EP2208699A2

EP2208699A2 - Yarn winding apparatus and spinning machine

Info

Publication number: EP2208699A2
Application number: EP09015548A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kinzo Hashimoto
Original assignee: TMT Machinery Inc
Current assignee: TMT Machinery Inc
Priority date: 2009-01-16
Filing date: 2009-12-16
Publication date: 2010-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-16
Also published as: KR20100084460A; EP2792629B1; KR101329103B1; EP2208699B1; EP2792629A1; CN101780901B; CN101780901A; EP2208699A3

Abstract

The present invention provides a yarn winding apparatus which, even when the relative positional relationship between each take-up tube and the corresponding traverse device is deteriorated, enables a package to be formed at the desired position with respect to the corresponding take-up tube. A yarn winding apparatus 1 includes a bobbin holder 3 on which a plurality of take-up tubes 2 are installed and supported on the same shaft, and a plurality of traverse devices 5 each including a yarn guide 4 and configured to reciprocate the yarn guide 4 to traverse a yarn Y with respect to a corresponding take-up tube 2. Each of the traverse devices 5 allows a reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 to be varied and is located in association with the corresponding take-up tube 2.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a yarn winding apparatus and a spinning machine.

Background of the Invention

As a technique of this kind, the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai-Hei) No. 5-24740 discloses a yarn traversing device. The yarn traversing device includes a first traverse blade and a second traverse blade both provided for each of a plurality of take-up tubes arranged in an axial direction so as to allow yarns to be wound around the respective take-up tube; the first traverse blade is provided upstream side of the take-up tube in the direction in which the yarn is wound and the second traverse blade is slightly displaced with respect to the first traverse blade. The first and second traverse blades rotate in the opposite directions to traverse the yarn while transferring the yarn between the first traverse blade and the second traverse blade. As disclosed in Figure 2 in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai-Hei) No. 5-24740 , the plurality of take-up tubes are arranged on the same shaft in one direction with respect to a spindle so as to create no gap between the take-up tubes.
However, the plurality of take-up tubes do not always have an exactly constant length. In particular, in recent production sites, take-up tubes tend to be reused many times. The long use of the take-up tubes causes an increase or a reduction in the length of the take-up tubes depending on the atmospheric conditions of the sites.
In the above-described device in which the plurality of take-up tubes are installed and supported on the same shaft of a bobbin holder, the variation in length may deteriorate the relative positional relationship between each take-up tube and the corresponding traverse device. In the configuration disclosed in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai-Hei) No. 5-24740 , the deteriorated relative positional relationship may prevent a package from being formed at the desired position with respect to the corresponding take-up tube. This problem is particularly significant between the take-up tube located at the final position on the bobbin holder and the traverse device corresponding to this take-up tube.
The present invention has been developed in view of these problems. A main object of the present invention is to provide a yarn winding apparatus and a spinning machine which, even when the relative positional relationship between each take-up tube and the corresponding traverse device is deteriorated, enables a package to be formed at the desired position with respect to the corresponding take-up tube.

