EP2502863A2

EP2502863A2 - Winding unit, automatic winder and aligning method of yarn supplying bobbin

Info

Publication number: EP2502863A2
Application number: EP12155796A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Toshinari Umeoka
Original assignee: Murata Machinery Ltd
Current assignee: Murata Machinery Ltd
Priority date: 2011-03-22
Filing date: 2012-02-16
Publication date: 2012-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-16
Also published as: EP2502863A3; CN102689818A; EP2502863B1; CN102689818B; JP2012197147A; IN2012DE00564A

Abstract

A winder unit (winding unit (4)) includes a bobbin holder (110) holding the yarn supplying bobbin (21), a length information acquiring section acquiring length information, which is information related to an axial length of the yarn supplying bobbin, a position detecting section (74) capable of detecting the position of the yarn supplying bobbin held by the bobbin holder, a storage section (52) storing information of an unwinding standard position and information of a position where the position detecting section is arranged, and a unit control section (50). The unit control section carries out control of moving the position detecting section so that the position detecting section can detect the yarn supplying bobbin held by the bobbin holder based on the length information, and control of moving the yarn supplying bobbin to align the yarn supplying bobbin with the unwinding standard position based on the length information and a storage content of the storage section.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a winding unit that winds a yarn unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin to form a package.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is conventionally known a winding unit that winds a yarn unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin around a winding bobbin to form a package. In order to guide the yarn unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin to adjust a tension, and obtain a satisfactory winding package, a positional relationship of the yarn supplying bobbin and a yarn guide arranged above the yarn supplying bobbin is preferably constant. For this yarn guide, there is known an unwinding assisting device that appropriately regulates (to form into an appropriate shape) a balloon formed when unwinding the yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin.
However, as the yarn supplying bobbins of various shapes and inner diameters are supplied to the winding unit according to the yarn type and the like, the positional relationship of the yarn supplying bobbin and the unwinding assisting device changes every time the type of yarn supplying bobbin to be supplied is changed. When the positional relationship is changed, the unwinding tension when the yarn is unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin becomes uneven by a circling position of the yarn supplying bobbin. Thus, an operator needs to adjust the positional relationship of the yarn supplying bobbin and the unwinding assisting device every time the type of yarn supplying bobbin supplied to the winding unit is changed.
In this regard, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. H9-124230 and 2006-89284 disclose a bobbin holding peg capable of carrying out a winding operation without changing the positional relationship of the bobbin and the winding device even with respect to different core tube inner diameters by supporting the inner periphery of the yarn supplying bobbin at a plurality of supporting points with a plurality of nail members (tightening claw group, gripping strip). The axial core at the time of the unwinding of the yarn supplying bobbin can be made to coincide with the axial core of the unwinding assisting device (specifically, unwinding tube member) by using the bobbin holding peg described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. H9-124230 and 2006-89284 .
In recent years, however, various types of yarns are being used, and various types of machines for winding the yarn supplying bobbin in the pre-step of the yarn winding machine are being used, and thus the type and shape of the yarn supplying bobbin to be supplied to the winding unit are also diversified. If the yarn supplying bobbin having a complex shape such as having bumps on the interior of the bobbin is supplied to the winding unit, the tip of the nail member may get caught at the bumps on the interior of the yarn supplying bobbin and the yarn supplying bobbin may be held in a slanted position with respect to the nail member.
However, the winding unit including the bobbin holding peg described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. H9-124230 and 2006-89284 has a configuration in which the yarn supplying bobbin can be held, but does not have a configuration in which the position of the supplied yarn supplying bobbin can be checked. Thus, even if the axis center of the yarn supplying bobbin is held misaligned from an axial core of a balloon regulation section on the unwinding side, the winding operation may proceed without detecting the misalignment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above situations, it is a main object of the present invention to provide a winding unit capable of reliably aligning a position of a yarn supplying bobbin with respect to a target position regardless of a length and the like of the yarn supplying bobbin.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a winding unit having the following configuration is provided. In other words, the winding unit that winds a yarn from a yarn supplying bobbin to form a package includes a bobbin holding mechanism, a length information acquiring section, a position detecting section, a storage section, and a control section. The bobbin holding mechanism holds a yarn supplying bobbin. The length information acquiring section acquires length information, which is information related to an axial length of the yarn supplying bobbin. The position detecting section is capable of detecting a position of the yarn supplying bobbin held by the bobbin holding mechanism. The storage section stores information of a target position, which is a position to hold the yarn supplying bobbin when winding a yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin, and information of a position where the position detecting section is arranged. The control section carries out control of moving the position detecting section so that the position detecting section can detect the yarn supplying bobbin held by the bobbin holding mechanism based on the length information, and control of moving the yarn supplying bobbin to align the yarn supplying bobbin with the target position based on a detection result of the position detecting section and a storage content of the storage section.
Therefore, by using the length information acquired by the length information acquiring section, the position detecting section can be moved to the position corresponding to the length of the yarn supplying bobbin. Thus, the position detecting section does not fail in detecting the yarn supplying bobbin even if the length of the yarn supplying bobbin varies, so that the operation (aligning operation) of aligning the yarn supplying bobbin with the target position can be reliably carried out.
The above winding unit preferably has the following configuration. In other words, the winding unit further includes an unwinding assisting device that assists unwinding of a yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin. The target position is an unwinding standard position of the unwinding assisting device. The control section moves the yarn supplying bobbin to align the yarn supplying bobbin held by the bobbin holding mechanism with the unwinding standard position of the unwinding assisting device.
Therefore, since the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin can be unwound at the unwinding standard position, a balloon of an appropriate shape can be formed between the yarn supplying bobbin and the unwinding assisting device. Therefore, the winding of the yarn can be carried out while appropriately maintaining the tension of the yarn unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin.
The above winding unit preferably has the following configuration. In other words, the unwinding assisting device includes a first assisting member that assists the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin by moving following a change in a chase portion, which is a yarn layer end of the yarn supplying bobbin involved in advancement of a winding operation of a package. The position detecting section is a chase portion detection sensor that moves with the first assisting member during an unwinding operation and detects the chase portion.
Accordingly, by adjusting the position of the chase portion detection sensor according to the length of the yarn supplying bobbin, the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin can be reliably carried out. Furthermore, since the first assisting member moves with the chase portion detection sensor, individual control for adjusting the position of the first assisting member becomes unnecessary. Moreover, as the position of the first assisting member is adjusted according to the length of the yarn supplying bobbin at the time of the aligning operation (before start of unwinding of yarn), the positional relationship between the yarn supplying bobbin and the first assisting member when starting the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin becomes satisfactory. As a result, an appropriate unwinding of the yarn can be carried out. An additional sensor or the like does not need to be arranged as the position detecting section since the chase portion detection sensor also serves as the position detecting section, whereby the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.
In the winding unit described above, the chase portion detection sensor also serves as the length information acquiring section, and the chase portion detection sensor preferably acquires the length information from a detection result of a passing yarn supplying bobbin.
Accordingly, an additional sensor or the like does not need to be arranged as the length information acquiring section, whereby the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.
In the winding unit described above, the first assisting member and the chase portion detection sensor are preferably driven by a common drive source.
Accordingly, the number of drive sources can be reduced, whereby the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, the first assisting member and the chase portion detection sensor can be easily integrally moved with a simple configuration.
In the winding unit described above, a stepping motor is preferably used for the drive source.
Accordingly, the position of the yarn supplying bobbin can be easily and accurately adjusted by aligning the yarn supplying bobbin with the target position using the number of steps of the stepping motor.
In the winding unit described above, the length information acquiring section is preferably a length measuring sensor that acquires the length information by measuring.
Accordingly, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin can be specifically detected at least to a certain extent, and the position detecting section can be moved to a position where the detection of the yarn supplying bobbin does not fail. Therefore, the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin can be reliably and accurately carried out.
The winding unit preferably has the following configuration. In other words, the winding unit further includes an unwinding assisting device that assists unwinding of a yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin. The target position is an unwinding standard position of the unwinding assisting device. The unwinding assisting device includes a first assisting member that assists the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin by moving following a change in a chase portion, which is a yarn layer end of the yarn supplying bobbin involved in advancement of a winding operation of a package. The position detecting section is a chase portion detection sensor that moves with the first assisting member during an unwinding operation and detects the chase portion. The control section adjusts a position of the chase portion detection sensor based on a measurement result of the length measuring sensor.
Accordingly, since the position of the chase portion detection sensor (position detecting section) can be adjusted according to the length of the yarn supplying bobbin specifically detected at least to a certain extent, the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin can be more reliably carried out. Furthermore, since the first assisting member moves with the chase portion detection sensor, individual control for adjusting the position of the first assisting member becomes unnecessary. Moreover, as the position of the first assisting member is adjusted according to the specific length of the yarn supplying bobbin at the time of the aligning operation (before start of unwinding of yarn), the positional relationship between the yarn supplying bobbin and the first assisting member when starting the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin becomes satisfactory. As a result, an appropriate unwinding of the yarn can be carried out.
The winding unit described above preferably has the following configuration. In other words, the unwinding assisting device includes a second assisting member that assists the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin on a downstream side in a winding direction of the yarn of the first assisting member. The control section adjusts a position of the second assisting member based on a measurement result of the length measuring sensor.
Accordingly, not only the first assisting member, but also the second assisting member can be moved to an appropriate position corresponding to the length of the yarn supplying bobbin. Therefore, the winding can be carried out while more appropriately maintaining the tension of the yarn unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin.
The winding unit described above preferably has the following configuration. In other words, the winding unit further includes a magazine type bobbin supplying device and a bobbin guiding section. The magazine type bobbin supplying device includes a plurality of bobbin accommodation holes. The bobbin guiding section has a guiding path for guiding the yarn supplying bobbin accommodated in the bobbin accommodation hole to the bobbin holding mechanism. The control section carries out the control to move the yarn supplying bobbin received by the bobbin holding mechanism through the guiding path to the target position. The length measuring sensor measures and acquires the length information after the yarn supplying bobbin is accommodated in the bobbin accommodation hole and before the yarn supplying bobbin reaches the target position.
Accordingly, the length information can be measured and acquired in the path in which the yarn supplying bobbin is normally transported. Therefore, a special path or the like does not need to be arranged to measure the length information, and the configuration of the winding unit can be prevented from becoming complicated.
In the winding unit described above, the length measuring sensor preferably measures and acquires the length information for a yarn supplying bobbin held in at least one of the bobbin accommodation holes of the yarn supplying bobbins accommodated in the plurality of bobbin accommodation holes.
