Patent Description:
A filament winding device recited in Patent Literature <NUM> includes a liner transporter and a helical winding device. The liner transporter supports a liner to be movable in the axial direction and rotatable about the axis. The helical winding device includes fiber bundle guides that guide fiber bundles to the liner. As the liner rotates and moves in a state in which leading end portions of the fiber bundles are fixed to the surface of the liner, the fiber bundles are supplied to the liner through the guides and helical winding is achieved.

The filament winding device further includes a yarn end processor (fiber bundle retainer) that temporarily retains the fiber bundles when the liner is replaced. The fiber bundle retainer includes a reel member on which the fiber bundles are temporarily wound in the circumferential direction of the liner and a cutter by which the fiber bundles are cut as described below. To be more specific, the reel member has pins that are aligned in the circumferential direction, are movable in the axial direction of the liner, and are rotatable about the axis of the liner.

After the completion of the helical winding to a liner, the pins move toward the liner in the axial direction, and enter into the fiber bundles in the circumferential direction. As the pins rotate about the axis of the liner, the fiber bundles are wound onto the pins and their surroundings. Then a part of each fiber bundle, which is between the liner and the reel member, is cut by the cutter. As a result, it becomes possible to replace the liner on which the helical winding has been completed with a new liner. The leading end portions of the fiber bundles supplied through the guides are temporarily retained by the reel member. The fiber bundles retained by the reel member are then wound onto an end portion in the axial direction of the liner that has been newly attached to the liner transporter. Then a part of each fiber bundle, which is between the new liner and the reel member, is cut by the cutter. In this way, it is possible to start the helical winding onto the new liner.

The nearest state of the art regarding the present invention is disclosed in <CIT>. This document already discloses a filament winding device including a cutter by which a filament bundle wound on a reel member is cut.

In the fiber bundle retainer of Patent Literature <NUM>, it is necessary to remove a remaining fiber bundle (remaining yarn) wound onto the reel member after the part of each fiber bundle between the new liner and the reel member is cut. The removal of the remaining yarn includes, for example, an operation to cut the remaining yarn in the axial direction of the liner. This operation is troublesome because it is manually performed by an operator.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the time and labor required for the removal of a remaining yarn.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a filament winding device includes: a liner supporter which supports a liner to be rotatable about an axis of the liner; and a helical winding unit which includes fiber bundle guides that are aligned in a circumferential direction of the liner and guide fiber bundles to the liner, the filament winding device helical-winding the fiber bundles supplied through the fiber bundle guides onto the rotating liner by moving the liner supporter and the helical winding unit relative to each other in an axial direction of the liner, the filament winding device further comprising a fiber bundle retainer which is configured to temporarily retain the fiber bundles at least when the liner is replaced, and the fiber bundle retainer including: a reel member which includes an outer peripheral portion having pins that are movable in the axial direction relative to the fiber bundles supplied through the fiber bundle guides and are rotatable about the axis of the liner, the reel member being capable of winding the fiber bundles onto the outer peripheral portion; a first cutting unit which is configured to cut a part of each of the fiber bundles in the circumferential direction, the part being between a part of the fiber bundle wound on the outer peripheral portion and a part of the fiber bundle wound on the liner; and a second cutting unit which is different from the first cutting unit and is configured to cut a part of each of the fiber bundles in the axial direction, the part being wound on the outer peripheral portion.

To begin with, after helical-winding onto a liner, the pins of the reel member move in a relative manner toward the liner and rotate in the circumferential direction while the pins are inserted into the fiber bundles, with the result that the fiber bundles are wound onto the outer peripheral portion. Then a part of each fiber bundle, which is between the liner and the reel member, is cut by the first cutting unit. When the liner on which the helical-winding has been done is, for example, replaced with a new liner, the leading end portions of the fiber bundles supplied through the guides are temporarily retained by the reel member. The fiber bundles retained by the reel member are then fixed to an end portion in the axial direction of the new liner. A part of the fiber bundle between the reel member and the liner is cut by the first cutting unit. Thereafter, it becomes necessary to remove a fiber bundle (remaining yarn) remaining on the outer peripheral portion of the reel member. The operation will be detailed in the embodiment below.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the second cutting unit is able to cut the remaining yarn in the axial direction. This makes it easy to remove the remaining yarn from the outer peripheral portion. The time and labor required for removing the remaining yarn are therefore reduced.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the filament winding device of the first aspect is arranged such that the second cutting unit cuts the fiber bundles by moving toward one side in the axial direction, and the fiber bundle retainer includes at least one fiber bundle pressing member which is configured to restrict movement of the fiber bundles wound on the outer peripheral portion of the reel member toward the one side in the axial direction.

When the remaining yarn is cut by the second cutting unit, if the remaining yarn is pushed by the second cutting unit moving in the axial direction, the remaining yarn may slip in the axial direction and may not be smoothly cut. According to the present invention, the slipping and deviation of the remaining yarn in the axial direction are suppressed by the fiber bundle pressing member. Smooth cutting of the remaining yarn is therefore facilitated.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the filament winding device of the second aspect is arranged such that the at least one fiber bundle pressing member comprises plural fiber bundle pressing members, and the fiber bundle pressing members are provided to oppose each other over the second cutting unit.

Because the movement of the remaining yarn in the axial direction is restricted on the both sides over the second cutting unit in the present invention, it is possible to further ensure the suppression of the deviation of the remaining yarn in the axial direction.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the filament winding device of any one of the first to third aspects is arranged such that the fiber bundle retainer includes a first peel-off portion which is movable between a predetermined standby position and a contact position different from the standby position, and the first peel-off portion moves from the standby position to the contact position and makes contact with the fiber bundles wound on the outer peripheral portion of the reel member from inside in the radial direction of the liner, so as to lift up the bundles outward in the radial direction.

Because the fiber bundles are wound so as to be entwined with the outer peripheral portion including the pins, the remaining yarn may not be easily removed even after the remaining yarn is cut in the axial direction by the second cutting unit. According to the present invention, the remaining yarn having been cut by the second cutting unit is lifted up from the outer peripheral portion by the first peel-off portion. It becomes more easy to remove the remaining yarn.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the filament winding device of the fourth aspect is arranged such that the contact position is on one side of the standby position in the axial direction, the first peel-off portion has a contact surface which extends outward in the radial direction toward the other side in the axial direction and is provided at least partially outside the outer peripheral portion in the radial direction, and the first peel-off portion is movable in the axial direction.

For example, the first peel-off portion may be arranged to be movable in the radial direction. This arrangement, however, is disadvantageous in that the structure of the fiber bundle retainer may become complicated. According to the present invention, the remaining yarn can be lifted up outwardly in the radial direction from the outer peripheral portion by the contact surface, as the first peel-off portion is simply moved in the axial direction. As such, the remaining yarn can be lifted up from the outer peripheral portion by a simple arrangement.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the filament winding device of the fifth aspect is arranged such that the fiber bundle retainer includes a second peel-off portion which has insertion holes into which the pins are insertable and is movable in a direction in which each of the pins extends, and the second peel-off portion is movable between a retracted position where the pins are inserted into the insertion holes and a pushing position that is closer to leading ends of the pins than the retracted position in the direction in which each of the pins extends.

