Patent Description:
As a conventional technique for a fiber bundle condensing device of a spinning machine, for example, a fiber bundle condensing device of a spinning machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication <CIT> (which is a family member of <CIT>) has been known. The fiber bundle condensing device of the spinning machine disclosed in the Publication includes a suction pipe disposed downstream of a draft device, and an air-permeable apron wound on the suction pipe, and condenses fiber bundles stretched by the draft device. This fiber bundle condensing device of the spinning machine includes a guide member to be mounted on the suction pipe at a position where the air-permeable apron is wound on the suction pipe. The guide member has a guide surface guiding movement of the air-permeable apron and a suction slit formed in the guide surface. The guide member is mounted on the suction pipe with the suction slit aligned with a suction hole formed in a first outer surface of the suction pipe. Since the suction slit is disposed so as to be aligned with the suction hole, it is said that the suction hole of the suction pipe preferably has the same shape and dimension as those of the suction slit of the guide member.

However, in the fiber bundle condensing device of the spinning machine of the Publication, when the suction hole of the suction pipe and the suction slit of the guide member have the same shape and the same dimension, a hole wall surface of the suction hole is flush with a slit wall surface of the suction slit. As a result, a gap formed between the suction pipe and the guide member by mounting the guide member on the suction pipe is positioned near the hole wall surface of the suction hole. If a fiber due to fluff and a fallen fiber is attached to the hole wall surface by any reason, such a fiber enters the gap and gets caught on the suction slit. When any fiber is caught on the suction slit, fibers may be accumulated on the fiber caught on the suction slit, and cause the clogging of the suction slit. As a result, the quality of yarn may be degraded.

<CIT> discloses a densifying device for densifying a fiber. This densifying device comprises a suction slit. Upon the outer side of the densifying device a metal foil is laid as a guide member. The metal foil has an opening corresponding to the suction slit of the densifying device. The width of the opening of the metal foil with its edges is smaller than the width of the suction slit of the densifying device.

<CIT> discloses a sliver condenser at a drawing unit, to bundle fibers for spinning machines and especially ring spinners. This sliver condenser has a suction channel which extends over a number of spinning stations. The suction openings are covered by a reinforcement for protection against wear. The reinforcement has the structure of a C-shaped clip, and the clip leg with the sliding surface for the fibers, and a suction slit opening, has a groove around the side edges. The clip slides into place over the channel, in a sliding drawer movement, with the base of the groove forming a counter surface against the edges of the suction opening into the channel. The reinforcement is of plastics, in one piece, formed by injection molding.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem of <CIT>, and is directed to providing a fiber bundle condensing device for a spinning machine that prevents a fiber from being caught on a suction slit as much as possible.

The above object is solved by a fiber bundle condensing device having the features of claim <NUM>. Further developments are stated in the dependent claims.

Other aspects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the disclosure.

The disclosure, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:.

The following will describe a fiber bundle condensing device of a spinning machine (hereinafter, simply referred to as a fiber bundle condensing device) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is an example of a fiber bundle condensing device of a spinning flame.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> is disposed downstream of a draft device <NUM>. The draft device <NUM> includes a delivery roller pair <NUM>. The delivery roller pair <NUM> includes a front bottom roller <NUM> and a front top roller <NUM>. The front top roller <NUM> is supported by a support member <NUM>.

The fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> includes a delivery portion <NUM>, a suction pipe <NUM>, an air-permeable apron <NUM>, and an apron guide portion <NUM>. The delivery portion <NUM> includes a bottom nip roller <NUM> and a top nip roller <NUM>. The bottom nip roller <NUM> corresponds to a nip roller configured to rotate integrally with a rotary shaft <NUM> disposed in parallel with the front bottom roller <NUM> of the delivery roller pair <NUM>. A gear (not illustrated) is attached to the rotary shaft <NUM>, and an intermediate gear <NUM> engages with the gear. The intermediate gear <NUM> engages with a gear (not illustrated) integrally rotatable with the front bottom roller <NUM>. This allows a rotating force of the front bottom roller <NUM> to be transmitted to the bottom nip roller <NUM> through the intermediate gear <NUM>.

As is the case of the front top roller <NUM> of the draft device <NUM>, the top nip roller <NUM> is supported by a weighting arm (not illustrated) via the support member <NUM> at every two spindles stations. The top nip roller <NUM> is pressed against the bottom nip roller <NUM> via the air-permeable apron <NUM>. This pressing mechanism configures a nip portion <NUM> of the delivery portion <NUM>. The support member <NUM> is formed integrally with a support member of the front top roller <NUM>. A fiber bundle F together with the air-permeable apron <NUM> is placed on the nip portion <NUM> of the delivery portion <NUM>.