Accordingly, the length information can be measured and acquired at a relatively early stage. Therefore, the control of moving the position detecting section to a position corresponding to the detection result can be easily carried out.
The winding unit described above preferably has the following configuration. In other words, the bobbin holding mechanism is capable of rotatably moving the received yarn supplying bobbin at least to the target position. The length measuring sensor measures and acquires the length information of the yarn supplying bobbin after the bobbin holding mechanism receives the yarn supplying bobbin and before the yarn supplying bobbin is rotatably moved to the target position.
Accordingly, since the yarn supplying bobbin is rotatably moved, the path of the yarn supplying bobbin can be shortened. The supplying mistake or the receiving mistake of the yarn supplying bobbin can also be detected with the length measuring sensor.
The winding unit described above preferably has the following configuration. In other words, the length measuring sensor includes a plurality of sensor elements capable of detecting presence or absence of an object. The sensor element is arranged along an axial direction of the yarn supplying bobbin when passing the length measuring sensor.
Accordingly, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin can be specifically acquired at least to a certain extent with a simple configuration in which the sensor elements are lined.
In the winding unit described above, the length measuring sensor is an area sensor capable of detecting a portion where an object exists in a detection range, and preferably detects the length of the yarn supplying bobbin based on a proportion occupied by the yarn supplying bobbin in the detection range.
Accordingly, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin can be more specifically acquired, whereby the aligning operation can be more reliably carried out.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, an automatic winder having the following configuration is provided. In other words, the automatic winder includes the winding unit, a machine control device, and an input section. The machine control device controls the plurality of winding units. The input section is arranged in at least any one of the winding unit and the machine control device, and can input information related to a yarn supplying bobbin. The length information acquiring section is an input length acquiring section that acquires the length information based on the information input to the input section. The control section determines a start standard position, which is a position where the position detecting section is caused to wait in advance when aligning the yarn supplying bobbin, based on the length information acquired by the input length acquiring section, and carries out control to move the position detecting section to the start standard position.
Accordingly, by moving the position detecting section to the start standard position determined based on the input content, the trouble of acquiring (measuring) the length of the yarn supplying bobbin every time the yarn supplying bobbin is supplied can be saved. Furthermore, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin can be collectively set easily with respect to each winding unit.
The automatic winder described above preferably has the following configuration. In other words, the automatic winder further includes an unwinding assisting device that assists unwinding of a yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin. The target position is an unwinding standard position of the unwinding assisting device. The unwinding assisting device includes a first assisting member that assists the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin by moving following a change in a chase portion, which is a yarn layer end of the yarn supplying bobbin involved in advancement of a winding operation of a package. The position detecting section is a chase portion detection sensor that moves with the first assisting member during an unwinding operation and detects the chase portion. The control section adjusts a position of the chase portion detection sensor based on an acquired content of the input length acquiring section.
Accordingly, since the first assisting member moves with the chase portion detection sensor, individual control for adjusting the position of the first assisting member becomes unnecessary. Moreover, as the position of the first assisting member is adjusted according to the length of the yarn supplying bobbin at the time of the aligning operation (before start of unwinding of yarn), the positional relationship between the yarn supplying bobbin and the first assisting member when starting the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin becomes satisfactory. As a result, an appropriate unwinding of the yarn can be carried out.
The winding unit described above preferably has the following configuration. In other words, the unwinding assisting device includes a second assisting member that assists the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin on a downstream side in a winding direction of the yarn of the first assisting member. The control section adjusts a position of the second assisting member based on the length information acquired by the input length acquiring section.
Accordingly, not only the first assisting member but also the second assisting member can be moved to an appropriate position. Therefore, the winding can be carried out while more appropriately maintaining the tension of the yarn unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin.
The automatic winder may have the following configuration. In other words, the automatic winder includes the winding unit, a machine control device, and an input section. The machine control device controls the plurality of winding units. The input section is arranged in at least any one of the winding unit and the machine control device, and can input information related to a length of a yarn supplying bobbin. The length information acquiring section is configured by a first length information acquiring section and a second length information acquiring section. The first length information acquiring section acquires the length information based on the information input to the input section. The second length information acquiring section acquires the length information by measuring the supplied yarn supplying bobbin. The control section carries out control to determine a start standard position, which is a position where the position detecting section is caused to wait in advance, when aligning the yarn supplying bobbin based on the length information acquired by the first length information acquiring section, and control to move the position detecting section based on the length information acquired by the second length information acquiring section when determined that the position detecting section at the start standard position cannot detect the yarn supplying bobbin.
Accordingly, as the position detecting section is positioned at the start standard position based on the input content to the input section, the position detecting section can carry out the detection of the yarn supplying bobbin for the majority of the supplied yarn supplying bobbin. If a yarn supplying bobbin which length is different from normal is supplied, the position detecting section is moved to the position corresponding to the yarn supplying bobbin and the yarn supplying bobbin can be detected without any problem.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method including the following steps is provided as an aligning method of a yarn supplying bobbin by a winding unit that winds a yarn unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin to form a package. Specifically, the aligning method of the yarn supplying bobbin includes a first step, a second step, a third step, and a fourth step. The first step moves the yarn supplying bobbin so as to pass a position detecting section capable of detecting a position of the yarn supplying bobbin. The second step moves the position detecting section when the position detecting section cannot detect the yarn supplying bobbin. The third step again moves the yarn supplying bobbin towards the position detecting section to cause the position detecting section detect the yarn supplying bobbin to determine an initiation standard position for aligning the yarn supplying bobbin. The fourth step moves the yarn supplying bobbin from the determined initiation standard position by a preset distance to align the position of the yarn supplying bobbin with a target position, which is a position where the yarn supplying bobbin is to be held.
Accordingly, even if the yarn supplying bobbin in which the yarn is wound around a short core tube is supplied and the position detecting section cannot detect such a yarn supplying bobbin, the yarn supplying bobbin can be detected by moving the position detecting section. Therefore, the aligning operation can be reliably carried out.
According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a method including the following steps is provided for an aligning method of a yarn supplying bobbin by a winding unit that winds a yarn unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin to form a package. Specifically, the aligning method of the yarn supplying bobbin includes a first step, a second step, a third step, and a fourth step. The first step acquires length information, which is information related to an axial length of the yarn supplying bobbin, with a length measuring sensor. The second step moves a position detecting section capable of detecting a position of the yarn supplying bobbin based on the length information acquired by the length measuring sensor. The third step moves the yarn supplying bobbin towards the position detecting section to cause the position detecting section detect the yarn supplying bobbin and determine an initiation standard position for aligning the yarn supplying bobbin. The fourth step acquires an adjusting distance indicating a distance from the initiation standard position to a target position, which is a position where the yarn supplying bobbin is to be held, based on the position of the position detecting section and the position of the yarn supplying bobbin, moves the yarn supplying bobbin from the initiation standard position by a distance based on the adjusting distance, and aligns the position of the yarn supplying bobbin with the target position.
Accordingly, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin can be specifically detected at least to a certain extent, whereby the position detecting section can be moved to a position where the yarn supplying bobbin can be reliably detected. Therefore, the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin can be reliably and accurately carried out.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a method including the following steps is provided in an aligning method of a yarn supplying bobbin by an automatic winder including a plurality of winding units that wind a yarn unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin to form a package and a machine control section that controls the plurality of winding units. Specifically, the aligning method of the yarn supplying bobbin includes a first step, a second step, a third step, and a fourth step. In the first step, length information, which is information related to an axial length of the yarn supplying bobbin, is acquired based on information related to the yarn supplying bobbin input to an input section arranged in at least any one of the winding unit and the machine control device. In the second step, a start standard position, which is a position where a position detecting section is caused to wait in advance when aligning the yarn supplying bobbin based on the acquired length information is determined, and the position detecting section is moved to the start standard position. In the third step, the yarn supplying bobbin is moved towards the position detecting section to cause the position detecting section detect the yarn supplying bobbin and determine an initiation standard position for aligning the yarn supplying bobbin. In the fourth step, an adjusting distance indicating a distance from the initiation standard position to a target position, which is a position where the yarn supplying bobbin is to be held, is acquired based on the position of the position detecting section and the position of the yarn supplying bobbin, the yarn supplying bobbin is moved from the initiation standard position by a distance based on the adjusting distance to align the position of the yarn supplying bobbin with the target position.
Accordingly, by moving the position detecting section to a position determined based on the input content, the trouble of detecting (acquiring) the length of the yarn supplying bobbin every time the yarn supplying bobbin is supplied can be saved. Furthermore, by inputting the information related to the length of the yarn supplying bobbin to the input section arranged in the machine control device, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin can be collectively set with respect to each winding unit.
The winding unit described above preferably has the following configuration. Specifically, the winding unit includes a bobbin holding mechanism, a position detecting section, and a control section. The bobbin holding mechanism holds a yarn supplying bobbin. The position detecting section detects the yarn supplying bobbin held by the bobbin holding mechanism. The control section controls the bobbin holding mechanism to position the yarn supplying bobbin at an optimum position.
Accordingly, as the yarn supplying bobbin can be positioned at an optimum position for the winding unit to carry out the winding operation, the unwinding operation of the yarn supplying bobbin can be carried out without drawbacks such as yarn breakage from occurring.
In the winding unit described above, a length information acquiring section that acquires length information of the yarn supplying bobbin to move the position detecting section is preferably arranged.
Accordingly, the length information of the bobbin is acquired and the position detecting section is moved in accordance therewith, whereby the position detecting section can reliably detect the yarn supplying bobbin held in the bobbin holding mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an outer appearance perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of an automatic winder according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a winder unit;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the winder unit;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a configuration of an unwinding assisting device;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a bobbin setting section;
FIGS. 6A to 6C are side views each illustrating a shape of a cam arranged in a power transmitting section;
FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a configuration of an adjustment section when a main axis member is in a receiving position;
FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating a configuration of the adjustment section when the main axis member is in an unwinding position;
FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a configuration of the adjustment section when the main axis member is in a discharging position;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processes performed by a winder unit when the yarn supplying bobbin is supplied;
