Spindle arrangement of a textile machine

Abstract: The subject-matter of the invention is a spindle (1) directly driven by an electrical motor, a plurality of which are mounted on a spindle rail (15) of a textile machine to constitute a row. For avoiding contacts between the spindles at least one of sides of at least one of surfaces of an electrical motor body (31) of said spindle is cut away along an overall length of said electrical motor body (31) in an axial direction thereof, said surfaces facing to electrical motor bodies (31) of adjacent spindles. At least two corners of a basical rectangle, as seen from the top of a spindle, are bevelled so as not to come into contact with each other. As a result, such spindles can be easily installed on a textile machine by using the same spindle gages, without increasing the accuracy with which the spindles are installed.

Description: The invention relates to a spindle arrangement of a textile machine according to the first part of claim 1. In textile machines such as ring spinning machines, generally, several hundred spindles are aligned horizontally on a spindle rail. Because of the many aligned spindles, the spindle gages G at which the spindles are installed directly affect the area where the textile machines are installed. It it thus necessary to narrow the spindle gage G to reduce such an area as much as possible, whereby the entire textile machine can be made smaller. A type of spindle, whose shaft is directly driven by a spindle motor, (hereinafter referred to simply as a spindle) has been frequently used in recent years. A power line connector to the spindle motor and accessories (such as a start/stop switch) are attached to such a spindle. Because it is required to reduce the area where the textile machine is installed, these components must not be attached on a surface of the spindle which faces another spindle, but be attached on a surface of the spindle which does not face another spindle. The textile machine is employed in an environment where there is a great amount of cotton and other types of dust, and therefore, the power line connector and accessories are covered to protect them from dust. The JP-A- 2-19521 discloses a spindle, in which the outline of its housing , as seen from the top of the spindle shaft thereof, is either a square corresponding to the shape of a spindle motor or a rectangle having a cover for accessories and other components. Such rectangular spindles are installed on a spindle rail so that one short side (width) of each spindle becomes parallel to the spindle rail and one long side (length) thereof becomes perpendicular to the spindle rail. The gaps between the spindles thus installed are extremely narrow. Fig. 1 shows how conventional spindles are installed as seen from the tops of the spindle shafts thereof. In this drawing, each spindle is schematically shown by the outline thereof as seen from the top thereof. The outline of each spindle is composed of lines a1 and a 2, corresponding to long sides (lengths) H16, and lines b1 and b2, correspond to short sides (widths) W16, of each spindle. Symbol G indicates a spindle gage, and a circle D16 indicates where the spindle motor is disposed. When a conventional spindle 1₋₃ having such an outward shape rotates on the spindle shaft through even a small angle of only 16, it interferes with the spindle 1₋₂ next to it. Such narrow gaps between the spindles cause the following problems: (1) To prevent the spindles from interfering with each other, it is necessary not only to increase the accuracy with which the spindles are installed, but also to improve the degree to which the spindles are parallel to each other. (2) It is necessary to install the rectangular spindle onto the spindle rail so that the long sides of the spindle becomes accurately perpendicular to the spindle rail. This installation is troublesome and requires a considerable amount of time. (3) The area available to cool the spindle motor is small; consequently, the temperature of the motor may increase. (4) Because it is difficult for wind to flow between the spindles, it is also difficult to remove cotton dust. (5) If all of the gaps between the spindles are equally widened, because of limited spindle gages, the size of the motor within the spindle becomes small, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the spindles. An object of the present invention is to provide spindles which do not come into contact with each other, without increasing the accuracy with which the spindles are installed or improving the degree to which the spindles are parallel to each other, and, as a result, the spindles can be easily installed in a short period of time. To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a spindle arrangement having the features of claim 1 and 2, respectively. A plurality of directly driven spindles are mounted on a spindle rail of a textile machine to constitute a row. A outline of a periphery of the spindle housing as viewed from an axial direction of said spindle is included within a rectangle in a part of 20% and more of length of a long side of said rectangle. The rectangle is defined by short sides (b1, b2) parallel to an ideal straight line (α) and respectively passing at a point where a distance from an axial center (o) of said spindle to said outline becomes maximum and long sides (aA, a2) perpendicular to said ideal straight line (α) and longer than said short sides (b1, b2), one (a1) of said long sides passing a point (p) and the other (a2) passing another point (q), wherein said point (p) comprises a point where a distance from the axial center (o) of said spindle to said outline becomes minimum and said other point (q) comprises a point disposed contrary to said point (p) with respect to the axial center (o) and said ideal straight line (α) comprises a line passing through said points (p, q). The spindles are installed on the spindle rail so that one short side (width) of each spindle becomes parallel to the spindle rail and one long side (length) thereof becomes perpendicular to the spindle rail. The outward shape of the spindle is such that the width of the short side of the spindle is shorter than the maximum width. Therefore, the spindles can be installed without interfering with each other. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view showing how the conventional spindles are installed as seen from the tops of the spindle shafts thereof; Fig. 2 is a view showing an embodiment of a textile machine using spindles according to the present invention; Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention; Fig. 3(a) is a plan view of the spindle; Fig. 3(b) is a side view as seen perpendicularly to a surface A; and Fig. 3(c) is a side view as seen perpendicularly to a surface B; Fig. 4 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention where the two diagonally opposing corners of each rectangle spindle are cut; Fig. 5 is a plan view showing how the spindles, each having the outward shape shown in Fig. 4, are installed; Fig. 6 is a graph showing cooling effect when the ratio w/W of the minimum width w to the maximum width W of the spindle changes. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention, in which all corners of the originally rectangular spindle are cut; Fig. 8 is a plan view showing how the spindles, each having the outward shape shown in Fig. 7, are installed; Fig. 9 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention, in which all corners of the originally rectangular spindle are cut, and a portion of a circle is used to form the surfaces A; Fig. 10 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention, in which all corners of the originally rectangular spindle are cut, and the surfaces A are in contact with a circle; Fig. 11 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention, in which all corners of the originally rectangular spindle are cut, and a part of a circle is used to connect portions of short sides of the spindle to portions of the long sides of the spindle which the width of the spindle is the maximum width; Fig. 12 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention, in which all corners of the originally rectangular spindle are cut, and the outward shape of the spindle is a combination of a part of a circle and a part of the rectangle; Fig. 13 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention, in which all corners of the originally rectangular spindle are cut, and the outward shape of the spindle is a combination of rectangles; Fig. 14 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention, in which all corners of the originally rectangular spindle are cut so as to correspond to the shape of an ellipse; Fig. 15 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention, in which all corners of the originally rectangular spindle are cut, and a degree to which two corners of one long side of the spindle are cut differs from a degree to which two corners of another long side of the spindle are cut; Fig. 16 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention, in which spindles, whose two corners of one short side thereof are cut, are alternately disposed; Fig. 17 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention, in which the two corners of the originally rectangular spindle are cut and accessaries are attached to the spindle; Fig. 18 through Fig. 21 are plan views each showing an embodiment of a spindle according to the present invention, in which two corners of one long side of the originally rectangular spindle are cut. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 2 is a view showing an embodiment of a ring spinning machine, which is a textile machine. A roving 10 wound around a package 11 is stretched when it passes through a draft part 12. It then passes through a ring (not shown) of a ring rail 20, and is wound around a bobbin 13 on one of many spindles 1. The spindles 1 are spindles which are integral with and directly driven by spindle motors, and are arranged on a spindle rail 15. An inverter 19 controls the speed of the spindles 1. Draft rollers 16 of the draft part 12 are rotated by a motor 18, whose speed is controlled by an inverter 17. The ring rail 20 is moved back and forth by rotating a screw spindle 23 clockwise or counterclockwise, which spindle 23 is fixed on a motor 21. The speed of the motor 21 is controlled by another inverter 22. Gaps are very narrow between the spindles of the thus-constructed ring spinning frame. Because of the narrow gaps, there have hitherto been problems mentioned previously with the conventional art. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a spindle, according to the present invention, which solves such problems. Numeral 31 denotes a housing of the spindle motor, and numeral 32 denotes a bracket of the same motor. Numeral 33 denotes an upper blade constituting a portion of the spindle shaft. The upper blade 33 is tapered and becomes thinner as it approaches one end thereof. The upper blade 33 is inserted into a bobbin (not shown) for winding the roving. Numeral 34 denotes a bolster extending opposite to the upper blade 33. It covers a vibration-absorbing member absorbing virbrations caused by the spindle shaft and the rotation of the motor and other members. A switch 36 is disposed on the housing 31, which is used to start and stop the spindle 1 independently. A cable 37 including a power wire and a signal wire for the switch 36 extends from the housing 31. As shown in Fig. 3, the spindle 1 is fixed by a nut 35 to a hole bored in the spindle rail 15. Fig. 4 is a simplified plan view showing the outlines of the spindles 1 as seen from the tops of the spindle shafts. Of the adjacent spindles 1, two spindles 1 are shown in this drawing. According to this embodiment the outlines of the spindles 1 form rectangles, as seen from the tops of the spindle shafts, with the two opposing corners bevelled. This is a unique feature of this invention, different from the conventional spindle which also forms the outline of a rectangle but with the four corners thereof left intact. As shown in Fig. 4, symbol H9 indicates lengths of long sides of the rectangle (hereinafter referred to as maximum lengths), and symbol W9 indicates widths of short sides (hereinafter called maximum widths). The spindle shaft and a motor shaft are disposed on the same center within a circle D9 in contact with the long sides so that these two shafts form an integral structure. The outline of the spindle 1 is composed of lines drawn substantially along the long sides, lines drawn substantially along the short sides and lines drawn along the bevelled corners. Surfaces corresponding to these lines are not necessarily planes. Lines connecting outer edges of the surfaces form the outline of the spindle 1 shown in Fig. 4. The outward shape of the spindle 1 may be such that, for example, a cooling fin, have an uneven surface thereof, indicated by symbol F, is disposed in at least a part of the spindle 1. Symbol h9 indicates a length of a portion of the long side, at which the width of the outline is the maximum width W9. Fig. 5 is a plan view where a spindle 1₋₃ is inclined through an angle of only 9 while the spindles, each having the shape shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 4, are installed and stand upright on the machine. As shown in Fig. 1, the outline of the conventional spindle forms a rectangle as seen from the top of the spindle shaft. (Symbol H16 indicates the length, and symbol W16 indicates the width of the rectangle). Because of such an outline, even when a spindle 1₋₃ rotates slightly through an angle of 16, it interferes with the spindle 1₋₂ next to it. However, according to this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the two corners of each spindle are bevelled so that the length w9 of their short sides becomes shorter than the maximum width W9. Owing to this outline, even when the spindle 1₋₃ rotates, there is more gap where the spindles are not in contact with each other than in the case of the conventional art. In other words, the following relationship can be established between the rotation angles 9 and 16: 9 > 16 The following relationship can be obtained between the maximum length H9 and the length h9: H9 > h9 If, for example, a spindle gage G is 75 mm; the gap 59 between the spindles is 4 mm; the maximum length H9 is 100 mm; the ratio h9/H9 of the length h9 to the maximum length H9 is 1/3; and the ratio w9/W9 of the width w9 to the maximum width W9 is 2/3, then, the angle 16 is approximately 4.7°, and the angle 9 is approximately 37°. Thus, the spindle according to this embodiment shown in Fig. 3 or 4 is capable of inclining eight times as much as the conventional spindle. In other words, the gap S9 between the spindles shown in Fig. 5 can be made smaller than the gap S16 between the conventional spindles shown in Fig. 1. Thus, even when the spindle gage G is the same, the maximum width W9 of the spindle can be increased, and the size of an electrical portion of the motor can also be increased. Consequently, the iron loss of the motor can be reduced, and the efficiency of the motor can be improved. When spindles each having, for instance, the above sizes are arranged, it is possible to set the gap S9 between the spindles to 1 to 1.5 mm. That is, the ratio S9/S16 of the gap S9 according to this embodiment to the gap S16 of the conventional spindles can be set at 1/4 to 1/3. In such a case, it is possible to increase the outward size of an iron core of the motor by 3 to 5%, and to improve the efficiency thereof by 1 to 3%. Because of the widened gap S9 between the spindles, the spindles become well-ventilated and the cooling efficiency thereof can be improved. As a result, it is possible to reduce an increase in the temperature of the motor. When the ratio h9/H9 of the length h9 to the maximum length H9 is approximately 0.8 or less, the ratio is practical and an advantageous effect can be obtained. Fig. 6 is a graph showing cooling effect when the ratio h9/H9 is 1/3 and when the ratio w9/W9 of the width w9 to the maximum width W9 changes. When attaching the switch and extending a lead-out wire are considered, the cooling effect improves where the ratio w9/W9 (indicated by w/W in Fig. 6) ranges from 0.95 to 0.6. Cotton and other types of dust collect between the spindles and on other places, and therefore, wind is blown to remove it. However, according to this embodiment, because of the widened gap between the spindles, wind smoothly flows into the gap, thus effectively removing dust. As shown in Fig. 4, because the two diagonally opposing corners of the outline of the spindle 1 are bevelled as seen from the top of the spindle shaft, the other two diagonal corners C which are not bevelled can be used for attaching accessories 36 or for leading the cable 37. Then, another embodiment of the invetion