Paper tube separating device and yarn winding equipment provided with same

Abstract

The present invention reliably separates a paper tube.　The present invention comprises: an outer paper tube action part 8 that is in contact with an outer paper tube t1 positioned on the rear side; an inner paper tube action part 5 that is in contact with an inner paper tube t2 positioned on the front side; a movement mechanism that moves the inner paper tube action part 5 relative to the outer paper tube action part 8 in the front / rear direction; and an enlargement mechanism that enlarges the inner paper tube action part 5. The paper tube separation device 1 moves the inner paper tube action part 5 forward by means of the movement mechanism in a state where the inner paper tube action part 5 is enlarged by the enlargement mechanism in an action space S that is on the inner side of the outer paper tube t1 and on the rear side of the inner paper tube t2, thereby applying a force toward the rear side to the end surface on the large diameter end side of the outer paper tube t1 by means of the outer paper tube action part 8 and applying a force toward the front side to the inner paper tube t2 by means of the inner paper tube action part 5 to separate the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2.

Description

Paper tube separation device and yarn winding equipment equipped with the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper tube separating device that separates overlapping tapered paper tubes, and a yarn winding facility including the same.

[0002] For example, in a spinning machine that winds spun yarn onto a paper tube to form a package, when the package is full, the full package is removed and an empty paper tube is set. Therefore, in order to supply paper tubes to the spinning machine one after another, it is necessary to prepare a large number of paper tubes. If these many paper tubes have a tapered shape, they are transported and stored in a compact state by stacking them on top of each other.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a paper tube pulling-out device (paper tube separating device) that pulls out the innermost paper tube from a large number of stacked paper tubes as described above. This device is equipped with two paper tube gripping devices that contact the outer peripheral surface of the paper tube to grip the paper tube. The two paper tube gripping devices are capable of gripping the lowest paper tube, which is the innermost paper tube, and an upper paper tube, which is the paper tube adjacent to the lowest paper tube. The paper tube gripping device that grips the lowest paper tube is rotated in the circumferential direction of the paper tube while moving the gripped lowest paper tube in a direction to pull it out from the upper paper tube, thereby separating the lowest paper tube from the upper paper tube.

[0004] Special Publication No. 60-42149

[0005] In the above-mentioned device, the upper paper tube located outside the lowest paper tube is clamped from the outer periphery by the paper tube gripping device. Therefore, the paper tube gripping device applies a force pressing the lowermost paper tube against the upper paper tube, and this force hinders the separation of the paper tubes. As a result, the paper tubes may not be separated properly.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a paper tube separating device that can reliably separate a paper tube, and a yarn winding facility equipped with the same.

[0007] The paper tube separation device according to the first invention is a paper tube separation device for separating two adjacent paper tubes in a paper tube group in which a plurality of paper tubes formed in a hollow tapered shape so that one end on one side in one direction is a small diameter end and the other end is a large diameter end, and the paper tube separation device comprises an outer paper tube action part that contacts an outer paper tube located on one side of the two paper tubes, an inner paper tube action part that contacts an inner paper tube located on the other side of the two paper tubes, a movement mechanism that moves at least one of the outer paper tube action part and the inner paper tube action part relative to the other in the one direction, and a movement mechanism that moves the outer paper tube action part and the inner paper tube action part relative to the other in the one direction. and an expansion mechanism that expands a target action portion which is at least one of the paper tube action portions, and in a state where the target action portion is expanded by the expansion mechanism in an action space inside the outer paper tube and on the one side of the inner paper tube, the outer paper tube action portion and the inner paper tube action portion are moved relatively by the movement mechanism, so that the outer paper tube action portion applies a force on one side to the end face on the large diameter end side or the inner surface of the end face on the small diameter end side of the outer paper tube, and the inner paper tube action portion applies a force on the other side to the inner paper tube, thereby separating the two paper tubes.

[0008] In the present invention, when separating the outer paper tube and the inner paper tube, the outer paper tube action portion applies a force to one side to the end face on the large diameter end side or the inner surface of the end on the small diameter end side of the outer paper tube. Therefore, the outer paper tube action portion prevents the inner paper tube from pressing the outer paper tube against the outer paper tube, and the paper tubes can be separated reliably.

[0009] In the paper tube separation device according to the second invention, in the first invention, the moving mechanism has a lever that can swing around a first axis extending along a direction perpendicular to the one direction, and a first swinging member that swings in conjunction with the swinging action of the lever, and using the principle of a lever with the lever as the force point and the first axis as the fulcrum, the first swinging member becomes the point of action and applies force to either the outer paper tube action part or the inner paper tube action part to move it.

[0010] In the present invention, by using the principle of leverage, a large force can be applied to either the outer paper tube action portion or the inner paper tube action portion with a relatively small force, thereby separating the paper tubes.

[0011] In the paper tube separation device according to the third invention, in the first or second invention, the target action part is a second oscillating member configured to be oscillable around a second axis extending along the one direction, and the expanding mechanism has a rotating member configured to be rotatable around a third axis extending along the one direction, and a first cam mechanism that oscillates the second oscillating member around the second axis in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member to move the second oscillating member between a first position and a second position where the distance between the part farthest from the third axis and the third axis is longer than the first position.

[0012] In the present invention, the second swinging member is swung by rotating the rotating member, and at least one of the outer cardboard tube action portion and the inner cardboard tube action portion can be expanded.

[0013] In the paper tube separation device according to the fourth invention, in the third invention, the second oscillating member is attached to the rotating member, and the moving mechanism is provided with a second cam mechanism that moves the rotating member along the one direction and rotates the rotating member in conjunction with the movement of the rotating member in the one direction.

[0014] In the present invention, the rotating member rotates when the moving mechanism moves the rotating member in one direction, so that the second swinging member attached to the rotating member can be moved in one direction and the target action portion, which is the second swinging member, can be enlarged with one operation.

[0015] In the paper tube separation device according to a fifth invention, in the first or second invention, the target action part is a rod-shaped member configured to be swingable around a fourth axis extending along a direction perpendicular to the one direction, and is a third swinging member that moves between a first position and a second position at which an angle formed by an imaginary plane perpendicular to the one direction is smaller than the first position by swinging around the fourth axis, the expanding mechanism includes a biasing member that biases the third swinging member toward the first position, a support member that is configured to be movable along the one direction and supports the third swinging member, and a slide member that is configured to be movable along the one direction and that moves along the one direction to push the third swinging member and move it from the first position to the second position, the moving mechanism moves the slide member along the one direction, and the slide member is moved along the one direction by the moving mechanism to move the third swinging member from the first position to the second position, and then pushes the support member to move the third swinging member together with the support member along the one direction.

[0016] In the present invention, by simply moving the slide member in one direction using the moving mechanism, the target action portion, which is at least one of the outer paper tube action portion and the inner paper tube action portion, can be enlarged and the target action portion can be moved in one direction.

[0017] In the paper tube separation device according to the sixth invention, in any one of the first to fifth inventions, the outer paper tube action portion contacts the end face of the outer paper tube on the large diameter end side, and the expansion mechanism expands the inner paper tube action portion.

[0018] Only the portion of the inner paper tube that protrudes from the large-diameter end of the outer paper tube is exposed. Therefore, when considering where on the inner paper tube the inner paper tube action portion should contact, it is conceivable to have it contact the outer peripheral surface of the portion that protrudes from the outer paper tube. However, if the outer paper tube action portion is positioned to contact the large-diameter end surface of the outer paper tube, it would interfere with the outer paper tube action portion, making it difficult to position the inner paper tube action portion in a position to contact the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube. In the present invention, the inner paper tube action portion can be expanded using an expansion mechanism, and by expanding the inner paper tube action portion in a space inside the outer paper tube and on one side of the inner paper tube, the inner paper tube action portion can be brought into contact with the small-diameter end surface of the inner paper tube. This allows the inner paper tube action portion to apply a force on the other side to the inner paper tube.

[0019] The paper tube separation device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the paper tube separation device of the sixth aspect, further comprising a drive source that drives at least one of the movement mechanism and the expansion mechanism.

[0020] In the present invention, the amount of work required by the worker can be reduced, and the work of separating the cardboard tubes can be made easier.

[0021] The paper tube separation device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the paper tube separation device according to the seventh aspect, wherein the drive source is a cylinder that drives at least the movement mechanism.

[0022] In the present invention, by driving the movement mechanism with the cylinder, it becomes relatively easy to adjust the relative movement speed of the outer paper tube action portion and the inner paper tube action portion and the magnitude of the force applied to the inner paper tube and the outer paper tube.

[0023] The paper tube separation device of the ninth invention is the seventh or eighth invention, and is provided with a control unit that performs a separation operation to separate the two paper tubes by moving the outer paper tube action portion and the inner paper tube action portion relatively using the moving mechanism while the inner paper tube action portion is expanded in the action space using the expansion mechanism.

[0024] In the present invention, the control unit executes the separation operation, making it possible to separate the two cardboard tubes without the need for human labor.

[0025] A paper tube separation device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the paper tube separation device of the ninth aspect, wherein the outer paper tube is the paper tube located furthest to the one side in the paper tube group.

[0026] In the present invention, the component in which the target action part is located in the action space inside the outer paper tube and on one side of the inner paper tube can be made smaller than when the outer paper tube is not the paper tube located furthest to one side in the paper tube group.

[0027] The paper tube separation device according to an eleventh invention is the same as in the tenth invention, and includes a paper tube support part that comes into contact with the outer paper tube and can support the paper tube group in a position where the small diameter end of each paper tube is positioned lower than the large diameter end.

[0028] In the present invention, by utilizing gravity, the paper tubes of the paper tube group supported by the paper tube support portion can be reliably separated.

[0029] The paper tube separation device according to the twelfth invention is the paper tube separation device of the eleventh invention, wherein the paper tube support part has a first contact part that can come into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the paper tube, and a first attachment part to which the first contact part is attached, and the first contact part is attached replaceably to the first attachment part.

[0030] In the present invention, the first contact portion can be replaced in accordance with the size of the cardboard tube, etc. Therefore, a cardboard tube group of various types of cardboard tubes can be supported by the cardboard tube support portion.

[0031] In the paper tube separation device of the thirteenth invention, in the eleventh or twelfth invention, the control unit, in the separation operation, causes the movement mechanism to move the inner paper tube action part from a lower position below the outer paper tube in contact with the paper tube support part to an elevated position above the lower position, and by the separation operation, the paper tube group is pushed up by the inner paper tube action part that is in contact with the inner paper tube within the action space, and the outer paper tube is pressed against the outer paper tube action part.

[0032] In the present invention, the paper tube can be separated by moving the inner paper tube action part from the lower position to the raised position using the movement mechanism.

[0033] The paper tube separation device of the fourteenth invention is the thirteenth invention, and is provided with a first detection unit that can detect that the inner paper tube action unit is in an expanded position that is above the lower end position of the outer paper tube and below the lower end position of the inner paper tube when the paper tube support unit supports the paper tube group, and the control unit expands the inner paper tube action unit by the expansion mechanism when the first detection unit detects that the inner paper tube action unit is in the expanded position during the separation operation.

[0034] In the present invention, the inner paper tube action portion can be reliably expanded within the action space.

[0035] The paper tube separation device according to a fifteenth invention is the paper tube separation device according to the thirteenth or fourteenth invention, wherein at least one of the paper tube supporting portion and the outer paper tube acting portion is configured to be movable along the one direction.

[0036] In the present invention, the length between the paper tube supporting portion and the outer paper tube acting portion can be changed in accordance with the size of the paper tube.

[0037] The paper tube separation device according to the sixteenth invention is any of the thirteenth to fifteenth inventions, wherein the paper tube support part is configured to be movable between a contact position where it comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the paper tube and can support the paper tube from below, and a retracted position where it does not support the paper tube.

[0038] In the present invention, after the outer cardboard tube and the inner cardboard tube are separated, the cardboard tube supporting portion is moved from the contact position to the retracted position, whereby the outer cardboard tube can be discharged downward.

[0039] In the paper tube separation device according to the seventeenth invention, in the sixteenth invention, the outer paper tube action part is configured to be movable between a contact position where it comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the paper tube and can support the paper tube from below, and a retracted position where it does not support the paper tube.

[0040] In the present invention, when the outer paper tube is discharged with the paper tube support part at the retracted position, the inner paper tube can be supported by the outer paper tube action part located at the contact position. Also, after the paper tube support part is returned from the retracted position to the contact position, the outer paper tube action part is moved from the contact position to the retracted position, so that the inner paper tube that was being supported can be supported by the paper tube support part as the next outer paper tube.

[0041] The paper tube separation device according to the eighteenth invention is the paper tube separation device according to the seventeenth invention, wherein the outer paper tube action portion has a second contact portion that can come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the paper tube and a second attachment portion to which the second contact portion is attached, and the second contact portion is attached replaceably to the second attachment portion.

[0042] In the present invention, the second contact portion can be replaced according to the size of the cardboard tube, etc. Therefore, various types of cardboard tubes can be supported by the outer cardboard tube acting portion.

[0043] In the paper tube separation device according to the 19th invention, in the 17th or 18th invention, the contact portion of the outer paper tube action portion with the outer peripheral surface of the paper tube is formed in a tapered shape that widens from the one side to the other side in the one direction.

[0044] In the present invention, the paper tube that comes into contact with the outer paper tube action portion on the outer peripheral surface is likely to move to the other side, which is the direction in which the taper widens. Therefore, when the inner paper tube action portion pushes up the paper tube group and presses the outer paper tube against the outer paper tube action portion during the separation operation, the inner paper tube that comes into contact with the outer paper tube action portion on the outer peripheral surface is likely to move to the other side, which is the direction in which it comes out of the outer paper tube. Therefore, the outer paper tube and the inner paper tube can be separated more reliably.

