arranged at or near the upstream end of the Nth conveyor. The Nth exit sensor is a sensor arranged at or near the downstream end of the Nth conveyor. Note that N is a positive integer, and N=2, 3, 4 in the flowchart of Fig. 11.

[0074] When resuming operation from a temporary stop, the control device 40 first starts driving the fourth conveyor 54, which is the conveyor furthest downstream (S301). Next, the control device 40 determines whether or not the N-th inlet sensor detects the bobbin 91 (S302). In order to start driving the conveyors in order from the downstream side, the control device 40 first determines whether or not the fourth inlet sensor 76 detects the bobbin 91. For example, if the fourth inlet sensor 76 detects the bobbin 91, the bobbin 91 is present at the upstream end of the fourth conveyor 54, and therefore, when the third conveyor 53 is driven, a series of bobbins 91 may occur.

[0075] When the control device 40 determines that the N-th inlet sensor has not detected the bobbin 91, it starts driving the N-1-th conveyor (S304). This allows the conveyor to be restarted in a situation where no bobbins 91 are consecutively arranged, as shown in Fig. 13. On the other hand, a situation may occur where the inlet sensor of the downstream conveyor continues to detect the bobbin 91 even if the downstream conveyor is driven.

[0076] To resolve this situation, the control device 40 performs the following process. When the Nth inlet sensor detects a bobbin 91, the control device 40 determines whether or not a first threshold time has elapsed after starting to drive the Nth conveyor (S303). When the control device 40 determines that the first threshold time has elapsed, it starts to drive the N-1th conveyor (S304). This allows the control device 40 to start driving the conveyor at its discretion, while preventing the bobbins 91 from becoming contiguous, even when this type of situation occurs. An appropriate value for the first threshold time differs depending on the transport speed of each conveyor and the length of the bobbin 91. Therefore, it is preferable to experimentally verify an appropriate value and determine the first threshold time.

[0077] Next, the control device 40 judges whether or not the driving of all the conveyors constituting the conveyor group 50 has been started (S305). When the control device 40 judges that there is a conveyor that has not started driving, it performs the process of steps S302 to S304 for the next smaller N. When the control device 40 judges that the driving of all the conveyors has been started, it ends the process.

[0078] As a result, the occurrence of the bobbins 91 being continuous can be prevented.

[0079] In this embodiment, the control device 40 starts driving the conveyor when either of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) the inlet sensor of the downstream conveyor does not detect the bobbin 91; or (2) a first threshold time has elapsed since driving of the downstream conveyor was started. Note that condition (2) may be omitted and only condition (1) may be used to determine whether or not to start driving the conveyor. Also, in this embodiment, the driving of the conveyor is started in order from the downstream side, but the order in which the driving of the conveyor is started may not be determined.

[0080] Next, a process for reducing the interval between the bobbins 91 when the interval is large will be described with reference to Fig. 14. In the flowchart of Fig. 14, N=1, 2, 3.

[0081] The process shown in Fig. 14 is performed after the conveyor starts to be driven. The control device 40 determines whether the state in which the Nth exit sensor does not detect the bobbin 91 has elapsed for a second threshold time (S401). If the Nth exit sensor does not detect the bobbin 91, it can be assumed that the interval between the bobbins 91 is long in the vicinity of the Nth exit sensor.

[0082] When the control device 40 determines that the state in which the Nth exit sensor does not detect the bobbin 91 has elapsed for the second threshold time, it increases the speed of the Nth conveyor (S402). This narrows the interval between the bobbins 91, thereby improving the transport efficiency of the bobbins 91. Even in a situation in which the conveyor group 50 continues to transport the bobbins 91 appropriately, the Nth exit sensor repeatedly detects and does not detect the bobbin 91. It is preferable that the second threshold time is longer than the duration of non-detection by the Nth exit sensor at this time.

[0083] Next, the control device 40 judges whether or not the Nth exit sensor detects the bobbin 91 (S403). When the control device 40 judges that the Nth exit sensor detects the bobbin 91, the control device 40 returns the speed of the Nth conveyor to the original speed (S404). This makes it possible to prevent the bobbins 91 from being stuck together.

[0084] In this embodiment, the process shown in Fig. 14 is performed for any combination of the first conveyor 51 and the second conveyor 52, the second conveyor 52 and the third conveyor 53, and the third conveyor 53 and the fourth conveyor 54. However, the process shown in Fig. 14 may be omitted for at least one of them.

