EP4269305A1

EP4269305A1 - Winding device

Info

Publication number: EP4269305A1
Application number: EP23167531.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hidekazu Chikada
Original assignee: TMT Machinery Inc
Current assignee: TMT Machinery Inc
Priority date: 2022-04-27
Filing date: 2023-04-12
Publication date: 2023-11-01
Also published as: CN116946801A; JP2023162756A; TW202342838A

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to suppress the increase in height of a winding device.

A winding device 21 includes a cradle arm 30, a package storage unit 50 provided on one side of a vertical plane F passing an axial center of a bobbin holder 70 supported by the cradle arm 30 at a release position, a stocker 60 provided on the other side of the vertical plane F, and a movement mechanism 80 configured to move the stocker 60 between a standby position and a supply position. The movement mechanism 80 is configured to move the stocker 60 linearly between the standby position and the supply position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a winding device.
Patent Literature 1 ( Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-47074 ) discloses a false-twist texturing machine including: a false-twisting device configured to perform false twisting for a yarn supplied from a yarn supplying unit; and a winding device configured to wind the false-twisted yarn. The winding device includes a cradle which rotatably supports a pair of bobbin holders, and is configured to form a package by winding the yarn onto a bobbin (take-up tube in Patent Literature 1) attached to one of the bobbin holders.
When the formation of a fully-wound package is completed in such a winding device, this package is detached from the cradle and a new bobbin is supplied to the cradle. Patent Literature 2 ( Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H9-86799 ) describes a winding device (doffing device in Patent Literature 2) including: a package storage unit (guide rail in Patent Literature 2) which supports packages detached from the cradle; and a stocker (take-up tube stocker in Patent Literature 2) which houses aligned empty bobbins which are to be supplied to the cradle.
In the winding device of Patent Literature 2, the stocker is rotatably supported by a rotational axis via a support bracket. The rotational axis is provided below the stocker. When the yarn is wound, the stocker is at a standby position (shown in FIG. 2 of Patent Literature 2) provided above the package storage unit. When a bobbin is supplied to the cradle, the stocker swings about the rotational axis so as to be at a supply position provided below the standby position and in a right part of the sheet of FIG. 2 in Patent Literature 2 (hereinafter, this part will be simply referred to as the right side while a left part of the sheet will be simply referred to as the left side).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 2 of Patent Literature 2, when the stocker is at the standby position, the support bracket supporting the stocker is inclined obliquely upward and leftward from the rotational axis. Meanwhile, when the stocker at the standby position is moved to the supply position, the support bracket shown in FIG. 2 of Patent Literature 2 swings clockwise so as to be inclined obliquely upward and rightward from the rotational axis. In other words, while the stocker is moved from the standby position to the supply position, the support bracket inclined obliquely upward and leftward temporarily stands in an upright posture and then is inclined obliquely upward and rightward. That is, while the stocker connected to the support bracket is being moved from the standby position to the supply position, the stocker passes a position provided above the standby position and the supply position. Therefore, a space is required above the winding device so that the stocker does not interfere with any member during the movement from the standby position to the supply position. However, such a space increases the actual height of the winding device.
An object of the present invention is to suppress the increase in height of a winding device.
A winding device of the present invention includes: a cradle which is able to rotatably support a bobbin holder, to form a package by winding a yarn onto a bobbin gripped by the bobbin holder, and to release the package gripped by the bobbin holder; a package storage unit configured to store the package released from the cradle; a stocker configured to store the bobbin which is to be supplied to the cradle; and a movement mechanism configured to move the stocker between a standby position and a supply position where the bobbin is supplied to the cradle at a release position, the package gripped by the bobbin holder being released at the release position. In this regard, the package storage unit is provided on one side of a vertical plane passing an axial center of the bobbin holder supported by the cradle at the release position, the stocker at the standby position is provided on the other side of the vertical plane, and the movement mechanism is configured to move the stocker linearly between the standby position and the supply position.
According to the present invention, the stocker is linearly movable from the standby position to the supply position. With this arrangement, when the stocker is being moved from the standby position to the supply position, the stocker does not pass a position provided above the standby position and the supply position. Therefore, a space above the winding device is unnecessary. However, when the stocker is linearly moved while being provided above the package storage unit as shown in, e.g., Patent Literature 2, the position of the stocker is high in the vertical direction. This puts a limit on the decrease in height of the winding device. This is because, when the package released from the cradle is sent to the package storage unit while passing under the stocker, the distance between the stocker and the package storage unit needs to be large enough for the package to pass. In the present invention, the stocker is provided on the side opposite to the package storage unit over the vertical plane. With this arrangement, while being provided at a low position in the vertical direction, the stocker is able to avoid passing a position provided above the standby position and the supply position. It is therefore possible to effectively decrease the height of the winding device.
In the winding device of the present invention, preferably, a front end portion of the stocker is close to the cradle at the release position and is provided with a regulatory portion whose state is switchable between a regulatory state in which the bobbin stored in the stocker is prevented from dropping off from the stocker and a release state in which the regulatory state is cancelled, and the regulatory portion is switched to the release state when the stocker reaches the supply position.
According to the present invention, the regulatory portion in the regulatory state prevents the bobbin from dropping off from the stocker until the stocker reaches the supply position. When the stocker is at the supply position, the regulatory portion is in the release state. Because of this, the regulatory portion does not disturb the supply of the bobbin from the stocker to the cradle. It is therefore possible to properly supply the bobbin from the stocker to the cradle while reliably storing bobbin in the stocker.
In the winding device of the present invention, preferably, the stocker includes a first rotational axis extending along an axial direction of the bobbin holder, the regulatory portion includes a contact part which is able to make contact with the bobbin holder supported by the cradle at the release position, the regulatory portion is switched from the regulatory state to the release state by rotating about the first rotational axis in a first direction in such a way that the contact part is pushed by the bobbin holder as the stocker is moved from the standby position to the supply position, and the regulatory portion is switched from the release state to the regulatory state by rotating about the first rotational axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction in such a way that contact between the contact part and the bobbin holder is released as the stocker is moved from the supply position to the standby position.
According to the present invention, the regulatory portion is switched between the release state and the regulatory state depending on whether the contact part makes contact with the bobbin holder in accordance with the movement of the stocker. It is therefore unnecessary to provide a drive source for switching the state of the regulatory portion.
In the winding device of the present invention, preferably, the stocker further includes a stopper with which the regulatory portion rotating in the first direction is able to make contact, the contact part is pushed by the bobbin holder and the regulatory portion rotates in the first direction when the stocker reaches the supply position, and a further rotation of the regulatory portion in the first direction is regulated in such a way that the regulatory portion makes contact with the regulatory portion.
As the stocker is moved to the supply position, the regulatory portion rotates in the first direction. According to the present invention, such a rotation of the regulatory portion is regulated in such a way that the regulatory portion makes contact with the stopper. With this arrangement, the contact part of the regulatory portion is prevented from being pushed further by the bobbin holder. That is, the movement of the stocker is regulated. It is therefore possible to avoid the further movement of the stocker across the supply position, and to properly supply the bobbin from the stocker to the cradle.
In the winding device of the present invention, preferably, the stocker further includes a second regulatory portion configured to suppress the bobbin stored in the stocker from coming out from the stocker over the bobbin holder when the stocker is at the supply position and the regulatory portion is in the release state.
When the stocker is moved from the standby position to the supply position, the force of inertia acts on the bobbin. Because of this, after the stocker reaches the supply position, the bobbin is about to be moved over the cradle at the release position along a direction in which the stocker is moved. However, when the stocker is at the supply position, the regulatory portion is in the release state and the movement of the bobbin is not regulated. The bobbin stored in the stocker may be therefore moved over the cradle. In this case, the bobbin is not properly supplied to the cradle. In the present invention, the second regulatory portion is provided. With this arrangement, when the stocker reaches the supply position, the bobbin is suppressed from moving over the cradle at the release position because of the inertial force. It is therefore possible to further reliably supply the bobbin from the stocker to the cradle.
In the winding device of the present invention, preferably, the front end portion of the stocker is close to the cradle at the release position and provided with a front end supporter configured to support the bobbin from below, the front end supporter is able to take a regulatory posture to prevent the bobbin from dropping off from the stocker and is rotatable about a second rotational axis extending along the axial direction of the bobbin holder, and the stocker further includes a biasing member configured to bias the front end supporter to take the regulatory posture. In this regard, when the stocker is moved from the supply position to the standby position, the front end supporter is pushed by the bobbin supported by the cradle at the release position so that the front end supporter rotates about the second rotational axis against biasing force of the biasing member to avoid the bobbin.
In the present invention, the front end supporter is provided. With this arrangement, the bobbin stored in the stocker is prevented from dropping off from the stocker. However, when the stocker is moved back to the standby position after the supply of the bobbin from the stocker to the cradle is completed, the front end supporter preventing the bobbin from dropping off from the stocker may disturb the movement of the stocker by being hooked by the bobbin supported by the cradle. In the present invention, when the stocker is moved from the supply position to the standby position, the front end supporter rotates so as to avoid the bobbin supported by the cradle. It is therefore possible to avoid a case where the front end supporter disturbs the movement of the stocker toward the standby position by being hooked by the bobbin supported by the cradle. As a result, the stocker is smoothly moved back to the standby position after the supply of the bobbin to the cradle is completed. Furthermore, the winding of the yarn is swiftly performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a profile of a false-twist texturing machine of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a winding device.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the winding device when a cradle arm is at a release position.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the winding device when a stocker is at a supply position.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a front part of the stocker.
FIG. 6 shows the stocker which is being moved from a standby position to the supply position.
FIG. 7 shows the stocker at the supply position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following will describe an embodiment of the present invention with reference to figures.