FIGS. 11A and 11B are side views describing a first half of an aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin;
FIGS. 12A and 12B are side views describing a second half of the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin;
FIGS. 13A and 13B are side views describing a first half of an aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin when the yarn supplying bobbin is short;
FIGS. 14A and 14B are side views describing a second half of the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin when the yarn supplying bobbin is short;
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating processes performed by the winder unit when the yarn supplying bobbin is supplied according to a first variant;
FIGS. 16A and 16B are side views describing a first half of an aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin according to the first variant;
FIGS. 17A and 17B are side views describing a second half of the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin according to the first variant;
FIGS. 18A and 18B are side views illustrating an example in which an area sensor is used for a length measuring sensor; and
FIG. 19 is a view illustrating an example of a length measuring sensor arranged in a bobbin supplying device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an outline of an automatic winder 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. In the following description, a front side of a winder unit 4 is sometimes simply referred to as a "front side", and a rear side of the winder unit 4 is sometimes simply referred to as a "rear side".
The automatic winder 1 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of winder units (winding unit) 4 arranged in line, and a machine control device 7 arranged at one end in a direction the plurality of winder units 4 are arranged in line.
Each winder unit 4 includes a unit frame 5 arranged on one side on the left or the right when seen from the front side, and a winding unit main body 6 arranged at a side of the unit frame 5. A unit control section 50 (control section, see FIG. 3) that controls each section of the winding unit main body 6 is arranged inside the unit frame 5. The unit control section 50 includes a storage section 52 that stores various types of information. The details of the storage content of the storage section 52 will be described later.
The unit frame 5 includes an unit input section (input section) 18 capable of inputting the setting and the like the winding unit main body 6, and a unit display section 19 capable of displaying status and the like of the winding operation. The unit input section 18 may be configured, for example, as a key or a button.
The machine control device 7 is configured to be communicable with the unit control section 50. Thus, the machine control device 7 can manage the operation of the plurality of winder units 4 in a concentrated manner. The machine control device 7 includes a machine input section (input section) 8 and a machine display section 9. The operator appropriately operates the machine input section 8 to carry out various settings (e.g., setting of the type of yarn supplying bobbin 21 used in the winding operation of each winder unit 4) with respect to each winder unit 4. The operator can also check the status and the like of the winding operation of each winder unit 4 by looking at the display of the machine display section 9.
The winder unit 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
The winder unit 4 is a device that forms a package 29 by winding a yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin 21 around a winding bobbin 22.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a bobbin supplying device 60 for the operator to supply the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is arranged on the front side of the winder unit 4. The bobbin supplying device 60 includes a magazine holder 61 installed towards the upward direction in the front surface from the lower part of the winder unit 4, a magazine can 62 attached to a distal end of the magazine holder 61, a bobbin guiding section 64 installed below the magazine can 62, and an open/close section 68.
The magazine can 62 is formed with a plurality of accommodation holes lined in a circular shape, where the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be set in an inclined position in each accommodation hole. The magazine can 62 is configured to be intermittently driven by a motor (not illustrated). A predetermined yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be dropped to the obliquely downward side by the intermittent drive of the magazine can 62 and the opening/closing operation of a control valve (not illustrated) arranged in the magazine can 62.
The bobbin guiding section 64 is configured to obliquely slide the yarn supplying bobbin 21 dropped from the magazine can 62 to guide the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to a bobbin setting section 10. The detailed configuration of the bobbin setting section 10 will be described later.
The open/close section 68 is configured by a pair of open/ close members 68a, 68b that can oscillate between a right side in FIG. 2 (hereinafter referred to as front side) and a left side in FIG. 2 (hereinafter referred to as rear side) . The pair of open/ close members 68a, 68b can switch between a closed state (state illustrated in FIG. 2) and an opened state. When the open/close section 68 is closed, the inner surface of the open/close section 68 configures one portion of the bobbin guiding section 64. That is, the inner surface of the open/close section 68 makes contact with the yarn supplying bobbin 21 dropped from the magazine can 62, thus guiding the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to the bobbin setting section 10 at the obliquely downward side. On the other hand, when the open/close section 68 is opened, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in which the winding is completed and the yarn is no more wound can be discharged to the front side. A conveyor 3 (see FIG. 1) is installed on the front side of the open/close section 68. Thus, the automatic winder 1 can transport the yarn supplying bobbin 21 discharged from the open/close section 68 to a yarn supplying bobbin collecting box with the conveyor 3. Although not illustrated, the yarn supplying bobbin collecting box is arranged at an end in a transporting direction of the conveyor 3.
A bobbin holder 110 arranged in the bobbin setting section 10 is configured to be able to oscillate to the front side and the rear side when a stepping motor 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is driven. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the stepping motor 100 is controlled by a stepping motor control section 102.
The bobbin holder 110 can receive the yarn supplying bobbin 21 guided by the bobbin guiding section 64 by swinging from the rear side towards the front side. The bobbin holder 110 can set the received yarn supplying bobbin 21 in a substantially upright state by swinging to the rear side. The details of the mechanism for oscillating the bobbin holder 110 by the drive of the stepping motor 100, control carried out by the stepping motor control section 102, and the like will be described in detail later.
As described above, a yarn 20 is unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin 21 set in the bobbin holder 110 of the bobbin setting section 10 and wound by a winding unit 16. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the winding unit 16 includes a cradle 23 configured to be able to attach the winding bobbin 22, and a traverse drum 24 for traversing the yarn 20 and driving the winding bobbin 22.
The winding unit main body 6 has various types of devices on a yarn travelling path between the bobbin setting section 10 and the traverse drum 24. The main devices arranged on the yarn travelling path of the winding unit main body 6 are a yarn kink preventer 11, an unwinding assisting device 12, a tension applying device 13, a yarn joining device 14, and a clearer (yarn quality measuring instrument) 15, in this order from the bobbin setting section 10 to the traverse drum 24.
The configuration of the unwinding assisting device 12 will be hereinafter described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the configuration of the unwinding assisting device 12.
As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the unwinding assisting device 12 includes a fixed member 71, a movable member (first assisting member) 72, a raising/lowering member 73, a chase portion detection sensor (position detecting section, length information acquiring section) 74, and a raising/lowering member driving section 75 (see FIG. 3).
The fixed member 71 is fixed to the unit frame 5 by way of an appropriate member. The fixed member 71 is formed to a tubular shape, where a throttle (not illustrated) for controlling the balloon is formed at the lower part. The movable member 72 is formed to a tubular shape, and is arranged to cover the outer side of the fixed member 71. In the following description, the center axis line of the movable member 72 configured to a tubular shape and the line extended from the center axis line are referred to as a virtual line L1.
The raising/lowering member 73 is integrally formed with the movable member 72. The raising/lowering member 73 is configured to be movable in a vertical direction when the raising/lowering member driving section 75 configured by a stepping motor, an air cylinder, or the like is driven. The winder unit 4 thus can move the movable member 72 and the raising/lowering member 73 integrally in the vertical direction. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the raising/lowering member driving section 75 is controlled by the unit control section 50. The unit control section 50 thus can acquire the height of the raising/lowering member driving section 75 (and furthermore, chase portion detection sensor 74) based on its control content. The unit control section 50 stores the height of the chase portion detection sensor 74 in the storage section 52.
In the present embodiment, the fixed member 71 is configured to be immovable, but a member having a tubular portion like the fixed member 71 may be attached to the raising/lowering member 73 instead of the unit frame 5, so that the relevant member can be moved with the movable member 72 and the raising/lowering member 73. The relevant member may be configured to move in the vertical direction by the drive of a drive source other than the raising/lowering member driving section 75 so as to be moved independently from the movable member 72 and the raising/lowering member 73.
The raising/lowering member 73 includes the chase portion detection sensor 74 that detects a chase portion 21b (see FIG. 4) of the yarn supplying bobbin 21. The chase portion 21b is a yarn layer end of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 involved in advancement of the winding operation. The chase portion detection sensor 74 is configured as a transmissive photosensor including a light projecting portion 74a and a light receiving portion 74b. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a detection signal detected by the chase portion detection sensor 74 is input to the unit control section 50.
As described above, the chase portion detection sensor 74 is attached to the raising/lowering member 73 integrally formed with the movable member 72. Therefore, the raising/lowering member driving section 75 functions as a common drive source of the movable member 72 and the chase portion detection sensor 74. As a result, simplification of the configuration can be achieved.
According to such a configuration, the movable member 72 can be positioned at a predetermined distance from the chase portion 21b by having the unit control section 50 drive the raising/lowering member driving section 75 based on the detection signal of the chase portion detection sensor 74 to move the raising/lowering member 73 in the vertical direction. The raising/lowering member driving section 75 is driven and the raising/lowering member 73 is lowered as the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is unwound and the position of the chase portion 21b is lowered, so that the distance between the chase portion 21b and the movable member 72 is always constant. Therefore, the balloon generated at the position where the yarn is disengaged from the chase portion 21b when the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is unwound can be appropriately regulated, and the winding operation can be carried out while maintaining the tension of the yarn unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin 21 constant.
In order to appropriately exhibit the function of the unwinding assisting device 12 described above, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 (specifically, center axis line of yarn supplying bobbin 21) needs to be aligned with the position (target position, unwinding standard position) on the virtual line L1. The details of the control for adjusting position of the yarn supplying bobbin 21, and the like will be described later.
The yarn kink preventer 11 for preventing the yarn kink is arranged on the rear side of the unwinding assisting device 12. The yarn kink herein is one type of drawback that occurs in the yarn, and is a state in which the yarn is kinked and is entangled in a spiral form. The yarn kink preventer 11 includes a brush arm 11a, and a brush portion 11b formed at the tip of the brush arm 11a. The brush arm 11a is configured to be swingable so as to bring the brush portion 11b into contact with the upper end portion of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 when swung. An appropriate tension thus can be applied to the yarn 20 in the yarn joining operation, and the like, to be described later, and the yarn can be prevented from being kinked.
The tension applying device 13 applies a predetermined tension on the travelling yarn 20. The tension applying device 13 of the present embodiment is configured to a gate form in which movable comb teeth is arranged with respect to fixed comb teeth. The comb teeth on the movable side are configured to be swingable by a rotary type solenoid so that the comb teeth can be in the meshed state or the released state.
A lower yarn detection sensor 31 is arranged between the unwinding assisting device 12 and the tension applying device 13. The lower yarn detection sensor 31 is configured to detect whether or not the yarn is travelling at the arranged position.
The clearer 15 is configured to detect the yarn defect (yarn drawback) such as slub by monitoring the yarn thickness of the yarn 20. A cutter 39 for immediately cutting the yarn 20 when the clearer 15 detects the yarn defect is arranged on the upstream side (lower side) of the yarn path than the clearer 15.
The yarn joining device 14 joins the lower yarn, which is the yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin 21, and the upper yarn, which is the yarn from the package 29, after yarn breakage when the clearer 15 detects the yarn defect and the cutter 39 cuts the yarn, after yarn cut of the yarn being unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin 21, or at the time of changing the yarn supplying bobbin 21. The yarn joining device 14 may be a type that uses a fluid such as compressed air, or may be a mechanical type.
