Yarn winding machine

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a yarn winding machine.

2. Description of the Related Art

As a conventional yarn winding machine, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-200432 describes a textile machine including a service device adapted to perform a predetermined service to a unit using suction force by a blower, a detecting means adapted to directly or indirectly detect a variation or reduction in the suction force by the blower, and a control means adapted, when the variation or reduction in the suction force by the blower is detected during a service being performed by the service device, to control the service device to prohibit performing the service after a cycle of such a service is completed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in the textile machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-200432, the service device performs yarn joining operation using the suction force by the blower, and when a collecting section such as a dust box or the like adapted to collect a fiber in the suction airflow is arranged between the service device and the blower, a defect is likely to occur in a yarn joining portion.

The reason is that since the service cycle is performed until completed even if the variation or reduction in the suction force by the blower due to cleaning of the collecting section is detected during the service being performed by the service device, the yarn joining operation is performed in the service cycle under a state where the suction force by the blower is insufficient.

An object of the present invention is thus to provide a yarn winding machine capable of preventing the defect from occurring in the yarn joining portion due to cleaning of the collecting section.

A yarn winding machine of the present invention includes a plurality of yarn winding units, a yarn joining section adapted to perform yarn joining operation using suction airflow in each of the plurality of yarn winding units, a collecting section adapted to collect a fiber in the suction airflow circulated from the yarn joining section, a switching section adapted to switch a mode of the collecting section between a collection mode that enables the collecting section to collect the fiber and a cleaning mode for cleaning the collecting section, a movement detecting section adapted to detect a first movement of the switching section when the mode of the collecting section is switched by the switching section from the collection mode to the cleaning mode, and a control section adapted to control the yarn joining section to stop the yarn joining operation when the first movement is detected by the movement detecting section in a case where the yarn joining section is performing the yarn joining operation.

In the yarn winding machine, in the case where the yarn joining section is performing the yarn joining operation, when the first movement of the switching section is detected, the yarn joining operation of the yarn joining section is stopped. Accordingly, the yarn joining operation can be prevented from being continued under a state where suction force of the suction airflow is insufficient due to cleaning of the collecting section. Thus, with the yarn winding machine, a defect can be prevented from occurring at a yarn joining portion due to cleaning of the collecting section.

The yarn winding machine of the present invention further includes a static pressure measuring section adapted to measure static pressure of the suction airflow in the collecting section. The movement detecting section may detect, in addition to the first movement, a second movement of the switching section when the mode of the collecting section is switched by the switching section from the cleaning mode to the collection mode. The control section may control the yarn joining section to perform the yarn joining operation from the beginning when the second movement is detected by the movement detecting section and static pressure measured by the static pressure measuring section exceeds a predetermined value in a case where the yarn joining section has stopped the yarn joining operation. With this configuration, since the yarn joining operation is performed from the beginning under a state where suction force of the suction airflow is sufficiently recovered, an appropriate yarn joining portion can be obtained.

In the yarn winding machine of the present invention, the yarn joining section includes a yarn joining device adapted to perform yarn joining using the suction airflow, and a yarn catching and guiding device adapted to catch a yarn using the suction airflow and to guide the yarn to the yarn joining device. The control section may control the yarn joining device to stop the yarn joining when the first movement is detected by the movement detecting section in a case where the yarn joining device is performing the yarn joining. The control section may control the yarn catching and guiding device to stop the catching of the yarn or the guiding of the yarn when the first movement is detected by the movement detecting section in a case where the yarn catching and guiding device is catching the yarn or guiding the yarn. With this configuration, the yarn joining operation can be appropriately stopped in accordance with a movement condition of the yarn joining section.

In the yarn winding machine of the present invention, the yarn joining section further includes a travelling device adapted to travel among the plurality of yarn winding units, and the control section may control the travelling device to stop travelling when the first movement is detected by the movement detecting section in a case where the travelling device is travelling. With this configuration, the travelling operation can be appropriately stopped in accordance with a movement condition of the travelling device.