(Overall Structure of False-Twist Texturing Machine 1)

FIG. 1 is a profile showing the outline of a false-twist texturing machine 1 of the present embodiment. Hereinafter, a vertical direction to the sheet of FIG. 1 is defined as a base longitudinal direction, and a left-right direction to the sheet is defined as a base width direction. A direction orthogonal to the base longitudinal direction and the base width direction is defined as a vertical direction in which the gravity acts. These definitions of the directions will be suitably used hereinbelow.
The false-twist texturing machine 1 is able to perform false twisting of yarns Y made of, e.g., synthetic fibers such as nylon (polyamide fibers). The false-twist texturing machine 1 includes a yarn supplying unit 2 provided for supplying yarns Y, a processing unit 3 configured to perform false twisting for the yarns Y (i.e., to false-twist the yarns Y) supplied from the yarn supplying unit 2, and a winding unit 4 configured to wind the yarns Y processed by the processing unit 3 onto bobbins Bw. The yarn supplying unit 2, the processing unit 3, and the winding unit 4 include structural elements, and the structural elements are provided to form plural lines in the base longitudinal direction orthogonal to a yarn running surface (surface orthogonal to a direction in which FIG. 1 is viewed) in which yarn paths are provided to extend from the yarn supplying unit 2 to the winding unit 4 via the processing unit 3.

(Yarn Supplying Unit 2)

The yarn supplying unit 2 includes a creel stand 7 retaining yarn supply packages Ps, and is configured to supply the yarns Y to the processing unit 3. In the processing unit 3, the following members are provided in this order from the upstream side in a yarn running direction: each first feed roller 11; each twist-stopping guide 12; each first heater 13; each cooler 14; each false-twisting device 15; a second feed roller 16; an interlacing device 17; a third feed roller 18; a second heater 19; and a fourth feed roller 20. The winding unit 4 is configured to wind the yarns Y false-twisted by the processing unit 3 onto the bobbins Bw by means of winding devices 21, so as to form wound packages Pw.
The false-twist texturing machine 1 further includes a main base 8 and a winding base 9 which are spaced apart from each other in the base width direction. The main base 8 and the winding base 9 are provided to extend in a substantially same length in the base longitudinal direction and to oppose each other. An upper part of the main base 8 is connected to an upper part of the winding base 9 by a supporting frame 10. Each device forming the processing unit 3 is mainly attached to the main base 8 or the supporting frame 10. The main base 8, the winding base 9, and the supporting frame 10 form a working space 22 in which an operator performs an operation such as yarn threading to each device. The yarn paths are formed so that the yarns Y mainly run around the working space 22.
The false-twist texturing machine 1 includes units termed spans each of which includes a pair of the main base 8 and the winding base 9 provided to oppose each other. In one span, each device is provided so that the yarns Y running while being aligned in the base longitudinal direction are simultaneously false-twisted. For example, sixteen winding devices 21 provided to form four rows and four columns are provided for the winding base 9 included in one span. In the false-twist texturing machine 1, the spans are provided in a left-right symmetrical manner to the sheet, with a center line C of the base width direction of the main base 8 being set as a symmetry axis (main base 8 is shared between the left span and the right span). Furthermore, the spans are aligned in the base longitudinal direction.