As described above, the fiber bundles are wound so as to be entwined with the outer peripheral portion including the pins. At least part of the remaining yarn is therefore typically entwined around each pin, and such a remaining yarn must be removed. According to the present invention, as the second peel-off portion is moved from the retracted position to the pushing position, the remaining yarn entwined around each pin can be pushed out by the second peel-off portion. It is therefore possible to effectively remove the remaining yarn entwined around the pins.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the filament winding device of the sixth aspect of the invention is arranged such that the pins extend along the axial direction, the contact position is closer to the leading ends of the pins than the standby position in the axial direction, the first peel-off portion is movable in the axial direction, the contact surface extends outward in the radial direction toward base ends of the pins in the axial direction, the first peel-off portion includes: a supporter which supports the second peel-off portion to be movable in the axial direction relative to the first peel-off portion; a first regulatory portion which is provided at an end portion on the base end side in the axial direction of the supporter to restrict relative movement of the second peel-off portion toward the base end side; and a second regulatory portion which is provided at an end portion on the leading end side in the axial direction of the supporter to restrict relative movement of the second peel-off portion toward the leading end side, in the axial direction, wherein a distance at which the second peel-off portion is able to move relative to the first peel-off portion is shorter than a distance between the standby position and the contact position, and the second peel-off portion is separated from the first peel-off portion when the first peel-off portion is at the standby position.

In an arrangement in which the first peel-off portion and the second peel-off portion operate independently, the structure of the fiber bundle retainer may be complicated. Meanwhile, in an arrangement in which the first peel-off portion and the second peel-off portion are fixed to each other, an operation to lift up the remaining yarn by the first peel-off portion and an operation to push out the remaining yarn by the second peel-off portion start at the same time. In other words, pushing of the remaining yarn by the second peel-off portion starts before the remaining yarn is completely lifted up by the first peel-off portion. In such a case, it may be difficult to push out the remaining yarn by the second peel-off portion.

In the present invention, as described below, the timing to start the operation of the first peel-off portion and the timing to start the operation of the second peel-off portion are arranged to be deviated from each other by a simple arrangement. To begin with, when the first peel-off portion starts to move from the standby position to the contact position in the axial direction, the second peel-off portion is separated from the first regulatory portion (i.e., the second peel-off portion is not in contact with the first regulatory portion). It is therefore possible to move the second peel-off portion relative to the first peel-off portion while the first peel-off portion is moving toward the leading end side in the axial direction. In other words, it is possible to keep the second peel-off portion to be stopped relative to the remaining yarn at least immediately after the start of the movement of the first peel-off portion. It is therefore possible to lift the remaining yarn outward in the radial direction by the contact surface by moving the first peel-off portion while keeping the second peel-off portion to be stopped relative to the remaining yarn.

In regard to the above, in the axial direction, the distance at which the second peel-off portion is able to move relative to the first peel-off portion is shorter than the distance between the standby position and the contact position. On this account, when the first peel-off portion is further moved toward the leading end side in the axial direction, the first regulatory portion makes contact with the second peel-off portion during the movement of the first peel-off portion. Because the movement of the second peel-off portion toward the base end portion in the axial direction relative to the first regulatory portion is restricted, the second peel-off portion is moved toward the leading end side in the axial direction by the first regulatory portion. In this way, it is possible to start the operation of the second peel-off portion after the start of the operation of the first peel-off portion. On this account, the operation of the second peel-off portion can be started after the remaining yarn is lifted up from the outer peripheral portion to some degree by the first peel-off portion. This makes it easy to peel off the remaining yarn by the second peel-off portion. When the first peel-off portion is returned from the contact position to the standby position, the second peel-off portion is moved by the second regulatory portion toward the base end side in the axial direction.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, the filament winding device of any one of the first to seventh aspects is arranged so that the axial direction includes at least a horizontal component, and the second cutting unit cuts the fiber bundles wound on the outer peripheral portion of the reel member, at the highest position in the vertical direction.

The present invention makes it easy to cause the remaining yarn having been cut in the axial direction to drop off from the reel member by its own weight. It becomes more easy to remove the remaining yarn.

The following will describe an embodiment of the present invention. Directions shown in <FIG> are defined as a front-rear direction and a left-right direction, for convenience of explanation. The front-rear direction and the left-right direction are in parallel to the horizontal direction. The front-rear direction and the left-right direction are orthogonal to each other. A direction orthogonal to both the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is referred to as an up-down direction in which the gravity acts.

To begin with, the following will describe a schematic structure of a filament winding device <NUM> of an embodiment with reference to <FIG> is a perspective view of the filament winding device <NUM>. The filament winding device <NUM> includes a winder <NUM> and a pair of creel stands <NUM> that are provided to the left of and to the right of a rear portion of the winder <NUM>. On the whole, the filament winding device <NUM> is arranged to be substantially symmetrical in the left-right direction. In <FIG>, a part of the winder <NUM>, which is sandwiched between the left and right pair of creel stands <NUM>, is not illustrated to avoid complexity in the figure.

The winder <NUM> is configured to wind fiber bundles (not illustrated in <FIG>) onto a liner L which is roughly cylindrical in shape. Each fiber bundle is formed by, for example, impregnating a thermosetting or thermoplastic synthetic resin material into a fiber material such as carbon fiber. For example, when a pressure vessel such as a pressure tank is manufactured by the winder <NUM>, a member in which dome-shaped small diameter portions are provided on the both sides of a cylindrical large diameter portion as shown in <FIG> is used as the liner L. The liner L is made of a material such as high-strength aluminum, metal, or resin, for example. After the fiber bundles are wound onto the liner L, a thermosetting process such as baking or a cooling process is performed. As a result, a high-strength pressure vessel is obtained as an end product.

The creel stand <NUM> is arranged so that bobbins <NUM> on which fiber bundles are wound are supported in a rotatable manner by a supporting frame <NUM> that is provided side by side with the winder <NUM>. The fiber bundles supplied from the respective bobbins <NUM> of the creel stand <NUM> are used for performing helical winding by a later-described helical winding unit <NUM>.

The following will describe the structure of the winder <NUM> with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the winder <NUM>. <FIG> is a profile of the winder <NUM>. <FIG> is a block diagram of an electric configuration of the winder <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the winder <NUM> includes a base <NUM>, supporting units <NUM> (first supporting unit <NUM> and second supporting unit <NUM>), a hoop winding unit <NUM>, and a helical winding unit <NUM>. <FIG> does not show the hoop winding unit <NUM>.

The base <NUM> supports the supporting units <NUM>, the hoop winding unit <NUM>, and the helical winding unit <NUM>. On the top surface of the base <NUM>, rails <NUM> are provided to extend in the front-rear direction. The supporting units <NUM> and the hoop winding unit <NUM> are provided on the rails <NUM> and are capable of reciprocating in the front-rear direction on the rails <NUM>. Meanwhile, the helical winding unit <NUM> is fixed to the base <NUM>. The first supporting unit <NUM>, the hoop winding unit <NUM>, the helical winding unit <NUM>, and the second supporting unit <NUM> are provided in this order from front to rear.

