Yarn winding system

Abstract

To suppress influence on a preparation state of an actual bobbin by cleaning work of an automatic winder.SOLUTION: A yarn winding device includes an automatic winder that performs a winding process of winding a yarn unwound from a full bobbin, a bobbin processing device that performs a preparation process on the full bobbin for the winding process, a main control section, and a unit control section. The automatic winder includes a plurality of yarn winding units each adapted to perform a winding process, and a tray transporting device adapted to transport a tray on which a full bobbin prepared by a bobbin processing device is mounted to each of the yarn winding units. When a predetermined condition is satisfied (S12: YES) after starting a full bobbin feeding stopping process (S17) of stopping feeding of the tray on which the full bobbin is mounted from the bobbin processing device to the tray transport device, the main control section and the unit control section bring about a cleaning-time state (S18) in which all the yarn winding units and the tray transport device are stopped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a yarn winding system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic winder that includes a plurality of winding units (hereinafter referred to as yarn winding units) that perform a winding process to form a package by unwinding yarn from actual bobbins that have yarn wound around bobbin tubes, and a tray transport device that transports trays with actual bobbins attached to each yarn winding unit and collects trays with processed bobbins attached after the winding process has been performed in each yarn winding unit. The tray transport device includes, for example, a belt conveyor. Such an automatic winder is configured so that trays with actual bobbins attached are supplied from a bobbin processing device.

[0003] The bobbin processing device performs preparatory processing on the actual bobbin for the winding processing, putting the actual bobbin in a ready state. The preparatory processing includes an end-out process in which the yarn end of the actual bobbin is inserted into the bobbin tube. By performing the end-out process on the actual bobbin, the yarn end of the actual bobbin can be easily captured in the yarn winding unit, allowing the yarn winding unit to smoothly start winding the yarn. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-131365 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the automatic winder described above, cleaning is performed periodically. This cleaning is performed with all yarn winding units and tray conveying devices stopped. During the cleaning, compressed air is blown onto the device to remove accumulated fluff and other debris. During this cleaning, the compressed air may hit the bobbins on the tray conveying devices or the bobbins taken into the yarn winding units, affecting their readiness. Specifically, the yarn end inserted into the bobbin tube during the end-out process falls out of the bobbin tube.

[0006] In such a case, when the tray transport device resumes transporting the used bobbins after the cleaning work is completed, problems such as the yarn end hanging down from the used bobbin getting tangled around a rotating member of the tray transport device (for example, a pulley of a belt conveyor) may occur. Also, there may be a problem that it becomes difficult for the yarn winding unit to capture the yarn end of the used bobbin.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a yarn winding system that can suppress the cleaning work of an automatic winder from affecting the preparation state of an actual bobbin. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A yarn winding system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a yarn winding system including an automatic winder that performs a winding process in which yarn unwound from actual bobbins having yarn wound around bobbin tubes is wound to form a package; a bobbin processing device that performs preparation processing on the actual bobbins for the winding process; and a control unit. The automatic winder includes a plurality of yarn winding units that each perform the winding process; and a tray transport device that is capable of transporting trays and transports the trays on which the actual bobbins that have been prepared by the bobbin processing device are mounted to each of the yarn winding units, and transports the trays on which processed bobbins are mounted after the winding process has been performed by each of the yarn winding units to the bobbin processing device. The control unit is capable of executing an actual bobbin supply stop process that stops the supply of the trays on which the actual bobbins are mounted from the bobbin processing device to the tray transport device; and an operation stop process that stops all of the yarn winding units and the tray transport devices when a predetermined operation stop condition is met after starting the actual bobbin supply stop process.

[0009] In the present invention, when the actual bobbin supply stop process is executed, the number of actual bobbins on the tray transport device gradually decreases. Therefore, by stopping all yarn winding units and tray transport devices by the operation stop process when the operation stop condition is met after the actual bobbin supply stop process is started, when the operator subsequently cleans the automatic winder, the number of actual bobbins affected by cleaning work such as air blowing can be reduced. Therefore, the cleaning work of the automatic winder can be prevented from affecting the actual bobbin preparation state.

[0010] The yarn winding system according to the second invention is the same as that of the first invention, and further includes an input unit configured to be able to input an instruction signal instructing execution of the actual bobbin supply stop process, and the control unit executes the actual bobbin supply stop process when the instruction signal is input to the input unit.

[0011] In the present invention, when an operator operates the input unit to input an instruction signal, the actual bobbin supply stop process can be executed.

[0012] In a yarn winding system according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the operation stop condition is that winding processes are no longer being performed in all of the yarn winding units.

[0013] In the present invention, when an instruction signal is input to the input unit and the actual bobbin supply stop process is executed, the number of actual bobbins on the tray conveying device decreases, and the supply of actual bobbins to each yarn winding unit gradually stops. The yarn winding unit from which the supply of actual bobbins has stopped stops performing the winding process. When actual bobbins are no longer supplied to all yarn winding units, the winding process stops at all yarn winding units. Therefore, the operation stop process can be executed when the number of actual bobbins on the tray conveying device has become sufficiently small, and cleaning of the automatic winder can be reliably prevented from affecting the actual bobbin readiness state. Furthermore, the operator only needs to input an instruction signal to the input unit instructing the execution of the actual bobbin supply stop process, and the operation stop process is then executed automatically.

[0014] The yarn winding system of the fourth invention is the same as that of the first invention, and further includes a memory unit that stores an operation stop process execution time, which is the time at which the operation stop process is executed. The control unit starts the actual bobbin supply stop process before the operation stop process execution time, and the operation stop condition is reaching the operation stop process execution time.

[0015] In the present invention, the actual bobbin supply stop process is started before the shutdown process execution time stored in the memory unit, so that the number of actual bobbins on the tray transport device can be reduced before the shutdown process is executed, and therefore the shutdown process can be executed at the scheduled time and cleaning work can be started.

[0016] The yarn winding system according to the fifth invention is any one of the first to fourth inventions, and further includes an alarm unit that notifies information, and after starting the actual bobbin supply stop process, the control unit causes the alarm unit to notify information indicating that preparations are underway to perform cleaning work.

[0017] In the present invention, the operator can be notified that preparations are underway to perform cleaning work.

[0018] In the yarn winding system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the operation stop process is completed, the control unit causes the notification unit to notify the user that cleaning work can be performed.

[0019] In the present invention, it is possible to notify the operator that cleaning work can be performed.

[0020] In the yarn winding system according to the seventh invention, in any one of the first to sixth inventions, the control unit causes the tray on which the actual bobbin is not attached to be supplied from the bobbin processing device to the tray conveying device during the actual bobbin supply stop process.

[0021] It should be noted that "the tray on which the actual bobbin is not attached" means an empty tray on which no bobbin is attached, or a tray on which an empty bobbin on which no yarn is wound or a very small remaining yarn bobbin on which only a small amount of yarn is wound and which cannot be used for winding processing by an automatic winder is attached.

[0022] In the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of actual bobbins on the tray transport device while preventing trays from piling up too much in the bobbin processing device.

[0023] An eighth aspect of the present invention is a yarn winding system according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, wherein the tray is provided with an RF tag, and the tray transport device is a path through which the tray from the bobbin processing device is fed, and includes a circular supply path and a plurality of individual paths branching from the supply path and provided individually for each of the plurality of yarn winding units, and each of the yarn winding units has a take-in selection mechanism that is capable of taking an intake prohibition state that prohibits the tray from being taken in from the supply path to the individual path and an intake permission state that permits the tray to be taken in from the supply path to the individual path, and a bobbin information writing unit configured to be able to write bobbin information, in the RF tag, as to whether the actual bobbin is attached to the tray provided with the RF tag, and a transporting unit configured to transport the tray in the supply path. and a bobbin information reading unit capable of reading the bobbin information written on the RF tag of the tray to be wound, wherein the control unit divides the plurality of yarn winding units into non-taking-in units that do not take in the tray on which the actual bobbin is not attached into the individual path and taking-in units that take in the tray on which the actual bobbin is not attached into the individual path, and for the non-taking-in units, when a tray is conveyed in which the bobbin information read by the bobbin information reading unit is information indicating that the actual bobbin is not attached, the control unit sets the taking-in selection mechanism to the taking-in prohibited state, and for the taking-in units, when a tray is conveyed in which the bobbin information read by the bobbin information reading unit is information indicating that the actual bobbin is not attached, the control unit sets the taking-in selection mechanism to the taking-in permitted state.

[0024] After the actual bobbin supply stop process is started, the supply path will contain a mixture of trays with actual bobbins that were supplied before the actual bobbin supply stop process was started and trays with no actual bobbins that were supplied after the actual bobbin supply stop process was started. In this embodiment, the control unit can determine the state of actual bobbins installed on trays transported on the supply path based on the bobbin information read by the bobbin information reading unit. The control unit can then separately manage yarn winding units that do not take in trays with actual bobbins installed into individual paths and yarn winding units that take in trays with no actual bobbins installed into individual paths.

[0025] In the yarn winding system of the ninth invention, in the eighth invention, after starting the actual bobbin supply stop process, the control unit causes the intake selection mechanism to enter the intake prohibition state when a tray is transported in which the bobbin information read by the bobbin information reading unit indicates that the actual bobbin is not attached, for all of the plurality of yarn winding units, until a predetermined intake condition is met, and when the intake condition is met, the control unit controls the plurality of yarn winding units by dividing them into the non-take-up unit and the take-up unit.

[0026] In the present invention, after the actual bobbin supply stop process is started, only trays with actual bobbins attached are fed into the individual paths until the feed condition is met, and trays without actual bobbins circulate on the supply path without being fed into the individual paths of any of the yarn winding units. Therefore, trays without actual bobbins attached can be efficiently collected on the supply path. Then, when the feed condition is met, trays without actual bobbins attached are fed into the individual paths of some of the yarn winding units. Therefore, it is possible to prevent trays without actual bobbins from overflowing onto the individual paths.

[0027] A yarn winding system according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the yarn winding system of the ninth aspect, wherein the take-in condition is that a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the actual bobbin supply stopping process.

