[Technical Field]
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The present invention relates to a yarn cooler configured to cool a yarn spun out downward from a spinning apparatus.
[Background]
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In the field of melt spinning, a known yarn cooler is configured to cool a yarn spun out downward from a spinneret of a spinning apparatus. Such a yarn cooler is configured to blow cooling wind into a yarn running space where the yarn runs below the spinneret, and to cool the yarn running in the yarn running space.
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Patent Literature 1 discloses a crossflow cooler configured to blow cooling wind into a yarn running space from one side in a predetermined direction along a horizontal direction. In such a cooler, the cooling wind passes through the yarn running space in the horizontal direction.
[Citation List]
[Patent Literatures]
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[Patent Literature 1]
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2016-000884 [Summary of the Invention]
[Technical Problem]
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The following assumes that, in the above-described cooler, plural yarn running spaces are aligned in an orthogonal direction which is orthogonal the predetermined direction and which is along the horizontal direction. In this case, a part of the cooling wind blowing into the yarn running space from one side in the predetermined direction passes through a gap between two yarn running spaces which are adjacent in the orthogonal direction. As such, because some cooling wind passes through the area which is not the yarn running spaces, there is surplus energy which is not used for cooling the yarn. Therefore, the yarn cannot be effectively cooled.
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An object of the present invention is to provide a yarn cooler capable of effectively cooling a yarn.
[Solution to Problem]
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According to a first aspect of the invention, a yarn cooler is configured to cool a yarn spun out downward from a spinneret of a spinning apparatus and includes a hollow box provided below the spinning apparatus. In the inner space of the box, when (i) a space where the yarn spun out from the spinneret runs is at least one yarn running space and (ii) spaces provided on both sides of the at least one yarn running space in a predetermined direction along a horizontal direction are a first space and a second space, the box is provided with a first passage portion which faces the first space and which allows gas to flow and a second passage portion which faces the second space and which allows gas to flow, the yarn running spaces are aligned in an orthogonal direction which is provided along the horizontal direction and which is orthogonal to the predetermined direction, and at least one wall is provided at at least a part of an interval between two yarn running spaces adjacent in the orthogonal direction so that the first space and the second space are partitioned.
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According to this aspect of the invention, when the gas flows into the first space through the first passage portion and is exhausted from the second space through the second passage portion, an airflow is generated to flow toward the second space from the first space. Furthermore, when the gas flows into the second space through the second passage portion and is exhausted from the first space through the first passage portion, an airflow is generated to flow toward the first space from the second space. Among the airflow flowing toward the second space from the first space or the airflow flowing toward the first space from the second space, at least a part of an airflow flowing toward the space between the two yarn running spaces adjacent in the orthogonal direction is guided to the two yarn running spaces by the at least one wall. Therefore, an amount of the gas passing through the yarn running spaces is increased as compared to the case where there is no wall. Accordingly, the yarn is efficiently cooled.
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According to a second aspect of the invention, the yarn cooler of the first aspect is arranged such that the at least one wall partitions the entire interval between the two adjacent yarn running spaces.
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According to this aspect of the invention, the interval between the two adjacent yarn running spaces is partitioned by the at least one wall without gaps. Therefore, the airflow flowing from the first space or the second space toward the interval between the two yarn running spaces adjacent in the orthogonal direction is reliably guided to the yarn running spaces by the at least one wall. Accordingly, the yarn is further efficiently cooled.
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According to a third aspect of the invention, the yarn cooler of the second aspect is arranged such that a first yarn running space line is formed of some yarn running spaces aligned in the orthogonal direction, a second yarn running space line is formed of other yarn running spaces aligned in the orthogonal direction to be positionally different from the first yarn running space line in the predetermined direction, a space between the first yarn running space line and the second yarn running space line is the first space, and each of (i) a space opposite to the first space over the first yarn running space line in the predetermined direction and (ii) a space opposite to the first space over the second yarn running space line in the predetermined direction is the second space.
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According to this aspect of the invention, the first space is shared between the some yarn running spaces of the first yarn running space line and the other yarn running spaces of the second yarn running space line. It is therefore possible to downside the device. For example, assume that the gas flows into from one side of the first yarn running space line and the second yarn running space line in the predetermined direction and is exhausted from the other side of the first yarn running space line and the second yarn running space line in the predetermined direction. In this case, cooling is performed in a crossflow manner by using an airflow passing through both the first yarn running space line and the second yarn running space line in order from one side toward the other side in the predetermined direction. In this regard, a cooling state is significantly different between one yarn running space line provided upstream of this airflow and the other yarn running space line provided downstream of this airflow. According to this aspect of the invention, the first passage portion allowing air to flow is provided in the first space between the first yarn running space line and the second yarn running space line, and the second passage portion allowing the air to flow is provided in the second space provided on each of both sides of the first space. In this case, for example, when the gas flows into the first space through the first passage portion and is exhausted from the second space through each second passage portion, an airflow is generated to flow toward each second space from the first space and to pass through the yarn running space lines. Therefore, the cooling state is unlikely to differ among the yarn running space lines.
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According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the yarn cooler of the third aspect is arranged such that the some yarn running spaces belonging to the first yarn running space line are positionally different from the other yarn running spaces belonging to the second yarn running space line in the orthogonal direction.