The supporting units <NUM> (liner supporters of the present invention) include the first supporting unit <NUM> which is placed in front of the hoop winding unit <NUM> and the second supporting unit <NUM> which is placed behind the helical winding unit <NUM>. The supporting units <NUM> support the liner L so that the liner L is rotatable about a supporting shaft <NUM> which extends in the front-rear direction (i.e., in the axial direction of the liner L). The supporting units <NUM> include a liner movement motor <NUM> and a liner rotation motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The liner movement motor <NUM> moves the first supporting unit <NUM> and the second supporting unit <NUM> in the front-rear direction along the rails <NUM>. The liner rotation motor <NUM> rotates the liner L about the axis by rotating the supporting shaft <NUM>. The liner movement motor <NUM> and the liner rotation motor <NUM> are driven and controlled by a controller <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The second supporting unit <NUM> includes a base portion 32a that is movable in the axial direction of the liner L and a head portion 32b that is provided above the base portion 32a. The head portion 32b is provided with a fiber bundle retainer <NUM>. The fiber bundle retainer <NUM> will be detailed later.

The hoop winding unit <NUM> performs hoop-winding on the circumferential surface of the liner L. The hoop-winding is a way of winding fiber bundles in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the liner L. The hoop winding unit <NUM> includes a main body <NUM>, a rotating member <NUM>, and bobbins <NUM>. The main body <NUM> is provided on the rails <NUM> and supports the disc-shaped rotating member <NUM> such that the rotating member <NUM> is rotatable about the axis of the liner L. At a central portion of the rotation member <NUM>, a circular passing hole <NUM> is formed to allow the liner L to pass therethrough. The rotation member <NUM> supports the bobbins <NUM> in a rotatable manner. These bobbins <NUM> are provided at regular intervals in the circumferential direction around the passing hole <NUM>. A fiber bundle is wound onto each bobbin <NUM>.

The hoop winding unit <NUM> includes a movement motor and a rotation motor that are not illustrated. The movement motor moves the main body <NUM> in the front-rear direction along the rails <NUM>. The rotation motor rotates the rotation member <NUM> about the axis of the liner L. The movement motor and the rotation motor are driven and controlled by the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>). When performing the hoop-winding, the controller <NUM> rotates the rotation member <NUM> while reciprocating the main body <NUM> along the rails <NUM>. As a result, the fiber bundles are pulled out from the bobbins <NUM> rotating around the liner L, and the fiber bundles are simultaneously hoop-wound onto the circumferential surface of the liner L.

The helical winding unit <NUM> performs helical-winding on the circumferential surface of the liner L. The helical-winding is a way of winding fiber bundles in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of the liner L. The helical winding unit <NUM> includes a main body <NUM>, a frame member <NUM>, and plural nozzle units <NUM>. Although the number of the nozzle units <NUM> is <NUM> in the present embodiment, the number of the nozzle units <NUM> is not limited to this. The main body <NUM> is fixed to the base <NUM>. The frame member <NUM> is a disc-shaped member attached to the main body <NUM>. At a central portion of the frame member <NUM>, a circular passing hole <NUM> is formed to allow the liner L to pass therethrough in the front-rear direction. The nozzle units <NUM> are provided at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction of the liner L and are provided in a radial manner on the whole. Each nozzle unit <NUM> is fixed to the frame member <NUM>.

<FIG> are front elevations of the helical winding unit <NUM>. <FIG> shows a situation when the fiber bundles F are wound onto the large diameter portion of the liner L. <FIG> shows a situation when the fiber bundles F are wound onto the small diameter portion of the liner L. As shown in <FIG>, each nozzle unit <NUM> includes a guide member <NUM> (fiber bundle guide of the present invention) that guides the fiber bundle F to the liner L. The guide member <NUM> extends in the radial direction of the liner L (hereinafter, this direction may be simply referred to as a radial direction), is movable in the radial direction, and is rotatable about a rotational axis extending in the radial direction. A guide roller <NUM> is provided on the outer side of the nozzle unit <NUM> in the radial direction. The fiber bundle F pulled out from each bobbin <NUM> of the creel stand <NUM> (see <FIG>) passes via the guide roller <NUM> through the guide member <NUM> and reaches the liner L.

The helical winding unit <NUM> includes a guide movement motor <NUM> and a guide rotation motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The guide movement motor <NUM> moves the guide members <NUM> of the respective nozzle units <NUM> altogether in the radial direction. The guide rotation motor <NUM> rotates the guide members <NUM> of the respective nozzle units <NUM> altogether about the respective rotational axes. The guide movement motor <NUM> and the guide rotation motor <NUM> are driven and controlled by the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>). When the helical-winding is performed, the controller <NUM> causes the liner L to pass through the passing hole <NUM> while slowly rotating the liner L about the axis, by driving and controlling the supporting unit <NUM>. Simultaneously, the controller <NUM> suitably moves the guide member <NUM> of each nozzle unit <NUM> in the radial direction (i.e., causes the guide member <NUM> to perform elongation or contraction) and rotates the guide member <NUM> about the rotational axis (i.e., causes the guide member <NUM> to perform rotation). As a result, the fiber bundle F is pulled out from the guide member <NUM> of each nozzle unit <NUM>, and the fiber bundles F are simultaneously helical-wound onto the circumferential surface of the rotating liner L.

The following will describe the structure of the fiber bundle retainer <NUM> with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> is a profile of the second supporting unit <NUM> including the fiber bundle retainer <NUM>. <FIG> is a profile of a later-described reel member <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the reel member <NUM> and a later-described first cutting unit <NUM>. It is noted that <FIG> do not show a later-described remaining yarn remover <NUM>. Hereinafter, as shown in <FIG>, the front side of the figure will be referred to as a leading end side in the axial direction (one side in the present invention), whereas the rear side of the figure will be referred to as a base end side in the axial direction (the other side in the present invention).

The fiber bundle retainer <NUM> is an apparatus that temporarily retains fiber bundles F when, for example, the liner L is replaced. In addition to this, the fiber bundle retainer <NUM> may temporarily retain fiber bundles F when a new liner L is supported by the supporting unit <NUM>, for example. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the fiber bundle retainer <NUM> includes the reel member <NUM> and the first cutting unit <NUM>.

The reel member <NUM> is configured to be able to retain the fiber bundles F supplied through the guide members <NUM>. The reel member <NUM> includes a base portion <NUM> and an outer peripheral portion <NUM>. The base portion <NUM> is a ring-shaped member that is attached to a front end portion of the head portion 32b of the second supporting unit <NUM> and surrounds a supporting shaft <NUM> in the circumferential direction of the liner L. To the base portion <NUM>, shaft members <NUM> are attached to be aligned in the circumferential direction of the liner L. The shaft members <NUM> extend toward the front side (leading end side in the axial direction).

The outer peripheral portion <NUM> is supported by the base portion <NUM> via the shaft members <NUM>. The outer peripheral portion <NUM> includes a ring member <NUM> and pins <NUM>. The ring member <NUM> is attached to the leading ends of the shaft members <NUM> and is provided to surround the supporting shaft <NUM> in the circumferential direction. On the outer circumferential surface of the ring member <NUM>, a groove 74a is formed to extend in the axial direction of the liner L and extend inward in the radial direction of the liner L. (The reason of this arrangement will be described later. ) The pins <NUM> are attached to an end face of the ring member <NUM> on the leading end side in the axial direction, and extend toward the leading end side in the axial direction. The pins <NUM> are provided at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction of the liner L (hereinafter, this direction may be simply referred to as circumferential direction).