The suction pipe <NUM> is disposed downstream of the delivery roller pair <NUM> of the draft device <NUM> and upstream of the nip portion <NUM> of the delivery portion <NUM> in a moving direction X in which the fiber bundle F is moved. The suction pipe <NUM> is connected to a suction source (not illustrated) via a connection pipe <NUM>.

The air-permeable apron <NUM> is an endless belt having no end. For example, the air-permeable apron <NUM> is formed of a mesh woven fabric having an appropriate air permeability. The air-permeable apron <NUM> is wound on the suction pipe <NUM>, the apron guide portion <NUM>, and the bottom nip roller <NUM> so that the air-permeable apron <NUM> passes through the nip portion <NUM> of the delivery portion <NUM>. The air-permeable apron <NUM> transfers the fiber bundle F in the moving direction X while moving along with the rotation of the bottom nip roller <NUM>. A suction nozzle <NUM> is disposed below the apron guide portion <NUM>. The suction nozzle <NUM> is provided for suction of the fiber bundle F discharged from the draft device <NUM> when fiber breakage occurs, and the fiber bundle F is sucked from a tip end of the suction nozzle <NUM>. A base end (not illustrated) of the suction nozzle <NUM> is connected to a pneumatic duct (not illustrated) commonly provided for all spindle stations.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the suction pipe <NUM> is an elongated member having a hollow shape. The suction pipe <NUM> is disposed extending perpendicularly to the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F, i.e., in a direction in parallel with an axis of the rotary shaft <NUM>. For example, the suction pipe <NUM> is formed by injection molding of aluminum. The suction pipe <NUM> has a first wall portion <NUM>, a second wall portion <NUM>, and a third wall portion <NUM>. The first wall portion <NUM>, the second wall portion <NUM>, and the third wall portion <NUM> form an outer surface of the suction pipe <NUM>.

The first wall portion <NUM> is curved so as to protrude outwardly along a moving path of the fiber bundle F. The second wall portion <NUM> is formed continuously with the first wall portion <NUM>, extends from a downstream side of the first wall portion <NUM> in the moving path of the fiber bundle F, and is curved so as to depress inwardly. The third wall portion <NUM> is formed continuously with the first wall portion <NUM>, extends from an upstream side of the first wall portion <NUM> in the moving path of the fiber bundle F, and is curved so as to depress inwardly. The second wall portion <NUM> and the third wall portion <NUM> are connected to each other.

The first wall portion <NUM> has a plurality of suction holes <NUM>, and a plurality of suction holes <NUM>. The suction holes <NUM>, <NUM> are through holes each having a slit shape, and extend in a direction that intersects with a longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM>. That is, the suction holes <NUM>, <NUM> extend from an upstream side to the downstream side of the suction pipe <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. The suction holes <NUM>, <NUM> are disposed so that a plurality of pairs of the suction holes <NUM>, <NUM> is formed. When the first wall portion <NUM> is viewed from the front, the suction holes <NUM>, 31that forms a pair are symmetrical to each other in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM>. The suction holes <NUM>, <NUM> are disposed so that the suction holes <NUM>, <NUM> that forms a pair approach to each other from the upstream side to the downstream side of the moving path of the fiber bundle F on the first wall portion <NUM>. The pairs of suction holes <NUM>, <NUM> are disposed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM> so that each of the pairs of suction holes <NUM>, <NUM> correspond to each of the positions of the spindle stations.

As illustrated in <FIG>, each of the suction holes <NUM> has a hole wall including an upper end wall portion <NUM> that has an arc shape and forms an upstream end of the suction hole <NUM>, a lower end wall portion <NUM> that forms a downstream end of the suction hole <NUM>, and a facing wall portion <NUM> and a condensing guide wall portion <NUM> that extend between the upper end wall portion <NUM> and the lower end wall portion <NUM>. The facing wall portion <NUM> is a part of the hole wall close to the suction hole <NUM>, and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> is a part of the hole wall that faces the facing wall portion <NUM> and is positioned far from the suction hole <NUM> as compared with the facing wall portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a guide member <NUM> is mounted on the suction pipe <NUM>. The guide member <NUM> is made of a metal thin plate. The guide member <NUM> is mounted on the suction pipe <NUM> at a position where the air-permeable apron <NUM> is wound on the suction pipe <NUM>. The fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> includes a plurality of the guide members <NUM> disposed at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM>. It is noted that only two of the guide members <NUM>, i.e., one guide member <NUM> mounted on the suction pipe <NUM>, and one guide member not mounted on the suction pipe <NUM>, are illustrated in <FIG>. For the sake of explanation, only one of the guide members <NUM>, and one of the pairs of the suction holes <NUM>, <NUM> will be described in the following description.