A lower yarn guiding pipe 25 for catching and guiding the lower yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin 21 and an upper yarn guiding pipe 26 for catching and guiding the upper yarn from the package 29 are arranged on the lower side and the upper side of the yarn joining device 14. A suction port 32 is formed at the tip of the lower yarn guiding pipe 25, and a suction mouth 34 is arranged at the tip of the upper yarn guiding pipe 26. An appropriate negative pressure source is respectively connected to the lower yarn guiding pipe 25 and the upper yarn guiding pipe 26 to cause the suction port 32 and the suction mouth 34 to generate a suction force.
When changing the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in this configuration, the suction port 32 of the lower yarn guiding pipe 25 is swung to the lower side to suck and catch the lower yarn, and thereafter swung to the upper side with a shaft 33 as a center to guide the lower yarn to the yarn joining device 14. At substantially the same time, the winder unit 4 swings the upper yarn guiding pipe 26 to the upper side with a shaft 35 as the center from the position of FIG. 2 and reversely rotates the package 29 to catch the upper yarn unwound from the package 29 with the suction mouth 34. Then, the winder unit 4 swings the upper yarn guiding pipe 26 to the lower side with the shaft 35 as the center to guide the upper yarn to the yarn joining device 14. The lower yarn and the upper yarn are then joined in the yarn joining device 14.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the unit frame 5 includes a notification lamp 56. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the notification lamp 56 is connected to the unit control section 50, and can notify the operator of an abnormality that occurred in each section of the winding unit main body 6. The notification lamp 56 has a configuration of notifying the occurrence of abnormality to the operator using light, but in place of such a configuration, the notification lamp 56 may have a configuration of notifying with a buzzer or the like.
With the above configuration, each winder unit 4 of the automatic winder 1 can wind the yarn 20 unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin 21 around the winding bobbin 22 to form the package 29 of a predetermined length.
Next, the bobbin setting section 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 9.
As described above, the bobbin setting section 10 includes a bobbin holder 110 for holding the supplied yarn supplying bobbin 21, a discharge plate 40 for discharging the yarn supplying bobbin 21 (core tube 21a) in which the unwinding of the yarn is completed, and a driving section 200 for operating the bobbin holder 110 and the discharge plate 40. The driving section 200 is configured by the stepping motor 100 and a power transmitting section 120 that transmits the power of the stepping motor 100 to the discharge plate 40 and the bobbin holder 110.
The bobbin holder 110 can oscillate as illustrated in FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 to change the position of the unwinding side end of the yarn supplying bobbin 21. The bobbin holder 110 is configured by a main axis member (defined member) 80 and an auxiliary main axis member (holding member) 90. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the main axis member 80 and the auxiliary main axis member 90 are closed when the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is supplied so as to enter the interior of the core tube 21a. The bobbin holder 110 holds the yarn supplying bobbin 21 (see FIG. 8) from the inner side when the auxiliary main axis member 90 oscillates in the direction of moving away from the main axis member 80 in the closed state. Moreover, by swinging the discharge plate 40 with the holding of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 by the bobbin holder 110 released, the winder unit 4 pushes out the bottom of the core tube 21a to pull out from the main axis member 80 and the auxiliary main axis member 90, and discharge the yarn supplying bobbin 21 (see FIG. 9).
Next, the power transmitting section 120 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the power transmitting section 120 drives the main axis member 80 and the auxiliary main axis member 90, which configure the bobbin holder 110, and the discharge plate 40 in cooperation with each other.
First, the configuration for driving the main axis member 80 will be described. The power transmitting section 120 includes a main axis member drive cam 81, a bearing 82, an oscillation arm 83, a positioning arm 84a, a contact arm 84b, a transmission shaft 85, and a pushing spring 86, as a configuration for oscillating the main axis member 80. The power transmitting section 120 includes a transmission belt 103, a pulley 104, and a cam shaft 105 as a configuration for transmitting the power of the stepping motor 100 to the main axis member drive cam 81 and the like.
The pulley 104 is fixed to the cam shaft 105, and the pulley 104 is coupled to the output shaft of the stepping motor 100 through the transmission belt 103. The transmission belt 103 is simply drawn in FIG. 5, but is configured as a timing belt with teeth, and the rotation of the output shaft of the stepping motor 100 can be transmitted to the cam shaft 105 without sliding.
An origin sensor 101 (not illustrated in FIG. 5) is attached to the pulley 104. The origin sensor 101 transmits a detection signal when the pulley 104 and the cam shaft 105 are at predetermined rotation phases. The rotation state when the origin sensor 101 transmits the detection signal becomes the origin of the stepping motor 100. That is, the rotation control of the stepping motor 100 is carried out with such origin as the reference.
The main axis member drive cam 81 is fixed to the cam shaft 105. The main axis member drive cam 81 integrally rotates with the cam shaft 105. The oscillation arm 83 is arranged on the rear side of the main axis member drive cam 81. A rotatable bearing 82 is attached to the middle part of the oscillation arm 83. The bearing 82 is configured to appropriately rotate while making contact with the outer peripheral surface of the main axis member drive cam 81.
The distal end of the oscillation arm 83 is coupled to one end of the positioning arm 84a through a rod shaped link. The positioning arm 84a is supported in an oscillating manner at the appropriate position of the power transmitting section 120. A rotatable rotation member 87 is supported at the other end of the positioning arm 84a.
The contact arm 84b is arranged on the front side of the positioning arm 84a. The distal end of the contact arm 84b is configured so as to be able to contact the rotation member 87. The rotation member 87 is attached to the positioning arm 84a. One end of the transmission shaft 85 is fixed to the base of the contact arm 84b. The other end of the transmission shaft 85 is fixed to the main axis member 80. Therefore, the main axis member 80 integrally rotates in cooperation with the contact arm 84b. The torsion coil spring shaped pushing spring 86 is attached to the contact arm 84b to bias the contact arm 84b in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5.
According to the above configuration, the elastic force of the pushing spring 86 acts on the contact arm 84b. This elastic force causes the contact arm 84b to make contact with the rotation member 87 and push the positioning arm 84a. Furthermore, since one end of the positioning arm 84a pulls the oscillation arm 83 through the link, the bearing 82 of the oscillation arm 83 is pushed against the main axis member drive cam 81. Accordingly, the pushing spring 86 generates a spring force for bringing the main axis member drive cam 81 and the bearing 82 into contact, and for bringing the contact arm 84b into contact with the positioning arm 84a.
When the main axis member drive cam 81 rotates in such a state and the edge of the main axis member drive cam 81 (bulged portion to be described later) pushes the bearing 82, the oscillation arm 83 is swung in the direction of moving away from the cam shaft 105, and the distal end of the oscillation arm 83 pulls the lower end of the positioning arm 84a through the link. As a result, the rotation member 87 at the upper end of the positioning arm 84a pushes the contact arm 84b, so that the main axis member 80 can be swung towards the front side along with the contact arm 84b (see FIG. 8).
Next, the configuration for driving the auxiliary main axis member 90 will be described. The power transmitting section 120 includes an auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91, a bearing 92, an oscillation arm 93, a transmission arm 94, a transmission shaft 95, and a holding spring 96 as a configuration for transmitting the power of the stepping motor 100 to the auxiliary main axis member 90.
The auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91 is fixed to the cam shaft 105, similarly to the main axis member drive cam 81. The oscillation arm 93 is arranged on the rear side of the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91, and the rotatable bearing 92 is attached to the middle part of the oscillation arm 93. The bearing 92 is configured to appropriately rotate while making contact with the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91.
The distal end of the oscillation arm 93 is coupled to the lower end of the transmission arm 94 supported in an oscillating manner at the appropriate position of the power transmitting section 120 through a rod shaped link. One end of the transmission shaft 95 is attached to the base of the transmission arm 94, and the other end of the transmission shaft 95 is fixed to the auxiliary main axis member 90. Therefore, the auxiliary main axis member 90 integrally rotates in cooperation with the transmission arm 94. The torsion coil spring shaped holding spring 96 is attached to the transmission arm 94 to bias the transmission arm 94 in the direction of the dotted line arrow of FIG. 5.
With such a configuration, the holding spring 96 acts the spring force in the direction the auxiliary main axis member 90 is swung towards the rear side (direction of moving away from the main axis member 80) on the auxiliary main axis member 90 through the transmission arm 94 and the transmission shaft 95. At the same time, since the distal end of the transmission arm 94, on which the elastic force of the holding spring 96 acts, pulls the oscillation arm 93 through the link, the bearing 92 of the oscillation arm 93 is pushed against the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91. Accordingly, the holding spring 96 generates the spring force for bringing the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91 and the bearing 92 into contact.
When the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91 rotates in this state and the edge of the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91 (bulged portion to be described later) pushes the bearing 92, the oscillation arm 93 is swung in the direction of moving away from the cam shaft 105 and the distal end of the oscillation arm 93 pulls the lower end of the transmission arm 94 through the link. As a result, the auxiliary main axis member 90 is swung towards the front side (direction of moving closer to the main axis member 80).
When the auxiliary main axis member 90 is swung towards the front side exceeding a predetermined angle, the auxiliary main axis member 90 makes contact with the portion (not illustrated) of the main axis member 80, and thereafter, the auxiliary main axis member 90 is integrally swung so as to push the main axis member 80 (in this case, the distal end of the contact arm 84b and the rotation member 87 are appropriately spaced apart). In other words, when the auxiliary main axis member 90 is swung towards the front side exceeding a predetermined angle (e.g., state of FIG. 7), the main axis member 80 is driven by the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91 rather than by the main axis member drive cam 81.
Next, the configuration for driving the discharge plate 40 will be described. The power transmitting section 120 includes a discharge plate drive cam 41, a bearing 42, an oscillation arm 43, a transmission arm 44, a transmission shaft 45, and a return spring 46 as a configuration for transmitting the power of the stepping motor 100 to the discharge plate 40.
The discharge plate drive cam 41 is fixed to the cam shaft 105, similarly to the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91 and the main axis member drive cam 81. The oscillation arm 43 is arranged on the rear side of the discharge plate drive cam 41, and the rotatable bearing 42 is attached to the middle part of the oscillation arm 43. The bearing 42 is configured to appropriately rotate while making contact with the outer peripheral surface of the discharge plate drive cam 41.
The distal end of the oscillation arm 43 is coupled to the lower end of the transmission arm 44 supported in an oscillating manner at the appropriate position of the power transmitting section 120 through a rod shaped link. One end of the transmission shaft 45 is attached to the base of the transmission arm 44, and the other end of the transmission shaft 45 is fixed to the discharge plate 40. Therefore, the discharge plate 40 integrally rotates in cooperation with the transmission arm 44. The torsion coil spring shaped return spring 46 is attached to the transmission arm 44 to bias the transmission arm 44 in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 5.
With such a configuration, since the distal end of the transmission arm 44, on which the elastic force of the return spring 46 acts, pulls the oscillation arm 43 through the link, the bearing 42 of the oscillation arm 43 is pushed against the discharge plate drive cam 41. Therefore, the return spring 46 generates the spring force for bringing the discharge plate drive cam 41 and the bearing 42 into contact.
When the discharge plate drive cam 41 rotates in this state and the edge of the discharge plate drive cam 41 (bulged portion to be described later) pushes the bearing 42, the oscillation arm 43 is moved in the direction of moving away from the cam shaft 105 and the distal end of the oscillation arm 43 pulls the lower end of the transmission arm 44 through the link. As a result, the discharge plate 40 is flipped up towards the front side (see FIG. 9).
Next, the configuration in which the winder unit 4 receives the yarn supplying bobbin 21, holds the yarn supplying bobbin 21 at the predetermined position where the yarn 20 of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is unwound, and discharges the yarn supplying bobbin 21 will be described. As described above, in the present embodiment, the discharge plate drive cam 41, the main axis member drive cam 81, and the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91 are configured as a coaxial cam mechanism 130 fixed to the common cam shaft 105, where three cams 41, 81, 91 are integrally driven. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the three cams 41, 81, 91 each includes a bulged portion, where the position of the discharge plate 40, the main axis member 80, and the auxiliary main axis member 90 can be changed by such a bulged portion.
The bulged portion of the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91 (holding cam operation region) and the bulged portion of the discharge plate drive cam 41 (discharge cam operation region) are formed to be gradual, but the bulged portion of the main axis member drive cam 81 (defined cam operation region) is formed to be slightly sharp. The bulged portion of the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91 and the bulged portion of the discharge plate drive cam 41 are formed at substantially the same phase, and the bulged portion of the main axis member drive cam 81 is formed at a phase different by substantially 180° with respect to such bulged portions.