As shown in <FIG>, the reel member <NUM> is movable in the axial direction relative to the head portion 32b by a movement mechanism <NUM> formed of, for example, a rack-and-pinion mechanism (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>). The movement mechanism <NUM> is driven by a reel member movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The reel member <NUM> is rotationally driven by a reel member rotation motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) about the supporting shaft <NUM> (i.e., about the axis of the liner L) (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>). The reel member movement motor <NUM> and the reel member rotation motor <NUM> are driven and controlled by the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>). With this arrangement, the reel member <NUM> is able to wind the fiber bundles F supplied through the guide members <NUM> onto the outer peripheral portion <NUM> (as detailed later).

The first cutting unit <NUM> is configured to cut parts of the fiber bundles F, which are between parts wound onto the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> and parts wound onto the liner L. As shown in <FIG>, the first cutting unit <NUM> includes a frame <NUM> and a cutter <NUM>. The frame <NUM> is a hollow cylindrical member provided inside the ring member <NUM> in the radial direction of the liner L. The cutter <NUM> is, for example, a rotatable circular blade. The cutter <NUM> is rotatably supported by a supporting member <NUM> that is attached to a leading end portion in the axial direction of the frame <NUM>. The cutter <NUM> is provided on the inner side of the pins <NUM> in the radial direction of the liner L. The frame <NUM> may not be hollow cylindrical in shape, and may be ring-shaped.

The frame <NUM> is movable in the axial direction relative to the reel member <NUM> by a first cutting unit movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The movement of the frame <NUM> in the axial direction is performed mainly for aligning the cutter <NUM>. The frame <NUM> is rotatable about the supporting shaft <NUM> by a first cutting unit rotation motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The first cutting unit movement motor <NUM> and the first cutting unit rotation motor <NUM> are driven and controlled by the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>). The cutter <NUM> is movable in the axial direction and rotatable about the supporting shaft <NUM> together with the frame <NUM> (see arrows in <FIG>). With this arrangement, the first cutting unit <NUM> is able to cut parts of the fiber bundles F, which are between parts wound onto the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> and parts wound onto the liner L, in the circumferential direction.

The following will describe operations of members such as the reel member <NUM> when the liner is replaced, with reference to <FIG>. In <FIG>, only the helical winding unit <NUM>, the liner L, the reel member <NUM>, the first cutting unit <NUM>, and the fiber bundles F are schematically shown for simplicity.

To begin with, assume that helical-winding on a liner L (liner L1) has been completed as shown in <FIG>. In this state, the controller <NUM> controls the reel member movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to move the reel member <NUM> toward the liner L1 in the axial direction (see <FIG>) and inserts the pins between the fiber bundles F in the circumferential direction. Thereafter, the controller <NUM> controls the reel member rotation motor <NUM> to rotate the reel member <NUM> about the axis of the liner L1 (see <FIG>). As a result, the fiber bundles F are wound onto the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> and retained (see <FIG>).

Subsequently, the controller <NUM> controls the first cutting unit movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to position the cutter <NUM>. The controller <NUM> then controls the first cutting unit rotation motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to rotate the cutter <NUM> about the axis of the liner L1. As a result, the fiber bundles F are cut in the circumferential direction. To be more specific, as described above, parts of the fiber bundles F, which are between parts wound onto the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> and parts wound onto the liner L1, are cut (see <FIG>).

Subsequently, the operator detaches the liner L1 from the supporting unit <NUM> (see <FIG>) and attaches a new liner L2 (see <FIG>) to the supporting unit <NUM> (liner replacement). Thereafter, the controller <NUM> controls the guide movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to move the guide members <NUM> inward in the radial direction. As a result, parts of the fiber bundles F, which are between the parts wound onto the outer peripheral portion <NUM> and the guide members <NUM>, become close to an end portion in the axial direction of the liner L2. Furthermore, the controller <NUM> controls the liner rotation motor <NUM> to rotate the liner L2 about the axis. As a result, the fiber bundles F are wound onto the end portion in the axial direction of the liner L2 (see <FIG>).

Lastly, the controller <NUM> controls the first cutting unit movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to position the cutter <NUM>. The controller <NUM> then controls the first cutting unit rotation motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to rotate the cutter <NUM> about the axis of the liner L2. Consequently, parts of the fiber bundles F, which are between parts wound onto the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> and parts wound onto the liner L2, are cut (see <FIG>). The liner replacement is performed as described above. The above-described replacement may be automatically performed by a machine.

In connection with the above, as shown in <FIG>, part of the fiber bundles F remains wound onto the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM>, as a remaining yarn F1. Such a remaining yarn F1 must be removed before the next liner replacement, for example. The removal of the remaining yarn F1 includes, for example, an operation to cut the remaining yarn F1 in the axial direction of the liner L. This operation has been troublesome because it is manually performed by an operator. In addition to the above, the fiber bundles wound onto the liner L are typically impregnated with adhesive resin. This makes the removal further troublesome because, for example, the remaining yarn F1 is adhered to the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM>. In order to simplify the removal of the remaining yarn F1, the fiber bundle retainer <NUM> of the present embodiment includes a remaining yarn remover <NUM> that is arranged as described below.

The following will describe the structure of the remaining yarn remover <NUM> with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> to <FIG>. <FIG> is a front elevation of the fiber bundle retainer <NUM> including the remaining yarn remover <NUM>. The other figures will be described accordingly. The remaining yarn remover <NUM> is attached to the head portion 32b of the second supporting unit <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the remaining yarn remover <NUM> includes a second cutting unit <NUM>, a pair of first arm units <NUM> and <NUM>, a pair of second arm units <NUM> and <NUM>, and a remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM>. Each of the second cutting unit <NUM>, the first arm units <NUM> and <NUM>, the second arm units <NUM> and <NUM>, and the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> has a movable portion. In <FIG>, all members of the remaining yarn remover <NUM> are at their initial positions.

The following will describe the second cutting unit <NUM> with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> illustrates the structure of the second cutting unit <NUM>. The second cutting unit <NUM> is provided independently from the above-described first cutting unit <NUM>. As discussed later, the second cutting unit <NUM> is arranged to cut the fiber bundles F wound onto the reel member <NUM> in the front-rear direction (axial direction). As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second cutting unit <NUM> is provided above the reel member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the second cutting unit <NUM> includes a rail member <NUM>, a first movable member <NUM>, a second movable member <NUM>, and a cutter <NUM>. Roughly speaking, the first movable member <NUM> moves in the axial direction along the rail member <NUM> fixed to the upper end portion of the head portion 32b of the second supporting unit <NUM>. The second movable member <NUM> moves in the radial direction of the liner L along the front end portion of the first movable member <NUM>. The cutter <NUM> attached to the leading end portion of the second movable member <NUM> to be rotatable cuts the fiber bundles F.

The rail member <NUM> is a member extending in the front-rear direction. The rail member <NUM> is fixed to the upper end portion of the head portion 32b of the second supporting unit <NUM>. The rail member <NUM> supports the first movable member <NUM> to be movable in the front-rear direction (axial direction).