The guide members <NUM> are mounted on the suction pipe <NUM> in such a manner that each of the guide members <NUM> corresponds to each of the pairs of the suction holes <NUM>, <NUM>. That is, the guide members <NUM> are mounted on the suction pipe <NUM> correspondingly to a position on which the air-permeable apron <NUM> is wound. The guide members <NUM> each have a guide portion <NUM> for guiding the movement of the air-permeable apron <NUM> on the moving path of the fiber bundle F. The air-permeable apron <NUM> is moved with the rotation of the bottom nip roller <NUM> while being in contact with the guide portions <NUM> of the guide members <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> is curved in such a manner that the guide portion <NUM> protrudes outwardly along the first wall portion <NUM> of the suction pipe <NUM> (see <FIG>).

As illustrated in <FIG>, the guide members <NUM> each have a rectangular shape as viewed from the front. As illustrated in <FIG>, the guide members <NUM> each have a first curved portion <NUM> and a second curved portion <NUM>. The first curved portion <NUM> is formed continuously with the guide portion <NUM> by bending the guide portion <NUM> at a downstream side thereof in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. The first curved portion <NUM> is curved so as to extend along a curved shape of a portion of the suction pipe <NUM> connecting the first wall portion <NUM> and the second wall portion <NUM>. The second curved portion <NUM> is formed continuously with the guide portion <NUM> by bending the guide portion <NUM> at an upstream side thereof in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. The second curved portion <NUM> is curved so as to extend along a curved shape of a portion of the suction pipe <NUM>, the portion connecting the first wall portion <NUM> and the third wall portion <NUM>.

The guide members <NUM> each have suction slits <NUM>, <NUM> formed in the guide portion <NUM>. The guide members <NUM> are mounted on the suction pipe <NUM> in a state where the suction slits <NUM>, <NUM> are aligned with the suction holes <NUM>, <NUM> formed in the first wall portion <NUM> of the suction pipe <NUM>. The suction slit <NUM> is formed so as to correspond to the suction hole <NUM>, and the suction slit <NUM> is formed so as to correspond to the suction hole <NUM>. Thus, the suction slit <NUM> is aligned with the suction hole <NUM>, and the suction slit <NUM> is aligned with the suction hole <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the suction slit <NUM> has a slit wall including an upper end wall portion <NUM>, a lower end wall portion <NUM>, a facing wall portion <NUM>, and a condensing guide wall portion <NUM>. The upper end wall portion <NUM> forms an upstream end of the suction slit <NUM> in an end of the guide portion <NUM> near the second curved portion <NUM>. The lower end wall portion <NUM> forms a downstream end of the suction slit <NUM> in an end of the guide portion <NUM> near the first curved portion <NUM>. The facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> extend between the upper end wall portion <NUM> and the lower end wall portion <NUM>. The facing wall portion <NUM> is a part of the slit wall close to the suction slit <NUM>, and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> is a part of the slit wall that faces the facing wall portion <NUM> and is positioned far from the suction slit <NUM> as compared with the facing wall portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the facing wall portion <NUM> has a first slit wall surface 48A, a second slit wall surface 48B, and a third slit wall surface 48C. As illustrated in <FIG>, the first slit wall surface 48A is formed so that a step S1 is formed between the upstream side of the suction slit <NUM> and the upstream side of the suction hole <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM>. The first slit wall surface 48A extends to the downstream side from the upper end wall portion <NUM> so as to form a predominant part of the facing wall portion <NUM> in the guide member <NUM> beyond half the length of the guide member <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. By providing the step S1, a small gap G1 between the suction pipe <NUM> and the guide member <NUM> is positioned away from the facing wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second slit wall surface 48B is formed so that the step S1 is not formed between the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM> on the downstream side of the guide member <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. The third slit wall surface 48C is formed between the first slit wall surface 48A and the second slit wall surface 48B. The first slit wall surface 48A and the second slit wall surface 48B are disposed in parallel, or substantially in parallel, with each other, and the third slit wall surface 48C is not disposed in parallel, or substantially in parallel, with the first slit wall surface 48A and the second slit wall surface 48B.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> has a first slit wall surface 49A, a second slit wall surface 49B, and a third slit wall surface 49C. As illustrated in <FIG>, the first slit wall surface 49A is formed so that the step S1 is formed between the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM>. The first slit wall surface 49A extends from the upper end wall portion <NUM> to the downstream side so as to form a predominant part of the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> in the guide portion <NUM> from an end of the guide portion <NUM> close to the second curved portion <NUM> beyond the center of the guide portion <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. By providing the step S1, the gap G1 between the suction pipe <NUM> and the guide member <NUM> is positioned away from the facing wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM>. According to the present embodiment, it can be said that the widths of the suction hole <NUM> and the suction slit <NUM> are different at least on the upstream sides of the suction hole <NUM> and the suction slit <NUM>.