The yarn winding machine of the present invention may further include a suction duct arranged across the plurality of yarn winding units from the collecting section and provided with a plurality of supply openings adapted to supply the suction airflow to the yarn joining section, and a plurality of shutters provided to the suction duct and adapted to open/close each of the plurality of supply openings in conjunction with the travelling of the travelling device. As described above, since the travelling of the travelling device is stopped when the first movement of the switching section is detected, the shutter can be prevented from being operated, and thus the supply opening can be prevented from being opened under a state where the suction force of the suction airflow is insufficient due to cleaning of the collecting section. Accordingly, since the suction force of the suction airflow can be prevented from further decreasing due to the opening of the supply opening, the suction force of the suction airflow can be efficiently recovered after cleaning of the collecting section.

In the yarn winding machine of the present invention, the switching section is a lever, and the movement detecting section may detect a movement of the lever and at least a part of a portion that moves in conjunction with the lever. With this configuration, the first movement of the switching section can be promptly and reliably detected.

In the yarn winding machine of the present invention, the collecting section is a fiber accumulation box in which a fiber is accumulated, and the fiber accumulation box may be provided with a door arranged to be capable of being opened/closed when the mode of the collecting section is switched from the collection mode to the cleaning mode. With this configuration, the door can be opened when the mode of the collecting section is switched from the collection mode to the cleaning mode, and the fiber accumulated in the fiber accumulation box can be removed.

In the yarn winding machine of the present invention, each of the plurality of yarn winding units may include a draft device adapted to draft a fiber bundle, a pneumatic spinning device adapted to apply twists to the fiber bundle drafted by the draft device to produce a yarn, and a winding device adapted to wind the yarn produced by the pneumatic spinning device around a package. With this configuration, a defect can be prevented from occurring at a yarn joining portion in the yarn wound around the package.

The present invention can provide a yarn winding machine capable of preventing a defect from occurring at a yarn joining portion due to cleaning of the collecting section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a spinning machine according to an embodiment of a yarn winding machine of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a side view of a spinning unit of the spinning machine of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3A is a view illustrating a movement of a shutter of the spinning machine of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3B is a view illustrating a next movement of the shutter of FIG. 3A;
• FIG. 3C is a view illustrating a next movement of the shutter of FIG. 3B;
• FIG. 3D is a view illustrating a next movement of the shutter of FIG. 3C;
• FIG. 4 is a back view illustrating an interior portion of a blower box of the spinning machine of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 5A is an external view illustrating a structure of a switching section of the spinning machine of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5A ;
• FIG. 6A is an external view illustrating a movement of the switching section when being switched from a collection mode to a cleaning mode in the spinning machine of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A;
• FIG. 7A is an external view illustrating a structure of the switching section in the cleaning mode in the spinning machine of FIG. 1; and
• FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferable embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are denoted on the same or corresponding portions throughout the drawings, and redundant description will be omitted.

[Configuration of a spinning machine]

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a spinning machine (a yarn winding machine) 1 includes a plurality of spinning units (yarn winding units) 2, a yarn joining vehicle (a yarn joining section) 3, a blower box 4, and a motor box 5. The plurality of spinning units 2 are arranged in a row. Each of the spinning units 2 is adapted to produce a yarn Y and to wind the produced yarn Y around a package P. The yarn joining vehicle 3 is adapted to perform yarn joining operation in a spinning unit 2 where the yarn Y has been disconnected. The blower box 4 accommodates, for example, an air supply source for generating suction flow, whirling flow, or the like in each section of the spinning unit 2. The motor box 5 accommodates, for example, a motor for supplying power to each section of the spinning unit 2.

In the following description, in a path (that is, a yarn path) where the yarn Y travels, a side where the yarn Y is produced is referred to as an upstream side, and a side where the yarn Y is wound is referred to as a downstream side. Furthermore, a side where the yarn path is located with respect to the yarn joining vehicle 3 is referred to as a front side, and a side opposite thereto is referred to as a back side. In the present embodiment, a working passage (not illustrated) that extends in an arrangement direction of the plurality of spinning units 2 is arranged on a front side of the spinning machine 1. An operator can perform an operation, monitoring, and the like of each of the spinning units 2 from the working passage.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the spinning units 2 includes a draft device 6, a pneumatic spinning device 7, a yarn monitoring device 8, a tension sensor 9, a yarn accumulating device 50, a waxing device 11, and a winding device 12 in this order from the upstream side. The devices are directly or indirectly supported by a machine frame 13 such that the upstream side is an upper side in a machine height direction (in other words, such that the downstream side is a lower side in the machine height direction).

