Automatic winder

Abstract

This prevents situations where winding packages are left unattended in the winding unit. [Solution] The automatic winder comprises a plurality of winding units, a hoisting device, and a control unit. The plurality of winding units are arranged in a row and unwind yarn from one or more yarn supply packages, wind the unwinded yarn to form one winding package. The hoisting device removes the winding package. The control unit controls the hoisting device. Each of the plurality of winding units has a package installation section and a detection section. The package installation section can accommodate one yarn supply package. The detection section detects the presence or absence of a yarn supply package in the package installation section. The package installation section can be positioned at an unwinding position for unwinding yarn from the yarn supply package. When the unwinding of a predetermined number of yarns from the yarn supply packages is completed, the control unit changes the operation of the hoisting device for the winding unit equipped with the detection section based on the detection result of the detection section.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic winder.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an automatic winder that rewinds spun yarn to form a package has been known. Patent Document 1 discloses this type of automatic winder.

[0003] The automatic winder of Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of winding units that wind yarn to form a package on a winding tube, and a yarn lifting device that travels between the winding units to perform yarn lifting work. When a lot is changed according to a production plan, the winding unit in charge of that lot is designated as a lot change unit. The yarn lifting device is controlled to perform only a package payout operation of paying out a full package from the winding unit designated as the lot change unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, some automatic winders include a winding unit of a type that unwinds yarn from one or more packages (hereinafter also referred to as supply packages), which are yarn supply sources different from the supply bobbin, and winds the unwound yarn to form another package (hereinafter also referred to as a winding package).

[0006] The inventors of this application have found that when using such an automatic winder, if, for example, no yarn package is supplied to the winding unit, the winding package may not be retrieved by the hoisting device, and the winding package may be left in the winding unit. Such a situation is undesirable as it can lead to unintended deformation of the winding package.

[0007] This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to avoid situations in which a winding package is left in the winding unit. Means and effects for solving the problem

[0008] The problems that this invention aims to solve are as described above, and next, the means for solving these problems and their effects will be explained.

[0009] In view of the present invention, an automatic winder having the following configuration is provided: the automatic winder comprises a plurality of winding units, a hoisting device, and a control unit. The plurality of winding units are arranged in a plurality, and unwind yarn from one or more yarn supply packages and wind the unwinded yarn to form one winding package. The hoisting device removes the winding package formed by the winding units. The control unit controls the hoisting device. Each of the plurality of winding units has at least one package installation section and a detection section. The at least one package installation section is capable of installing one of the yarn supply packages. The detection section detects the presence or absence of the yarn supply package in the at least one package installation section. The at least one package installation section can be positioned at an unwinding position for unwinding yarn from the yarn supply package. When the unwinding of a predetermined number of yarns from the yarn supply packages is completed, the control unit changes the operation of the hoisting device to the winding unit equipped with the detection section based on the detection result of the detection section.

[0010] This allows the operation of the hoisting device for the winding unit to be changed depending on whether or not a yarn supply package is present in the package installation section of the winding unit. By appropriately changing the operation in this way, it is possible to avoid situations where a winding package is left in the winding unit.

[0011] In the above-mentioned automatic winder, the following configuration is preferable. That is, when the unwinding of a predetermined number of threads from the thread supply package is completed, the control unit causes the detection result to indicate that the thread supply package is present in at least one of the package installation locations, to perform a normal unwinding operation, which involves removing the winding package from the winding unit and preparing the winding unit to form the next winding package. When the unwinding of a predetermined number of threads from the thread supply package is completed, the control unit causes the detection result to indicate that the thread supply package is not present in at least one of the package installation locations, to perform a discharge operation, which involves removing the winding package from the winding unit but not preparing the winding unit to form the next winding package.

[0012] This allows the winding unit to avoid leaving a winding package unattended when a yarn supply package is present in the package installation area, and to prepare for the formation of the next winding package, by performing a normal hoisting operation. On the other hand, when there is no yarn supply package in the package installation area, the winding unit can avoid leaving a winding package unattended when a discharge operation is performed, even if no preparation for the formation of the next winding package is performed.