[0028] After the actual bobbin supply stop process is started, the number of trays in the supply path on which actual bobbins are not installed increases as time passes. In the present invention, when a predetermined time has passed since the start of the actual bobbin supply stop process and the number of trays in the supply path on which actual bobbins are not installed has increased to a certain extent, some of the yarn winding units can start taking in trays on which actual bobbins are not installed into individual paths.

[0029] In the yarn winding system of the eleventh invention, in the ninth invention, the intake condition is that the number of trays in the supply path, in which the bobbin information read by the bobbin information reading unit indicates that the actual bobbin is attached, is less than or equal to a predetermined number.

[0030] In the present invention, when the number of trays on the supply path on which actual bobbins are mounted becomes sufficiently small, some of the yarn winding units can start taking in trays on which actual bobbins are not mounted into individual paths. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a yarn winding system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram for explaining types of yarn supplying bobbins, where (a) shows an empty bobbin, (b) shows a full bobbin, (c) shows a half bobbin, and (d) shows a bobbin with minimal remaining yarn. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bobbin processing device and its vicinity. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an actual bobbin in a ready state. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the yarn winding system. [Figure 7] 10(a) and 10(b) are plan views of the individual paths and their vicinity. [Figure 8] 10(a) and 10(b) are plan views of the individual paths and their vicinity. [Figure 9]10(a) and 10(b) are plan views of the individual paths and their vicinity. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a schematic processing procedure performed by a unit control unit. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed by a main control unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the bobbin processing device according to the first modified example and its vicinity. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a yarn winding system according to a second modified example. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a bobbin processing device according to a second modified example and its vicinity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the direction parallel to the vertical direction in which gravity acts (the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1) will be referred to as the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the direction in which a plurality of yarn winding units 5, which will be described later, are arranged will be referred to as the left-right direction. The left-right direction is perpendicular to the up-down direction. The direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the left-right direction will be referred to as the front-rear direction. The direction in which a tray T, which will be described later, is transported will be referred to as the transport direction. In FIG. 1 and other figures, an arrow indicating the transport direction is shown. The tray T is transported from the start point of the arrow to the end point of the arrow.

[0033] <Outline of the yarn winding system> As shown in Fig. 1, the yarn winding system 1 according to the present embodiment includes an automatic winder 2, a bobbin processing device 3, and a control box 4. The yarn winding system 1 is configured to move a yarn supplying bobbin S attached to a tray T. The automatic winder 2 performs a winding process to form a package P (see Fig. 5) by winding a yarn Y (see Fig. 5) unwound from an actual bobbin Sa (see Figs. 2(b) and 2(c)), which will be described later. The bobbin processing device 3 performs a preparatory process, which will be described in detail later, on the actual bobbin Sa for the winding process performed by the automatic winder 2.

[0034] 2(b) and 2(c), the actual bobbin Sa will be described. The actual bobbin Sa is a bobbin tube S0 on which a predetermined amount of yarn Y is wound and which can be used for winding by the automatic winder 2. Examples of actual bobbins Sa include a full bobbin on which a predetermined amount of yarn Y is wound around the bobbin tube S0, as shown in FIG. 2(b), and a half bobbin on which the yarn Y has been partially unwound from a full bobbin, as shown in FIG. 2(c).

[0035] In the following description, as shown in FIG. 2(a), a bobbin tube S0 on which no yarn Y is wound will be referred to as an empty bobbin Se. Also, as shown in FIG. 2(d), a bobbin tube S0 on which only a small amount of yarn Y is wound and which cannot be used for winding processing in the automatic winder 2 will be referred to as an extremely small remaining yarn bobbin Sb. Furthermore, the full bobbin Sa, the empty bobbin Se, and the extremely small remaining yarn bobbin Sb may be referred to as the yarn supplying bobbin S without distinction. As shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c), the yarn supplying bobbin S is supported on a tray T in a substantially upright state. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the tray T is hollow.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1 , the automatic winder 2 includes a plurality of yarn winding units 5 and a tray transport device 6. The plurality of yarn winding units 5 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Each of the plurality of yarn winding units 5 is configured to be able to perform the winding process described above. The tray transport device 6 is configured to be able to transport trays T. The tray transport device 6 transports the trays T on which actual bobbins Sa that have been subjected to the preparation process described above in the bobbin processing device 3 are mounted to each yarn winding unit 5. The tray transport device 6 transports the trays T on which processed bobbins U that have been subjected to the winding process described above in each yarn winding unit 5 are mounted to the bobbin processing device 3.

[0037] The bobbin processing device 3 is disposed on the right side of the automatic winder 2. In this embodiment, actual bobbins Sa are supplied to the bobbin processing device 3 in a state of being mounted on a tray T from a known spinning machine 100 (see FIG. 3) that spins the yarn Y. The spinning machine 100 is disposed on the right side of the bobbin processing device 3, for example.

[0038] The control box 4 is disposed on the left side of the automatic winder 2. The control box 4 is provided with a main control unit 4a, an operation panel 4b, and a tower lamp 4c.

[0039] The main control unit 4a is housed inside the control box 4. The main control unit 4a performs overall control of the yarn winding system 1. The main control unit 4a is electrically connected to each component of the yarn winding system 1 (see FIG. 6). The main control unit 4a has a memory unit 4a1 (see FIG. 6) that stores settings related to the yarn winding system 1, etc.

[0040] The operation panel 4b is provided on the front surface of the control box 4. The operation panel 4b is configured to allow the operator to input various instructions related to the yarn winding system 1. The instructions input by the operator include, for example, various conditions such as conditions for the winding process by the yarn winding unit 5, an operating shift, and a schedule for cleaning the automatic winder 2. The operation panel 4b also includes an input unit 4b1 configured to allow input of instruction signals related to preparation for cleaning the automatic winder 2. In this embodiment, the input unit 4b1 is a push button. The input unit 4b1 may also be a lever or a touch panel. The operation panel 4b also has a display unit that displays information related to the yarn winding system 1 to notify the operator. The display unit is, for example, a known display device. The display unit displays, for example, the operating status of the multiple yarn winding units 5.

[0041] The tower lamp 4c is provided, for example, at the upper end of the control box 4. The tower lamp 4c has, for example, a plurality of types of lamps. The tower lamp 4c lights or flashes each lamp in response to a command from the main control unit 4a. The tower lamp 4c functions as a notification unit that notifies the operator of information by its lighting state (lit, flashing, or off). The tower lamp 4c is lit, for example, during normal operation.

[0042] <Bobbin processing device> Next, the configuration of the bobbin processing device 3 will be described with further reference to Fig. 3. The bobbin processing device 3 has a transport path 51 for transporting trays T. The trays T are transported along the transport path 51 by a conveyor device 56 (see Fig. 6) formed of a belt conveyor or the like. The transport path 51 includes a supply path 52, a recovery path 53, a return bypass 54, and a feed bypass 55.

[0043] The supply path 52 is a path along which the trays T are sent from the spinning machine 100. The supply path 52 is also a path along which the trays T are transported to the tray transport device 6 of the automatic winder 2. For example, the right end of the supply path 52 is connected to the spinning machine 100, and the left end of the supply path 52 is connected to the tray transport device 6 of the automatic winder 2.

[0044] The recovery path 53 is a path along which the trays T are sent from the tray conveying device 6 of the automatic winder 2. The recovery path 53 is also a path along which the trays T are returned to the spinning machine 100. For example, the right end of the recovery path 53 is connected to the spinning machine 100, and the left end of the recovery path 53 is connected to the tray conveying device 6 of the automatic winder 2. The recovery path 53 is located forward of the supply path 52 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0045] The return bypass 54 and the feed bypass 55 are both paths that connect the supply path 52 and the recovery path 53. In the supply path 52, the connection portion of the feed bypass 55 is located upstream (to the right) in the conveying direction of the connection portion of the return bypass 54. In addition, in the recovery path 53, the connection portion of the feed bypass 55 is located downstream (to the right) in the conveying direction of the connection portion of the return bypass 54.

[0046] A remaining yarn detecting device 61 is disposed in the recovery path 53. The remaining yarn detecting device 61 is disposed, for example, between the connection portion of the recovery path 53 with the return bypass 54 and the connection portion of the feed bypass 55.

[0047] The remaining yarn detection device 61 detects the rotational position of a remaining yarn brush (not shown), which rotates along the outer circumferential surface of the yarn supplying bobbin S, and detects the yarn Y wound around the bobbin tube S0 from the detected rotational position. That is, the remaining yarn detection device 61 attempts to rotate the remaining yarn brush from the tip to the base along the outer circumferential surface of the yarn supplying bobbin S, and if the remaining yarn brush does not get caught on the outer circumferential surface of the yarn supplying bobbin S, it determines that no yarn Y is wound around the yarn supplying bobbin S, i.e., that the yarn supplying bobbin S is an empty bobbin Se. On the other hand, if the remaining yarn brush gets caught on the outer circumferential surface of the yarn supplying bobbin S, the remaining yarn detection device 61 determines that the yarn Y is wound around the yarn supplying bobbin S, i.e., that the yarn supplying bobbin S is a full bobbin Sa or a very small remaining yarn bobbin Sb.

[0048] A switching device 62 that switches the destination of the tray T transported on the collection path 53 is provided at a connection point of the collection path 53 with the feed bypass 55. The switching device 62 is controlled by the main control unit 4a. During normal operation, the switching device 62 causes the tray T equipped with the yarn supplying bobbin S that has been determined to be an empty bobbin Se by the remaining yarn detection device 61 to be sent directly to the downstream side of the collection path 53. As a result, the tray T equipped with the empty bobbin Se is returned to the spinning machine 100. The switching device 62 causes the tray T equipped with the yarn supplying bobbin S that has been determined not to be an empty bobbin Se by the remaining yarn detection device 61 to be sent to the feed bypass 55.