The draft device 6 is adapted to draft a sliver S to produce a fiber bundle F. The draft device 6 includes a pair of back rollers 61, a pair of third rollers 62, a pair of middle rollers 64, each of which is provided with an apron belt 63, and a pair of front rollers 65 in this order from the upstream side (a side where the sliver S is supplied in a path where the sliver S and the fiber bundle F travel) . Each of the pairs of rollers 61, 62, 64, and 65 is adapted to cause the sliver S supplied from a sliver can (not illustrated) to travel from the upstream side to the downstream side while drafting the sliver S.

The pneumatic spinning device 7 is adapted to apply twists by whirling flow of air to the fiber bundle F drafted by the draft device 6 to produce the yarn Y. More specifically (although not illustrated), the pneumatic spinning device 7 includes a spinning chamber, a fiber guiding section, a whirling flow generating nozzle, and a hollow guide shaft body. The fiber guiding section is adapted to guide the fiber bundle F fed from the draft device 6 located at the upstream side into the spinning chamber. The whirling flow generating nozzle is arranged around the path where the fiber bundle F travels and is adapted to generate the whirling flow in the spinning chamber. A fiber end of the fiber bundle F that has been guided into the spinning chamber is inverted and whirled by the whirling flow. The hollow guide shaft body is adapted to guide the spun yarn Y from the spinning chamber to outside the pneumatic spinning device 7.

The yarn monitoring device 8 is adapted to detect a yarn defect in the travelling yarn Y between the pneumatic spinning device 7 and the yarn accumulating device 50 and to transmit a yarn defect detection signal to a unit control device 10. The yarn monitoring device 8 detects as the yarn defect, for example, an abnormality in thickness of the yarn Y and/or a foreign substance in the yarn Y. The tension sensor 9 is adapted to measure tension of the travelling yarn Y between the pneumatic spinning device 7 and the yarn accumulating device 50 and to transmit a tension measurement signal to the unit control device 10. The waxing device 11 is adapted to apply wax to the travelling yarn Y between the yarn accumulating device 50 and the winding device 12. The unit control device 10 is arranged for every spinning unit 2 and is adapted to control operations of the spinning unit 2 under control of a machine control device 20 serving as a superordinate controller.

Between the pneumatic spinning device 7 and the winding device 12, the yarn accumulating device 50 accumulates the travelling yarn Y by winding the yarn Y around a yarn accumulating roller. The yarn accumulating device 50 has a function to stably draw the yarn Y from the pneumatic spinning device 7, a function to accumulate the yarn Y fed from the pneumatic spinning device 7 to prevent the yarn Y from slackening, for example, at the time of yarn joining operation by the yarn joining vehicle 3, and a function to adjust tension of the yarn Y on a side of the winding device 12 to prevent variation in the tension of the yarn Y on the side of the winding device 12 from propagating to a side of the pneumatic spinning device 7.

The winding device 12 is adapted to wind the yarn Y produced by the pneumatic spinning device 7 around the package P to form the package P. The winding device 12 includes a cradle arm 21, a winding drum 22, and a traverse device 23. The cradle arm 21 is swingably supported by a support shaft 24 and adapted to bring a surface of a bobbin B or the package P (that is, the bobbin B with the yarn Y wound therearound) that is rotatably supported into contact with a surface of the winding drum 22 at an appropriate pressure. The winding drum 22 is adapted to be driven by an electric motor (not illustrated) provided to every spinning unit 2 and to rotate the bobbin B being in contact therewith or the package P being in contact therewith. The traverse device 23 is adapted to be driven by a shaft 25 provided in common to the plurality of spinning units 2 and to traverse the yarn Y with respect to the rotating bobbin B or the rotating package P in a predetermined width.

The yarn joining vehicle 3 is adapted to travel to a spinning unit 2 in which the yarn Y has been disconnected and to perform yarn joining operation using suction airflow in such a spinning unit 2. The yarn joining vehicle 3 includes a splicer (a yarn joining device) 31, a suction nozzle (a yarn catching and guiding device) 32, a suction mouth (a yarn catching and guiding device) 33, and a travelling device 34.

