Patent Description:
As a known loom, there is a loom to which a creel device where the same number of yarn supply packages as the number of warp yarns used for weaving is mounted is attached and in which weaving is performed using yarns pulled out from the respective yarn supply packages on the creel device as warp yarns. In addition, there is a loom configured such that weaving is performed using tape-shaped flat yarns as warp yarns.

Note that there is a flat yarn that is degraded in quality due to twisting (bending) or the like when it is wound around a winding core to form a yarn supply package and wound while being traversed like a general yarn. Therefore, in the case of preparing such a flat yarn in the form of a yarn supply package, in order to prevent deterioration in quality, it has been practiced in the related art that a reel composed of a winding shaft and a pair of flanges is used as a take-up body (winding frame) for taking up a yarn and a yarn supply package is formed by taking up a flat yarn in line (without traversing) on the reel. Patent Literature <NUM> discloses an example of a warp supply device in which the reel on which such a flat yarn is wound is used as a yarn supply package.

The warp supply device of Patent Literature <NUM> is a device in which a strip-shaped carbon fiber bundle subjected to fiber opening is used as a flat yarn to be wound on a reel. More specifically, the warp supply device includes a frame (pedestal), which is a main body of a creel device, and a plurality of shafts for supporting reels are supported with respect to the frame via stays. Note that each shaft is supported to protrude on both sides of the stays, and one reel is supported at each of the portions (protrusions) protruding on both sides of the stays. That is, in the warp supply device, the protrusion of each shaft serves as a support shaft (mandrel) for supporting the reel, and the warp supply device is configured such that one reel (yarn supply package) is supported on each support shaft (the support shaft and the reel are provided in a one-on-one relationship).

In such a warp supply device, as weaving proceeds, the warp wound on the reel decreases, and at the time when an amount of winding becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount, an operation of replacing the reel being used with a reel on which a warp yarn is fully wound is performed. In this case, in the warp supply device described in Patent Literature <NUM>, the replacement operation is accompanied by a problem in that a heavy burden is placed on an operator and it takes a lot of time.

Specifically, in the case of the (reel-type) yarn supply package using a reel as described above, due to a relationship with a diameter of the reel, the amount of winding of the warp yarn at the time of full winding is smaller than that of a usual yarn supply package on which a yarn is wound while being traversed. Therefore, a period until the amount of winding of the yarn supply package becomes an amount of winding that requires replacement along with the progress of weaving is shorter in the reel-type yarn supply package than in the usual yarn supply package when a weaving speed is the same. As a result, a replacement frequency of the warp supply package is higher in the warp supply device using the reel-type yarn supply package than in the warp supply device using the usual yarn supply package.

In addition, as described above, in the warp supply device of Patent Literature <NUM>, one reel is supported with respect to each support shaft of the creel device. For this reason, in the above-described replacement operation, a reel attaching and detaching operation with respect to the creel device should be performed for each of the same number of reels as the number of warp yarns used for weaving. In other words, in the replacement operation, the reel attaching and detaching operation with respect to the creel device should be performed the same number of times as the total number of the reels.

As described above, in the warp supply device using a reel-type yarn supply package, the yarn supply package should be replaced at a high replacement frequency as described above, whereas in the warp supply package of Patent Literature <NUM>, the reel attaching and detaching operation with respect to the creel device should be performed for each reel in one replacement operation, which makes the entire operation very complicated and places a heavy burden on the operator. Further, such a large number of times of the attachment and detachment operation increases the time consumed for the operation.

In view of the above situations, an object of the present invention is to provide a configuration of a warp supply device for a loom having a reel-type yarn supply package mounted to a creel device, which enables a reel replacement operation to be performed in a shorter time and more easily, as compared with devices of the related art.

A preamble of the present invention is a warp supply device for a loom including reels on each of which a tape-shaped flat yarn as a warp yarn is wound in line, and a creel device in which the same number of the reels as the number of the warp yarns to be used for weaving in a loom is mounted.