[0045] In the paper tube separation device according to the twentieth invention, in any of the seventeenth to nineteenth inventions, the outer paper tube action portion is arranged at a height facing a first portion on the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube of the paper tube group supported by the paper tube support portion, and when the outer paper tube action portion is in the contact position, the outer paper tube action portion can come into contact with a second portion lower than the first portion on the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube.

[0046] In this invention, when the inner paper tube action portion moves from the lower position to the raised position during the separation operation, the outer paper tube action portion comes into contact with a second portion of the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube that is lower than the first portion that it faced before the separation operation, making it possible to support the inner paper tube. The second portion of the paper tube has a smaller diameter than the first portion. In other words, the outer paper tube action portion can support the inner paper tube at a higher position than before the separation operation. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inner paper tube separated from the outer paper tube by the separation operation from getting stuck in the outer paper tube after the separation operation.

[0047] In the paper tube separation device according to the 21st invention, in any of the 17th to 20th inventions, the control unit performs the separating operation with the paper tube group supported by the paper tube support unit, and then performs a retracting operation in which the movement mechanism moves the inner paper tube action unit to the lower position with the outer paper tube action unit at the contact position, and after performing the retracting operation, performs a discharging operation in which the paper tube support unit is moved from the contact position to the retracted position to discharge the outer paper tube and then returns the paper tube support unit to the contact position, and after performing the discharging operation, performs a preparatory operation in which the paper tube group is supported by the paper tube support unit by moving the outer paper tube action unit from the contact position to the retracted position.

[0048] In the present invention, the paper tube group pushed up by the inner paper tube acting portion by the separation operation is supported by the outer paper tube acting portion which is in the contact position by the inner paper tube acting portion moving to the lower position by the retraction operation. After that, the separated outer paper tube is discharged by the discharge operation, and then the paper tube group supported by the outer paper tube acting portion can be supported by the paper tube support portion by the preparation operation. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform the next separation operation.

[0049] The paper tube separating device according to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention is the twenty-first aspect, further comprising a paper tube group supply mechanism that supplies the paper tube group to the paper tube supporting portion.

[0050] In the present invention, even if there are no more paper tube groups to be supported by the paper tube supporting section, the paper tube group supply mechanism can supply paper tube groups to the paper tube supporting section, thereby allowing the paper tube separation work to be continued.

[0051] The paper tube separation device of the 23rd invention is the 22nd invention, and is provided with a second detection unit that can detect the presence or absence of the paper tube at a detection position between the upper end position and the lower end position of the paper tube that contacts the outer paper tube action unit when the outer paper tube action unit is at the contact position, and the paper tube group supply mechanism supplies the paper tube group toward the outer paper tube action unit from above the outer paper tube action unit, and when the second detection unit detects that the paper tube is not present after performing the discharge operation, the control unit performs a paper tube group supply operation that causes the paper tube group supply mechanism to supply the paper tube group before performing the preparatory operation.

[0052] In the present invention, when the second detection unit detects that there are no paper tubes, it can be determined that the paper tube group has run out. In such a case, before performing the preparatory operation, the paper tube group can be supported by the outer paper tube operating unit by supplying the paper tube group from above the outer paper tube operating unit toward the outer paper tube operating unit using the paper tube supply mechanism. Then, by performing the preparatory operation, the paper tube group can be supported by the paper tube support unit.

[0053] The paper tube separation device according to the 24th invention is any of the 21st to 23rd inventions, and is provided with a third detection unit that can detect the presence or absence of a paper tube at a detection position that is below the lower end position of the paper tube that contacts the outer paper tube acting portion when the outer paper tube acting portion is at the contact position, and above the lower end position of the outer paper tube that contacts the paper tube support portion.

[0054] In the present invention, based on the detection result of the third detection unit, it can be determined whether or not the paper tube group supported by the outer paper tube action unit has descended to the paper tube support unit and been supported by the paper tube support unit after the preparatory operation has been performed.

[0055] The paper tube separation device according to the 25th invention is, in any of the 16th to 24th inventions, provided with a paper tube discharge section that is arranged in a position aligned horizontally with the inner paper tube action section and from which the outer paper tube separated by the separation operation is discharged, and the inner paper tube action section and the paper tube discharge section can be in a state where the inner paper tube action section is located directly below the paper tube support section, and a state where the paper tube discharge section is located directly below the paper tube support section.

[0056] In the present invention, the separation operation can be performed by positioning the inner paper tube action section directly below the paper tube support section, and the discharged outer paper tube can be sent to the discharge section by positioning the paper tube discharge section directly below the paper tube support section.

[0057] In the paper tube separation device according to the 26th invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, the inner paper tube action portion contacts the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube, and the expansion mechanism expands the outer paper tube action portion.

[0058] When the inner paper tube action portion is positioned in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube, it is difficult to position the outer paper tube action portion in contact with the large diameter end face of the outer paper tube. In other words, the only exposed portion of the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube is the portion that protrudes from the large diameter end face of the outer paper tube. Therefore, if an attempt is made to position the outer paper tube action portion in contact with the large diameter end face of the outer paper tube, it will interfere with the inner paper tube action portion. In this invention, the outer paper tube action portion can be expanded by an expansion mechanism, and by expanding the outer paper tube action portion in the space inside the outer paper tube and on one side of the inner paper tube, the outer paper tube action portion can be brought into contact with the inner surface of the small diameter end face of the outer paper tube. This allows the outer paper tube action portion to apply a force on one side to the outer paper tube.

[0059] In the paper tube separation device according to a 27th invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, the expansion mechanism expands both the outer paper tube action portion and the inner paper tube action portion.

[0060] In the present invention, by expanding the outer paper tube acting portion and the inner paper tube acting portion in the space inside the outer paper tube and on one side of the inner paper tube, the outer paper tube acting portion can be brought into contact with the inner surface of the end portion on the small diameter side of the outer paper tube, and the inner paper tube acting portion can be brought into contact with the end surface on the small diameter side of the inner paper tube. This allows the outer paper tube acting portion to apply a force on one side to the outer paper tube, and the inner paper tube acting portion to apply a force on the other side to the inner paper tube.

[0061] The paper tube separation device of the 28th invention is any of the 16th to 24th inventions, and comprises a main body portion to which the target action portion is attached, and a third mounting portion to which the main body portion is attached, and the main body portion is attached replaceably to the third mounting portion.

[0062] In the present invention, the target action part that is enlarged by the enlarging mechanism can be replaced according to the size of the cardboard tube.

[0063] The yarn winding equipment of the 29th invention is a yarn winding equipment comprising a plurality of winding units, each having a yarn supplying section that supplies yarn, and a winding section that winds the yarn supplied from the yarn supplying section onto the paper tube to form a package, and comprising: a paper tube transport mechanism that transports the paper tube to each of the winding units; and a paper tube supplying device that supplies the paper tube to the paper tube transport mechanism, wherein the paper tube supplying device has a paper tube separation device of any of the first to twenty-eighth inventions, and supplies the paper tube separated by the paper tube separation device to the paper tube transport mechanism.

[0064] In the present invention, the paper tube separated by the paper tube separating device can be transported to each winding unit by the paper tube transport device.

[0065] In a yarn winding facility according to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-ninth aspect, the paper tube transport mechanism is a conveyor device capable of transporting the paper tube in a direction along the arrangement direction of the plurality of winding units.

[0066] In the present invention, a paper tube can be transported to a plurality of winding units using a simple device.

[0067] In the yarn winding equipment of the 31st invention, in the 29th invention, the paper tube transport mechanism is configured to be able to move between the plurality of winding units by running along the arrangement direction of the plurality of winding units, and is a doffing device that removes the package at the winding unit to which it is moved and supplies a new paper tube.

[0068] In the present invention, the paper tube can be transported to a plurality of winding units by the doffing device that performs the doffing work.

[0069] 1 is a perspective view of a paper tube separation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining a paper tube separated by the paper tube separation device; FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining a movement mechanism, where (a) shows a state in which the lever is in a first position, and (b) shows a state in which the lever is in a second position; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a plane perpendicular to the up-and-down direction of a slider; FIG. 5 is a diagram seeing the slider from the front, where (a) shows a state in which the swinging member is in the first position, and (b) shows a state in which the swinging member is in the second position; FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining a procedure for separating paper tubes, where (a) shows a state in which a paper tube group is set, (b) shows a state in which the inner paper tube acting part is enlarged, and (c) shows a state in which the inner paper tube acting part has been moved forward; (a) and (b) are diagrams showing a first modified example of the first embodiment; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an inner paper tube acting part of a paper tube separation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state before enlargement; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an inner paper tube acting part of a paper tube separation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which it is enlarged; FIG. 9 is a front view of an automatic winder to which the present invention is applied; 11 is a front view of a paper tube separation device included in the paper tube supplying device shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a top view of a paper tube group supplying unit. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the paper tube separation unit. (a) shows the holder in the contact position, and (b) shows the holder in the retracted position. (a) and (b) show the stopper in an incompletely closed state, and (c) and (d) show the stopper in a completely closed state. FIG. 14 is a front view of a paper tube feeding device included in the paper tube supplying device shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure performed by the paper tube supply control unit when separating a paper tube in the paper tube separating device. (a) to (d) are views showing the operation of the paper tube separation unit. (a) to (d) are views showing the operation of the paper tube separation unit. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing modified examples of the first embodiment, where (a) is a second modified example, (b) is a third modified example, and (c) is a fourth modified example. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an outer paper tube operating unit according to the third modified example of the first embodiment, where (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view before enlargement, and (c) is a front view in an enlarged state.

[0070] <First embodiment> Hereinafter, a paper tube separation device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. For convenience of description below, the directions shown in Fig. 1 are referred to as front-rear, left-right, up-down directions. The up-down direction is the vertical direction in which gravity acts. The front-rear direction is a predetermined direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The left-right direction is a direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction.

[0071] The paper tube separating device 1 is a device that separates two adjacent paper tubes t from a paper tube group T in which a plurality of paper tubes t are stacked as shown in Fig. 2. The paper tube t is formed in a hollow tapered shape so that the end on one side in the longitudinal direction (the left side in Fig. 2) is a small diameter end and the end on the other side (the right side in Fig. 2) is a large diameter end. An overhanging portion ta that overhangs inward is formed at the end on the small diameter side of the paper tube t. By forming the overhanging portion ta, the end on the small diameter side of the paper tube t is thicker than other parts.

[0072] The overlapping direction of the multiple cardboard tubes t in the cardboard tube group T coincides with the longitudinal direction of each cardboard tube t. In this embodiment, the cardboard tube t located on the most one side (the left side in FIG. 2 ) in the overlapping direction in the cardboard tube group T is separated from the cardboard tube t adjacent to the cardboard tube t located on the most one side. In the following description, the cardboard tube t located on the most one side is referred to as the outer cardboard tube t1, and the cardboard tube t adjacent to the outer cardboard tube t1 is referred to as the inner cardboard tube t2.

[0073] As shown in Fig. 1, the paper tube separation device 1 mainly comprises a base 2, a main unit 3, and a paper tube support part 4. The base 2 is plate-shaped and extends along the front-rear direction. The main unit 3 and the paper tube support part 4 are provided on the base 2. The main unit 3 includes an inner paper tube action part 5 that comes into contact with the inner paper tube t2, a movement mechanism 6 that moves the inner paper tube action part 5 relatively to the outer paper tube action part 8 in the front-rear direction, and an expansion mechanism 7 that expands the inner paper tube action part 5. The paper tube support part 4 includes an outer paper tube action part 8 that comes into contact with the end face on the large diameter side of the outer paper tube t1.

[0074] The main unit 3 mainly has a support 31, a lever 61, and a slider 9. The support 31 is arranged on the base 2. The support 31 supports both ends of a shaft 32 (first shaft of the present invention) extending in the left-right direction. The support 31 rotatably supports the shaft 32. The support 31 supports both ends of a rod-shaped member 33 extending in the left-right direction. The support 31 supports the rod-shaped member 33 in a slidable manner in the front-rear direction. The rod-shaped member 33 is located below the shaft 32.

[0075] The lever 61 is a rod-shaped member, one end of which is fixed to the shaft 32. The lever 61 can swing around the shaft 32 in an imaginary plane perpendicular to the left-right direction. The lever 61 can swing between a first position (see FIG. 3( a)) and a second position (see FIG. 3( b)), which will be described later.

[0076] The slide body 9 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The slide body 9 is fixed to the rod-shaped member 33 in a position extending along the front-rear direction. The slide body 9 is fixed to the rod-shaped member 33 at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction. As the rod-shaped member 33 slides back and forth, the slide body 9 also slides back and forth together with the rod-shaped member 33. The front end of the slide body 9 forms the inner cardboard tube action portion 5.

[0077] A swinging member 62 (first swinging member of the present invention) is provided at both ends of the shaft 32. The swinging member 62 is fixed to the shaft 32. Therefore, the swinging member 62 swings in conjunction with the swinging action of the lever 61. An opening 62a that penetrates in the left-right direction is formed in the swinging member 62. Both ends of the rod-shaped member 33 are fitted into the openings 62a of the swinging member 62 provided at both ends of the shaft 32, respectively.

[0078] The movement mechanism 6, which moves the inner paper tube action part 5 relatively to the outer paper tube action part 8 in the front-to-rear direction, has the above-mentioned lever 61 and swinging member 62. That is, by the principle of leverage with the lever 61 as the force point and the shaft 32 as the fulcrum, the swinging member 62 becomes the point of action and can apply a force along the front-to-rear direction to the rod-shaped member 33. This makes it possible to move the slider 9, on which the inner paper tube action part 5 is provided, along the front-to-rear direction together with the rod-shaped member 33. This will be explained in more detail below.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 3( a), the lever 61 in the first position extends obliquely upward and rearward from the shaft 32. At this time, the portion of the swinging member 62 in which the opening 62 a is formed is positioned rearward relative to the portion fixed to the shaft 32. When the lever 61 in the first position shown in FIG. 3( a) is pushed down and swung in the direction of arrow A (counterclockwise in FIG. 3( a)), the lever 61 moves to the second position shown in FIG. 3( b). At this time, the swinging member 62 also swings in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 3( a). As a result, the swinging member 62 moves to a position in which the portion in which the opening 62 a is formed is positioned forward relative to the portion fixed to the shaft 32, as shown in FIG. 3( b).