Summary of the Invention

. The problems to be solved by the present invention have been described. Now, a means for solving the problems and the effects thereof will be described.
An aspect of the present invention provides a yarn winding apparatus configured as follows. That is, a yarn winding apparatus includes a bobbin holder on which a plurality of take-up tubes are installed and supported on the same shaft, and a plurality of traverse devices each including a yarn guide and configured to reciprocate the yarn guide to traverse a yarn with respect to a corresponding take-up tube. Each of the traverse devices allows a reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide to be varied and is located in association with the corresponding take-up tube. Since the traverse device is thus configured to allow the reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide to be varied, a package can be formed at the desired position with respect to the corresponding take-up tube even with the possible deterioration of the relative positional relationship as described above.
The above-described yarn winding apparatus is further configured as follows. That is, each of the traverse devices is of a belt type configured as follows. The traverse device includes an endless belt to which the yarn guide is attached, paired support units configured to support the endless belt so that at least a part of the endless belt extends parallel to a longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder, and a belt driving source configured to drive the endless belt. The belt driving source reciprocates the endless belt to allow the yarn guide to reciprocate substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder. Since the traverse device is of the above-described belt type, the reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide can be freely varied, thus allowing what is called taper end packages to be produced. Furthermore, the belt type traverse device enables the yarn to be bound at the desired position relative to the take-up tube. This relative position may be located outside of the reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide. This allows, for example, the following additional effects to be exerted. That is, when what is called a straight winding (tail end winding) portion is formed on the take-up tube and outside the range within which the package is formed, the above-described yarn guide can be used to guide the yarn to the formation position without the need to use a special yarn biasing mechanism.
The yarn winding apparatus is further configured as follows. That is, the adjacent belt type traverse devices are overlappingly arranged. Namely, the use of the belt type traverse device allows the yarn guide to reciprocate between the paired support units. Thus, the device width of the belt type traverse device corresponds to at least the reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide plus the installation space of the paired support units. On the other hand, the length of the take-up tube is set to be as equivalent to the length of the package as possible for various reasons. Consequently, in the yarn winding apparatus in which the plurality of take-up tubes are arranged on the bobbin holder without a gap, when each belt type traverse device is located in front of the corresponding take-up tube, the adjacent belt type traverse devices inevitably interfere physically with each other. Thus, as described above, the adjacent belt type traverse devices are overlappingly arranged to avoid the possible interference. Since the possible interference can be avoided without any problem, the belt type traverse device can be introduced without the need to increase the frame width of the yarn winding apparatus.
The yarn winding apparatus is further configured as follows. That is, the adjacent belt type traverse devices are overlappingly arranged by inclining a trajectory of reciprocation of each yarn guide with respect to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder. A contact roller is provided between the bobbin holder and the plurality of traverse devices and comes into contact with packages formed on the respective take-up tubes so that the yarns traversed by the respective traverse devices are wound around the contact roller. Traverse control sections are provided each of which controls the belt driving source of the corresponding traverse device. Each of the traverse devices is configured to be able to control the belt driving source so that yarn density is uniform between vicinities of opposite ends of the package formed on the take-up tube. That is, when the belt type traverse device is inclined as described above, a free length corresponding to the distance between the yarn guide and the contact roller is asymmetric. The asymmetry of the free length makes the yarn density nonuniform between the vicinities of the opposite ends of the package. This results in the degraded appearance of the package. Thus, the traverse control sections are provided each of which can control the belt driving source so as to make the yarn density uniform between the vicinities of the opposite ends of the package. This allows the nonuniformity of the yarn density between the vicinities of the opposite ends of the package to be eliminated in spite of the asymmetry of the free length. As a result, the appearance of the package can be improved.
The yarn winding apparatus is further configured as follows. That is, each traverse control section is configured to be able to control the belt driving source so that a motion pattern differs between vicinities of opposite traverse ends of the yarn guide. Varying the motion pattern between the vicinities of the opposite traverse ends of the yarn guide is an effective means for eliminating the nonuniformity of the yarn density between the vicinities of the opposite ends of the package.
The yarn winding apparatus is further configured as follows. That is, the adjacent belt type traverse devices are overlappingly arranged by setting trajectories of reciprocations of the yarn guides at different levels. A contact roller is provided between the bobbin holder and the plurality of traverse devices and comes into contact with packages formed on the respective take-up tubes so that the yarns traversed by the respective traverse devices are wound around the contact roller. Traverse control sections are provided each of which controls the belt driving source of the corresponding traverse device. The traverse devices are configured to be able to control the respective belt driving sources so as to make yarn density uniform between the packages formed on the respective adjacent take-up tubes. That is, when the adjacent belt type traverse devices are arranged at the different levels as described above, a free length corresponding to the distance between the yarn guide and the contact roller differs between the adjacent belt type traverse devices. The difference in free length between the adjacent belt type traverse devices varies the yarn density between the packages formed on the respective adjacent take-up tubes. This results in the nonuniform appearance of the packages. Thus, the traverse control sections are provided which can control the respective driving motors so as to make the yarn density uniform between the packages formed on the respective adjacent take-up tubes. This allows the nonuniformity of the yarn density between the packages in the respective adjacent belt type traverse devices to be eliminated in spite of the difference in free length between the adjacent belt type traverse devices. As a result, the appearance of the package can be made uniform.
The yarn winding apparatus is further configured as follows. That is, the traverse control sections are configured to be able to control the respective belt driving sources so that the reciprocation of the yarn guide differs from that of the yarn guide in the adjacent, different belt type traverse device. Varying the reciprocation of the yarn guide between the adjacent belt traverse devices is an effective means for eliminating the nonuniformity of the yarn density among the packages.
Furthermore, a spinning machine includes a spinning section configured to spin out a plurality of yarns and the above-described yarn winding apparatus configured to wind the plurality of yarns spun out by the spinning section.
The traverse device disclosed in the above-described invention is configured to traverse a yarn by driving a driving belt member forward and backward to reciprocate a traverse guide attached to the driving belt member. The traverse guide is formed so as to catch the yarn utilizing the tension of the yarn generated when the yarn is bent as shown by reference numeral 4 in Figure 2 in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai) No. 2002-167125 .
However, a sufficient yarn tension may fail to be ensured depending on yarn winding conditions. For example, if the winding angle for winding is set to a very small value (for example, at most 1.0 degree), then since the value of the winding angle for winding is preferably the same as that for yarn catching, the winding angle for yarn catching also has a small value. Thus, the sufficient tension almost fails to be ensured. When the above-described tension cannot be ensured, the traverse guide can never catch the yarn in spite of the reciprocation thereof.
The present invention has been developed in view of these problems. A main object of the present invention is to provide a technique to, when a yarn guide catches a yarn utilizing the tension of the yarn, allow the yarn guide to reliably catch the yarn.
The problems to be solved by the present invention have been described. Now, a means for solving the problems and the effects thereof will be described.
An aspect of the present invention provides a traverse device configured as follows. That is, the traverse device includes a traverse device main body including a yarn guide configured to be able to catch a yarn, the traverse device main body enabling the yarn guide to reciprocate, and a traverse control section configured to control operation of the traverse device main body. The yarn guide of the traverse device is configured to catch the yarn utilizing tension of the yarn. The traverse device further includes a yarn tension varying means for temporarily increasing the tension of the yarn when the yarn guide is allowed to catch the yarn. This configuration prevents the tension of the yarn from being insufficient when the yarn guide is allowed to catch the yarn. Thus, the yarn guide can reliably catch the yarn.
The traverse device is further configured as follows. The yarn tension varying means is configured so as to increase the winding angle to increase the tension of the yarn. Thus, increasing the winding angle allows the yarn guide to strongly bend the yarn. Thus, a sufficient tension is ensured when the yarn is caught by the guide.
The traverse device is further configured as follows. That is, the yarn tension varying means is configured so as to regulate, near the yarn guide, motion of the yarn in a reciprocating direction of reciprocation of the yarn guide to increase the tension of the yarn. Thus, the motion of the yarn is regulated near the yarn guide to allow the yarn guide to strongly bend the yarn. Consequently, a sufficient tension is ensured when the yarn is caught by the yarn guide.
Other features, elements, processes, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a yarn winding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged front view of a traverse device.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a yarn guide.
Figure 4 is an enlarged front view of the traverse device.
Figure 5 is a control block diagram of the yarn winding apparatus.
Figure 6 is a diagram showing a control pattern for the traverse device.
Figure 7 is a partly enlarged view of a tip portion of a bobbin holder.
Figure 8 is a diagram which is similar to Figure 2 and which shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a diagram which is similar to Figure 5 and which shows the second embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a diagram which is similar to Figure 6 and which shows the second embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 is a control block diagram of the yarn winding apparatus.
Figure 12 is a graph showing a winding angle pattern.
Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating the technical significance of the winding angle pattern.
Figure 14 is a diagram which is similar to Figure 12 and which shows a variation of the winding angle pattern.
Figure 15 is a diagram which is similar to Figure 2 and which shows another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 16 is a diagram which is similar to Figure 5 and which shows another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