The suction nozzle 32 is swingably supported by a support shaft 32a and is adapted to suck and catch a yarn end of the yarn Y from the pneumatic spinning device 7 using the suction airflow and to guide the caught yarn end to the splicer 31. The suction mouth 33 is swingably supported by a support shaft 33a and is adapted to suck and catch a yarn end of the yarn Y from the winding device 12 using the suction airflow and to guide the caught yarn end to the splicer 31. In other words, the suction nozzle 32 and the suction mouth 33 each catches the yarn Y using the suction airflow and guides the caught yarn Y to the splicer 31.

The splicer 31 is adapted to join the yarn ends respectively guided by the suction nozzle 32 and the suction mouth 33 using the suction airflow. In other words, the splicer 31 performs yarn joining using the suction airflow. The travelling device 34 is adapted to cause the yarn joining vehicle 3 to travel along a rail (not illustrated) provided across the plurality of spinning units 2. In other words, the travelling device 34 travels among the plurality of spinning units 2.

The suction airflow is supplied to the yarn joining vehicle 3 via a suction duct 14 provided from the blower box 4 across the plurality of spinning units 2. A plurality of supply openings 15 are formed in the suction duct 14. Each of the supply openings 15 is formed at a position in the suction duct 14 that corresponds to each spinning unit 2 to supply the suction airflow to the yarn joining vehicle 3. A plurality of shutters 16 are provided to the suction duct 14 to correspond to each supply opening 15. Each of the shutter 16 is adapted to open/close each supply opening 15 by contact with a tip-end portion 35a of a vehicle-side duct 35 provided to the yarn joining vehicle 3. In other words, each shutter 16 opens/closes each supply opening 15 in conjunction with travelling of the travelling device 34.

[Configuration and operations of a shutter]

As illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the shutter 16 includes a plurality of shutter portions 16b arranged in a radial manner with a support shaft 16a as a center, and is rotatably supported by the support shaft 16a. A cutout portion 16c is formed between the shutter portions 16b arranged next to each other in a rotational direction with the support shaft 16a as a center. The shutter 16 is arranged such that the shutter portion 16b and the cutout portion 16c are alternately located on the supply opening 15 when the shutter 16 is rotated with the support shaft 16a as a center.

Operations of the shutter 16 are now described. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, in a state where a supply opening 15 is closed by the shutter portion 16b located on the supply opening 15, when the yarn joining vehicle 3 becomes close to a spinning unit 2 corresponding to such a supply opening 15, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the shutter 16 is rotated by contact with the tip-end portion 35a of the vehicle-side duct 35. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the supply opening 15 is opened by the cutout portion 16c located on the supply opening 15, and the supply opening 15 and the vehicle-side duct 35 communicates to each other, and thus supply of the suction airflow to the yarn joining vehicle 3 becomes possible.

Then, when the yarn joining vehicle 3 is moved away from the relevant spinning unit 2, as illustrated in FIG. 3D, the shutter 16 is further rotated by contact with the tip-end portion 35a of the vehicle-side duct 35, and the supply opening 15 is closed by the shutter portion 16b located on the supply opening 15. At this time, when suction force of the suction airflow sufficiently acts on the supply opening 15, the supply opening 15 can be prevented from being opened by the shutter portion 16b displaced from the supply opening 15.

[Configuration and operations of a blower box]

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a cotton waste accumulation box 41, a main duct 42, a main blower 43, and a main blower motor 44 are arranged in the blower box 4. A suction duct 17 adapted to supply suction airflow to the draft device 6 and the pneumatic spinning device 7 is connected to the cotton waste accumulation box 41. A suction opening 43a of the main blower 43 is connected to the cotton waste accumulation box 41 via the main duct 42. A discharge opening 43b of the main blower 43 is open to outside of the blower box 4.

Furthermore, a yarn waste accumulation box (a fiber accumulation box, a collecting section) 45 provided with a door 45a, a sub-blower 46, a sub-blower motor 47, and a sub-duct 48 are arranged in the blower box 4. A suction duct 14 adapted to supply suction airflow to the yarn joining vehicle 3 is connected to the yarn waste accumulation box 45. A suction opening 46a of the sub-blower 46 is connected to the yarn waste accumulation box 45. A discharge opening 46b of the sub-blower 46 is connected to a middle portion of the main duct 42 via the sub-duct 48.