In addition, in the present invention, the warp supply device for a loom that is the preamble of the present invention includes, a plurality of support mechanisms provided to be attachable and detachable with respect to the creel device, the plurality of support mechanisms each configured to support a predetermined set number of reels, the predetermined set number is two or more, and each of the plurality of support mechanisms includes: a bearing part having a shaft shape and configured to support the set number of reels such that each reel can rotate individually; and a regulating part configured to regulate positions of the reels in an axis line direction of the bearing part. Note that the "reel" referred to here is a take-up body (winding frame) for taking up a warp yarn, which is composed of a winding shaft and a pair of flanges as described above.

In addition, in the warp supply device for a loom according to the present invention as described above, each of the plurality of support mechanisms may include a resistance applying mechanism configured to apply a rotational resistance to each reel, and the resistance applying mechanism may include a press-contact part configured to be in press-contact with each reel and to apply a press-contact force in order to apply the rotational resistance. In addition, the resistance applying mechanism may be configured such that the press-contact part is provided for each reel and an adjusting part configured to adjust the press-contact force is provided for each press-contact part.

The warp supply device for a loom according to the present invention includes the support mechanisms each configured to support the predetermined set number of reels, which is two or more, and the support mechanisms are each configured to be attachable and detachable with respect to the creel device. Therefore, according to the configuration, the set number of reels is supported by the creel device via one support mechanism. Furthermore, the support mechanism includes not only the bearing part configured to support (pivotally support) the reel but also the regulating part configured to regulate positions of the set number of reels pivotally supported by the bearing part in the axis line direction on the bearing part. Thereby, the set number of reels can be pivotally supported by the bearing part of the support mechanism and positioned in the axis line direction by the regulating part, and can be thus put into a unitized state via the support mechanism.

Therefore, in a stage before mounting the reel to the creel device, by preparing the set number of reels in a unitized state as described above, a reel attaching and detaching operation with respect to the creel device can be performed for each unit (in a unit) in a reel replacement operation. Thereby, according to the present invention, in the warp supply device using, as a yarn supply package, a reel whose replacement frequency is high as described above, the attachment and detachment operation for replacing the reel can be performed in a unit unitized by the set number, not for each reel, so that the number of times of attachment and detachment for replacing all the reels that need to be replaced is reduced, as compared with devices of the related art. As a result, the reel replacement operation can be performed in a short time, and the burden on the operator can be further reduced.

In addition, in the warp supply device of the present invention, each support mechanism includes the resistance applying mechanism for applying the rotational resistance to each reel pivotally supported by the bearing part, so that the reel replacement operation can be performed more easily.

More specifically, in the warp supply device in which the yarn supply package is rotatably mounted, the yarn supply package rotates along with pullout of the warp yarn. However, in order to prevent the warp yarn from being unnecessarily unwound due to excessive rotation of the yarn supply package, the warp supply device is provided with the resistance applying mechanism configured to apply resistance against rotation of the yarn supply package.

In addition, in a general warp supply device, the resistance applying mechanism is provided for the creel device. Therefore, after mounting the yarn supply package to the creel device, for example, an operation of engaging the resistance applying mechanism with the yarn supply package should be performed in order to put the resistance applying mechanism on the creel device side into a state of applying resistance to the yarn supply package. In particular, in the warp supply device of the present invention in which the yarn supplying packages (reels) are unitized so as to be individually rotatable as described above, after mounting the unit body in which the set number of reels are unitized to the creel device, an operation of making a state in which the resistance applying mechanism applies resistance to each of the plurality of reels in the unit body should be performed on the creel device.

In contrast, by configuring each support mechanism to have the resistance applying mechanism, in the stage of unitizing the set number of reels as described above before mounting the reel to the creel device, the unit body can be put into a state in which the resistance has been applied to each reel. Therefore, according to such a configuration, in the reel attaching and detaching operation, it is only necessary to attach and detach the unit body (support mechanism) with respect to the creel device, and it is not necessary to perform the operation of making a state in which the resistance applying mechanism applies resistance to each reel on the creel device, so that the reel replacement operation can be performed more easily.

Further, in the case where each support mechanism is configured to have the resistance applying mechanism as described above, the resistance applying mechanism is configured such that the press-contact part configured to be in press-contact with each reel and to apply the press-contact force is provided for each reel and the adjusting part configured to adjust the press-contact force is provided for each press-contact part, thereby making it possible to prevent uneven tension of the warp yarn pulled out from each reel as much as possible.