A first invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 7.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a yarn winding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, a yarn winding apparatus according to the present embodiment mainly includes a bobbin holder 3 on which a plurality of (in the present embodiment, four) take-up tubes 2 are arranged on the same shaft in one direction without a gap so that a plurality of (in the present embodiment, four) supplied yarns Y are wound around the respective take-up tubes 2, and traverse devices 5 each including a yarn guide 4 configured to be able to catch the corresponding one of the yarns Y, the traverse device 5 reciprocating the yarn guide 4 to traverse the yarn Y with respect to the corresponding one of the take-up tubes 2. The traverse devices 5 are configured such that the reciprocating range of reciprocation of each yarn guide 4 can be shifted in the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3. The configuration of the yarn winding apparatus 1 will be described below in detail.
In the present embodiment, the yarn winding apparatus 1 is applied to a melt spinning machine 7 including a spinning section configured to spin out a plurality of yarns Y that are synthetic yarns such as multifilaments or monofilaments. That is, the melt spinning machine 7 includes the spinning section configured to spin out the plurality of yarns Y, and the above-described yarn winding apparatus 1 configured to wind the plurality of yarns Y spun out by the spinning section. Each of the yarns Y spun out by the spinning section is fed to the corresponding traverse device 5 via a traverse support point guide 8 (not shown in the drawings). The yarn Y is then wound on the corresponding take-up tube 2 while being traversed by the traverse device 5.
Specifically, the yarn winding apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 9, a turret plate 10 rotatably supported on a side surface of the apparatus main body 9, a pair of the above-described bobbin holders 3 projected from the turret plate 10 in the horizontal direction, a beam 12 configured to support the plurality of traverse devices 5 and a contact roller 11, and a keyboard 13 (expansion and contraction amount input means) provided on a side surface of the apparatus main body 9.
For convenience of description, the simple reference of a "leading end side" hereinafter means the leading end side in the direction in which the bobbin holder 3 is projected. The simple reference of a "base end side" means the base end side in the direction in which the bobbin holder 3 is projected.
The bobbin holder 3 allows the plurality of bobbins 2 to be installed and supported on the same shaft. The paired bobbin holders 3 are projected from the turret plate 10 in the horizontal direction so as to form a cantilever. In this configuration, the plurality of take-up tubes 2 are externally fitted around the bobbin holders 3 so as to lie in order from the leading end side toward the base end side, that is, toward the turret plate 10. Thus, the plurality of take-up tubes 2 are arranged on the bobbin holders 3 so as to create no gap between the take-up tubes 2. A bobbin holder motor 14 (see also Figure 5) provided in each of the bobbin holders 3 enables the bobbin holder 3 to rotate at a predetermined rotation number together with the plurality of take-up tubes 2.
In the present embodiment, the traverse device 5 is of what is called a belt type. Figure 2 is an enlarged front view of the traverse device. As shown in Figure 2, the belt type traverse device 5 includes an endless belt 15 to which the above-described yarn guide 4 is attached, paired support units 16 configured to support the endless belt 15 so that a part of the endless belt 15 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3, and a driving motor 17 (belt driving source) configured to drive the endless belt 15. In the belt type traverse device 5, the driving motor 17 reciprocates the endless belt 15 to allow the yarn guide 4 to reciprocate substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3. The support unit 16 and driving motor 17 are attached to a plate-like base 18. The base 18 is fixed to the beam 12 in any posture. Furthermore, to prevent the yarn guide 4 from flapping during reciprocation of the endless belt 15, a rail 19 along which the yarn guide 4 is linearly guided is extended between the paired support units 16.
In the present embodiment, a timing belt is adopted as the endless belt 15. The endless belt 15 is wound around the paired support units 16 and the driving motor 17 so as to travel on a trajectory shaped like an isosceles triangle.
The support unit 16 includes a pulley 20 around which the endless belt 15 is wound and a stay 21 configured to rotatably fix the pulley 20 to the base 18. The stay 21 is projected from the pulley 20 so as to extend toward the driving motor 17. The stay 21 is fixedly fastened to the base 18.
The driving motor 17 is a pulse motor connected to a winding control section 60 (see Figure 5).
The yarn guide 4 is configured to catch the yarn Y utilizing the tension of the yarn Y. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the yarn guide 4. As shown in Figure 3, the yarn guide 4 includes a fitting section 22 having a U-shaped cross section so as to allow the yarn guide 4 to be fitted on the endless belt 15, and a yarn catching section 23 formed at the upper end of the fitting section 22. The yarn catching section 23 includes paired inclined portions 25 each having an inclined surface 24 along which the yarn Y traveling between the traverse support point guide 8 and the take-up tube 2 climbs, and a yarn accommodating groove 26 formed between the paired inclined portions 25 and in which the yarn Y is accommodated and caught. In this configuration, when the yarn guide 4 travels in the direction of a thick arrow in Figure 3, the inclined surface 24 of the inclined portion 25 collides against the yarn Y, which is slightly bent by the inclined portion 25. Thus, a resultant force P of tensions of the yarn Y acting in different directions is generated in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the yarn guide 4. The resultant force P allows the yarn Y to move along the inclined surface 24 of the inclined portion 25 toward the top of the inclined portion 25. The yarn Y is eventually accommodated in the yarn accommodating groove 26.
The spinning section (not shown in the drawings) melts a material for the synthetic yarns and discharges the melted material through a spinneret. Thus, the plurality of yarns Y are continuously spun out.
The apparatus main body 9 includes the winding control section 60 (see also Figure 5).
The turret 10 includes a turret motor 27 (see also Figure 5) configured to rotationally drive the turret plate 10. To allow the bobbins to be changed, the turret plate 10 is rotationally driven counterclockwise by 180 degrees by means of the turret motor 27.
The contact roller 11 is provided between the plurality of belt type traverse device 5 and the bobbin holder 3. The contact roller 11 comes into contact with packages formed the respective take-up tubes 2. Furthermore, the yarns Y traversed by the respective belt type traverse devices 5 are wound around the contact roller 11. The contact roller 11 extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3.
The beam 12 extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3. The beam 12 includes an inclined surface 12a to which the plurality of belt type traverse devices 5 are attached. A triangular traverse plane defined between the traverse support point guide 8 and the yarn guide 4 by traversing of the yarn Y is substantially parallel to the inclined surface 12a and has a circle-tangent relationship with the peripheral surface of the contact roller 11 as seen in a sectional view.
The configuration of the yarn winding apparatus 1 has been described. Subsequently, with reference to Figure 2, the arrangement relationship between the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 will be described.
That is, as shown in Figure 2, in the present embodiment, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are overlappingly arranged. Specifically, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are overlappingly arranged by inclining the rail 19 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3. This can also be described as follows because the rail 19 corresponds to the trajectory of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4. That is, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are overlappingly arranged by inclining the trajectory of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3. In the present embodiment, moreover, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are overlappingly arranged by arranging the two support units 16 substantially in a line along the traveling direction (see a thick arrow in Figure 2) as seen along the tangential direction of the inclined surface 12a of the beam 12 as shown in Figure 2.
Now, with reference to Figure 4, a guidable range will be described within which the yarn guide 4 guides the yarn Y in the longitudinal direction of the take-up tube 2. Figure 4 is an enlarged front view of the traverse device. As shown in Figure 4, for forming what is called a straight-winding (also referred to as tail end winding), a shallow groove 2T (hereinafter referred to as straight-winding shallow groove) is engraved at the leading end-side end of the take-up tube 2 according to the present embodiment. A package Q shown in a simplified manner by an alternate long and two short dashes line is formed between the straight-winding shallow groove 2T and the other side end of the take-up tube 2. The belt type traverse device 5 is designed to be wide enough to allow the yarn guide 4 to guide the yarn Y all over the range including the package length of the package Q as well as the straight-winding shallow groove 2T.
Now, the configuration of the winding control section 60 will be described with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 is a control block diagram of the yarn winding apparatus.
