Winding unit for automatic winder

Abstract: The present invention enables a winding unit for an automatic winder to be easily assembled and inspected for maintenance, the winding unit comprising a winding unit constituting device requiring power transmission as well as wiring, piping, or the like that uses connectors, and also enables the winding unit constituting device to be easily assembled. A winding unit 11 for an automatic winder comprising winding unit constituting devices 2 attached to a winding unit support main body 1, wherein the winding unit support main body 1 comprises one 3a, 4a of matching junction sections of a connector 3, 4 disposed at a predetermined position thereof and one 5a of matching nodes of a transmission mechanism 5 disposed at a predetermined position thereof and corresponding to a driving or driven node, the winding unit constituting devices 2 each comprise a plurality of constituent members 6b, 6c assembled together and including an attachment member 6a removably attached to the winding unit support main body 1 as well as the other junction section 3b, 4b of the connector 3, 4 disposed at a predetermined position thereof, and when the attachment member 6a of the winding unit constituting device 2 is attached to or removed from the winding unit support main body 1, the junction sections 3a, 3b (4a, 4b) of the connector 3, 4 are joined together or mutually separated, respectively and the nodes 5a, 5b of the transmission mechanism 5 are connected together or mutually separated, respectively.

Description: Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a winding unit for an automatic winder according to the preamble of the claim. Background of the Invention A winding unit of this type is known from US-A-844 358 also defining the preamble of claim 1. This winding unit is constructed by a preassembled frame assembly for supporting winding units. Each winding unit has a pre-assembled modular winding unit constituting device such as a drive unit, a yarn tensioning means, a yam joining means, a bobbing winding mechanism and a yarn cleaner mounted by manually engaged screw connections and couplings for energy supplying means to the frame assembly. The object underlying the present invention is to provide an automatic winder that enables a winding unit for an automatic winder to be easily assembled and disassembled and inspected for maintenance. This object is accomplished by the features defined in the characterizing portion of the claim. According to the present invention, each assembled winding unit constituting device can be handled as an integral unit, and when the winding unit constituting device is attached to or removed from the winding unit support main body, the junction sections of the connectors are joined together or mutually separated. Consequently, the winding units for the automatic winder can be easily assembled and inspected for maintenance. Additionally, the winding unit constituting devices can be assembled beforehand independently of the assembly of the entire winding unit for the automatic winder, thereby enabling the winding unit constituting device to be easily assembled. The winding unit constituting devices may also be formed into a cassette, so that assembly, inspection, and maintenance operations are easy and specifications for the automatic winder can be easily changed. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a winding unit for an automatic wind,er according to the present invention and showing how a winding unit support main body and various winding unit constituting devices are mutually separated, as seen from an operation passage. Figure 2 is a front view of this embodiment showing how the various winding unit constituting devices are attached to the winding unit support main body. Figure 3 is a left side view of this embodiment showing how the various winding unit constituting devices are attached to the winding unit support main body. Figure 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional views of this embodiment showing how connectors, a transmission mechanism, a positioning means, and a screw connection means are engaged and separated. Figure 6 to 15 are enlarged perspective views showing a yam tension adjusting device, a yarn joining device, a wax applying device, a yam defect detecting device, a drum cover device, a fluff suppressing device, a carrier guide, a balloon breaker, a relay pipe and a suction mouth each forming a winding unit constituting device. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The automatic winder is constructed by mounting a plurality of winding units 11 on a base as shown in Figure 3. The winding unit 11 (U) for the automatic winder comprises a vertically extending winding unit support main body 1 and one or more winding unit constituting devices 2 attached to the winding unit support main body 1. The winding unit support main body 1 comprises one or more types of matching junction sections 3a, 4a, 5a of connectors 3, 4 and/or 5. The winding unit constituting device 2 comprises a main body section 6 having constituent members 6b, 6c and an attachment member 6a removably attached to the winding unit support main body 1, and the other junction sections 3b, 4b, 5b forming one part of connectors 3, 4 and/or 5 which are disposed at predetermined positions thereof, the device main body section 6 and the junctions 3b, 4b and/or 5 being integrated together. When the attachment member 6a of the winding unit constituting device 2 is attached to or removed from the winding unit support main body 1, the junctions 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b are connected together or mutually separated. The connector 3 is for electric wiring and has the junction section 3a disposed at a predetermined position of an attachment section 1 a comprising a side plate of the winding unit support main body 1, and the other junction 3b disposed at a predetermined position of the attachment member 6a of the winding unit constituting device 2. The junction section 3a is either female or male (in the drawings female), while the junction section 3b is correspondingly either male or female. The junction sections 3a, 3b of the connector 3 join wires such as power wires and/or signal wires together to supply power or communicate signals between the winding unit support main body 1 and the winding