The first movable member <NUM> is substantially L-shaped. As shown in <FIG>, the first movable member <NUM> includes a bottom portion 112a extending in the front-rear direction and a front portion 112b extending upward from a front end portion of the bottom portion 112a. The bottom portion 112a of the first movable member <NUM> is supported by the rail member <NUM> to be movable in the front-rear direction. The front portion 112b supports the second movable member <NUM> to be movable in the up-down direction. The first movable member <NUM> is moved in the front-rear direction along the rail member <NUM> (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>) by, for example, a second cutting unit movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The second cutting unit movement motor <NUM> is driven and controlled by the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The second movable member <NUM> is a member that extends substantially in the front-rear direction. The second movable member <NUM> is provided above the reel member <NUM> (see <FIG>). The second movable member <NUM> is supported by the first movable member <NUM> to be movable in the up-down direction (in this case, this direction is identical with the radial direction of the liner L) (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>). The cutter <NUM> is supported by the front end portion of the second movable member <NUM> to be rotatable. The second movable member <NUM> is moved in the up-down direction along the front portion 112b of the first movable member <NUM> by, for example, a second cutting unit vertical movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The second cutting unit vertical movement motor <NUM> is driven and controlled by the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The cutter <NUM> is provided to cut the remaining yarn F1 in the axial direction. The cutter <NUM> is, for example, a rotatable circular blade. The cutter <NUM> is supported by the front end portion of the second movable member <NUM> to be rotatable about a rotational axis direction which is parallel to the left-right direction. As shown in <FIG>, when viewed in the front-rear direction (see <FIG>), the cutter <NUM> is provided on a vertical line VL passing through the axial center of the reel member <NUM>. The cutter <NUM> is rotationally driven by, for example, a cutter rotation motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The cutter rotation motor <NUM> is driven and controlled by the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>).

In the second cutting unit <NUM> described above, as shown in <FIG>, the cutter <NUM> is movable in the front-rear direction (see an arrow <NUM> and the second cutting unit <NUM> indicated by two-dot chain lines in <FIG>). The cutter <NUM> is movable in the up-down direction, too (see an arrow <NUM> and the second cutting unit <NUM> indicated by one-dot chain lines in <FIG>).

As described above, the groove 74a is formed along the axial direction of the liner L in the outer circumferential surface of the ring member <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> (see <FIG>). The groove 74a extends inward in the radial direction of the liner L from the outer circumferential surface of the ring member <NUM>. With this arrangement, when the groove 74a is positioned at the highest part of the ring member <NUM> (i.e., when the groove 74a is at the <NUM> o'clock position), the cutter <NUM> is able to enter the groove 74a. In other words, the cutter <NUM> is able to move further inward in the radial direction.

The following will describe the first arm units <NUM> and <NUM> with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> illustrates the structures of the first arm units <NUM> and <NUM> and the second arm units <NUM> and <NUM>. The first arm units <NUM> and <NUM> are provided mainly to suppress the remaining yarn F1 from slipping forward when the remaining yarn F1 is cut by the second cutting unit <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the first arm units <NUM> and <NUM> are provided above the reel member <NUM>, for example. The first arm units <NUM> and <NUM> are provided on the respective sides of the second cutting unit <NUM> in the left-right direction (i.e., in the rotational axis direction of the cutter <NUM>). The first arm unit <NUM> is provided to the right of the second cutting unit <NUM>. The first arm unit <NUM> is provided to the left of the second cutting unit <NUM>. The first arm unit <NUM> and the first arm unit <NUM> are substantially symmetrical in the left-right direction.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first arm unit <NUM> includes members such as an arm member <NUM>, a pressing member <NUM> (fiber bundle pressing member of the present invention), a first movement mechanism <NUM>, and a second movement mechanism <NUM>. Roughly speaking, the arm member <NUM> is movable in the longitudinal direction of the arm member <NUM> by the first movement mechanism <NUM> and is movable in the radial direction of the liner L by the second movement mechanism <NUM>. The pressing member <NUM> attached to a front end portion of the arm member <NUM> restricts the movement of the remaining yarn F1 in the axial direction.

The arm member <NUM> is a rod-shaped member extending substantially in the front-rear direction. To be more precise, the arm member <NUM> is inclined forward and inward in the radial direction of the liner L. The arm member <NUM> is supported in a movable manner by a supporting member <NUM> fixed to an upper portion of the head portion 32b of the second supporting unit <NUM>, via the first movement mechanism <NUM> and the second movement mechanism <NUM>. An attaching member <NUM> is attached to the front end portion of the arm member <NUM>. The attaching member <NUM> is, for example, a plate-shaped member. As shown in <FIG>, the attaching member <NUM> extends at least in the circumferential direction of the liner L.

The pressing member <NUM> is substantially L-shaped. As shown in <FIG>, the pressing member <NUM> includes a main body portion 122a extending substantially in the front-rear direction and a claw portion 122b extending substantially in the radial direction of the liner L from a front end portion of the main body portion 122a. At the end portions of the attaching member <NUM> in the circumferential direction of the liner L, two pressing members <NUM> are attached, respectively.

The first movement mechanism <NUM> is a mechanism configured to move the arm member <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the arm member <NUM>. The first movement mechanism <NUM> is, for example, a known rack-and-pinion mechanism. The first movement mechanism <NUM> is supported by the second movement mechanism <NUM> to be movable in the radial direction of the liner L. The first movement mechanism <NUM> is driven by a first arm telescopic movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The first arm telescopic movement motor <NUM> is driven and controlled by the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>). With this arrangement, the arm member <NUM> moves in the longitudinal direction of the arm member <NUM> (see an arrow <NUM> and the arm member <NUM> indicated by two-dot chain lines in <FIG>, etc.).

The second movement mechanism <NUM> is a mechanism configured to move the arm member <NUM> in the radial direction of the liner L. The second movement mechanism <NUM> is, for example, a known ball screw mechanism. The second movement mechanism <NUM> is attached to the supporting member <NUM>. The second movement mechanism <NUM> supports the first movement mechanism <NUM> so that the first movement mechanism <NUM> is movable in the radial direction of the liner L. The second movement mechanism <NUM> is driven by a first arm movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The first arm movement motor <NUM> is driven and controlled by the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>). With this arrangement, the arm member <NUM> moves in the radial direction of the liner L, together with the first movement mechanism <NUM> (see an arrow <NUM> and the arm member <NUM> indicated by one-dot chain lines in <FIG>, etc.).

Being similar to the first arm unit <NUM>, the first arm unit <NUM> includes members such as an arm member <NUM>, a pressing member <NUM> (fiber bundle pressing member of the present invention), a first movement mechanism <NUM>, and a second movement mechanism <NUM> (see <FIG>). The pressing member <NUM> includes a claw portion 132b. The first movement mechanism <NUM> of the first arm unit <NUM> is driven by a first arm telescopic movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) which is different from the first arm telescopic movement motor <NUM>. Similarly, the second movement mechanism <NUM> of the first arm unit <NUM> is driven by a first arm movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) which is different from the first arm movement motor <NUM>.