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According to this aspect of the invention, the device can be downsized in the predetermined direction as compared to a case where the positions of the some yarn running spaces belonging to the first yarn running space line are the same as those of the other yarn running spaces belonging to the second yarn running space line in the orthogonal direction.
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According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the yarn cooler of any one of the second to fourth aspects further includes cylinder bodies which define the respective yarn running spaces and which allow gas to flow in the horizontal direction. In this case, the walls are preferably provided on both sides of each of the cylinder bodies in the orthogonal direction and connected to the each of the cylinder bodies.
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According to this aspect of the invention, when an airflow blows onto the yarn running in each of the yarn running spaces, a running track of the yarn is prevented from being significantly deviated. The airflow flowing from the first space or the second space toward the interval between the two yarn running spaces adjacent in the orthogonal direction is further reliably guided to the yarn running spaces in the cylinder bodies by the walls connected to the cylinder bodies. Accordingly, each yarn is further efficiently cooled.
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According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the yarn cooler of any one of the first to fifth aspects further includes an airflow generator which is able to generate an airflow which flows into the box through the first passage portion and which is exhausted from the box through the second passage portion.
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According to this aspect of the invention, the gas passes through the yarn running spaces from the first space toward the second space in the horizontal direction, and the crossflow cooling is realized.
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According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the yarn cooler of any one of the first to fifth aspects further includes an airflow generator which is able to generate an airflow which flows into the box through the first passage portion and which flows into the box through the second passage portion.
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According to this aspect of the invention, the gas flows into the yarn running spaces from the surroundings of the yarn running spaces, and cooling is performed in an annular cooling manner.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
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- FIG. 1 is a cross section of a melt spinning device of the present embodiment.
- FIG. 2 is a cross section of a yarn cooler, taken along a line II-II shown in FIG. 1.
- FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along a line III-III shown in FIG. 2.
- FIG. 4 is a cross section of the yarn cooler, taken along a plane orthogonal to a left-right direction. FIG. 4 shows airflows generated in a main box.
- FIG. 5 is a cross section of the yarn cooler, taken along a plane orthogonal to an up-down direction. FIG. 5 shows airflows generated in the main box.
- FIG. 6 is a cross section of a yarn cooler of a first modification, taken along a plane orthogonal to the left-right direction. FIG. 6 shows airflows generated in a main box.
- FIG. 7 is a cross section of the yarn cooler of the first modification, taken along a plane orthogonal to the up-down direction. FIG. 7 shows airflows generated in the main box.
- FIG. 8 is a cross section of a yarn cooler of a second modification, taken along a plane orthogonal to the left-right direction. FIG. 8 shows airflows generated in a main box.
- FIG. 9 is a cross section of a yarn cooler of a third modification, taken along a plane orthogonal to the left-right direction. FIG. 9 shows airflows generated in a main box.
- FIG. 10(a) is a cross section of a yarn cooler of a fourth modification, taken along a plane orthogonal to the up-down direction. FIG. 10(b) is a cross section of a yarn cooler of a fifth modification, taken along a plane orthogonal to the up-down direction.
- FIG. 11(a) is a cross section of a yarn cooler of a sixth modification, taken along a plane orthogonal to the up-down direction. FIG. 11(b) is a cross section of a yarn cooler of a seventh modification, taken along a plane orthogonal to the left-right direction.
[Preferred Embodiment of Invention]
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The following will describe a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to figures.
(Overall Structure of Melt Spinning Device 1)
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To begin with, the following will describe the overall structure of a melt spinning device 1 to which a yarn cooler of the present invention is applied, with reference to FIG. 1. Hereinafter, an up-down direction on the sheet of FIG. 1 will be used as an up-down direction (a vertical direction in which the gravity acts) of the melt spinning device 1. Furthermore, a left-right direction on the sheet of FIG. 1 will be used as a front-rear direction of the melt spinning device 1. A direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. 1 will be used as a left-right direction of the melt spinning device 1. Both the front-rear direction and the left-right direction extend along a horizontal direction. The front-rear direction is orthogonal to the left-right direction. The melt spinning device 1 includes a spinning beam 2 ("spinning apparatus" of the present invention), a yarn cooler 3, and an oil guide 4.
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The spinning beam 2 is configured to spin out yarns Y made of synthetic resin. The spinning beam 2 is provided with pack housings 11. Each pack housing 11 defines a space open in a down direction. A spinning pack 12 is attached to the inside of each pack housing 11. A spinneret 13 at which nozzles 14 are formed is provided at a lower end portion of each spinning pack 12. As molten polymer is supplied to the spinning pack 12 through an unillustrated pipe, etc., the molten polymer is spun out as filaments f through the nozzles 14 of the spinneret 13. That is, one multi-filament yarn Y formed of plural filaments f is spun out from one spinneret 13.
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The yarn cooler 3 is configured to cool the filaments f (yarn Y) spun out downward from each spinneret 13 in the spinning beam 2. The yarn cooler 3 is provided below the spinning beam 2. The yarn cooler 3 will be detailed later.