[0013] In the aforementioned automatic winder, it is preferable that the detection unit is positioned to detect the yarn supply package installed in the package installation unit at the unwinding position.

[0014] This allows the detection unit to simultaneously confirm both the presence or absence of the yarn supply package to be used for the next winding, and that the yarn supply package is set in the release position.

[0015] In the above-mentioned automatic winder, the detection unit is preferably an unwinding amount detection sensor that detects the amount of yarn unwinded from the yarn supply package.

[0016] This allows us to avoid increased costs by utilizing sensors that have traditionally been used to detect the amount of unpacking for package detection.

[0017] In the above-mentioned automatic winder, the following configuration is preferable. That is, in at least one of the plurality of winding units, the at least one package mounting section includes a plurality of package mounting sections. Each of the plurality of package mounting sections is alternately movable between the unwinding position and a retracted position that is moved away from the unwinding position.

[0018] This allows the operator to install the next yarn supply package in the retracted package installation section while the yarn is being unwound from the yarn supply package in the unwinding position. As a result, the work efficiency of the winding unit (i.e., the amount of work per unit time) can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] A perspective view showing the configuration of a mainframe provided in an automatic winder according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A schematic side view showing the configuration of the winding unit installed in an automatic winder. [Figure 3] A flowchart for changing the operation of the lifting device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a main frame 2 provided in an automatic winder 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of a winding unit 4 provided in the automatic winder 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart regarding the operation change of the bobbin lifting device 21.

[0021] The automatic winder 1 mainly includes a main frame 2, a plurality of winding units 4 arranged side by side by being attached to the main frame 2, a bobbin lifting device 21, and a machine base control unit (not shown). The plurality of winding units 4 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. Each winding unit 4 forms a winding package 9 by unwinding and winding the yarn from a yarn supply package 7 set in its yarn supply exchange section 3.

[0022] The machine base control unit is arranged at one end of the main frame 2 in the direction in which the plurality of winding units 4 are arranged. The machine base control unit comprehensively controls the plurality of winding units 4 by communicating with a unit controller 90 provided in each winding unit 4. The operator can collectively manage the plurality of winding units 4 by inputting appropriate instructions to the machine base control unit.

[0023] The bobbin lifting device 21 is capable of traveling along the parallel direction of the plurality of winding units 4. Specifically, above the winding unit 4, a rail (not shown) is formed along the parallel direction, and the bobbin lifting device 21 travels along the rail. When the winding package 9 in a certain winding unit 4 reaches full winding, the bobbin lifting device 21 travels to that winding unit 4 and stops. The bobbin lifting device 21 removes the full winding winding package 9 of that winding unit 4.

[0024] Next, the configuration of the main frame 2 will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. 1. The main frame 2 forms the skeleton of the automatic winder 1. The main frame 2 mainly includes a side plate portion 11, a bottom plate portion 12, a blower duct 13, a support shaft 14, and a receiving plate 15.

[0025] The side plate sections 11 are plate-shaped members, and are provided in pairs on the left and right sides, with their thickness direction oriented horizontally from left to right. These left and right side plate sections 11 are positioned opposite each other, with a gap between them necessary to arrange multiple winding units 4 side by side. The bottom plate section 12 is a plate-shaped member provided to horizontally connect the lower end of the left side plate section 11 and the lower end of the right side plate section 11. The bottom plate section 12 is formed as a horizontal plate that is long in the left-right direction.

[0026] The blower duct 13 distributes the suction flow generated by the rotation of a fan (not shown) to each winding unit 4, and is spanned between the left and right side plates 11. An opening 13a is formed on the front side of the blower duct 13 to correspond to each winding unit 4. Each opening 13a is connected via piping or the like to the component of each winding unit 4 that generates the suction flow.

[0027] A support plate 15 is provided above the blower duct 13, positioned parallel to the upper surface of the blower duct 13. The support plate 15 is formed as a horizontal plate that is long in the left-right direction and spans between the left and right side plate portions 11. The support plate 15 is positioned so as to face the upper surface of the blower duct 13, with a small gap in the vertical direction between them.