The following will describe the second arm units <NUM> and <NUM> with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> again. The second arm units <NUM> and <NUM> are provided to receive the remaining yarn F1 peeled off from the reel member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the second arm units <NUM> and <NUM> are provided below the reel member <NUM>. The second arm unit <NUM> and the second arm unit <NUM> are substantially symmetrical in the left-right direction.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second arm unit <NUM> includes an arm member <NUM>, a receiver <NUM>, and a movement mechanism <NUM>. The arm member <NUM> is, for example, a member similar to the arm member <NUM> of the first arm unit <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> is, for example, a member similar to the pressing member <NUM> of the first arm unit <NUM>. The movement mechanism <NUM> is, for example, a mechanism similar to the first movement mechanism <NUM> of the first arm unit <NUM>. The movement mechanism <NUM> is driven by a second arm telescopic movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The second arm telescopic movement motor <NUM> is driven and controlled by the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>). With this arrangement, the arm member <NUM> moves in the longitudinal direction of the arm member <NUM> (see an arrow <NUM> and the arm member <NUM> indicated by two-dot chain lines in <FIG>, etc.). Similarly, the second arm unit <NUM> includes an arm member <NUM>, a receiver <NUM>, and a movement mechanism <NUM> (see <FIG>). The movement mechanism <NUM> is driven by a second arm telescopic movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The following will describe the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> mainly with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> shows the structure of the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM>. In <FIG>, the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> is indicated by full lines whereas the reel member <NUM> is indicated by two-dot chain lines. <FIG> illustrates a later-described first peel-off portion <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a later-described second peel-off portion <NUM>. <FIG> shows the traveling range of the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM>. The profiles such as <FIG> only show some of later-described first peel-off portions <NUM> for the sake of simplicity.

The remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> is provided to facilitate the removal of the remaining yarn F1 adhered to the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> and the remaining yarn F1 entwined around the pins <NUM>, after the remaining yarn F1 is cut by the second cutting unit <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> is attached to the reel member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> includes a base portion <NUM>, first peel-off portions <NUM>, and a second peel-off portion <NUM>. In order to improve the visibility, the first peel-off portions <NUM> are hatched in <FIG>. Roughly speaking, the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> moves toward the leading end side in the axial direction of the liner L so as to lift up the remaining yarn F1 from the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> outward in the radial direction by the first peel-off portions <NUM> and to push out the remaining yarn F1 toward the leading end side in the axial direction by the second peel-off portion <NUM>.

The base portion <NUM> is formed of, for example, a ring-shaped member. The base portion <NUM> is provided to surround the reel member <NUM> in the circumferential direction (i.e., to surround the above-described supporting shaft <NUM>). The base portion <NUM> is provided in front of the base portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> (see <FIG>). Plural first peel-off portions <NUM> are attached to the front end face of the base portion <NUM>. The base portion <NUM> is movable in the axial direction of the liner L by a movement mechanism <NUM> that is formed of, for example, a rack-and-pinion mechanism. The movement mechanism <NUM> is driven by a remaining yarn peel-off unit movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). The remaining yarn peel-off unit movement motor <NUM> is driven and controlled by the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The first peel-off portion <NUM> is a rod-shaped member extending in the axial direction of the liner L. As shown in <FIG>, the first peel-off portions <NUM> are fixed to the front end face of the base portion <NUM> and are movable in the axial direction together with the base portion <NUM>. In the present invention, nine first peel-off portions <NUM> are aligned in the circumferential direction of the liner L. The angular intervals of the first peel-off portions <NUM> in the circumferential direction are identical except at one interval. On the base portion <NUM>, no first peel-off portion <NUM> is attached to the uppermost part (i.e., the <NUM> o'clock position). To put it differently, the first peel-off portions <NUM> are provided not to interfere with the cutter <NUM> when the remaining yarn F1 is cut by the above-described second cutting unit <NUM> (see e.g., <FIG>). At the leading end portions of the first peel-off portions <NUM> in the axial direction, the second peel-off portion <NUM> is supported to be movable in the axial direction relative to the first peel-off portions <NUM>.

The following will detail the first peel-off portions <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, each first peel-off portion <NUM> includes a main body <NUM> and a leading end member <NUM> fixed to the tip of the main body <NUM> in the axial direction. The main body <NUM> has an inclined surface 166a (contact surface of the present invention). The inclined surface 166a is provided to make contact with the remaining yarn F1 from the inner side in the radial direction of the liner L so as to push the remaining yarn F1 outward in the radial direction. The inclined surface 166a is inclined outward in the radial direction of the liner L toward the base end side in the axial direction of the liner L. The inclined surface 166a is at least partially outside the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> in the radial direction.

At a part of the main body <NUM> on the leading end side in the axial direction, a supporter 166b is provided to support the second peel-off portion <NUM> so that the second peel-off portion <NUM> is movable in the axial direction. This arrangement will be specifically described below. At a part of the main body <NUM>, which is on the leading end side in the axial direction and is on the inner side in the radial direction, a cutout is formed by a face 166c that is orthogonal to the radial direction and a face 166d that is orthogonal to the axial direction and is connected to a side on the base end side in the axial direction of the face 166c. In the axial direction, a part of the main body <NUM> where the cutout is formed is the supporter 166b. The supporter 166b is fitted into a later-described groove <NUM> of the second peel-off portion <NUM> to be movable. The face 166d restricts the movement of the second peel-off portion <NUM> toward the base end side in the axial direction. Hereinafter, the face 166d will be referred to as a first regulating surface 166d (first regulatory portion of the present invention).

The leading end member <NUM> protrudes inward in the radial direction relative to the supporter 166b. An end face on the base end side in the axial direction of the leading end member <NUM> is therefore partially exposed. This exposed portion will be referred to as a second regulating surface 167a (second regulatory portion of the present invention). The second regulating surface 167a restricts the movement of the second peel-off portion <NUM> toward the leading end side in the axial direction.

The following will describe the second peel-off portion <NUM> with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. The second peel-off portion <NUM> is provided to mainly push the remaining yarn F1 entwined around the pins <NUM> toward the leading end side in the axial direction of the liner L. As shown in <FIG>, the second peel-off portion <NUM> is formed of a ring-shaped member. The second peel-off portion <NUM> is provided to surround the above-described supporting shaft <NUM> in the circumferential direction of the liner L. The second peel-off portion <NUM> has plural through holes <NUM> (through holes of the present invention) penetrating the portion in the axial direction. Each through hole <NUM> has an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the pin <NUM> described above. It is therefore possible to insert the pin <NUM> into the through hole <NUM>. When the second peel-off portion <NUM> is at an initial position (hereinafter, the initial position of the second peel-off portion <NUM> will be referred to as a retracted position), a pin <NUM> is inserted into each through hole <NUM>. In the outer circumferential surface of the second peel-off portion <NUM>, grooves <NUM> are formed to extend inward in the radial direction of the liner L. The position of one (groove 172a shown in <FIG>) of the grooves <NUM> in the circumferential direction corresponds to the position of the above-described groove 74a of the ring member <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> in the circumferential direction. Into the remaining grooves <NUM>, the above-described supporters 166b of the first peel-off portion <NUM> are fitted. With this arrangement, the second peel-off portion <NUM> is supported by the first peel-off portions <NUM> aligned in the circumferential direction, so as to be movable in the axial direction relative to the first peel-off portions <NUM>.