That is, the winding control section 60 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) serving as an arithmetic processing device, a ROM (Read Only Memory) configured to store a control program executed by the CPU and data used for the control program, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) configured to temporarily store data during program execution. The control program stored in the ROM is read into the CPU, which then executes the control program. Thus, the control program allows hardware such as the CPU to function as traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61, an origin changing section 62, and a bobbin holder control section 63. The numbers are assigned to the traverse control sections in order starting from the leading end side in Figure 1. Furthermore, the driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17, the keyboard 13, the bobbin holder motor 14, and a turret motor 27 are connected to the winding control section 60. The numbers are also assigned to the driving motors in order starting from the leading end side in Figure 1.
Each of the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 includes a control pattern storage section 64 and an origin storage section 65. The traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 control the driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 of the respective belt type traverse devices 5 based on a control pattern stored in the control pattern storage section 64 and an origin stored in the origin storage section 65. Specifically, the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 are configured to be able to control the driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 so as to make yarn density uniform between the vicinities of the respective opposite ends of the package formed on the respective take-up tubes 2.
The control pattern for the driving motor 17 is stored in the control pattern storage section 64. In the present embodiment, the control pattern is created such that the package Q formed on the take-up tube 2 becomes a cheese package (cylindrical package) as shown by an alternate long and two short dashes line in Figure 4 in a simplified manner. An example of the control pattern is shown in Figure 6. Figure 6 shows the control pattern for the traverse device. In Figure 6, the axis of ordinate indicates a traverse speed Vt, and the axis of abscissa indicates time (t). The traverse speed Vt at which the yarn guide 4 moves toward the leading end side is shown by (+) in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6, specifically, the control pattern according to the present embodiment is created such that a motion pattern differs between the vicinities of the opposite traverse ends of the yarn guide 4. More specifically, in Figure 4, the traverse speed Vt of the yarn guide 4 immediately after a turnaround following the arrival of the yarn guide 4 at the right end B of the range of reciprocation is set to a slightly larger value. That is, feed forward control is performed only at the right end B in order to avoid retention of the yarn Y following the turnaround. The control pattern shown in Figure 6 is created so as to set winding angle to 0.5 degrees.
The origin storage section 65 is configured to store an origin serving as a basis for reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 of the belt type traverse device 5. Here, in the present embodiment, the "origin" means the position of the central point of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 of the belt type traverse device 5.
The origin changing section 62 changes the origin stored in the origin storage section 65 of each of the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 based on the amount of expansion and contraction of the take-up tube 2 input via the keyboard 13. Figure 7 is a partly enlarged view of the leading end of bobbin holder. Specifically, the amount of expansion and contraction is measured in the direction of the length of the plurality of take-up tubes 2 as a whole. The amount of expansion and contraction can be acquired by reading, on a scale S engraved on the bobbin holder 3 as shown in Figure 7, the position of the leading end-side end surface E of one of the take-up tubes 2 arranged on the bobbin holder 3 in one direction without a gap which take-up tube is closest to the leading end. For example, if the position of the leading end-side end surface E of the take-up tube 2 corresponds to "-2.8mm" on the scale S as shown in Figure 7, the amount of expansion and contraction is "-2.8mm". The origin changing section 62 adds the amount of expansion and contractionΔL divided by 8 multiplied by 7, that is, 7/8 ΔL, to the origin stored in the origin storage section 65 of the traverse control section (No. 1) 61. Similarly, the origin changing section 62 adds 5/8ΔL to the origin stored in the origin storage section 65 of the traverse control section (No. 2) 61, adds 3/8ΔL to the origin stored in the origin storage section 65 of the traverse control section (No. 3) 61, and adds 1/8ΔL to the origin stored in the origin storage section 65 of the traverse control section (No. 4) 61. Prerequisites for the operation of the origin changing section 62 are that the bobbin length varies depending on the humidity of the environment because the take-up tube 2 is made of paper and that the variation in bobbin length is the same among all the take-up tubes 2.
The bobbin holder control section 63 controls rotation of the bobbin holder motor 14.
The winding control section 60 further includes a turret control section configured to control rotation of the turret motor 27.
Now, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. An operator first arranges four empty take-up tubes on each of the paired bobbin holders 3 by feeding each take-up tube 2 on the bobbin holder 3 toward the turret plate 10.
Then, the operator operates the keyboard 13 and the like to actuate the spinning machine 7. The operator also reads and inputs the amount of expansion and contraction to the winding control section 60. Then, the origin changing section 62 changes the origin stored in the origin storage section 65 of each of the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61, as described above. The change in the origin causes the reciprocating range of reciprocation of each yarn guide 4 to be slightly shifted in the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3.
Four yarns Y spun out by the spinning section are sucked and held by a suction gun (not shown in the drawings). The bobbin holder control section 63 drives the bobbin holder motor 14 to rotate the take-up tubes 2 at a desired rotation number. Each of the yarns Y sucked and held by the suction gun is guided to the straight-winding shallow groove 2T in the corresponding take-up tube 2. Thus, the yarn Y is strongly gripped by the straight-winding shallow groove 2T of the take-up tube 2. The suction gun then cancels the state in which the yarn Y is sucked and held to allow the yarn Y to move from the straight-winding shallow groove 2T onto the outer peripheral surface of the take-up tube 2. The yarn Y moves toward the center of the length of the take-up tube 2 while describing a spiral trajectory.
Then, the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 control the respective driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 based on the control pattern stored in the control pattern storage section 64 and the origin stored in the origin storage section 65. Thus, each yarn Y is caught by the corresponding yarn guide 4 and starts to be traversed (see also Figure 3). Furthermore, such a cheese package Q as shown in Figure 4 is formed on each take-up tube 2.
When the package Q becomes full, the turret control section drives the turret motor 27 to rotate the turret plate 10 counterclockwise by 180 degrees. Furthermore, each of the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 moves the corresponding yarn guide 4 to a position where the yarn guide 4 lies opposite the corresponding straight-winding shallow groove 2T. Then, each yarn Y is strongly gripped by the straight-winding shallow groove 2T in the empty take-up tube 2. Subsequently, the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 control the respective driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 again based on the control pattern stored in the control pattern storage section 64 and the origin stored in the origin storage section 65. Thus, with the yarn Y constantly caught by the yarn guide 4, such a cheese package Q as shown in Figure 4 is formed on each take-up tube 2 again.
As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the yarn winding apparatus 1 is configured as follows. That is, the yarn winding apparatus 1 includes the bobbin holder 3 on which a plurality of take-up tubes 2 are installed and supported on the same shaft, and the plurality of traverse devices 5 each including the yarn guide 4 and configured to reciprocate the yarn guide 4 to traverse the yarn Y with respect to the corresponding take-up tube 2. Each of the traverse devices 5 allows the reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 to be varied and is located in association with the corresponding take-up tube 2. Since the traverse device 5 is thus intentionally configured to allow the reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 to be varied, the package Q can be formed at the desired position with respect to the corresponding take-up tube 2 even with the possible deterioration of the relative positional relationship as described above.
In the above-described embodiment, the adopted traverse device 5 is of the belt type. Alternatively, an arm type traverse device may be adopted. The arm type traverse device uses a driving motor configured as a voice coil motor to drivingly swings and reciprocates an arm member with a yarn guide formed at a leading end thereof.