[0049] In the feed bypass 55, a yarn amount detecting device 63, a residual yarn detecting device 64, and a residual yarn removing device 65 are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the conveying direction. The yarn amount detecting device 63 detects the rotation position of an arm (not shown) that is rotated by contact with the conveyed yarn supplying bobbin S, and detects from the detected rotation position whether the yarn supplying bobbin S is an actual bobbin Sa around which a predetermined amount or more of yarn Y is wound. If the yarn amount detecting device 63 does not detect that the yarn supplying bobbin S is an actual bobbin Sa, it can be determined that the yarn supplying bobbin S is an empty bobbin Se or a very small residual yarn bobbin Sb. The residual yarn detecting device 64 has the same configuration as the residual yarn detecting device 61, and detects the yarn Y wound around the bobbin tube S0.

[0050] The yarn supplying bobbin S attached to the tray T sent to the feed bypass 55 is detected by the yarn amount detection device 63 to determine whether it is a full bobbin Sa. Then, the yarn supplying bobbin S determined to be an empty bobbin Se or an extremely small remaining yarn bobbin Sb based on the detection result of the yarn amount detection device 63 is subjected to detection of the yarn Y by the remaining yarn detection device 64. The yarn supplying bobbin S in which the yarn Y is detected by the remaining yarn detection device 64 can be determined to be an extremely small remaining yarn bobbin Sb. The remaining yarn removal device 65 is configured to remove the yarn Y remaining in the yarn supplying bobbin S determined to be an extremely small remaining yarn bobbin Sb based on the detection result of the remaining yarn detection device 64.

[0051] Between the connecting portion of the feed bypass 55 and the connecting portion of the return bypass 54 in the supply path 52, a yarn amount detection device 66 and a preparation processing device 67 are arranged, in this order from the upstream side in the conveying direction. The yarn amount detection device 66 has the same configuration as the yarn amount detection device 63, and detects whether or not the bobbin is a real bobbin Sa. The preparation processing device 67 performs preparation processing on the real bobbin Sa for winding processing in the automatic winder 2. FIG. 4 shows the real bobbin Sa that has been subjected to preparation processing and is in a ready state. The preparation processing includes a drawing process in which the yarn end Ye of the real bobbin Sa is drawn out, and an end introduction process in which the yarn end Ye drawn out in the drawing process is inserted into the bobbin tube S0. The preparation processing device 67 has a sensor and the like that can acquire information on whether or not the preparation processing was successful.

[0052] Returning to FIG. 3 , a switching device 68 that switches the destination of the tray T transported through the supply path 52 is provided at a connection point of the supply path 52 with the return bypass 54. The switching device 68 is controlled by the main control unit 4a. During normal operation, the switching device 68 controls the tray T on which the actual bobbins Sa that have been prepared by the preparation processing device 67 are mounted to be sent directly downstream along the supply path 52. As a result, the tray T on which the actual bobbins Sa are mounted is sent to the tray transport device 6 of the automatic winder 2. The switching device 68 controls the tray T on which the actual bobbins Sa that have not been successfully prepared by the preparation processing device 67 are mounted and the tray T on which the empty bobbins Se from which the yarn Y has been removed by the residual yarn remover 65 are mounted to be sent to the return bypass 54.

[0053] Here, the processing in the bobbin processing device 3 during normal operation will be described. A tray T on which a full bobbin Sa is mounted is sent from the spinning machine 100 to the supply path 52. The full bobbins Sa transported along the supply path 52 are prepared by the preparation processing device 67 and then sent to the automatic winder 2. Processed bobbins U that have been wound in the automatic winder 2 are sent to the recovery path 53 of the bobbin processing device 3. The processed bobbins U include those on which yarn Y remains. In other words, the processed bobbins U are either full bobbins Sa, extremely small remaining yarn bobbins Sb, or empty bobbins Se.

[0054] Of the yarn supplying bobbins S transported along the recovery path 53, empty bobbins Se are sent to the spinning machine 100. Of the yarn supplying bobbins S transported along the recovery path 53, full bobbins Sa and very small residual yarn bobbins Sb are sent to the feed bypass 55. Of the yarn supplying bobbins S transported along the feed bypass 55, very small residual yarn bobbins Sb have the yarn Y removed by a residual yarn remover 65, turning them into empty bobbins Se. The full bobbins Sa sent from the feed bypass 55 to the supply path 52 are prepared by a preparation processor 67 and sent again to the automatic winder 2. The empty bobbins Se sent from the feed bypass 55 to the supply path 52 are sent to the recovery path 53 via the return bypass 54 and then sent to the spinning machine 100.

[0055] <Tray transport device> Next, the configuration of the tray conveying device 6 of the automatic winder 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the tray conveying device 6 has a supply path 30, a recovery path 33, and a plurality of individual paths 34 as paths for conveying the trays T. The plurality of individual paths 34 are individually provided corresponding to the plurality of yarn winding units 5. Each path is formed, for example, by a plate-shaped cover member (reference numeral omitted). The trays T are conveyed in the supply path 30 and the recovery path 33 by a conveyor device 39 (see FIG. 6) such as a belt conveyor. The trays T are conveyed in each individual path 34 by a yarn supplying unit 8 (see FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) etc.) provided in each yarn winding unit 5, as will be described later.

[0056] The supply path 30 is for supplying trays T to each yarn winding unit 5. Trays T from the bobbin processing device 3 are fed into the supply path 30. The supply path 30 is provided in common to the plurality of yarn winding units 5. The supply path 30 includes a first portion 31 and a second portion 32.

[0057] The first portion 31 is located behind the multiple thread winding units 5. The second portion 32 is disposed between the first portion 31 and the multiple thread winding units 5 in the front-rear direction. Both the first portion 31 and the second portion 32 extend in the left-right direction across the area where the multiple thread winding units 5 are disposed. The first portion 31 extends in a substantially straight line. Both ends of the second portion 32 are connected to the first portion 31. More specifically, the left end of the second portion 32 is connected to the left end of the first portion 31. Furthermore, the right end of the second portion 32 is connected to a middle portion of the first portion 31 in the left-right direction. In other words, the supply path 30 is formed in a ring shape.

[0058] The recovery path 33 is for recovering the trays T from each of the yarn winding units 5. The recovery path 33 is provided in common to the plurality of yarn winding units 5. The recovery path 33 is disposed in front of the plurality of yarn winding units 5. The recovery path 33 extends in the left-right direction across the area in which the plurality of yarn winding units 5 are disposed.

[0059] The multiple individual paths 34 are arranged between the second portion 32 of the supply path 30 and the recovery path 33 in the front-rear direction. The multiple individual paths 34 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Each individual path 34 extends in the front-rear direction, for example, while curving midway. A rear end of each individual path 34 is connected to the second portion 32 of the supply path 30. That is, each individual path 34 branches off from the second portion 32 of the supply path 30. Furthermore, a front end of each individual path 34 is connected to the recovery path 33.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 1 , each individual path 34 has an introduction path 34a and a discharge path 34b. The introduction path 34a is the portion of the individual path 34 that is at the unwinding position and behind the unwinding position. The unwinding position is the position on the individual path 34 where a tray T that supports a yarn supplying bobbin S from which a yarn Y is unwound in the yarn winding unit 5 is located. The introduction path 34a is connected to the second portion 32 of the supply path 30. The discharge path 34b is the portion of the individual path 34 that is at the front of the unwinding position. The discharge path 34b is connected to the recovery path 33.

[0061] In this embodiment, each introduction path 34a is configured so that trays T can be positioned at the intake port 34a1 (see FIG. 7(a)), the stock position (see FIG. 8(a)), and the unwinding position (see FIG. 8(b)). The intake port 34a1, the stock position, and the unwinding position are aligned in this order along the conveying direction. That is, each introduction path 34a can position up to three trays T. However, the maximum number of trays T that can be positioned on each introduction path 34a is not limited to this.

[0062] A tray T equipped with an actual bobbin Sa supplied from the bobbin processing device 3 is first transported from right to left in the first portion 31 of the supply path 30. Then, the tray T is transported from left to right in the second portion 32 of the supply path 30. As will be described later, each individual path 34 can be in an intake prohibition state that prohibits the tray T from being taken into the individual path 34 from the supply path 30, and an intake permission state that permits the tray T to be taken into the individual path 34 from the supply path 30. The tray T transported in the second portion 32 of the supply path 30 passes through the branching portion of the individual path 34 in the intake prohibition state and enters an individual path 34 in the intake permission state. The tray T transported to the right end of the second portion 32 of the supply path 30 without being taken into any individual path 34 returns to the first portion 31 of the supply path 30.

[0063] The tray T on which the processed bobbins U that have been wound by each yarn winding unit 5 are mounted is discharged from the individual path 34 corresponding to that yarn winding unit 5 to the collection path 33. The tray T discharged from the individual path 34 is transported from left to right on the collection path 33 and returned to the bobbin processing device 3.

[0064] <Configuration of the yarn winding unit> Next, the schematic configuration of the yarn winding unit 5 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The yarn winding unit 5 has, for example, a frame 7, a yarn supplying section 8, a blow-out nozzle 9, an unwinding assisting device 10, a yarn detection sensor 11, a yarn joining device 12, a yarn clearer 13, a lower yarn catching and guiding device 14, an upper yarn catching and guiding device 15, a cradle 16, a traverse drum 17, and an operation panel 18. A blower 20 (see Fig. 6) is provided in common to the plurality of yarn winding units 5 as a negative pressure source for generating suction flows in holding sections 14b, 15b (described later) of the lower yarn catching and guiding device 14 and the upper yarn catching and guiding device 15.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 7 is, for example, a hollow member extending in the vertical direction. The installation position of the frame 7 is fixed. The frame 7 supports various devices of the yarn winding unit 5. An operation panel 18 is provided on the front of the frame 7. The operation panel 18 is configured to allow an operator to input various instructions related to the yarn winding unit 5. The operation panel 18 has a display unit for displaying information related to the yarn winding unit 5 and notifying the operator. The display unit is, for example, a known display device. A unit control unit 5a is arranged within the frame 7.