The following will describe the movable range of the second peel-off portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the second peel-off portion <NUM> is arranged to be movable relative to the first peel-off portions <NUM> within a range in which the supporters 166b of the first peel-off portions <NUM> are provided in the axial direction (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>). The movement of the second peel-off portion <NUM> toward the base end side in the axial direction is restricted by the first regulating surface 166d of the first peel-off portion <NUM> and the movement of the second peel-off portion <NUM> toward the leading end side in the axial direction is restricted by the second regulating surface 167a. With this arrangement, the second peel-off portion <NUM> is movable in the axial direction relative to the first peel-off portions <NUM> by the distance A. When the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> is at the initial position, the second peel-off portion <NUM> is separated from the first regulating surface 166d and in contact with the second regulating surface 167a (see e.g., full lines in <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, the base portion <NUM> and the first peel-off portions <NUM> are movable between a predetermined standby position (see full lines in <FIG>) and a protruding position (contact position of the present invention; indicated by two-dot chain lines in <FIG>) which is on the front side (leading end side in the axial direction) of the standby position (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>). In the axial direction, the distance B that is the movable distance of the first peel-off portions <NUM> (i.e., the distance between the standby position and the protruding position in the axial direction shown in <FIG>) is longer than the above-described distance A. To put it differently, the distance A is shorter than the distance B. The operation of the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> will be further detailed later.

The following will describe the operation of the above-described remaining yarn remover <NUM> with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> show the operations of the first arm unit <NUM> and the second arm unit <NUM>. <FIG> shows the pressing members <NUM> and <NUM> shown in <FIG> and their surroundings, which are viewed in the front-rear direction. <FIG> shows the operations of the first arm unit <NUM> and the second cutting unit <NUM>. <FIG> shows an operation of cutting the remaining yarn F1 by the second cutting unit <NUM>. <FIG> shows the pressing members <NUM> and <NUM> and the cutter <NUM> shown in <FIG> and their surroundings, which are viewed in the front-rear direction. <FIG> show the operations of the first arm units <NUM> and <NUM>. <FIG> show the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> at an initial position. <FIG>, <FIG> illustrate the operation of the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM>. <FIG> show the operation of the first arm unit <NUM> after the completion of the operation of the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM>.

In an initial state, the remaining yarn F1 is wound on the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> (see <FIG>). To begin with, the controller <NUM> controls the first arm telescopic movement motors <NUM> and <NUM> to drive the first movement mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM>. As a result, the arm member <NUM> moves in the longitudinal direction of the arm member <NUM> (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>) and the arm member <NUM> moves in the longitudinal direction of the arm member <NUM>. At this stage, in the axial direction of the liner L, the claw portion 122b of the pressing member <NUM> and the claw portion 132b of the pressing member <NUM> move to locations on the leading end side of the pins <NUM> of the reel member <NUM>. Furthermore, the controller <NUM> controls the first arm movement motors <NUM> and <NUM> to drive the second movement mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM>. As a result, the arm members <NUM> and <NUM> move inward in the radial direction of the liner L (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>). At this stage, part of the claw portion 122b of the pressing member <NUM> and part (on the leading end side) of the claw portion 132b of the pressing member <NUM> are located just in front of the remaining yarn F1. The pressing members <NUM> and <NUM> oppose each other over the second cutting unit <NUM> in the left-right direction (see <FIG>).

In addition to the above, the controller <NUM> controls the second arm telescopic movement motors <NUM> and <NUM> to drive the movement mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM>. As a result, the arm member <NUM> moves in the longitudinal direction of the arm member <NUM> (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>) and the arm member <NUM> moves in the longitudinal direction of the arm member <NUM>. At this stage, the receivers <NUM> and <NUM> move to a location directly below the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> or to a location in the vicinity of that location. For example, the controller <NUM> may simultaneously drive all of the first arm units <NUM> and <NUM> and the second arm units <NUM> and <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> controls the second cutting unit movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) and the second cutting unit vertical movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to move the cutter <NUM> in the axial direction of the liner L and in the radial direction of the liner L (see arrows <NUM> and <NUM> in <FIG>). To be more specific, the controller <NUM> moves the cutter <NUM> to a location in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> (i.e., immediately behind the remaining yarn F1). To be more specific, at this stage, the cutter <NUM> is positioned at a location in the vicinity of the uppermost part of the remaining yarn F1 (i.e., the part at the <NUM> o'clock position). The controller <NUM> may start the movement of the cutter <NUM> after moving the first arm units <NUM> and <NUM> and the second arm units <NUM> and <NUM> as described above. Alternatively, the controller <NUM> may move the first arm units <NUM> and <NUM>, the second arm units <NUM> and <NUM>, and the cutter <NUM> at the same time.

The controller <NUM> controls the first arm telescopic movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to move the arm member <NUM> to the base end side in the axial direction (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>) and to insert the claw portion 122b between the pins <NUM>. Similarly, the controller <NUM> controls the first arm telescopic movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to move the arm member <NUM> to the base end side in the axial direction. With this arrangement, the remaining yarn F1 is pressed from the leading end side in the axial direction, by the claw portions 122b and 132b.

The controller <NUM> then moves the cutter <NUM> forward (toward the leading end side in the axial direction) (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>) while rotating the circular blade by controlling the cutter rotation motor <NUM> (see <FIG>). As a result, the uppermost part of the remaining yarn F1 in the vertical direction is cut in the axial direction. At this stage, the remaining yarn F1 is pressed from the leading end side in the axial direction by the claw portion 122b of the pressing members <NUM> and the claw portion 132b of the pressing member <NUM> (see <FIG>). As a result, the movement of the remaining yarn F1 toward the leading end side in the axial direction is restricted when the remaining yarn F1 is cut by the second cutting unit <NUM>. It is therefore possible to suppress the deviation of the remaining yarn F1 in the axial direction. Furthermore, as described above, the pressing members <NUM> and <NUM> oppose each other over the second cutting unit <NUM> in the left-right direction (see <FIG>). It is therefore possible to suppress the deviation of the remaining yarn F1 toward the leading end side in the axial direction. Furthermore, as described above, the groove 74a is formed in the ring member <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> whereas the groove 172a is formed in the second peel-off portion <NUM> of the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM>. This arrangement ensures the inward movement of the cutter <NUM> in the radial direction of the liner L (see <FIG>), and hence the remaining yarn F1 can be further reliably cut.

Subsequently, the controller <NUM> moves the arm members <NUM> and <NUM> further toward the leading end side (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>). (In <FIG>, the arm member <NUM> is not shown. ) As a result, the pressing members <NUM> and <NUM> are moved to locations in front of the remaining yarn F1 immediately after being cut by the second cutting unit <NUM>. Because the pressing members <NUM> and <NUM> are positioned at these locations, it is possible to prevent the remaining yarn F1 from hitting the helical winding unit <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>) when the remaining yarn F1 is pushed out by the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> as described below.

Subsequently, the controller <NUM> controls the remaining yarn peel-off unit movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to drive the movement mechanism <NUM>, and move the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> forward (toward the leading end side in the axial direction). In this connection, before the start of the movement of the remaining yarn peel-off unit <NUM> (see <FIG>), the second peel-off portion <NUM> is detached from the first regulating surface 166d of the first peel-off portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) as described above. On this account, when the movement mechanism <NUM> starts to drive, the base portion <NUM> and the first peel-off portions <NUM> start to move toward the leading end side in the axial direction, whereas the second peel-off portion <NUM> moves relative to the first peel-off portions <NUM>. (In other words, the second peel-off portion <NUM> does not move relative to the reel member <NUM>).

