Spinning machine

Abstract

To provide a spinning machine capable of starting a winding operation in a short period of time.SOLUTION: A spinning machine has a draft device, a spinning device, a winding device, and a capturing device. The draft device drafts a fiber bundle. The spinning device generates a yarn by twisting the fiber bundle drafted by the draft device. The winding device conducts a winding operation to form a package by winding up the yarn. The capturing device conducts a capturing operation to capture the yarn fed from the spinning device and move to a target position. The draft device has a front roller disposed most downstream in a fiber traveling direction. When the winding operation is started, the capturing device starts the capturing operation for the yarn generated by the spinning device by discharging and spinning the yarn while the front roller is rotating at first speed. The front roller starts to accelerate after the capturing device starts the capturing operation and before the capturing device reaches the target position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates primarily to a spinning machine equipped with a spinning device that performs yarn discharge spinning. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a spinning machine including a draft device, an air spinning device, and a winding device. The draft device drafts a fiber bundle and supplies it to the air spinning device. The draft device includes a plurality of draft rollers, and the draft roller arranged most downstream is called a front roller. The air spinning device performs yarn output spinning and normal spinning. Yarn output spinning is a process of producing yarn without inserting a seed yarn into the air spinning device by performing a spinning method different from normal spinning at the start of spinning. The winding device performs a winding operation to wind up the yarn produced by the air spinning device to form a package. Patent Document 1 also discloses that the rotation speed of the front roller is different between yarn output spinning and normal spinning. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-23391 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When starting the winding operation, many processes are required, such as switching to normal spinning after yarn discharge spinning and increasing the rotation speed of the draft roller. In order to increase the operating efficiency of the spinning machine, it is preferable to start the winding operation in a short time. Patent Document 1 does not fully disclose the processes for starting the winding operation in a short time.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a spinning machine capable of starting a winding operation in a short time.

[0006] 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.

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spinning machine having the following configuration. That is, the spinning machine includes a draft device, a spinning device, a winding device, and a capturing device. The draft device drafts a fiber bundle. The spinning device generates a yarn by twisting the fiber bundle drafted by the draft device. The winding device performs a winding operation to wind the yarn to form a package. The capturing device performs a capturing operation to capture the yarn sent out from the spinning device and move it to a target position. The draft device includes a first draft roller disposed at the most downstream position in the fiber running direction. When the winding operation is started, the capturing device starts the capturing operation on the yarn generated by the spinning device performing yarn output spinning while the first draft roller is rotating at a first speed. The first draft roller starts accelerating after the capturing device starts the capturing operation and before the capturing device reaches the target position.

[0008] This makes it possible to shorten the time required to start the winding operation, compared to a case in which the first draft roller starts accelerating after the capture device has reached the target position.

[0009] The spinning machine is preferably configured as follows. That is, the spinning machine includes a yarn storage roller, a yarn hooking member, and a drive device. The yarn storage roller is disposed between the spinning device and the winding device on a yarn travel path, and stores the yarn. The yarn hooking member winds the yarn around the yarn storage roller. The drive device drives and rotates the yarn storage roller. When starting the winding operation, the first draft roller starts accelerating after the capturing device starts the capturing operation and before the yarn is hooked around the yarn hooking member.

[0010] This makes the rotation speed of the first draft roller during threading faster than the first speed. As a result, the success rate of threading can be increased compared to when threading is performed when the rotation speed of the first draft roller is the first speed. Furthermore, the success rate of yarn discharge spinning can be increased compared to when the rotation speed of the first draft roller is made faster than the first speed even before the capture operation is started.

[0011] In the spinning machine, when starting the winding operation, it is preferable that the first draft roller starts accelerating after the capturing device starts the capturing operation, after the yarn storage roller starts accelerating, and before the capturing device reaches the target position.

[0012] By starting the acceleration of the yarn pooling roller early (before the acceleration of the first draft roller), the timing at which the rotation speed of the yarn pooling roller reaches the target speed can be advanced, and therefore the time required to start the winding operation can be shortened even if the maximum acceleration of the yarn pooling roller is small.

[0013] In the spinning machine, it is preferable that the first draft roller and the yarn pooling roller accelerate in synchronization with each other when the yarn is hooked around the yarn hooking member.

[0014] This allows yarn threading to be performed even when the first draft roller and the yarn pooling roller are accelerating.

[0015] The spinning machine is preferably configured as follows. That is, the rotation speed of the first draft roller while the winding device performs the winding operation is referred to as a second speed. The rotation speed of the yarn storage roller while the winding device performs the winding operation is referred to as a normal speed. When starting the winding operation, the first draft roller maintains the first speed and then increases its rotation speed to the second speed. The yarn storage roller continuously increases its rotation speed until it reaches the normal speed.

[0016] Although it is preferable for the first draft roller to rotate at a low speed during yarn discharge spinning, the rotation speed of the yarn storage roller does not affect the success of yarn discharge spinning. Therefore, by directly increasing the rotation speed of the yarn storage roller to the second speed, the success rate of yarn discharge spinning can be increased while the rotation speed of the yarn storage roller can be made to reach the normal speed quickly.

[0017] The spinning machine is preferably configured as follows. That is, the spinning machine includes a control unit that controls the rotation speed of at least the first draft roller. The draft device includes a second draft roller that is disposed most upstream in the fiber running direction. When starting the winding operation, the control unit starts accelerating the first draft roller after the capturing device starts the capturing operation and when it is determined that a threshold time has elapsed since the second draft roller started rotating.

[0018] This makes it possible to determine the timing to start accelerating the first draft roller with simple control.

[0019] The spinning machine is preferably configured as follows. That is, the spinning machine includes a control unit and a detection unit. The control unit controls at least the rotation speed of the first draft roller. The detection unit detects that the capturing device has started the capturing operation. When starting the winding operation, the control unit starts accelerating the first draft roller after the capturing device has started the capturing operation and when the detection unit detects that the capturing device has started the capturing operation.