will be explained with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. An outline of the spindle 1 is located within a rectangle of which length of long sides in referred as H17 and length of short sides is referred as W17. The outline of the spindle comprises a shape of which all of the four corners of the rectangle are bevelled. Symbol h17 incidates a length of a portion of the outline, at which the width of the outline is a maximum width W17. Symbol w17 indicates the width of the short side of the outline. The spindle shaft and a motor shaft are disposed on the same center within a circle D1 in contact with the long sides a1 and a2 so that these two shafts form an integral structure. The outline of the spindle 1 is composed of lines drawn substantially along the long sides, lines drawn substantially along the short sides, and lines drawn substantially along the four bevelled corners. Surfaces corresponding to these lines are not necessarily planes. Lines connecting outer edges of the surfaces form the outline of the spindle 1 shown in Fig. 7. The outward shape of the spindle 1 may be such that, for example, a cooling fin, have an uneven surface thereof, indicated by symbol F, is disposed in at least a portion of the spindle 1. Fig. 8 is a plan view partially showing how the spindles, each having the outward shape shown in Fig. 7 as seen from the tops of the spindle shafts thereof, are installed on a machine. As shown in this drawing, all four corners of each spindle 1 are bevelled so that the length h17 is shorter than the length H17 of the long side of each spindle 1. Because of the four bevelled corners, there is more gap between the spindles than in the case of the conventional art, even when a spindle 1₋₃ inclines. In the same way as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the following relationship can be established between the rotation angles 16 and 17: 17 > 16 Thus this embodiment maskes it possible for the gap between the spindles to be almost as wide as the gap in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4. In the same manner as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, when the ratio h17/H17 of the length h17 to the maximum length H17 is approximately 0.8 or less, such a ratio is practical and an advantageous effect can be obtained. When the ratio w17/W17 of the width w17 to a maximum width W17 ranges from 0.95 to 0.6, the spindles can be effectively employed. In this embodiment, because there is more gap between the spindles than in the case of the conventional art, wind flows smoothly in the same way as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, and thus cotton and other types of dust can be effectively removed. Figs. 9 through 15 show modifications of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, in which the four corners of each rectangle are all bevelled. Spindles shown in Figs. 9 and 10 are spindles each having no length corresponding to the length h17 of the spindle 1 shown in Fig. 7. An outline of the spindle 1 shown in Fig. 9 is shaped in such a manner that a circle having a diameter D2 which is equal to a maximum width W2 is drawn so that a part of this circle corresponds to a part of the outline of the spindle 1. The spindle 1 has no straight line corresponding to the length h17 of a portion of the spindle 1 where the width of the spindle 1 is the maximum width W2. In this embdoiment, permissible angle for mounting the spindles becomes larger than the embodiment of Fig. 7, and the gap between the spindles can be widened; consequently, the spindles are more effectively cooled. An outline shown in Fig. 10 has no straight line corresponding to the length h17 of a portion of the spindle 1, at which the width of the spindle 1 is a maximum width W3 in the same way as in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 9. However, the lines of the bevelled corners are in contact with a circle D3. In other words, the diameter of the circle D3 is shorter than the maximum width W3. The same advantageous effect as that described in the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 can be obtained. An outline shown in Fig. 11 is similar to that shown in Fig. 7. An outline of the spindle comprises lines of which length is referred as w4 on the short sides, lines of which length is referred as h4 on the long sides and line portions connecting the lines of the short sides and the lines on the long sides. The line portions are a part of a circle of which radius is R4. The spindle 1 in this embodiment has a wider outer periphery thereof than the spindle 1 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, and is therefore cooled effectively. An outline of an embodiment shown in Fig. 12 is a combination of a rectangle comprising long sides having a length H5 and short sides having a length w5 and portions of a circle having a diameter D5. A gap between adjacent spindles can be widened closer to a center portion than the embodiments shown in Figs. 4, 7 and 9-11. The cooling effect is further increased. An outline of an embodiment shown in Fig. 13 is a combination of a rectangle of which long sides have a length H6 and short side have a length w6 and another rectangle of which long sides have a length W6 and short sides have a length h6. The cooling effect of this embodiment is substantially the same as the embodiment shown in Fig. 12 but it is suitable for a case in which the length w6 is made larger than the length w5. An outline of an embodiment shown in Fig. 14 comprises an ellipse of which a major axis has a length corresponding to a length H7 of long sides of a rectangle and a minor axis has