[0080] Therefore, when the operator pushes down the lever 61 and the lever 61 moves from the first position to the second position, the rod-shaped member 33 fitted into the opening 62a of the swinging member 62 is pushed forward by the swinging member 62 and slides forward. Conversely, when the operator pushes up the lever 61 and the lever 61 moves from the second position to the first position, the rod-shaped member 33 is pushed backward by the swinging member 62 and slides backward. Therefore, the slider 9 on which the inner cardboard tube acting portion 5 is provided can be moved in the front-to-rear direction together with the rod-shaped member 33.

[0081] As shown in Fig. 4, the slider 9 has a main body member 91, a rotating member 92, and a plurality of swinging members 93 (second swinging members of the present invention). In this embodiment, there are three swinging members 93. The three swinging members 93 function as the inner paper tube action part 5. The number of swinging members 93 is not limited to this. There may be one swinging member 93, but if there are multiple swinging members 93, they function more stably as the inner paper tube action part 5. The expansion mechanism 7 that expands the inner paper tube action part 5 has a rotating member 92 and a cam mechanism 94, which will be described later.

[0082] The main body member 91 is a substantially cylindrical member extending in the front-rear direction. The rotating member 92 has a shaft 92a (a third shaft of the present invention) extending in the front-rear direction. The shaft 92a of the rotating member 92 is rotatably fitted into the main body member 91. A knob portion 92b is provided on the rear end of the shaft 92a of the rotating member 92. An operator can rotate the rotating member 92 by pinching the knob portion 92b and rotating it.

[0083] A flange 91a is formed at the front end of the main body member 91. A protruding portion 92c is formed at the front end of the shaft 92a of the rotating member 92, protruding in the front-rear direction so as to face the flange 91a of the main body member 91. The swinging member 93 is disposed between the flange 91a of the main body member 91 and the protruding portion 92c of the rotating member 92.

[0084] A shaft 91a1 (second shaft of the present invention) extending along the front-rear direction is formed on the flange 91a of the main body member 91. The shaft 91a1 is formed to protrude forward from the flange 91a. The number of shafts 91a1 corresponds to the number of swing members 93. In this embodiment, three shafts 91a1 are formed. As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), the three shafts 91a1 are arranged at equal intervals around the shaft 92a. Each swing member 93 is fitted to the corresponding shaft 91a1 so as to be swingable. Each swing member 93 is swingable around the corresponding shaft 91a1.

[0085] Returning to FIG. 4 , a cam groove 92c1 is formed in the protruding portion 92c of the rotating member 92. The number of cam grooves 92c1 corresponds to the number of swingable members 93. In this embodiment, three cam grooves 92c1 are formed. Each swingable member 93 is formed with a cam pin 93a that fits into the corresponding cam groove 92c1. The protruding portion 92c with the cam groove 92c1 formed therein and the cam pin 93a formed on the swingable member 93 constitute a cam mechanism 94 (first cam mechanism of the present invention). The cam mechanism 94 moves the swingable member 93 between a first position (see FIG. 5(a)) and a second position (see FIG. 5(b)) described below in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member 92. This will be explained in more detail below.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 5A , when each swinging member 93 is in the first position, its entirety faces the protruding portion 92c of the rotating member 92 when viewed from the front. When the knob portion 92b of the rotating member 92 is rotated to rotate the rotating member 92 from the position shown in FIG. 5A in the direction of arrow B (counterclockwise in FIG. 5A ), the cam pin 93a moves within the cam groove 92c1 formed in the protruding portion 92c. At this time, the cam pin 93a moves in a direction away from the shaft 92a of the rotating member 92. As a result, the swinging member 93 swings around the shaft 91a1 in the direction of arrow C (clockwise in FIG. 5A ) to the second position shown in FIG. 5B . When viewed from the front, each swinging member 93 in the second position faces a portion of the protruding portion 92c of the rotating member 92.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 5A, when the swinging member 93 is in the first position, the distance between the farthest portion of the swinging member 93 from the shaft 92a of the rotating member 92 and the center of the shaft 92a is defined as distance D1. Note that distance D1 is approximately the same as the radius of the protruding portion 92c of the rotating member 92. As shown in FIG. 5B, when the swinging member 93 is in the second position, the distance between the farthest portion of the swinging member 93 from the shaft 92a of the rotating member 92 and the center of the shaft 92a is defined as distance D2. In this case, distance D2 is longer than distance D1. In other words, when the three swinging members 93 move from the first position to the second position, they expand around the shaft 92a.

[0088] When each of the three swinging members 93 is in the first position, it is sized so that it can pass through the opening t0 (see FIG. 2) on the small diameter end side of the cardboard tube t. That is, the distance D1 is smaller than the radius r1 (see FIG. 2) of the opening t0 on the small diameter side of the cardboard tube t. When each of the three swinging members 93 is in the second position, it is sized so that it cannot pass through the opening t0 on the small diameter end side of the cardboard tube t. In this embodiment, the distance D2 is approximately the same as the radius r2 (see FIG. 2) of the end face on the small diameter side of the cardboard tube t.

[0089] Returning to Fig. 1, the cardboard tube support part 4 is provided on the front side of the main unit 3. As shown in Fig. 3(a), the cardboard tube support part 4 is oriented in front of the main unit 3 with the overlapping direction being the front-rear direction, and supports the cardboard tube group T arranged so that the outer cardboard tube t1 is located at the rearmost side. In the cardboard tube group T supported by the cardboard tube support part 4, the center of each cardboard tube t approximately coincides with the center of the axis 92a (see Fig. 4) of the slider 9. When the cardboard tube group T is supported by the cardboard tube support part 4, the inner cardboard tube action part 5 is located in the action space S inside the outer cardboard tube t1 and rearward of the inner cardboard tube t2.

[0090] The cardboard tube support portion 4 has a first support portion 41, a second support portion 42, and a third support portion 43. The first support portion 41, the second support portion 42, and the third support portion 43 are arranged in this order from rear to front. As shown in FIG. 3( a), the first support portion 41 and the second support portion 42 support the outer peripheral surface of the outer cardboard tube t1. The third support portion 43 supports the outer peripheral surface of the inner cardboard tube t2 while contacting the end face on the large diameter side of the outer cardboard tube t1. In other words, the third support portion 43 serves as the outer cardboard tube acting portion 8.

[0091] With reference to Figure 6, the procedure for separating the paper tubes t with the paper tube separation device 1 will be described. First, the paper tube group T is set in the paper tube separation device 1. Specifically, the paper tube group T is supported by the paper tube support part 4. At this time, as shown in Figure 6(a), the inner paper tube action part 5 provided at the front end part of the slide body 9 is located inside the outer paper tube t1 and in the action space S rearward of the inner paper tube t2. In addition, the third support part 43 of the paper tube support part 4, which is the outer paper tube action part 8, comes into contact with the end face of the large diameter side of the outer paper tube t1.

[0092] Next, by rotating the knob portion 92b (see FIG. 4) of the slider 9, the inner paper tube action portion 5 is expanded as shown in FIG. 6(b). After that, by pressing down the lever 61 (see FIG. 1), the inner paper tube action portion 5 is moved forward as shown in FIG. 6(c). At this time, the inner paper tube action portion 5 comes into contact with the small diameter end face of the inner paper tube t2 and pushes the inner paper tube t2 forward. Then, a forward force F2 is applied to the small diameter end face of the inner paper tube t2 by the inner paper tube action portion 5. At this time, a forward force is applied to the entire paper tube group T, and the outer paper tube t1 is pressed against the outer paper tube action portion 8. Therefore, as a reaction, a rearward force F1 is applied to the large diameter end face of the outer paper tube t1 by the outer paper tube action portion 8. As a result, the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2 are separated.

[0093] (Features of the First Embodiment) As described above, the paper tube separation device 1 according to the first embodiment comprises the outer paper tube action portion 8 that comes into contact with the outer paper tube t1 located on the rear side, the inner paper tube action portion 5 that comes into contact with the inner paper tube t2 located on the front side, a movement mechanism 6 that moves the inner paper tube action portion 5 relatively to the outer paper tube action portion 8 in the front-to-rear direction, and an expansion mechanism 7 that expands the inner paper tube action portion 5. The paper tube separation device 1 separates the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2 by moving the inner paper tube action portion 5 forward with the movement mechanism 6 in a state where the inner paper tube action portion 5 is expanded by the expansion mechanism 7 in the action space S inside the outer paper tube t1 and rearward of the inner paper tube t2, causing the outer paper tube action portion 8 to apply a rearward force to the end face on the large diameter end side of the outer paper tube t1, and causing the inner paper tube action portion 5 to apply a forward force to the inner paper tube t2, thereby separating the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2.

[0094] According to this configuration, when separating the outer cardboard tube t1 and the inner cardboard tube t2, the outer cardboard tube action portion 8 applies a rearward force to the end face on the large diameter end side of the outer cardboard tube t1. Therefore, the outer cardboard tube action portion 8 suppresses the generation of a force that presses the inner cardboard tube t2 against the outer cardboard tube t1, and the cardboard tubes t can be reliably separated.

[0095] Furthermore, in the paper tube separation device 1 of this embodiment, the movement mechanism 6 has a lever 61 that can swing around the shaft 32 extending along the left-right direction, and a swinging member 62 that swings in conjunction with the swinging action of the lever 61. Then, according to the principle of leverage with the lever 61 as the force point and the shaft 32 as the fulcrum, the swinging member 62 acts as the point of action and applies force to the slide body 9 on which the inner paper tube action part 5 is provided, thereby moving it. Therefore, according to the principle of leverage, a large force can be applied to the inner paper tube action part 5 with a relatively small force to separate the paper tube t.

[0096] Moreover, in the paper tube separation device 1 of this embodiment, the inner paper tube acting portion 5 is a swinging member 93 configured to be swingable around a shaft 91a1 extending along the front-rear direction. The expanding mechanism 7 has a rotating member 92 configured to be rotatable around a shaft 92a extending along the front-rear direction, and a cam mechanism 94 that swings the swinging member 93 around the shaft 91a1 in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member 92 to move between a first position and a second position where the distance between the part farthest from the shaft 92a and the center of the shaft 92a is longer than the first position. Therefore, the swinging member 93 can be swung by rotating the rotating member 92, and the inner paper tube acting portion 5 can be expanded.

[0097] In addition, in the paper tube separation device 1 of this embodiment, the outer paper tube action portion 8 contacts the end face of the larger diameter side of the outer paper tube t1, and the expansion mechanism 7 expands the inner paper tube action portion 5. Only the portion of the inner paper tube t2 that protrudes from the end face of the larger diameter side of the outer paper tube t1 is exposed. Therefore, when considering where on the inner paper tube t2 the inner paper tube action portion 5 should contact, it is possible to have it contact the outer peripheral surface of the portion that protrudes from the outer paper tube t1. However, if the outer paper tube action portion 8 is positioned in a position that contacts the end face of the larger diameter side of the outer paper tube t1, it would be difficult to position the inner paper tube action portion 5 in a position that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube t2 because it would interfere with the outer paper tube action portion 8. In this configuration, the inner paper tube action portion 5 can be expanded by the expansion mechanism 7, and the inner paper tube action portion 5 can be expanded in the action space S inside the outer paper tube t1 and behind the inner paper tube t2, so that the inner paper tube action portion 5 can contact the end face of the smaller diameter side of the inner paper tube t2. This allows the inner paper tube acting portion 5 to apply a forward force to the inner paper tube t2.

[0098] Moreover, in the paper tube separation device 1 of this embodiment, the outer paper tube t1 is the paper tube t located at the rearmost side in the paper tube group T. According to this configuration, compared to when the outer paper tube t1 is not the paper tube t located at the rearmost side in the paper tube group T, the length of the sliding body 9 on which the inner paper tube acting portion 5 is provided can be made relatively short.

[0099] Furthermore, in the paper tube separation device 1 of this embodiment, a forward force is applied to the small diameter end surface of the inner paper tube t2 by the inner paper tube action part 5. The end part on the small diameter side of the paper tube t is thickened by the overhang part ta. Therefore, when a force is applied to the small diameter end surface of the inner paper tube t2 by the inner paper tube action part 5, the paper tube t is less likely to be crushed.

[0100] <First Modification of First Embodiment> Next, a first modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7 . In this modification, a cam pin 92b1 protruding in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction (front-rear direction) of the rotating member 92 is formed on a knob portion 92b of the rotating member 92. A guide member 34 is disposed to cover the knob portion 92b. The guide member 34 is attached to the support body 31 (see FIG. 1 ). A cam groove 34a into which the cam pin 92b1 is fitted is formed on the guide member 34. The cam groove 34a is spiral-shaped and centered on the shaft 92a (see FIG. 4 ), which is the rotation axis of the rotating member 92. The guide member 34 with the cam groove 34a formed therein and the cam pin 92b1 formed on the rotating member 92 constitute a cam mechanism 95 (a second cam mechanism of the present invention).

[0101] When the lever 61 is in the first position, as shown in FIG. 7( a), the cam pin 92b1 is located near the rear end of the cam groove 34a. When the lever 61 is pressed down and moves from the first position to the second position, as shown in FIG. 7( b), the slide body 9 slides forward together with the rod-shaped member 33. As a result, the inner paper tube action portion 5 (swinging member 93) attached to the rotation member 92 moves forward together with the rotation member 92. Also, in conjunction with the rotation member 92 moving forward, the cam pin 92b1 moves forward while being guided by the cam groove 34a and rotates around the shaft 92a. As a result, the rotation member 92 rotates and the inner paper tube action portion 5 expands. According to this modified example, the rotation member 92 rotates when the movement mechanism 6 moves the slide body 9 forward. Therefore, the inner paper tube action portion 5 can be moved forward and expanded with a single action.