The second slit wall surface 49B is formed so that the step S1 is not formed between the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM> on the downstream side of the guide member <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. The third slit wall surface 49C is formed between the first slit wall surface 49A and the second slit wall surface 49B. The first slit wall surface 49A and the second slit wall surface 49B are disposed in parallel, or substantially in parallel, with each other, and the third slit wall surface 49C is not disposed in parallel, or substantially in parallel, with the first slit wall surface 49A and the second slit wall surface 49B.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first slit wall surfaces 48A, 49A are disposed in parallel, or substantially in parallel, with each other, and the width of the suction slit <NUM> (the dimension of the suction slit <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the suction slit <NUM>) is greater than the width of the suction hole <NUM>. In a state where the guide member <NUM> is mounted on the suction pipe <NUM>, a part of the first wall portion <NUM> of the suction pipe <NUM> as well as the suction hole <NUM> is exposed from the suction slit <NUM>. Although the first slit wall surfaces 48A, 49A extend beyond the center of the guide portion <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F from the upper end wall portion <NUM> so that the first slit wall surfaces 48A, 49A form the predominant parts of the facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM>, respectively, in the guide portion <NUM> in the present embodiment, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the first slit wall surfaces 48A, 49A need not necessarily extend beyond the center of the guide portion <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F from the upper end wall portion <NUM>.

The second slit wall surfaces 48B, 49B of the suction slit <NUM> extend substantially in parallel with each other, and the width of the suction slit <NUM> (the dimension of the suction slit <NUM> in the direction perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the suction slit <NUM>) is the same as the width of the suction hole <NUM>. That is, the step S1 does not exist between the downstream side of the suction slit <NUM> and the downstream side of the suction hole <NUM>. Since it is known that changing a condition of the downstream side of the suction slit <NUM> tends to affect the quality of yarn, the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM> are provided so as not to form the step S1 therebetween to maintain the quality of yarn. The third slit wall surfaces 48C, 49C do not extend in parallel, or substantially in parallel, with each other, which decreases the width of the suction slit <NUM> from the first slit wall surfaces 48A, 49A towards the second slit wall surfaces 48B, 49B.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM> is set as the right-left direction, the suction slit <NUM> and the suction slit <NUM> are symmetric in the right and left. Similarly to the suction slit <NUM>, the slit wall of the suction slit <NUM> has an upper end wall portion <NUM>, a lower end wall portion <NUM>, a facing wall portion <NUM>, and a condensing guide wall portion <NUM>. The upper end wall portion <NUM> has an arc shape and forms an upstream end of the suction slit <NUM> in an end of the guide portion <NUM> near the second curved portion <NUM>. The lower end wall portion <NUM> forms a downstream end of the suction slit <NUM> in an end of the guide portion <NUM> near the first curved portion <NUM>. The facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> extend between the upper end wall portion <NUM> and the lower end wall portion <NUM>. The facing wall portion <NUM> is a part of the slit wall close to the suction slit <NUM>, and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> is a part of the slit wall that faces the facing wall portion <NUM> and is positioned far from the suction slit <NUM> as compared with the facing wall portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the facing wall portion <NUM> has a first slit wall surface 58A, a second slit wall surface 58B, and a third slit wall surface 58C. The first slit wall surface 58A is the same as the first slit wall surface 48A of the suction slit <NUM>, and the second slit wall surface 48B is the same as the second slit wall surface 48B of the suction slit <NUM>. The third slit wall surface 58C is the same as the third slit wall surface 48C of the suction slit <NUM>.

The condensing guide wall portion <NUM> has a first slit wall surface 59A, a second slit wall surface 59B, and a third slit wall surface 59C. The first slit wall surface 59A is the same as the first slit wall surface 49A of the suction slit <NUM>, and the second slit wall surface 59B is the same as the second slit wall surface 49B of the suction slit <NUM>. The third slit wall surface 59C is the same as the third slit wall surface 49C of the suction slit <NUM>. Thus, the step S1 is formed between the upstream side of the suction slit <NUM> and the upstream side of the suction hole <NUM>. Therefore, it can be said that at least, the width of the suction hole <NUM> and the width of the suction slit <NUM> are not the same on the upstream sides of the suction hole <NUM> and the suction slit <NUM>.