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The oil guide 4 is configured to apply oil to the yarn Y. The oil guide 4 is provided below the yarn cooler 3. The yarn Y cooled by the yarn cooler 3 makes contact with the oil guide 4. During this contact, the oil guide 4 discharges oil to the yarn Y so that the oil is applied to the yarn Y. The yarn Y to which the oil has been applied by the oil guide 4 is wound onto a bobbin by a winding device (not illustrated) provided below the oil guide 4, so that a package is formed.
(Yarn Cooler 3)
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The following will describe the structure of the yarn cooler 3 with further reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The yarn cooler 3 includes a hollow accommodation box 20, cooling cylinders 31 (equivalent to "cylinder bodies" of the present invention), partitioning cylinders 32, and an airflow generator 70. The cooling cylinders 31 and the partitioning cylinders 32 are accommodated in the accommodation box 20.
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The accommodation box 20 is provided below the spinning beam 2. The accommodation box 20 is substantially rectangular parallelepiped in shape. An inner space of the accommodation box 20 is partitioned into an upper space and a lower space by a first partition wall 21 located to be substantially horizontal. The first partition wall 21 is provided at a lower portion of the accommodation box 20. A part of the accommodation box 20 defines a space which belongs to its inner space and which is upper than the first partition wall 21. Hereinafter, this part of the accommodation box 20 will be referred to as a main box 20a. The main box 20a is equivalent to a "box" of the present invention. Furthermore, another part of the accommodation box 20 defines a space which belongs to its inner space and which is lower than the first partition wall 21. This part of the accommodation box 20 will be referred to as a lower box 20b.
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The first partition wall 21 includes closure portions 21a made of a material preventing the flow of gas and a passage portion 21b made of a material allowing the gas to flow. The passage portion 21b is made of a material having flow adjustment capability such as punching metal. In this regard, the passage portion 21b may be an opening formed on the first partition wall 21. As detailed later, an inner space of the main box 20a is partitioned into one central space 51 and two side spaces 52 and 53. As shown in FIG. 3, the closure portions 21a are parts of the first partition wall 21 which face the two side spaces 52 and 53. The passage portion 21b is a part of the first partition wall 21, which faces the central space 51. As shown in FIG. 2, the passage portion 21b extends over the entire length of the accommodation box 20 in the left-right direction. The passage portion 21b is equivalent to a "first passage portion" of the present invention.
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The cooling cylinders 31 are provided in the main box 20a. Each cooling cylinder 31 extends over the entire length of the main box 20a in the up-down direction. A circumferential wall of each cooling cylinder 31 is structured so that gas is able to pass therethrough in the horizontal direction. The circumferential wall of each cooling cylinder 31 is made of a material having the flow adjustment capability such as punching metal.
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The cooling cylinders 31 are provided to correspond to the respective spinning packs 12. Each cooling cylinder 31 is provided immediately below one corresponding spinning pack 12 (spinneret 13), and extends in the up-down direction. An inner space of each cooling cylinder 31 includes a space which faces the corresponding spinneret 13 and which is provided below the spinning beam 2. The filaments f spun out from the spinneret 13 run in the inner space of the cooling cylinder 31. Hereinafter, the inner space of each cooling cylinder 31 (space defined by each cooling cylinder 31) will be referred to as a yarn running space 31a.
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The yarn running space 31a which is the inner space of each cooling cylinder 31 is connected to an inner space of the pack housing 11 to which a corresponding spinning pack 12 is attached. In FIG. 1, a lower surface of the spinning beam 2 is in contact with an upper surface of the accommodation box 20. However, an interposed member such as a packing may be provided between the spinning beam 2 and the accommodation box 20. Also in this case, the yarn running space 31a is connected to the inner space of the pack housing 11 through a space formed in the interposed member. That is, in the present embodiment, outside air does not flow into the yarn running space 31a from a gap between the spinning beam 2 and the accommodation box 20. The spinning beam 2 and the accommodation box 20 may be structured so that the outside air flows into the yarn running space 31a from the gap between the spinning beam 2 and the accommodation box 20.
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The yarn running spaces 31a formed of the cooling cylinders 31 are aligned to correspond to the arrangement of the spinning packs 12. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the yarn running spaces 31a are staggered to form two lines along the left-right direction. To be more specific, a first yarn running space line 41 and a second yarn running space line 42 are formed of the yarn running spaces 31a aligned in the left-right direction (equivalent to an "orthogonal direction" of the present invention). In the present embodiment, each of the first yarn running space line 41 and the second yarn running space line 42 is formed of two yarn running spaces 31a. The first yarn running space line 41 and the second yarn running space line 42 are positionally different in the front-rear direction. The yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 and the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 are positionally different in the left-right direction.
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The partitioning cylinders 32 are provided in the lower box 20b. The partitioning cylinders 32 extend over the entire length of the lower box 20b in the up-down direction. A circumferential wall of each partitioning cylinder 32 is formed of a material preventing the flow of gas. The partitioning cylinders 32 are provided to correspond to the respective cooling cylinders 31. An upper end portion of each partitioning cylinder 32 is connected to a lower end portion of one corresponding cooling cylinder 31. The filaments f spun out from the spinneret 13 run in the yarn running space 31a formed of the cooling cylinder 31, and then run toward a position lower than the accommodation box 20 (lower box 20b) via an inner space of each partitioning cylinder 32.