[0102] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. The paper tube separation device of the second embodiment is different from the paper tube separation device 1 of the first embodiment in the configurations of the inner paper tube action unit, the expansion mechanism, and the movement mechanism. As the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0103] The inner cardboard tube action portion 5a of the second embodiment is a pair of swinging members 52 (third swinging members of the present invention) configured to be swingable around a shaft 51 extending along a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. In the following description, the direction in which the shaft 51 extends will be referred to as the "extension direction." Also, the direction perpendicular to both the front-rear direction and the extension direction will be referred to as the "orthogonal direction." The swinging members 52 are rod-shaped members. Each swinging member 52 is swingably supported on the shaft 51 at approximately the center in the longitudinal direction. Each swinging member 52 swings around the shaft 51, thereby being movable between a first position (see FIG. 8) and a second position (see FIG. 9).

[0104] As shown in Fig. 8, when both of the pair of swinging members 52 are in the first position, the pair of swinging members 52 intersect when viewed from the extension direction. Furthermore, the angle θ between each of the swinging members 52 and an imaginary plane P perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction is equal. As shown in Fig. 9, when both of the pair of swinging members 52 are in the second position, each of the swinging members 52 is in a position extending along the perpendicular direction. In other words, the angle θ between each of the swinging members 52 and the imaginary plane P is 0. The angle θ between the swinging members 52 and the imaginary plane P is smaller when the swinging members 52 are in the second position than when they are in the first position.

[0105] When the pair of swinging members 52 are in the first position as shown in Fig. 8, they are large enough to pass through the opening t0 (see Fig. 2) on the small diameter end side of the cardboard tube t. That is, the distance D3 between the shaft 51 and the part of each swinging member 52 that is farthest from the shaft 51 is smaller than the radius r1 (see Fig. 2) of the opening t0 on the small diameter side of the cardboard tube t.

[0106] As shown in Fig. 9, when each of the pair of swinging members 52 is in the second position, it is sized so that it does not pass through the opening t0 (see Fig. 2) on the small diameter end side of the cardboard tube t. In this embodiment, the distance D4 between the part of each swinging member 52 farthest from the shaft 51 and the shaft 51 is approximately the same as the radius r2 (see Fig. 2) of the end face on the small diameter side of the cardboard tube t. In other words, the pair of swinging members 52, which are the inner cardboard tube acting portion 5a, expand around the shaft 51 by moving from the first position to the second position.

[0107] The expanding mechanism 7a that expands the inner cardboard tube action portion 5a has a biasing member 53 that biases the pair of swinging members 52, a support member 54 that is configured to be movable along the front-rear direction and that supports the pair of swinging members 52, and a slide member 55 that is configured to be slidable along the front-rear direction. The slide member 55 is moved along the front-rear direction by the moving mechanism 6a.

[0108] The biasing member 53 is, for example, a torsion spring fitted onto the shaft 51. The biasing member 53 biases the pair of swinging members 52 toward the first position. The biasing member 53 biases the pair of swinging members 52 so that they swing in opposite directions to each other.

[0109] The support member 54 extends in the front-to-rear direction. A shaft 51 that supports a pair of swing members 52 is attached to the front end of the support member 54. A stopper 54a that comes into contact with the slide member 55 is formed on the support member 54. The support member 54 is also biased rearward by a biasing member 56.

[0110] The slide member 55 is disposed so as to cover a portion of the support member 54 rearward of the portion supporting the swing members 52. By sliding forward, the slide member 55 presses the rearward ends of the pair of swing members 52 that are in the first position. This causes the pair of swing members 52 to swing in the direction opposite to the biasing direction of the biasing member 53 (the direction of arrow D in FIG. 8 ) and move to the second position. The slide member 55 moves relative to the support member 54 when moving the pair of swing members 52 from the first position to the second position.

[0111] 9 , when the pair of swinging members 52 is moved to the second position, the slide member 55 comes into contact with the stopper 54a of the support member 54. Therefore, after the slide member 55 has moved the pair of swinging members 52 to the second position, it can slide further forward to push the support member 54 and move the pair of swinging members 52 forward together with the support member 54.

[0112] The moving mechanism 6a is configured to be able to move the slide member 55 in the front-rear direction. The moving mechanism 6a has, for example, a motor 6a1 as a drive source. The drive source of the moving mechanism 6a may be a cylinder driven by fluid pressure.

[0113] Here, the procedure for separating the paper tubes t using the paper tube separating device of this embodiment will be described. First, the paper tube group T is supported by the paper tube support part 4 so that the inner paper tube action part 5a is positioned in the action space S (see FIG. 3(a)). At this time, the outer paper tube action part 8 comes into contact with the end face on the large diameter side of the outer paper tube t1.

[0114] Next, the slide member 55 is moved forward by the movement mechanism 6a. At this time, the pair of swinging members 52 that make up the inner paper tube action portion 5a are pushed by the slide member 55 and expand, and the expanded inner paper tube action portion 5a is further pushed by the slide member 55 and moves forward. At this time, the inner paper tube action portion 5a comes into contact with the small diameter end face of the inner paper tube t2 and pushes the inner paper tube t2 forward. Then, a rearward force is applied to the large diameter end face of the outer paper tube t1 by the outer paper tube action portion 8. Also, a forward force is applied to the inner paper tube t2 by the inner paper tube action portion 5a. As a result, the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2 are separated.

[0115] (Features of Second Embodiment) As described above, in the paper tube separation device according to the second embodiment, the inner paper tube acting portion 5a is a pair of rod-shaped members configured to be swingable around the shaft 51 extending along an extension direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, and is a swinging member 52 that swings around the shaft 51 to move between a first position and a second position where the angle θ formed with an imaginary plane P perpendicular to the front-rear direction is smaller than the first position. The expansion mechanism 7a includes a biasing member 53 that biases the swinging member 52 toward the first position, a support member 54 that is configured to be movable along the front-rear direction and supports the swinging member 52, and a slide member 55 that is configured to be movable along the front-rear direction and that moves along the front-rear direction to push the swinging member 52 and move it from the first position to the second position. The moving mechanism 6a moves the slide member 55 in the front-to-rear direction, and the slide member 55 is moved forward by the moving mechanism 6a, thereby moving the oscillating member 52 from the first position to the second position, and then pushing the support member 54, moving the oscillating member 52 forward together with the support member 54.

[0116] According to this configuration, the inner paper tube action portion 5a can be expanded and moved forward simply by moving the slide member 55 forward with the movement mechanism 6a.

[0117] Furthermore, the paper tube separation device of this embodiment is provided with a motor 6a1 that drives the moving mechanism 6a, which reduces the amount of work required by the worker and makes it easier to separate the paper tube t.

[0118] <Application to Automatic Winder> Next, with further reference to Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, a case where the paper tube separation device of the present invention is applied to an automatic winder will be described. The paper tube separation device of the present invention is not limited to automatic winders, and can be applied to various types of yarn winding equipment such as air spinning machines and open-end spinning machines. In the following description, the directions shown in Fig. 10 are the front-rear, left-right, up-down directions. The up-down direction is the vertical direction in which gravity acts. The front-rear direction is a predetermined direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The left-right direction is a direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction.

[0119] (Automatic Winder) As shown in Figure 10, the automatic winder 10 includes a plurality of winding units 12 arranged in the left-right direction, a doffing device 14 configured to be able to move between the plurality of winding units 12 by traveling along the left-right direction, a conveyor device 15 that transports paper tubes t to each winding unit 12, a paper tube supply device 17 (paper tube transport mechanism of the present invention) that supplies the paper tubes t to the conveyor device 15, and a machine control device 19.

[0120] Each winding unit 12 has a yarn supplying section 13a that supplies the yarn Y unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin B0, and a winding section 13b that winds the yarn Y supplied from the yarn supplying section 13a onto a paper tube t to form a package P0. The doffing device 14 moves to a target winding unit 12 that has completed the package P0, and performs doffing work by removing the package P0 from the winding section 13b and supplying a new paper tube t to the winding section 13b. During the doffing work, the doffing device 14 supplies the paper tube t, which has been transported to the target winding unit 12 by the conveyor device 15, to the winding section 13b of the target winding unit 12.

[0121] The conveyor device 15 is, for example, a belt-type conveyor. The conveyor device 15 extends in the left-right direction. The conveyor device 15 extends from the winding unit 12 located at the leftmost position in the left-right direction to the right of the winding unit 12 located at the rightmost position. The conveyor device 15 can transport the paper tube t from right to left.

[0122] The paper tube supplying device 17 is located to the right of the multiple winding units 12 arranged in the left-right direction. The paper tube supplying device 17 supplies paper tubes t to the right end of the conveyor device 15. The paper tube supplying device 17 has a paper tube separation device 1a, a paper tube feeding device 18, and a paper tube supply control unit 17a (see FIG. 11). The paper tube feeding device 18 feeds the paper tubes t separated by the paper tube separation device 1a to the conveyor device 15. The paper tube feeding device 18 is located in front of the paper tube separation device 1a. The paper tube supply control unit 17a controls each part of the paper tube supplying device 17.

[0123] The machine control device 19 is configured to control the entire automatic winder 10. As shown in Fig. 11 , the machine control device 19 is electrically connected to the unit control units 12a of each winding unit 12, the doffing control unit 14a of the doffing device 14, the conveyor device 15, and the paper tube supply control unit 17a of the paper tube supply device 17. Note that Fig. 11 shows only one winding unit 12 due to space limitations. In this embodiment, the paper tube supply control unit 17a controls both the paper tube separation device 1a and the paper tube feeding device 18. A control unit may be provided in each of the paper tube separation device 1a and the paper tube feeding device 18.

[0124] (Paper tube separation device) Next, the configuration of the paper tube separation device 1a will be described with further reference to Figs. 12 to 16. As shown in Fig. 12, the paper tube separation device 1a mainly has a paper tube group supply mechanism 21 and a paper tube separation unit 25. The paper tube separation unit 25 is located below the paper tube group supply mechanism 21. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 11, the paper tube separation device 1a has a stock detection unit 57 (second detection unit of the present invention), a set detection unit 58 (third detection unit of the present invention), and an enlarged position detection unit 59 (first detection unit of the present invention).

[0125] As shown in Fig. 12, the paper tube group supply mechanism 21 has two magazine plates 22 and a support plate 24. The two magazine plates 22 are arranged vertically with a gap between them. The two magazine plates 22 are connected by a connecting member 22c. The support plate 24 is located below the two magazine plates 22.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 13 , the magazine plates 22 are configured to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 22 a extending in the vertical direction. The magazine plates 22 are rotated by a magazine drive unit 23 (see FIG. 11 ) formed, for example, by a cylinder. The two magazine plates 22 rotate integrally. Each magazine plate 22 has a plurality of openings 22 b formed around the rotation shaft 22 a. In this embodiment, the number of openings 22 b formed in each magazine plate 22 is six, but the number of openings 22 b is not limited to this. The plurality of openings 22 b formed in the lower magazine plate 22 are arranged one by one directly below each opening 22 b formed in the upper magazine plate 22. The cardboard tube groups T can be inserted into two openings 22 b formed in each of the two magazine plates 22, which are opposed to each other in the vertical direction.

[0127] One opening 24a is formed in the support plate 24. In the example shown in Fig. 13 , one of the multiple openings 22b formed in the magazine plate 22 faces the opening 24a of the support plate 24 in the vertical direction. When the magazine plate 22 rotates around the rotation shaft 22a, each opening 22b formed in the magazine plate 22 can be positioned so as to face the opening 24a of the support plate 24 in the vertical direction. As shown in Fig. 12 , the support plate 24 supports the lower part of the paper tube group T inserted in the opening 22b. When the magazine plate 22 rotates and the opening 22b into which the paper tube group T is inserted is positioned so as to face the opening 24a of the support plate 24 in the vertical direction, the paper tube group T inserted in the opening 22b is supplied to the paper tube separation unit 25 below through the opening 24a.

[0128] As shown in FIG. 12, the paper tube separation section 25 mainly has a holder 26 (paper tube support section of the present invention), a stopper 28 (outer paper tube action section of the present invention), a slider 9, and a chute 30 (paper tube discharge section of the present invention).

[0129] The holder 26 can support the paper tube group T so that the overlapping direction of the paper tube group T (see FIG. 2) is along the up-and-down direction. More specifically, the holder 26 can support the paper tube group T in a position where the small diameter end of each paper tube t is the lower end and the large diameter end is the upper end. As shown in FIG. 14, the holder 26 can support the paper tube group T by coming into contact with the outer paper tube t1, which is the paper tube t located lowest among the multiple paper tubes t included in the paper tube group T.

[0130] The holder 26 is configured to be movable between a contact position (see FIG. 15(a)) where it contacts the outer circumferential surface of the cardboard tube t and can support the cardboard tube t from below, and a retracted position (see FIG. 15(b)) where it does not support the cardboard tube t. Such movement of the holder 26 is performed by a holder drive unit 26a (see FIG. 11). In this embodiment, the holder drive unit 26a is a cylinder, but is not limited to this. For example, the holder drive unit 26a may be a motor.

[0131] As shown in Fig. 14, the holder 26 has a contact portion 27a (first contact portion of the present invention) that can come into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cardboard tube t, and an attachment portion 27b (first attachment portion of the present invention) to which the contact portion 27a is attached. The contact portion 27a is attached to the attachment portion 27b in a replaceable manner. In this embodiment, the contact portion 27a is attached to the attachment portion 27b by a bolt 27c. Therefore, by removing the bolt 27c, the contact portion 27a can be removed from the attachment portion 27b.