(Processing Unit)

The following will describe each structural element of the processing unit 3. Each first feed roller 11 is configured to send a yarn Y, which is supplied from the yarn supplying unit 2, to one first heater 13. Each first feed roller 11 is provided above the winding base 9 (see FIG. 1). The first feed rollers 11 are aligned in the base longitudinal direction.
Each twist-stopping guide 12 prevents twisting, which is applied to a yarn Y by one false-twisting device 15 described later, from being propagated to the upstream side of each twist-stopping guide 12 in the yarn running direction. Each twist-stopping guide 12 is provided downstream of one first feed roller 11 in the yarn running direction and upstream of one first heater 13 in the yarn running direction. For example, the twist-stopping guides 12 are provided for yarns Y supplied from the yarn supplying unit 2, respectively, and aligned in the base longitudinal direction.
Each first heater 13 is configured to heat a yarn Y sent from one first feed roller 11, and provided at the supporting frame 10 (see FIG. 1). The first heaters 13 are provided for yarns Y supplied from the yarn supplying unit 2, and aligned in the base longitudinal direction.
Each cooler 14 is configured to cool a yarn Y heated by one first heater 13. Each cooler 14 is provided downstream of the first heater 13 in the yarn running direction and upstream of one false-twisting device 15 in the yarn running direction. The coolers 14 are provided for yarns Y supplied from the yarn supplying unit 2, and aligned in the base longitudinal direction.
Each false-twisting device 15 is configured to twist a yarn Y. Each false-twisting device 15 is provided directly downstream of one cooler 14 in the yarn running direction. The false-twisting devices 15 are aligned in the base longitudinal direction. For example, sixteen false-twisting devices 15 are provided in one span.
The second feed roller 16 is configured to send at least one yarn Y twisted by at least one false-twisting device 15 toward the interlacing device 17. The second feed roller 16 is provided downstream of the false-twisting device 15 in the yarn running direction in the main base 8. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by the second feed roller 16 is higher than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by each first feed roller 11. The yarn Y is therefore drawn between the first feed roller 11 and the second feed roller 16.
The interlacing device 17 is configured to interlace at least one yarn Y by injecting air thereto. The interlacing device 17 is provided below the second feed roller 16 in the main base 8.
The third feed roller 18 is configured to send at least one yarn Y interlaced by the interlacing device 17 toward the second heater 19. The third feed roller 18 is provided below the interlacing device 17 in the main base 8. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by the third feed roller 18 is lower than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by the second feed roller 16. The yarn Y is therefore relaxed between the second feed roller 16 and the third feed roller 18.
The second heater 19 is configured to heat at least one yarn Y supplied from the third feed roller 18. The second heater 19 is provided below the third feed roller 18 in the main base 8. The second heater 19 extends along an up-down direction, and is provided for each span.
The fourth feed roller 20 is configured to send at least one yarn Y thermally treated by the second heater 19 toward at least one winding device 21. The fourth feed roller 20 is provided at a lower part of the winding base 9. The conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by the fourth feed roller 20 is lower than the conveyance speed of conveying the yarn Y by the third feed roller 18. The yarn Y is therefore relaxed between the third feed roller 18 and the fourth feed roller 20.
In the processing unit 3 arranged as described above, each yarn Y drawn between the first feed roller 11 and the second feed roller 16 is twisted by the false-twisting device 15. The twist formed by the false-twisting device 15 is propagated to the twist-stopping guide 12, but is not propagated to the upstream side of the twist-stopping guide 12 in the yarn running direction. The yarn Y which is twisted and drawn is heated by the first heater 13 and thermally set. After that, the yarn Y is cooled by the cooler 14. The yarn Y is untwisted on the downstream side of the false-twisting device 15. However, each filament is maintained to be wavy in shape on account of the thermal setting described above. After being false-twisted by the false-twisting device 15, the yarn Y is interlaced by the interlacing device 17 while being relaxed between the second feed roller 16 and the third feed roller 18. Subsequently, the yarn Y is guided to the downstream side in the yarn running direction. Furthermore, the yarn Y is thermally set by the second heater 19 while being relaxed between the third feed roller 18 and the fourth feed roller 20. Finally, the yarn Y sent from the fourth feed roller 20 is wound by the winding device 21. As a result, each wound package Pw is formed.

(Winding Unit 4)