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As described above, the inner space of the main box 20a is partitioned into one central space 51 and two side spaces 52 and 53. The central space 51 is provided between the first yarn running space line 41 and the second yarn running space line 42. The side space 52 is opposite to the central space 51 over the first yarn running space line 41 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the side space 52 is provided in front of the central space 51. The central space 51 and the side space 52 are provided on both sides of each yarn running space 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 in the front-rear direction. The side space 53 is opposite to the central space 51 over the second yarn running space line 42 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the side space 53 is provided behind the central space 51. The central space 51 and the side space 53 are provided on both sides of each yarn running space 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 in the front-rear direction. The central space 51 is equivalent to a "first space" of the present invention. Each of the side spaces 52 and 53 is equivalent to a "second space" of the present invention. The front-rear direction is equivalent to a "predetermined direction" of the present invention.
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The central space 51 and the side space 52 are partitioned by second partition walls 22. The central space 51 and the side space 53 are partitioned by third partition walls 23. The second partition walls 22 and the third partition walls 23 are each equivalent to a "wall" of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the second partition walls 22 and the third partition walls 23 include surfaces orthogonal to the front-rear direction.
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As shown in FIG. 2, the second partition walls 22 and the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 are provided alternately in the left-right direction. On both sides of each yarn running space 31a (cooling cylinder 31) belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 in the left-right direction, second partition walls 22 are provided and connected to the cooling cylinder 31.
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To be more specific, a second partition wall 22 is provided between two yarn running spaces 31a which are adjacent in the left-right direction and which are two of the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41. As such, both end portions of the second partition wall 22 provided between the two yarn running spaces 31a in the left-right direction are connected to two cooling cylinders 31 defining these two yarn running spaces 31a. In the left-right direction, one second partition wall 22 is additionally provided between one side wall of the main box 20a and the leftmost one of the yarn running spaces 31a of the first yarn running space line 41, and another second partition wall 22 is additionally provided between the other side wall of the main box 20a and the rightmost one of the yarn running spaces 31a of the first yarn running space line 41. As such, both end portions of each second partition wall 22 provided between a side wall of the main box 20a and a yarn running space 31a in the left-right direction are connected to the side wall of the main box 20a and a cooling cylinder 31 defining this yarn running space 31a. As shown in FIG. 3, each second partition wall 22 extends over the entire length of the main box 20a in the up-down direction and is connected to the upper wall and lower wall of the main box 20a. That is, the second partition wall 22 partitions the entire interval between two yarn running spaces 31a adjacent in the left-right direction.
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In the present embodiment, the second partition walls 22 are provided on a plane between parts of the central space 51 and the side space 52 which are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction so that the central space 51 and the side space 52 are entirely partitioned. In this regard, the "parts (of the central space 51 and the side space 52) which are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction" indicate parts which are of the central space 51 and the side space 52 aligned in the front-rear direction and from which the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 have been excluded. The yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 are provided between the central space 51 and the side space 52 in the front-rear direction. That is, the entire inner space of the main box 20a is partitioned by the second partition walls 22 in the front-rear direction except the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41.
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As shown in FIG. 2, the third partition walls 23 and the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 are provided alternately in the left-right direction. On both sides of each yarn running space 31a (cooling cylinder 31) belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 in the left-right direction, third partition walls 23 are provided and connected to the cooling cylinder 31.
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To be more specific, each third partition wall 23 is provided between two yarn running spaces 31a which are adjacent in the left-right direction and which are two of the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42. As such, both end portions of each third partition wall 23 provided between the two yarn running spaces 31a in the left-right direction are connected to two cooling cylinders 31 defining these two yarn running spaces 31a. In the left-right direction, one third partition wall 23 is additionally provided between one side wall of the main box 20a and the leftmost one of the yarn running spaces 31a of the second yarn running space line 42, and another third partition wall 23 is additionally provided between the other side wall of the main box 20a and the rightmost one of the yarn running spaces 31a of the second yarn running space line 42. As such, both end portions of each third partition wall 23 provided between a side wall of the main box 20a and a yarn running space 31a in the left-right direction are connected to the side wall of the main box 20a and a cooling cylinder 31 defining this yarn running space 31a. As shown in FIG. 3, each third partition wall 23 extends over the entire length of the main box 20a in the up-down direction and is connected to the upper wall and lower wall of the main box 20a. That is, each third partition wall 23 partitions the entire interval between two yarn running spaces 31a adjacent in the left-right direction.
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In the present embodiment, the third partition walls 23 are provided on a plane between parts of the central space 51 and the side space 53 which are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction so that the central space 51 and the side space 53 are entirely partitioned. In this regard, the "parts (of the central space 51 and the side space 53) which are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction" indicate parts which are of the central space 51 and the side space 53 aligned in the front-rear direction and from which the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 have been excluded. The yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 are provided between the central space 51 and the side space 53 in the front-rear direction. That is, the entire inner space of the main box 20a is partitioned by the third partition walls 23 in the front-rear direction except the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42.
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As shown in FIG. 1, an upper end portion of a front side wall of the main box 20a is provided with an opening 24 which faces the side space 52. As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 24 extends over the entire length of the main box 20a in the left-right direction. The opening 24 is equivalent to a "second passage portion" of the present invention. The opening 24 may be covered with a material allowing gas to flow such as a material having the flow adjustment capability. The front side wall of the main box 20a is also provided with a connecting portion 24a extending forward from an edge portion of the opening 24. A duct 61a is connected to a front end portion of the connecting portion 24a.