[0066] The yarn supplying section 8 is disposed below the yarn winding unit 5. The yarn supplying section 8 is configured to support the tray T at the above-mentioned unwinding position in the individual path 34 corresponding to the yarn winding unit 5. Details of the yarn supplying section 8 will be described later.

[0067] The blow-out nozzle 9 is provided below the unwinding position in the individual path 34. The blow-out nozzle 9 is configured to be able to blow compressed air upward. A nozzle drive unit 9a (see FIG. 6) switches whether the blow-out nozzle 9 blows compressed air. When the tray T is supported at the unwinding position by the yarn supplying unit 8, blowing compressed air from the blow-out nozzle 9 generates an air flow from below to above inside the hollow tray T and the yarn supplying bobbin S attached to the tray T. As a result, when an actual bobbin Sa is attached to the tray T, the yarn end Ye (see FIG. 4) of the actual bobbin Sa inserted into the bobbin tube S0 by the preparation process is blown up.

[0068] The unwinding assisting device 10 brings a movable member 27 into contact with a balloon formed above the yarn supplying bobbin S when the yarn Y unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin S is swung around, and appropriately controls the size of the balloon to assist the unwinding of the yarn Y. The movable member 27 is formed integrally with a lifting member 28. The lifting member 28 is configured to be movable up and down by a lifting mechanism 28a (see FIG. 6), such as a screw feed mechanism.

[0069] The lifting member 28 is provided with a bobbin detection sensor 29 for detecting the yarn supplying bobbin S. The bobbin detection sensor 29 is configured as a transmission type photosensor having a light-emitting portion 29a and a light-receiving portion 29b. The light-emitting portion 29a and the light-receiving portion 29b are arranged at positions sandwiching the individual path 34 at the unwinding position. This allows the bobbin detection sensor 29 to detect the yarn supplying bobbin S attached to the tray T supported by the yarn supplying unit 8 at the unwinding position.

[0070] By operating the lifting member 28 based on the detection result of the bobbin detection sensor 29, the position of the movable member 27 during the winding process can be adjusted. That is, the bobbin detection sensor 29 detects the chase portion Sc of the yarn supplying bobbin S. The chase portion Sc refers to the end of the yarn layer of the yarn supplying bobbin S. The position of the movable member 27 is then adjusted so that the distance from the chase portion Sc to the movable member 27 is a predetermined distance. As a result, as the position of the chase portion Sc gradually descends as the winding process progresses, the lifting member 28 is lowered, thereby making it possible to always keep the distance between the chase portion Sc and the movable member 27 constant. As a result, the balloon of the yarn Y unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin S can be appropriately regulated.

[0071] Furthermore, the bobbin detection sensor 29 can detect a bobbin-present state in which the yarn supplying bobbin S is present at the unwinding position, and a bobbin-absent state in which the yarn supplying bobbin S is not present at the unwinding position. Therefore, based on the detection result of the bobbin detection sensor 29, it can be determined whether or not the yarn supplying bobbin S is present at the unwinding position.

[0072] The yarn detection sensor 11 is disposed above the unwinding assist device 10. The yarn detection sensor 11 can detect the yarn Y unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin S in the yarn path of the yarn Y.

[0073] The yarn splicing device 12 is a device that splices together the ends of the yarn Y when the yarn Y is broken between the yarn supply bobbin S and the package P. The yarn clearer 13 is a device that acquires information about the quality of the yarn Y and cuts the yarn Y as necessary.

[0074] The lower yarn catching and guiding device 14 mainly has an arm 14a, a holding portion 14b, and an arm drive motor 14c (see FIG. 6). The arm 14a is shaped like a pipe, and one end of the arm 14a is supported by the frame 7. The arm 14a is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction. The holding portion 14b is provided at the other end of the arm 14a. The holding portion 14b is able to catch the yarn Y by sucking the yarn Y with a suction flow generated in the holding portion 14b and gripping the sucked yarn Y with a gripping member (not shown). The arm drive motor 14c drives and rotates the arm 14a. The lower yarn catching and guiding device 14 is able to catch the broken yarn Y that is on the yarn supplying bobbin S side (lower yarn Y1) with the holding portion 14b. The lower yarn catching and guiding device 14 guides the caught yarn (lower yarn Y1) on the yarn supplying bobbin S side to the yarn joining device 12 when the arm 14a is rotationally driven by the arm drive motor 14c.

[0075] The upper yarn catching and guiding device 15 mainly has an arm 15a, a holding portion 15b, and an arm drive motor 15c (see FIG. 6). The arm 15a is shaped like a pipe, and one end of the arm 15a is supported by the frame 7. The arm 15a is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction. The holding portion 15b is provided at the other end of the arm 15a. The arm drive motor 15c drives and rotates the arm 15a. The upper yarn catching and guiding device 15 can catch the yarn on the package P side (upper yarn Y2) of the separated yarn Y by using the suction flow generated in the holding portion 15b. The upper yarn catching and guiding device 15 guides the caught yarn on the package P side (upper yarn Y2) to the yarn joining device 12 by driving and rotating the arm 15a by the arm drive motor 15c.

[0076] The cradle 16 rotatably supports a winding bobbin B for winding the yarn Y. The winding bobbin B is disposed near the top of the yarn winding unit 5. A package P is formed by winding a predetermined amount of yarn Y onto the winding bobbin B.

[0077] The traverse drum 17 comes into contact with the package P and rotates the package P. The traverse drum 17 has a traverse groove 17a through which the yarn Y passes to traverse. The traverse drum 17 is driven to rotate by a winding motor 17b (see FIG. 6). The traverse drum 17 is rotated with the outer peripheral surface of the winding bobbin B or the surface of the package P in contact with the traverse drum 17. This causes the yarn Y unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin S to be wound onto the winding bobbin B while being traversed, thereby performing a winding process.

[0078] 7 to 9, the yarn supplying section 8 will be described in more detail. The yarn supplying section 8 takes in the tray T from the second portion 32 of the supply path 30 into the individual path 34 corresponding to the yarn supplying section 8. The yarn supplying section 8 then supports the tray T taken in the individual path 34 at the unwinding position in the individual path 34. The yarn supplying section 8 then discharges the tray T, on which the processed bobbins U that have been wound by the yarn winding unit 5 at the unwinding position are mounted, from the individual path 34 to the collection path 33.

[0079] 7(a) and other figures, the yarn supplying unit 8 has a first guide 71 (the take-in selection mechanism of the present invention), a second guide 72, a tray detection sensor 73, and a tray pressing unit 74. These members constituting the yarn supplying unit 8 are arranged near the individual path 34 corresponding to the yarn supplying unit 8.

[0080] The first guide 71 can be in an intake prohibition state (see FIG. 7(a)) and an intake permission state (see FIG. 7(b)). When in the intake prohibition state, the first guide 71 prohibits the intake of a tray T from the supply path 30 to the individual path 34. When in the intake permission state, the first guide 71 permits the intake of a tray T from the supply path 30 to the introduction path 34a of the individual path 34, and allows the tray T to enter the intake opening 34a1 of the introduction path 34a. The intake opening 34a1 of the introduction path 34a is the end (rear end) of the introduction path 34a on the side connected to the supply path 30.

[0081] The first guide 71 is a generally disk-shaped member. The first guide 71 is disposed near the connection portion of the introduction path 34a with the supply path 30. The first guide 71 is attached so as to be rotatable about a first rotation shaft 71a extending in the vertical direction. A notch 71b is formed in a portion of the circumferential direction of the first guide 71. The shape of the first guide 71 is not limited to that described above. For example, the number of notches 71b may be two or more. The basic shape of the first guide 71 may be a shape other than a circle, such as an oval or a rectangle.

[0082] The first guide 71 is rotated by a guide drive motor 76 (see FIG. 3). The guide drive motor 76 is a motor that can rotate forward and backward. The guide drive motor 76 is, for example, a stepping motor. The first guide 71 is rotated by the guide drive motor 76, and thereby takes a feed-prohibited state and a feed-permitted state.

[0083] 7(a), the first guide 71 in the intake prohibition state is positioned so that the portion where the notch 71b is not formed blocks the intake opening 34a1 of the introduction path 34a. This allows the first guide 71 to prohibit the tray T from being taken in from the supply path 30 to the introduction path 34a of the individual path 34.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 7(b), in the intake permission state, the portion of the first guide 71 where the notch 71b is formed is positioned at the intake opening 34a1 of the introduction path 34a. This allows the tray T being transported along the second portion 32 of the supply path 30 to enter the intake opening 34a1 of the introduction path 34a. The tray T that enters the intake opening 34a1 enters the inside of the notch 71b. By rotating the first guide 71 in the intake permission state with the tray T entered inside the notch 71b counterclockwise in FIG. 7(b) by the guide drive motor 76, the tray T can be sent towards the unwinding position in the introduction path 34a (downstream in the conveying direction).

[0085] The second guide 72 is a member that guides the tray T sent by the first guide 71 through the introduction path 34a further downstream in the conveying direction. The second guide 72 is, for example, a substantially rod-shaped member. A guide piece 72b is provided at each of both ends of the second guide 72 in the longitudinal direction. The second guide 72 is disposed downstream of the first guide 71 in the conveying direction. The second guide 72 is configured to be rotatable around a second rotation shaft 72a extending in the vertical direction. The vertical positions of the first guide 71 and the second guide 72 are different from each other. Therefore, even if the first guide 71 and the second guide 72 overlap when viewed from the vertical direction, they do not interfere with each other.

[0086] The second guide 72 is rotationally driven by a guide drive motor 77 (see FIG. 6). The guide drive motor 77 is, for example, a stepping motor. The guide drive motor 76 that rotationally drives the first guide 71 and the guide drive motor 77 that rotationally drives the second guide 72 are different motors and can operate independently of each other.

[0087] The tray detection sensor 73 can detect a tray-present state in which a tray T is present in the intake opening 34a1 and a tray-absent state in which a tray T is not present in the intake opening 34a1. The tray detection sensor 73 is, for example, a contact sensor. The tray detection sensor 73 may also be a photosensor.