[0132] As shown in FIG. 15 , a pair of contact portions 27 a are provided. Each contact portion 27 a has a semicircular ring shape when viewed from above. When the holder 26 is in the contact position, the pair of contact portions 27 a come close to each other, forming a generally circular ring shape as a whole, as shown in FIG. 15( a). As shown in FIG. 14 , the inner circumferential surface of the contact portion 27 a comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cardboard tube t. The contact portion of the contact portion 27 a with the outer circumferential surface of the cardboard tube t is formed in a tapered shape that widens from bottom to top. When the holder 26 is in the retracted position, the pair of contact portions 27 a are widely separated from each other, as shown in FIG. 15( b).

[0133] As shown in FIG. 15 , a pair of mounting portions 27b are provided. One contact portion 27a is attached to each mounting portion 27b. Each mounting portion 27b is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis 27b1 extending in the vertical direction. The pair of mounting portions 27b are connected by a connecting member 27b2. A rod 26a1 of a cylinder, which is the holder driving unit 26a, is connected to one mounting portion 27b. One mounting portion 27b rotates about the rotation axis 27b1 as the rod 26a1 expands and contracts. When one mounting portion 27b rotates, the other mounting portion 27b, which is connected to the one mounting portion 27b by the connecting member 27b2, also rotates about the rotation axis 27b1.

[0134] As shown in Fig. 15(a), when the holder 26 is in the contact position, the rod 26a1 is contracted. As shown in Fig. 15(b), when the rod 26a1 is extended, the pair of mounting portions 27b rotate in opposite directions around the rotation axis 27b1. As a result, the contact portions 27a attached to the pair of mounting portions 27b are separated, and the holder 26 is in the retracted position.

[0135] As shown in FIG. 14 , the stopper 28 is disposed at a height facing the outer circumferential surface of the inner cardboard tube t2 of the cardboard tube group T supported by the holder 26. The stopper 28 is also disposed at a height higher than the upper end position of the outer cardboard tube t1 of the cardboard tube group T supported by the holder 26. The stopper 28 is configured to be movable between a contact position (see FIG. 19( d ) etc.) where it comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cardboard tube t and can support the cardboard tube t from below, and a retracted position (see FIG. 20( c )) where it does not support the cardboard tube t. The movement of the stopper 28 is performed by a stopper drive unit 28 a (see FIG. 11 ). In this embodiment, the stopper drive unit 28 a is a cylinder, but is not limited to this. For example, the stopper drive unit 28 a may be a motor.

[0136] As shown in Fig. 14, the stopper 28 has a contact portion 29a (second contact portion of the present invention) that can come into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cardboard tube t, and an attachment portion 29b (second attachment portion of the present invention) to which the contact portion 29a is attached. The contact portion 29a is attached to the attachment portion 29b in a replaceable manner. In this embodiment, the contact portion 29a is attached to the attachment portion 29b by a bolt 29c. Therefore, the contact portion 29a can be removed from the attachment portion 29b by removing the bolt 29c.

[0137] Like the holder 26, the stopper 28 is provided with a pair of contact portions 29a, and each contact portion 29a has a semicircular ring shape when viewed from above. When the stopper 28 is in the contact position, the pair of contact portions 29a come close to each other, forming a generally circular ring shape as a whole. The inner circumferential surfaces of the contact portions 29a come into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cardboard tube t. The contact portion of the contact portion 29a with the outer circumferential surface of the cardboard tube t is formed in a tapered shape that widens from below to above. When the stopper 28 is in the retracted position, the pair of contact portions 29a are widely separated from each other.

[0138] Like the holder 26, the stopper 28 is provided with a pair of mounting portions 29b, and each mounting portion 29b rotates when driven by the stopper drive portion 28a. When each mounting portion 29b rotates, the contact portion 29a attached to each mounting portion 29b moves. In this way, the stopper 28 moves between the contact position and the retracted position.

[0139] Here, the stopper 28 at the contact position will be described in more detail. In this embodiment, when the stopper 28 is at the contact position, the paper tube supply control unit 17a controls the stopper drive unit 28a so that the contact portion 29a contacts the outer circumferential surface of the paper tube t with a predetermined pressure. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16(a), when the stopper 28 is at the contact position with the holder 26 supporting the paper tube group T, the contact portion 29a of the stopper 28 contacts the outer circumferential surface of the inner paper tube t2 with a predetermined pressure. In FIG. 16(a), the first portion S1 with which the stopper 28 faces and contacts the outer circumferential surface of the inner paper tube t2 is indicated by dotted hatching. Here, as described above, the stopper 28 is located above the upper end position of the outer paper tube t1 of the paper tube group T supported by the holder 26. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16(a), a gap is formed between the first portion S1 of the inner paper tube t2 and the upper end of the outer paper tube t1. 16B, the pair of contact portions 29a are not completely mated, and a small gap is formed between the pair of contact portions 29a. In other words, the stopper 28 is in an incompletely closed state.

[0140] FIG. 16(c) shows a state when the inner cardboard tube action portion 5 pushes up the cardboard tube group T and the upper end surface of the outer cardboard tube t1 contacts the stopper 28, as described below. At this time, the stopper 28 faces the second portion S2, indicated by dotted hatching in FIG. 16(c), on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cardboard tube t2. The second portion S2 is a portion located lower than the first portion S1 on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cardboard tube t2. In other words, the second portion S2 on the inner cardboard tube t2 has a smaller diameter than the first portion S1. The stopper 28, which is the contact position, contacts the second portion S2 on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cardboard tube t2 with a predetermined pressure. At this time, as shown in FIG. 16(d), the pair of contact portions 29a are fully mated. In other words, the stopper 28 is in a fully closed state. The position of the inner cardboard tube t2 when it is in contact with and supported by the stopper 28 in the fully closed state is higher than the position of the inner cardboard tube t2 when the holder 26 is supporting the cardboard tube group T.

[0141] At least one of the holder 26 and the stopper 28 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, a support plate (not shown) that supports the stopper 28 is configured to move up and down. This allows the vertical distance between the holder 26 and the stopper 28 to be changed.

[0142] The configuration of the slide body 9 is as described above (see FIG. 4). In the above-described paper tube separation device 1, the slide body 9 is disposed in a position where the shaft 92a extends along the front-rear direction, but in this paper tube separation device 1a, the slide body 9 is disposed in a position where the shaft 92a extends along the up-down direction. Also, in this paper tube separation device 1a, the slide body 9 is disposed in a position where the inner paper tube acting part 5 is upward. The slide body 9 is supported by a support member 39 as shown in FIG.

[0143] The slide body 9 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction. The vertical movement of the slide body 9 is performed by a movement mechanism drive unit 35a (see FIG. 11). In this embodiment, the movement mechanism drive unit 35a is a cylinder, but is not limited to this. For example, the movement mechanism drive unit 35a may be a motor. The inner paper tube action unit 5 located at the upper end of the slide body 9 moves up and down by extending and retracting the rod of the cylinder, which is the movement mechanism drive unit 35a. The cylinder, which is the movement mechanism drive unit 35a, also functions as a movement mechanism 6 that moves the inner paper tube action unit 5 relative to the stopper 28.

[0144] The inner paper tube action unit 5 moves from a lower position to a raised position by the drive of the movement mechanism drive unit 35a. The lower position is a position below the outer paper tube t1 that contacts the holder 26 when the holder 26 supports the paper tube group T, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 19(a), for example. The raised position is a position above the lower position, for example, the position shown in FIG. 19(c). As the inner paper tube action unit 5 moves from the lower position to the raised position, it enters the action space S and contacts the lower end surface of the inner paper tube t2, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 19(a). Then, as the inner paper tube action unit 5 further rises toward the raised position, the paper tube group T is lifted by the inner paper tube action unit 5, and the upper end surface of the outer paper tube t1 is pressed against the stopper 28, as shown in FIG. 19(b). As a result, a downward force acts on the outer paper tube t1, and the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2 are separated, as shown in FIG. 19(c).

[0145] In this embodiment, the rotation of the rotating member 92 (see FIG. 4) of the slider 9 is performed by the expansion mechanism drive unit 35b (FIG. 11). The expansion mechanism drive unit 35b is, for example, a cylinder or a motor. By rotating the rotating member 92 by driving the expansion mechanism drive unit 35b, it is possible to expand the inner paper tube action portion 5. As in the first modified example of the first embodiment described above, when a mechanism is adopted in which the rotating member 92 rotates simply by moving the slider 9 upward, it is also possible to move the inner paper tube action portion 5 upward and expand the inner paper tube action portion 5 with one drive unit.

[0146] As shown in Figure 12, the lower end of the slide body 9 (main body of the present invention) is provided with an attachment portion 7c1 (third attachment portion of the present invention) for attaching the slide body 9 to the magnification mechanism driver 35b. The magnification mechanism driver 35b is supported by a support plate 35c. The movement mechanism driver 35a moves the support plate 35c up and down, thereby moving the slide body 9 attached to the attachment portion 7c1 up and down. The slide body 9 is attached to the attachment portion 7c1 in a replaceable manner. For example, the slide body 9 is attached to the attachment portion 7c1 with bolts or the like (not shown).

[0147] The chute 30 is used to discharge the outer cardboard tube t1 that has been separated from the inner cardboard tube t2. As shown in FIG. 12 , the chute 30 is arranged in a position aligned with the slider 9 in the left-right direction. The chute 30, like the slider 9, is supported by a support member 39. The support member 39 is configured to be able to slide left and right. The sliding movement of the support member 39 is performed by a slide drive unit 39a (see FIG. 11 ). The slide drive unit 39a is, for example, a cylinder or a motor. By moving the support member 39 left and right, the slider 9 and the chute 30 can be in two states: one in which the slider 9 is located directly below the holder 26, and the other in which the chute 30 is located directly below the holder 26.

[0148] The stock detection unit 57 can detect the presence or absence of the paper tube t at a detection position between the upper end position and the lower end position of the paper tube t that contacts the stopper 28 when the stopper 28 is in the contact position. More specifically, the detection position is a position within an area Z between the upper end position and the lower end position of the paper tube t that contacts the stopper 28 when the stopper 28 is in the fully closed state as shown in Fig. 16(c). The stock detection unit 57 is, for example, an optical sensor.

[0149] The set detection unit 58 can detect the presence or absence of the paper tube t at a detection position that is below the lower end position of the paper tube t that contacts the stopper 28 when the stopper 28 is in the contact position, and above the lower end position of the outer paper tube t1 that contacts the holder 26. More specifically, the detection position is a position within the area between position P1 shown in Fig. 16(c) and position P2 shown in Fig. 16(a). Position P1 is the lower end position of the paper tube t that contacts the stopper 28 when the stopper 28 is in the fully closed state. Position P2 is the lower end position of the outer paper tube t1 that contacts the holder 26. The set detection unit 58 is, for example, an optical sensor.

[0150] The expanded position detection unit 59 can detect that the inner paper tube action unit 5 is in an expanded position that is above the lower end position of the outer paper tube t1 and below the lower end position of the inner paper tube t2 when the holder 26 supports the paper tube group T. In other words, the expanded position is a position within the action space S when the holder 26 supports the paper tube group T. The expanded position detection unit 59 can detect whether the vertical position of the inner paper tube action unit 5 is the expanded position by, for example, detecting the position of the rod of the cylinder that is the movement mechanism drive unit 35a. The expanded position detection unit 59 is, for example, an optical sensor.

[0151] (Paper tube feeding device) Next, the configuration of the paper tube feeding device 18 will be described with further reference to Fig. 17. The paper tube feeding device 18 mainly includes an endless belt 46 and a pusher 49.

[0152] The endless belt 46 is wound around a drive pulley 47a and a driven pulley 47b that are arranged spaced apart from each other vertically. The drive pulley 47a is located forward and below the chute 30 of the paper tube separation device 1a. The driven pulley 47b is located rearward and above the conveyor device 15. The endless belt 46 is driven by a belt drive unit 46a (see FIG. 11). The belt drive unit 46a is, for example, a motor. A plurality of support plates 48 are attached to the endless belt 46 at predetermined intervals in the running direction of the endless belt 46. The endless belt 46 sends the paper tube t discharged from the chute 30 upward while being supported by the support plates 48.

[0153] The pusher 49 is disposed near the upper end of the endless belt 46. Driven by a pusher drive unit 49a (see FIG. 11), the pusher 49 pushes forward the paper tube t that has been sent by the endless belt 46 to a position above the conveyor device 15. In this way, the paper tube t is supplied to the conveyor device 15. The pusher drive unit 49a is, for example, a cylinder.

[0154] 11, the paper tube supply control unit 17a is connected to and controls the magazine drive unit 23, holder drive unit 26a, stopper drive unit 28a, moving mechanism drive unit 35a, expanding mechanism drive unit 35b and slide drive unit 39a of the paper tube separation device 1a, and the belt drive unit 46a and pusher drive unit 49a of the paper tube feeding device 18. In addition, the paper tube supply control unit 17a is connected to the stock detection unit 57, set detection unit 58 and expanding position detection unit 59 of the paper tube separation device 1a, and receives signals output from these units.

[0155] (Processing Procedure) Here, with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 18 and Figs. 19 and 20, an example of the processing procedure performed by the paper tube supply control unit 17a when separating the paper tube t in the paper tube separation device 1a will be described. In the initial state, as shown in Fig. 19(a), the paper tube group T is supported by the holder 26. In addition, the slide body 9 is located directly below the holder 26, and the inner paper tube action part 5 is located in a lower position. The stopper 28 is in a contact position in an incompletely closed state as shown in Figs. 16(a) and (b).