With the above-described configuration, when the main blower 43 is operated by the main blower motor 44, and the sub-blower 46 is operated by the sub-blower motor 47, the suction airflow circulates in a flow of the suction duct 17, the cotton waste accumulation box 41, the main duct 42, the suction opening 43a of the main blower 43, and the discharge opening 43b of the main blower 43 (see a solid arrow in FIG. 4). Furthermore, the suction airflow circulates in a flow of the suction duct 14, the yarn waste accumulation box 45, the suction opening 46a of the sub-blower 46, the discharge opening 46b of the sub-blower 46, the sub-duct 48, and the main duct 42 (see a broken arrow in FIG. 4).

The cotton waste accumulation box 41 is adapted to collect by a filter (not illustrated), cotton waste in the suction airflow circulated from the draft device 6 and the pneumatic spinning device 7 via the suction duct 17. The collected cotton waste is accumulated in the cotton waste accumulation box 41 and automatically discharged outside the blower box 4 by a cotton waste discharge conveyor (not illustrated) under a predetermined condition. The cotton waste includes a fiber piece of a natural fiber such as cotton or the like, a synthetic fiber, or another fiber.

The yarn waste accumulation box 45 is adapted to collect by a filter (not illustrated), yarn waste in the suction airflow circulated from the yarn joining vehicle 3 via the suction duct 14. The collected yarn waste is accumulated in the yarn waste accumulation box 45 and removed in cleaning by an operator via a door 45a under a predetermined condition. A static pressure sensor (a static pressure measurement section) 74 adapted to measure static pressure of the suction airflow in the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is arranged in the yarn waste accumulation box 45.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a lever (a switching section) 71 is arranged on an outer surface of the sub-duct 48. The lever 71 is swingably supported by a support shaft 71a that passes through the sub-duct 48. A plate-like shutter 72 is mounted to a portion, which is located inside the sub-duct 48, of the support shaft 71a. Accordingly, when an operator swings the lever 71, the shutter 72 is swung in conjunction, and circulation of the suction airflow to the sub-duct 48 is permitted or prohibited. FIG. 5A is an external view of the sub-duct 48, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the sub-duct 48.

The lever 71 functions as the switching section adapted to switch a mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 to a collection mode or a cleaning mode. The collection mode is a mode for enabling the yarn waste accumulation box 45 to collect the yarn waste. In the collection mode, the shutter 72 is arranged to be parallel to a circulation direction of the suction airflow in the sub-duct 48, and the shutter 72 goes into a state of permitting the circulation of the suction airflow to the sub-duct 48. The cleaning mode is a mode for cleaning the yarn waste accumulation box 45. In the cleaning mode, the shutter 72 is arranged to be perpendicular to the circulation direction of the suction airflow in the sub-duct 48, and the shutter 72 goes into a state of prohibiting the circulation of the suction airflow to the sub-duct 48.

The sub-duct 48 is provided with a proximity sensor (a movement detecting section) 73 adapted to detect a movement of the lever 71 and at least a part of a portion that moves in conjunction with the lever 71. The proximity sensor 73 detects a first movement and a second movement of the lever 71. The first movement is a movement of the lever 71 when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is switched by the lever 71 from the collection mode to the cleaning mode. The second movement is a movement of the lever 71 when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is switched by the lever 71 from the cleaning mode to the collection mode. The proximity sensor 73 is arranged to be capable of detecting the first movement at a position where the lever 71 that swings 90 degrees has swung about 10 degrees when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is switched by the lever 71 from the collection mode to the cleaning mode.

[Movements of a spinning machine at the time of cleaning a yarn waste accumulation box]

Operations of the spinning machine 1 at the time of cleaning the yarn waste accumulation box 45 are now described. The main blower 43 and the sub-blower 46 continue operations before cleaning, during cleaning, and after cleaning of the yarn waste accumulation box 45. Furthermore, each spinning unit 2 continues to generate and wind the yarn Y before cleaning, during cleaning, and after cleaning of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 unless the yarn Y is disconnected.

First, when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is in the collection mode, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the shutter 72 is in the state of permitting the circulation of the suction airflow to the sub-duct 48. Thus, the suction airflow circulates in the flow of the suction duct 14, the yarn waste accumulation box 45, the suction opening 46a of the sub-blower 46, the discharge opening 46b of the sub-blower 46, the sub-duct 48, and the main duct 42 (see the broken arrow in FIG. 4), and the yarn waste is accumulated in the yarn waste accumulation box 45. At this time, the machine control device (a control section) 20 permits the yarn joining vehicle 3 to perform travelling operation and yarn joining operation. The travelling operation by the yarn joining vehicle 3 means travelling by the travelling device 34, and the yarn joining operation by the yarn joining vehicle 3 means catching of the yarn Y and guiding of the yarn Y to the splicer 31 by the suction nozzle 32 and the suction mouth 33, and yarn joining by the splicer 31.

