Apparatus and method for manufacturing glass fiber

Abstract

To provide an apparatus for manufacturing a glass fiber, capable of preventing friction in a tension adjustment bar from increasing.SOLUTION: An apparatus 11 for manufacturing a glass fiber includes: a gathering shoe 14 for converging a plurality of glass filaments F to form a glass strand S; a collet 18 for winding the glass strand S; first and second tension adjustment bars 19 and 20 arranged between the gathering shoe 14 and the collet 18 and configured to control the tension of the glass strand S while sliding and contacting the glass strand S; and slide contact surface change devices 21 and 22 for changing slide contact surfaces 19a and 20a with the glass strand S in the first and second tension adjustment bars 19 and 20 by rotating the first and second tension adjustment bars 19 and 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing glass fibers and a method for manufacturing glass fibers.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as an apparatus for manufacturing glass fibers, there is one including a gathering shoe, a collet, and a tension adjusting bar disposed between the gathering shoe and the collet (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The gathering shoe converges a plurality of glass filaments to form a glass strand. The collet winds up the glass strand. And the tension adjusting bar controls the tension of the glass strand while being in sliding contact with the glass strand. Thereby, the tension of the glass strand can be stabilized. As a result, the quality of the cake formed by winding up the glass strand on the collet can be stably made good.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the apparatus for manufacturing glass fibers as described above, if the glass strand continues to be in sliding contact with a part in the circumferential direction of the tension adjusting bar, for example, a part in the circumferential direction of the tension adjusting bar will be worn away. Also, for example, gumming occurs due to the accumulation of a sizing agent on a part in the circumferential direction of the tension adjusting bar. For these reasons, there has been a problem that the friction at the tension adjusting bar increases. This causes hairiness and yarn breakage in the glass strand.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing apparatus for glass fibers capable of suppressing an increase in friction on a tension adjusting bar and a method for manufacturing glass fibers.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] [1] A manufacturing apparatus for glass fibers that solves the above problems includes a gathering shoe that focuses a plurality of glass filaments to form a glass strand, a collet that winds up the glass strand, and a tension adjusting bar that is disposed between the gathering shoe and the collet and controls the tension of the glass strand while being in sliding contact with the glass strand. The manufacturing apparatus for glass fibers is provided with a sliding contact surface changing device that changes the sliding contact surface with the glass strand on the tension adjusting bar by rotating the tension adjusting bar.

[0007] According to the same configuration, the sliding contact surface changing device rotates the tension adjusting bar, thereby changing the sliding contact surface with the glass strand on the tension adjusting bar. Therefore, for example, it is possible to suppress a part of the circumferential direction of the tension adjusting bar from being locally worn away. Also, for example, the occurrence of gumming due to the sizing agent applied to the glass filaments accumulating on a part of the circumferential direction of the tension adjusting bar is suppressed. From these facts, an increase in friction on the tension adjusting bar is suppressed. As a result, for example, the generation of flyers and yarn breakage in the glass strand is suppressed.

[0008] [2] In the manufacturing apparatus for glass fibers according to the above [1], it is preferable that the sliding contact surface changing device rotates the tension adjusting bar at a speed slower than the speed at which the glass strand passes through the sliding contact surface.

[0009] According to the same configuration, for example, it is possible to suppress the glass strand from being wound around the tension adjusting bar. That is, if the tension adjusting bar is rotated at a speed equal to or higher than the speed at which the glass strand passes through the sliding contact surface, there is a risk that the glass strand will be wound around the tension adjusting bar, but this is suppressed.

[0010] [3] In the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to the above [1] or [2], the tension adjustment bar includes a first tension adjustment bar on the upstream side of the glass strand and a second tension adjustment bar on the downstream side of the glass strand, and it is preferable that the sliding contact surface changing device changes the sliding contact surfaces of both the first tension adjustment bar and the second tension adjustment bar.

[0011] According to this configuration, an increase in friction at both the first tension adjustment bar and the second tension adjustment bar is suppressed, and thus the generation of flyers and yarn breakage in the glass strand is suppressed.