The yarn winding apparatus 1 is further configured as follows. That is, each of the traverse devices 5 is of a belt type configured as follows. The traverse device 5 includes the endless belt 15 to which the yarn guide 4 is attached, the paired support units 16 configured to support the endless belt 15 so that at least a part of the endless belt 15 extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3, and the driving motor 17 configured to drive the endless belt 15. The driving motor 17 reciprocates the endless belt 15 to allow the yarn guide 4 to reciprocate substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3. Since the traverse device 5 is of the above-described belt type, the reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 can be freely varied, thus allowing what is called taper end packages to be produced as shown in Figures 4 and 6. Furthermore, the belt type traverse device 5 enables the yarn Y to be bound at the desired position relative to the take-up tube 2. This relative position may be located outside of the reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 (see also Figure 4). This allows, for example, the following additional effects to be exerted. That is, when what is called a straight winding (tail end winding) portion is formed on the take-up tube and outside the range within which the package Q is formed, the above-described yarn guide 4 can be used to guide the yarn Y to the formation position without the need to use a special yarn biasing mechanism.
The yarn winding apparatus 1 is further configured as follows. That is, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are overlappingly arranged. Namely, the use of the belt type traverse device 5 allows the yarn guide 4 to reciprocate between the paired support units 16. Thus, the device width of the belt type traverse device 5 corresponds to at least the reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 plus the installation space (for example, +40 to 60mm) of the paired support units 16. On the other hand, the length of the take-up tube 2 is set to be as equivalent to the package length of the package Q as possible for various reasons (the bobbin length is set equal to, for example, the package length + 30mm). Consequently, in the yarn winding apparatus 1 in which the plurality of take-up tubes 2 are arranged on the bobbin holder 3 without a gap, when each belt type traverse device 5 is located in front of the corresponding take-up tube 2, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 inevitably interfere physically with each other. Thus, as described above, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are overlappingly arranged to avoid the possible interference. Since the possible interference can be avoided without any problem, the belt type traverse device 5 can be introduced without the need to increase the frame width of the yarn winding apparatus 1.
The yarn winding apparatus 1 is further configured as follows. That is, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are overlappingly arranged by inclining the trajectory of reciprocation of each yarn guide 4 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3. The contact roller 11 is provided between the bobbin holder 3 and the plurality of traverse devices 5 and comes into contact with the packages Q formed on the respective take-up tubes 2 so that the yarns Y traversed by the respective traverse devices 5 are wound around the contact roller 11. The traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 are provided each of which controls the driving motor 17 of the corresponding traverse device 5. Each of the traverse devices (No. 1 to 4) 61 is configured to be able to control the driving motor 17 so that yarn density is uniform between vicinities of opposite ends of the package Q formed on the corresponding take-up tube 2. That is, when the belt type traverse device 5 is inclined as described above, the free length ΔF corresponding to the distance between the yarn guide 4 and the contact roller 11 is laterally asymmetric on the sheet of Figure 4. The lateral asymmetry of the free length ΔF makes the yarn density nonuniform between the vicinities of the opposite ends of the package Q. This results in the degraded appearance of the package Q. Thus, the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 are provided each of which can control the driving motor 17 so as to make the yarn density uniform between the vicinities of the opposite ends of the package Q. This allows the nonuniformity of the yarn density between the vicinities of the opposite ends of the package Q to be eliminated in spite of the asymmetry of the free length ΔF. As a result, the appearance of the package Q can be improved.
The lateral asymmetry of the free length ΔF makes the yarn density nonuniform between the vicinities of the opposite ends of the package Q for the following reason. That is, a relative increase in free length ΔF relatively prevents the yarn guide 4 from properly following the yarn Y during a turnaround. This may cause the yarn Y to be retained at the end of the package Q.
The yarn winding apparatus 1 is further configured as follows. That is, each of the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 is configured to be able to control the driving motor 17 so that a motion pattern differs between the vicinities of the opposite traverse ends of the yarn guide 4. Varying the motion pattern between the vicinities of the opposite traverse ends of the yarn guide 4 is an effective means for eliminating the nonuniformity of the yarn density between the vicinities of the opposite ends of the package Q.
Furthermore, the spinning machine 7 includes the spinning section configured to spin out a plurality of the yarns Y and the above-described yarn winding apparatus 1 configured to wind the plurality of yarns Y spun out by the spinning section. Thus, excellent packages can be produced.
Now, with reference to Figures 8 to 10, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 8 is a diagram which is similar to Figure 2 and which shows the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a diagram which is similar to Figure 5 and which shows the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 is a diagram which is similar to Figure 6 and which shows the second embodiment of the present invention. The differences between the present embodiment and the above-described embodiments will mainly be described below. Duplicate descriptions are appropriately omitted.
In the above-described first embodiment, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are overlappingly arranged by inclining the trajectory of reciprocation of each yarn guide 4 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3. However, in the present embodiment, instead, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are overlappingly arranged by setting the trajectories of reciprocations of the yarn guides 4 at different levels as shown in Figure 8. Specifically, in each of the belt type traverse devices 5, the posture of the base 18 with respect to an inclined surface 12a such that the longitudinal direction of the rail 19 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3. Furthermore, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are overlappingly arranged by arranging the two support units 16 substantially in line along the traveling direction (see a thick arrow in Figure 8) of the yarn Y as seen along the tangential direction of the inclined surface 12a of the beam 12 as shown in Figure 8.
Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, each of the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 is configured to control the respective driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 based on the control pattern with the motion pattern differing between the vicinities of the opposite ends of the package Q so as to make the yarn density uniform between the vicinities of the opposite ends of the package Q. In contrast, in the present embodiment, each of the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 is configured to be able to control the respective driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 so as make the yarn density uniform between the packages Q formed on the adjacent take-up tubes 2. More specifically, the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 is configured to be able to control the respective driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 so that the reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 differs from that of the yarn guide 4 in the adjacent, different belt type traverse device 5.
The specific configuration is as shown in Figures 9 and 10. That is, in the present embodiment, each of the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 has two control pattern storage sections 64 shown in Figure 5. The two control pattern storage sections 64 are hereinafter referred to as the control pattern A storage section 64A and the control pattern B storage section 64B, respectively. A control pattern A shown in Figure 10A is stored in the control pattern A storage section 64A. A control pattern B shown in Figure 10B is stored in the control pattern B storage section 64B. The control pattern A shown in Figure 10A is intended for common cheese packages. In contrast, in the control pattern B shown in Figure 10B, the traverse speed Vt immediately after a turnaround is set to a slightly higher value.
The traverse control section (No. 1) 61 controls the driving motor (No. 1) 17 based on the control pattern B stored in the control pattern B storage section 64B and the origin stored in the origin storage section 65. On the other hand, the traverse control section (No. 2) 61 controls the driving motor (No. 2) 17 based on the control pattern A stored in the control pattern A storage section 64A and the origin stored in the origin storage section 65. Similarly, the traverse control section (No. 3) 61 controls the driving motor (No. 3) 17 based on the control pattern B stored in the control pattern B storage section 64B and the origin stored in the origin storage section 65. The traverse control section (No. 4) 61 controls the driving motor (No. 4) 17 based on the control pattern A stored in the control pattern A storage section 64A and the origin stored in the origin storage section 65.