[0020] This makes it possible to accurately detect that the capturing operation has been performed, so that acceleration of the first draft roller can be started at a more appropriate timing.

[0021] The spinning machine is preferably configured as follows: That is, the rotation speed of the yarn pooling roller while the winding device is performing the winding operation is referred to as a normal speed. When starting the winding operation, after the yarn is hooked on the yarn hooking member, the yarn pooling roller maintains the normal speed or accelerates to the normal speed and then maintains the normal speed.

[0022] This allows the rotation speed of the yarn pooling roller to be maintained at a high speed, thereby shortening the time required to start the winding operation.

[0023] The spinning machine is preferably configured as follows: the draft device includes a plurality of draft rollers including the first draft roller, and all of the draft rollers included in the draft device are accelerated in synchronization with each other.

[0024] This allows the draft rollers to accelerate while continuing to draft the fiber bundle.

[0025] The spinning machine preferably includes a yarn splicing device that, when the yarn is broken, splices the yarn on the spinning device side captured by the capturing device and the yarn on the package side.

[0026] This allows the winding operation to be started while the yarn breakage is eliminated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a spinning machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the air spinning device. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart of a process for starting a winding operation. [Diagram 5] 5 is a timing chart of a process for starting a winding operation. [Figure 6] 5 is a graph showing changes in rotation speed of a front roller and a yarn pooling roller. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a side view of the spinning unit and the yarn splicing cart in a state in which a yarn is broken. [Figure 8] 11 is a side view of the spinning unit and the yarn splicing cart in a state in which the second catching device has caught the package-side yarn. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a side view of the spinning unit and the yarn splicing carriage in a state in which the yarn on the package side and the yarn on the air spinning device side are guided to the yarn splicing device. FIG. [Figure 10] 13 is a graph showing changes in rotation speed of the front roller and the yarn pooling roller in the first modified example. [Figure 11] 13 is a graph showing changes in rotation speed of the front roller and the yarn pooling roller in a second modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Next, an air spinning machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, "upstream" and "downstream" refer to upstream and downstream in the fiber running direction (i.e., the direction in which a fiber bundle or yarn runs) during spinning.

[0029] The air spinning machine (spinning machine) 1 of this embodiment includes a plurality of spinning units 2 arranged in parallel, and a yarn splicing cart 30.

[0030] 2, each spinning unit 2 includes, from upstream to downstream, a fiber bundle guide 4, a draft device 5, an air spinning device (spinning device) 6, a yarn monitoring device 7, a yarn storage device 8, and a winding device 9. Each device included in the spinning unit 2 is controlled by a unit control unit (control unit) 26. The unit control unit 26 is a computer including a CPU, RAM, storage, etc., and performs processing to control each part of the spinning unit 2 by executing a program stored in the storage.

[0031] The fiber bundle guide 4 guides the fiber bundle 10 supplied from a sliver case (not shown). The fiber bundle 10 guided by the fiber bundle guide 4 is supplied to a draft device 5.

[0032] The draft device 5 drafts the fiber bundle 10. The draft device 5 includes a draft bottom roller group 5a and a draft top roller group 5b. The draft bottom roller group 5a includes a plurality of draft bottom rollers. Specifically, a front roller (first draft roller) 51, a middle roller 52, a third roller 53, and a back roller (second draft roller) 54 are arranged in this order from downstream to upstream in the fiber running direction. The back roller 54 is arranged at the most upstream position among the draft bottom rollers. In addition, an apron belt 55 is wound around the middle roller 52.

[0033] The draft top roller group 5b includes a draft top roller facing each of the draft bottom rollers. An apron belt is wound around the draft top roller facing the middle roller 52, and a tensioner is also provided. Hereinafter, the draft bottom roller and the draft top roller may be collectively referred to as the draft rollers.

[0034] The draft device 5 includes a motor (not shown) that rotates and drives the draft bottom roller. The motor is controlled by the unit control unit 26. By rotating and driving the draft bottom roller, the fiber bundle 10 sandwiched between the draft top roller and the draft bottom roller can be conveyed while being stretched. Hereinafter, the operation of the draft device 5 to stretch and convey the fiber bundle 10 is referred to as a draft operation. In addition, the unit control unit 26 sending a control command to the motor (or a motor driver) to rotate and drive the draft bottom roller and rotate the draft bottom roller and the draft top roller is simply described as "the unit control unit 26 rotates (accelerates) the draft rollers" or the like.

[0035] In this embodiment, the four draft rollers rotate synchronously. Synchronization means that the two rotation speeds increase and decrease in the same manner. In other words, each draft roller increases and decreases its rotation speed while maintaining a predetermined rotation speed ratio. In other words, even if the rotation speeds of the draft rollers are not the same (or are not close to each other), this is considered to be "synchronization." Note that the draft ratio does not have to be the same when the rotation speed is low and when it is high.

[0036] In the draft device 5 of this embodiment, one motor is provided for each spinning unit 2 and for each draft bottom roller. In other words, one motor is assigned to one draft bottom roller. This allows a specific draft bottom roller of a specific spinning unit 2 to be switched between rotation and stop, or to have its rotation speed changed. In other words, each draft roller constituting the draft device 5 can rotate independently of each draft roller of the other spinning units 2. Note that this drive configuration is an example, and for example, the third roller 53 and the back roller 54 of one spinning unit 2 may be driven by one motor and a reducer.

[0037] The air spinning device 6 performs air spinning by applying a swirling air current to the fiber bundle 10 sent out by the draft device 5 to generate a yarn 15. Note that a spinning device that performs a spinning method other than air spinning may be used instead of the air spinning device 6. As shown in FIG. 3, the air spinning device 6 includes a nozzle block 40 and a hollow guide shaft 44. The nozzle block 40 is formed with a fiber guide 41, a spinning chamber 42, and a first nozzle 43. The hollow guide shaft 44 is formed with a yarn passage 45 and a second nozzle 46.