[0028] A long, axial support shaft 14 with a circular cross-section is provided below the front end surface of the blower duct 13. The support shaft 14 is horizontally spanned between the left and right side plate portions 11, with its axis oriented in the left-right direction.

[0029] Next, the configuration of the winding unit 4 will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 2. As shown in the figure, the winding unit 4 is composed of three modules: a yarn supply and exchange section 3 located at the bottom of the main frame 2, a yarn winding section 5 located at the top of the main frame 2, and a yarn splicing section 8 located in the middle of the main frame 2 in the vertical direction.

[0030] The yarn supply and replacement section 3 is a part that replaceably sets the yarn supply package 7, which supplies yarn for winding back onto the winding package 9. The yarn supply and replacement section 3 is mounted on the bottom plate portion 12 of the main frame 2 and attached to the lower part of the main frame 2. The yarn supply and replacement section 3 in this embodiment includes a package supply device 40.

[0031] The package supply device 40 mainly comprises a package mounting section 41, a rotating arm 42, and a support 48. The package mounting section 41 is an axial member into which a cone-shaped yarn supply package 7 for unwinding yarn can be inserted and installed. The rotating arm 42 is a long, plate-shaped member with package mounting sections 41 at both ends. The central part 44 of the rotating arm 42 is rotatably supported by the support 48. By rotating the rotating arm 42 around the central part 44 as a pivot point, it is possible to switch the yarn supply package 7 for unwinding yarn to one of the yarn supply packages 7 set in the package mounting sections 41 at both ends. In this way, each of the two package mounting sections 41 can alternately move between an unwinding position P1 for unwinding yarn from the yarn supply package 7 and a retracted position P2 for retracting from the unwinding position P1. While the yarn is being unfurled from the yarn supply package 7 set in the package installation section 41 at the unfurling position P1 and wound up by the yarn winding device 50, the operator can simultaneously perform the task of setting the yarn supply package 7 in the package installation section 41 at the retracted position P2. The package supply device 40 is installed on the main frame 2 by placing the bottom of the support 48 on the bottom plate section 12.

[0032] The package supply device 40 further includes a release amount detection sensor 46. The release amount detection sensor 46 is positioned to detect the yarn supply package 7 installed in the package installation section 41 at the release position P1. In this example, the release amount detection sensor 46 is located on the side of the support 48 near the release position P1. The release amount detection sensor 46 is an example of a detection unit.

[0033] The yarn unwinding amount detection sensor 46 has a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit (not shown). The light-emitting unit emits light toward the unwinding position P1, and the light-receiving unit determines whether the light is reflected or blocked by the yarn supply package 7. Based on this determination, the yarn unwinding amount detection sensor 46 detects the presence or absence of the yarn supply package 7 in the package installation unit 41 at the unwinding position P1. As yarn is unwound from the yarn supply package 7 at the unwinding position P1, the diameter of the yarn layer in the yarn supply package 7 decreases. If the amount of yarn unwound is less than a predetermined amount, the light is reflected or blocked by the yarn supply package 7, while if the amount of yarn unwound is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the light is not reflected or blocked by the yarn supply package 7. Therefore, based on the above determination, the yarn unwinding amount detection sensor 46 can also detect the amount of yarn unwound from the yarn supply package 7. The detection result from the release amount detection sensor 46 is sent to the unit controller 90.

[0034] The thread unwinding amount detection sensor 46 may be implemented using a combination of multiple optical sensors. In this case, the amount of thread unwinding can be detected in multiple stages.

[0035] The yarn winding unit 5 is the part that winds the yarn supplied from the yarn supply and exchange unit 3 onto a core tube (paper tube) to form a winding package 9. The yarn winding unit 5 is attached to the upper part of the main frame 2 such that its rear bottom surface rests on the support plate 15 of the main frame 2. In other words, the yarn winding unit 5 is supported from below by the support plate 15 on its rear side. The yarn winding unit 5 of this embodiment is equipped with a swivel drum type yarn winding device 50.

[0036] The ridge-type yarn winding device 50 mainly comprises a winding bobbin 51, a cradle 52, a ridge-type drum 53, and a yarn winding frame 54.