[0085] As described above, the receiving unit 10 supplies the bobbin 91, in which the yarn produced by the spinning machine is wound around the core tube, to the yarn winding machine. The supplying device 1 includes the conveyor group 50, the yarn layer sensor 61, the core tube sensor 62, and the control device 40. The conveyor group 50 includes a plurality of conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in the conveying direction of the bobbin 91 and conveying the bobbin 91. The yarn layer sensor 61 detects the bobbin 91 having a yarn layer conveyed by the conveyor group 50. The core tube sensor 62 detects the bobbin 91 without a yarn layer conveyed by the conveyor group 50. The control device 40 controls the conveyor group 50. Based on the detection results of the core tube sensor 62 and the yarn layer sensor 61, the control device 40 controls the conveyor group 50 to convey the bobbin 91 having a yarn layer to a relay position for supplying the bobbin 91 to the yarn winding machine, and to convey the bobbin 91 without a yarn layer to a recovery position. When transporting the bobbin 91 to the relay position or the collection position, the control device 40 operates one of the conveyors located downstream at a higher speed than the other of the conveyors located upstream.

[0086] This allows the downstream conveyor to operate faster than the upstream conveyor, thereby eliminating the stringing of bobbins 91. Also, by providing the yarn layer sensor 61, core tube sensor 62, collection position, and relay position, bobbins 91 with yarn wound around the core tube and bobbins 91 without yarn wound around the core tube can be distinguished and transported to different positions.

[0087] The supplying device 1 of this embodiment includes a collection sensor 63 that detects the bobbin 91 transported to the collection position.

[0088] This makes it possible to detect whether or not the bobbin 91 to be transported to the collection position is present.

[0089] In the supply device 1 of this embodiment, the control device 40 drives the conveyor group 50 to transport the bobbin 91 having no yarn layer to the collection position. The collection sensor 63 detects the bobbin 91 while it is being transported from the conveyor group 50 to the collection position, but does not detect the bobbin 91 that has reached the collection position.

[0090] This makes it possible to detect not only the presence of the bobbin 91 being transported to the collection position, but also the timing at which the bobbin 91 has reached the collection position.

[0091] The supply device 1 of this embodiment includes a shutter 56 and a shutter sensor 64. The shutter 56 switches between a state in which the path for transferring the bobbin 91 from the conveyor group 50 to the collection position is opened and a state in which the path is closed. The shutter sensor 64 detects the bobbin 91 transported by the conveyor group 50. If the shutter sensor 64 detects the bobbin 91 after determining that the bobbin 91 has reached the collection position, the control device 40 drives the conveyor group 50 in a direction in which the bobbin 91 moves away from the collection position until the shutter sensor 64 no longer detects the bobbin 91. The relay position is a position that receives the bobbin 91 from the transfer position of the conveyor group 50. The shutter sensor 64 can detect whether the bobbin 91 is present at least in one of the relay position and the transfer position, or whether the bobbin 91 is present at both the relay position and the transfer position. The shutter sensor 64 is disposed with its optical axis directed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor at the transfer position so as to be able to detect both the relay position and the transfer position.

[0092] As a result, even if a bobbin 91 that is not a target for collection remains on the conveyor group, the bobbin 91 can be moved away from the shutter 56 so as not to be pinched by the shutter 56. Also, since the shutter sensor 64 has a function of detecting bobbins at the delivery position and the relay position, the number of sensors can be reduced compared to a configuration in which sensors are provided individually.

[0093] In the supply device 1 of this embodiment, after the conveyor group 50 is driven in a direction away from the bobbin 91 from the collection position and a threshold time has elapsed, the control device 40 closes the shutter 56 regardless of the detection result of the shutter sensor 64.

[0094] This allows the shutter 56 to be closed even if the shutter sensor 64 continues to detect the bobbin 91 at the intermediate position.

[0095] In the supply device 1 of the present embodiment, the control device 40 determines whether or not the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position based on the detection result of the shutter sensor 64 after the conveyor group 50 is driven.

[0096] When it is desired to identify the presence of the bobbin 91 at the relay position, the conveyor group is driven to move the bobbin 91 present at the delivery position from the delivery position. Therefore, after the bobbin at the receiving position is moved, the shutter sensor 64 can be used to detect whether the bobbin 91 is present at the relay position.

[0097] In the supply device 1 of this embodiment, the conveyor group 50 includes an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor. The downstream conveyor is disposed downstream of the upstream conveyor in the conveying direction. An entrance sensor is provided upstream of the center of the downstream conveyor in the conveying direction. An exit sensor is provided downstream of the center of the downstream conveyor in the conveying direction. When the conveyor group 50 includes three or more conveyors, of any two conveyors selected from the plurality of conveyors, the conveyor disposed upstream in the conveying direction (specifically, the forward direction) corresponds to the upstream conveyor, and the conveyor disposed downstream corresponds to the downstream conveyor.

[0098] This makes it possible to detect at what position on the downstream conveyor the bobbin 91 is located.

[0099] In the supply device 1 of this embodiment, when the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor are resumed from a stopped state, if the inlet sensor detects a bobbin 91, the control device 40 resumes driving of the upstream conveyor after resuming driving of the downstream conveyor and after the inlet sensor no longer detects the bobbin 91.

[0100] This can prevent the bobbins 91 from becoming contiguous at the position where the upstream conveyor joins the downstream conveyor.