In the above configuration, when receiving the yarn supplying bobbin 21, the stepping motor 100 is appropriately driven to rotate the three cams 41, 81, 91, so that the bearing 92 of the oscillation arm 93 makes contact with the area slightly behind the peak of the bulged portion of the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91, and the rotation of the cams 41, 81, 91 is stopped in such a state. Thus, the auxiliary main axis member 90 is in a position slightly inclined towards the front side from the upright state, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this case, the bearing 42 of the oscillation arm 43 makes contact with the portion behind the bulged portion in the discharge plate drive cam 41. Therefore, the discharge plate 40 is in a horizontal position as illustrated in FIG. 7.
In this state, since the auxiliary main axis member 90 is swung exceeding a predetermined angle, the main axis member 80 is also swung to the front side in a form of being pushed by the auxiliary main axis member 90, and the position of the main axis member 80 is slightly inclined towards the front side from the upright state, similarly to the auxiliary main axis member 90. When the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is supplied from the magazine holder 61 in this state, the bobbin holder 110 (main axis member 80 and auxiliary main axis member 90) enters inside the core tube 21a. In the present specification, the position of the main axis member 80 (position of FIG. 7) when receiving the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is referred to as a receiving position.
When unwinding the yarn with respect to the received yarn supplying bobbin 21, the stepping motor 100 is again driven to rotate the cam shaft 105 in the direction indicated with the arrow in FIG. 7. The bearing 92 of the oscillation arm 93 thereby completely passes the bulged portion of the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91 and makes contact with the non-bulged portion. The bearing 82 of the oscillation arm 83 makes contact with the bulged portion at the main axis member drive cam 81.
Accompanied therewith, the auxiliary main axis member 90 is swung to slightly incline towards the rear side, as illustrated in FIG. 8. As described above, the main axis member 80 pushed towards the front side by the auxiliary main axis member 90 is also similarly swung towards the rear side with the swinging of the auxiliary main axis member 90 towards the rear side, but the swinging of the main axis member 80 is stopped when the contact arm 84b eventually makes contact with the rotation member 87 of the positioning arm 84a, and thereafter, only the auxiliary main axis member 90 is swung towards the rear side by the spring force of the holding spring 96. In other words, since the auxiliary main axis member 90 is displaced so as to relatively move away from the main axis member 80, the core tube 21a of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be held from the inner side by the bobbin holder 110.
The position at which the oscillation of the main axis member 80 in this case is stopped is defined by the position of the rotation member 87 of the positioning arm 84a. Since the positioning arm 84a is coupled to the oscillation arm 83 by way of the link, the position of the main axis member 80 can be changed depending on which part of the bulged portion of the main axis member drive cam 81 the bearing 82 of the oscillation arm 83 makes contact with (whether making contact with the rising part of the bulged portion or making contact with the peak). In other words, the position of the main axis member 80 can be adjusted by changing the rotation phase of the main axis member drive cam 81. It should be noted that, even if the position of the main axis member 80 is changed, the auxiliary main axis member 90 can maintain the holding state of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 without any problem by the elastic force of the holding spring 96.
In the present specification, the position of the main axis member 80 when unwinding the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is referred to as the unwinding position. The origin sensor 101 detects the rotation phase of the pulley 104 in a state where the main axis member 80 is in a substantially upright position as in FIG. 8, and is set so that such a state becomes the origin in the rotation control of the stepping motor 100. It should be noted that the unwinding position of the main axis member 80 changes by the type of yarn supplying bobbin 21, and the like, and hence the origin detected by the origin sensor 101 and the unwinding position do not necessarily coincide.
Next, when discharging the empty yarn supplying bobbin 21, the stepping motor 100 is appropriately driven to rotate the three cams 41, 81, 91. The bearings 42, 92 of the oscillation arms 43, 93 thereby make contact with the bulged portions of the discharge plate drive cam 41 and the auxiliary main axis member drive cam 91, respectively. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the discharge plate 40 is greatly swung towards the front side. The auxiliary main axis member 90 is swung towards the front side in cooperation therewith thereby releasing the holding of the yarn supplying bobbin 21, and the auxiliary main axis member 90 is greatly swung towards the front side while pushing the main axis member 80. Accordingly, the discharge plate 40 pushes up the lower end of the core tube 21a of the yarn supplying bobbin 21, and the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be discharged. In the present specification, the position of the main axis member 80 when discharging the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is referred to as a discharging position.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the reception of the yarn supplying bobbin 21, the holding of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in the unwinding position (and adjustment of the unwinding position), and the discharging of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be carried out by simply driving the stepping motor 100 which is the single drive source.
Next, with reference to FIG. 10 to FIG. 14B, the flow from the supply of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to the bobbin setting section 10 to the start of the winding of the yarn 20, in particular, the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the process performed by the winder unit 4 when the yarn supplying bobbin is supplied. FIG. 11A to FIG. 14B are side views describing the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin 21. It should be noted that this flowchart and the processes illustrated in the flowchart described below are examples, and the effects of the present invention can still be obtained even if the processing content is changed or the processing order is reversed.
The stepping motor control section 102 drives the stepping motor 100 to move the main axis member 80 to the receiving position in advance. When receiving an instruction to start the winding of the yarn 20, the unit control section 50 causes the bobbin supplying device 60 to supply the yarn supplying bobbin 21 (S101). As illustrated in FIG. 11A, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 supplied from the bobbin supplying device 60 is received by the bobbin holder 110 (specifically, main axis member 80 and auxiliary main axis member 90 waiting in the receiving position). The stepping motor control section 102 swings the bobbin holder 110 to the rear side (S102).
In the winder unit 4 of the present embodiment, different processes are carried out according to the axial length of the core tube 21a of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 (hereinafter simply referred to as length of yarn supplying bobbin 21) when swinging the bobbin holder 110 to the rear side. In the present embodiment, the unit control section 50 determines whether or not the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is longer than a predetermined length based on the detection result of the chase portion detection sensor 74 (S103) . Thus, the chase portion detection sensor 74 in the present embodiment functions as a length information acquiring section. The predetermined length referred to herein corresponds to the minimum length of the core tube 21a, thus the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be detected by the chase portion detection sensor 74.
Specifically, if the chase portion detection sensor 74 detects the yarn supplying bobbin 21 when swinging the bobbin holder 110 to the rear side, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is assumed to have traversed the detection range of the chase portion detection sensor 74 (see FIG. 11A). Therefore, determination can be made that the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is greater than or equal to the predetermined length. On the other hand, if the chase portion detection sensor 74 does not detect the yarn supplying bobbin 21 when swinging the bobbin holder 110 to the rear side, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is assumed to have passed the lower side of the detection range of the chase portion detection sensor 74 (see broken line of FIG. 13A). As a result, determination can be made that the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is smaller than the predetermined length.
First, in the determination of S103, the process carried out when the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is greater than or equal to a predetermined length will be described. In this case, the stepping motor control section 102 swings the bobbin holder 110 to the rear side to once set the yarn supplying bobbin 21 upright (S105). In the present embodiment, in S105, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is set upright by driving the stepping motor 100 until the origin sensor 101 detects the origin. At this stage, since it is sufficient if the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is set substantially upright, strict position control of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is not carried out.
The unit control section 50 brings the brush portion 11b of the yarn kink preventer 11 into contact with the upper end portion of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 (see FIG. 11B), applies an appropriate tension to the yarn 20, and prevents the yarn from being kinked (S105) . Thereafter, the stepping motor control section 102 swings the bobbin holder 110 to again slightly incline the yarn supplying bobbin 21 towards the front side (S106). The unit control section 50 stops the swinging of the bobbin holder 110 when the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is detected by the chase portion detection sensor 74 (S107, FIG. 12A).
The storage section 52 of the unit control section 50 stores information indicating how many pulses to drive the stepping motor 100 from the position where the yarn supplying bobbin 21 started to be detected by the chase portion detection sensor 74 to align the yarn supplying bobbin 21 with the unwinding standard position (hereinafter referred to as adjusting distance). In the present embodiment, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is moved by the adjusting distance described above (specifically, returned in the opposite direction) with the position where the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is started to be detected by the chase portion detection sensor 74 as a reference to align the yarn supplying bobbin 21 with the unwinding standard position. Thus, the position where the yarn supplying bobbin 21 started to be detected by the chase portion detection sensor 74 is sometimes referred to as the "initiation standard position" in the present specification. Accordingly, the chase portion detection sensor 74 also functions as a position detecting section that detects the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to align the yarn supplying bobbin 21 with the unwinding standard position.
Here, the adjusting distance stored by the storage section 52 is matched with the type of yarn supplying bobbin 21 to use. The storage section 52 stores the adjusting distance for the case where the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is greater than or equal to the predetermined length, and the case where the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is not greater than or equal to the predetermined length. Thus, the unit control section 50 determines the adjusting distance to be adopted this time by carrying out the following processes. In other words, the unit control section 50 reads out the adjusting distance for the two cases mentioned above based on the type of yarn supplying bobbin 21 to use, which is input in advance by the operator. Of the two cases, the adjusting distance of the case where the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is greater than or equal to the predetermined length is determined as the adjusting distance to use for this time.
The unit control section 50 outputs a predetermined number of pulses to the stepping motor 100 based on the determined adjusting distance to swing the bobbin holder 110 to the rear side (S108, FIG. 12B).
Accordingly, the center axis of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 and the center axis of the movable member 72 (virtual line L1) can be aligned (yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be aligned with the unwinding standard position). Therefore, the balloon of an appropriate shape can be formed between the yarn supplying bobbin 21 and the unwinding assisting device 12, so that the winding of the yarn 20 can be carried out while appropriately maintaining the tension of the yarn 20 unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin 21.
Next, in the determination of S103, the process carried out when the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is smaller than the predetermined length will be described. In this case, the unit control section 50 drives the raising/lowering member driving section 75 to lower the raising/lowering member 73 by a predetermined amount (e.g. , 10 mm) before or after the yarn supplying bobbin. 21 is set upright (S104). Accordingly, the movable member 72 and the chase portion detection sensor 74 are lowered by a predetermined amount with the raising/lowering member 73 (see broken line in FIG. 13B). With respect to the distance of lowering the raising/lowering member 73 in this case, the value can be set and changed by having the operator operate the unit input section 18, the machine input section 8, or the like.
Similarly to the above, the unit control section 50 once sets the yarn supplying bobbin 21 upright (S105) and brings the brush portion 11b of the yarn kink preventer 11 into contact with the upper end portion of the yarn supplying bobbin 21. Thereafter, the stepping motor control section 102 swings the bobbin holder 110 to again slightly incline the yarn supplying bobbin 21 towards the front side (S106). The control for lowering the raising/lowering member 73 merely needs to be completed before swinging the bobbin holder 110 to the front side. The timing to start the control for lowering the raising/lowering member 73 may be before the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is set upright or may be after the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is set upright. When the control for lowering the raising/lowering member 73 is started after the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is set upright, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 needs to remain still until the lowering of the raising/lowering member 73 is completed.