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As shown in FIG. 1, an upper end portion of a rear side wall of the main box 20a is provided with an opening 25 which faces the side space 53. As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 25 extends over the entire length of the main box 20a in the left-right direction. The opening 25 is equivalent to the "second passage portion" of the present invention. The opening 25 may be covered with a material allowing gas to flow such as a material having the flow adjustment capability. The rear side wall of the main box 20a is also provided with a connecting portion 25a extending rearward from an edge portion of the opening 25. A duct 61b is connected to a rear end portion of the connecting portion 25a.
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As shown in FIG. 1, a rear end portion of the lower box 20b is provided with a connecting portion 26. A duct 63 is connected to a rear end portion of the connecting portion 26.
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The airflow generator 70 is configured to generate airflows in the inner space of the main box 20a. The airflow generator 70 includes the ducts 61a, 61b, 62, and 63 and fans 66 and 67.
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The fan 66 is connected to the duct 62. The duct 62 connects the fan 66 to the ducts 61a and 61b. The following end portions are connected to the duct 62: in the duct 61a, one end portion opposite to the other end portion connected to the connecting portion 24a; and in the duct 61b, one end portion opposite to the other end portion connected to the connecting portion 25a.
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That is, the ducts 61a and 62 connect the fan 66 to the side space 52 through the connecting portion 24a. The ducts 61b and 62 connect the fan 66 to the side space 53 through the connecting portion 25a.
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The fan 67 is connected to the duct 63. The inner space of the lower box 20b is connected to the central space 51 through the passage portion 21b. That is, the duct 63 connects the fan 67 to the central space 51 through the lower box 20b.
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The following will describe an example of a case where cooling is performed in a crossflow manner by the yarn cooler 3, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. In the present embodiment, the fan 66 functions as an "exhaust means" for exhausting air from the side spaces 52 and 53, and the fan 67 functions as an "air supply means" for sending the air to the central space 51. With this arrangement, the airflow generator 70 is configured to generate airflows which flow into the main box 20a through the passage portion 21b and which are exhausted from the main box 20a through the openings 24 and 25.
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As shown in FIG. 4, as the fan 67 functioning as the air supply means is driven, the air sent from the fan 67 flows into the inner space of the lower box 20b through the duct 63 (see FIG. 1). That is, the duct 63 functions as an air supply pipe. The air sent into the inner space of the lower box 20b passes through the passage portion 21b so as to be adjusted to flow upward into the main box 20a (specifically, the central space 51). That is, airflows flowing into the main box 20a through the passage portion 21b are generated. At this stage, the central space 51 is in an air-supplied state.
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As the fan 66 functioning as the exhaust means is driven, the air is exhausted from the main box 20a (specifically, the side space 52) through the opening 24 by the fan 66. The ducts 61a and 62 (see FIG. 1) function as exhaust pipes. The air is also exhausted from the main box 20a (specifically, the side space 53) through the opening 25 by the fan 66. The ducts 61b and 62 (see FIG. 1) function as exhaust pipes. At this stage, the side spaces 52 and 53 are in an exhaust state.
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As described above, when the central space 51 is in the air-supplied state and the side spaces 52 and 53 are in the exhaust state, airflows are generated so as to flow toward the side spaces 52 and 53 from the central space 51. The air flowing toward the side spaces 52 and 53 from the central space 51 passes through the circumferential walls of the cooling cylinders 31 so as to be adjusted, and flows into the yarn running spaces 31a. As such, the air passes through the yarn running spaces 31a in the front-rear direction, and the crossflow cooling is realized. In this regard, the filaments f running in the yarn running spaces 31a are cooled and solidified by cooling wind.
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As shown in FIG. 5, a part of the airflows flowing toward the side space 52 side from the central space 51 is guided to the yarn running spaces 31a by the second partition walls 22. To be more specific, each airflow flowing toward an interval between adjacent two of the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 in the left-right direction is guided to these two yarn running spaces 31a by a second partition wall 22. Similarly, an airflow flowing toward each of the following spaces is guided to a corresponding yarn running space 31a by a second partition wall 22: an interval between one side wall of the main box 20a and the leftmost yarn running space 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 in the left-right direction; and an interval between the other side wall of the main box 20a and the rightmost yarn running space 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 in the left-right direction. The airflows flowing toward the yarn running spaces 31a pass through the circumferential walls of the cooling cylinders 31, and flow into the yarn running spaces 31a. As such, all the airflows flowing toward the side space 52 side from the central space 51 flow into the side space 52 through the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41.
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A part of the airflows flowing toward the side space 53 side from the central space 51 is guided to the yarn running spaces 31a by the third partition walls 23. To be more specific, each airflow flowing toward an interval between adjacent two of the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 in the left-right direction is guided to these two yarn running spaces 31a by a third partition wall 23. Similarly, an airflow flowing toward each of the following spaces is guided to a corresponding yarn running space 31a by a third partition wall 23: an interval between one side wall of the main box 20a and the leftmost yarn running space 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 in the left-right direction; and an interval between the other side wall of the main box 20a and the rightmost yarn running space 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 in the left-right direction. The airflows flowing toward the yarn running spaces 31a pass through the circumferential walls of the cooling cylinders 31, and flow into the yarn running spaces 31a. As such, all the airflows flowing toward the side space 53 side from the central space 51 flow into the side space 53 through the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42.