The second slit wall surface 59B is formed so that the step S1 is not formed between the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM> on the downstream side of the guide member <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. That is, the width of the suction slit <NUM> on the downstream side of the guide member <NUM> and the width of the suction hole <NUM> are the same, and the step S1 does not exist between the downstream side of the suction slit <NUM> and the downstream side of the suction hole <NUM>. The width of the suction slit <NUM> (the dimension of the suction slit <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the suction slit <NUM>) is made greater than the width of the suction hole <NUM> by the first slit wall surfaces 58A, 59A. In a state where the guide member <NUM> is mounted on the suction pipe <NUM>, a part of the first wall portion <NUM> of the suction pipe <NUM>, as well as the suction hole <NUM>, is exposed from the suction slit <NUM>.

The following will describe an operation of the fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> of the present embodiment. When the spinning flame is operated, the fiber bundle F is stretched by the draft device <NUM> and is then guided to the fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> from the delivery roller pair <NUM>. The bottom nip roller <NUM> and the top nip roller <NUM> are rotated at a surface velocity substantially the same as that of the delivery roller pair <NUM>. Thus, the fiber bundle F drafted by the draft device <NUM> passes the nip portion <NUM> of the bottom nip roller <NUM> and the top nip roller <NUM> while maintaining a suitable tension, then, changes its direction, and moves downward while being twisted. In addition, the fiber bundle F moves while being traversed by an operation of a traverse device (not illustrated). The speed of traversing operation is set sufficiently low relative to a moving speed of the fiber bundle F.

Additionally, suction of a duct (not illustrated) reaches the suction pipe <NUM> through the connection pipe <NUM> and suction of the suction slits <NUM>, <NUM> formed in the guide portion <NUM> of the guide member <NUM> reaches the fiber bundle F through the air-permeable apron <NUM>. The fiber bundle F moves to a position corresponding to the suction slits <NUM>, <NUM> while being sucked and condensed. Thus, since fluff and a fallen fiber are suppressed, the quality of yarn is improved as compared with a case of the spinning machine not provided with the fiber bundle condensing device <NUM>.

The fiber bundle F discharged from the delivery roller pair <NUM> receives a force, by traversing, in a direction perpendicular to a transferring direction of the air-permeable apron <NUM> (the width direction of the suction slits <NUM>, <NUM>). The fiber bundle F is pressed against a surface of the air-permeable apron <NUM> at the position corresponding to the suction slits <NUM>, <NUM> by the suction of the suction slits <NUM>, <NUM>, which makes it difficult for the fiber bundle F to move in the width direction of the suction slits <NUM>, <NUM>.

According to the present embodiment, the step S1 is formed between the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM> except for a part thereof on the downstream side in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. Thus, even if a fiber, which falls from the fiber bundle F while passing the suction slit <NUM>, is attached to the facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM>, the fiber hardly enters the gap G1 and is easily separated from the facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM>. Thus, clogging of the suction slit <NUM> with fibers hardly occurs. In addition, since the step S1 is not formed on the downstream side of the suction slit <NUM>, the quality of yarn may be stably maintained even after the fiber bundle F passes through the suction slit <NUM>. The suction slit <NUM> operates in the same manner as the suction slit <NUM>.

The fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> offers the following effects.

The following will describe a fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> according to a second embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a shape of a suction slit in a guide member is changed. For parts and configuration the same as those of the first embodiment, the descriptions thereof are not repeated, and the same reference characters and numerals will be used.

As illustrated in <FIG>, suction slits <NUM>, <NUM> are formed in a guide portion <NUM> of a guide member <NUM>. The guide member <NUM> is mounted on the suction pipe <NUM> in a state where the suction slits <NUM>, <NUM> are aligned with the suction holes <NUM>, <NUM> formed in the first wall portion <NUM> of the suction pipe <NUM>. The suction slit <NUM> and the suction slit <NUM> are formed in the guide portion <NUM> so as to align with the suction hole <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM>, respectively.

The suction slit <NUM> has a slit wall including an upper end wall portion <NUM>, a lower end wall portion <NUM>, a facing wall portion <NUM>, and a condensing guide wall portion <NUM>. The upper end wall portion <NUM> has an arc shape and forms an upstream end of the suction slit <NUM>. The lower end wall portion <NUM> forms a downstream end of the suction slit <NUM>. The facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> extend between the upper end wall portion <NUM> and the lower end wall portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the facing wall portion <NUM> has a first slit wall surface 68A, a second slit wall surface 68B, and a third slit wall surface 68C. As illustrated in <FIG>, the first slit wall surface 68A is formed so that a step S2 is formed between the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM>. The step S2 is formed on the inner surface side of the guide portion <NUM>. The first slit wall surface 68A extends from the upper end wall portion <NUM> to the downstream side so that the first slit wall surface 68A forms a predominant part of the facing wall portion <NUM>. By providing the step S2, a gap G2 formed between the suction pipe <NUM> and the guide member <NUM> is positioned away from the first slit wall surface 68A.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> has a first slit wall surface 69A, a second slit wall surface 69B, and a third slit wall surface 69C. As illustrated in <FIG>, the first slit wall surface 69A is formed so that the step S2 is formed between the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM>. The step S2 is formed on the inner surface side of the guide portion <NUM>. The first slit wall surface 69A extends from the upper end wall portion <NUM> to the downstream side so that the first slit wall surface 69A forms a predominant part of the condensing guide wall portion <NUM>. By providing the step S2, the gap G2 between the suction pipe <NUM> and the guide member <NUM> is positioned away from the first slit wall surface 69A.