By lowering the raising/lowering member 73 and the chase portion detection sensor 74, the chase portion detection sensor 74 can detect the yarn supplying bobbin 21 even if the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is smaller than the predetermined length. Therefore, the unit control section 50 stops the swinging of the bobbin holder 110 when the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is detected by the chase portion detection sensor 74, similarly to the above (S107, FIG. 14A).
Next, the unit control section 50 determines the adjusting distance to be adopted this time. Specifically, the unit control section 50 reads out the adjusting distances for the two cases mentioned above based on the type of yarn supplying bobbin 21 set in advance, and determines, from the two adjusting distances, the adjusting distance of the case where the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is smaller than the predetermined length as the adjusting distance to be used this time. The unit control section 50 then outputs a predetermined number of pulses to the stepping motor 100 based on the determined adjusting distance to swing the bobbin holder 110 to the rear side (S108, FIG. 14B).
Accordingly, even if the chase portion detection sensor 74 serving as the position detecting section cannot detect the yarn supplying bobbin 21 because the core tube 21a of the supplied yarn supplying bobbin 21 is short, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in which the yarn is wound around the short core tube 21a can be detected by lowering the chase portion detection sensor 74. Therefore, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be aligned with the unwinding standard position without any problem.
When the type of yarn supplying bobbin 21 to use is changed, the appropriate adjusting distance can be set in the storage section 52 of the unit control section 50 by making an appropriate input to the unit input section 18. This input can be made to the machine input section 8, instead of being made to the unit input section 18. In this case, the machine control device 7 transmits the content input to the machine input section 8 to each winder unit 4. Accordingly, the appropriate adjusting distance can be collectively set with respect to the unit control section 50 of each winder unit 4.
As described above, the winder unit 4 of the present embodiment includes the bobbin holder 110, the chase portion detection sensor 74 functioning as the length information acquiring section and the position detecting section, the storage section 52, and the unit control section 50. The bobbin holder 110 holds the yarn supplying bobbin 21. The chase portion detection sensor 74 acquires the length information, which is the information related to the axial length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21. The chase portion detection sensor 74 can detect the position of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 held in the bobbin holder 110. The storage section 52 stores the information of the unwinding standard position, which is the position to hold the yarn supplying bobbin 21 when winding the yarn 20, and the information of the position where the chase portion detection sensor 74 is arranged. The unit control section 50 carries out the control of moving the chase portion detection sensor 74 so that the chase portion detection sensor 74 can detect the yarn supplying bobbin 21 held in the bobbin holder 110 based on the length information, and the control of moving the yarn supplying bobbin 21 so as to align the yarn supplying bobbin 21 with a target position based on the detection result of the chase portion detection sensor 74 and the storage content of the storage section 52.
Accordingly, by using the length information acquired by the chase portion detection sensor 74, the chase portion detection sensor 74 can be moved to the position corresponding to the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21. Therefore, since the chase portion detection sensor 74 does not fail in detecting the yarn supplying bobbin 21 even if the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 varies, the operation of aligning the yarn supplying bobbin 21 with the target position (aligning operation) can be reliably carried out.
In the present embodiment, the chase portion detection sensor 74 serves as both the length information acquiring section and the position detecting section. Thus, the number of sensors can be reduced, the configuration can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.
Next, with reference to FIG. 15 to FIG. 19, a first variant of the above described embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by the winder unit 4 when the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is supplied in the first variant. FIGS. 16A, 16B and FIGS. 17A, 17B are side views describing the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in the first variant. FIGS. 18A and 18B are side views illustrating an example in which an area sensor 58 is used for a length measuring sensor. FIG. 19 is a view illustrating an example of the length measuring sensor arranged in the bobbin supplying device 60.
In the present variant, the same reference numerals are denoted in the drawings on the members same as or similar to the embodiments described above, and the description thereof may be omitted. In the present variant, the illustration of the yarn kink preventer 11 is omitted so that the periphery of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be easily seen.
In other words, in the configuration of the embodiment described above (FIGS. 11A and 11B), the chase portion detection sensor 74 is used for the length information acquiring section. In the present variant, a configuration is adopted in which a sensor different from the chase portion detection sensor 74 is used for the length information acquiring section. Specifically, in the present variant, a configuration including a length measuring sensor 57 is adopted as illustrated in FIGS. 16A and 16B, in addition to the configuration of the embodiment described above.
The length measuring sensor 57 can measure the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 after the bobbin setting section 10 receives the bobbin and before the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is rotated to an upright position. Specifically, the length measuring sensor 57 includes four sensor elements same as the chase portion detection sensor 74. Each sensor element is configured by a light projecting portion and a light receiving portion, similarly to the chase portion detection sensor 74. The direction in which the four sensor elements are lined is the same as the axial direction of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 when passing the length measuring sensor 57 (see broken line of FIG. 16A). In the present embodiment, the initial position of the raising/lowering member 73 is set so that the chase portion detection sensor 74 suitably detects the core tube 21a of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 with the core tube 21a of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 detected by the two sensor elements.
With such a configuration, it can be said that the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is longer the greater the number of sensor elements detecting the yarn supplying bobbin 21 when the yarn supplying bobbin 21 passes the length measuring sensor 57. Therefore, in the present variant, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be grasped to a certain extent based on the number of sensor elements that detected the yarn supplying bobbin 21. Therefore, the length measuring sensor 57 can represent the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in multi-stages of three or more stages rather than two stages (whether or not greater than or equal to predetermined length), so that the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be more specifically measured. The aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 when the length measuring sensor 57 is used for the length information acquiring section will be described below.
When receiving an instruction to start the winding of the yarn 20, the unit control section 50 causes the bobbin supplying device 60 to supply the yarn supplying bobbin 21 (S201 of FIG. 15). As illustrated in FIG. 16A, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 supplied from the bobbin supplying device 60 is received by the bobbin holder 110. The stepping motor control section 102 then swings the bobbin holder 110 to the rear side (S202). The length measuring sensor 57 measures the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in the middle of swinging the bobbin holder 110 to the rear side (S203, see broken line of FIG. 16A). The length measuring sensor 57 transmits the measured length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to the unit control section 50.
The unit control section 50 adjusts the position of the unwinding assisting device 12 based on the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 received from the length measuring sensor 57 (S204). The unwinding assisting device 12 in the present variant includes a second movable member (second assisting member) 171 in place of the fixed member 71. The second movable member 171 is movable in the vertical direction when power is supplied from a drive source (not illustrated). Thus, the second movable member 171 can move independently from the raising/lowering member 73.
The adjustment of the position of the unwinding assisting device 12 carried out based on the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 measured by the length measuring sensor 57 has various patterns. In other words, in order to form a balloon of an appropriate shape, not only the positional relationship of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 and the movable member 72, but also the positional relationship of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 (or movable member 72) and the second movable member 171 is important. In particular, when greatly moving the raising/lowering member 73, the second movable member 171 is preferably moved in the same direction.
FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate an example where the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in which a yarn is wound around a relatively long core tube 21a is supplied to the winder unit 4. In this example, if the unwinding assisting device 12 is not moved, the height of the chase portion detection sensor 74 becomes the height of around the boundary of the core tube 21a and the chase portion 21b, as illustrated in FIG. 16B. In this case, the chase portion detection sensor 74 may detect the yarn layer and not the core tube 21a, and hence it becomes difficult to perform the aligning operation at satisfactory accuracy. To avoid this, the unit control section 50 raises the raising/lowering member 73 if three or more of the four sensor elements configuring the length measuring sensor 57 detect the yarn supplying bobbin 21 (see broken line in FIG. 16B). Accordingly, since the height of the chase portion detection sensor 74 becomes the height capable of detecting the core tube 21a, the aligning operation can be appropriately performed.
In the present variant, if the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in which the yarn is wound around the relatively long core tube 21a is supplied as in the current example, the unit control section 50 raises not only the raising/lowering member 73, but also the second movable member 171 (see broken line of FIG. 16B). Accordingly, by moving not only the movable member 72 but also the second movable member 171 to an appropriate position corresponding to the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21, the winding of the yarn 20 can be carried out while more appropriately maintaining the tension of the yarn unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin 21.
After adjusting the position of the unwinding assisting device 12, the unit control section 50 once sets the yarn supplying bobbin 21 upright similarly to the above (S205). As described above, the yarn kink preventer 11 is omitted in the figure of the present variant, but the brush portion 11b of the yarn kink preventer 11 makes contact with the upper end portion of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in this case. Thereafter, the stepping motor control section 102 swings the bobbin holder 110 so as to slightly incline the yarn supplying bobbin 21 again to the front side (S206). Then, the unit control section 50 stops the swinging of the bobbin holder 110 when the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is detected by the chase portion detection sensor 74 (S207, FIG. 17A).
Here, the adjusting distance is obtained based on the storage content of the storage section 52 similarly to the above, but in the present variant, since the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be acquired in multi-stages of three or more stages, the adjusting distance for each stage is stored in the storage section 52 (e.g., in a form of table) for every type of yarn supplying bobbin 21. In order to avoid the enlargement of the storage content, the unit control section 50 may obtain the adjusting distance in accordance with a predetermined calculation formula stored in the storage section 52 based on the type of the yarn supplying bobbin 21, the height of the chase portion detection sensor 74, and the unwinding standard position. The unit control section 50 outputs a predetermined number of pulses to the stepping motor 100 based on the calculated adjusting distance to swing the bobbin holder 110 to the rear side (S208, FIG. 17B).
Therefore, in the present variant, the chase portion detection sensor 74 serving as the position detecting section is moved in accordance with the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 specifically detected to a certain extent. Thus, the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be more reliably carried out. In the embodiment described above (FIGS. 11A and 11B), the aligning operation may not be appropriately carried out when the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in which the yarn is wound around a core tube 21a longer than assumed is supplied, but the present variant can support both the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in which the yarn is wound around a long core tube 21a and the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in which the yarn is wound around a short core tube 21a.
An area sensor 58 as illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B may be used in place of the length measuring sensor 57. The area sensor 58 is configured by a plurality of sensor elements, similarly to the length measuring sensor 57, but the area sensor 58 is not configured by combining a sensor element capable of being independently operated as in the length measuring sensor 57, and is integrally configured as a sensor that detects a predetermined detection range from the beginning. In this area sensor 58, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be acquired as a specific numerical value since the interval between the sensor elements is very short. Accordingly, the aligning operation can be more reliably carried out. Furthermore, an area sensor, configured by a single set of sensor elements, that detects the area occupied by an object according to change in light receiving amount can be used.