When an amount of the yarn waste accumulated in the yarn waste accumulation box 45 increases and the static pressure measured by the static pressure sensor 74 becomes a predetermined value or less, the machine control device 20 flashes a lamp (not illustrated), for example, to notify the operator that the yarn waste accumulation box 45 needs to be cleaned. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 6A and 6B, when the operator tries to switch the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 from the collection mode to the cleaning mode by swinging the lever 71, the first movement of the lever 71 (that is, the movement of the lever 71 when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is switched from the collection mode to the cleaning mode) is detected by the proximity sensor 73. FIG. 6A is an external view of the sub-duct 48, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the sub-duct 48.

In a case where the yarn joining vehicle 3 is performing the travelling operation or the yarn joining operation, when the first movement of the lever 71 is detected by the proximity sensor 73, the machine control device 20 controls the yarn joining vehicle 3 to stop the travelling operation or the yarn joining operation. In a case where the yarn joining vehicle 3 is not performing the travelling operation or the yarn joining operation, when the first movement of the lever 71 is detected by the proximity sensor 73, the machine control device 20 does not permit the yarn joining vehicle 3 to perform the travelling operation and the yarn joining operation.

A stop of the travelling operation is specifically described as follows. In a case where the travelling device 34 is travelling, when the first movement of the lever 71 is detected by the proximity sensor 73, the machine control device 20 controls the travelling device 34 to stop travelling. More specifically, in the case where the travelling device 34 is travelling, the travelling device 34 is immediately stopped on the spot.

A stop of the yarn joining operation is specifically described as follows. First, in a case the suction nozzle 32 and the suction mouth 33 are catching the yarn Y or guiding the yarn Y to the splicer 31, when the first movement of the lever 71 is detected by the proximity sensor 73, the machine control device 20 controls the suction nozzle 32 and the suction mouth 33 to stop the catching of the yarn Y or the guiding of the yarn Y to the splicer 31.

More specifically, in a case where the suction nozzle 32 is moving towards a catching position, the suction nozzle 32 returns to a standby position without reaching the catching position. In a case where the suction nozzle 32 is sucking the yarn Y at the catching position, the suction nozzle 32 immediately stops the suction operation and returns to the standby position without catching the yarn Y. The catching position is a position where the suction nozzle 32 catches the yarn Y spun from the pneumatic spinning device 7 at a downstream position in proximity to the pneumatic spinning device 7 when the pneumatic spinning device 7 starts to spin. The standby position is a position where the suction nozzle 32 does not interfere with winding at the time of winding the yarn Y in the spinning unit 2.

In a case where the suction mouth 33 is moving towards a catching position, the suction mouth 33 returns to a standby position without reaching the catching position. In a case where the suction mouth 33 is sucking the yarn Y at the catching position, the suction mouth 33 immediately stops the suction operation and returns to the standby position without catching the yarn Y. The catching position is a position where the suction mouth 33 catches a yarn end from the package P at an upstream position in proximity to the winding device 12 when the winding device 12 starts to wind the yarn around the package P. The standby position is a position where the suction mouth 33 does not interfere with winding at the time of winding the yarn Y in the spinning unit 2.

In a case where the splicer 31 is performing the yarn joining, when the first movement of the lever 71 is detected by the proximity sensor 73, the machine control device 20 controls the splicer 31 to stop the yarn joining. More specifically, in the case where the splicer 31 is performing the yarn joining, the splicer 31 immediately stops the yarn joining and returns to a standby state. However, even when the splicer 31 is performing the yarn joining, the splicer 31 does not necessarily need to stop the yarn joining in a case where the yarn joining has been substantially completed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 becomes the cleaning mode, the shutter 72 goes into the state of prohibiting the circulation of the suction airflow to the sub-duct 48. Thus, the static pressure of the suction airflow in the yarn waste accumulation box 45 decreases, causing the door 45a to be capable of being opened/closed. In this manner, the door 45a is capable of being opened/closed when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is switched from the collection mode to the cleaning mode. The operator then opens the door 45a and removes the yarn waste accumulated in the yarn waste accumulation box 45. FIG. 7A is an external view of the sub-duct 48, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the sub-duct 48.