[0088] The tray pressing portion 74 is a member for aligning the tray T at the unwinding position. The tray pressing portion 74 is swingable around a swing shaft 74a as the swing center. The tray pressing portion 74 is biased toward the upstream side in the conveying direction of the individual path 34 by a biasing member (not shown). The tip of the tray pressing portion 74 comes into contact with the tray T. The tray pressing portion 74 presses the tray T toward the upstream side (rear side) by the biasing force of the biasing member, thereby holding the tray T.

[0089] Next, the operation of the yarn supplying unit 8 will be described. First, when the tray T is taken into the introduction path 34a of the individual path 34 from the second portion 32 of the supply path 30, the first guide 71, which is in the take-in prohibition state as shown in FIG. 7(a), is rotated clockwise and switched to the take-in permission state as shown in FIG. 7(b). In this state, when the tray T enters the take-in opening 34a1 of the introduction path 34a from the second portion 32 of the supply path 30, the detection state of the tray detection sensor 73 switches from the tray absent state to the tray present state. When the detection state of the tray detection sensor 73 switches to the tray present state, the first guide 71, which is in the take-in permission state as shown in FIG. 7(b), is rotated counterclockwise. As a result, the tray T that entered the take-in opening 34a1 is sent toward the unwinding position (take-in operation) as shown in FIG. 8(a). In this embodiment, the take-in operation moves the tray T from the take-in opening 34a1 to the stock position. The tray T may be configured to move from the intake opening 34a1 to the unwinding position by the intake operation.

[0090] The second guide 72 uses the guide piece 72b to guide the tray T (see FIG. 8(a)), which has been guided by the first guide 71 and moved to the stock position. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the second guide 72 rotates counterclockwise, causing one guide piece 72b to press the tray T. This causes the tray T to be sent from the stock position toward the unwinding position (tray setting operation).

[0091] After the tray T begins to be guided by the second guide 72, if no further tray T is taken from the supply path 30 to the individual path 34, the first guide 71 is set to the take-in prohibited state (see FIG. 7(a)). On the other hand, if further tray T is taken from the supply path 30 to the individual path 34, the first guide 71 is set to the take-in permitted state (see FIG. 7(b)).

[0092] The tray pressing portion 74 presses the tray T, which has been guided by the second guide 72, toward the upstream side (rear side). As a result, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the tray T is sandwiched between the second guide 72 and the tray pressing portion 74, and the tray T is held at the unwinding position. In this state, the yarn winding unit 5 unwinds the yarn Y from the yarn supplying bobbin S (actual bobbin Sa) supported on the tray T.

[0093] After the unwinding of the yarn Y from the yarn supplying bobbin S is completed, the second guide 72 supporting the tray T at the unwinding position is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 8(b). At this time, the second guide 72 is rotated with a force exceeding the biasing force of the biasing member that biases the tray pressing portion 74. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the tray T pressed against the guide piece 72b is conveyed so as to push aside the tray pressing portion 74. Then, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the tray T is discharged to the discharge path 34b (discharge operation). The tray T discharged to the discharge path 34b is discharged to the recovery path 33.

[0094] <Electrical configuration of the yarn winding system> An outline of the electrical configuration of the yarn winding system 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 6, the yarn winding system 1 has a main control unit 4a and a plurality of unit control units 5a. The main control unit 4a and the plurality of unit control units 5a together correspond to the control unit of the present invention.

[0095] The main control unit 4a controls the operation panel 4b and tower lamp 4c provided on the control box 4. The main control unit 4a also controls the conveyor device 39 of the automatic winder 2. The main control unit 4a also controls the conveyor device 56, switching devices 62 and 68, preparation processing device 67, etc. of the bobbin processing device 3. The main control unit 4a controls the supply of full bobbins Sa from the spinning machine 100 and the return of empty bobbins Se to the spinning machine 100. The main control unit 4a is connected to a plurality of unit control units 5a so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0096] When the input unit 4b1 is operated by the operator, the main control unit 4a executes an actual bobbin supply stop process that stops the supply of actual bobbins Sa from the bobbin processing device 3 to the tray transport device 6. Furthermore, in the actual bobbin supply stop process, the main control unit 4a controls the tray T on which an actual bobbin Sa is not mounted to be supplied from the bobbin processing device 3 to the tray transport device 6. In this embodiment, "a tray T on which an actual bobbin Sa is not mounted" refers to a tray T on which an empty bobbin Se is mounted. However, "a tray T on which an actual bobbin Sa is not mounted" may also be an empty tray T on which no yarn supplying bobbin S is mounted, or a tray T on which a very small remaining yarn bobbin Sb is mounted.

[0097] After starting the actual bobbin supply stop process, the main control unit 4a puts the automatic winder 2 into a cleaning state when a predetermined condition (operation stop condition of the present invention) is satisfied. In this embodiment, the predetermined condition is that a state in which no winding process is being performed in any of the yarn winding units 5 continues for a predetermined period of time. The cleaning state is a state in which all of the yarn winding units 5 and the tray transport device 6 are stopped (operation stop process). The state in which the yarn winding units 5 are stopped is a state in which the winding motor 17b that drives the traverse drum 17, the guide drive motor 76 that drives the first guide 71, the guide drive motor 77 that drives the second guide 72, etc. are stopped. The state in which the tray transport device 6 is stopped is a state in which the conveyor device 39 that transports the trays T is stopped.

[0098] In this embodiment, the cleaning state refers to a state in which all of the yarn winding units 5 and tray transport devices 6 are stopped, as well as the following three states. The movable member 27 (see FIG. 5) is lowered to the lowest position. As shown by the broken line in FIG. 5, the arm 15a of the upper thread catching and guiding device 15 is rotated upward. Blower 20 (see Figure 6) is stopped

[0099] By lowering the movable member 27 to its lowest position, it becomes easier to remove fluff and other debris that has accumulated on the movable member 27 and the lifting member 28. Furthermore, by rotating the arm 15a of the upper yarn catching and guiding device 15 upward, it becomes easier to clean the yarn joining device 12 and the yarn clearer 13. The blower 20 is stopped to save energy. Note that the automatic winder 2 remains energized even during cleaning. The cleaning state is not limited to the above-mentioned state, and may be any state in which at least all of the yarn winding units 5 and tray conveying devices 6 are stopped.

[0100] The multiple unit control units 5a are individually provided corresponding to the multiple yarn winding units 5, respectively. Each unit control unit 5a controls the operation of the corresponding yarn winding unit 5. Each unit control unit 5a receives signals from the yarn detection sensor 11, bobbin detection sensor 29, and tray detection sensor 73 of the corresponding yarn winding unit 5. Each unit control unit 5a can acquire tray number information regarding the number of trays T in the introduction path 34a of the corresponding individual path 34, based on information regarding the take-in operation by the first guide 71 and information regarding the discharge operation by the second guide 72. The unit control unit 5a stores, for example, the acquired tray number information. The unit control unit 5a may also transmit the acquired tray number information to the main control unit 4a.

[0101] When the number of trays T in the introduction path 34a is equal to or less than a predetermined number based on the tray number information, the unit control unit 5a sets the first guide 71 to the intake permission state. Furthermore, after the first guide 71 is set to the intake permission state, when the detection state of the tray detection sensor 73 switches from the tray absent state to the tray present state, the unit control unit 5a executes an intake operation to send the tray T that has entered the intake opening 34a1 of the introduction path 34a toward the unwinding position.

[0102] In addition, when a real bobbin Sa is not attached to the tray T sent from the stock position toward the unwinding position by the tray set operation, the unit control unit 5a performs a discharge operation to discharge the tray T at the unwinding position to the discharge path 34b using the second guide 72, and a tray set operation to send the tray T at the stock position toward the unwinding position.

[0103] <Winding process in the yarn winding unit> Here, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, an example of a general processing procedure performed by the unit control unit 5a when the yarn supplying bobbin S is replaced in the middle of winding the yarn Y onto the winding bobbin B in the yarn winding unit 5 will be described.

[0104] First, the unit control section 5a determines whether or not a tray setting operation has been performed, in which the second guide 72 sends the tray T located at the stock position (see FIG. 8(a)) toward the unwinding position (see FIG. 8(b)) (S1). The determination in S1 is repeated until it is determined that the tray setting operation has been performed. Then, when it is determined that the tray setting operation has been performed (S1: YES), the unit control section 5a determines whether or not the yarn supplying bobbin S has been detected by the bobbin detection sensor 29 (S2).

[0105] As described above, the bobbin detection sensor 29 can detect the yarn supplying bobbin S attached to the tray T supported at the unwinding position. Therefore, when a yarn supplying bobbin S is attached to the tray T sent to the unwinding position by the tray setting operation of S1, the bobbin detection sensor 29 detects the yarn supplying bobbin S. On the other hand, when a yarn supplying bobbin S is not attached to the tray T sent to the unwinding position by the tray setting operation of S1, the bobbin detection sensor 29 does not detect the yarn supplying bobbin S.

[0106] Therefore, when it is determined that the bobbin detection sensor 29 has not detected the yarn supplying bobbin S (S2: NO), that is, when the yarn supplying bobbin S is not attached to the tray T supported at the unwinding position, the process proceeds to S8. In S8, the unit control section 5a executes a discharge operation that discharges the tray T at the unwinding position (see FIG. 8(b)) to the discharge path 34b by the second guide 72, and a tray set operation that sends the tray T at the stock position (see FIG. 8(a)) toward the unwinding position (see FIG. 8(b)).

[0107] On the other hand, when it is determined that the yarn supplying bobbin S has been detected by the bobbin detection sensor 29 (S2: YES), the unit control unit 5a causes compressed air to be ejected from the blow-out nozzle 9 (S3). Thereafter, the unit control unit 5a determines whether the yarn Y has been detected by the yarn detection sensor 11 (S4).

[0108] When a full bobbin Sa is attached to the tray T sent to the unwinding position by the tray setting operation of S1, compressed air is blown out from the blow-out nozzle 9, and the yarn end Ye (see FIG. 4) of the full bobbin Sa inserted into the bobbin tube S0 by the preparation process is blown up and detected by the yarn detection sensor 11. Furthermore, when an empty bobbin Se or a bobbin with a very small remaining yarn Sb is attached to the tray T sent to the unwinding position by the tray setting operation of S1, the yarn Y is not detected by the yarn detection sensor 11 even if compressed air is blown out from the blow-out nozzle 9.