According to the above-described control, even with a difference in free length ΔF between the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 as shown in Figure 8, for the belt type traverse device 5 with a large free length ΔF, the traverse speed Vt of the yarn guide 4 immediately after a turnaround is set to a slightly larger value. The above-described control can thus eliminate the nonuniformity of the yarn density between the packages Q resulting from the difference in free length ΔF.
As described above, in the second embodiment, the yarn winding apparatus 1 is configured as follows. That is, the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are overlappingly arranged by setting the trajectories of reciprocations of the yarn guides 4 at different levels. The contact roller 11 is provided between the bobbin holder 3 and the plurality of traverse devices 5 and comes into contact with the packages Q formed on the respective take-up tubes 2 so that the yarns Y traversed by the respective traverse devices 5 are wound around the contact roller 11. The traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 are provided each of which controls the driving motor 17 of the corresponding traverse device 5. The traverse devices (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 are configured to be able to control the respective driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 so as to make yarn density uniform between the packages Q formed on the respective adjacent take-up tubes 2. That is, when the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 are arranged at the different levels as described above, the free length ΔF corresponding to the distance between the yarn guide 4 and the contact roller 11 differs between the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5. The difference in free length ΔF between the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 varies the yarn density between the packages Q formed on the respective adjacent take-up tubes 2. This results in the nonuniform appearance of the packages Q. Thus, the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 are provided which can control the respective driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 so as to make the yarn density uniform between the packages Q formed on the respective adjacent take-up tubes 2. This allows the nonuniformity of the yarn density between the packages Q in the respective adjacent belt type traverse devices 5 to be eliminated in spite of the difference in free length between the adjacent belt type traverse devices 5. As a result, the appearance of the package can be made uniform.
The yarn winding apparatus 1 is further configured as follows. That is, the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 are configured to be able to control the respective driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 so that the reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 differs from that of the yarn guide 4 in the adjacent, different belt type traverse device 5. Varying the reciprocation of the yarn guide between the adjacent belt traverse devices 5 is an effective means for eliminating the nonuniformity of the yarn density among the package Q.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. The above-described embodiments can be varied as follows.
That is, as shown in Figures 4, 6, and 10, in each of the above-described embodiments, the yarn Y is wound into a cheese package Q. Alternatively, the yarn Y may be wound into a taper end package Q.
Now, with reference to Figure 11, the configuration of a winding control section 60 will be described. Figure 11 is a control block diagram of the yarn winding apparatus 1.
That is, the winding control section 60 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) serving as an arithmetic processing device, a ROM (Read Only Memory) configured to store a control program executed by the CPU and data used for the control program, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) configured to temporarily store data during program execution. The control program stored in the ROM is read into the CPU, which then executes the control program. Thus, the control program allows hardware such as the CPU to function as the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61, an origin changing section 62, and a bobbin holder control section 63. The numbers are assigned to the traverse control sections in order starting from the leading end side in Figure 1. Furthermore, the driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17, a keyboard 13, a bobbin holder motor 14, and a turret motor 27 are connected to the winding control section 60. The numbers are also assigned to the driving motors 17 in order starting from the leading end side in Figure 1.
Each of the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 includes a winding angle pattern storage section 64 and an origin storage section 65. The traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 control the driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 of the respective belt type traverse devices 5 mainly based on a winding angle pattern stored in the winding angle pattern storage section 64 and an origin stored in the origin storage section 65.
The winding angle pattern shown in Figure 12 is stored in the winding angle pattern storage section 64. Figure 12 is a graph showing the winding angle pattern. The axis of abscissa indicates time, and the axis of ordinate indicates the winding angle θ [deg.]. In the graph, a "yarn catching period" indicates the period during which the yarn guide 4 catches the yarn Y. During the "yarn catching period", the traveling speed of the yarn guide 4 and the peripheral speed of the take-up tube 2 are much lower than those during a "normal winding period". Similarly, during the "normal winding period", the yarn Y is wound on the take-up tube 2 at a high speed. As shown in Figure 12, in the present embodiment, when the yarn guide 4 is allowed to catch the yarn Y, the winding angle θ is intentionally increased. In other words, during the yarn catching period, the winding angle θ is set larger than that during the normal winding period. Specifically, during the normal winding period, the winding angle θ is 0.5 [deg. ]. However, during the yarn catching period, the winding angle θ is 4 [deg.].
The origin storage section 65 is configured to store an origin serving as a basis for reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 of the belt type traverse device 5. Here, in the present embodiment, the "origin" means the position of the central point of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 of the belt type traverse device 5.
The operation of the present embodiment will be described. An operator first arranges four empty take-up tubes 2 on each of the paired bobbin holders 3 by feeding each take-up tube 2 on the bobbin holder 3 toward a turret plate 10.
Then, the operator operates the keyboard 13 and the like to actuate the spinning machine 7. The operator also reads and inputs the amount of expansion and contraction to the winding control section 60. Then, the origin changing section 62 changes the origin stored in the origin storage section 65 of each of the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61, as described above. The change in the origin causes the reciprocating range of reciprocation of each yarn guide 4 to be slightly shifted in the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder 3.
Four yarns Y spun out by the spinning section are sucked and held by a suction gun (not shown in the drawings). The bobbin holder control section 63 drives the bobbin holder motor 14 to rotate the take-up tubes 2 at a desired rotation number. Each of the yarns Y sucked and held by the suction gun is guided to a straight-winding shallow groove 2T in the corresponding take-up tube 2. Thus, the yarn Y is strongly gripped by the straight-winding shallow groove 2T of the take-up tube 2. The suction gun then cancels the state in which the yarn Y is sucked and held to allow the yarn Y to move from the straight-winding shallow groove 2T onto the outer peripheral surface of the take-up tube 2. The yarn moves toward the center of the length of the take-up tube 2 while describing a spiral trajectory.
Then, the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 control the respective driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 based on the winding angle pattern stored in the winding angle control pattern storage section 64 and shown in Figure 12. Here, the technical significance of the specific winding angle pattern shown in Figure 12 will be described with reference to Figure 13. Figure 13 is a diagram, showing the technical significance of the winding angle. In case A, a conventionally adopted winding angle θ is used. In cases B and C, a very small winding angle θ not conventionally adopted is used. In general, as in case A, the same value is adopted as the winding angle θ for the yarn catching period and as the winding angle θ for the normal winding period. In case A, 4 [deg.] is adopted as the winding angle θ for the normal winding period. Thus, during the yarn catching period, the winding angle θ is also 4 [deg.]. Consequently, the yarn guide 4 traveling in a direction shown by thick arrow A strongly bends the yarn Y traveling in a direction shown by thick arrow B. The strong bending causes a high tension to be generated in the yarn Y. The tension of the yarn Y allows a sufficient resultant force P to be exerted. Thus, the yarn Y is reliably caught by the yarn guide 4 (see also Figure 3). Since the yarn Y is reliably caught by the yarn guide 4, when a predetermined time elapses and the normal winding period is reached, the yarn Y is wound on the take-up tube 2 without any problem. On the other hand, in case B, 0.5 [deg.] is adopted as the winding angle θ for the normal winding period. Thus, during the yarn catching period, the winding angle θ is also 0.5 [deg.]. Consequently, the yarn guide 4 traveling in the direction shown by thick arrow A can almost not bend the yarn Y traveling in the direction shown by thick arrow B. Since the yarn guide 4 can almost not bend the yarn Y, the tension of the yarn Y remains low, and almost no resultant force P is generated. As a result, the yarn guide 4 may fail to catch the yarn Y (see also Figure 3). If the yarn guide 4 fails to catch the yarn Y, even after the predetermined time elapses and the normal winding period is reached, the yarn Y cannot be traversed with respect to the take-up tube 2. This may prevent normal winding. In this sense, the lower stage of case B in Figure 3 leaves blank. Thus, in case C (present embodiment), even though 0.5 [deg.] is adopted as the winding angle θ for the normal winding period, 4 [deg.], which is eight times as large as the winding angle θ for the normal winding period, is adopted as the winding angle θ for the yarn catching period. Thus, in spite of the difference in winding angle θ between the yarn catching period and the normal winding period, the yarn guide 4 traveling in the direction shown by thick arrow A strongly bends the yarn Y traveling in the direction shown by thick arrow B. The strong bending causes a high tension to be generated in the yarn Y. The tension of the yarn Y allows a sufficient resultant force P to be exerted. Thus, the yarn Y is reliably caught by the yarn guide 4 (see also Figure 3). Since the yarn Y is reliably caught by the yarn guide 4, when the predetermined time elapses and the normal winding period is reached, the yarn Y is wound on the take-up tube 2 without any problem.