[0037] The winding bobbin 51 winds the yarn supplied from the yarn supply and exchange unit 3 around its outer circumference to form the winding package 9. The cradle 52 is configured to hold the winding bobbin 51. The traverse drum 53 is used to traverse the yarn and rotate the winding bobbin 51.

[0038] The cradle 52 is configured to swing toward or toward the ridge drum 53, thereby causing the winding package 9 to come into contact with or be separated from the ridge drum 53. A spiral ridge groove is formed on the outer surface of the ridge drum 53, and the yarn is wound onto the winding bobbin 51 while traversing through this groove at a constant width. This makes it possible to form a winding package 9 with a constant winding width.

[0039] The thread winding frame 54 is generally a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped member. A cradle 52 and a swivel drum 53 are positioned on one side of the thread winding frame 54, and the thread winding frame 54 cantilever-supports these members. The drive motor for the swivel drum 53 is also located on the thread winding frame 54. A horizontal bottom plate 55 is provided at the bottom of the rear side of the thread winding frame 54. With this bottom plate 55 resting on the upper surface of the receiving plate 15, the thread winding frame 54 (and thus the thread winding section 5) is attached to the main frame 2. The thread winding frame 54 is positioned to partition the thread winding section 5 of an adjacent winding unit 4. The bottom plate 55 can also be constructed as an integral part of the thread winding frame 54.

[0040] The yarn splice section 8 is the part that connects the yarn supplied from the yarn supply and exchange section 3 to the yarn winding section 5. The yarn splice section 8 is mounted on the front side of the main frame 2 so as to be supported by the support shaft 14 of the main frame 2, and so as to be in contact with the front end surface of the blower duct 13 on its back surface. As a result, the yarn splice section 8 is mounted in the middle of the main frame 2 in the vertical direction, more specifically, above the position where the yarn supply and exchange section 3 is provided, and below the position where the yarn winding section 5 is installed. The yarn splice section 8 of this embodiment is equipped with a suction mouth type yarn splice mechanism 70.

[0041] The suction mouth type thread splicing mechanism 70 mainly comprises a thread monitoring device 71, a splicer 72, a lower thread guide pipe 73, an upper thread guide pipe 74, a tension applying device 75, a thread splicing frame 76, and a stay 77.

[0042] The thread splice frame 76 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped-shaped member that is elongated in the vertical direction. A thread monitoring device 71, a splicer 72, a lower thread guide pipe 73, an upper thread guide pipe 74, and a tensioning device 75 are arranged on one side of the thread splice frame 76, and the thread splice frame 76 cantilever-supports these members. The thread splice frame 76 is attached to the upper and lower middle section of the main frame 2 while supporting the above-mentioned parts. The thread splice frame 76 is positioned in alignment with the thread winding frame 54 in the left-right direction so as to partition the space between it and the thread splice section 8 of the adjacent winding unit 4. The thread winding frame 54 and the thread splice frame 76 are not directly connected, and a space is formed between them (in the vertical direction).

[0043] The configuration for attaching the thread splice frame 76 to the main frame 2 will be described in detail. A stay 77 protrudes from the back of the thread splice frame 76 toward the rear, and this stay 77 is hooked onto the support shaft 14. The thread splice frame 76 is then attached to the main frame 2 so that its back surface comes into contact with the front end surface of the blower duct 13. At this time, the components that generate the suction flow in the thread splice section 8 and the thread supply and replacement section 3 are connected to the opening 13a of the blower duct 13 via piping or the like.

[0044] Furthermore, a unit controller 90 and the like are arranged inside the thread splicing frame 76 to control each part of the winding unit 4. That is, each winding unit 4 is equipped with a unit controller 90 and a winding controller 91, which are computer-based. The unit controller 90 and the winding controller 91 consist of hardware such as a CPU, ROM, and RAM, and software such as control programs stored in the ROM and / or RAM. The hardware and software work together so that the winding controller 91 controls the winding operation of the thread winding section 5. In addition, the unit controller 90, which is a higher-level control unit than the winding controller 91, controls the winding controller 91 and comprehensively controls the entire winding unit 4, including the thread splicing section 8 and the thread supply and exchange section 3. The unit controller 90 also controls the hoisting device 21. The unit controller 90 is configured to communicate with the machine base control unit described above. The unit controller 90 is an example of a control unit.