The second slit wall surface 69B is formed so that the step S2 is not formed on the downstream side of the guide member <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. That is, the step S2 does not exist between the downstream side of the suction slit <NUM> and the downstream side of the suction hole <NUM>. The third slit wall surface 69C is formed between the first slit wall surface 69A and the second slit wall surface 69B.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first slit wall surfaces 68A, 69A are disposed in parallel, or substantially in parallel, with each other, and the width of the suction slit <NUM> (the dimension of the suction slit <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the suction slit <NUM>) is smaller than the width of the suction hole <NUM>. The width of the suction hole <NUM> and the width of the suction slit <NUM> are different on the upstream side of the suction hole <NUM> and the suction slit <NUM>. It is noted that the widths of the suction hole and the suction slit being different does not include a case where there is a slight difference in width due to errors in manufacturing and assembling. In a state where the guide member <NUM> is mounted on the suction pipe <NUM>, the first wall portion <NUM> of the suction pipe <NUM> cannot be seen when it is viewed from the suction slit <NUM> side. Although the first slit wall surfaces 68A, 69A extend beyond the center of the guide portion <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F from the upper end wall portion <NUM> so that the first slit wall surfaces 68A, 69A form the predominant parts of the facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM>, respectively, in the present embodiment, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the first slit wall surfaces 68A, 69A need not necessarily extend beyond the center of the guide portion <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F from the upper end wall portion <NUM>.

The second slit wall surfaces 68B, 69B of the suction slit <NUM> extend substantially in parallel with each other, and the width of the suction slit <NUM> (the dimension of the suction slit <NUM> extending in the direction perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the suction slit <NUM>) is the same as the width of the suction hole <NUM>. It is noted that the widths of the suction slit and the suction hole being the same includes a case where there is a small difference in width due to errors in manufacturing and assembling. The third slit wall surfaces 68C, 69C do not extend in parallel, or substantially in parallel, with each other, so that the width of the suction slit <NUM> is decreased from the first slit wall surfaces 68A, 69A towards the second slit wall surfaces 68B, 69B.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM> is set as the right-left direction, the suction slit <NUM> and the suction slit <NUM> are symmetric in the right and left. Similarly to the suction slit <NUM>, the slit wall of the suction slit <NUM> has an upper end wall portion <NUM>, a lower end wall portion <NUM>, a facing wall portion <NUM>, and a condensing guide wall portion <NUM>. The upper end wall portion <NUM> has an arc shape and forms an upstream end of the suction slit <NUM>. The lower end wall portion <NUM> forms a downstream end of the suction slit <NUM>. The facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> extend between the upper end wall portion <NUM> and the lower end wall portion <NUM>. The facing wall portion <NUM> is a part of the slit wall close to the suction slit <NUM>, and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> is a part of the slit wall that faces the facing wall portion <NUM> and is positioned far from the suction slit <NUM> as compared with the facing wall portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the facing wall portion <NUM> has a first slit wall surface 78A, a second slit wall surface 78B, and a third slit wall surface 78C. The first slit wall surface 78A is the same as the first slit wall surface 68A of the suction slit <NUM>, and the second slit wall surface 78B is the same as the second slit wall surface 68B of the suction slit <NUM>. The third slit wall surface 78C is the same as the third slit wall surface 68C of the suction slit <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the step S2 is formed on the inner surface side of the guide portion <NUM>. Thus, the step S2 is formed between the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM> on the upstream side.

The condensing guide wall portion <NUM> has a first slit wall surface 79A, a second slit wall surface 79B, and a third slit wall surface 79C. The first slit wall surface 79A is the same as the first slit wall surface 69A of the suction slit <NUM>, and the second slit wall surface 79B is the same as the second slit wall surface 69B of the suction slit <NUM>. The third slit wall surface 79C is the same as the third slit wall surface 69C of the suction slit <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second slit wall surface 79B is formed so that the step S2 is not formed between the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM> on the downstream side of the guide member <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. Therefore, the width of the suction slit <NUM> on the downstream side and the width of the suction hole <NUM> are the same, and the step S2 does not exist between the downstream side of the suction slit <NUM> and the downstream side of the suction hole <NUM>. The width of the suction slit <NUM> (the dimension of the suction slit <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the suction slit <NUM>) is made smaller than the width of the suction hole <NUM> by the first slit wall surfaces 78A, 79A. In a state where the guide member <NUM> is mounted on the suction pipe <NUM>, the first wall portion <NUM> of the suction pipe <NUM> cannot be seen when it is viewed from the suction slit <NUM> side.