The winding unit 4 includes plural winding devices 21. Each winding device 21 is configured to form a wound package Pw (package of the present invention) by winding a yarn Y sent from the fourth feed roller 20 onto a bobbin Bw. The bobbin Bw is, e.g., a cylindrical member.
As shown in FIG. 2, each winding device 21 includes a pair of cradle arms 30 (cradle of the present invention), a contact roller 40, a package storage unit 50, a stocker 60, and a movement mechanism 80. FIG. 2 shows one wound package Pw which is being formed by the winding device 21.
The pair of cradle arms 30 are provided to oppose each other in the base longitudinal direction. The pair of cradle arms 30 are able to rotatably support a pair of bobbin holders 70. The pair of cradle arms 30 are able to sandwich the bobbin Bw through each bobbin holder 70. At the cradle arms 30, the wound package Pw is formed in such a way that the yarn Y is wound onto the bobbin Bw gripped by the bobbin holder 70. As the pair of cradle arms 30 are opened in the base longitudinal direction, the grepped wound package Pw (or bobbin Bw) is released from the bobbin holder 70. The pair of cradle arms 30 are movable between a winding position and a release position by rotating about a swing axis 31 extending in the base longitudinal direction which is an axial direction of the bobbin holder 70. As shown in FIG. 2, the winding position is a position where the wound package Pw is formed in such a way that the yarn Y is wound onto the bobbin Bw attached to the bobbin holder 70. Each cradle arm 30 is structured so that, as the diameter of the wound package Pw supported by the cradle arms 30 increases, a center x1 of the wound package Pw is moved toward one side in the base width direction (the left side of the sheet of FIG. 2). In other words, as the diameter of the wound package Pw onto which the yarn Y is being wound increases, the winding position of the cradle arms 30 is moved toward one side in the base width direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the release position is a position of the cradle arms 30 when the wound package Pw gripped by the bobbin holder 70 is released. At this position, the released wound package Pw can be sent to the package storage unit 50. The center x1 of the wound package Pw supported by the cradle arms 30 is substantially identical with an axial center of the bobbin holder 70.
The contact roller 40 is rotationally driven in a constant direction while being in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the bobbin Bw or the wound packages Pw, and is therefore able to wind the yarn Y by rotating the bobbin Bw. The contact roller 40 is driven in so-called line control and connected to a drive shaft shared between the winding devices 21, i.e., the spindles. In this regard, the contact roller 40 is driven by an unillustrated motor. As shown in FIG. 3, the contact roller 40 is provided on the other side of a vertical plane F passing the axial center of the bobbin holder 70 supported by the cradle arms 30 at the release position. In the present embodiment, the vertical plane F is in parallel to the vertical direction and the base longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, the other side of the vertical plane F indicates the other side (the right side of the sheet of FIG. 3) of the vertical plane F in the base width direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the position of the contact roller 40 is lower than that of the stocker 60 in the vertical direction.
The package storage unit 50 is configured to store each wound package Pw released from the cradle arms 30 at the release position. In the present embodiment, the package storage unit 50 is able to store two wound packages Pw at the maximum. As shown in FIG. 3, the package storage unit 50 is provided on one side of the vertical plane F. In the present embodiment, one side of the vertical plane F indicates one side (the left side of the sheet of FIG. 3) of the vertical plane F in the base width direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the package storage unit 50 includes two rails 53 provided to oppose each other in the base longitudinal direction. FIG. 2 shows only one rail 53 provided in front of wound packages Pw stored in the package storage unit 50, when viewed in the base longitudinal direction (i.e., provided on the near side in the base longitudinal direction: this side will be used in the following description). However, when viewed in the base longitudinal direction, the other rail 53 is actually provided behind those wound packages Pw stored in the package storage unit 50 (i.e., provided on the far side in the base longitudinal direction: this side will be used in the following description). The distance between the two rails 53 is slightly shorter than the width of the bobbin Bw in the base longitudinal direction, and is longer than the width of each wound package Pw in the base longitudinal direction. In this regard, the wound package Pw is formed in such a way that the yarn Y is wound onto the bobbin Bw. The wound package Pw sent to the package storage unit 50 is supported from below by upper surfaces 51 of two rails 53. To be more specific, both ends of the bobbin Bw on which the wound package Pw is formed are supported from below by the upper surfaces 51 of two rails 53.
As shown in FIG. 3, the package storage unit 50 is inclined downward to form a slope in the base width direction and in a direction away from the vertical plane F. That is, the package storage unit 50 is provided so that its one end on one side in the base width direction of the package storage unit 50 (in a left part of the package storage unit 50 on the sheet of FIG. 3) is lower than its the other end on the other side in the base width direction of the package storage unit 50 (in a right part of the package storage unit 50 on the sheet of FIG. 3) . The rails 53 of the package storage unit 50 are inclined downward in the same manner as the package storage unit 50. That is, each rail 53 is provided so that its one end on one side in the base width direction of each rail 53 is lower than its the other end on the other side in the base width direction of each rail 53. With this arrangement, the wound package Pw released from the cradle arms 30 rolls down toward one side in the base width direction along the top surfaces 51 of the rails 53 inclined downward. In this regard, a member (not illustrated) provided for preventing the wound package Pw from falling off from the package storage unit 50 in the base width direction is formed at one end of the package storage unit 50 on one side in the base width direction of the package storage unit 50.
When yarn breakage occurs while the yarn Y is being wound by the winding device 21, the package storage unit 50 stores not only a fully-wound package Pw but also a wound package Pw in which the winding of the yarn Y is not completed.
The stocker 60 is configured to store each bobbin Bw which is to be supplied to the cradle arms 30. In the present embodiment, the stocker 60 is able to store four bobbins Bw at the maximum. Each bobbin Bw stored in the stocker 60 is an empty bobbin Bw on which no yarn Y is wound. As shown in FIG. 2, the stocker 60 is provided to form a slope so that its front end portion on one side in the base width direction of the stocker 60 is lower than its rear end portion on the other side in the base width direction of the stocker 60. Hereinafter, a direction in which the stocker 60 extends is referred to as an extending direction (see FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 2, the position of the stocker 60 is higher than that of the package storage unit 50 and that of the contact roller 40 in the vertical direction. The stocker 60 will be detailed later.
The movement mechanism 80 is configured to move the stocker 60 linearly between a standby position and a supply position. The standby position is a position of the stocker 60 on standby (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) when the stocker 60 does not supply the bobbin Bw to the cradle arm 30. To be more specific, the standby position is a position of the stocker 60 on standby when the yarn Y is wound onto the bobbin Bw supported by the cradle arms 30 or when the wound package Pw is released from the cradle arms 30 at the release position and sent to the package storage unit 50. The stocker 60 at the standby position is able to avoid the contact with the bobbin Bw or wound package Pw supported by the cradle arms 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the stocker 60 at the standby position is provided on the other side of the vertical plane F. The supply position is a position of the stocker 60 (see FIG. 4) to supply a new bobbin Bw to the bobbin holder 70 which are supported by the cradle arms 30 at the release position and from which a bobbin Bw, on which the wound package Pw is formed, is detached. As shown in FIG. 4, when the stocker 60 is at the supply position, an axial center of one of bobbins Bw is identical with the axial center of the bobbin holder 70 supported by the cradle arms 30 at the release position. In this regard, the bobbins Bw are stored in the stocker 60 and the one of the bobbins Bw is closest to one end of the stocker 60 on one side in the base width direction.
The movement mechanism 80 is, e.g., an actuator connected to the stocker 60. As the actuator drives, the stocker 60 is moved linearly between the standby position and the supply position. In the present embodiment, the stocker 60 is attached to a lower part of the movement mechanism 80.

(Stocker 60)