[0109] Therefore, if it is determined that the yarn Y is not detected by the yarn detection sensor 11 (S4: NO), that is, if an actual bobbin Sa is not attached to the tray T supported at the unwinding position, the process proceeds to S8. In S8, the unit control section 5a executes a discharge operation that discharges the tray T at the unwinding position (see FIG. 8(b)) to the discharge path 34b by the second guide 72, and a tray set operation that sends the tray T at the stock position (see FIG. 8(a)) toward the unwinding position (see FIG. 8(b)).

[0110] On the other hand, if it is determined that the yarn detection sensor 11 has detected the yarn Y (S4: YES), the unit control unit 5a splices the yarn (lower yarn Y1) unwound from the actual bobbin Sa with the yarn (upper yarn Y2) on the package P side (S5). Next, the unit control unit 5a starts a winding process in which the yarn Y unwound from the newly set yarn supplying bobbin S is wound onto the winding bobbin B (S6). Thereafter, the unit control unit 5a determines whether the yarn Y on the yarn supplying bobbin S has run out and the winding process from the yarn supplying bobbin S has ended (S7). When the yarn detection sensor 11 no longer detects the yarn Y, it can be determined that the winding process has ended. The determination in S7 is repeated until it is determined that the winding process has ended.

[0111] If it is determined that the winding process has been completed (S7: YES), the unit control unit 5a executes a discharge operation to discharge the tray T equipped with the empty bobbin Se that has run out of yarn Y to the discharge path 34b, and a tray set operation to send the tray T located at the stock position (see Figure 8(a)) toward the unwinding position (see Figure 8(b)) (S8).

[0112] <Preparing for automatic winder cleaning work> Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, an example of a processing procedure performed by the main control unit 4a when preparing for cleaning the automatic winder 2 in the yarn winding system 1 will be described.

[0113] First, the main control unit 4a determines whether the operator has operated the input unit 4b1 to instruct the start of preparation for cleaning work (S11). The determination in S11 is repeated until it is determined that the input unit 4b1 has been operated. If it is determined that the input unit 4b1 has been operated (S11: YES), the main control unit 4a executes a bobbin supply stop process to stop the supply of bobbins Sa from the bobbin processing device 3 to the tray transport device 6 (S12).

[0114] Here, an example of the processing performed by the main control unit 4a in the process of stopping the supply of used bobbins will be described. The main control unit 4a controls the conveyor device 56 (see FIG. 6) of the bobbin processing device 3 to prevent trays T from being supplied from the spinning machine 100 to the bobbin processing device 3. The main control unit 4a controls the switching device 62 to send all trays T conveyed along the recovery path 53 to the feed bypass 55. That is, trays T equipped with either used bobbins Sa, empty bobbins Se, or minimal residual yarn bobbins Sb are sent to the feed bypass 55. The minimal residual yarn bobbins Sb sent to the feed bypass 55 have the yarn Y removed by the residual yarn remover 65, turning them into empty bobbins Se. Then, the trays T equipped with either used bobbins Sa or empty bobbins Se are sent from the feed bypass 55 to the supply path 52.

[0115] The main control unit 4a controls the switching device 68 so that the tray T on which the actual bobbin Sa is mounted is sent to the return bypass 54. This stops the tray T on which the actual bobbin Sa is mounted from being supplied to the tray conveyance device 6 of the automatic winder 2. The main control unit 4a controls the switching device 68 so that the tray T on which the actual bobbin Sa is not mounted (the tray T on which the empty bobbin Se is mounted in this embodiment) is sent directly to the downstream side of the supply path 52. This allows the tray T on which the actual bobbin Sa is not mounted to be sent to the tray conveyance device 6 of the automatic winder 2.

[0116] Thereafter, the main control unit 4a executes a notification process to notify the user that preparations for cleaning are underway (S13). This notification process is performed, for example, by flashing the tower lamp 4c. This notification process may also be performed by displaying a message on the display of the operation panel 4b indicating that preparations for cleaning are underway.

[0117] When the actual bobbin supply stop process is executed in S12, trays T with actual bobbins Sa mounted thereon and trays T without actual bobbins Sa are mixed on the supply path 30 of the tray transport device 6. Therefore, trays T without actual bobbins Sa mounted thereon may be taken from the supply path 30 into the individual path 34 of the yarn winding unit 5. Furthermore, when the actual bobbin supply stop process is executed, the number of actual bobbins Sa mounted on the supply path 30 of the tray transport device 6 gradually decreases. This increases the number of cases in which trays T without actual bobbins Sa mounted thereon are taken from the supply path 30 into the individual path 34 of the yarn winding unit 5. The winding process (S6 in FIG. 10) is not started in the yarn winding unit 5 into which a tray T without actual bobbins Sa mounted thereon has been mounted. Therefore, after the actual bobbin supply stop process is executed, the number of yarn winding units 5 in which the winding process is not being performed gradually increases.

[0118] The main control unit 4a determines whether or not the winding process is not being performed in any of the yarn winding units 5 (S14). The determination in S14 is repeated until it is determined that the winding process is not being performed in any of the yarn winding units 5. When the winding process is not being performed in any of the yarn winding units 5, an actual bobbin Sa has not been attached to the tray T supported at the unwinding position in any of the yarn winding units 5. Even in this state, if an actual bobbin Sa still remains on the supply path 30, the actual bobbin Sa may be taken into one of the yarn winding units 5 and the winding process may be started.

[0119] If the main control unit 4a determines in S14 that the winding process is not being performed in any of the yarn winding units 5 (S14: YES), it starts measuring the elapsed time (S15). Thereafter, the main control unit 4a determines whether the winding process is not being performed in any of the yarn winding units 5 (S16). If the main control unit 4a does not determine in S16 that the winding process is not being performed in any of the yarn winding units 5 (S16: NO), that is, if a winding process has started in any of the yarn winding units 5, the process returns to S14. On the other hand, if the main control unit 4a determines in S16 that the winding process is not being performed in any of the yarn winding units 5 (S16: YES), the main control unit 4a determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed (S17).

[0120] If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S17: NO), the process returns to S16. On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (S17: YES), the main control unit 4a puts the automatic winder 2 into the cleaning state (S18). That is, at this time, the main control unit 4a sends an instruction signal to the unit control units 5a of each yarn winding unit 5 to put the yarn winding unit 5 into the cleaning state. Upon receiving this instruction signal, the unit control units 5a put the yarn winding unit 5 into the above-mentioned cleaning state. In addition, the main control unit 4a stops the tray conveying device 6.

[0121] After the automatic winder 2 enters the cleaning state, the main control unit 4a executes a notification process to notify information indicating that preparations for cleaning work have been completed and that cleaning work can be performed (S19). This notification process is performed, for example, by turning off the tower lamp 4c. This notification process may also be performed by displaying a message on the display of the operation panel 4b indicating that cleaning work can be performed.

[0122] <Features of the embodiment> As described above, the yarn winding system 1 of the present embodiment includes the automatic winder 2 that performs a winding process to wind the yarn Y unwound from an actual bobbin Sa having the yarn Y wound around a bobbin tube S0 to form a package P, the bobbin processing device 3 that performs preparation processing on the actual bobbins Sa for the winding process, and the main control unit 4a and unit control unit 5a. The automatic winder 2 includes a plurality of yarn winding units 5 that each perform a winding process, and a tray transport device 6 that is capable of transporting trays T and transports the trays T on which actual bobbins Sa that have been prepared by the bobbin processing device 3 are mounted to each yarn winding unit 5, and transports the trays T on which processed bobbins U that have been wound by each yarn winding unit 5 are mounted to the bobbin processing device 3. The main control unit 4a and the unit control unit 5a start a bobbin supply stop process to stop the supply of trays T equipped with actual bobbins Sa from the bobbin processing device 3 to the tray conveying device 6, and then, when a predetermined condition is met, put all the yarn winding units 5 and the tray conveying devices 6 into a cleaning state in which they are stopped.

[0123] With the above-described configuration, when the actual bobbin supply stop process is executed, the number of actual bobbins Sa on the supply path 30 of the tray transport device 6 gradually decreases. Therefore, after the actual bobbin supply stop process is started, if a predetermined condition is met, all of the yarn winding units 5 and the tray transport devices 6 are stopped to enter a cleaning state, and when a cleaning operation is subsequently performed on the automatic winder 2, the number of actual bobbins Sa affected by the cleaning operation can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cleaning operation on the automatic winder 2 from affecting the ready state of the actual bobbins Sa.

[0124] Furthermore, the yarn winding system 1 of the present embodiment includes an input unit 4b1 configured to be able to input an instruction signal instructing execution of the actual bobbin supply stop process, and the main control unit 4a executes the actual bobbin supply stop process when the instruction signal is input to the input unit 4b1. Therefore, when the operator operates the input unit 4b1 to input the instruction signal, the actual bobbin supply stop process can be executed.

[0125] Furthermore, in the yarn winding system 1 of this embodiment, the predetermined condition for entering the cleaning state after starting the actual bobbin supply stop process is that a state in which no winding process is being performed in any of the yarn winding units 5 continues for a predetermined period of time.

[0126] When an instruction signal is input to the input unit 4b1 and the actual bobbin supply stop process is executed, the number of actual bobbins on the supply path 30 of the tray conveying device 6 decreases, and the supply of actual bobbins Sa to each yarn winding unit 5 gradually stops. The yarn winding unit 5 from which the supply of actual bobbins Sa has stopped will no longer perform the winding process. If the supply of actual bobbins Sa has stopped in all yarn winding units 5, none of the yarn winding units 5 will be performing the winding process. Even in this state, if actual bobbins Sa still remain on the supply path 30, one of the yarn winding units 5 may take in the actual bobbin Sa and start the winding process. Therefore, if the state in which no winding process is being performed in any of the yarn winding units 5 continues for a predetermined period of time, it can be determined that the number of actual bobbins Sa on the supply path 30 is sufficiently small. In this configuration, the automatic winder 2 is put into the cleaning state at a timing when the number of full bobbins Sa on the supply path 30 has become sufficiently small, so it is possible to reliably prevent the cleaning work on the automatic winder 2 from affecting the ready state of the full bobbins Sa. Furthermore, the operator only needs to input an instruction signal to the input unit 4b1 instructing execution of the full bobbin supply stop process, and the automatic winder 2 can then be automatically put into the cleaning state.