The second embodiment offers effects similar to the above-described effects (<NUM>), (<NUM>) of the first embodiment. The step S2 is formed by making the width of the suction slit <NUM> (the suction slit <NUM>) on the upstream side smaller than that of the suction hole <NUM> (the suction hole <NUM>). Thus, the width of the suction slit <NUM> (the suction slit <NUM>) and the width of the suction hole <NUM> (the suction hole <NUM>) are different, and the step S2 is formed inner surface side of the guide member <NUM>. Since the gap G2 is positioned away from the facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> of the suction slit <NUM> (the facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> of the suction slit <NUM>), the facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM> (the facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM>) blocks fibers, so that accumulation of fibers is unlikely to occur even if fibers enter the gap G2. Accordingly, the configuration of the present embodiment prevents a fiber from getting caught on the suction slit <NUM> (the suction slit <NUM>) as much as possible. Further, as compared with a case where the step S2 is formed on the outer surface of the suction pipe <NUM>, a fiber on the guide member <NUM> is less likely to enter the gap G2, in addition to that fibers are more likely to be blocked by the facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM> (the facing wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM>).

The following will describe a fiber bundle condensing device according to a third embodiment. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that only one suction slit is formed in a guide member. For parts and configuration the same as those of the first embodiment, the descriptions thereof are not repeated, and the same reference characters and numerals will be used.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a suction hole <NUM> is formed in a first wall portion <NUM> of a suction pipe <NUM>. The suction hole <NUM> is a through holes having a slit shape, and extend in a direction that intersects with a longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM> so as to be inclined relative to the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. That is, the suction hole <NUM> extends from an upstream side to the downstream side of the suction pipe <NUM> in the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F. As illustrated in <FIG>, the suction hole <NUM> has a hole wall including an upper end wall portion <NUM> that forms the upstream end of the suction hole <NUM>, a lower end wall portion <NUM> that forms the downstream end of the suction hole <NUM>, and a condensing guide wall portion <NUM> and a facing wall portion <NUM> that extend between the upper end wall portion <NUM> and the lower end wall portion <NUM>.

The upper end wall portion <NUM> and the lower end wall portion <NUM> each have a hole wall surface extending in parallel, or substantially in parallel to a longitudinal direction of the suction pipe <NUM>. The condensing guide wall portion <NUM> has a hole wall surface extending from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first wall portion <NUM>, and a hole wall surface protruding towards the facing wall portion <NUM> that faces the condensing guide wall portion <NUM>. The inclination of the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> relative to the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F on the upstream side is greater than the inclination of the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> relative to the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F on the downstream side. The facing wall portion <NUM> has a hole wall surface extending from the upstream side to the downstream side of the first wall portion <NUM>, a hole wall surface extending in parallel with the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> that faces the facing wall portion <NUM>, and a hole wall surface extending along the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F.

A suction slit <NUM> is formed in a guide portion <NUM> of a guide member <NUM> to be mounted on the suction pipe <NUM>. The guide member <NUM> is mounted on the suction pipe <NUM> in a state where the suction slit <NUM> is aligned with the suction hole <NUM> formed in the first wall portion <NUM> of the suction pipe <NUM>. Thus, the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM> are aligned.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the suction slit <NUM> has a slit wall including an upper end wall portion <NUM>, a lower end wall portion <NUM>, a condensing guide wall portion <NUM>, and a facing wall portion <NUM>. The upper end wall portion <NUM> forms an upstream end of the suction slit <NUM>, and is disposed flush with, or substantially flush with, the upper end wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM>. The lower end wall portion <NUM> forms a downstream end of the suction slit <NUM>. The condensing guide wall portion <NUM> is flush with, or substantially flush with, the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM>. That is, no step is formed between the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM>.

The condensing guide wall portion <NUM> is for condensing the fiber bundle F. The condensing guide wall portion <NUM> has a first slit wall surface 91A, and a second slit wall surface 91B. The first slit wall surface 91A is formed protruding in a shape of an arc on the upstream side, and the second slit wall surface 91B extends straight on the downstream side of the first slit wall surface 91A. The inclination of the first slit wall surface 91A relative to the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F is greater than the inclination of the second slit wall surface 91B relative to the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F on the downstream side.