[0038] The fiber guide 41 is a member that guides the fiber bundle 10 drafted by the draft device 5 toward the inside (spinning chamber 42) of the air spinning device 6. The air spinning device 6 injects air from a first nozzle 43 into the spinning chamber 42, and applies a swirling air flow to the fiber bundle 10 in the spinning chamber 42.

[0039] The hollow guide shaft 44 is a cylindrical member, and has a yarn passage 45 formed therein. The air spinning device 6 generates a swirling air current in the yarn passage 45 by injecting air from a second nozzle 46 into the yarn passage 45. The swirling air current generated in the yarn passage 45 is in the opposite direction to the swirling air current in the spinning chamber 42. The air spinning device 6 is capable of performing yarn discharge spinning (self spinning) and normal spinning.

[0040] Yarn output spinning is an operation in which the air spinning device 6 alone applies a swirling air flow to the fiber bundle 10 to generate a new yarn 15 and sends the generated yarn 15 downstream. By performing yarn output spinning, the yarn 15 can be generated without inserting a seed yarn into the air spinning device 6. When performing yarn output spinning, the air spinning device 6 jets air from the first nozzle 43 and the second nozzle 46. As a result, the fiber bundle 10 is discharged from the hollow guide shaft body 44 while being spun into a bundled fiber. In yarn output spinning, there is almost no tension pulling the yarn 15 from the downstream side of the air spinning device 6, or if there is any, it is only a weak tension due to the suction air flow of the suction pipe 32 described later. In yarn output spinning, the fiber bundle 10 (yarn 15) is autonomously sent out to the outside of the air spinning device 6 using a swirling air flow generated by jetting air from the second nozzle.

[0041] In the yarn output spinning, the fiber bundle 10 is converged into a bundled fiber and sent downstream. Therefore, for example, if the draft speed and spinning speed are too fast, the amount of fiber bundle 10 supplied per unit time will be reduced, and there is a possibility that the yarn output spinning will fail. Therefore, when performing the yarn output spinning, it is preferable that the draft speed and spinning speed are slow.

[0042] Normal spinning is an operation for continuously producing the yarn 15 to be wound by the winding device 9 after yarn discharge spinning. When performing normal spinning, the air spinning device 6 jets air from the first nozzle 43 but does not jet air from the second nozzle 46. In this state, the rear end of the fiber of the fiber bundle 10 supplied from the draft device 5 is swung around the tip of the hollow guide shaft body 44 by the swirling air flow generated in the spinning chamber 42 by the air jet from the first nozzle 43. This causes the fiber bundle 10 to be twisted, and the yarn 15 is produced. The yarn 15 is drawn out of the air spinning device 6 by the yarn pooling device 8 and travels downstream. In normal spinning, the draft speed and spinning speed may be high because the yarn 15 is drawn out of the air spinning device 6 by the yarn pooling device 8.

[0043] The yarn 15 generated by the air spinning device 6 passes through the yarn monitoring device 7. The yarn monitoring device 7 monitors the thickness of the traveling yarn 15 with an optical sensor (not shown). When the yarn monitoring device 7 detects a yarn defect in the yarn 15 (for example, a portion where the yarn 15 has an abnormality in thickness, etc.), it transmits a yarn defect detection signal to the unit control unit 26. When the unit control unit 26 receives the yarn defect detection signal, it performs a cutting process to cut the fiber bundle 10 or the yarn 15. The cutting process includes stopping a cutter, spinning, or stopping a draft operation. Note that the yarn monitoring device 7 is not limited to an optical sensor, and may monitor the thickness of the yarn 15 with, for example, a capacitance sensor. Furthermore, as the yarn defect, a foreign object contained in the yarn 15 and / or an abnormality in the tension of the yarn 15 may be monitored.

[0044] A yarn pooling device 8 is disposed downstream of the yarn monitoring device 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the yarn pooling device 8 includes a yarn pooling roller 81, an electric motor (drive device) 82, a yarn hooking member 83, and a yarn removing member 84.

[0045] The yarn storage roller 81 is driven to rotate by an electric motor 82. The yarn storage roller 81 winds the yarn 15 around its outer circumferential surface and temporarily stores the yarn. The yarn storage roller 81 can pull out the yarn 15 from the air spinning device 6 at a predetermined speed by rotating at a predetermined rotational speed with the yarn 15 wound around its outer circumferential surface. The electric motor 82 may be a rotary actuator other than an electric motor. The electric motor 82 is controlled by the unit control unit 26. In the following description, the unit control unit 26 sending a control command to the electric motor 82 (or a motor driver) to drive the electric motor 82 to rotate the yarn storage roller 81 will be simply described as "the unit control unit 26 rotates (accelerates) the yarn storage roller 81" or the like.

[0046] The yarn hooking member 83 is capable of hooking the yarn 15. The yarn hooking member 83 is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the yarn storage roller 81. A torque generating means, such as a magnetic means, applies a torque (resistance torque) to the yarn hooking member 83 against the relative rotation with respect to the yarn storage roller 81. If the tension applied to the yarn 15 is strong enough to overcome the resistance torque, the yarn hooking member 83 rotates independently of the yarn storage roller 81 and unwinds the yarn 15 from the yarn storage roller 81. If the tension applied to the yarn 15 is weaker than the resistance torque, the yarn hooking member 83 rotates integrally with the yarn storage roller 81 and winds the yarn 15 around the yarn storage roller 81. If the draft speed and spinning speed are too low during threading, the tension of the yarn 15 increases, increasing the probability of threading failure. Therefore, it is preferable that the draft speed and spinning speed are high during threading.