When the first peel-off portions <NUM> move toward the leading end side in the axial direction (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>), the inclined surface 166a makes contact with the remaining yarn F1 from the inner side in the radial direction of the liner L. As a result, the remaining yarn F1 after being cut in the axial direction by the second cutting unit <NUM> is lifted up toward the outer side of the outer peripheral portion <NUM> in the radial direction, as shown in <FIG>.

As described above, the movable range (distance A shown in <FIG>) of the second peel-off portion <NUM> in the axial direction of the liner L is shorter than the movable range (distance B shown in <FIG>) of the first peel-off portion <NUM> in the axial direction. On this account, when the first peel-off portion <NUM> is further moved toward the leading end side in the axial direction (i.e., moved from the standby position to the contact position), the first regulating surface 166d makes contact with the second peel-off portion <NUM> during the movement of the first peel-off portion <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The second peel-off portion <NUM> is therefore pressed by the first regulating surface 166d (see <FIG>) and moved toward the leading end side in the axial direction together with the first peel-off portion <NUM> (see arrows <NUM> and <NUM> in <FIG>). As such, the second peel-off portion <NUM> is moved from the retracted position to a pushing position. As a result, the remaining yarn F1 entwined around the pins <NUM> of the reel member <NUM> is pushed toward the leading end side in the axial direction by the second peel-off portion <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The remaining yarn F1 having been pushed toward the leading end side in the axial direction is received by, for example, the pressing member <NUM> of the first arm unit <NUM> (see <FIG>). It is therefore possible to prevent the remaining yarn F1 from hitting the helical winding unit <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>).

Subsequently, the controller <NUM> controls the first arm telescopic movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to move the arm member <NUM> outward in the radial direction and toward the base end side in the axial direction (see an arrow <NUM> in <FIG>). Similarly, the controller <NUM> controls the first arm telescopic movement motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to move the arm member <NUM> outward in the radial direction and toward the base end side in the axial direction. As a result, the remaining yarn F1 is hooked by the claw portion 122b of the pressing member <NUM> and the claw portion 132b of the pressing member <NUM>, and the remaining yarn F1 is further peeled by the claw portions 122b and 132b.

In this way, the remaining yarn F1 is easily removable from the outer peripheral portion <NUM> of the reel member <NUM>. Thereafter, as the controller <NUM>, for example, rotates the reel member <NUM> about the axis of the liner L, the remaining yarn F1 drops onto the second arm units <NUM> and <NUM> by its own weight, with the result that the remaining yarn F1 is removed from the reel member <NUM>. Then all components of the remaining yarn remover <NUM> are returned to the initial positions. When the first peel-off portion <NUM> is returned from the contact position to the standby position, the second peel-off portion <NUM> is moved by the second regulating surface 167a toward the base end side in the axial direction back to the retracted position.

As described above, the second cutting unit <NUM> is able to cut the remaining yarn F1 in the axial direction. This makes it easy to remove the remaining yarn F1 from the outer peripheral portion <NUM>. The time and labor required for removing the remaining yarn F1 are therefore reduced.

In addition to the above, the pressing members <NUM> and <NUM> make it possible to suppress the remaining yarn F1 from slipping in the axial direction and being deviated, when the second cutting unit <NUM> cuts the remaining yarn F1. Smooth cutting of the remaining yarn F1 is therefore facilitated.

In addition to the above, because the pressing member <NUM> of the first arm unit <NUM> and the pressing member <NUM> of the first arm unit <NUM> sandwich the second cutting unit <NUM>, the movement of the remaining yarn F1 in the axial direction is restricted from the both sides. It is therefore possible to further ensure the suppression of the deviation of the remaining yarn F1 in the axial direction.

In addition to the above, the remaining yarn F1 having been cut by the second cutting unit <NUM> is lifted up from the outer peripheral portion <NUM> by the first peel-off portion <NUM>. It becomes further easy to remove the remaining yarn F1.

In addition to the above, only by moving the first peel-off portions <NUM> in the axial direction, the inclined surface 166a causes the remaining yarn F1 to be lifted outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral portion <NUM>. As such, the remaining yarn F1 can be lifted up from the outer peripheral portion <NUM> by a simple arrangement.

In addition to the above, as the second peel-off portion <NUM> is moved from the retracted position to the pushing position, the remaining yarn F1 entwined around the pins <NUM> is pushed out by the second peel-off portion <NUM>. It is therefore possible to effectively remove the remaining yarn F1 entwined around the pins <NUM>.

In addition to the above, it is possible to start the operation of the second peel-off portion <NUM> after the start of the operation of the first peel-off portion <NUM>. On this account, the operation of the second peel-off portion <NUM> can be started after the remaining yarn F1 is lifted up from the outer peripheral portion <NUM> to some degree by the first peel-off portion <NUM>. This makes it easy to peel off the remaining yarn by the second peel-off portion <NUM>. When the first peel-off portion <NUM> is returned from the contact position to the standby position, the second peel-off portion <NUM> is moved by the second regulating surface 167a toward the base end side in the axial direction.

In addition to the above, the uppermost part of the remaining yarn F1 in the vertical direction is cut by the second cutting unit <NUM>. This makes it easy to cause the remaining yarn F1 having been cut in the axial direction to drop off from the reel member <NUM> by its own weight. It becomes more easy to remove the remaining yarn F1.

Claim 1:
A filament winding device (<NUM>) comprising:
a liner supporter (<NUM>) which supports a liner (L) to be rotatable about an axis of the liner (L); and
a helical winding unit (<NUM>) which includes fiber bundle guides (<NUM>) that are aligned in a circumferential direction of the liner (L) and guide fiber bundles (F) to the liner (L),
the filament winding device (<NUM>) helical-winding the fiber bundles (F) supplied through the fiber bundle guides (<NUM>) onto the rotating liner (L) by moving the liner supporter (<NUM>) and the helical winding unit (<NUM>) relative to each other in an axial direction of the liner (L),
the filament winding device (<NUM>) further comprising a fiber bundle retainer (<NUM>) which is configured to temporarily retain the fiber bundles (F) at least when the liner (L) is replaced, and
the fiber bundle retainer (<NUM>) including:
a reel member (<NUM>) which includes an outer peripheral portion (<NUM>) having pins (<NUM>) that are movable in the axial direction relative to the fiber bundles (F) supplied through the fiber bundle guides (<NUM>) and are rotatable about the axis of the liner (L), the reel member (<NUM>) being capable of winding the fiber bundles (F) onto the outer peripheral portion (<NUM>);
a first cutting unit (<NUM>) which is configured to cut a part of each of the fiber bundles (F) in the circumferential direction, the part being between a part of the fiber bundle (F) wound on the outer peripheral portion (<NUM>) and a part of the fiber bundle(F) wound on the liner (L); and
a second cutting unit (<NUM>) which is different from the first cutting unit (<NUM>) and is configured to cut a part of each of the fiber bundles (F) in the axial direction, the part being wound on the outer peripheral portion (<NUM>).