The following will detail the stocker 60 with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 7. The stocker 60 includes a supporting surface 61, regulatory portions 62, stoppers 63, second regulatory portions 64, a front end supporter 65, and a rotational axis 66 (corresponding to a first rotational axis and second rotational axis of the present invention).
The supporting surface 61 is provided to support the bobbins Bw stored in the stocker 60 from below. As shown in FIG. 2, the supporting surface 61 is inclined downward to form a slope so that its one end on one side in the base width direction of the supporting surface 61 is lower than its the other end on the other side in the base width direction of the supporting surface 61. In other words, the supporting surface 61 extends along the extending direction of the stocker 60. With this arrangement, each bobbin Bw stored in the stocker 60 is moved toward one side in the base width direction along the inclined supporting surface 61.
As shown in FIG. 2, the rotational axis 66 extends along the axial direction of the bobbin holder 70, i.e., the base longitudinal direction. The rotational axis 66 is provided at one end of a lower part of the stocker 60 on one side in the base width direction of the stocker 60.
Each regulatory portion 62 is configured to prevent the bobbin Bw stored in the stocker 60 from dropping off from the stocker 60. The regulatory portions 62 are provided to oppose each other in the base longitudinal direction. The distance between the regulatory portions 62 provided to oppose each other is longer than the width of each bobbin Bw in the base longitudinal direction. The regulatory portions 62 are switchable between a regulatory state (see FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 6) in which each bobbin Bw stored in the stocker 60 is prevented from dropping off from the stocker 60 and a release state (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 7) in which the regulatory state is cancelled. As the stocker 60 is moved from the standby position to the supply position, each regulatory portion 62 rotates about the rotational axis 66 in a first direction D1 (indicated by a solid arrow in FIG. 6) to be switched from the regulatory state to the release state. The first direction D1 is a clockwise direction in FIG. 6. As the stocker 60 is moved from the supply position to the standby position, each regulatory portion 62 rotates about the rotational axis 66 in a second direction opposite to the first direction D1 to be switched from the release state to the regulatory state. The second direction is a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6. The switching of the state of the regulatory portions 62 will be detailed later. As shown in FIG. 5, two regulatory portions 62 are provided to oppose in the base longitudinal direction. The distance between two regulatory portions 62 is slightly longer than the width of the bobbin Bw in the base longitudinal direction.
As shown in FIG. 5, each regulatory portion 62 includes a claw portion 62a, an arm unit 62b, and a contact part 62c. The claw portion 62a is configured to prevent each bobbin Bw stored in the stocker 60 from dropping off from the stocker 60 by regulating the movement of the bobbin Bw toward one side in the base width direction along the supporting surface 61. The claw portion 62a is connected to the rotational axis 66 through the arm unit 62b. The claw portion 62a is a plate-shaped.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the claw portion 62a extends toward one side in the base width direction and downward from one leading end part of the arm unit 62b. This leading end part of the arm unit 62b is opposite to the other end part of the arm unit 62b, which is connected to the rotational axis 66. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, when the regulatory portion 62 is in the regulatory state, the claw portion 62a is in contact with an upper part of one of bobbins Bw on one side in the base width direction. The bobbins Bw are stored in the stocker 60, and the one of the bobbins Bw is closest to one end of the stocker 60 on one side in the base width direction. In this way, the claw portion 62a regulates the movement of each bobbin Bw along the inclined supporting surface 61. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, when the regulatory portion 62 is in the release state, the contact of the claw portion 62a with each bobbin Bw stored in the stocker 60 is avoided. The regulation of movement of the bobbin Bw by the claw portion 62a is therefore released.
The arm unit 62b is connected to the rotational axis 66 and the claw portion 62a. The arm unit 62b is able to regulate the movement of one of the bobbins Bw in the base longitudinal direction. The bobbins Bw are stored in the stocker 60, and the one of the bobbins Bw is closest to one end of the stocker 60 on one side in the base width direction. To be more specific, an arm unit 62b of one regulatory portion 62 provided on the near side in the base longitudinal direction is configured to regulate the movement of the bobbins Bw stored in the stocker 60 toward the near side in the base longitudinal direction. Meanwhile, an arm unit 62b of the other regulatory portion 62 provided on the far side in the base longitudinal direction is configured to regulate the movement of the bobbins Bw stored in the stocker 60 toward the far side in the base longitudinal direction.
The contact part 62c is able to make contact with the bobbin holder 70 supported by the cradle arms 30 at the release position. As shown in FIG. 5, the contact part 62c is provided on one side of the arm unit 62b in the base width direction. As the stocker 60 is moved from the standby position to the supply position, the contact part 62c makes contact with the bobbin holder 70 supported by the cradle arms 30 at the release position.
Each stopper 63 is able to make contact with a corresponding regulatory portion 62 rotating in the first direction D1. To be more specific, each stopper 63 is able to make contact with an upper part of a corresponding arm unit 62b on the other side of the arm unit 62b in the base width direction (see FIG. 7). The stoppers 63 are provided to oppose each other in the base longitudinal direction. Each stopper 63 is provided at an upper part of the stocker 60. To be more specific, when (i) four bobbins Bw are stored in the stocker 60 and (ii) the bobbins Bw are numbered as a first, second, third, and fourth bobbin Bw in order from one of the bobbins Bw which is provided on one side of other bobbins Bw in the base width direction, the stopper 63 is provided above the second bobbin Bw. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, when the stocker 60 reaches the supply position, the regulatory portion 62 rotating in the first direction D1 makes contact with the stopper 63 so as not to rotate further in the first direction D1.
Each second regulatory portion 64 is configured to suppress the bobbins Bw stored in the stocker 60 from coming out from the stocker 60 over the bobbin holder 70 when the stocker 60 is at the supply position and the regulatory portion 62 is in the release state. As shown in FIG. 5, each second regulatory portion 64 extends toward one side in the base width direction (the left side of the sheet of FIG. 5) and downward from one end of the upper part of the stocker 60. This end of the upper part of the stocker 60 is provided on one side in the base width direction. Each second regulatory portion 64 is, e.g., an elastic member such as a plate spring. When the stocker 60 is moved from the supply position to the standby position after finishing the handover of a bobbin Bw to the cradle arms 30, each second regulatory portion 64 may disturb the movement of the stocker 60 by being hooked by the bobbin Bw supported by the cradle arms 30. In this regard, each second regulatory portion 64 is an elastic member. Therefore, even when the stocker 60 is moved from the supply position to the standby position and each second regulatory portion 64 makes contact with the bobbin Bw supported by the cradle arms 30, each second regulatory portion 64 is pushed upward and warped by the bobbin Bw. It is therefore possible to suppress each second regulatory portion 64 from being hooked by the bobbin Bw supported by the cradle arms 30 when the stocker 60 is moved from the supply position to the standby position. As shown in FIG. 5, in the base longitudinal direction, two second regulatory portions 64 are provided on both sides of the center of the stocker 60 and between two regulatory portions 62.
The front end supporter 65 is configured to support one of bobbins Bw from below. The bobbins Bw are stored in the stocker 60, and the one of the bobbins Bw is closest to one end of the stocker 60 on one side in the base width direction. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, a front end of the lower part of the stocker 60 is close to the cradle arms 30 at the release position and provided with the front end supporter 65. As shown in FIG. 5, the front end supporter 65 extends in the base longitudinal direction. In the front end supporter 65, a part closest to the package storage unit 50 is V-shaped when viewed in the base longitudinal direction of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The front end supporter 65 is formed of, e.g., a plate metal or resin.
The front end supporter 65 is able to take a regulatory posture to prevent each bobbin Bw from dropping off from the stocker 60. When the front end supporter 65 is in the regulatory posture, the bobbin Bw is fitted to the V-shaped part of the front end supporter 65 so as to be prevented from dropping off from the stocker 60 (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 7). As the bobbin Bw is fitted to the V-shaped part of the front end supporter 65 in the regulatory posture, the bobbin Bw is accurately positioned. As a result, when the stocker 60 is at the supply position, the handover of the bobbin Bw to the bobbin holder 70 supported by the cradle arms 30 at the release position is properly performed. The front end supporter 65 is rotatable about the rotational axis 66. In the present embodiment, the rotational axis 66 is shared by each regulatory portion 62 and the front end supporter 65.
The stocker 60 includes each biasing member 67. The biasing member 67 is configured to bias and cause the front end supporter 65, which is rotatable about the rotational axis 66, to take the regulatory posture. The biasing member 67 is, e.g., a spring. In the present embodiment, the biasing member 67 is configured to bias and cause the regulatory portion 62, which is rotatable about the rotational axis 66, to be in the regulatory state.