[0012] [4] In the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to any one of the above [1] to [3], a traverse that is disposed between the tension adjustment bar and the collet and reciprocates the glass strand along a direction intersecting the extending direction of the glass strand, and a drive device that varies the distances of the tension adjustment bar and the traverse with respect to the collet while maintaining the positional relationship between the tension adjustment bar and the traverse are preferably provided.

[0013] According to this configuration, by the drive device, while maintaining the positional relationship between the tension adjustment bar and the traverse, the distances of the tension adjustment bar and the traverse with respect to the collet are varied. Thereby, while keeping the incident angle of the glass strand with respect to the traverse at a good angle, the distance of the traverse with respect to the collet is appropriately maintained, and thereby the incident angle of the glass strand with respect to the collet can be kept at a good angle. Therefore, for example, fluctuations in the tension of the glass strand wound around the collet can be suppressed, and thus the quality of the cake formed by winding the glass strand around the collet can be improved.

[0014] [5] In the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to [4] above, the tension adjustment bar includes a first tension adjustment bar on the upstream side of the glass strand and a second tension adjustment bar on the downstream side of the glass strand, and it is preferable that the driving device varies the distances of the second tension adjustment bar and the traverse with respect to the collet without varying the position of the first tension adjustment bar with respect to the gathering shoe.

[0015] According to this configuration, since the position of the first tension adjustment bar with respect to the gathering shoe does not vary, the function of the gathering shoe is stabilized. That is, if the position of the first tension adjustment bar with respect to the gathering shoe varies, the glass strand formed by the gathering shoe may become unstable, but this can be suppressed.

[0016] [6] In the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to [4] or [5] above, it is preferable that the driving device varies the distances of the tension adjustment bar and the traverse with respect to the collet according to the diameter of the cake formed by the glass strand wound around the collet.

[0017] According to this configuration, the distance of the traverse with respect to the collet can be appropriately maintained, and thereby the incident angle of the glass strand with respect to the collet can be maintained at a good angle. [7] A glass fiber manufacturing method for solving the above problems is a glass fiber manufacturing method comprising: a converging step of converging a plurality of glass filaments by a gathering shoe to form a glass strand; a winding step of winding the glass strand by a collet; and a tension adjustment step of controlling the tension of the glass strand by bringing a tension adjustment bar disposed between the gathering shoe and the collet into sliding contact with the glass strand, wherein during the tension adjustment step, the sliding contact surface of the tension adjustment bar with the glass strand is changed by rotating the tension adjustment bar.

[0018] According to the method, during the tension adjustment process, the tension adjustment bar is rotated, so that the sliding contact surface between the glass strand and the tension adjustment bar is changed. Therefore, for example, it is possible to suppress a part of the circumferential direction of the tension adjustment bar from being locally worn. Also, for example, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of gumming due to the sizing agent applied to the glass filament accumulating on a part of the circumferential direction of the tension adjustment bar. From these, an increase in friction at the tension adjustment bar is suppressed. As a result, for example, the generation of flyers and thread breaks in the glass strand is suppressed.

[0019] [8] In the method for manufacturing glass fiber according to [7] above, during the tension adjustment process, it is preferable to rotate the tension adjustment bar at a speed slower than the speed at which the glass strand passes through the sliding contact surface.

[0020] According to the method, for example, it is possible to suppress the glass strand from being wound around the tension adjustment bar. That is, if the tension adjustment bar is rotated at a speed equal to or higher than the speed at which the glass strand passes through the sliding contact surface, there is a risk that the glass strand will be wound around the tension adjustment bar, but this is suppressed.

[0021] [9] In the method for manufacturing glass fiber according to [7] or [8] above, the tension adjustment bar includes a first tension adjustment bar on the upstream side of the glass strand and a second tension adjustment bar on the downstream side of the glass strand, and during the tension adjustment process, it is preferable to change the sliding contact surfaces of both the first tension adjustment bar and the second tension adjustment bar.

[0022] According to the method, an increase in friction at both the first tension adjustment bar and the second tension adjustment bar is suppressed, and as a result, the generation of flyers and thread breaks in the glass strand is suppressed.