a length corresponding to a length W7 of short sides of the rectangle. According to the present embodiment, permissible angle for mounting can be increased and the irregularity of a spindle arrangement after mounted is inconspicuous. In an outline of an embodiment shown in Fig. 15, a bevelled amount of one side of the surface A is different from those of the other side. In the present embodiment, it is possible to use the small bevelled amount corners for connecting lead wires to the motor and for mounting accessaries. In an outline of an embodiment shown in Fig. 16, two corners on one of short sides of the rectangle are bevelled. In the present embodiment, the spindles are alternately disposed with different attitude as shown in Fig. 16. Also in the present embodiment, the same advantages as those of the previously explained embodiments can be obtained. Figs. 17 to 21 show embodiments shaped so as to be unsymmetrical with respect to longitudinal axis running at a center of the spindle shaft. In an outline of an embodiment shown in Fig. 17, two corners on one of long sides of the rectangle are bevelled with straight lines in the same manner as those of one side in the embodiment shown in Fig. 7. In an outline of an embodiment shown in Fig. 18, two corners on one of long sides of the rectangle are bevelled with a part of a circle in the same manner as those of one side in the embodiment shown in Fig. 11. In an outline of an embodiment shown in Fig. 19, two corners on one of long sides of the rectangle are bevelled with a part of circle having a diameter D2 equal to the maximum width W2 of the spindle in the same manner as those of one side in the embodiment shown in Fig. 9. In an outline of an embodiment shown in Fig. 20, two corners on one of long sides of the rectangle are bevelled with a part of an ellipse in the same manner as those of one side in the embodiment shown in Fig. 12. In an outline of an embodiment shown in Fig. 21, two corners on one of long sides of the rectangle are bevelled with a part of a circle D15 and a part of a rectangle having a long side H15 and a short side w15 in the same manner as those of one side in the embodiment shown in Fig. 12. Only the two opposing corners of one long side of each spindle 1 are bevelled in all the embodiments shown in Figs. 17 through 21. For this reason, the other two corners C of each spindle 1 can be used for attaching accessories 36 or leading the cable 37 in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 described above. As is apparent from the description of the embodiments hereinbefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to mount the spindles so as not to come into contact with each other without increasing the mounting accuracy of the spindles and the parallel accuracy of the surfaces of adjacent spindles facing to each other. Therefore, spindles which are easily mounted with less operational time and a textile machine using the spindles can be provided.

Claims: A spindle arrangement of a textile machine constituting a row of adjacent spindles (1) adapted to be mounted on a spindle rail (15) and each being driven by an electrical motor, each spindle having a housing (31) 'with first side surfaces (a₁, a₂) facing the housings of adjacent spindles, characterized in that each of the first surfaces (a₁, a₂) is provided with at least one bevelled portion extending axially along the respective first side surface (a₁, a₂) of the housing (31), the bevelled portion being dimensioned so as to increase the possible angular movement of the housing (31) around a center (o) thereof. A spindle arrangement according to the first part of claim 1, characterized in that one of the first surfaces (a₁, a₂) is provided with two bevelled portions extending axially along the respective first side surface (a₁, a₂) of the housing, the bevelled portions being dimensioned so as to increase the possible angular movement of the housing (31) around a center (o) thereof. Spindle arrangement according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that second side surfaces (b₁, b₂) of the housing (31) are provided parallel to a line (α) passing through the axial center (o) and being perpendicular to said first side surfaces (a₁, a₂), and a ratio (h₉/H₉) of a length (h₉) of said first side surfaces (a₁, a₂) at which the housing (31) has its maximum width to the total length (H₉) of said side surfaces (a₁, a₂) is equal or less than 0.8. Spindle arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said first side surfaces (a₁, a₂) having a length longer than said second side surfaces (b₁, b₂), one (a₁) of the first side surfaces (a₁, a₂) is passing through a first point (p) and the other first side surface (a₂) is passing through a second point (q), wherein the first point (p) is provided at the point of intersection with line (α), the second point (q) is provided opposite to the point (p) with respect to the axial center (o) at the point of intersection with line (α). Spindle arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said bevelled portions are located symmetrically with respect to an axial center (o) of the housing (31). Spindle arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer surface of the housing (31) is substantially ellipsoidal. Spindle arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that cooling fins (F) having an uneven surface are provided at a portion of the spindle housing (31).

Inventors: KOBAYASHI HIDEAKI, MATSUI HIDEKAZU, KOBAYASHI, HIDEAKI, MATSUI, HIDEKAZU
Applicants: HITACHI LTD, HITACHI, LTD.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: D01H1
IPC codes: D01H1, D01H7