[0047] During yarn threading, the yarn 15 produced by the air spinning device 6 is wound around the yarn storage roller 81 while the yarn storage roller 81 is rotating. Therefore, it is preferable that the speed at which the yarn storage roller 81 winds the yarn 15 and the speed at which the air spinning device 6 sends out the yarn 15 (i.e., the spinning speed) are close to each other. If these two speeds differ significantly, the amount of yarn stored on the yarn storage roller 81 cannot be maintained within an appropriate range.

[0048] Furthermore, the speed at which the yarn storage roller 81 winds the yarn 15 is correlated with the rotation speed of the yarn storage roller 81. The spinning speed is correlated with the rotation speed of a draft roller (for example, the front roller 51). Therefore, during yarn threading, it is preferable that the yarn storage roller 81 and the front roller 51 rotate synchronously. Here, synchronization means that the two rotation speeds increase and decrease in the same manner, as described above. For example, if the rotation speed of the yarn storage roller 81 when forming the package 18 is 100% and the rotation speed of the front roller 51 when forming the package 18 is 100%, and the current rotation speed of the yarn storage roller 81 is N1% and the current rotation speed of the front roller 51 is N2%, when N1 and N2 match or are close to each other, the rotation of the yarn storage roller 81 and the front roller 51 are synchronized. Note that the yarn storage roller 81 and the front roller 51 have different diameters, so there is no need to match their rotation speeds.

[0049] The yarn removing member 84 is disposed in the vicinity of the yarn storage roller 81. The yarn removing member 84 is capable of performing a yarn removing operation to remove the yarn 15 from the yarn hooking member 83. As shown in Fig. 1, the yarn removing member 84 is configured as an L-shaped member, and one end of the member is rotatably supported.

[0050] The yarn removing member 84 is provided so as to be movable between a position shown in Fig. 2 (retracted position) and a position shown in Fig. 8 (yarn removing position). In the process of moving from the retracted position to the yarn removing position, the yarn removing member 84 passes through a space downstream of the yarn storage roller 81. At this time, if there is a yarn 15 caught on the yarn hooking member 83, the yarn removing member 84 acts on the yarn 15, and the yarn 15 is removed from the yarn hooking member 83. By removing the yarn 15 from the yarn hooking member 83, the amount of yarn 15 stored on the yarn storage roller 81 does not increase, and the yarn 15 is unwound while being newly wound on the yarn storage roller 81 with a constant amount (length) of the yarn 15 wound on the yarn storage roller 81. This operation is sometimes referred to as a "yarn removing operation."

[0051] The yarn removing member 84 is provided in each spinning unit 2, and an independent drive unit (motor, air cylinder, etc.) is provided for each yarn removing member 84. The drive unit of the yarn removing member 84 is controlled by the unit control unit 26. Therefore, the yarn removing member 84 can operate independently of the yarn removing members 84 of the other spinning units 2.

[0052] The yarn pooling device 8 can temporarily pool the yarn 15 on the outer peripheral surface of the yarn pooling roller 81, and therefore functions as a kind of buffer for the yarn 15. This can eliminate problems (such as slack in the yarn 15) caused by a mismatch between the spinning speed in the air spinning device 6 and the winding speed (the running speed of the yarn 15 wound into the package 18) for some reason.

[0053] The yarn 15 that has passed through the yarn storage device 8 is wound onto a bobbin 17 by the winding device 9. The winding device 9 performs a winding operation to wind the yarn 15 to form a package 18. The winding device 9 includes a cradle arm 19, a winding drum 20, and a traverse device 21.

[0054] The cradle arm 19 rotatably supports the bobbin 17 for winding the yarn 15. The winding drum 20 contacts the outer circumferential surface of the bobbin 17 or the outer circumferential surface of the package 18 and is driven to rotate, thereby rotating the bobbin 17 (or the package 18). The traverse device 21 includes a traverse guide 22. The traverse guide 22 is driven in the winding width direction of the bobbin 17 while guiding the yarn 15. This allows the yarn 15 being wound around the bobbin 17 to traverse.

[0055] The spinning unit 2 having the above configuration can produce a yarn 15 from the fiber bundle 10 and wind it around a bobbin 17 to form a package 18.

[0056] 1 and 2, the yarn splicing cart 30 includes a yarn splicing device 31, a suction pipe (capturing device) 32, and a suction mouth 33. The yarn splicing cart 30 is controlled by a cart control unit 27. The cart control unit 27 is a computer including a CPU, RAM, storage, etc., and performs processing to control each unit of the yarn splicing cart 30 by executing programs stored in the storage. The yarn splicing cart 30 performs yarn splicing when the yarn 15 is broken. Cases when the yarn 15 is broken include a case where the unit control unit 26 performs a cutting process, and a case where the yarn 15 is broken due to strong tension being applied to the yarn 15, etc. (i.e., regardless of the operation of the spinning unit 2).

[0057] The yarn splicing cart 30 performs yarn splicing in cooperation with the second capturing device 24 of the spinning unit 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the second capturing device 24 is disposed downstream of the yarn storage device 8 and upstream of the yarn splicing device 31. The second capturing device 24 is a cylindrical member. The second capturing device 24 is connected to a negative pressure source (not shown), and thus a suction flow can be generated inside the cylindrical member. The second capturing device 24 is disposed at a position where it can suck the yarn 15 in the yarn path from the yarn storage device 8 to the winding device 9. When the yarn 15 is broken, the second capturing device 24 generates a suction flow and captures the yarn 15 on the package 18 side upstream of the yarn splicing device 31. In other words, when the yarn 15 is broken, the second capturing device 24 captures the yarn 15 on the package 18 side before being wound into the package 18. The yarn 15 on the package 18 side is the yarn 15 on the broken yarn 15 that is connected to the package 18.