[0023]

[10] In the method for manufacturing glass fibers according to any one of [7] to [9] above, a reciprocating step is provided in which the glass strand is reciprocated along a direction intersecting the extending direction of the glass strand by a traversing member disposed between the tension adjusting bar and the collet, and during the tension adjusting step and during the reciprocating step, while maintaining the positional relationship between the tension adjusting bar and the traversing member, it is preferable to vary the distances of the tension adjusting bar and the traversing member with respect to the collet.

[0024] According to the method, during the tension adjusting step and during the reciprocating step, while maintaining the positional relationship between the tension adjusting bar and the traversing member, the distances of the tension adjusting bar and the traversing member with respect to the collet are varied. Thereby, while maintaining the incident angle of the glass strand with respect to the traversing member at a good angle, the distance of the traversing member with respect to the collet is appropriately maintained, and thereby the incident angle of the glass strand with respect to the collet can be maintained at a good angle. Therefore, for example, fluctuations in the tension of the glass strand wound around the collet can be suppressed, and as a result, the quality of the cake formed by winding the glass strand around the collet can be improved.

[0025]

[11] In the method for manufacturing glass fibers according to

[10] above, the tension adjusting bar includes a first tension adjusting bar on the upstream side of the glass strand and a second tension adjusting bar on the downstream side of the glass strand, and during the tension adjusting step and during the reciprocating step, it is preferable to vary the distances of the second tension adjusting bar and the traversing member with respect to the collet without varying the position of the first tension adjusting bar with respect to the gathering shoe.

[0026] According to the method, since the position of the first tension adjusting bar with respect to the gathering shoe does not vary, the function of the gathering shoe is stabilized. That is, if the position of the first tension adjusting bar with respect to the gathering shoe varies, the glass strand formed by the gathering shoe may become unstable, but this can be suppressed.

[0027]

[12] In the method for manufacturing glass fibers according to

[10] or

[11] above, during the tension adjustment step and during the reciprocating step, it is preferable to vary the distances of the tension adjustment bar and the traverse with respect to the collet according to the diameter of the cake composed of the glass strands wound around the collet.

[0028] According to this method, the distance of the traverse with respect to the collet can be appropriately maintained, whereby the incident angle of the glass strand with respect to the collet can be maintained at a good angle. [Advantages of the Invention]

[0029] According to the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus and the glass fiber manufacturing method of the present invention, an increase in friction at the tension adjustment bar can be suppressed. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0030]

Figure 1

[0031] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus and a glass fiber manufacturing method will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, for convenience of explanation, a part of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified. Also, the dimensional ratios of each part may be different from the actual ones.

[0032] (Overall Configuration of Glass Fiber Manufacturing Apparatus 11) As shown in FIG. 1, the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11 includes a bushing 12, an applicator 13, a gathering shoe 14, a traverse 15, a cradle 16, a drive device 17, and a collet 18. The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11 also includes a first tension adjustment bar 19 and a second tension adjustment bar 20 as tension adjustment bars, and sliding contact surface changing devices 21, 22.

[0033] The bushing 12 has a plurality of nozzles at the lower part, is a box-shaped container to which molten glass is supplied, and from which a plurality of glass filaments F are drawn downward from the nozzles. In FIG. 1, a plurality of glass filaments F are collectively and schematically illustrated. In other words, in FIG. 1, only the outermost sides of the plurality of glass filaments F are illustrated, and the range through which the glass filaments F pass is illustrated. The applicator 13 has a drive roller and is a device for applying a sizing agent to the glass filaments F. The gathering shoe 14 is a device for forming a glass strand S by gathering and bundling a plurality of glass filaments F to which the sizing agent has been applied while gathering them.

[0034] The traverse 15 is provided on the cradle 16 so as to be movable along the horizontal width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1), which is a direction intersecting the extending direction of the glass strand S. The traverse 15 has a U-shaped engagement groove 15a through which the glass strand S passes and which engages with the glass strand S. The traverse 15 reciprocates along the width direction by the operation of a traverse drive device (not shown), thereby reciprocating the glass strand S along the width direction.