When the package Q becomes full, the turret control section drives the turret motor 27 to rotate the turret plate 10 counterclockwise by 180 degrees.
Furthermore, each of the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 moves the corresponding yarn guide 4 to a position where the yarn guide 4 lies opposite the corresponding straight-winding shallow groove 2T. Then, each yarn Y is strongly gripped by the straight-winding shallow groove 2T in the empty take-up tube 2, as described above. Subsequently, the traverse control sections (Nos. 1 to 4) 61 control the respective driving motors (Nos. 1 to 4) 17 again based on the winding angle pattern stored in the winding angle pattern storage section 64 and the origin stored in the origin storage section 65. Thus, with the yarn Y constantly caught by the yarn guide 4, such a cheese package Q as shown in Figure 4 is formed on each take-up tube 2 again.
As described above, in the above-described embodiments, the traverse device (5, 61) is configured as follows. That is, the traverse device (5, 61) includes the traverse device main body 5 including the yarn guide 4 configured to be able to catch the yarn Y, the traverse device main body 5 enabling the yarn guide 4 to reciprocate, and the traverse control section 61 configured to control the operation of the traverse device main body 5. The yarn guide 4 of the traverse device (5, 61) is configured to catch the yarn Y utilizing tension of the yarn Y. The traverse device (5, 61) further includes yarn tension varying means for temporarily increasing the tension of the yarn Y when the yarn guide 4 is allowed to catch the yarn Y. This configuration prevents the tension of the yarn Y from being insufficient when the yarn guide 4 is allowed to catch the yarn. Thus, the yarn guide 4 can reliably catch the yarn Y.
In the above-described embodiments, the "yarn tension varying means" includes at least the winding angle pattern storage section 64 and the traverse control section 61 configured to control the operation of the traverse device main body 5 based on such a traverse pattern as shown in Figure 12, which is stored in the winding angle pattern storage section 64.
The yarn tension varying means according to the above-described embodiments is particularly effective when almost no tension is generated in the yarn Y during the yarn catching period because the winding angle θ for the normal winding period is set to a small value, for example, 0.5 [deg.] as shown in Figure 13. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect. The yarn tension varying means is technically significant in any case provided that almost no tension is generated in the yarn Y during the yarn catching period.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, the belt type traverse device is adopted as the traverse device. However, any other traverse device, for example, an arm type traverse device or a cam type traverse device, may be adopted provided that the traverse device is configured such that the yarn guide bends the yarn to cause the above-described resultant force to be generated, thus allowing the yarn to be set on the yarn guide. That is, the arm type traverse device uses a driving motor configured as a voice coil motor to drivingly swing and reciprocate an arm member with a yarn guide formed at the leading end thereof. Furthermore, the cam type traverse device includes a traverse cam, a traverse guide configured to move slidably while engaging with a traverse groove formed in the peripheral surface of the traverse cam, and a traverse guide driving motor configured to rotate the traverse cam.
The traverse device (5, 61) is further configured as follows. That is, the yarn tension varying means is configured so as to increase the winding angle θ to increase the tension of the yarn Y. Thus, intentionally increasing the traverse is increased only for θ angle allows the yarn guide 4 to strongly bend the yarn Y. Thus, a sufficient tension is ensured when the yarn Y is caught by the guide 4.
The winding angle pattern according to the present embodiment is illustrated in Figure 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The winding angle pattern may be such that the winding angle θ is increased only for a short time during the yarn catching period. In graphs shown in Figures 14A and 14B, the axis of abscissa indicates time and the axis of ordinate indicates the winding angle θ. In the winding angle pattern shown in Figure 14A, only for the former half of the yarn catching period, the winding angle θ is set at a level higher than that set for the normal winding period. On the other hand, in the winding angle pattern shown in Figure 14B, only for the latter half of the yarn catching period, the winding angle θ is set at a level higher than that for the normal winding period. Alternatively, the winding angle pattern may be such that the winding angle θ is instantaneously increased during the yarn catching period.
Furthermore, the winding angle θ is determined by the traveling speed of the yarn guide 4 and the peripheral speed of the take-up tube 2. Thus, an embodiment is possible in which with the peripheral speed of the take-up tube 2 set as in the case of the conventional art, only the traveling speed of the yarn guide 4 is increased. Another embodiment is possible in which with the traveling speed of the yarn guide 4 set as in the case of the conventional art, only the peripheral speed of the take-up tube 2 is reduced.
Now, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 15 and 16. The differences between the present embodiment and the above-described embodiments will mainly be described below. Duplicate descriptions are appropriately omitted.
In the above-described embodiments, the yarn tension varying means includes at least the winding angle pattern storage section 64 and the traverse control section 61 configured to control the operation of the traverse device main body 5 based on such a traverse pattern as shown in Figure 12, which is stored in the winding angle pattern storage section 64. In contrast, as shown in Figure 15, the yarn tension varying means according to the present embodiment includes a regulating guide 28 configured to be movable forward and backward in a direction perpendicular to a triangular (see also Figure 4) traverse plane defined by traversing of the yarn Y between the traverse support point guide 8 and the yarn guide 4, a solenoid type actuator 29 serving as a driving source for moving the regulating guide 28 forward and backward, and a solenoid control section 67 shown in Figure 16 and configured to control the operation of the solenoid type actuator 29. As shown in Figure 16, the solenoid type actuator 29 is connected to the winding control section 60. As shown in Figure 15, when the yarn guide 4 is allowed to catch the yarn Y, the solenoid control section 67 controls the solenoid type actuator 29 so that the regulating guide 28 enters the triangular traverse plane. The solenoid control section 67 thus temporarily regulates, near the yarn guide 4, the motion of the yarn Y in the reciprocating direction of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4. Moreover, as the yarn guide 4 travels in the direction of thick arrow B in Figure 15, the yarn Y is strongly bent between the regulating guide 28 and the contact roller 11 by the yarn guide 4. Thus, the resultant force P as shown in Figure 3 temporarily increases. After the yarn Y is caught, the solenoid control section 67 controls the solenoid type actuator 29 so that the regulating guide 28 retracts from the triangular traverse plane. The solenoid control section 67 thus immediately cancels the regulation, near the yarn guide 4, of the motion of the yarn Y in the reciprocating direction of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the above-described traverse device (5, 61) is further configured as follows. That is, the yarn tension varying means is configured so as to regulate, near the yarn guide 4, the motion of the yarn Y in the reciprocating direction of reciprocation of the yarn guide 4 to increase the tension of the yarn Y. Thus, the motion of the yarn Y is regulated near the yarn guide 4 to allow the yarn guide 4 to strongly bend the yarn Y. Consequently, a sufficient tension is ensured when the yarn Y is caught by the yarn guide 4.
In the above-described embodiments, in Figure 15, the regulating guide 28 is located upstream of the rail 19 in the traveling direction of the yarn Y. Alternatively, the regulating guide 28 may be located downstream of the rail 19 in the traveling direction of the yarn Y.
While the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those specifically set out and described above. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications of the present invention that fall within the scope of the invention.
The features of the dependent claims can be combined with each other, as long as they do not contradict each other.