In the configuration of FIGS. 16A, 16B and FIGS. 18A, 18B, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is measured after the bobbin setting section 10 receives the bobbin and before the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is set upright. Accordingly, not only the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 but also the supplying mistake, the receiving mistake, and the like of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can also be detected. In other words, if the length measuring sensor 57 or the area sensor 58 do not detect the yarn supplying bobbin 21 at all even if the unit control section 50 caused the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to be supplied, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 may not have been inserted to the magazine can 62 or the bobbin holder 110 may not have been appropriately inserted in the core tube 21a. By detecting such a mistake, the next yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be promptly supplied and winding efficiency can be improved.
The place to arrange the length measuring sensor is arbitrary, but it is advantageous in that the configuration can be simplified if the length measuring sensor is arranged on the path of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 from the bobbin supplying device 60 (accommodation hole of magazine can 62) to the unwinding standard position. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 19, a configuration may be adopted in which a bobbin detection sensor 59 serving as the length measuring sensor is arranged near the bobbin supplying device 60. The bobbin detection sensor 59 includes two contact sensors (sensor elements) 59b capable of detecting the upper part of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 accommodated in the magazine can 62, and a contact sensor 59a capable of detecting the lower part of the yarn supplying bobbin 21. Such contact sensors 59a, 59b are attached so as not to rotate with the magazine can 62, and hence the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to be supplied to the bobbin setting section 10 next can always be measured even if the magazine can 62 is rotated. The contact sensor 59a arranged at the lower part is used to detect the presence/absence of the yarn supplying bobbin 21, and the two contact sensors 59b arranged at the upper part are used to measure the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 in three stages. A contact sensor may be used or a non-contact type sensor may be used for the bobbin detection sensor 59.
In the configuration of the bobbin detection sensor 59, if the contact sensor 59a at the lower part detects the yarn supplying bobbin 21 and the two contact sensors 59b at the upper part both detect the yarn supplying bobbin 21, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to be supplied next is assumed to be relatively long. If the contact sensor 59a at the lower part detects the yarn supplying bobbin 21 and only one of the contact sensors 59b at the upper part detects the yarn supplying bobbin 21, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to be supplied next is assumed to have a medium length. Furthermore, if the contact sensor 59a at the lower part detects the yarn supplying bobbin 21 and neither of the contact sensors 59b at the upper part detects the yarn supplying bobbin 21, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to be supplied next is assumed to be relatively short.
I f the contact sensor 59a at the lower part does not detect the yarn supplying bobbin 21, the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is not accommodated in the bobbin accommodation hole, and thus the determination on the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 as described above is not made until the magazine can 62 is rotated and the bobbin detection sensor 59a at the lower part is able to detect the yarn supplying bobbin 21. The unit control section 50 can reliably carry out the aligning operation by adjusting the position of the unwinding assisting device 12 according to the length detected by the bobbin detection sensor 59.
In the configuration in which the bobbin detection sensor 59 is arranged near the bobbin supplying device 60 as illustrated in FIG. 19, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be measured at a relatively early stage. Therefore, there is a temporal margin when adjusting the position of the unwinding assisting device 12, and thus the relevant adjustment can be easily made.
As described above, in the winder unit 4 of the first variant, the length measuring sensor 57 acquires the length information through measurement.
Accordingly, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be specifically detected to a certain extent, so that the chase portion detection sensor 74 serving as the position detecting section can be moved to a position not failing to detect the yarn supplying bobbin 21. Therefore, the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be more reliably and accurately carried out.
The winder unit 4 of the present variant includes the magazine type bobbin supplying device 60, and the bobbin guiding section 64. The bobbin supplying device 60 includes a plurality of bobbin accommodation holes. The bobbin guiding section 64 has a guiding path for guiding the yarn supplying bobbin 21 accommodated in the bobbin accommodation hole to the bobbin holder 110. The unit control section 50 performs control of moving the yarn supplying bobbin 21 received by the bobbin holder 110 through the guiding path to the unwinding standard position. The length measuring sensor 57 (or area sensor 58, bobbin detection sensor 59) measures and acquires the length information after the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is accommodated in the bobbin accommodation hole and before the yarn supplying bobbin 21 reaches the unwinding standard position.
The length information thus can be measured and acquired in the path on which the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is normally transported. Therefore, a special path and the like does not need to be arranged to measure the length information, and the configuration of the winder unit 4 can be prevented from becoming complex.
Next, a second variant of the embodiment described above will be described.
In the embodiment described above and the first variant, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is acquired by measuring with a sensor, but in the present variant, the unit control section 50 serving as the length information acquiring section and the input length acquiring section acquires the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 based on the information input by the machine input section 8 or the unit input section 18. That is, the unit control section 50 obtains the information on the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 based on the type of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 set in advance.
When acquiring the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21, the unit control section 50 determines the position where the unwinding assisting device 12 (chase portion detection sensor 74) is caused to wait in advance when performing the alignment of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 according to the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21. This determination is carried out similarly to the method described in S204 of the first variant. In the following description, the position where the position detecting section is caused to wait in advance at the time of the alignment of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is sometimes referred to as a start standard position. The start standard position that is determined herein does not change as long as the setting of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to be used is not changed.
The winder unit 4 carries out the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 using the start standard position, where the aligning method in this case includes the following two types.
Specifically, a first method is a method of preventing the chase portion detection sensor 74 serving as the position detecting section from moving at all from the start standard position, at the time of the aligning operation. That is, if the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is the same type, its length does not greatly change, and hence the core tube 21a can be detected by the chase portion detection sensor 74 without any problem in most cases if the position of the chase portion detection sensor 74 is appropriate. Therefore, in this method, the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is not individually measured to move the chase portion detection sensor 74, and the aligning operation is carried out with the chase portion detection sensor 74 always remaining still at the start standard position. Accordingly, the control can be simplified.
A second method includes individually measuring the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21, and determining whether or not to move the chase portion detection sensor 74 from the start standard position according to the measurement result. Here, the method of individually measuring the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 includes a method using the chase portion detection sensor 74 as in the embodiment described above, and a method using a dedicated sensor (length measuring sensor 57 or the like) as in the first variant. That is, in this method, the unit control section 50 functions as a first length information acquiring section for acquiring the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 based on the setting. The chase portion detection sensor 74 functions as a second length information acquiring section for individually measuring the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21. The unit control section 50 performs control to change the position of the chase portion detection sensor 74 from the start standard position when determined that the yarn supplying bobbin 21 cannot be detected if the chase portion detection sensor 74 serving as the position detecting section is at the start standard position based on the measurement result of the yarn supplying bobbin 21.
Through the use of the second method, the aligning operation of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be carried out without moving the chase portion detection sensor 74 serving as the position detecting section from the start standard position for the majority of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to be supplied. If the yarn supplying bobbin 21 having a length different from normal is supplied, the alignment can be carried out without any problem in this case as well by moving the position detecting section to the position corresponding to the yarn supplying bobbin 21.
As described above, the automatic winder of the second variant includes the winder unit 4, the machine control device 7, and the input section (machine input section 8 and unit input section 18) . The machine control device 7 controls a plurality of winder units 4. The input section can input information related to the yarn supplying bobbin 21. The unit control section 50 acquires the length information based on the information input to the input section (i.e., functions as length information acquiring section) . The unit control section 50 performs a control to determine the start standard position based on the length information, and move the chase portion detection sensor 74 to the start standard position.
Accordingly, by moving the chase portion detection sensor 74 to the start standard position determined based on the input content, the trouble of acquiring (measuring) the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 every time the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is supplied can be saved. Moreover, the collective setting of the length of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 with respect to the plurality of winder units 4 is facilitated.
The suitable embodiment and variants of the present invention have been described above, but the above-described configuration may be modified as below.
In the embodiment and the variants described above, the tubular movable member 72 is used in the unwinding assisting device 12, but instead, a movable member of various shapes such as a plate member having a guide hole, a linear guide member molded with a wire or the like, a polygonal column shaped member, and the like can be used.
In the embodiment and the variants described above, the aligning operation for aligning the yarn supplying bobbin 21 with the unwinding standard position of the unwinding assisting device 12 has been described, but in the aligning of the present invention, the target position is not limited to the unwinding standard position and an arbitrary position may be the target position. Thus, the configuration of the present invention can be applied to the winder unit 4 of a type that does not include the unwinding assisting device 12. In this case, the target position may be a position on an extended line of the center position where the yarn 20 is traversed with respect to the winding bobbin 22, or a position on a vertical line of a guide member for guiding the yarn unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin 21.
In the embodiment and the variants described above, a configuration of driving the discharge plate 40, the bobbin holder 110, and the like using the stepping motor 100 has been described, but instead, a configuration of driving the power transmitting section 120 using a servo motor, a linear motor, a voice coil motor, or the like may be adopted.
In the embodiment and the variants described above, a transmissive photosensor is used for the chase portion detection sensor 74 and the length measuring sensor 57, but instead, a reflective photosensor or the like may be used.
In the embodiment and the variants described above, a gate-type tension applying device is used for the tension applying device 13, but instead, a configuration of applying a predetermined tension on the travelling yarn using the known disc-type tension applying device may be adopted.
The winder unit 4 shown in the embodiment and the variants described above includes the bobbin supplying device 60 with the magazine can 62, but the bobbin supplying device may have an arbitrary configuration as long as the yarn supplying bobbin 21 can be supplied to a predetermined position where the yarn 20 is to be unwound. For example, a column-shaped accommodation member capable of loading and accommodating a plurality of yarn supplying bobbins 21 may be arranged, and the yarn supplying bobbin 21 may be supplied from the accommodation member.
The bobbin supplying device may be a tray-type bobbin supplying device that transports a tray loaded with the yarn supplying bobbin 21 with a conveyor belt to supply the yarn supplying bobbin 21 to the unwinding position. In the winder unit including the tray type bobbin supplying device, the position of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is moved in parallel in the front and back direction to align the position of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 with the target position by switching the transporting direction of the conveyor. An oscillation member for oscillating the tray may be arranged at the unwinding position, and the yarn supplying bobbin 21 may be oscillated in the front and back direction with the tray at the unwinding position to align the position of the unwinding side end of the yarn supplying bobbin 21 with the target position.