[0127] In addition, the yarn winding system 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a tower lamp 4c that notifies information, and after starting the actual bobbin supply stop process, the main control unit 4a blinks the tower lamp 4c to notify information that preparations for cleaning work are underway. Therefore, it is possible to notify the operator that preparations for cleaning work are underway.

[0128] Furthermore, in the yarn winding system 1 of the present embodiment, after the automatic winder 2 enters the cleaning state, the main control unit 4a turns off the tower lamp 4c to notify the operator that cleaning work is possible. Therefore, it is possible to notify the operator that cleaning work is possible.

[0129] Additionally, in the yarn winding system 1 of the present embodiment, in the actual bobbin supply stopping process, the main control unit 4a causes the tray T on which no actual bobbins Sa are attached to be supplied from the bobbin processing device 3 to the tray transport device 6. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of actual bobbins Sa on the tray transport device 6 while preventing the trays T from accumulating too much in the bobbin processing device 3.

[0130] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations should not be considered to be limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims rather than the above description of the embodiments, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0131] In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the actual bobbins Sa are supplied from the spinning machine 100 to the bobbin processing device 3 in a state where they are attached to the tray T, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the bobbin processing device 3a of the yarn winding system according to the first modified example shown in FIG. 12 is separated from the spinning machine 100. A bobbin supplying device 101 is provided to supply actual bobbins Sa to the bobbin processing device 3a. The bobbin supplying device 101 is disposed on the right side of the bobbin processing device 3a. The actual bobbins Sa produced in the spinning machine 100 are transported to the bobbin supplying device 101 and fed into the bobbin supplying device 101. The bobbin supplying device 101 is provided with a bobbin chute 101a for attaching the actual bobbins Sa to the tray T.

[0132] In the transport path 51a of the bobbin processing device 3a, the supply path 52 and the recovery path 53 are connected at their ends on the bobbin supplying device 101 side (right side) by a connection path 55a. The bobbin chute 101a of the bobbin supplying device 101 is located above the connection path 55a. When a tray T on which a yarn supplying bobbin S is not placed is located below the bobbin chute 101a in the connection path 55a, the bobbin supplying device 101 discharges an actual bobbin Sa from the bobbin chute 101a. This allows the actual bobbin Sa to be attached to the tray T.

[0133] The bobbin processing device 3a is also provided with a bobbin prow 69 located upstream in the transport direction of the position where the full bobbins Sa are discharged from the bobbin chute 101a on the connecting path 55a. The bobbin prow 69 is configured to be able to remove empty bobbins Se and minimal residual yarn bobbins Sb from the tray T.

[0134] An example of processing performed by the main control unit 4a when executing the process to stop supplying actual bobbins in the yarn winding system according to this modified example will be described. First, the main control unit 4a prevents actual bobbins Sa from being supplied from the bobbin supplying device 101 after the operator performs an operation related to an instruction to start preparation for cleaning work via the input unit 4b1. In this modified example, among the trays T transported along the collection path 53, the trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are mounted are sent to the supply path 52 via the connection path 55a. Among the trays T transported along the collection path 53, the trays T on which empty bobbins Se or minimal remaining yarn bobbins Sb are mounted have the yarn supplying bobbins S removed from the trays T by the bobbin pulley 69 on the connection path 55a, and the empty trays T are sent to the supply path 52.

[0135] The main control unit 4a may control the switching device 68 so that the tray T on which the actual bobbins Sa are mounted is sent to the return bypass 54. This stops the tray T on which the actual bobbins Sa are mounted from being supplied to the tray conveying device 6 of the automatic winder 2. The main control unit 4a controls the switching device 68 so that the tray T on which the actual bobbins Sa are not mounted (an empty tray T in this modified example) is sent directly to the downstream side of the supply path 52. This allows the tray T on which the actual bobbins Sa are not mounted to be sent to the tray conveying device 6 of the automatic winder 2.

[0136] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the predetermined condition for putting the automatic winder 2 into the cleaning state after starting the actual bobbin supply stop process is that a state in which no winding process is being performed in any of the yarn winding units 5 continues for a predetermined period of time, but this is not limited to this.

[0137] For example, after the actual bobbin supply stop process has started, the automatic winder 2 may be put into the cleaning state at the point when all of the yarn winding units 5 are no longer performing the winding process.

[0138] Alternatively, the yarn winding units 5 may be stopped in order starting from the yarn winding units 5 that have consecutively performed a predetermined number of discharge operations to discharge trays T without bobbins Sa from the individual paths 34, and the automatic winder 2 may be placed in the cleaning state when all the yarn winding units 5 have stopped. In this case, since all the yarn winding units 5 have already stopped, the automatic winder 2 may be placed in the cleaning state by stopping the tray transport device 6.

[0139] Furthermore, for example, after the operator has started the actual bobbin supply stop process by operating the input unit 4b1, the automatic winder 2 may be brought into the cleaning state when the operator operates the input unit 4b1 again.

[0140] In addition, the storage unit 4a1 (see FIG. 6) may store a cleaning start time, which is the time to put the automatic winder 2 into the cleaning state (the time to execute the operation stop process of the present invention). Furthermore, the storage unit 4a1 may store a cleaning preparation time, which is the time from the start of the full bobbin supply stop process until the automatic winder 2 is put into the cleaning state. The cleaning start time and cleaning preparation time are input, for example, by an operator. In this case, the main control unit 4a starts the full bobbin supply stop process at a time that is the cleaning preparation time before the cleaning start time. At this time, the predetermined condition for putting the automatic winder 2 into the cleaning state is the arrival of the cleaning start time. In this modification, by starting the full bobbin supply stop process before the cleaning start time stored in the storage unit 4a1, the number of full bobbins Sa on the supply path 30 of the tray conveying device 6 can be reduced before putting the automatic winder 2 into the cleaning state. Therefore, the automatic winder 2 can be put into the cleaning state at the scheduled cleaning start time and the cleaning operation can be started.

[0141] The automatic winder 2 may include yarn winding units 5 that perform winding processes for different types of yarn Y. Since the time required for the winding process differs depending on the type, the required cleaning preparation time also differs for each type. Therefore, in such cases, it is preferable to be able to set the cleaning preparation time for each type.

[0142] Next, a second modified example of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 13 and 14. In a yarn winding system 1b according to this modified example, an RF tag Ta is provided on a tray T, as shown in Fig. 13. Furthermore, the automatic winder 2b of the yarn winding system 1b is provided with a plurality of readers 36 (bobbin information readers of the present invention) capable of reading information written on the RF tags Ta of the trays T transported along the supply path 30, each reader 36 corresponding to each of the plurality of yarn winding units 5. Each reader 36 is disposed between a branching portion of the individual path 34 of the corresponding yarn winding unit 5 in the second portion 32 of the supply path 30 and a branching portion of an adjacent individual path 34 upstream of the individual path 34 in the transport direction. Furthermore, each reader 36 may be provided for each of a predetermined number of yarn winding units 5, and the winding operations of the predetermined number of yarn winding units 5 may be controlled for each span in which each reader 36 is provided.

[0143] 14, the bobbin processing device 3b of the yarn winding system 1b is provided with a bobbin detection sensor 81 capable of detecting whether or not a yarn supplying bobbin S is attached to the tray T, and a writer 82 (bobbin information writing unit of the present invention) capable of writing information to the RF tag Ta. The bobbin detection sensor 81 is provided, for example, inside the remaining yarn removing device 65. The writer 82 is provided, for example, inside the preparation processing device 67.

[0144] The bobbin detection sensor 81 has, for example, a reflective sensor provided at a height capable of detecting the tray T, and a reflective sensor provided at a height above the upper end of the tray T capable of detecting the yarn supplying bobbin S. Therefore, when the bobbin detection sensor 81 detects the tray T with the sensor capable of detecting the tray T and detects the yarn supplying bobbin S with the sensor capable of detecting the yarn supplying bobbin S, the bobbin detection sensor 81 can detect that the yarn supplying bobbin S is attached to the tray T. Furthermore, when the bobbin detection sensor 81 detects the tray T with the sensor capable of detecting the tray T and does not detect the yarn supplying bobbin S with the sensor capable of detecting the yarn supplying bobbin S, the bobbin detection sensor 81 can detect that the yarn supplying bobbin S is not attached to the tray T, i.e., that the tray T is empty.

[0145] The writer 82 writes bobbin information, indicating whether or not an actual bobbin Sa is attached, to the RF tag Ta of the tray T transported through the supply path 52 based on the detection results of the yarn amount detection device 66 and the bobbin detection sensor 81. In this modification, the writer 82 writes any one of the following bobbin information 1 to 3. The actual bobbin Sa is loaded on the tray T (bobbin information 1) An empty bobbin Se or a bobbin Sb with minimal remaining thread is attached to the tray T (bobbin information 2) The tray T is an empty tray T with no yarn supply bobbin S attached (bobbin information 3).

[0146] As described above, the yarn amount detection device 66 detects whether the yarn supplying bobbin S is an actual bobbin Sa. When the bobbin detection sensor 81 detects that the yarn supplying bobbin S is attached to the tray T, bobbin information 1 or bobbin information 2 is written to the RF tag Ta of the tray T, based on the detection result of the yarn amount detection device 66. When the bobbin detection sensor 81 detects that the yarn supplying bobbin S is not attached to the tray T, bobbin information 3 is written to the RF tag Ta of the tray T.