When cleaning is completed, the operator closes the door 45a and switches the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 from the cleaning mode to the collection mode by swinging the lever 71. At this time, the second movement of the lever 71 (that is, the movement of the lever 71 when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is switched from the cleaning mode to the collection mode) is detected by the proximity sensor 73. Furthermore, the static pressure of the suction airflow in the yarn waste accumulation box 45 increases.

In a case where the yarn joining vehicle 3 has stopped the travelling operation or the yarn joining operation, when the second movement is detected by the proximity sensor 73 and the static pressure measured by the static pressure sensor 74 exceeds a predetermined value, the machine control device 20 controls the travelling device 34 to restart travelling or controls the suction nozzle 32 and the suction mouth 33, and the splicer 31 to perform the yarn joining operation from the beginning. In a case where the machine control device 20 controls the travelling device 34 to restart travelling, when a plurality of spinning units 2 requires yarn joining, the machine control device 20 may control the travelling device 34 to restart travelling towards a spinning unit 2 intended before the stop, or determine priority of the spinning units 2 in which yarn joining is to be performed and then control the travelling device 34 to travel towards a spinning unit 2 different from the spinning unit 2 intended before the stop. In a case where the yarn joining vehicle 3 has not stopped the travelling operation and the yarn joining operation, when the second movement is detected by the proximity sensor 73 and the static pressure measured by the static pressure sensor 74 exceeds the predetermined value, the machine control device 20 permits the yarn joining vehicle 3 to perform the travelling operation and the yarn joining operation.

[Effects]

As described above, in the spinning machine 1, in the case where the yarn joining vehicle 3 is performing the yarn joining operation, when the first movement of the lever 71 of when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is switched from the collection mode to the cleaning mode is detected, the yarn joining operation of the yarn joining vehicle 3 is stopped. The yarn joining operation thus can be prevented from being continued under a state where suction force of the suction airflow is insufficient due to cleaning of the yarn waste accumulating box 45. Accordingly, with the spinning machine 1, a defect can be prevented from occurring at a yarn joining portion due to cleaning of the yarn waste accumulation box 45. If the yarn joining operation is performed under the state where the suction force of the suction airflow is insufficient, suction force by the suction nozzle 32 and the suction mouth 33 decreases and the yarn joining is performed by the splicer 31 under a state where appropriate tension is not applied to the yarn Y. The defect thus occurs at the yarn joining portion. Furthermore, the yarn Y may be removed from the suction nozzle 32 and the suction mouth 33.

Relating to the stop of the yarn joining operation, specifically, in the case where the splicer 31 is performing the yarn joining, when the first movement of the lever 71 is detected, the machine control device 20 controls the splicer 31 to stop the yarn joining. In the case where the suction nozzle 32 and the suction mouth 33 are catching the yarn Y or guiding the yarn Y, when the first movement of the lever 71 is detected, the machine control device 20 controls the suction nozzle 32 and the suction mouth 33 to stop the catching of the yarn Y or the guiding of the yarn Y. By the operations, the yarn joining operation can be appropriately stopped in accordance with a movement condition of the yarn joining vehicle 3.

In the spinning machine 1, in the case where the travelling device 34 is travelling, when the first movement of the lever 71 is detected, the machine control device 20 controls the travelling device 34 to stop travelling. Thus, the shutter 16 can be prevented from being rotated in the suction duct 14, and thus the supply opening 15 can be prevented from being opened under the state where the suction force of the suction airflow is insufficient due to cleaning of the yarn waste accumulation box 45. Accordingly, since the suction force of the suction airflow can be prevented from further decreasing due to the opening of the supply opening 15, the suction force of the suction airflow can be efficiently recovered after cleaning of the yarn waste accumulation box 45. The shutter 16 is supported by the support shaft 16a to be easily rotated under the state where the suction force of the suction airflow in the suction duct 14 is insufficient.

In the spinning machine 1, in the case where the yarn joining vehicle 3 has stopped the yarn joining operation, when the second movement of the lever 71 of when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is switched from the cleaning mode to the collection mode is detected and the static pressure of the suction airflow in the yarn waste accumulation box 45 exceeds the predetermined value, the machine control device 20 controls the yarn joining vehicle 3 to perform the yarn joining operation from the beginning. Accordingly, since the yarn joining operation is performed from the beginning under a state where the suction force of the suction airflow is sufficiently recovered, an appropriate yarn joining portion can be obtained.