[0156] First, the paper tube supply control unit 17a determines whether or not a paper tube request signal has been received (S1). In this embodiment, when a package P0 is completed in any of the multiple winding units 12 of the automatic winder 10, the machine control device 19 outputs the paper tube request signal. The paper tube supply control unit 17a repeatedly makes the determination in S1 until it determines that a paper tube request signal has been received. When the paper tube supply control unit 17a determines that a paper tube request signal has been received (S1: YES), it controls the movement mechanism drive unit 35a to start moving the inner paper tube operation unit 5 from the lower position to the raised position (S2).

[0157] Next, the paper tube supply control unit 17a determines whether the inner paper tube action unit 5 is in the expanded position within the action space S based on the detection signal of the expanded position detection unit 59 (S3). The paper tube supply control unit 17a repeats the determination of S3 until it determines that the inner paper tube action unit 5 is in the expanded position. Then, when the paper tube supply control unit 17a determines that the inner paper tube action unit 5 is in the expanded position (S3: YES), it controls the expansion mechanism drive unit 35b to expand the inner paper tube action unit 5 (S4). As a result, when the inner paper tube action unit 5 moving from the lower position toward the raised position reaches the expanded position within the action space S, the inner paper tube action unit 5 expands.

[0158] After that, the paper tube supply control unit 17a determines whether the inner paper tube action unit 5 has reached the raised position (S6). The paper tube supply control unit 17a repeats the determination in S6 until it determines that the inner paper tube action unit 5 has reached the raised position. As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 19(a), the inner paper tube action unit 5 comes into contact with the lower end surface of the inner paper tube t2 while moving from the lower position to the raised position. When the inner paper tube action unit 5 further rises while in contact with the inner paper tube t2, the paper tube group T is lifted upward, and the upper end surface of the outer paper tube t1 is pressed against the stopper 28 as shown in FIG. 19(b). This applies a downward force to the outer paper tube t1, and the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2 are separated as shown in FIG. 19(c). The paper tube supply control unit 17a thus performs the separation operation. The outer paper tube t1 separated from the paper tube group T is supported by the holder 26. At this time, the remaining paper tube group T separated from the outer paper tube t1 is supported by the inner paper tube action portion 5. When the outer paper tube t1 is pressed against the outer paper tube action portion 8 as shown in Figure 19(b), the stopper 28 is in a fully closed state as shown in Figures 16(c) and (d).

[0159] When the paper tube supply control unit 17a determines that the inner paper tube action unit 5 has reached the raised position (S6: YES), it controls the movement mechanism drive unit 35a to perform a retraction operation to move the inner paper tube action unit 5 from the raised position to the lower position (S7). While the inner paper tube action unit 5 is moving from the raised position to the lower position, as shown in FIG. 19(d), the inner paper tube t2 comes into contact with the stopper 28 and is supported from below by the stopper 28. In other words, the paper tube group T is supported by the stopper 28. At this time, if the speed at which the inner paper tube action unit 5 is lowered is fast, there is a risk that the stopper 28 will return from the fully closed state shown in FIGS. 16(c) and 16(d) to the incompletely closed state shown in FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b). Therefore, the paper tube supply control unit 17a lowers the inner paper tube action unit 5 at a speed that does not cause the stopper 28 to enter the incompletely closed state. In addition, based on the detection signal from the expansion position detection unit 59, the paper tube supply control unit 17a controls the expansion mechanism drive unit 35b to contract the inner paper tube action unit 5 when the inner paper tube action unit 5 reaches the expansion position.

[0160] After that, as shown in FIG. 20(a), the paper tube supply control unit 17a controls the slide drive unit 39a to move the chute 30 to directly below the holder 26 (S8). Then, the paper tube supply control unit 17a controls the holder drive unit 26a to move the holder 26 from the contact position to the retracted position. As a result, as shown in FIG. 20(a), the outer paper tube t1 is discharged to the chute 30. After that, the paper tube supply control unit 17a controls the holder drive unit 26a to return the holder 26 from the retracted position to the contact position. In this way, the paper tube supply control unit 17a performs the discharge operation (S9). After performing the discharge operation, the paper tube supply control unit 17a controls the slide drive unit 39a to return the slider 9 to directly below the holder 26. Furthermore, after performing the discharge operation, the paper tube supply control unit 17 a controls the belt driving unit 46 a and the pusher driving unit 49 a to send the paper tube t discharged to the chute 30 to the conveyor device 15 .

[0161] Next, the paper tube supply control unit 17a determines whether or not the paper tube t has been detected by the stock detection unit 57 (S10). The stock detection unit 57 detects the presence or absence of the paper tube t at the detection position within the area Z shown in Fig. 20(b). At this time, if the paper tube t discharged in the discharge operation of S9 is the last paper tube t of the paper tube group T, the stopper 28 will not support the paper tube t, and therefore the paper tube t will not be detected by the stock detection unit 57. If the paper tube supply control unit 17a determines that the paper tube t has been detected by the stock detection unit 57 (S10: YES), the process proceeds to S12, which will be described later.

[0162] When the paper tube supply control unit 17a determines that the paper tube t has not been detected by the stock detection unit 57 (S10: NO), it controls the magazine drive unit 23 to rotate the magazine plate 22. As a result, the paper tube group T inserted into the opening 22b of the magazine plate 22 is supplied from above the stopper 28 toward the stopper 28. In this way, the paper tube supply control unit 17a executes the paper tube supply operation (S11).

[0163] After that, the paper tube supply control unit 17a controls the stopper drive unit 28a to move the stopper 28 from the contact position to the retracted position. As a result, as shown in Figure 20 (c), the paper tube group T supported by the stopper 28 descends to the holder 26 and is supported by the holder 26. At this time, the paper tube t that comes into contact with the holder 26 becomes the next outer paper tube t1. Then, the paper tube supply control unit 17a controls the stopper drive unit 28a to return the stopper 28 to the contact position. In this way, the paper tube supply control unit 17a performs the preparation operation (S12).

[0164] Furthermore, the paper tube supply control unit 17a judges whether or not the paper tube t has been detected by the set detection unit 58 (S13). The set detection unit 58 checks for the presence or absence of the paper tube t at a detection position in the area between position P1 shown in Fig. 20(b) and position P2 shown in Fig. 20(c). Here, if the set detection unit 58 does not detect the paper tube t, it is considered that some kind of trouble occurred during the preparation operation, and the paper tube group T supported by the stopper 28 was not properly supported by the holder 26.

[0165] Therefore, when the paper tube supply control unit 17a determines that the paper tube t has not been detected by the set detection unit 58 (S13: NO), it issues an error notification (S14). The error notification is executed, for example, by displaying an error message on a display (not shown) or by turning on a lamp (not shown). When the paper tube supply control unit 17a determines that the paper tube t has been detected by the set detection unit 58 (S13: YES), it ends the process.

[0166] (Features of the embodiment applied to an automatic winder) As described above, in the paper tube separation device 1a according to this embodiment, the movement mechanism drive unit 35a that drives the movement mechanism 6 that moves the inner paper tube action unit 5 relatively to the stopper 28 is a cylinder. According to this configuration, by driving the movement mechanism 6 with the cylinder, it becomes relatively easy to adjust the relative movement speed of the inner paper tube action unit 5 and the stopper 28 and the magnitude of the force applied to the inner paper tube t2 and the outer paper tube t1. In particular, in the retracting operation, the speed at which the inner paper tube action unit 5 is lowered can be easily adjusted so that the stopper 28 is not in an incompletely closed state.

[0167] Furthermore, in the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment, the paper tube supply control unit 17a performs a separation operation to separate the two paper tubes t by relatively moving the stopper 28 and the inner paper tube action unit 5 in a state where the inner paper tube action unit 5 is expanded in the action space S. According to this configuration, by performing the separation operation with the paper tube supply control unit 17a, it is possible to separate the two paper tubes t without the need for manpower.

[0168] Furthermore, the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment is provided with a holder 26 that can support the paper tube group T in a position where the small diameter end of each paper tube t is positioned lower than the large diameter end by coming into contact with the outer paper tube t1. According to this configuration, by utilizing gravity, the paper tubes t of the paper tube group T supported by the holder 26 can be reliably separated.

[0169] In addition, in the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment, the holder 26 has a contact portion 27a that can come into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the paper tube t, and an attachment portion 27b to which the contact portion 27a is attached, and the contact portion 27a is attached replaceably to the attachment portion 27b. With this configuration, the contact portion 27a can be replaced according to the size of the paper tube t, etc. Therefore, the holder 26 can support paper tube groups T of various types of paper tubes t.

[0170] Furthermore, in the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment, the paper tube supply control unit 17a moves the inner paper tube action unit 5 in the separation operation from a lower position below the outer paper tube t1 that contacts the holder 26 to an elevated position above the lower position. Then, by the separation operation, the paper tube group T is pushed up by the inner paper tube action unit 5 that contacts the inner paper tube t2 in the action space S, and the outer paper tube t1 is pressed against the stopper 28. According to this configuration, the paper tube t can be separated by moving the inner paper tube action unit 5 from the lower position to the elevated position.

[0171] Furthermore, the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment is provided with an expansion position detection unit 59 that can detect that the inner paper tube action unit 5 is in an expansion position that is above the lower end position of the outer paper tube t1 and below the lower end position of the inner paper tube t2 when the holder 26 supports the paper tube group T. When the expansion position detection unit 59 detects that the inner paper tube action unit 5 is in the expansion position during the separation operation, the paper tube supply control unit 17a expands the inner paper tube action unit 5 by the expansion mechanism 7. With this configuration, the inner paper tube action unit 5 can be reliably expanded in the action space S.

[0172] In addition, in the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment, at least one of the holder 26 and the stopper 28 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction. With this configuration, the length between the holder 26 and the stopper 28 can be changed according to the size of the paper tube t.

[0173] Furthermore, in the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment, the holder 26 is configured to be movable between a contact position where it contacts the outer peripheral surface of the paper tube t and can support the paper tube t from below, and a retracted position where it does not support the paper tube t. According to this configuration, by moving the holder 26 from the contact position to the retracted position after separating the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2, the outer paper tube t1 can be discharged downward.

[0174] Furthermore, in the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment, the stopper 82 is configured to be movable between a contact position where it contacts the outer circumferential surface of the paper tube t and can support the paper tube t from below, and a retracted position where it does not support the paper tube t. According to this configuration, when the holder 26 is placed in the retracted position to discharge the outer paper tube t1, the paper tube group T can be supported by the stopper 28 located at the contact position. Also, after the holder 26 is returned from the retracted position to the contact position, the stopper 28 can be moved from the contact position to the retracted position to make the holder 26 support the paper tube group T that was supported by the stopper 28.

[0175] In addition, in the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment, the stopper 28 has a contact portion 29a that can come into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the paper tube t, and an attachment portion 29b to which the contact portion 29a is attached, and the contact portion 29a is attached replaceably to the attachment portion 29b. With this configuration, the contact portion 29a can be replaced according to the size, etc. of the paper tube t. Therefore, various types of paper tubes t can be supported by the stopper 28.

[0176] Furthermore, in the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment, the contact portion of the stopper 28 with the outer peripheral surface of the paper tube t is formed in a tapered shape that widens from bottom to top. With this configuration, the paper tube t that contacts the stopper 28 on the outer peripheral surface is likely to move upward, which is the direction in which the taper widens. Therefore, when the inner paper tube action portion 5 pushes up the paper tube group T and presses the outer paper tube t1 against the stopper 28 during the separation operation, the inner paper tube t2 that contacts the stopper 28 on the outer peripheral surface is likely to move upward, which is the direction in which it comes out of the outer paper tube t1. Therefore, the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2 can be separated more reliably.

[0177] Additionally, in the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment, the stopper 28 is positioned at a height facing the first portion S1 on the outer circumferential surface of the inner paper tube t2 of the paper tube group T supported by the holder 26. When the stopper 28 is in the contact position in the fully closed state, the stopper 28 can contact the second portion S2 below the first portion S1 on the outer circumferential surface of the inner paper tube t2. With this configuration, when the inner paper tube action unit 5 moves from the lower position to the raised position during the separation operation, the stopper 28 contacts the second portion S2 below the first portion S1 that it faced before the separation operation on the outer circumferential surface of the inner paper tube t2, thereby supporting the inner paper tube t2. The second portion S2 of the paper tube t has a smaller diameter than the first portion S1. That is, the stopper 28 can support the inner paper tube t2 at a higher position than before the separation operation. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inner paper tube t2 separated from the outer paper tube t1 by the separation operation from getting stuck in the outer paper tube t1 after the separation operation.

[0178] Furthermore, in the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment, the paper tube supply control unit 17a performs the following operations: a retraction operation in which the inner paper tube action unit 5 is moved to a lower position with the stopper 28 in the contact position after performing a separation operation with the paper tube group T supported by the holder 26; a discharge operation in which the holder 26 is returned to the contact position after performing the retraction operation by moving the holder 26 from the contact position to the retracted position to discharge the outer paper tube t1; and a preparatory operation in which the stopper 28 is moved from the contact position to the retracted position after performing the discharge operation to support the paper tube group T on the holder 26. According to this configuration, the paper tube group T pushed up to the inner paper tube action unit 5 by the separation operation is supported by the stopper 28 in the contact position by moving the inner paper tube action unit 5 to the lower position by the retraction operation. Thereafter, after the outer paper tube t1 separated by the discharge operation is discharged, the paper tube group T supported by the stopper 28 can be supported by the holder 26 by the preparatory operation. Therefore, the next separation operation can be performed.

[0179] Moreover, the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment is provided with a paper tube group supply mechanism 21 that supplies the paper tube group T to the holder 26. According to this configuration, even if the paper tube group T supported by the holder 26 runs out, the paper tube group T can be supplied to the holder 26 by the paper tube group supply mechanism 21, and the paper tube t separation work can be continued.