Claims

A winding unit (4) that winds a yarn from a yarn supplying bobbin to form a package, characterized by comprising:
a bobbin holding mechanism (110) that holds a yarn supplying bobbin;

a length information acquiring section that acquires length information, which is information related to an axial length of the yarn supplying bobbin;

a position detecting section (74) capable of detecting a position of the yarn supplying bobbin held by the bobbin holding mechanism (110) ;

a storage section (52) that stores information of a target position, which is a position to hold the yarn supplying bobbin when winding a yarn from the yarn supplying bobbin, and information of a position where the position detecting section (74) is arranged; and

a control section (50) that carries out control of moving the position detecting section (74) so that the position detecting section (74) detects the yarn supplying bobbin held by the bobbin holding mechanism (110) based on the length information, and control of moving the yarn supplying bobbin to align the yarn supplying bobbin with the target position based on a detection result of the position detecting section (74) and a storage content of the storage section (52).
The winding unit (4) according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising:
an unwinding assisting device (12) that assists unwinding of a yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin, wherein

the target position is an unwinding standard position of the unwinding assisting device (12); and

the control section (50) moves the yarn supplying bobbin to align the yarn supplying bobbin held by the bobbin holding mechanism (110) with the unwinding standard position of the unwinding assisting device (12).
The winding unit (4) according to claim 2, characterized in that
the unwinding assisting device (12) includes a first assisting member (72) that assists the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin by moving following a change in a chase portion, which is a yarn layer end of the yarn supplying bobbin involved in advancement of a winding operation of a package; and
the position detecting section (74) is a chase portion detection sensor that moves with the first assisting member (72) during an unwinding operation and detects the chase portion.
The winding unit (4) according to claim 3, characterized in that
the chase portion detection sensor also serves as the length information acquiring section, the chase portion detection sensor acquiring the length information from a detection result of a passing yarn supplying bobbin.
The winding unit (4) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the first assisting member (72) and the chase portion detection sensor are driven by a common drive source.
The winding unit (4) according to claim 5, characterized in that a stepping motor is used for the drive source.
The winding unit (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the length information acquiring section is a length measuring sensor (58) that acquires the length information by measuring.
The winding unit (4) according to claim 7, characterized by further comprising:
an unwinding assisting device (12) that assists unwinding of a yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin, wherein

the target position is an unwinding standard position of the unwinding assisting device (12);

the unwinding assisting device (12) includes a first assisting member (72) that assists the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin by moving following a change in a chase portion, which is a yarn layer end of the yarn supplying bobbin involved in advancement of a winding operation of a package;

the position detecting section (74) is a chase portion detection sensor that moves with the first assisting member (72) during an unwinding operation and detects the chase portion; and

the control section (50) adjusts a position of the chase portion detection sensor based on a measurement result of the length measuring sensor (58).
The winding unit (4) according to claim 8, characterized in that
the unwinding assisting device (12) includes a second assisting member (171) that assists the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin on a downstream side in a winding direction of the yarn of the first assisting member (72); and
the control section (50) adjusts a position of the second assisting member (171) based on a measurement result of the length measuring sensor (58).
The winding unit (4) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by further comprising:
a magazine type bobbin supplying device including a plurality of bobbin accommodation holes; and

a bobbin guiding section having a guiding path for guiding the yarn supplying bobbin accommodated in the bobbin accommodation hole to the bobbin holding mechanism (110), wherein

the control section (50) carries out the control to move the yarn supplying bobbin received by the bobbin holding mechanism (110) through the guiding path to the target position; and

the length measuring sensor (58) measures and acquires the length information after the yarn supplying bobbin is accommodated in the bobbin accommodation hole and before the yarn supplying bobbin reaches the target position.
The winding unit (4) according to claim 10, characterized in that the length measuring sensor (58) measures and acquires the length information for a yarn supplying bobbin held in at least any one of the bobbin accommodation holes of the yarn supplying bobbins accommodated in the plurality of bobbin accommodation holes.
The winding unit (4) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that
the bobbin holding mechanism (110) is capable of rotatably moving the received yarn supplying bobbin at least to the target position; and
the length measuring sensor (58) measures and acquires the length information of the yarn supplying bobbin after the bobbin holding mechanism (110) receives the yarn supplying bobbin and before the yarn supplying bobbin is rotatably moved to the target position.
The winding unit (4) according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that
the length measuring sensor (58) includes a plurality of sensor elements capable of detecting presence or absence of an object;
the sensor element is arranged along an axial direction of the yarn supplying bobbin when passing the length measuring sensor (58).
The winding unit (4) according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the length measuring sensor (58) is an area sensor capable of detecting a portion where an object exists in a detection range, and detects the length of the yarn supplying bobbin based on a proportion occupied by the yarn supplying bobbin in the detection range.
An automatic winder (1) characterized by comprising:
a plurality of winding units (4) each identical to the winding unit (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3;

a machine control device (7) that controls the plurality of winding units (4); and

an input section (8), arranged in at least any one of the winding unit (4) and the machine control device (7), that inputs information related to a yarn supplying bobbin, wherein

the length information acquiring section is an input length acquiring section that acquires the length information based on the information input to the input section (8); and

the control section (50) determines a start standard position, which is a position where the position detecting section (74) is caused to wait in advance when aligning the yarn supplying bobbin, based on the length information acquired by the input length acquiring section, and carries out control to move the position detecting section (74) to the start standard position.
The automatic winder (1) according to claim 15, characterized by further comprising:
an unwinding assisting device (12) that assists unwinding of a yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin, wherein

the target position is an unwinding standard position of the unwinding assisting device (12);

the unwinding assisting device (12) includes a first assisting member (72) that assists the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin by moving following a change in a chase portion, which is a yarn layer end of the yarn supplying bobbin involved in advancement of a winding operation of a package;

the position detecting section (74) is a chase portion detection sensor that moves with the first assisting member (72) during an unwinding operation and detects the chase portion; and

the control section (50) adjusts a position of the chase portion detection sensor based on an acquired content of the input length acquiring section.
The automatic winder (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that
the unwinding assisting device (12) includes a second assisting member (171) that assists the unwinding of the yarn of the yarn supplying bobbin on a downstream side in a winding direction of the yarn of the first assisting member (72); and
the control section (50) adjusts a position of the second assisting member (171) based on the length information acquired by the input length acquiring section.
The automatic winder (1) according to claim 15, characterized by comprising:
the length information acquiring section is configured by a first length information acquiring section and a second length information acquiring section;

the first length information acquiring section acquires the length information based on the information input to the input section (8);

the second length information acquiring section acquires the length information by measuring the supplied yarn supplying bobbin; and

the control section (50) carries out control to determine a start standard position, which is a position where the position detecting section (74) is caused to wait in advance, when aligning the yarn supplying bobbin based on the length information acquired by the first length information acquiring section, and control to move the position detecting section (74) based on the length information acquired by the second length information acquiring section when determined that the position detecting section (74) at the start standard position cannot detect the yarn supplying bobbin.
An aligning method of a yarn supplying bobbin by a winding unit (4) that winds a yarn unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin to form a package, the method characterized by comprising:
a first step of moving the yarn supplying bobbin so as to pass a position detecting section (74) capable of detecting a position of the yarn supplying bobbin;

a second step of moving the position detecting section (74) when the position detecting section (74) cannot detect the yarn supplying bobbin;

a third step of again moving the yarn supplying bobbin towards the position detecting section (74), causing the position detecting section (74) detect the yarn supplying bobbin, and determining an initiation standard position for aligning the yarn supplying bobbin; and

a fourth step of moving the yarn supplying bobbin from the determined initiation standard position by a preset distance to align the position of the yarn supplying bobbin with a target position, which is a position where the yarn supplying bobbin is to be held.
An aligning method of a yarn supplying bobbin by a winding unit (4) that winds a yarn unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin to form a package, the method characterized by comprising:
a first step of acquiring length information, which is information related to an axial length of the yarn supplying bobbin, by measuring with a length measuring sensor (58);

a second step of moving a position detecting section (74) capable of detecting a position of the yarn supplying bobbin based on the length information acquired by the length measuring sensor (58);

a third step of moving the yarn supplying bobbin towards the position detecting section (74), causing the position detecting section (74) to detect the yarn supplying bobbin, and determining an initiation standard position for aligning the yarn supplying bobbin; and

a fourth step of acquiring an adjusting distance indicating a distance from the initiation standard position to a target position, which is a position where the yarn supplying bobbin is to be held, based on the position of the position detecting section (74) and the position of the yarn supplying bobbin, moving the yarn supplying bobbin from the initiation standard position by a distance based on the adjusting distance, and aligning the position of the yarn supplying bobbin with the target position.
An aligning method of a yarn supplying bobbin by an automatic winder (1) including a plurality of winding units (4) that wind a yarn unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin to form a package and a machine control section (7) that controls the plurality of winding units (4), the method characterized by comprising:
a first step of acquiring length information, which is information related to an axial length of the yarn supplying bobbin, based on information related to the yarn supplying bobbin input to an input section (8) arranged in at least any one of the winding unit (4) and the machine control device (7);

a second step of determining a start standard position, which is a position where a position detecting section (74) is caused to wait in advance when aligning the yarn supplying bobbin based on the acquired length information, and moving the position detecting section (74) to the start standard position;

a third step of moving the yarn supplying bobbin towards the position detecting section (74), causing the position detecting section (74) detect the yarn supplying bobbin, and determining an initiation standard position for aligning the yarn supplying bobbin; and

a fourth step of acquiring an adjusting distance indicating a distance from the initiation standard position to a target position, which is a position where the yarn supplying bobbin is to be held, based on the position of the position detecting section (74) and the position of the yarn supplying bobbin, moving the yarn supplying bobbin from the initiation standard position by a distance based on the adjusting distance, and aligning the position of the yarn supplying bobbin with the target position.