[0035] The cradle 16 is provided so as to be movable along a horizontal front-rear direction X1 (the left-right direction in FIG. 1) orthogonal to the width direction (the direction orthogonal to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1). A driving device 17 is drivingly connected to the cradle 16, and the driving device 17 is capable of moving the cradle 16 along the front-rear direction X1. Note that a touch bar 23 is provided on the cradle 16 of the present embodiment. The touch bar 23 is formed in a columnar shape. The touch bar 23 is made of, for example, brass. The central axis of the touch bar 23 is provided along the width direction (the direction orthogonal to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1). And the touch bar 23 is provided so as to be in sliding contact with the glass strand S. The touch bar 23 is provided downstream of the traverse 15. In other words, the touch bar 23 is provided below the traverse 15. Further, the touch bar 23 is disposed at a position that prevents the glass strand S from contacting the bottom of the engagement groove 15a. That is, the touch bar 23 is disposed at a position where it is always in sliding contact with the glass strand S.

[0036] The collet 18 rotates about an axis center along the width direction (the direction orthogonal to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1) by the operation of a collet driving device (not shown), and winds up the glass strand S that has passed through the traverse 15. The glass strand S is wound while being helically wound around the collet 18 to form a cake 24.

[0037] (Configuration of the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20) The first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 are disposed between the gathering shoe 14 and the collet 18. Specifically, the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 are disposed between the gathering shoe 14 and the traverse 15. The first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 control the tension of the glass strand S while being in sliding contact with the glass strand S.

[0038] Specifically, the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 are formed in a cylindrical shape. The first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 are made of, for example, carbon. The axial centers of the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 are provided along the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1).

[0039] The first tension adjustment bar 19 is arranged on the upstream side of the glass strand S with respect to the second tension adjustment bar 20. That is, the second tension adjustment bar 20 is arranged on the downstream side of the glass strand S with respect to the first tension adjustment bar 19. In other words, the first tension adjustment bar 19 is arranged above the second tension adjustment bar 20. The first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 are arranged such that the sliding contact surfaces 19a and 20a, which are part of the outer peripheral surface, are always in sliding contact with the glass strand S.

[0040] A sliding contact surface changing device 21 and 22 is connected to each of the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20. The sliding contact surface changing devices 21 and 22 are capable of changing the sliding contact surfaces 19a and 20a with the glass strand S by rotating the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 about the axial center along the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1). The position of the first tension adjustment bar 19 is fixed. That is, the distance and position of the first tension adjustment bar 19 with respect to the gathering shoe 14 are provided so as not to vary. On the other hand, the second tension adjustment bar 20 is provided to operate in conjunction with the cradle 16 so as to vary the distance and position of the second tension adjustment bar 20 with respect to the collet 18 together with the traverse 15.

[0041] With this configuration, the above-described drive device 17 can vary the distances of the second tension adjustment bar 20 and the traversing 15 with respect to the collet 18 while maintaining the positional relationship between the second tension adjustment bar 20 and the traversing 15. Further, the drive device 17 can vary the distances of the second tension adjustment bar 20 and the traversing 15 with respect to the collet 18 without varying the position of the first tension adjustment bar 19 with respect to the gathering shoe 14. That is, the drive device 17 can vary the distances of the second tension adjustment bar 20 immediately before the traversing 15 and the traversing 15 with respect to the collet 18 among the tension adjustment bars.

[0042] Further, the drive device 17 varies the distance of the cradle 16 with respect to the collet 18, that is, the distances of the second tension adjustment bar 20 and the traversing 15, according to the diameter of the cake 24 composed of the glass strand S wound around the collet 18. In the present embodiment, the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11 includes a laser sensor 25 that measures the distance to the outer surface of the cake 24 during manufacturing by the laser L, and varies the distances of the traversing 15 and the like with respect to the collet 18 to appropriate distances based on the measurement result.

[0043] Also, the sliding contact surface changing devices 21, 22 are set to rotate the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 at a speed (circumferential speed) slower than the speed at which the glass strand S passes through the sliding contact surfaces 19a, 20a. Specifically, for example, the sliding contact surface changing devices 21, 22 are set to rotate the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 in a direction (forward direction) corresponding to the direction in which the glass strand S passes through the sliding contact surfaces 19a, 20a. Further, the sliding contact surface changing devices 21, 22 are set to rotate the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 at a constant speed so as to make one revolution in 20 minutes.