More specifically, the warp yarns pulled out from the creel device are aligned in a width direction in a process of reaching the loom, and a path length of each warp yarn to reach the loom is different for each warp yarn due to the position of each reel on the creel device. In this case, if the resistance applying mechanism is configured to apply the press-contact force of the same magnitude to each reel, a difference (unevenness) is caused in the tension of the warp yarns due to the difference in the path length. If unevenness is caused in the tension of the warp yarns in this way, the quality of the fabric to be woven may deteriorate in some cases.

In contrast, the resistance applying mechanism has such a configuration that the press-contact part configured to apply the press-contact force to each reel is provided for each reel and the adjusting part configured to adjust the press-contact force is provided for each press-contact part, so that the press-contact force can be adjusted individually for each of the reels in the unit body. Therefore, according to this configuration, the press-contact force applied by the press-contact part is set to a magnitude corresponding to each reel by the adjusting part, so that unevenness in the tension of warp yarns pulled out from the respective reels can be prevented as much as possible.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of a warp supply device for a loom to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> schematically shows a loom (for example, a rapier loom) <NUM> for weaving and a warp supply device <NUM> for a loom attached to the loom <NUM>. The warp supply device <NUM> includes a creel device <NUM> for mounting reels <NUM> on each of which a warp yarn T is wound.

Note that the warp yarn T is, for example, a tape-shaped prepreg tape in which carbon fiber is impregnated with a thermoplastic resin as a matrix resin. The thermoplastic prepreg tape is taken up in line (without traversing) on the reel <NUM>. However, in the present invention, the warp yarn T is not limited to such a thermoplastic prepreg tape, and may be any other flat yarn as long as a quality thereof would degrade as it is wound while being traversed around a winding shaft.

The creel device <NUM> has, as a main body, a frame <NUM> for mounting the reels <NUM> thereto. The frame <NUM> is provided with a plurality of support shafts <NUM> for supporting the reels <NUM>. The plurality of support shafts <NUM> is provided in a shape of forming rows at equal intervals in vertical and lateral directions with respect to the frame <NUM>. In addition, the reels <NUM> are each rotatably supported with respect to each of the support shafts <NUM>. Note that, in <FIG>, the creel device <NUM> is shown in such a form that <NUM> support shafts <NUM> are provided for the frame <NUM>. However, as described below, for the creel device <NUM> of the present embodiment, the support shafts <NUM> are similarly provided even on a surface opposite to the shown surface of the frame <NUM>. Therefore, the creel device <NUM> has the <NUM> support shafts <NUM>.

In addition, the creel device <NUM> has a guide roller <NUM> for guiding the warp yarn T pulled out from each reel <NUM>. The guide rollers <NUM> are provided in the vicinity of each of the support shafts <NUM> and arranged such that the warp yarns T pulled out from the respective reels <NUM> can be guided without overlapping the respective warp yarns T. In addition, each guide roller <NUM> is provided to be rotatable with respect to the frame <NUM> in order to reduce sliding resistance with the warp yarn T. The warp yarn T wound on each reel <NUM> is pulled out from the warp supply device <NUM> via the corresponding guide roller <NUM>.

Further, a pair of guide rollers <NUM> and <NUM> is provided between the warp supply device <NUM> and the loom <NUM>. The warp yarns T pulled out from the warp supply device <NUM> are caused to pass between the pair of guide rollers <NUM> and <NUM> and are thus brought into a state aligned in a lateral row. Further, the warp yarns T are supplied to the loom <NUM> in such an aligned state, and weaving is performed in the loom <NUM>. For reference, in the shown example, a take-up device for taking up the woven fabric W is an off-loom take-up device <NUM> provided independently of the loom <NUM>. After leaving the loom <NUM>, the fabric W woven in the loom <NUM> is taken up by the off-loom take-up device <NUM>.

In the warp supply device <NUM> for a loom configured as described above, in the present invention, the warp feed device <NUM> includes a plurality of support mechanisms for supporting a set number of the reels <NUM>, which is two or more, and each of the support mechanisms is configured to be attachable and detachable with respect to the creel device <NUM>. Each of the support mechanisms is configured to have a bearing part that has a shaft shape and supports the set number of reels <NUM>, and a regulating part that regulates positions, on the bearing part, of the set number of reels <NUM> in an axis line direction of the bearing part.