[0045] The yarn monitoring device 71 is configured to detect defects such as slabs (hereinafter sometimes referred to as yarn defects) that occur in the yarn by monitoring the thickness of the yarn. In addition, a cutter is positioned near the yarn monitoring device 71 to immediately cut the yarn when the yarn monitoring device 71 detects a yarn defect.

[0046] The splicer 72 connects (splices) the yarn on the yarn supply / exchange section 3 side with the yarn on the yarn winding section 5 side when the yarn monitoring device 71 detects a yarn defect and cuts the yarn with a cutter, when the yarn breaks while being unwound from the yarn supply package 7, or when the yarn supply package 7 is replaced. In this embodiment, the splicer 72 is of a type in which the yarn is twisted together and spliced ​​by the supply of compressed air from a compressor (not shown).

[0047] The splicer 72 is provided with a lower thread guide pipe 73 for sucking, capturing, and guiding the lower thread on the thread supply and exchange section 3 side, and an upper thread guide pipe 74 for sucking, capturing, and guiding the upper thread on the thread winding section 5 side. A suction port is formed at the tip of the lower thread guide pipe 73, and a suction mouth is provided at the tip of the upper thread guide pipe 74. The lower thread guide pipe 73 and the upper thread guide pipe 74 are connected to the opening 13a of the blower duct 13 via piping or the like. This allows a suction flow to be generated at the suction port and the suction mouth.

[0048] In this configuration, when the yarn supply package 7 is replaced, the suction port of the bobbin guide pipe 73 rotates downward to suck and capture the bobbin thread, and then rotates upward to guide the bobbin thread to the splicer 72. Almost simultaneously, the suction mouth of the upper thread guide pipe 74 sucks and captures the upper thread unwound from the winding package 9, which is driven in reverse, and then rotates downward to guide the upper thread to the splicer 72. The bobbin and upper threads are then joined at the splicer 72.

[0049] With the above configuration, the winding unit 4 shown in Figure 2 can unwind yarn from one (or a single) or more yarn supply packages 7 set in the yarn supply exchange unit 3 and wind it onto the winding bobbin 51 to form one (or a single) winding package 9. The number of yarn supply packages 7 set in the yarn supply exchange unit 3 (or the number of yarn supply packages 7 required to form one winding package 9) can be set in advance by an operator or the like.

[0050] Next, with reference to Figure 3, the operation of the hoisting device 21 will be changed (or selected). First, in a certain winding unit 4, when the unwinding of a predetermined number of threads from the supplying package 7 is completed and the winding package 9 is fully wound (step S101), the unit controller 90 of the winding unit 4 sends a command signal to the hoisting device 21 to remove the fully wound winding package 9. The hoisting device 21 then travels to the winding unit 4 that sent the command signal and stops. At this point, the unit controller 90 changes the operation of the hoisting device 21 for the winding unit 4 based on the detection result of the unwinding amount detection sensor 46 (steps S102 to S104).

[0051] Specifically, the unit controller 90 causes the hoisting device 21 to perform a normal hoisting operation (step S103) if the detection result of the unwinding amount detection sensor 46 indicates that there is a yarn supply package 7 in the package installation section 41 at the unwinding position P1 (if the answer is "Yes" in step S102; for example, if the yarn supply package 7 is detected at the unwinding position P1 by the unwinding amount detection sensor 46). Here, a normal hoisting operation is an operation in which the winding package 9 is removed from the winding unit 4 and preparations are made in the winding unit 4 to form the next winding package 9. Such preparations include, for example, setting the next winding bobbin 51 in the cradle 52 and winding a small amount of yarn drawn from the yarn supply package 7 onto the winding bobbin 51.