unit constituting device 2. The connector 4 is for supplying compressed or sucked air and has the one junction section 4a disposed at a predetermined position of the attachment section 1 a of the winding unit support main body 1, and the other junction 4b disposed at a predetermined position of the attachment member 6a of the winding unit constituting device 2. The junction section 4a is either female or male (in the drawings male), while the junction section 4b is correspondingly either male or female. When a seal ring 7 is externally fitted around the male junction section 4a of the connector 4, composed of a pipe, or is internally fitted into the female junction section 4b of the connector 4, composed of a pipe, the gap between the junction sections 4a, 4b is sealed. The connector 5 is a transmission mechanism and has a driving part 5a disposed at a predetermined position of the winding unit support main body 1, and a driven part 5b disposed at a predetermined position of the winding unit constituting device 2. When the attachment member 6a of the winding unit constituting device 2 is attached to or removed from the winding unit support main body 1, the parts 5a, 5b of the transmission mechanism 5 are connected together or mutually separated and may be a combination of a plate cam and a rod, a combination of a spline shaft and a bearing, or a combination of two meshing gears. The attachment section 1a of the winding unit support main body 1 and/or the attachment member 6a of the winding unit constituting device 2 has an opening 8 such that one of the parts can enter the winding unit constituting device 2 or the winding unit support main body 1. When the driven part 5b is located in the winding unit constituting device 2, power is transmitted from the driving part 5a located in the winding unit main body 1, to drive the mechanism incorporated in the winding unit constituting device 2. On the contrary, when the driven part 5b is located in the winding unit support main body 1, power is transmitted from the driving part 5a located in the winding unit constituting device 2, to drive the mechanism incorporated in the winding unit support main body 1. The attachment section 1a of the winding unit support main body 1 and the attachment member 6a of the winding unit constituting device 2 have one or more sets of connectors or positioning means 9 provided at appropriate locations and comprising a pin 9a in the attachment section 1 and a hole 9b in the attachment member 6a. The positioning means 9 enables accurate positioning when the attachment section 1 a and the attachment member 6a are joined together. The attachment section 1 a of the winding unit support main body 1 and the attachment member 6a of the winding unit constituting device 2 have one or more sets of connectors or connection means 10 comprising a threaded hole 10a in the attachment section 1a and a bolt 10b in the attachment member 6a. The connection means 10 enables firm connection when the attachment section 1 a and the attachment member 6a are attached together. If the bolt 10b has a hexagonal hole, it can be more easily tightened using a T-shaped wrench 20 (see Figure 4). In addition, to locate the bolt 10b so as not to slip out, for example, a through hole for the bolt 10b in the attachment section 6a may be formed into a threaded hole such as that in the attachment section 1 a. The direction in which the connectors 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10 are relatively moved so as to be joined together or mutually separated is in parallel to the arrow A direction. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the winding unit constituting device 2 includes a yam tension adjusting device 12, a yam joining device 13, a wax applying device 14, a yarn defect detecting device 15, a drum cover device 16, and a fluff suppressing device 17, which is shown in Figure 11. The fluff suppressing device 17 is replaced with the yam tension adjusting device 12 as required. The winding unit support main body 1 extends vertically and may be inclined toward a front portion C (Figure 3) corresponding to an operation passage side, and has a drive drum 18 supported thereon in a cantilever manner. As shown in Figures 6 and 4, the yam tension adjusting device 12, one type of the winding unit constituting device 2, comprises a main body 6 composed of a plurality of constituent members (an opener, a cutter, and the like) assembled together and including the attachment member 6a removably attached to the winding unit support main body 1, the other junction section 3b of the wiring connector 3, the other junction section 4b of the connector 4 for receiving cleaning compressed air, the driven part 5b of the transmission mechanism 5 for driving the opener or the like, and a driven part 5'b of the transmission mechanism 5 for driving the cutter or the like, the hole 9b of the positioning means 9, and the bolt 10b of the connection means 10. As shown in Figures 7 and 4, the yam joining device 13, one type of the winding unit constituting device 2, comprises the main body 6 composed of a plurality of constituent members (various yarn handling levers, a yam joining main body, and the like) assembled together and including the attachment member 6a removably attached to the winding unit support main body 1, the other junction sections 4b of the three connectors 4 for receiving cleaning compressed air, the driven part (not shown in Figure 7 because it is disposed inside the main body section 6), that is, the other part of the transmission mechanism 5 comprising a gear for driving the various yam handling levers or the like, and the bolts 10b, 10b of the two connection means 10. The attachment member 6a of the yam joining device 13 has a notch section 19 formed therein and through which the part 5a (Figure 1) advances when the junction sections of the transmission mechanism 5 are connected together. When the yarn joining device 13 is moved in the arrow A direction relative to the attachment section 1 a of the winding unit support main body 1 in order to assemble the winding unit 11 for the automatic winder or to inspect it for maintenance, the junction or separation of each of the connectors 4, 5 and 10 can be carried out simultaneously or in parallel. As shown in Figures 8 and 4, the wax applying device 14, one type of the winding unit constituting device 