(Characteristics of Embodiment)
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As described above, the yarn cooler 3 of the present embodiment is configured to cool the yarns Y (filaments f) spun out from the spinnerets 13 of the spinning beam 2. The yarn cooler 3 includes the hollow main box 20a provided below the spinning beam 2. In the inner space of the main box 20a, spaces where the filaments f spun out from the spinnerets 13 run will be referred to as the yarn running spaces 31a, and spaces provided on both sides of the yarn running spaces 31a in the front-rear direction will be referred to as the central space 51 and the side space 52 (side space 53). The main box 20a is provided with: the passage portion 21b which faces the central space 51 and which allows gas to flow; and the opening 24 (opening 25) which faces the side space 52 (side space 53) and which allows gas to flow. The yarn running spaces 31a are aligned in the left-right direction. The yarn cooler 3 further includes each second partition wall 22 (third partition wall 23) which is provided between two yarn running spaces 31a adjacent at least in the left-right direction and by which the central space 51 and the side space 52 (side space 53) are partitioned.
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With the above-described arrangements, when air flows into the central space 51 through the passage portion 21b and the air is exhausted from the side space 52 (side space 53) through the opening 24 (opening 25), airflows flowing to the side space 52 (side space 53) from the central space 51 are generated. Furthermore, when air flows into the side space 52 (side space 53) through the opening 24 (opening 25) and the air is exhausted from the central space 51 through the passage portion 21b, airflows flowing to the central space 51 from the side space 52 (side space 53) are generated. In the airflows flowing to the side space 52 (side space 53) from the central space 51 or the airflows flowing to the central space 51 from the side space 52 (side space 53), at least an airflow flowing toward an interval between two yarn running spaces 31a adjacent in the left-right direction is guided to these yarn running spaces 31a by a second partition wall 22 (third partition wall 23). Therefore, an amount of air passing through each yarn running space 31a is increased as compared to a case where there is no second partition wall 22 (third partition wall 23). Accordingly, the yarns Y are efficiently cooled.
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In the yarn cooler 3 of the present embodiment, each second partition wall 22 (third partition wall 23) partitions the entire interval between two yarn running spaces 31a adjacent in the left-right direction. With this arrangement, each interval between two yarn running spaces 31a adjacent in the left-right direction is partitioned by a second partition wall 22 (third partition wall 23) without gaps. Therefore, each airflow flowing toward an interval between two yarn running spaces 31a adjacent in the left-right direction from the central space 51 or the side space 52 (side space 53) is reliably guided to these yarn running spaces 31a by a second partition wall 22 (third partition wall 23). Accordingly, the yarns Y are further efficiently cooled.
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The yarn cooler 3 of the present embodiment is further provided with: the first yarn running space line 41 formed of yarn running spaces 31a aligned in the left-right direction; and the second yarn running space line 42 formed of yarn running spaces 31a aligned in the left-right direction so as to be positionally different from those of the first yarn running space line 41 in the front-rear direction. A space between the first yarn running space line 41 and the second yarn running space line 42 is the central space 51, a space opposite to the central space 51 over the first yarn running space line 41 in the front-rear direction is the side space 52, and a space opposite to the central space 51 over the second yarn running space line 42 in the front-rear direction is the side space 53. With this arrangement, the central space 51 is shared between the yarn running spaces 31a of the first yarn running space line 41 and the yarn running spaces 31a of the second yarn running space line 42. It is therefore possible to downside the device.
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In the yarn cooler 3 of the present embodiment, the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 are positionally different from the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 in the left-right direction. With this arrangement, the device can be downsized in the front-rear direction as compared to a case where the positions of the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 are the same as those of the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 in the left-right direction.
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The yarn cooler 3 of the present embodiment further includes the cooling cylinders 31 which define the respective yarn running spaces 31a and which allow gas to flow in the horizontal direction. On both sides of each cooling cylinder 31 in the left-right direction, second partition walls 22 (third partition walls 23) are provided and connected to each cooling cylinder 31. With this arrangement, when airflows blow onto filaments f running in each yarn running space 31a, each cooling cylinder 31 prevents running tracks of the filaments f from being significantly deviated. Each airflow flowing to an interval between two yarn running spaces 31a adjacent in the left-right direction from the central space 51 or the side space 52 (side space 53) is further reliably guided to these yarn running spaces 31a in cooling cylinders 31 by a second partition wall 22 (third partition wall 23) connected to these cooling cylinders 31. Therefore, the yarns Y are further efficiently cooled.
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The yarn cooler 3 of the present embodiment further includes the airflow generator 70 which is able to generate airflows which flow into the main box 20a through the passage portion 21b and which are exhausted from the main box 20a through the openings 24 and 25.
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With the above-described arrangement, air passes through the yarn running spaces 31a from the central space 51 toward the side spaces 52 and 53 in the horizontal direction, and the crossflow cooling is realized.