[0180] Furthermore, the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment is provided with a stock detection unit 57 that can detect the presence or absence of the paper tubes t at a detection position between the upper end position and the lower end position of the paper tubes t that contact the stopper 28 when the stopper 28 is in the contact position. The paper tube group supply mechanism 21 supplies the paper tube group T toward the stopper 28 from above the stopper 28, and when the stock detection unit 57 detects that the paper tubes t are absent after performing the discharge operation, the paper tube supply control unit 17a performs a paper tube group supply operation that causes the paper tube group supply mechanism 21 to supply the paper tube group T before performing the preparatory operation. According to this configuration, when the stock detection unit 57 detects that the paper tubes t are absent, it is determined that the paper tube group T has run out. In such a case, by having the paper tube group supply mechanism 21 supply the paper tube group T toward the stopper 28 from above the stopper 28 before performing the preparatory operation, the paper tube group T can be supported by the stopper 28. Then, by performing the preparatory operation, the paper tube group T can be supported by the holder 26.

[0181] In addition, the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment is provided with a set detection unit 58 that can detect the presence or absence of the paper tube t at a detection position that is lower than the lower end position of the paper tube t that contacts the stopper 28 when the stopper 28 is in the contact position, and higher than the lower end position of the outer paper tube t1 that contacts the holder 26. According to this configuration, it is possible to determine, based on the detection result of the set detection unit 58, whether or not the paper tube group T that was supported by the stopper 28 has descended to the holder 26 and is supported by the holder 26 after the preparatory operation has been performed.

[0182] In addition, the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment is arranged in a position aligned horizontally with the inner paper tube action unit 5 and is equipped with a chute 30 from which the outer paper tube t1 separated by the separation operation is discharged, and the inner paper tube action unit 5 and the chute 30 can be in a state where the inner paper tube action unit 5 is located directly below the holder 26, and a state where the chute 30 is located directly below the holder 26. According to this configuration, the separation operation can be performed by positioning the inner paper tube action unit 5 directly below the holder 26, and the discharged outer paper tube t1 can be sent to the chute 30 by positioning the chute 30 directly below the holder 26.

[0183] Furthermore, the paper tube separation device 1a of this embodiment has the slide body 9 to which the inner paper tube action part 5 is attached, and the mounting part 7c1 to which the slide body 9 is attached, and the slide body 9 is attached replaceably to the mounting part 7c1. With this configuration, the inner paper tube action part 5, which is expanded by the expansion mechanism 7 according to the size of the paper tube t, can be replaced.

[0184] The automatic winder 10 of this embodiment also includes a plurality of winding units 12, each having a yarn supplying section 13a that supplies the yarn Y and a winding section 13b that winds the yarn Y supplied from the yarn supplying section 13a around a paper tube t to form a package P0. The automatic winder 10 also includes a conveyor device 15 that transports the paper tube t to each winding unit 12, and a paper tube supplying device 17 that supplies the paper tube t to the conveyor device 15. The paper tube supplying device 17 has a paper tube separation device 1a, and supplies the paper tube t separated by the paper tube separation device 1a to the conveyor device 15. With this configuration, the paper tube t separated by the paper tube separation device 1a can be transported to each winding unit 12 by the conveyor device 15.

[0185] 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.

[0186] In the above-described first and second embodiments, the moving mechanism 6 (6a) has been described as moving the inner paper tube action portion 5 (5a) along the front-to-rear direction, but this is not limited to this. The moving mechanism 6 (6a) may be configured to relatively move at least one of the outer paper tube action portion 8 and the inner paper tube action portion 5 (5a) in the front-to-rear direction. That is, for example, the moving mechanism 6 (6a) may be configured to move the outer paper tube action portion 8 along the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, the moving mechanism 6 (6a) may be configured to move both the outer paper tube action portion 8 and the inner paper tube action portion 5 (5a) along the front-to-rear direction.

[0187] In the above-described first and second embodiments, the expansion mechanism 7 (7a) expands the inner paper tube action portion 5 (5a), and the outer paper tube action portion 8 applies a rearward force to the end surface on the large diameter side of the outer paper tube t1, but this is not limited to this. In other words, the expansion mechanism 7 (7a) may expand the outer paper tube action portion 8, and the outer paper tube action portion 8 may apply a rearward force to the inner surface of the end portion on the small diameter side of the outer paper tube t1.

[0188] For example, in a second modified example of the first embodiment shown in Figure 21 (a), the outer cardboard tube action portion 8 is expanded by the expansion mechanism 7 from a size that can pass through the opening t0 on the small diameter side of the cardboard tube t to a size that does not pass through the opening t0. The inner cardboard tube action portion 5 tightens the portion of the inner cardboard tube t2 that protrudes from the end of the outer cardboard tube t1 on the large diameter side from the outer peripheral surface. The inner cardboard tube action portion 5 may be, for example, a gripping mechanism that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the inner cardboard tube t2 to grip the inner cardboard tube t2. Furthermore, the inner cardboard tube action portion 5 may be, for example, an elastic belt wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the inner cardboard tube t2.

[0189] In the paper tube separating device according to the first modification, in the working space S, with the outer paper tube acting portion 8 expanded by the expanding mechanism 7, the outer paper tube acting portion 8 is moved rearward by the moving mechanism 6, so that a rearward force F3 is applied to the inner surface of the end portion on the small-diameter side of the outer paper tube t1 by the outer paper tube acting portion 8. At this time, since a rearward force is applied to the entire paper tube group T, friction occurs between the inner paper tube acting portion 5 and the inner paper tube t2. Then, a forward force F4 is applied to the inner paper tube t2 by the inner paper tube acting portion 5. Thereby, the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2 can be separated. In this modification, the "inner surface of the end portion on the small-diameter side of the outer paper tube t1" on which the force is applied by the outer paper tube acting portion 8 is the surface facing the rear side of the overhanging portion ta in the outer paper tube t1. The "inner surface of the end portion on the small-diameter side of the outer paper tube t1" may not be the surface of the overhanging portion ta, but the inner peripheral surface of the portion of the outer paper tube t1 where the overhanging portion ta is not formed. [[ID=H1]] [[ID=H2]]

[0190] Also, in the third modification of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 21(b), the outer paper tube acting portion 8a is expanded from a size that can pass through the opening t0 on the small-diameter side of the paper tube t by the expanding mechanism 7c to a size that cannot pass through the opening t0. [[ID=H4]] [[ID=H5]]

[0191] As shown in FIG. 22(a), the expanding mechanism 7c has a cylindrical member 71 configured to be able to supply air inside by an air supply mechanism (not shown). On the outside of the cylindrical member 71, three plate-like overhanging members 72 are arranged. As shown in FIGS. 22(b) and (c), the three overhanging members 72 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member 71. The three overhanging members 72 have a curved shape corresponding to the curved shape of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 71. The expanding mechanism 7c is configured to project the three overhanging members 72 outward in the radial direction of the cylindrical member 71 by air pressure when air is supplied to the cylindrical member 71. That is, the three overhanging members 72 move and expand from the position shown in FIG. 22(b) to the position shown in FIG. 22(c). The three overhanging members 72 function as the outer paper tube acting portion 8a. [[ID=H7]] [[ID=H8]]

[0192] The inner paper tube acting portion 5, similar to the second modification of the first embodiment described above, clamps the portion protruding from the end portion on the large-diameter side of the outer paper tube t1 on the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube t2. [[ID=H10]]

[0193] In the paper tube separation device according to the third modified example, as shown in Fig. 21(b), first, the three protruding members 72 that are the outer paper tube acting portion 8a are placed in the opening t0 on the small diameter end side of the outer paper tube t1. At this time, the front ends of the three protruding members 72 are located in the action space S, and the rear ends are located rearward of the outer paper tube t1. In other words, a part of the outer paper tube acting portion 8a is placed in the action space S. Then, the expansion mechanism 7c expands the outer paper tube acting portion 8a. As a result, the end of the small diameter end of the outer paper tube t1 is pushed open from the inside by the outer paper tube acting portion 8a.

[0194] Furthermore, with the outer paper tube action portion 8a expanded, the movement mechanism 6 moves the outer paper tube action portion 8a rearward. As a result, a rearward force F5 is applied by the outer paper tube action portion 8a to the inner surface of the small diameter end of the outer paper tube t1. At this time, the rearward force is applied to the entire paper tube group T, causing friction between the inner paper tube action portion 5 and the inner paper tube t2. Then, a frontward force F6 is applied to the inner paper tube t2 by the inner paper tube action portion 5. As a result, the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2 can be separated. In this modified example, the "inner surface of the small diameter end of the outer paper tube t1" on which the force is applied by the outer paper tube action portion 8 is the inner circumferential surface of the protruding portion ta in the outer paper tube t1. If the protruding portion ta is not formed on the paper tube t, the "inner surface of the small diameter end of the outer paper tube t1" may be the inner circumferential surface of the small diameter end of the outer paper tube t1.

[0195] Furthermore, the expansion mechanism 7 (7a) may expand both the inner paper tube action portion 5 (5a) and the outer paper tube action portion 8. That is, in a fourth modified example of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 21(c), the expansion mechanism 7 expands the inner paper tube action portion 5 and the outer paper tube action portion 8 in the action space S. Then, the movement mechanism 6 moves the inner paper tube action portion 5 forward, and moves the outer paper tube action portion 8 rearward. As a result, the outer paper tube action portion 8 applies a rearward force F7 to the inner surface of the end portion on the small diameter side of the outer paper tube t1, and the inner paper tube action portion 5 applies a frontward force F8 to the inner paper tube t2, thereby separating the outer paper tube t1 and the inner paper tube t2.

[0196] In the second embodiment described above, the case where the inner paper tube action part 5a is moved in the front-rear direction by the moving mechanism 6a having the motor 6a1 has been described, but this is not limited to this. For example, like the moving mechanism 6 in the first embodiment, the inner paper tube action part 5a may be moved in the front-rear direction by the operator operating the lever 61.

[0197] Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the case has been described in which the worker operates the lever 61 to move the inner paper tube action portion 5 in the front-to-rear direction by the moving mechanism 6, and the worker operates the knob portion 92b to expand the inner paper tube action portion 5 by the expanding mechanism 7, but this is not limited to this. A drive source that drives at least one of the moving mechanism 6 and the expanding mechanism 7 may be provided.

[0198] In addition, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the case where the outer cardboard tube t1, which is the cardboard tube t located at the rearmost side in the cardboard tube group T, and the inner cardboard tube t2, which is the cardboard tube t adjacent to the outer cardboard tube t1, are separated has been described, but this is not limited to this. The cardboard tube separating device of the present invention separates any two adjacent cardboard tubes t in the cardboard tube group T. In other words, the outer cardboard tube t1 is not limited to the cardboard tube t located at the rearmost side in the cardboard tube group T.

[0199] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the automatic winder 10 described above, the holder 26 has been described as supporting the paper tube group T so that the overlapping direction of the paper tube group T is along the vertical direction, but this is not limited to this. The holder 26 may support the paper tube group T in a position where the small diameter end of each paper tube t is positioned lower than the large diameter end. In other words, the overlapping direction of the paper tube group T supported by the holder 26 may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

[0200] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the automatic winder 10, the holder 26 has been described as having the contact portion 27 a attached to the attachment portion 27 b in a replaceable manner, but this is not limiting. The contact portion 27 a does not have to be replaceable.

[0201] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the automatic winder 10 described above, the case where the inner paper tube action part 5 moves from a lower position below the outer paper tube t1 to a raised position during the separation operation has been described, but this is not limited to this. For example, the lower position may be within the action space S.

[0202] In addition, in the above-described embodiment of the automatic winder 10, an expansion position detection unit 59 capable of detecting that the inner paper tube action unit 5 is in the expansion position has been described, but the expansion position detection unit 59 may not be required.

[0203] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the automatic winder 10, the case where at least one of the holder 26 and the stopper 28 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction has been described, but this is not limiting. The height positions of the holder 26 and the stopper 28 may be fixed.

[0204] In addition, in the embodiment of the automatic winder 10 described above, the case where the holder 26 is configured to be movable between a contact position where it can support the paper tube t and a retracted position where it does not support the paper tube t has been described, but this is not limited to this. The holder 26 may be configured to always be able to support the paper tube t and may be configured to never be in a state where it does not support the paper tube t.

[0205] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the automatic winder 10 described above, the stopper 28 is configured to be movable between a contact position where it can support the paper tube t and a retracted position where it does not support the paper tube t, but this is not limited to this. The stopper 28 only needs to have the function of an outer paper tube acting part that comes into contact with the outer paper tube t1 and applies force to the outer paper tube t1, and does not need to be able to support the paper tube t.

[0206] In addition, in the above-described embodiment of the automatic winder 10, the stopper 28 has been described as having the contact portion 29 a attached to the attachment portion 29 b in a replaceable manner, but this is not limiting. The contact portion 29 a does not have to be replaceable.

[0207] In addition, in the embodiment of the automatic winder 10 described above, the contact portion of the stopper 28 with the outer circumferential surface of the paper tube t is formed in a tapered shape that widens from the bottom to the top, but this is not limited to this. For example, the contact portion of the stopper 28 with the outer circumferential surface of the paper tube t may be straight.

[0208] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the automatic winder 10, the stopper 28, which is the contact position, is controlled to contact the outer circumferential surface of the paper tube t with a predetermined pressure. The stopper 28 contacts the first portion S1 on the outer circumferential surface of the inner paper tube t2 with a predetermined pressure before the separation operation is performed, and when the paper tube group T is lifted by the separation operation, the stopper 28 contacts the second portion S2 on the outer circumferential surface of the inner paper tube t2, which is below the first portion S1, with a predetermined pressure. The movement control of the stopper 28 may be performed by position control. In this case, for example, the stopper 28 faces the first portion S1 on the outer circumferential surface of the inner paper tube t2 before the separation operation is performed. The paper tube supply control unit 17a controls the stopper drive unit 28a after the separation operation is performed to move the stopper 28 to a position where it can contact the second portion S2 on the outer circumferential surface of the inner paper tube t2, which is below the first portion S1. The stopper 28 does not have to be movable to a position where it can come into contact with the second portion S2 on the outer circumferential surface of the inner cardboard tube t2.