(Supply of Bobbin Bw From Stocker 60 to Cradle Arms 30)

The following will describe how the stocker 60 is moved between the standby position and the supply position at the time of supply of a bobbin Bw to the cradle arms 30 and how each structural element is operated in accordance with this movement.
As described above, when a yarn Y is being wound by the winding device 21 and when a wound package Pw is released from the cradle arms 30 at the release position and sent to the package storage unit 50, the stocker 60 is at the standby position (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). When the stocker 60 is at the standby position, each regulatory portion 62 is in the regulatory state and the front end supporter 65 is in the regulatory posture (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3).
As the wound package Pw is released from the cradle arms 30 at the release position and sent to the package storage unit 50, the movement mechanism 80 moves the stocker 60 linearly from the standby position to the supply position. In the present embodiment, the stocker 60 at the standby position is linearly moved in an oblique direction which is downward and toward one side in the base width direction (moved in a leftward and downward direction on the sheet of FIG. 3). In the present embodiment, the extending direction of the stocker 60 is substantially identical with a direction in which the stocker 60 is moved. FIG. 6 shows the stocker 60 which is being moved from the standby position to the supply position.
While the stocker 60 is being moved from the standby position to the supply position, each contact part 62c makes contact with a corresponding bobbin holder 70 supported by one of the cradle arms 30 at the release position. To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a contact part 62c of one regulatory portion 62 provided on the far side in the base longitudinal direction makes contact with one bobbin holder 70 provided on the far side in the base longitudinal direction, and a contact part 62c of the other regulatory portion 62 provided on the near side in the base longitudinal direction makes contact with the other bobbin holder 70 provided on the near side in the base longitudinal direction. As the stocker 60 is moved further to the supply position after each contact part 62c makes contact with a corresponding bobbin holder 70, the contact part 62c is pushed by the bobbin holder 70. Because of this, the regulatory portion 62 of the stocker 60 rotates about the rotational axis 66 in the first direction D1 (see FIG. 6) to be switched from the regulatory state to the release state. When the stocker 60 reaches the supply position, the regulatory portion 62 is switched to the release state (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 7). Each of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 does not illustrate a cradle arm 30 and a bobbin holder 70 which are provided on the near side in the base longitudinal direction.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the stocker 60 is at the supply position, the regulatory portion 62 is in contact with the stopper 63. This regulates the further rotation of the regulatory portion 62 in the first direction D1. In other words, each regulatory portion 62 is sandwiched between (i) a bobbin holder 70 supported by a cradle arm 30 at the release position and (ii) a stopper 63 so that the rotation of the regulatory portion 62 and the further movement of the stocker 60 across the supply position are regulated.
When the stocker 60 reaches the supply position, one of bobbins Bw stored in the stocker 60 is attached to the bobbin holders 70 supported by the cradle arms 30 at the release position. The one of the bobbins Bw is supported from below by the front end supporter 65. To be more specific, when the stocker 60 is at the supply position, each regulatory portion 62 is in the release state. Therefore, each arm unit 62b does not regulate the bobbin Bw supported from below by the front end supporter 65. That is, the regulation of the bobbin Bw by each arm unit 62b is released on both sides of the bobbin Bw in the base longitudinal direction (see FIG. 7). In this state, the bobbin holders 70 sandwich the bobbin Bw by being pushed from its both sides in the base longitudinal direction toward a hollow part of the cylindrical bobbin Bw.
Once the bobbin Bw is supported by the cradle arms 30, the movement mechanism 80 moves the stocker 60 linearly from the supply position to the standby position. As the stocker 60 is moved from the supply position to the standby position, the stocker 60 is moved away from the cradle arms 30 at the release position toward the other side in the base width direction. Because of this, each regulatory portion 62 whose contact part 62c is in contact with a bobbin holder 70 supported by a cradle arm 30 at the release position rotates about the rotational axis 66 in the second direction opposite to the first direction D1 to be switched from the release state to the regulatory state. When the contact between the contact part 62c and the bobbin holder 70 is released, the regulatory portion 62 is biased by the biasing member 67 to be in the regulatory state.
When the stocker 60 is moved from the supply position to the standby position, the V-shaped part of the front end supporter 65 is pushed by the bobbin Bw supported by the cradle arms 30 at the release position. At this time, the front end supporter 65 rotates about the rotational axis 66 against biasing force of each biasing member 67 so as to avoid the bobbin Bw. In other words, the front end supporter 65 rotates about the rotational axis 66 against the biasing force of the biasing member 67 so that a leading end part of the front end supporter 65 is lower than a base end part of the front end supporter 65, which is connected to the rotational axis 66. Subsequently, when the stocker 60 is moved further to the standby position so that the front end supporter 65 is not in contact with the bobbin Bw, the front end supporter 65 is moved to take the regulatory posture by the biasing of the biasing member 67. In this regard, while the stocker 60 is being moved from the supply position to the standby position, bobbins Bw left in the stocker 60 are moved along the inclined supporting surface 61. Among these bobbins Bw left in the stocker 60, a bobbin Bw closest to one end of the stocker 60 on one side in the base width direction is supported from below by the front end supporter 65 in the regulatory posture.
In this way, the supply of a bobbin Bw from the stocker 60 to the cradle arms 30 is completed.

(Effects)