[0147] In the second modified example, the main control unit 4a and each unit control unit 5a can grasp the attachment state of the actual bobbins Sa on the trays T transported on the supply path 30, based on the bobbin information read by the reader 36. The main control unit 4a and each unit control unit 5a control all of the multiple yarn winding units 5 so that when a tray T on which an actual bobbin Sa is not attached is transported, the tray T is not loaded until a loading condition, which will be described later, is satisfied. Specifically, for all of the yarn winding units 5, the main control unit 4a and each unit control unit 5a place the first guide 71 in a loading prohibition state when the bobbin information on the RF tag Ta read by the corresponding reader 36 indicates that an actual bobbin Sa is not attached to the tray T (i.e., bobbin information 2 or bobbin information 3).

[0148] As a result, after the actual bobbin supply stop process is performed, trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are not installed can be prevented from being taken into the individual path 34 from the supply path 30 in a state in which trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are installed and trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are not installed are mixed. Only trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are installed are taken into the individual path 34. Trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are not installed circulate on the circular supply path 30 without being taken into the individual path 34 of any of the yarn winding units 5. Therefore, trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are not installed can be efficiently collected on the supply path 30. However, if only trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are installed are taken into the individual path 34, there is a possibility that the supply path 30 will be overflowed with trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are not installed and become congested when the number of trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are installed decreases.

[0149] To prevent such a jam, when a take-in condition (described later) is satisfied, the main control unit 4a and the individual unit control units 5a control the multiple yarn winding units 5 by dividing them into non-take-in units that do not take in trays T on which an actual bobbin Sa is not attached into the individual path 34, and take-in units that take in trays T on which an actual bobbin Sa is not attached into the individual path 34. For the non-take-in units, if the bobbin information in the RF tag Ta read by the corresponding reader 36 indicates that an actual bobbin Sa is not attached to the tray T, the first guide 71 is set to a take-in prohibition state. For the take-in units, if the bobbin information in the RF tag Ta read by the corresponding reader 36 indicates that an actual bobbin Sa is not attached to the tray T, the first guide 71 is set to a take-in permission state. In this way, some of the yarn winding units 5 can actively take in trays T on which an actual bobbin Sa is not attached into the individual path 34. This prevents the supply path 30 from being overflowed with trays T on which an actual bobbin Sa is not attached.

[0150] The above-mentioned take-in condition is, for example, that the number of trays T in the supply path 30, whose bobbin information read by the reader 36 indicates that actual bobbins Sa are attached, is equal to or less than a first predetermined number. That is, when it is determined from the reading result by the reader 36 that the number of trays T in the supply path 30 in which actual bobbins Sa are attached has become sufficiently small, the take-in unit starts to take in trays T in which actual bobbins Sa are not attached to the individual path 34. Furthermore, after it is confirmed from the reading result by the reader 36 that the number of trays T in the supply path 30 in which actual bobbins Sa are attached is equal to or less than a second predetermined number that is smaller than the first predetermined number, the automatic winder 2 can be stopped and placed in a cleaning state.

[0151] The above-mentioned take-in condition may also be that a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the actual bobbin supply stop process. After the start of the actual bobbin supply stop process, the number of trays T on the supply path 30 on which actual bobbins Sa are not installed increases as time passes. In this configuration, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the actual bobbin supply stop process and the number of trays T on the supply path 30 on which actual bobbins Sa are not installed has increased to a certain extent, some of the yarn winding units 5 can start taking in the trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are not installed into the individual paths 34.

[0152] In the second modified example, the control for dividing the multiple yarn winding units 5 into non-take-in units and take-in units does not need to be performed. That is, until all of the trays T on the supply path 30 on which actual bobbins Sa are mounted are gone, the trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are not mounted do not need to be taken into any of the individual paths 34. In this case, after all of the yarn Y on the actual bobbins Sa has been wound by the yarn winding units 5, the trays T on which actual bobbins Sa are not mounted are taken into the individual paths 34.

[0153] In the second modified example, the multiple yarn winding units 5 may be controlled to be divided into non-take-in units and take-in units immediately after the start of the actual bobbin supply stop process. The ratio of the non-take-in units to the take-in units may be changed depending on the number of trays T on the supply path 30 on which actual bobbins Sa are mounted and the time elapsed since the start of the actual bobbin supply stop process. In this case, the ratio of the take-in units increases as the number of trays T on the supply path 30 on which actual bobbins Sa are mounted decreases. The ratio of the take-in units increases as the time elapsed since the start of the actual bobbin supply stop process increases.

[0154] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which a tray T without a used bobbin Sa is supplied from the bobbin processing device 3 to the tray transport device 6 in the used bobbin supply stop process, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the used bobbin supply stop process, all conveyor devices 56 of the bobbin processing device 3 may be stopped to stop the supply of trays T to the tray transport device 6 of the automatic winder 2. In this way, once the yarn on the used bobbin Sa on the tray transport device 6 of the automatic winder 2 is wound by the automatic winder 2, preparations for the cleaning work are completed, and the cleaning work can be performed.

[0155] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a case was described in which a notification was given that preparations for cleaning work were being made or that cleaning work could be performed, but these notifications do not have to be given.

[0156] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case has been described where the control for preparing to clean the automatic winder 2 in the yarn winding system 1 is performed by the main control unit 4a and the unit control unit 5a in cooperation with each other, but this is not limiting. For example, such control may be performed solely by the main control unit 4a. [Explanation of symbols]

[0157] 1 Yarn winding system 2 Automatic Winder 3. Bobbin processing equipment 4a Main control unit (control unit) 4a1 Memory section 4b1 Input section 4c Tower lamp (alarm unit) 5 Yarn winding unit 5a Unit control section (control section) 6 Tray transport device 30 Supply Channels 34 Individual Routes 36 Reader (bobbin information reading unit) 71 First guide (import selection mechanism) 82 Writer (Bobbin information writing unit) P Package S0 Bobbin Tube Sa Actual bobbin Ta RF Tag U-processed bobbin Y thread

Claims

1. an automatic winder that performs a winding process to wind a yarn unwound from a bobbin having a yarn wound around a bobbin tube to form a package; a bobbin processing device that performs a preparation process on the actual bobbin for the winding process; A yarn winding system comprising: The automatic winder includes: a plurality of yarn winding units each performing the winding process; a tray transport device capable of transporting trays, transporting the trays on which the actual bobbins that have been subjected to the preparation process in the bobbin processing device are mounted to each of the yarn winding units, and transporting the trays on which processed bobbins that have been subjected to the winding process in each of the yarn winding units are mounted to the bobbin processing devices, The control unit a bobbin supply stop process for stopping the supply of the tray on which the bobbin is mounted from the bobbin processing device to the tray transport device; The yarn winding system is capable of executing an operation stop process that stops all of the yarn winding units and the tray conveying devices when a predetermined operation stop condition is met after starting the actual bobbin supply stop process.

2. an input unit configured to be able to input an instruction signal for instructing execution of the actual bobbin supply stopping process, The yarn winding system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit executes the actual bobbin supply stop process when the instruction signal is input to the input unit.

3. The yarn winding system according to claim 2 , wherein the operation stop condition is that winding processes are no longer performed in any of the yarn winding units.

4. a storage unit that stores an operation stop processing execution time, which is a time when the operation stop processing is to be executed; the control unit starts the actual bobbin supply stop process before the operation stop process execution time, The yarn winding system according to claim 1 , wherein the operation stop condition is that the operation stop processing execution time has arrived.

5. It is equipped with a notification unit that notifies information, The yarn winding system according to claim 1 , wherein, after starting the process of stopping the supply of the used bobbin, the control unit causes the notification unit to notify the user of information indicating that preparations for cleaning are underway.

6. The yarn winding system according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit causes the notification unit to notify the user that cleaning work can be performed when the operation stop process is completed.

7. The yarn winding system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit, in the actual bobbin supply stopping process, causes the tray on which the actual bobbin is not attached to be supplied from the bobbin processing device to the tray conveying device.

8. The tray is provided with an RF tag, The tray conveying device is a supply path formed in a circular shape, the supply path being a path through which the trays are fed from the bobbin processing device; a plurality of individual paths branching from the supply path and individually provided corresponding to the plurality of yarn winding units, each of the yarn winding units has a take-in selection mechanism that can take an intake prohibition state in which taking of the tray from the supply path to the individual path is prohibited, and an intake permission state in which taking of the tray from the supply path to the individual path is permitted; a bobbin information writing unit configured to be able to write bobbin information, which indicates whether the actual bobbin is attached to the tray on which the RF tag is provided, to the RF tag; and a bobbin information reading unit capable of reading the bobbin information written on the RF tag of the tray transported in the supply path, the control unit divides the plurality of yarn winding units into non-taking-in units that do not take in the trays on which the actual bobbins are not attached into the individual paths and taking-in units that take in the trays on which the actual bobbins are not attached into the individual paths, Regarding the non-taking-in unit, when the tray in which the bobbin information read by the bobbin information reading unit indicates that the actual bobbin is not attached is transported, the taking-in selection mechanism is set to the taking-in prohibition state, The yarn winding system according to claim 7, wherein the take-in unit causes the take-in selection mechanism to enter the take-in permission state when the tray is transported and the bobbin information read by the bobbin information reading unit indicates that the actual bobbin is not attached.

9. After starting the process of stopping the supply of the actual bobbin, the control unit until a predetermined take-in condition is satisfied, when the tray in which the bobbin information read by the bobbin information reading unit indicates that the actual bobbin is not attached is transported, the take-in selection mechanism is put into the take-in prohibition state for all of the plurality of yarn winding units; The yarn winding system according to claim 8 , wherein when the take-in condition is satisfied, the plurality of yarn winding units are controlled separately as the non-take-in unit and the take-in unit.

10. The yarn winding system according to claim 9 , wherein the take-in condition is that a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the actual bobbin supply stopping process.

11. The yarn winding system according to claim 9, wherein the take-in condition is that the number of trays in the supply path, for which the bobbin information read by the bobbin information reading unit indicates that the actual bobbin is attached, is equal to or less than a predetermined number.

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