[0044] (Method for manufacturing glass fiber and its operation) The method for manufacturing glass fibers according to this embodiment is carried out using the above-described glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11.

[0045] The method for manufacturing glass fibers includes a "converging step", a "reciprocating step", a "winding step", and a "tension adjusting step". In the converging step, a plurality of glass filaments F are converged by a gathering shoe 14 to form a glass strand S.

[0046] In the reciprocating step, the glass strand S is reciprocated along the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1), which is a direction intersecting the extending direction of the glass strand S, by a traverse 15 disposed between the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the collet 18.

[0047] In the winding step, the glass strand S that has passed through the traverse 15 is wound by the collet 18. Here, the tension adjusting step is performed between the converging step and the reciprocating step. In the tension adjusting step, the tension of the glass strand S is controlled by bringing the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20 into sliding contact with the glass strand S.

[0048] Further, in the method for manufacturing glass fibers, during the tension adjusting step, the sliding contact surfaces 19a, 20a with the glass strand S are changed by rotating the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20. That is, in the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20, the circumferential position of the outer peripheral surface that comes into sliding contact with the glass strand S is changed. At this time, in this embodiment, the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20 are rotated at a speed slower than the speed at which the glass strand S passes through the sliding contact surfaces 19a, 20a.

[0049] Further, in the method for manufacturing glass fibers, during the tension adjusting step and during the reciprocating step, while maintaining the positional relationship between the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the traverse 15, the distance between the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the traverse 15 with respect to the collet 18 is varied.

[0050] Also, during the tension adjustment process and during the reciprocating process, without changing the position of the first tension adjustment bar 19 with respect to the gathering shoe 14, the distances between the second tension adjustment bar 20 and the traversing 15 with respect to the collet 18 are changed.

[0051] Also, during the tension adjustment process and during the reciprocating process, the distances between the second tension adjustment bar 20 and the traversing 15 with respect to the collet 18 are changed according to the diameter of the cake 24 composed of the glass strand S wound around the collet 18. In this way, the cake 24 composed of the glass strand S wound around the collet 18 is manufactured.

[0052] Next, the effects of the above embodiment will be described below. (1) By the sliding contact surface changing devices 21 and 22, the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 are rotated, so that the sliding contact surfaces 19a and 20a with the glass strand S are changed. Therefore, for example, it is suppressed that a part of the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 is locally worn away. Also, for example, the generation of gumming up due to the sizing agent applied to the glass filament F being accumulated in a part of the circumferential direction of the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 is suppressed. From these, an increase in friction at the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 is suppressed. As a result, for example, the generation of fuzz and yarn breakage in the glass strand S is suppressed.

[0053] (2) The folding contact surface changing devices 21 and 22 rotate the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20 at a speed slower than the speed at which the glass strand S passes through the folding contact surfaces 19a and 20a. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the glass strand S from being wound around the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20. That is, if the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20 are rotated at a speed equal to or higher than the speed at which the glass strand S passes through the folding contact surfaces 19a and 20a, there is a risk that the glass strand S will be wound around, but this is suppressed. For example, in a configuration where the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20 can rotate freely, there is a risk that they will rotate at a speed equal to or higher than the speed at which the glass strand S passes through the folding contact surfaces 19a and 20a, but this is prevented by the folding contact surface changing devices 21 and 22.

[0054] (3) The tension adjusting bar includes the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20, and the folding contact surface changing devices 21 and 22 change both folding contact surfaces 19a and 20a. Therefore, an increase in friction at both the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20 is suppressed, and as a result, the generation of flyers and yarn breakage in the glass strand S is suppressed.

[0055] (4) By the driving device 17, while maintaining the positional relationship between the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the traverse 15, the distances between the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the traverse 15 with respect to the collet 18 are varied. Thereby, while maintaining the incident angle of the glass strand S with respect to the traverse 15 at a good angle, the distance between the traverse 15 and the collet 18 is appropriately maintained, and thereby it becomes possible to maintain the incident angle of the glass strand S with respect to the collet 18 at a good angle. Therefore, for example, it is possible to suppress fluctuations in the tension of the glass strand S wound around the collet 18, and as a result, it is possible to improve the quality of the cake 24 formed by winding the glass strand S around the collet 18.