Each winding device 21 of the present embodiment includes the package storage unit 50 provided on one side of the vertical plane F, the stocker 60 provided on the other side of the vertical plane F, and the movement mechanism 80 configured to move the stocker 60 between the standby position and the supply position. The movement mechanism 80 is configured to move the stocker 60 linearly between the standby position and the supply position. With this arrangement, while being moved from the standby position to the supply position, the stocker 60 does not pass a position provided above the standby position and the supply position. Therefore, a space above the winding device 21 is unnecessary. However, when the stocker 60 is linearly moved while being provided above the package storage unit 50 as shown in, e.g., Patent Literature 2 described above, the position of the stocker 60 is high in the vertical direction. This puts a limit on the decrease in height of the winding device 21. This is because, when each wound package Pw released from the cradle arms 30 is sent to the package storage unit 50 while passing under the stocker 60, the distance between the stocker 60 and the package storage unit 50 needs to be large enough for the wound package Pw to pass. In the present embodiment, the stocker 60 is provided on the side opposite to the package storage unit 50 over the vertical plane F. With this arrangement, while being provided at a low position in the vertical direction, the stocker 60 is able to avoid passing a position provided above the standby position and the supply position. It is therefore possible to effectively decrease the height of the winding device 21.
In the winding device 21 of the present embodiment, the stocker 60 includes each regulatory portion 62 whose state is switchable between the regulatory state and the release state. The regulatory portion 62 is switched to the release state when the stocker 60 reaches at the supply position. Because of this, the regulatory portion 62 in the regulatory state prevents the bobbin Bw from dropping off from the stocker 60 until the stocker 60 reaches the supply position. When the stocker 60 is at the supply position, the regulatory portion 62 is in the release state. Because of this, the regulatory portion 62 does not disturb the supply of the bobbin Bw from the stocker 60 to the cradle arms 30. It is therefore possible to properly supply the bobbin Bw from the stocker 60 to the cradle arms 30 while reliably storing bobbins Bw in the stocker 60.
In the winding device 21 of the present embodiment, each regulatory portion 62 includes the contact part 62c which is able to make contact with one of the bobbin holders 70 supported by the cradle arms 30 at the release position. As the stocker 60 is moved from the standby position to the supply position, the contact part 62c is pushed by one of the bobbin holders 70 so that the regulatory portion 62 rotates about the rotational axis 66 in the first direction D1 to be switched from the regulatory state to the release state. Meanwhile, as the stocker 60 is moved from the supply position to the standby position, the contact between the contact part 62c and one of the bobbin holders 70 is released and the regulatory portion 62 rotates about the rotational axis 66 in the second direction opposite to the first direction D1 to be switched from the release state to the regulatory state. With this arrangement, the regulatory portion 62 is switched between the release state and the regulatory state in accordance with whether the contact part 62c makes contact with one of the bobbin holders 70 as the stocker 60 is moved. It is therefore unnecessary to provide a drive source for switching the state of the regulatory portion 62.
In the winding device 21 of the present embodiment, the stocker 60 includes each stopper 63 with which the regulatory portion 62 rotating in the first direction D1 is able to make contact. When the stocker 60 reaches the supply position, the contact part 62c is pushed by one of the bobbin holders 70 so that the regulatory portion 62 rotating in the first direction D1 makes contact with the stopper 63. Because of this, the further rotation of the regulatory portion 62 in the first direction D1 is regulated. With this arrangement, the contact part 62c of the regulatory portion 62 is prevented from being pushed further by the bobbin holder 70. That is, the movement of the stocker 60 is regulated. It is therefore possible to avoid the further movement of the stocker 60 across the supply position, and to properly supply the bobbin Bw from the stocker 60 to the cradle arms 30.
In the winding device 21 of the present embodiment, the stocker 60 includes each second regulatory portion 64 configured to suppress bobbin Bw stored in the stocker 60 from coming out from the stocker 60 over the bobbin holders 70 when the stocker 60 is at the supply position and the regulatory portion 62 is in the release state. When the stocker 60 is moved from the standby position to the supply position, the force of inertia acts on the bobbin Bw. Because of this, after the stocker 60 reaches the supply position, the bobbin Bw is about to be moved over the cradle arms 30 at the release position along a direction in which the stocker 60 is moved. However, when the stocker 60 is at the supply position, the regulatory portion 62 is in the release state and the movement of the bobbin Bw is not regulated. The bobbin Bw stored in the stocker 60 may be therefore moved over the cradle arms 30. In this case, the bobbin Bw is not properly supplied to the cradle arms 30. In the present embodiment, the second regulatory portion 64 is provided. With this arrangement, when the stocker 60 reaches the supply position, the bobbin Bw is suppressed from moving over the cradle arms 30 at the release position because of the inertial force. It is therefore possible to further reliably supply the bobbin Bw from the stocker 60 to the cradle arms 30.
In the winding device 21 of the present embodiment, the front end portion of the stocker 60 is close to the cradle arms 30 at the release position and provided with the front end supporter 65 configured to support the bobbin Bw from below. The front end supporter 65 is able to take the regulatory posture to prevent the bobbin Bw from dropping off from the stocker 60, and is rotatable about the rotational axis 66. The stocker 60 further includes each biasing member 67 configured to bias the front end supporter 65 to take the regulatory posture. When the stocker 60 is moved from the supply position to the standby position, the front end supporter 65 is pushed by the bobbin Bw supported by the cradle arms 30 at the release position. As a result, the front end supporter 65 rotates about the rotational axis 66 against the biasing force of the biasing member 67 so as to avoid the bobbin Bw. In the present embodiment, the front end supporter 65 is provided. With this arrangement, the bobbin Bw stored in the stocker 60 is prevented from dropping off from the stocker 60. However, when the stocker 60 is moved back to the standby position after the supply of the bobbin Bw from the stocker 60 to the cradle arms 30 is completed, the front end supporter 65 preventing the bobbin Bw from dropping off from the stocker 60 may disturb the movement of the stocker 60 by being hooked by the bobbin Bw supported by the cradle arms 30. In the present embodiment, when the stocker 60 is moved from the supply position to the standby position, the front end supporter 65 rotates so as to avoid the bobbin Bw supported by the cradle arms 30. It is therefore possible to avoid a case where the front end supporter 65 disturbs the movement of the stocker 60 toward the standby position by being hooked by the bobbin Bw supported by the cradle arms 30. As a result, the stocker 60 is smoothly moved back to the standby position after the supply of the bobbin Bw to the cradle arms 30 is completed. Furthermore, the winding of the yarn Y is swiftly performed.

(Modifications)