[0052] On the other hand, if the unit controller 90 detects that the unwinding amount detection sensor 46 does not detect that there is no yarn supply package 7 in the package installation section 41 at the unwinding position P1 (if the result is "No" in step S102; for example, if the yarn supply package 7 is not detected at the unwinding position P1 by the unwinding amount detection sensor 46), it causes the hoisting device 21 to perform a discharge operation (step S104). Here, the discharge operation is an operation in which the winding package 9 is removed from the winding unit 4, while the winding unit 4 does not prepare to form the next winding package 9.

[0053] If the yarn supply package 7 is not set in the package installation section 41 at the unwinding position P1, a configuration in which the hoisting device 21 does not perform either a hoisting operation or a dispensing operation is also conceivable. This configuration also makes it possible to avoid unnecessary yarn winding operations of the winding unit 4. However, there may be cases where the yarn supply package 7 is not set in the winding unit 4 for a long period of time due to reasons such as omissions in the operator's package supply work. In this case, the winding package 9, which has stopped rotating, remains on the twill drum 53 for a long period of time, so there is a risk that the contact area between the yarn layer wound on the winding package 9 and the twill drum 53 will become concave, resulting in a decrease in quality.

[0054] In this regard, in the automatic winder 1 of this embodiment, when a winding package 9 is fully wound in a winding unit 4, the winding device 21 removes the fully wound winding package 9 regardless of whether the next yarn supply package 7 is set in the winding unit 4. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation where a winding package 9 is left in the winding unit 4.

[0055] As described above, the automatic winder 1 of this embodiment comprises a plurality of winding units 4, a hoisting device 21, and a unit controller 90. The plurality of winding units 4 are arranged in a row and unwind yarn from one or more yarn supply packages 7, and wind up the unwinded yarn to form one winding package 9. The hoisting device 21 removes the winding package 9 formed by the winding units 4. The unit controller 90 controls the hoisting device 21. Each of the plurality of winding units 4 has two package installation sections 41 and an unwinding amount detection sensor 46. Each of the two package installation sections 41 can accommodate one yarn supply package 7. The unwinding amount detection sensor 46 detects the presence or absence of a yarn supply package 7 in one of the package installation sections 41. The two package installation sections 41 can be positioned at an unwinding position P1 for unwinding yarn from the yarn supply package 7. When the unwinding of a predetermined number of threads from the yarn supply package 7 is completed, the unit controller 90 changes the operation of the hoisting device 21 for the winding unit 4 equipped with the unwinding amount detection sensor 46, based on the detection result of the unwinding amount detection sensor 46.

[0056] This allows the operation of the hoisting device 21 for the winding unit 4 to be changed depending on whether or not there is a yarn supply package 7 in the package installation section 41 of the winding unit 4. By appropriately changing the operation in this way, it is possible to avoid situations where the winding package 9 is left in the winding unit 4.

[0057] Furthermore, in the automatic winder 1 of this embodiment, when the unwinding of a predetermined number of threads from the thread supply package 7 is completed, the unit controller 90 detects that there is a thread supply package 7 in one of the package installation sections 41 at the unwinding position P1, instructing the hoisting device 21 to perform a normal hoisting operation, which involves removing the winding package 9 from the winding unit 4 and preparing the winding unit 4 to form the next winding package 9. When the unwinding of a predetermined number of threads from the thread supply package 7 is completed, the unit controller 90 detects that there is no thread supply package 7 in one of the package installation sections 41 at the unwinding position P1, instructing the hoisting device 21 to perform a discharge operation, which involves removing the winding package 9 from the winding unit 4, but without preparing the winding unit 4 to form the next winding package 9.

[0058] As a result, when there is a yarn supply package 7 in the package installation section 41, performing a normal winding operation prevents the winding package 9 from being left in the winding unit 4 and allows preparation for forming the next winding package 9. On the other hand, when there is no yarn supply package 7 in the package installation section 41, performing a discharge operation prevents the winding package 9 from being left in the winding unit 4, even if preparation for forming the next winding package 9 is not performed.

[0059] Furthermore, in the automatic winder 1 of this embodiment, the unwinding amount detection sensor 46 is positioned to detect the yarn supply package 7 installed in the package installation section 41 at the unwinding position P1.