The facing wall portion <NUM> faces the condensing guide wall portion <NUM>. The facing wall portion <NUM> has a first slit wall surface 92A, a second slit wall surface 92B, a third slit wall surface 92C, a fourth slit wall surface 92D, and a fifth slit wall surface 92E. The first slit wall surface 92A extends along the moving direction X of the fiber bundle F on the upstream side of the facing wall portion <NUM>. The second slit wall surface 92B faces the first slit wall surface 91A, and is recessed in an arc shape. The third slit wall surface 92C extends straight and faces the second slit wall surface 91B. The first slit wall surface 92A, the second slit wall surface 92B, and the third slit wall surface 92C are not flush with the facing wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM>, thereby forming a step S3 between the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM>. That is, the step S3 is formed between the upstream side of the suction slit <NUM> and the upstream side of the suction hole <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the step S3 on the third slit wall surface 92C. The width of the suction slit <NUM> on the upstream side is greater than that of the suction hole <NUM>. Therefore, it can be said that the width of the suction hole <NUM> and the width of the suction slit <NUM> are different. It is noted that the widths of the suction hole and the suction slit being different does not include a case where there is a slight difference in width due to errors in manufacturing and assembling.

The fourth slit wall surface 92D is flush with the facing wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM> on the downstream side of the facing wall portion <NUM>. Thus, the width of the suction slit <NUM> on the downstream side and the width of the suction hole <NUM> are the same. That is, the step S3 does not exist between the downstream side of the suction slit <NUM> and the downstream side of the suction hole <NUM>. The widths of the suction slit and the suction hole being the same includes a case where there is a slight difference in width due to errors in manufacturing and assembling. As illustrated in <FIG>, the fourth slit wall surface 92D is an only part of the facing wall portion <NUM> flush with the facing wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM>. The fifth slit wall surface 92E is a slit wall surface formed between the third slit wall surface 92C and the fourth slit wall surface 92D. Since the step S3 is formed between the suction slit <NUM> and the suction hole <NUM>, the first slit wall surface 92A, the second slit wall surface 92B, and the third slit wall surface 92C of the facing wall portion <NUM> is positioned away from a gap G3 between the suction pipe <NUM> and the guide member <NUM>.

According to the third embodiment, even the guide member <NUM> having the suction slit <NUM> corresponding to one suction hole <NUM> prevents a fiber from getting caught on the suction slit <NUM> as much as possible, similarly to the first embodiment. As compared with a case where the suction hole and the suction slit have the same shape, positioning of the guide member <NUM> relative to the suction hole <NUM> may become easier. Additionally, requirements for precision in processing the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> and the facing wall portion <NUM> of the suction slit <NUM> may be less strict, as compared with a case where the suction hole and the suction slit have an identical shape.

The step S3 is not formed between the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> of the suction slit <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM>. This allows the fiber bundle F to be guided smoothly along the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> of the suction slit <NUM> and the condensing guide wall portion <NUM> of the suction hole <NUM>.

It is noted that the above described embodiments are examples, and the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be modified in various manners within the technical scope of the claims, as exemplified below.

In the above-described embodiments, the step is formed only one of the outer surface of the suction pipe and the inner surface of the guide member, but is not limited thereto. The fiber bundle condensing device may have a step on the outer surface of the suction surface on one side of the suction slit and a step formed on the inner surface of the guide member on the other side of the suction slit.

In the third embodiment, the step between the suction hole and the suction slit is formed on the outer surface of the suction pipe, but is not limited thereto. For example, the step between the suction hole and the suction slit may be formed, for example, on the inner surface of the guide member, similarly to the second embodiment.

Claim 1:
A fiber bundle condensing device (<NUM>) for a spinning machine, the fiber bundle condensing device (<NUM>) comprising:
a suction pipe (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to be disposed on a downstream side of a draft device (<NUM>) of the spinning machine; and
a guide member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) mounted on the suction pipe (<NUM>, <NUM>) at a position where an air-permeable apron (<NUM>) is wound on the suction pipe (<NUM>, <NUM>), and having a guide portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to guide movement of the air-permeable apron (<NUM>),
wherein the fiber bundle condensing device (<NUM>) is configured to condense a fiber bundle (F) drafted by the draft device (<NUM>),
the suction pipe (<NUM>, <NUM>) has a suction hole (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extending from an upstream side to a downstream side in a moving direction of the fiber bundle (F),
the guide member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) has a suction slit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that is formed in the guide portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and aligned with the suction hole (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and
a width of the suction hole (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a width of the suction slit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) are different at least on the upstream sides of the suction hole (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the suction slit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), characterized in that
the width of the suction slit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) on the downstream side of the suction slit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is the same as the width of the suction hole (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).