[0058] The suction pipe 32 is connected to a negative pressure source. This allows a suction flow to be generated inside the suction pipe 32. The suction pipe 32 is also configured to be rotatable around a support shaft. When the yarn 15 is cut, the suction pipe 32 rotates to bring the opening at the tip thereof closer to the air spinning device 6, and captures the yarn 15 generated by the air spinning device 6 performing yarn discharge spinning. Thereafter, the suction pipe 32 returns to a standby position (target position), and the yarn 15 on the air spinning device 6 side is guided to the yarn joining device 31. The target position is a position to which the suction pipe 32 is moved in order to guide the captured yarn 15 to a device for the next process. In this embodiment, the standby position is the target position, but a position different from the standby position may be the target position.

[0059] Hereinafter, the operation of the suction pipe 32 capturing the yarn 15 and moving it to the target position is referred to as the capturing operation. The operation of the suction pipe 32 moving to the capturing position near the air spinning device 6 is not included in the capturing operation because it is a preparatory operation for performing the capturing operation. The yarn 15 on the air spinning device 6 side is the yarn 15 of the severed yarn 15 that is connected to the air spinning device 6 (in other words, the yarn 15 newly generated by the air spinning device 6 after the separation).

[0060] A detection unit 32a is provided at the tip and inside of the suction pipe 32. The detection unit 32a is a reflective or transmissive optical sensor, and is configured such that the light projected by the light projecting unit is received by the light receiving unit. The intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit changes depending on whether the yarn 15 is present in the light path projected by the light projecting unit. This allows the detection unit 32a to detect whether the suction pipe 32 has captured the yarn 15. The detection unit 32a outputs the detection result to the unit control unit 26 via the cart control unit 27. The detection unit 32a is not an essential component and can be omitted.

[0061] The suction mouth 33 is used when the second capturing device 24 cannot capture the yarn 15 on the package 18 side. The suction mouth 33 is connected to a negative pressure source and can generate a suction flow inside. If the yarn 15 is broken, the suction mouth 33 approaches the package 18 by rotating around a support shaft and captures the yarn 15 wound around the package 18. The suction mouth 33 then returns to its original position, guiding the yarn 15 on the package 18 side to the yarn joining device 31. The suction mouth 33 may be omitted.

[0062] In a state where the second capturing device 24 and the suction pipe 32 capture the yarn 15, or in a state where the suction mouth 33 and the suction pipe 32 capture the yarn 15, the yarn splicing device 31 performs a yarn splicing operation. Specifically, the yarn splicing device 31 takes in the yarn 15 on the package 18 side and the yarn 15 on the air spinning device 6 side using a yarn pulling lever (not shown). Next, the yarn splicing device 31 applies a swirling air flow to untwist the two yarns 15, and then applies another swirling air flow to twist the two yarns 15 together and splice the yarns 15 together. Note that the yarn splicing device 31 is not limited to a splicer that uses a swirling air flow, and may be, for example, a mechanical knotter.

[0063] Next, a process when starting a winding operation will be described with reference to Fig. 4 to Fig. 9. Starting a winding operation refers to a situation where the winding operation is resumed after the yarn 15 is newly wound or the winding operation is temporarily interrupted due to a break in the yarn 15. In this embodiment, an example where the yarn 15 is broken due to a yarn defect will be described. Note that the process of this embodiment can also be applied to a situation where the winding operation is resumed after the yarn 15 is newly wound or the yarn 15 is broken due to tension or the like.

[0064] Specifically, the unit control section 26 performs processing in accordance with the flowchart of Fig. 4. First, the unit control section 26 determines whether or not a yarn defect has been detected (S101). This processing is performed based on whether or not the above-mentioned yarn defect detection signal has been received.

[0065] When the unit control unit 26 determines that a yarn defect has been detected, it stops the draft operation and normal spinning, and cuts the yarn 15 (S102). As described above, the unit control unit 26 may use a cutter to cut the yarn 15. In this case, the draft operation and normal spinning are also stopped. Figure 7 shows the state immediately after the yarn 15 is cut.

[0066] Next, the unit control unit 26 generates a suction flow in the second capturing device 24 to capture the yarn 15 on the package 18 side (S103). Fig. 8 shows the state immediately after the yarn 15 is captured by the second capturing device 24. Note that the above-mentioned suction mouth 33 may be used to capture the yarn 15 on the package 18 side instead of the second capturing device 24. During the process of capturing the yarn 15 on the package 18 side by the second capturing device 24, the yarn removing member 84 moves from the retracted position to the yarn removing position, so that the yarn 15 stored on the yarn storage roller 81 is unwound from the yarn storage roller 81 and sucked by the second capturing device 24.

[0067] Next, the unit control unit 26 starts accelerating the draft roller to the first speed as a target, and starts accelerating the yarn storage roller 81 to the initial speed as a target (S104). The draft roller is set to a first speed and a second speed. The second speed is the rotation speed of the draft roller when the package 18 is formed. The first speed is slower than the second speed. As described above, it is preferable to slow down the rotation speed of the draft roller during yarn discharge spinning (especially until the suction pipe 32 captures the yarn 15). Therefore, in this embodiment, with the rotation speed of the draft roller set to the first speed, yarn discharge spinning is performed and the suction pipe 32 captures the yarn 15. This can increase the success rate of yarn discharge spinning. Also, FIG. 6 shows the speed change of the rotation speed of the front roller 51, which is one of the draft rollers.

[0068] Furthermore, since the front roller 51 and the yarn storage roller 81 rotate synchronously, while the rotational speed of the front roller 51 is maintained at the first speed, the rotational speed of the yarn storage roller 81 is also maintained. The rotational speed of the yarn storage roller 81 at this time is the initial speed. Similarly, the rotational speed of the yarn storage roller 81 that corresponds to the second speed of the front roller 51 is the normal speed. In other words, the normal speed is the rotational speed of the yarn storage roller 81 when the package 18 is formed.

[0069] Additionally, the unit control unit 26 prepares for yarn discharge spinning at the same time or near the time when the front roller 51 and the yarn storage roller 81 start to rotate. Specifically, air is sprayed from each of the first nozzle 43 and the second nozzle 46. In the timing chart shown in Fig. 5, in order to simply show the timing of the processes, various preparations are started at time T1. However, these timings do not need to be strictly the same, and may be earlier or later than time T1.