[0060] This allows the unwinding amount detection sensor 46 to simultaneously confirm both the presence or absence of the yarn supply package 7 to be used for the next winding, and that the yarn supply package 7 is set at the unwinding position P1.

[0061] Furthermore, in the automatic winder 1 of this embodiment, a yarn unwinding amount detection sensor 46 that detects the amount of yarn unwinded from the yarn supply package 7 constitutes the detection unit of the present invention.

[0062] This allows the conventionally installed unwinding amount detection sensor 46 to be used to detect the presence or absence of the yarn supply package 7, thereby avoiding increased costs.

[0063] Furthermore, in the automatic winder 1 of this embodiment, at least one of the multiple winding units 4 includes a plurality of package mounting sections 41. Each of the plurality of package mounting sections 41 is alternately movable between an unwinding position P1 and a retracted position P2 that is moved away from the unwinding position P1.

[0064] This allows the operator to install the next yarn supply package 7 at the package installation section 41 in the retracted position P2 while the yarn is being unwound from the yarn supply package 7 at the unwound position P1. As a result, the work efficiency of the winding unit 4 (i.e., the amount of work per unit time) can be improved.

[0065] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the above configuration can be modified as follows, for example. Modifications may be made individually, or multiple modifications may be made in any combination.

[0066] The lifting device 21 may be controlled by a machine base control unit instead of, or in addition to, the unit controller 90. In this case, the machine base control unit is an example of a control unit.

[0067] In addition to the release amount detection sensor 46, other sensors constituting the detection unit of the present invention may be provided. Furthermore, the release amount detection sensor 46 and its arrangement are not limited to the vicinity of the release position P1. For example, the release amount detection sensor 46 can also be arranged near the retraction position P2.

[0068] The number of package mounting sections 41 is not limited to two; it may be one or three or more. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1 Automatic Winder 4. Winding Unit 7 Yarn supply package 9 roll-up packages 21 Doffing device 41 Package installation section 46. ​​Release amount detection sensor (detection unit) 90 Unit Controller (Control Unit) P1 Unwinding position P2 Evacuation position

Claims

1. Multiple winding units are arranged in a row, unwinding yarn from one or more yarn supply packages and winding the unwound yarn to form a single winding package. A lifting device for removing the winding package formed by the winding unit, A control unit that controls the aforementioned lifting device, Equipped with, Each of the aforementioned winding units is A package installation section capable of installing one of the aforementioned yarn supply packages, A detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of the yarn supply package in at least one of the package installation sections, It has, The at least one package installation section can be positioned at a release position for releasing yarn from the yarn supply package. The control unit is characterized in that, when the unwinding of a predetermined number of threads from the yarn supply package is completed, the control unit changes the operation of the winding device for the winding unit equipped with the detection unit based on the detection result of the detection unit.

2. An automatic winder according to claim 1, The control unit, when the unwinding of a predetermined number of threads from the yarn supply package is completed, If the detection result indicates that the yarn supply package is present in at least one of the package installation sections, the hoisting device is instructed to perform a normal hoisting operation, which involves removing the winding package from the winding unit and preparing the winding unit to form the next winding package. An automatic winder characterized in that, if the detection result indicates that there is no yarn supply package in at least one package installation section, the winding device is instructed to perform a discharge operation, which involves removing the winding package from the winding unit while not preparing the winding unit to form the next winding package.

3. An automatic winder according to claim 1 or 2, The automatic winder is characterized in that the detection unit is provided in a position capable of detecting the yarn supply package installed in the package installation unit at the unwinding position.

4. The automatic winder according to claim 3, The automatic winder is characterized in that the detection unit is a yarn unwinding amount detection sensor that detects the amount of yarn unwinded from the yarn supply package.

5. An automatic winder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, In at least one of the plurality of winding units, the at least one package mounting section includes a plurality of package mounting sections. An automatic winder characterized in that each of the plurality of package mounting sections is capable of moving alternately between the unwinding position and a retracted position that is moved away from the unwinding position.

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