[0056] (5) By the driving device 17, the distances of the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the traverser 15 with respect to the collet 18 are varied without varying the position of the first tension adjusting bar 19 with respect to the gathering shoe 14. Thereby, since the position of the first tension adjusting bar 19 with respect to the gathering shoe 14 does not vary, the function of the gathering shoe 14 is stabilized. That is, if the position of the first tension adjusting bar 19 with respect to the gathering shoe 14 varies, the glass strand S formed by the gathering shoe 14 may become unstable, but this can be suppressed.

[0057] (6) The driving device 17 varies the distances of the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the traverser 15 with respect to the collet 18 according to the diameter of the cake 24 composed of the glass strand S wound around the collet 18. Therefore, the distance of the traverser 15 with respect to the collet 18 can be appropriately maintained, and thereby the incident angle of the glass strand S with respect to the collet 18 can be maintained at a favorable angle.

[0058] This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modification examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically non - conflicting range. · In the above embodiment, the sliding contact surface changing devices 21, 22 rotate the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20 at a constant speed so as to rotate once every 20 minutes, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the sliding contact surface changing devices 21, 22 may rotate the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20 at a constant speed so as to rotate once every other time, such as 10 minutes. Also, for example, the sliding contact surface changing devices 21, 22 may rotate the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20 periodically or irregularly, at intervals (that is, intermittently).

[0059] ·In the above embodiment, the sliding contact surface changing devices 21 and 22 are configured to change the sliding contact surfaces 19a and 20a of both the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which only one of the sliding contact surfaces 19a and 20a is changed. That is, the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11 may be configured not to include one of the two sliding contact surface changing devices 21 and 22.

[0060] ·In the above embodiment, the tension adjusting bar includes the first tension adjusting bar 19 and the second tension adjusting bar 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11 may include only a single tension adjusting bar. Further, for example, the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11 may include three or more tension adjusting bars. In this case, the sliding contact surface changing device may change the sliding contact surface with the glass strand S in at least one tension adjusting bar, and it is preferable to change the sliding contact surfaces of each of all the tension adjusting bars.

[0061] ·In the above embodiment, the driving device 17 is provided to vary the distances between the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the traverse 15 while maintaining the positional relationship between the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the traverse 15. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, in the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11, the position of the second tension adjusting bar 20 may be fixed, and the traverse 15 may be interlocked with the driving device 17 so that the positional relationship between the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the traverse 15 is changed.

[0062] ·In the above embodiment, a single driving device 17 is configured to vary the distances between the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the traverse 15 with respect to the collet 18. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which two or more driving devices vary the distances. That is, the driving device may include a first driving device that varies the distance between the second tension adjusting bar 20 and the collet 18, and a second driving device that varies the distance between the traverse 15 and the collet 18.

[0063] · In the above-described embodiment, the drive device 17 is configured not to vary the position of the first tension adjustment bar 19 with respect to the gathering shoe 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the position of the first tension adjustment bar 19 with respect to the gathering shoe 14 may be varied.

[0064] · In the above-described embodiment, the drive device 17 varies the distances of the second tension adjustment bar 20 and the traverse 15 with respect to the collet 18 according to the diameter of the cake 24 composed of the glass strands S wound around the collet 18. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the drive device 17 may vary the distances of the second tension adjustment bar 20 and the traverse 15 with respect to the collet 18 at a preset speed.

[0065] · In the above-described embodiment, if the traverse 15 can reciprocate the glass strand S along a direction intersecting the extending direction of the glass strand S, the traverse may be changed to another configuration (for example, a wire traverse).

[0066] · In the above-described embodiment, the touch bar 23 is provided below the traverse 15 in the cradle 16. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which the touch bar 23 is not provided may also be adopted.