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When air flows toward the central space 51 from each of the two side spaces 52 and 53, airflows sent from the two side spaces 52 and 53 hit with one another in the central space 51. Therefore, the airflows are easily disturbed in the central space 51, and the flow of air toward the central space 51 from the yarn running spaces 31a also easily stagnates. With the above-described arrangement, because the airflows flow toward the two side spaces 52 and 53 from the central space 51, the flow of air toward the side spaces 52 and 53 from the yarn running spaces 31a is unlikely to stagnate. As a result, cooling capability is further increased.
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Thus, the embodiment of the present invention is described hereinabove. However, the specific structure of the present invention shall not be interpreted as to be limited to the above described embodiment. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above embodiment but by claims set forth below, and shall encompass the equivalents in the meaning of the claims and every modification within the scope of the claims.
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In the embodiment above, the airflow generator 70 is configured to perform the crossflow cooling by generating airflows which flow into the main box 20a through the passage portion 21b and which are exhausted from the main box 20a through the opening 24 and the opening 25. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. That is, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the airflow generator 70 is able to perform the crossflow cooling also by generating airflows which flow into the main box 20a through the opening 24 and the opening 25 and which are exhausted from the main box 20a through the passage portion 21b.
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In this case, the fan 66 (see FIG. 1) functions as the "air supply means". The ducts 61a, 61b, and 62 (see FIG. 1) function as the "air supply pipes". With these arrangements, the airflows flowing into the main box 20a (specifically, the side spaces 52 and 53) through the openings 24 and 25 are generated. The side spaces 52 and 53 are then switched to the air-supplied state.
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Furthermore, the fan 67 (see FIG. 1) functions as the "exhaust means". The duct 63 (see FIG. 1) functions as the "exhaust pipe". With these arrangements, the airflows exhausted from the main box 20a (specifically, the central space 51) through the passage portion 21b are generated. The central space 51 is then switched to the exhaust state.
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As a result, the airflows flowing toward the central space 51 from the side spaces 52 and 53 are generated as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The airflows flowing toward the central space 51 side from the side space 52 are guided to the yarn running spaces 31a by the second partition walls 22. Meanwhile, the airflows flowing toward the central space 51 side from the side space 53 are guided to the yarn running spaces 31a by the third partition walls 23.
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The yarn cooler 3 may be configured to perform cooling in an annular cooling manner. For example, the annular cooling is performed by causing both the fan 66 and the fan 67 to function as the "air supply means". In this regard, as shown in FIG. 8, the airflow generator 70 generates airflows which flow into one part of the main box 20a (specifically, the central space 51) through the passage portion 21b and into another part of the main box 20a (specifically, the side spaces 52 and 53) through the openings 24 and 25. Furthermore, the ducts 61a, 61b, 62, and 63 (see FIG. 1) function as the "air supply pipes". Because of this, the central space 51 and the side spaces 52 and 53 are switched to the air-supplied state.
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As described above, a space around each cooling cylinder 31 is switched to the air-supplied state. In this regard, air flows into a yarn running space 31a of each cooling cylinder 31 from the surroundings of each cooling cylinder 31, and the air flows downward in the yarn running space 31a in each cooling cylinder 31. Because of this, the filaments f running in the yarn running space 31a in each cooling cylinder 31 are cooled and solidified by cooling wind.
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For another example, the annular cooling is performed also by causing both the fan 66 and the fan 67 to function as the "exhaust means". In this regard, as shown in FIG. 9, the airflow generator 70 generates airflows which are exhausted from one part of the main box 20a (specifically, the central space 51) through the passage portion 21b and from another part of the main box 20a (specifically, the side spaces 52 and 53) through the openings 24 and 25. Furthermore, the ducts 61a, 61b, 62, and 63 (see FIG. 1) function as the "exhaust pipes". Because of this, the central space 51 and the side spaces 52 and 53 are switched to the exhaust state. That is, because a space all around each cooling cylinder 31 is switched to the exhaust state, the air flows out into the space (the central space 51 and the side spaces 52 and 53) around each cooling cylinder 31 from the yarn running space 31a in each cooling cylinder 31.
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In this regard, because the yarn running space 31a in each cooling cylinder 31 is connected to the inner space of a pack housing 11 which is of the spinning beam 2 and which is provided above this cooling cylinder 31, the air scarcely flows into the yarn running space 31a from an upper end portion of this cooling cylinder 31. Instead, the air flows into the yarn running space 31a from a lower end portion of this cooling cylinder 31. Therefore, the air flows upward in the yarn running space 31a of each cooling cylinder 31. As such, airflows are generated so as to flow upward in the yarn running space 31a of each cooling cylinder 31 and toward the space around each cooling cylinder 31. Even in the annular cooling, when air flows into the yarn running space 31a of each cooling cylinder 31 from the surroundings of each cooling cylinder 31 and then flows downward in the yarn running space 31a of each cooling cylinder 31, airflows are generated as accompanied flows, with the result that the cooling capability is low. In this arrangement, the cooling is performed in the annular cooling manner, with the result that the cooling capability is high.
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In the embodiment above, each second partition wall 22 and each third partition wall 23 partition the entire interval between two yarn running spaces 31a adjacent in the left-right direction. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. Each second partition wall 22 and each third partition wall 23 may be differently arranged as long as these partition walls are provided at least at a part of the interval between the yarn running spaces 31a adjacent in the left-right direction.