The following will describe modifications of the above-described embodiment. The members identical with those in the embodiment above will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanations thereof are not repeated.
In the embodiment above, as the stocker 60 is moved from the standby position to the supply position, each contact part 62c is pushed by one of the bobbin holders 70 so that each regulatory portion 62 is switched from the regulatory state to the release state. However, the regulatory portion 62 whose state is switchable between the regulatory state and the release state may be differently arranged. For example, the regulatory portion 62 may be switched between the regulatory state and the release state by an electric motor.
In the embodiment above, the regulatory portion 62 is switchable between the regulatory state and the release state by rotating about the rotational axis 66. However, the regulatory portion 62 may not rotate about the rotational axis 66. For example, the regulatory portion 62 may be switchable between the regulatory state and the release state by sliding in a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the stocker 60.
In the embodiment above, the stocker 60 at the standby position is linearly moved in a direction which is substantially identical with the extending direction of the stocker 60 and in the oblique direction which is downward and toward one side in the base width direction (moved in a leftward and downward direction on the sheet of FIG. 3). However, the stocker 60 at the standby position may be linearly moved in an oblique direction which is upward and toward one side in the base width direction (e.g., in a leftward and upward direction on the sheet of FIG. 3) or in a horizontal direction. In this case, the stocker 60 includes a pushing mechanism, etc. provided for pushing the bobbin Bw stored in the stocker 60 from the rear end portion toward front end portion of the stocker 60 in the extending direction. The extending direction of the stocker 60 may not be substantially identical with a direction in which the stocker 60 is linearly moved.
In the embodiment above, a single rotational shaft 66 is provided and corresponds to both of the first and second rotational axes of the present invention. However, the first rotational axis which is the rotation center of the regulatory portion 62 may be provided to be different from the second rotational axis which is the rotation center of the front end supporter 65.
In the embodiment above, the stocker 60 includes the regulatory portion 62 whose state is switchable between the regulatory state and the release state. However, the stocker 60 may not include the regulatory portion 62. In this case, the stocker 60 preferably includes a member provided for preventing the bobbin Bw from dropping off from the stocker 60 at the standby position and the stocker 60 which is being moved from the standby position to the supply position.
In the embodiment above, the stocker 60 includes each second regulatory portion 64 configured to suppress the bobbin Bw stored in the stocker 60 from coming out from the stocker 60 over the bobbin holder 70 when the regulatory portion 62 is in the release state. However, the stocker 60 may not include the second regulatory portion 64. In this case, the movement mechanism 80 is configured to preferably adjust the traveling speed of the stocker 60 moving from the standby position to the supply position to be equal to or less than a predetermined speed. The predetermined speed is a speed at which the bobbin Bw is suppressed from coming out from the stocker 60 over the bobbin holders 70 immediately after the stocker 60 reaches the supply position. With this arrangement, when the stocker 60 is moved from the standby position to the supply position, the force of inertia acting on the bobbin Bw is suppressed so that the bobbin Bw is suppressed from dropping off from the stocker 60.
In the embodiment above, two second regulatory portions 64 are provided on both sides of the center of the stocker 60 and between two regulatory portions 62 in the base longitudinal direction. However, the number of the second regulatory portions 64 is not limited to two. For example, one second regulatory portion 64 or three or more second regulatory portions 64 may be provided.
In the embodiment above, the stocker 60 includes the front end supporter 65. However, the stocker 60 may not include the front end supporter 65. In this case, the stocker 60 preferably includes each second regulatory portion 64.
In the embodiment above, the winding device 21 is applied to the false-twist texturing machine 1. However, the winding device 21 of the present invention is applicable not only to the false-twist texturing machine 1 but also to a re-winder.
In the embodiment above, the cradle arms 30 are movable between the winding position and the release position. However, the cradle arms 30 may not be movable between the winding position and the release position. For example, when the contact roller 40 is not driven in the line control and not connected to the drive shaft shared between the spindles, fixed cradle arms may be provided (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2015-40116 ). In this case, the winding position and release position of the cradle arms are the same position.

Claims

A winding device (21) comprising: a cradle (30) which is able to rotatably support a bobbin holder (70), to form a package (Pw) by winding a yarn (Y) onto a bobbin (Bw) gripped by the bobbin holder (70), and to release the package (Pw) gripped by the bobbin holder (70);
a package storage unit (50) configured to store the package (Pw) released from the cradle (30);

a stocker (60) configured to store the bobbin (Bw) which is to be supplied to the cradle (30); and

a movement mechanism (80) configured to move the stocker (60) between a standby position and a supply position where the bobbin (Bw) is supplied to the cradle (30) at a release position, the package (Pw) gripped by the bobbin holder (70) being released at the release position,

the package storage unit (50) being provided on one side of a vertical plane (F) passing an axial center of the bobbin holder (70) supported by the cradle (30) at the release position,

the stocker (60) at the standby position being provided on the other side of the vertical plane (F), and

the movement mechanism (80) being configured to move the stocker (60) linearly between the standby position and the supply position.
The winding device (21) according to claim 1, wherein, a front end portion of the stocker (60) is close to the cradle (30) at the release position and is provided with a regulatory portion (62) whose state is switchable between a regulatory state in which the bobbin (Bw) stored in the stocker (60) is prevented from dropping off from the stocker (60) and a release state in which the regulatory state is cancelled, and
the regulatory portion (62) is switched to the release state when the stocker (60) reaches the supply position.
The winding device (21) according to claim 2, wherein, the stocker (60) includes a first rotational axis (66) extending along an axial direction of the bobbin holder (70),
the regulatory portion (62) includes a contact part (62c) which is able to make contact with the bobbin holder (70) supported by the cradle (30) at the release position,

the regulatory portion (62) is switched from the regulatory state to the release state by rotating about the first rotational axis (66) in a first direction (D1) in such a way that the contact part (62c) is pushed by the bobbin holder (70) as the stocker (60) is moved from the standby position to the supply position, and

the regulatory portion (62) is switched from the release state to the regulatory state by rotating about the first rotational axis (66) in a second direction opposite to the first direction (D1) in such a way that contact between the contact part (62c) and the bobbin holder (70) is released as the stocker (60) is moved from the supply position to the standby position.
The winding device (21) according to claim 3, wherein, the stocker (60) further includes a stopper (63) with which the regulatory portion (62) rotating in the first direction (D1) is able to make contact,
the contact part (62c) is pushed by the bobbin holder (70) and the regulatory portion (62) rotates in the first direction (D1) when the stocker (60) reaches the supply position, and a further rotation of the regulatory portion (62) in the first direction (D1) is regulated in such a way that the regulatory portion (62) makes contact with the regulatory portion (62).
The winding device (21) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, the stocker (60) further includes a second regulatory portion (64) configured to suppress the bobbin (Bw) stored in the stocker (60) from coming out from the stocker (60) over the bobbin holder (70) when the stocker (60) is at the supply position and the regulatory portion (62) is in the release state.
The winding device (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, the front end portion of the stocker (60) is close to the cradle (30) at the release position and provided with a front end supporter (65) configured to support the bobbin (Bw) from below,
the front end supporter (65) is able to take a regulatory posture to prevent the bobbin (Bw) from dropping off from the stocker (60) and is rotatable about a second rotational axis (66) extending along the axial direction of the bobbin holder (70),

the stocker (60) further includes a biasing member (67) configured to bias the front end supporter (65) to take the regulatory posture, and,

when the stocker (60) is moved from the supply position to the standby position, the front end supporter (65) is pushed by the bobbin (Bw) supported by the cradle (30) at the release position so that the front end supporter (65) rotates about the second rotational axis (66) against biasing force of the biasing member (67) to avoid the bobbin (Bw).