[0070] After completing various preparations, the unit control unit 26 controls the draft device 5 and the air spinning device 6 to start the draft operation and yarn discharge spinning (S105). Next, the unit control unit 26 sends a command to the carriage control unit 27 to start the capturing operation by the suction pipe 32 (S106).

[0071] As described above, in this embodiment, the rotation speed of the front roller 51 is the first speed at the start of the capturing operation. When the suction pipe 32 captures the yarn 15, the yarn 15 is pulled out by the suction pipe 32, so the air injection from the second nozzle 46 is stopped at an appropriate timing. In addition, after the suction pipe 32 starts the capturing operation (i.e., after the suction pipe 32 captures the yarn 15), the yarn discharge spinning has already been completed, so the front roller 51 can be accelerated. Rather, as described above, in order to increase the success rate of yarn threading, it is preferable that the draft speed (i.e., the rotation speed of the front roller 51) is high during yarn threading. In consideration of this, in this embodiment, the acceleration of the front roller 51 is started early. This makes it possible to shorten the time required to start the winding operation.

[0072] Specifically, the unit control section 26 judges whether or not a threshold time has elapsed since the rotation of the back roller 54 started (S107). In this embodiment, the timing for restarting the draft operation, the timing for starting yarn discharge spinning, and the timing for starting the capture operation are determined based on the time when the rotation of the back roller 54 started. The threshold time is a set time from the time when the rotation of the back roller 54 started to the time when the capture operation starts, plus a margin time.

[0073] In this embodiment, the start point of time measurement is not limited to the time when the back roller 54 starts to rotate. For example, it may be the time when another draft roller starts to rotate, or the time when air starts to be sprayed from the first nozzle 43 or the second nozzle 46. Alternatively, instead of measuring time, it may be directly detected that the suction pipe 32 has captured the yarn 15. For example, the above-mentioned detection unit 32a may be used. In this case, in step S107, the unit control unit 26 determines whether or not a signal indicating that the detection unit 32a has detected the yarn 15 has been received.

[0074] When the unit control unit 26 determines Yes in the process of step S107, it starts accelerating the draft roller to the second speed and starts accelerating the yarn storage roller 81 to the normal speed (S108). After the second speed and the normal speed are reached, the control is continued to maintain those speeds.

[0075] The timing at which the draft roller starts accelerating to the second speed is time T2 in the timing chart of Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 5, time T2 occurs after the capture operation starts but before the capture operation is completed (i.e., before the suction pipe 32 reaches the target position). Time T2 occurs after the second nozzle 46 stops spraying air. Time T2 occurs before threading and piecing start.

[0076] Next, the unit control section 26 controls the suction pipe 32 to move the suction pipe 32 toward the target position. While the suction pipe 32 moves toward the target position, the yarn 15 sucked by the suction pipe 32 is hooked on the yarn hooking member 83. In other words, the yarn hooking is performed (S109). In this embodiment, the rotation speed of the front roller 51 is increased from the first speed before the start of the yarn hooking, so that the success rate of the yarn hooking is high. Note that since the front roller 51 and the yarn storage roller 81 rotate synchronously, the yarn hooking can be performed even if the front roller 51 and the yarn storage roller 81 are accelerating at the time of the yarn hooking. In other words, the rotation speed of the front roller 51 may or may not reach the second speed at the time of the yarn hooking.

[0077] The timing to start threading can be determined as appropriate, for example, it may be the point in time when a predetermined time has elapsed from the point in time when the back roller 54 starts to rotate.

[0078] Next, the unit control unit 26 sends a command to the carriage control unit 27 to cause the yarn splicing device 31 to start yarn splicing (S110). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 9, the yarn splicing device 31 uses a yarn pulling lever (not shown) to pull the yarn 15 on the package 18 side and the yarn 15 on the air spinning device 6 side, thereby splicing the two yarns 15. After the yarn splicing is completed, normal winding is resumed. The unit control unit 26 performs a yarn removal operation before the yarn splicing by the yarn splicing device 31.

[0079] The method of changing the rotation speeds of the front roller 51 and the yarn pooling roller 81 in this embodiment is merely an example, and can be changed, for example, as shown in FIG. 10 or FIG.

[0080] Depending on the roller structure and / or motor properties, the maximum acceleration of the yarn storage roller 81 may be lower than the maximum acceleration of the front roller 51. In this case, if the front roller 51 and the yarn storage roller 81 are rotated synchronously, the front roller 51 will be accelerated to match the yarn storage roller 81, which has a lower maximum acceleration, and the time required to start the winding operation will be longer. Here, the rotation speed of the yarn storage roller 81 does not affect the success rate of yarn release spinning and yarn threading. A required condition for the yarn storage roller 81 is that the rotation of the front roller 51 and the yarn storage roller 81 is synchronized during yarn threading.

[0081] Taking this into consideration, in the modified example shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the front roller 51 and the yarn pooling roller 81 rotate asynchronously before the second speed and the normal speed are reached.

[0082] In the first modified example shown in Fig. 10, the acceleration start timing of the front roller 51 is the same as that of the above embodiment. That is, after the capture operation starts and before the capture operation is completed, the front roller 51 starts accelerating from the first speed. Meanwhile, the yarn storage roller 81 starts accelerating from the initial speed before the front roller 51 starts accelerating from the first speed. In other words, because the acceleration start timing of the yarn storage roller 81 is earlier than that of the front roller 51, the rotation speed of the yarn storage roller 81 can be made to reach the normal speed sooner.

[0083] Furthermore, at the start of yarn threading, the rotational speed of the front roller 51 reaches the second speed, and the rotational speed of the yarn pooling roller 81 reaches the normal speed. After the rotational speed of the front roller 51 reaches the second speed and the rotational speed of the yarn pooling roller 81 reaches the normal speed, the front roller 51 and the yarn pooling roller 81 rotate in synchronization. This allows for appropriate yarn threading.