[0209] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the automatic winder 10 described above, the paper tube supply control unit 17a has been described as executing a paper tube group supply operation in which, when the stock detection unit 57 detects that there are no paper tubes t after executing the discharging operation, the paper tube group supply control unit 17a causes the paper tube group supply mechanism 21 to supply the paper tube group T before executing the preparatory operation, but this is not limited to this. For example, the paper tube group supply operation may be executed after the preparatory operation. Also, the paper tube group supply operation may be executed by an instruction from an operator. Furthermore, the paper tube group supply mechanism 21 may not be provided.

[0210] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the automatic winder 10, a case has been described in which a set detection unit 58 is provided to determine whether or not the paper tube group T supported by the stopper 28 has descended to the holder 26 and is supported by the holder 26 after the preparatory operation has been performed, but the set detection unit 58 may not be provided.

[0211] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the automatic winder 10, the slider 9 and the chute 30 are aligned in the left-right direction, and the slider 9 can be positioned directly below the holder 26, and the chute 30 can be positioned directly below the holder 26. However, this is not limiting. For example, the chute 30 may be positioned directly below the holder 26, and the slider 9 may move left and right between the holder 26 and the chute 30, moving between a position directly below the holder 26 and a position retracted from directly below the holder 26.

[0212] In addition, in the embodiment of the automatic winder 10 described above, the case where the slide body 9 to which the inner paper tube acting portion 5 is attached is replaceably attached to the attachment portion 7c1 has been described, but this is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the portion including the acting portion that becomes the target acting portion is configured to be replaceable with respect to the attachment portion. That is, for example, the swinging member 93 may be replaceably attached to the main body member 91 and the protruding portion 92c. Also, in the paper tube separation device 1 of the first embodiment and the paper tube separation device of the second embodiment, the portion including the acting portion that becomes the target acting portion may be configured to be replaceable with respect to the attachment portion.

[0213] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the automatic winder 10, the case where the paper tubes t are transported to each winding unit 12 by the conveyor device 15 has been described, but this is not limiting. For example, if the doffing device 14 has a paper tube stocker that stocks the paper tubes t, the paper tube supply device 17 supplies the paper tubes t to the paper tube stocker of the doffing device 14, and the doffing device 14 transports the paper tubes t to each winding unit 12. In this case, the doffing device 14 outputs a paper tube request signal according to the remaining amount of paper tubes in the paper tube stocker, for example.

[0214] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the automatic winder 10 described above, the case where the paper tube t separated by the paper tube separation device 1a is sent to the paper tube feeding device 18 has been described, but this is not limiting. For example, the paper tube t separated by the paper tube separation device 1a may be carried by an operator to the paper tube feeding device 18 or the conveyor device 15.

[0215] In addition, in the embodiment of the automatic winder 10 described above, the case where the paper tube supply control unit 17a controls the paper tube t when it is separated in the paper tube separation device 1a has been described, but this is not limited to this. These controls may be performed by, for example, the machine control device 19. They may also be performed by a control unit provided in the paper tube separation device 1a.

[0216] 1, 1a Paper tube separation device 5, 5a Inner paper tube action part 6, 6a Movement mechanism 6a1 Motor (driving source) 7, 7a Expansion mechanism 7c1 Mounting part (third mounting part) 8 Outer paper tube action part 9 Slider (main body part) 10 Automatic winder (yarn winding equipment) 13a Yarn feeding part 13b Winding part 14 Doffing device 15 Conveyor device (paper tube transport mechanism) 17 Paper tube supply device 17a Paper tube supply control part 21 Paper tube group supply mechanism 26 Holder (paper tube support part) 27a Contact part (first contact part) 27b Mounting part (first mounting part) 28 Stopper (outer paper tube action part) 29a Contact part (second contact part) 29b Mounting part (second mounting part) 30 Chute (paper tube discharge part) 53 Biasing member 54 Support member 55 Slide member 57 Stock detection section (second detection section) 58 Set detection section (third detection section) 59 Enlarged position detection section (first detection section) 61 Lever 62 Swinging member (first swinging member) 92 Rotating member 93 Swinging member (second swinging member) 94 Cam mechanism (first cam mechanism) 95 Cam mechanism (second cam mechanism) t Paper tube t1 Outer paper tube t2 Inner paper tube T Paper tube group

Claims

1. A paper tube separation device for separating two adjacent paper tubes in a paper tube group in which a plurality of paper tubes formed in a hollow tapered shape so that one end on one side in one direction is a small diameter end and the other end is a large diameter end, the device comprising: an outer paper tube action part that comes into contact with the outer paper tube located on one side of the two paper tubes; an inner paper tube action part that comes into contact with the inner paper tube located on the other side of the two paper tubes; a movement mechanism that moves at least one of the outer paper tube action part and the inner paper tube action part relative to the other in the one direction; and an expansion mechanism that expands the target action part that is at least one of the outer paper tube action part and the inner paper tube action part, A paper tube separation device that separates the two paper tubes by causing the outer paper tube action part and the inner paper tube action part to move relatively with the movement mechanism while the target action part is expanded by the expansion mechanism in an action space inside the outer paper tube and on the one side of the inner paper tube, so that the outer paper tube action part applies a force on one side to the end face on the large diameter end side or the inner surface of the end face on the small diameter end side of the outer paper tube, and the inner paper tube action part applies a force on the other side to the inner paper tube.

2. The paper tube separation device according to claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism has a lever that can swing around a first axis that extends in a direction perpendicular to the one direction, and a first swinging member that swings in conjunction with the swinging action of the lever, and wherein, using the principle of a lever with the lever as the force point and the first axis as the fulcrum, the first swinging member acts as the point of action to apply force to either the outer paper tube action part or the inner paper tube action part to move it.

3. The paper tube separation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the target action part is a second oscillating member configured to be oscillable around a second axis extending along the one direction, and the expanding mechanism has: a rotating member configured to be rotatable around a third axis extending along the one direction; and a first cam mechanism that oscillates the second oscillating member around the second axis in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member, thereby moving the second oscillating member between a first position and a second position where the distance between the part farthest from the third axis and the third axis is longer than the first position.

4. The paper tube separation device according to claim 3, wherein the second swinging member is attached to the rotating member, and the movement mechanism is provided with a second cam mechanism that moves the rotating member along the one direction and rotates the rotating member in conjunction with the movement of the rotating member in the one direction.

5. The paper tube separation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the target action part is a rod-shaped member configured to be swingable around a fourth axis extending along a direction perpendicular to the one direction, and is a third swinging member that moves between a first position and a second position at which an angle formed by an imaginary plane perpendicular to the one direction is smaller than the first position by swinging around the fourth axis, and the expanding mechanism comprises: a biasing member that biases the third swinging member toward the first position; a support member that is configured to be movable along the one direction and supports the third swinging member; and a slide member that is configured to be movable along the one direction and that moves along the one direction to push the third swinging member and move it from the first position to the second position, and wherein the moving mechanism moves the slide member along the one direction, and the slide member is moved along the one direction by the moving mechanism to move the third swinging member from the first position to the second position, and then pushes the support member to move the third swinging member together with the support member along the one direction.

6. A paper tube separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the outer paper tube action part contacts the end face of the outer paper tube on the large diameter end side, and the expansion mechanism expands the inner paper tube action part.

7. The paper tube separating device according to claim 6, further comprising a drive source for driving at least one of the moving mechanism and the expanding mechanism.

8. The paper tube separating device according to claim 7, wherein the driving source is a cylinder that drives at least the moving mechanism.

9. A paper tube separation device as described in claim 7 or 8, which is provided with a control unit that performs a separation operation to separate the two paper tubes by moving the outer paper tube action portion and the inner paper tube action portion relatively using the movement mechanism while the inner paper tube action portion is expanded in the action space using the expansion mechanism.

10. A paper tube separating device according to claim 9, wherein the outer paper tube is the paper tube located furthest to the one side in the paper tube group.

11. A paper tube separation device according to claim 10, further comprising a paper tube support part that can support the paper tube group in a position where the small diameter end of each paper tube is positioned lower than the large diameter end by coming into contact with the outer paper tube.

12. The paper tube separation device according to claim 11, wherein the paper tube support portion has a first contact portion capable of coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the paper tube, and a first attachment portion to which the first contact portion is attached, and the first contact portion is attached replaceably to the first attachment portion.

13. A paper tube separation device as described in claim 11 or 12, wherein the control unit, in the separating operation, causes the movement mechanism to move the inner paper tube action part from a lower position below the outer paper tube in contact with the paper tube support part to an elevated position above the lower position, and the separating operation causes the inner paper tube action part in contact with the inner paper tube in the action space to push up the paper tube group, and the outer paper tube is pressed against the outer paper tube action part.

14. A paper tube separation device as described in claim 13, further comprising a first detection unit capable of detecting that the inner paper tube action unit is in an expanded position that is higher than the lower end position of the outer paper tube when the paper tube support unit supports the paper tube group and lower than the lower end position of the inner paper tube, and the control unit causes the expansion mechanism to expand the inner paper tube action unit when the first detection unit detects that the inner paper tube action unit is in the expanded position during the separation operation.

15. A paper tube separation device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein at least one of the paper tube support portion and the outer paper tube action portion is configured to be movable along the one direction.

16. A paper tube separation device according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the paper tube support part is configured to be movable between a contact position where it comes into contact with the outer surface of the paper tube and can support the paper tube from below, and a retracted position where it does not support the paper tube.

17. A paper tube separation device as described in claim 16, wherein the outer paper tube action part is configured to be movable between a contact position where it comes into contact with the outer surface of the paper tube and can support the paper tube from below, and a retracted position where it does not support the paper tube.

18. A paper tube separation device as described in claim 17, wherein the outer paper tube action portion has a second contact portion that can come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the paper tube, and a second attachment portion to which the second contact portion is attached, and the second contact portion is attached replaceably to the second attachment portion.

19. A paper tube separation device as described in claim 17 or 18, wherein the contact portion of the outer paper tube action portion with the outer surface of the paper tube is formed in a tapered shape that widens from the one side to the other side in the one direction.

20. A paper tube separation device as described in any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the outer paper tube action part is positioned at a height opposite to a first part on the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube of the paper tube group supported by the paper tube support part, and when the outer paper tube action part is in the contact position, the outer paper tube action part can come into contact with a second part on the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube that is lower than the first part.

21. The paper tube separation device according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the control unit performs the separating operation with the paper tube group supported by the paper tube support part, and then performs the following operation: a retracting operation in which the movement mechanism moves the inner paper tube action part to the lower position with the outer paper tube action part at the contact position; a discharging operation in which, after performing the retracting operation, the paper tube support part is moved from the contact position to the retracted position to discharge the outer paper tube, and then the paper tube support part is returned to the contact position; and a preparatory operation in which, after performing the discharging operation, the outer paper tube action part is moved from the contact position to the retracted position to support the paper tube group on the paper tube support part.

22. The paper tube separating device according to claim 21, further comprising a paper tube group supply mechanism for supplying the paper tube group to the paper tube support section.

23. A paper tube separation device as described in claim 22, further comprising a second detection unit capable of detecting the presence or absence of the paper tube at a detection position between the upper end position and the lower end position of the paper tube that comes into contact with the outer paper tube action unit when the outer paper tube action unit is at the contact position, wherein the paper tube group supply mechanism supplies the paper tube group toward the outer paper tube action unit from above the outer paper tube action unit, and wherein, after performing the discharge operation, when the second detection unit detects that the paper tube is not present, the control unit performs a paper tube group supply operation that causes the paper tube group supply mechanism to supply the paper tube group before performing the preparatory operation.

24. A paper tube separation device according to any one of claims 21 to 23, comprising a third detection unit capable of detecting the presence or absence of a paper tube at a detection position that is lower than the lower end position of the paper tube that contacts the outer paper tube action unit when the outer paper tube action unit is at the contact position, and higher than the lower end position of the outer paper tube that contacts the paper tube support unit.

25. A paper tube separation device according to any one of claims 16 to 24, comprising a paper tube discharge section that is arranged in a position aligned horizontally with the inner paper tube action section and from which the outer paper tube separated by the separation operation is discharged, wherein the inner paper tube action section and the paper tube discharge section can be in a state where the inner paper tube action section is located directly below the paper tube support section, and a state where the paper tube discharge section is located directly below the paper tube support section.

26. A paper tube separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inner paper tube action portion contacts the outer peripheral surface of the inner paper tube, and the expansion mechanism expands the outer paper tube action portion.

27. A paper tube separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the expansion mechanism expands both the outer paper tube action portion and the inner paper tube action portion.

28. A paper tube separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 27, comprising: a main body portion to which the target action portion is attached; and a third attachment portion to which the main body portion is attached, wherein the main body portion is attached replaceably to the third attachment portion.

29. A yarn winding facility having a plurality of winding units, each having a yarn supplying section that supplies yarn and a winding section that winds the yarn supplied from the yarn supplying section onto the paper tube to form a package, the yarn winding facility further comprising: a paper tube transport mechanism that transports the paper tube to each of the winding units; and a paper tube supplying device that supplies the paper tube to the paper tube transporting mechanism, wherein the paper tube supplying device has a paper tube separating device according to any one of claims 1 to 28, and the paper tube separated by the paper tube separating device is supplied to the paper tube transporting mechanism.

30. The yarn winding facility according to claim 29, wherein the paper tube transport mechanism is a conveyor device capable of transporting the paper tube in a direction along the arrangement direction of the plurality of winding units.

31. The yarn winding equipment described in claim 29, wherein the paper tube transport mechanism is configured to be movable between the plurality of winding units by traveling along the arrangement direction of the plurality of winding units, and is a doffing device that removes the package at the winding unit to which it is moved and supplies a new paper tube.

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