In the spinning machine 1, the proximity sensor 73 detects a movement of the lever 7 and at least a part of a portion that moves in conjunction with the lever 71. Accordingly, the first movement of the lever 71 when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is switched from the collection mode to the cleaning mode can be promptly and reliably detected.

In the spinning machine 1, the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is provided with the door 45a capable of being opened/closed when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is switched from the collection mode to the cleaning mode. Accordingly, the door 45a can be opened when the mode of the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is switched from the collection mode to the cleaning mode, and yarn waste accumulated in the yarn waste accumulation box 45 can be removed.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the switching section of the present invention is not limited to the lever 71 and may be the door 45a itself, a handle of the door 45a, a mode switching button, or the like. In other words, the switching section of the present invention may be a component that is operated when a mode of a collecting section such as the yarn waste accumulation box 45 or the like is switched from the collection mode to the cleaning mode and when the mode of such a collecting section is switched from the cleaning mode to the collection mode. A substance that is collected by the yarn waste accumulation box 45 is not limited to the yarn waste and may be a fiber in the suction airflow.

A yarn winding machine of the present invention is not limited to the spinning machine 1 and may be another textile machine adapted to wind a yarn such as an automatic winder or the like. A yarn winding unit of the present invention is not limited to the spinning unit 2 and may be another unit adapted to wind a yarn such as a winder unit of the automatic winder, or the like. A yarn joining section of the present invention may be provided to a plurality of yarn winding units, or a plurality of the yarn joining sections may be provided to the plurality of yarn winding units. Alternatively, one yarn joining section of the present invention may be provided to one yarn winding unit.

A control section of the present invention is merely required to be a control device adapted to directly or indirectly control at least a yarn joining section, and a position where the control section is arranged, for example, is not limited. As an example, at least one among a control device provided to a yarn winding machine (the machine control device 20 in the above-described embodiment), a control device provided to a yarn winding unit (the unit control device 10 in the above-described embodiment), and a control device provided to the yarn joining section can form the control section of the present invention.

In the spinning machine 1, each device is arranged such that the yarn Y supplied at an upper side is wound at a lower side, but each device may be arranged such that a yarn supplied at the lower side is wound at the upper side. Furthermore, in the spinning machine 1, a bottom roller of the draft device 6 and a traverse mechanism of the traverse device 23 are driven by power from the motor box 5 (that is, driven in common in the plurality of spinning units 2), but each section (for example, the draft device 6, the pneumatic spinning device 7, the winding device 12, and the like) of the spinning unit 2 may be independently driven for every spinning unit 2.

The pneumatic spinning device 7 may further include a needle arranged to be held by the fiber guiding section and to protrude into the spinning chamber to prevent twists of the fiber bundle F from propagating to an upstream side of the pneumatic spinning device 7. Alternatively, the pneumatic spinning device 7 may prevent the twists of the fiber bundle F from propagating to the upstream side of the pneumatic spinning device 7 by a downstream end of the fiber guiding section instead of such a needle. Furthermore, the pneumatic spinning device 7 may include a pair of air jet nozzles adapted to apply twists to a fiber bundle in opposite directions from each other.

The tension sensor 9 may be arranged upstream of the yarn monitoring device 8 in a travelling direction of the yarn Y. In the spinning machine 1, the yarn accumulating device 50 has the function to draw the yarn Y from the pneumatic spinning device 7, but the yarn Y may be drawn by a delivery roller and a nip roller. The waxing device 11, the tension sensor 9, and the yarn monitoring device 8 are not required to be provided to the spinning unit 2. The unit control device 10 is not required to be provided to every spinning unit 2, but may be provided to every plurality of the spinning units 2.

The winding device 12 is not required to be driven by a drive motor provided to every spinning unit 2, but may be driven by a drive source provided in common to a plurality of the spinning units 2. In this case, when reversely rotating the package P, the cradle arm 21 is moved by an air cylinder (not illustrated) to locate the package P away from the winding drum 22 and the package P is reversely rotated by a reversely-rotating roller (not illustrated) provided to the yarn joining vehicle 3.