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For example, as shown in FIG. 10(a), second partition walls 22 and third partition walls 23 provided on both sides of each cooling cylinder 31 in the left-right direction may not be connected to each cooling cylinder 31. In this regard, gaps allowing air to flow are formed between each yarn running space 31a and the second partition walls 22 (or the third partition walls 23) in the left-right direction.
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Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10(b), the second partition walls 22 and the third partition walls 23 may not be provided between the cooling cylinders 31 and the side walls of the main box 20a in the left-right direction. That is, in the left-right direction, any second partition wall 22 (third partition wall 23) may not be provided between one side wall of the main box 20a and the leftmost one of the yarn running spaces 31a of the first yarn running space line 41 (the second yarn running space line 42). Furthermore, any second partition wall 22 (third partition wall 23) may not be provided between the other side wall of the main box 20a and the rightmost one of the yarn running spaces 31a of the first yarn running space line 41 (the second yarn running space line 42).
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Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11(a), one end portions of the second partition walls 22 (the third partition walls 23) in the left-right direction may be connected to each cooling cylinder 31 while the other end portions thereof are not connected to anywhere.
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Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11(b), the second partition walls 22 (the third partition walls 23) may be provided at only a part of the main box 20a in the up-down direction. In the example of FIG. 11(b), gaps allowing air to flow are formed between the upper wall of the main box 20a and one second partition wall 22 (one third partition wall 23) and between the lower wall of the main box 20a and another second partition wall 22 (another third partition wall 23). Only one of the upper and lower gaps may be formed. Alternatively, a gap allowing air to flow may not be provided between the upper wall of the main box 20a and one second partition wall 22 (one third partition wall 23) or between the lower wall of the main box 20a and another second partition wall 22 (another third partition wall 23), but may be provided at an intermediate portion of a second partition wall 22 (a third partition wall 23) in the up-down direction.
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In the embodiment above, the second partition walls 22 are provided so that the central space 51 and the side space 52 are partitioned, and the third partition walls 23 are provided so that the central space 51 and the side space 53 are partitioned. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. Only the second partition walls 22 or the third partition walls 23 may be provided.
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In the embodiment above, the fan 67 connected to the central space 51 by the duct 63 functions as the "air supply means", and the fan 66 connected to the side spaces 52 and 53 by the ducts 61a, 61b, and 62 functions as the "exhaust means". Because of this, the airflow generator 70 is configured to generate airflows flowing toward the side spaces 52 and 53 from the central space 51. However, the disclosure is not limited to this.
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For example, when the fan 67 is driven to switch the central space 51 to the air-supplied state by switching the ducts 61a and 61b to a state of being exposed to outside air, air flowing into the side spaces 52 and 53 from the central space 51 is exhausted from the side spaces 52 and 53 through the ducts 61a and 61b. Because of this, the side spaces 52 and 53 are switched to the exhaust state. In this case, the duct 61a and 61b may not be connected to the fan 66.
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For another example, when the fan 66 is driven to switch the side spaces 52 and 53 to the exhaust state by switching the duct 63 to a state of being exposed to the outside air, the outside air taken into through the duct 63 flows into the central space 51 through the lower box 20b. Because of this, the central space 51 is switched to the air-supplied state. In this case, the duct 63 may not be connected to the fan 67.
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In the embodiment above, the "air supply means" and the "exhaust means" are realized by the fans 66 and 67. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. Instead of the fans, the "air supply means" and the "exhaust means" may be realized by a blower, a compressor, etc. The "exhaust means" may be realized by an aspirator. The "air supply means" may be realized by a compressed air tank.
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In the embodiment above, the yarn running spaces 31a are defined by the cooling cylinders 31. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The yarn running spaces 31a may not be spaces defined by members.
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In the embodiment above, the first yarn running space line 41 and the second yarn running space line 42 are formed of the yarn running spaces 31a aligned in the left-right direction, and the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 are positionally different from the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 in the left-right direction. However, the disclosure is not limited to this. The positions of the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the first yarn running space line 41 may be the same as those of the yarn running spaces 31a belonging to the second yarn running space line 42 in the left-right direction. Alternatively, the number of lines formed of the yarn running spaces 31a aligned in the left-right direction may be one.
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In the embodiment above, the yarns Y are cooled by airflows. However, the yarns Y may be cooled by gas which is not air. That is, any gas which is not air may be supplied to the main box 20a so as to cool the yarns Y. The temperature of the gas used for the cooling may be suitably arranged as long as it is suitable for the cooling. For example, when the temperature of the gas is suitable for the cooling, it is equal to or less than room temperature (about 25 °C).
[Reference Signs List]
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- 1 melt spinning device
- 2 spinning beam (spinning apparatus)
- 3 yarn cooler
- 13 spinneret
- 20a main box (box)
- 21b passage portion (first passage portion)
- 22 second partition wall (wall)
- 23 third partition wall (wall)
- 24, 25 opening (second passage portion)
- 31 cooling cylinder (cylinder body)
- 31a yarn running space
- 41 first yarn running space line
- 42 second yarn running space line
- 51 central space (first space, second space)
- 52 side space (first space, second space)
- 53 side space (first space, second space)
- 70 airflow generator