Further, in the present embodiment, each of the support mechanisms is configured to have a resistance applying mechanism for applying rotational resistance to each reel <NUM> supported by the bearing part. Further, in the present embodiment, the resistance applying mechanism is configured such that a press-contact part that is in press-contact with each reel <NUM> and applies a press-contact force is provided for each reel <NUM>, and an adjusting part that adjusts the press-contact force is provided for each press-contact part. The configuration of the warp supply device <NUM> including such support mechanisms will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

First, as for the creel device <NUM>, the creel device <NUM> has, as a main body, the frame <NUM> to which the reels <NUM> are mounted, as described above. In addition, the frame <NUM> is configured by a base part 14a serving as a base of the frame <NUM> and an upright plate part 14b provided substantially perpendicularly to the base part 14a.

In addition, both the base part 14a and the upright plate part 14b have a plate shape, and are formed to form a rectangular shape when seen in a plate thickness direction. Further, the upright plate part 14b is placed upright on the base part 14a in such a way that a long side direction of a plate surface is parallel to the vertical direction and a short side direction is parallel to a side edge of the base part 14a. Note that the upright plate part 14b is attached to the base part 14a in such a way that the upright plate part 14b is sandwiched by two L-shaped stays 14f and 14f fixed to a plate surface of the base part 14a.

The upright plate part 14b is a part having one surface to which the <NUM> support shafts <NUM> provided for the frame <NUM> are attached, as described above. In addition, the <NUM> support shafts <NUM> are arranged in such a way that three are aligned in the short side direction and the rows each of which is composed of the three support shafts <NUM> are present in four stages in the long side direction. In addition, since the reels <NUM> are mounted to the respective support shafts <NUM>, intervals between the support shafts <NUM> in the short side direction and the long side direction are set larger than a diameter of the reel <NUM>. However, the interval between the support shafts <NUM> in the short side direction is such that a slight gap is present between the adjacent reels <NUM> and <NUM> in a state in which the reels <NUM> are mounted to the respective support shafts <NUM>. In addition, the interval between the support shafts <NUM> in the long side direction is such that the guide roller <NUM> can be arranged between the adjacent reels <NUM> and <NUM> in a state in which the reels <NUM> are mounted to the respective support shafts <NUM>.

In addition, sizes of the upright plate part 14b in the short side direction and the long side direction are such that all the reels <NUM> are located within a presence range of the upright plate part 14b in the state in which the reels <NUM> are mounted to the respective support shafts <NUM>, when seen in the plate thickness direction of the upright plate part 14b. Note that each support shaft <NUM> is attached to the upright plate part 14b in such a way that each support shaft <NUM> is screwed into a female screw hole formed in the upright plate part 14b.

Further, in the frame <NUM>, the base part 14a is provided with leg portions 14d at each position of four corners, when seen in the plate thickness direction. The leg portion 14d is configured to be able to adjust a height position (a distance from a floor surface to the base part 14a) of the base part 14a. That is, each of the leg portions 14d is configured such that an amount of protrusion from a lower surface of the base part 14a can be changed. In addition, casters 14e are attached to the base part 14a in the vicinity of each leg portion 14d in the form of being attached to the lower surface thereof. In an installed state of the frame <NUM>, the amount of protrusion of the leg portion 14d is greater than a height of the caster 14e, and therefore, the caster 14e is separated from the floor surface. Further, when the amounts of protrusion of the leg portions 14d become smaller than the heights of the casters 14e by changing the amounts of protrusion, the casters 14e come into contact with the floor surface and the frame <NUM> is put into a movable state.

A support mechanism <NUM> provided to be attachable and detachable with respect to the creel device <NUM> is configured to support the set number of reels <NUM>, which is predetermined two or more, as described above. Note that it is assumed that the set number is <NUM> (six) in the present embodiment. That is, in the warp supply device <NUM> of the present embodiment, the six reels <NUM> are supported by each support mechanism <NUM>. The six reels <NUM> are supported (pivotally supported) with respect to a bearing part <NUM> of the support mechanism <NUM>, and positions of the reels <NUM> on the bearing part <NUM> are regulated by a regulating part <NUM>, so that a unit body <NUM> in which the six reels <NUM> and the support mechanism <NUM> are unitized is formed.