[0084] In the second modified example shown in Fig. 11, the acceleration start timing of the front roller 51 is the same as in the above embodiment. Meanwhile, the yarn pooling roller 81 does not rotate at a constant initial speed for a predetermined time, but accelerates to a normal speed. That is, the yarn pooling roller 81 continuously increases its rotation speed (without maintaining the rotation speed at the initial speed) until it reaches the normal speed. This allows the rotation speed of the yarn pooling roller 81 to reach the normal speed early.

[0085] At the start of yarn threading, the rotational speed of the front roller 51 reaches the second speed, and the rotational speed of the yarn pooling roller 81 reaches the normal speed. Therefore, yarn threading can be performed appropriately, similar to the first modification shown in FIG.

[0086] In the first and second modified examples, the front roller 51 and the yarn pooling roller 81 may be accelerating at the start of yarn threading. In this case, it is preferable that the front roller 51 and the yarn pooling roller 81 rotate (accelerate) in synchronization with each other and maintain the synchronization by the time yarn threading starts.

[0087] As described above, the air spinning machine 1 of this embodiment includes the draft device 5, the air spinning device 6, the winding device 9, and the suction pipe 32. The draft device 5 drafts the fiber bundle 10. The air spinning device 6 twists the fiber bundle 10 drafted by the draft device 5 to generate the yarn 15. The winding device 9 performs a winding operation to wind the yarn 15 to form a package 18. The suction pipe 32 performs a capturing operation to capture the yarn 15 sent out from the air spinning device 6 and move it to a target position. The draft device 5 includes a front roller 51 disposed at the most downstream position in the fiber running direction. When starting the winding operation, the suction pipe 32 starts a capturing operation on the yarn 15 generated by the air spinning device 6 performing yarn discharge spinning while the front roller 51 is rotating at a first speed. After the suction pipe 32 starts the capturing operation, and before the suction pipe 32 reaches the target position, the front roller 51 starts accelerating.

[0088] This makes it possible to shorten the time required to start the winding operation, compared to a case in which the front roller 51 starts accelerating after the suction pipe 32 has reached the target position.

[0089] The air spinning machine 1 of the present embodiment includes a yarn storage roller 81, a yarn hooking member 83, and an electric motor 82. The yarn storage roller 81 is disposed between the air spinning device 6 and the winding device 9 on the yarn travel path, and stores the yarn 15. The yarn hooking member 83 winds the yarn 15 around the yarn storage roller 81. The electric motor 82 drives and rotates the yarn storage roller 81. When starting the winding operation, the front roller 51 starts accelerating after the suction pipe 32 starts the capturing operation and before the yarn 15 is hooked on the yarn hooking member 83.

[0090] This makes the rotation speed of the front roller 51 during threading faster than the first speed. As a result, the success rate of threading can be increased compared to when threading is performed when the rotation speed of the front roller 51 is the first speed. Note that the success rate of yarn discharge spinning can be increased compared to when the rotation speed of the front roller 51 is made faster than the first speed even before the start of the capture operation.

[0091] In the air spinning machine 1 of this embodiment, when starting the winding operation, the front roller 51 starts accelerating after the suction pipe 32 starts the capturing operation, after the yarn storage roller 81 starts accelerating, and before the suction pipe 32 reaches the target position.

[0092] By starting the acceleration of the yarn pooling roller 81 early (before the acceleration of the front roller 51), it is possible to advance the timing at which the rotation speed of the yarn pooling roller 81 reaches the target speed. Therefore, even if the maximum acceleration of the yarn pooling roller 81 is small, it is possible to shorten the time required to start the winding operation.

[0093] In the air spinning machine 1 of the present embodiment, at the time when the yarn 15 is hooked around the yarn hooking member 83, the front roller 51 and the yarn pooling roller 81 are synchronously accelerated.

[0094] This allows yarn threading to be performed even when the front roller 51 and the yarn pooling roller 81 are accelerating.

[0095] In the air spinning machine 1 of this embodiment, the rotation speed of the front roller 51 while the winding device 9 is performing the winding operation is referred to as the second speed. The rotation speed of the yarn storage roller 81 while the winding device 9 is performing the winding operation is referred to as the normal speed. When starting the winding operation, the front roller 51 maintains the first speed and then increases its rotation speed to the second speed. The yarn storage roller 81 continuously increases its rotation speed until it reaches the normal speed.

[0096] Although it is preferable that the front roller 51 rotates at a low speed during yarn discharge spinning, the rotational speed of the yarn storage roller 81 does not affect the success of yarn discharge spinning. Therefore, by directly increasing the rotational speed of the yarn storage roller 81 to the second speed, the success rate of yarn discharge spinning can be increased while the rotational speed of the yarn storage roller 81 can quickly reach the normal speed.

[0097] The air spinning machine 1 of this embodiment includes a unit control unit 26 that controls at least the rotation speed of the front roller 51. The draft device 5 includes a back roller 54 that is disposed at the most upstream position in the fiber running direction. When starting the winding operation, the unit control unit 26 starts accelerating the front roller 51 after the suction pipe 32 starts the capturing operation and when it is determined that a threshold time has elapsed since the back roller 54 started rotating.

[0098] This makes it possible to determine the timing to start accelerating the front roller 51 through simple control.

[0099] The air spinning machine 1 of this embodiment includes a unit control unit 26 and a detection unit 32a. The unit control unit 26 controls at least the rotation speed of the front roller 51. The detection unit 32a detects that the suction pipe 32 has started the capturing operation. When starting the winding operation, the unit control unit 26 starts accelerating the front roller 51 after the suction pipe 32 has started the capturing operation and when the detection unit 32a detects that the suction pipe 32 has started the capturing operation.