[0101] In the supply device 1 of the present embodiment, after the control device 40 resumes driving the downstream conveyor and the first threshold time has elapsed, the control device 40 resumes driving the upstream conveyor regardless of the detection result of the inlet sensor.

[0102] This may allow the abnormality to be resolved without calling an operator.

[0103] In the supply device 1 of this embodiment, an upstream outlet sensor is provided downstream of the center of the upstream conveyor in the conveying direction. When the second threshold time has elapsed without the upstream outlet sensor detecting the bobbin 91, the control device 40 increases the conveying speed of the downstream conveyor.

[0104] This makes it possible to prevent the intervals between the bobbins 91 from becoming excessively long, thereby making it possible to increase the efficiency of transporting the bobbins 91.

[0105] In the supply device 1 of this embodiment, the conveyor group 50 includes at least four conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in the conveying direction.

[0106] This allows the bobbin 91 to be transported efficiently. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 1 Feeding device 40 Control device 50 Conveyor Group 61 Yarn layer sensor 62 Core tube sensor

Claims

1. A supplying device supplies a bobbin having a core tube wound with yarn produced by a spinning machine to a yarn winding machine, a conveyor group including a plurality of conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in a conveying direction of the bobbins and conveying the bobbins; a yarn layer sensor for detecting the bobbin having a yarn layer, the bobbin being transported by the conveyor group; a core tube sensor for detecting the bobbin having no yarn layer, the bobbin being conveyed by the conveyor group; A control device for controlling the group of conveyors; Equipped with the control device controls the conveyor group based on detection results of the core tube sensor and the yarn layer sensor to transport the bobbin having a yarn layer to a relay position for supplying the bobbin to the yarn winding machine, and to transport the bobbin having no yarn layer to a recovery position; The control device is characterized in that, when transporting the bobbin to the relay position or the recovery position, the conveyor located downstream of the multiple conveyors is operated at a higher speed than the conveyor located upstream.

2. 2. The supply device of claim 1, The supplying device further comprises a collection sensor for detecting the bobbin being transported to the collection position.

3. 3. The supply device of claim 2, The control device drives the conveyor group to transport the bobbin having no yarn layer to the collection position; The supply device is characterized in that the collection sensor detects the bobbin while it is being transported from the conveyor group to the collection position, and is disposed at the collection position so as not to detect the bobbin once it has reached the collection position.

4. 4. The supply device of claim 3, a shutter that switches between a state in which a path for transferring the bobbin from the conveyor group to the collection position is opened and a state in which the path is closed; a shutter sensor provided at the most downstream of the conveyor group to detect the bobbin transported by the conveyor group; Equipped with When the shutter sensor detects the bobbin after it is determined that the bobbin has reached the collection position, the control device drives the conveyor group in a direction in which the bobbin moves away from the collection position until the shutter sensor no longer detects the bobbin; the relay position is a position for receiving the bobbin from a transfer position of the conveyor group, the shutter sensor is capable of detecting whether the bobbin is present at least one of the relay position and the delivery position, or whether the bobbin is not present at both the relay position and the delivery position; The shutter sensor is arranged with its optical axis oriented in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor at the transfer position so as to be able to detect both the relay position and the transfer position of the conveyor.

5. 5. The supply device of claim 4, The control device is characterized in that after the conveyor group is driven in a direction away from the bobbin collection position and a threshold time has elapsed, the control device closes the shutter regardless of the detection result of the shutter sensor.

6. 6. The supply device of claim 5, The supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control device determines whether or not the bobbin is present at the relay position based on a detection result of the shutter sensor after the group of conveyors is driven.

7. A supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The conveyor group includes: An upstream conveyor; a downstream conveyor disposed downstream in the conveying direction with respect to the upstream conveyor; Equipped with an inlet sensor is provided upstream of a center of the downstream conveyor in the conveying direction; The supply device according to claim 1, further comprising an outlet sensor provided downstream of a center of the downstream conveyor in the conveying direction.

8. 8. The supply device of claim 7, When the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor are restarted from a stopped state, The control device is characterized in that, when the inlet sensor detects the bobbin, the control device resumes driving of the downstream conveyor and then resumes driving of the upstream conveyor after the inlet sensor no longer detects the bobbin.

9. 9. The supply device of claim 8, The control device is characterized in that after resuming driving of the downstream conveyor, if a first threshold time has elapsed, the control device resumes driving of the upstream conveyor regardless of the detection result of the inlet sensor.

10. A supplying device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, an upstream exit sensor is provided downstream of a center of the upstream conveyor in the conveying direction; The control device is characterized in that, when a second threshold time has elapsed while the upstream outlet sensor does not detect the bobbin, the control device increases the transport speed of the upstream conveyor.

11. A supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, A supply device, wherein the conveyor group includes at least four of the conveyors arranged adjacent to each other in a conveying direction.

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