[0067] · The method for manufacturing glass fibers in the above-described embodiment is performed using the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be performed using other manufacturing apparatuses. For example, during the tension adjustment process, the first tension adjustment bar 19 and the second tension adjustment bar 20 may be manually rotated to change the sliding contact surfaces 19a and 20a with the glass strand S.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0068] 11…Glass fiber manufacturing apparatus, 14…Gathering shoe, 15…Traversing, 17…Drive device, 18…Collet, 19…First tension adjusting bar (tension adjusting bar), 19a…Sliding contact surface, 20…Second tension adjusting bar (tension adjusting bar), 20a…Sliding contact surface, 21, 22…Sliding contact surface changing device, 24…Cake, F…Glass filament, S…Glass strand.

Claims

1. a gathering shoe for gathering a plurality of glass filaments to form a glass strand; a collet for winding the glass strand; a tension adjustment bar disposed between the gathering shoe and the collet, the tension adjustment bar being in sliding contact with the glass strand and controlling the tension of the glass strand; A glass fiber manufacturing apparatus comprising: A glass fiber manufacturing apparatus comprising: a sliding surface changing device that changes the sliding surface of the tension adjustment bar with the glass strand by rotating the tension adjustment bar.

2. 2. The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sliding surface changing device rotates the tension adjusting bar at a speed slower than a speed at which the glass strand passes through the sliding surface.

3. The tension adjustment bar includes a first tension adjustment bar on an upstream side of the glass strand and a second tension adjustment bar on a downstream side of the glass strand, 2. The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sliding surface changing device changes the sliding surfaces of both the first tension adjusting bar and the second tension adjusting bar.

4. a traverse disposed between the tension adjustment bar and the collet, for reciprocating the glass strand along a direction intersecting an extension direction of the glass strand; a drive device that changes a distance of the tension adjustment bar and the traverse relative to the collet while maintaining a positional relationship between the tension adjustment bar and the traverse; The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

5. The tension adjustment bar includes a first tension adjustment bar on an upstream side of the glass strand and a second tension adjustment bar on a downstream side of the glass strand, 5. The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the driving device changes the distance of the second tension adjustment bar and the traverse relative to the collet without changing the position of the first tension adjustment bar relative to the gathering shoe.

6. 5. The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the driving device varies the distance of the tension adjustment bar and the traverse relative to the collet in accordance with a diameter of a cake formed of the glass strand wound around the collet.

7. a gathering step of gathering the plurality of glass filaments by a gathering shoe to form a glass strand; a winding step of winding the glass strand by a collet; a tension adjusting step of controlling the tension of the glass strand by sliding a tension adjusting bar disposed between the gathering shoe and the collet against the glass strand; A method for producing glass fibers comprising: A method for producing glass fibers, comprising rotating the tension adjustment bar during the tension adjustment step to change the sliding contact surface of the tension adjustment bar with the glass strand.

8. 8. The method for producing glass fibers according to claim 7, wherein during the tension adjustment step, the tension adjustment bar is rotated at a speed slower than a speed at which the glass strand passes through the sliding contact surface.

9. The tension adjustment bar includes a first tension adjustment bar on an upstream side of the glass strand and a second tension adjustment bar on a downstream side of the glass strand, The method for producing glass fibers according to claim 7 , wherein the sliding surfaces of both the first tension adjustment bar and the second tension adjustment bar are changed during the tension adjustment step.

10. a reciprocating step of reciprocating the glass strand along a direction intersecting an extension direction of the glass strand by a traverse disposed between the tension adjustment bar and the collet, The method for producing glass fibers according to claim 7, wherein, during the tension adjustment step and the reciprocating step, the distance of the tension adjustment bar and the traverse relative to the collet is changed while maintaining a positional relationship between the tension adjustment bar and the traverse.

11. The tension adjustment bar includes a first tension adjustment bar on an upstream side of the glass strand and a second tension adjustment bar on a downstream side of the glass strand, The method for producing glass fibers according to claim 10, wherein the distance of the second tension adjustment bar and the traverse relative to the collet is changed without changing the position of the first tension adjustment bar relative to the gathering shoe during the tension adjustment process and the reciprocating process.

12. The method for producing glass fibers according to claim 10, wherein during the tension adjustment step and the reciprocating step, the distance of the tension adjustment bar and the traverse relative to the collet is varied depending on the diameter of a cake made of the glass strand wound around the collet.

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