2, comprises the wax applying device main body 6 composed of a plurality of constituent members (a wax support member, a yam guide member, and the like) assembled together and including the attachment member 6a removably attached to the winding unit support main body 1, the other junction section 3b of the wiring connector 3, the other junction section 4b of the connector 4 for receiving cleaning compressed air, the driven part 5b of the transmission mechanism 5, the hole 9b of the positioning means 9, and the bolt 10b of the connection means 10. As shown in Figures 9 and 4, the yarn defect detecting device 15, one type of the winding unit constituting device 2, comprises a main body 6 composed of a plurality of constituent members (a yarn guide member, a detection member, and the like) assembled together and including the attachment member 6a removably attached to the winding unit support main body 1, the other junction section 3b of the wiring connector 3, the other junction section 4b of the connector 4 for receiving cleaning compressed air, the hole 9b of the positioning means 9, and the bolt 10b of the connection means 10. As shown in Figures 10 and 4, the drum cover device 16, one type of the winding unit constituting device 2, comprises a main body 6 composed of a plurality of constituent members (a cover, a traverse regulating guide, and the like) assembled together and including the attachment member 6a removably attached to the winding unit support main body 1, the other junction section 3b of the wiring connector 3, the other junction section 4b of the connector 4 for receiving cleaning compressed air, the other junction section 4'b of the connector 4 for receiving regulation guide-driving compressed air, the hole 9b of the positioning means 9, and the bolts 10b, 10b of the connection means 10. As shown in Figures 11 and 4, the fluff suppressing device 17, one type of the winding unit constituting device 2, comprises a fluff suppressing device main body 6 composed of a plurality of constituent members (a disc unit, a press lever, a cutter, and the like) assembled together and including the attachment member 6a removably attached to the winding unit support main body 1, the other junction section 3b of the wiring connector 3, the other junction section 4b of the connector 4 for piping for receiving cleaning compressed air, the driven part 5b of the transmission mechanism 5 for driving the press lever, the driven part 5b' of the transmission mechanism 5 for driving the cutter, the hole 9b of the positioning means 9, and the bolts 10b, 10b of the connection means 10. Specifications can be easily changed according to a user's request; for example, the fluff suppressing device 17 can be used instead of the yarn tension adjusting device 12 if the connectors are positioned correspondingly. The winding unit 11 for the automatic winder according to this embodiment comprises other winding unit constituting devices including a carrier guide (Figure 12), a balloon breaker 22 (Figure 13), a relay valve (Figure 14), a suction mouth (Figure 15), and a package holder 24 (Figure 1). The carrier guide 21 (Figure 12) comprises a frame 21a, feeding link mechanisms 21 b, 21 c disposed in the frame 21 a and control rods 21 d, 21 e for driving each link mechanism. The carrier guide 21 can be attached to or removed from the winding unit support main body 1 using bolts 10b, 10b corresponding to the connection means 10. The control rods 21 d, 21 e are connected to a transmission mechanism (not shown) provided in the winding unit support main body 1. The balloon breaker 22 (Figure 13) comprises a support plate 22a, a main body 22b located thereon for elevation and lowering, and an elevation controlling member 22 comprising an air cylinder for elevating or lowering the main body 22b. The balloon breaker 22 can be attached to the winding unit support main body 1 using the bolts 10b, 10b, .... A pipe extending from the elevation controlling member 22c can be removably joined to the connector provided in the winding unit support main body 1. A relay pipe 23 (Figure 14) and a suction mouth 24 (Figure 15) are removably joined to tubular junction sections 26, 27, respectively, projected from the attachment section 1 a of the winding unit support main body 1. In the winding unit 11 for the automatic winder according to this embodiment, various winding unit constituting devices are attached to the winding unit support main body 1 to constitute a winding unit 11 (U). The winding unit 11 uses the carrier guide 21 to guide a supply bobbin B loaded by a supply bobbin conveyor 28, to a predetermined unwinding position E. A yam is unwound from the supply bobbin B at the unwinding position E, subsequently passed through the balloon breaker 22, the yarn tension adjusting device 12, the wax applying device 14, and the yam defect detecting device 15, and then wound into a package P, which is rotated by a traverse drum 18. To join the yarn, the suction mouth 24 for sucking ends of pieces of a cut yam and the relay pipe 23 are pivoted to place the upper and lower yarns in the yarn joining device 13. An empty bobbin B' is ejected onto an empty bobbin conveyor 29 by means of the carrier guide 21. Piping and electric wiring to the winding unit constituting member 12 are threaded through the winding unit support main body 1 and connected to main pipe and wire of the base, respectively.

Claims: Winding unit for an automatic winder comprising preassembled modular constituting devices (2, 12, 13...) attachable by junction sections (3b, 4b...) such as fastening means, position fixing means and/or couplings for energy supplying means to a support frame (1) of the automatic winder characterized in that each constituting device (2, 12, 13...) comprises a main body section (6) and an attachment member (6a) including the junction sections (3b, 4b...) forming one part of connectors (3, 4...), the other part of which is formed by junctions sections (3a, 4a...) disposed on an attachment section (1a) of the vertically extending support frame (1).

Inventors: KONO SATORU, NAKAMURA YOUICHI, KONO, SATORU, NAKAMURA, YOUICHI, Kono, Satoru, Murata Kikai Shataku B-201, Nakamura, Youichi, Murata Kikai Shataku B-208-gou
Applicants: MURATA MACHINERY LTD, MURATA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65H54
IPC codes: B65H59, B65H67, B65H69, B65H54