Claims

A yarn winding apparatus characterized by including:
a bobbin holder on which a plurality of take-up tubes are installed and supported on the same shaft; and

a plurality of traverse devices each including a yarn guide and configured to reciprocate the yarn guide to traverse a yarn with respect to a corresponding take-up tube, and

in that each of the traverse devices allows a reciprocating range of reciprocation of the yarn guide to be varied and is located in association with the corresponding take-up tube.
The yarn winding apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that each of the traverse devices includes an endless belt to which the yarn guide is attached, paired support units configured to support the endless belt so that at least a part of the endless belt extends parallel to a longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder, and a belt driving source configured to drive the endless belt.
The yarn winding apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the adjacent belt type traverse devices are overlappingly arranged.
The yarn winding apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that the adjacent belt type traverse devices are overlappingly arranged by inclining a trajectory of reciprocation of each yarn guide with respect to the longitudinal direction of the bobbin holder,
a contact roller is provided between the bobbin holder and the plurality of traverse devices and comes into contact with packages formed on the respective take-up tubes so that the yarns traversed by the respective traverse devices are wound around the contact roller, and

traverse control sections are provided each of which controls the belt driving source of the corresponding traverse device, and each of the traverse devices is configured to be able to control the belt driving source so that yarn density is uniform between vicinities of opposite ends of the package formed on the take-up tube.
The yarn winding apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that each traverse control section is configured to be able to control the belt driving source so that a motion pattern differs between vicinities of opposite traverse ends of the yarn guide.
The yarn winding apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that the adjacent belt type traverse devices are overlappingly arranged by setting trajectories of reciprocations of the yarn guides at different levels,
a contact roller is provided between the bobbin holder and the plurality of traverse devices and comes into contact with packages formed on the respective take-up tubes so that the yarns traversed by the respective traverse devices are wound around the contact roller, and

traverse control sections are provided each of which controls the belt driving source of the corresponding traverse device, and the traverse devices are configured to be able to control the respective belt driving sources so as to make yarn density uniform between the packages formed on the respective adjacent take-up tubes.
The yarn winding apparatus according to Claim 6, characterized in that the traverse control sections are configured to be able to control the respective belt driving sources so that the reciprocation of the yarn guide differs from that of the yarn guide in the adjacent, different belt type traverse device.
A spinning machine characterized by including:
a spinning section configured to spin out a plurality of yarns; and

the yarn winding apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 configured to wind the plurality of yarns spun out by the spinning section.
A traverse device in the yarn winding apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized by including a traverse device main body including a yarn guide configured to be able to catch a yarn, the traverse device main body enabling the yarn guide to reciprocate, and a traverse control section configured to control operation of the traverse device main body, and
in that the yarn guide of the traverse device is configured to catch the yarn utilizing tension of the yarn, and

the traverse device further includes a yarn tension varying means for temporarily increasing the tension of the yarn when the yarn guide is allowed to catch the yarn.
The traverse device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the yarn tension varying means is configured so as to increase a winding angle to increase the tension of the yarn.
The traverse device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the yarn tension varying means is configured so as to regulate, near the yarn guide, motion of the yarn in a reciprocating direction of reciprocation of the yarn guide to increase the tension of the yarn.