[0100] This makes it possible to accurately detect that the capturing operation has been performed, so that acceleration of the front roller 51 can be started at a more appropriate timing.

[0101] In the air spinning machine 1 of the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the yarn pooling roller 81 while the winding device 9 is performing the winding operation is referred to as the normal speed. When starting the winding operation, after the yarn 15 is hooked on the yarn hooking member 83, the yarn pooling roller 81 maintains the normal speed or accelerates to the normal speed and then maintains the normal speed.

[0102] This allows the rotation speed of the yarn pooling roller 81 to be maintained at a high speed, thereby shortening the time required to start the winding operation.

[0103] In the air spinning machine 1 of the present embodiment, the draft device 5 includes a plurality of draft rollers including a front roller 51. All of the draft rollers included in the draft device 5 accelerate synchronously.

[0104] This allows the draft rollers to be accelerated while continuing to draft the fiber bundle 10.

[0105] The air spinning machine 1 of this embodiment includes a yarn splicing device 31 that splices together the yarn 15 on the air spinning device 6 side captured by the suction pipe 32 and the yarn 15 on the package 18 side when the yarn 15 is broken.

[0106] This makes it possible to start the winding operation while preventing the yarn 15 from being cut.

[0107] The preferred embodiment and modifications of the present invention have been described above, but the above configurations can be modified, for example, as follows.

[0108] In the above embodiment, the yarn 15 spun by the air spinning device 6 is drawn out by the yarn pooling device 8. Alternatively, the yarn 15 spun by the air spinning device 6 may be drawn out by a delivery roller pair. In this case, the yarn pooling device 8 and / or a mechanical compensator may be disposed downstream of the delivery roller pair. Also, instead of the yarn pooling device 8, a slack tube using suction air flow may be disposed.

[0109] In the above embodiment, the draft bottom roller group 5a includes four rollers, but one or two of these may be omitted. Alternatively, the draft bottom roller group 5a may include five rollers.

[0110] In the above embodiment, the air spinning machine 1 includes the yarn splicing carriage 30, but each spinning unit 2 may include at least a part of the devices related to yarn splicing, or the yarn splicing carriage 30 may be omitted.

[0111] The flowcharts shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and some processes may be omitted, the contents of some processes may be changed, or new processes may be added.

[0112] In the air spinning machine 1, the devices are arranged in the machine height direction such that the yarn 15 supplied at the upper side is wound at the lower side. However, the devices may be arranged such that the yarn supplied at the lower side is wound at the upper side. [Explanation of symbols]

[0113] 1. Air Spinner 5 Draft device 6. Air spinning device (spinning device) 9 Winding device

Claims

1. A draft device for drafting the fiber bundle; a spinning device that generates yarn by twisting the fiber bundle drafted by the draft device; a winding device that performs a winding operation of winding the yarn to form a package; a capture device that performs a capture operation of capturing the yarn sent out from the spinning device and moving the yarn to a target position; Equipped with The draft device includes a first draft roller disposed at the most downstream side in a fiber running direction, When starting the winding operation, while the first draft roller is rotating at a first speed, the catching device starts the catching operation on the yarn generated by the yarn discharge spinning performed by the spinning device; a first draft roller starting to accelerate after the capturing device starts the capturing operation and before the capturing device reaches the target position.

2. The spinning machine according to claim 1, a yarn pooling roller disposed between the spinning device and the winding device in a yarn travel path and configured to pool the yarn; a yarn hooking member for winding a yarn around the yarn pooling roller; A drive device that rotates the yarn pooling roller; Equipped with A spinning machine characterized in that, when starting the winding operation, the first draft roller starts accelerating after the capturing device starts the capturing operation and before the yarn is hooked on the yarn hooking member.

3. The spinning machine according to claim 2, a yarn storage roller that stores a yarn amount of the yarn that has been caught by the yarn catcher and a yarn pooling roller that stores the yarn amount of the yarn that has been caught by the yarn catcher and the ...

4. A spinning machine according to claim 2 or 3, the first draft roller and the yarn pooling roller are accelerated in synchronization with each other at the time when the yarn is hooked around the yarn hooking member.

5. A spinning machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, a rotation speed of the first draft roller while the winding device is performing the winding operation is referred to as a second speed; The rotation speed of the yarn pooling roller while the winding device is performing the winding operation is referred to as a normal speed, When starting the winding operation, the first draft roller increases its rotational speed to the second speed after maintaining the first speed; The spinning machine, wherein the rotation speed of the yarn pooling roller is increased continuously until the rotation speed reaches the normal speed.

6. A spinning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A control unit is provided for controlling a rotation speed of at least the first draft roller, The draft device includes a second draft roller disposed most upstream in a fiber running direction, A spinning machine characterized in that, when starting the winding operation, the control unit starts accelerating the first draft roller after the capturing device has started the capturing operation and when it determines that a threshold time has elapsed since the second draft roller started rotating.

7. A spinning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A control unit for controlling at least a rotation speed of the first draft roller; a detection unit that detects that the capturing device has started the capturing operation; Equipped with A spinning machine characterized in that, when starting the winding operation, the control unit starts accelerating the first draft roller after the capturing device has started the capturing operation and when the detection unit detects that the capturing device has started the capturing operation.

8. A spinning machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, The rotation speed of the yarn pooling roller while the winding device is performing the winding operation is referred to as a normal speed, When starting the winding operation, after the yarn is hooked onto the yarn hooking member, the yarn storage roller maintains the normal speed or accelerates to the normal speed and then maintains the normal speed.

9. A spinning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The draft device includes a plurality of draft rollers including the first draft roller, A spinning machine, characterized in that all of the draft rollers provided in the draft device are accelerated in a synchronized manner.

10. A spinning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, a yarn splicing device that, when the yarn is broken, splices the yarn on the spinning device side captured by the capturing device and the yarn on the package side.

Images