As for the unit body <NUM>, the support mechanism <NUM> includes the bearing part <NUM> and the regulating part <NUM>, as described above. Among others, the bearing part <NUM> is a pipe-shaped member having a through-hole. An inner diameter of the through-hole in the bearing part <NUM> is large enough to fit the support shaft <NUM> therein. In addition, a dimension in the axis line direction of the bearing part <NUM> is slightly smaller than a dimension in an axis line direction of the support shaft <NUM>.

In addition, the regulating part <NUM> regulates the position of the reel <NUM> on the bearing part <NUM>, as described above. However, in the present embodiment, a combination of a plurality of members functions as the regulating part <NUM>. Specifically, a snap ring 22a is provided at an end portion (one end portion) on one side of the bearing part <NUM>. Note that the snap ring 22a is attached in the form of being fitted in a groove formed on an outer circumferential surface of the bearing part <NUM>, and is provided in a state in which a position thereof in the axis line direction of the bearing part <NUM> is fixed.

In addition, an annular positioning member 22b is provided at an end portion (other end portion) on the other side of the bearing part <NUM>. Note that the positioning member 22b has a split clamping structure, and a position thereof on the bearing part <NUM> is fixed by fastening fixing by the split clamping structure. Therefore, the positioning member 22b is adapted to be able to change the fixed position on the bearing part <NUM>. An interval between the snap ring 22a and the positioning member 22b on the bearing part <NUM> is set to be larger than a presence range of the reels <NUM> in a state (arrangement state) in which the six reels <NUM> are arranged on the bearing part <NUM> as described below.

Further, in the present embodiment, the support mechanism <NUM> is configured to include a resistance applying mechanism <NUM>, as described above. In addition, a pair of lever members <NUM> and <NUM> forming a part of the resistance applying mechanism <NUM> is provided to be positioned on the bearing part <NUM>. The pair of lever members <NUM> and <NUM> is provided in such a way that the bearing part <NUM> is inserted into through-holes formed in central portions thereof. The pair of lever members <NUM> and <NUM> is arranged such that one is adjacent to the snap ring 22a and the other is adjacent to the positioning member 22b with respect to the axis line direction of the bearing part <NUM>.

Further, on the bearing part <NUM>, a collar member <NUM> is provided to be adjacent to the one lever member <NUM>. Note that the collar member <NUM> is a pipe-shaped member, and an inner diameter thereof is large enough to be in a loose-fitting state with respect to the bearing part <NUM>. In addition, the collar member <NUM> has such a size that it is present between the one lever member <NUM> and the reel <NUM> in the arrangement state. On the bearing part <NUM>, the positions of the six reels <NUM> on the bearing part <NUM> are regulated on the other end portion side by the positioning member 22b and the other lever member <NUM>, and are regulated on the one end portion side by the snap ring 22a, the one lever member <NUM> and the collar member <NUM>. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a combination of the snap ring 22a, the positioning member 22b, the pair of lever members <NUM> and <NUM>, and the collar member <NUM> corresponds to the regulating part.

Further, the reel <NUM> is of a general configuration, and is composed of a winding shaft 12a having a through-hole penetrating in the axis line direction, and a pair of flange portions 12b and 12b fixed on the winding shaft 12a at an interval. Note that the interval between the pair of flange portions 12b and 12b is slightly larger than a width dimension of the tape-shaped warp yarn T. Therefore, in the reel <NUM>, the warp yarn T is wound in line (without traversing) on the winding shaft 12a between the pair of flange portions 12b and 12b. Further, although the reel <NUM> is supported with respect to the support mechanism <NUM> (bearing part <NUM>) as described above, in the present embodiment, the support is performed via a reel support part <NUM> to which the reel <NUM> is fixed.

The reel support part <NUM> has a disk shape, and an insertion portion 23b serving as a portion in which the reel <NUM> is inserted and a collar portion 23a having a larger diameter than the insertion portion 23b are integrally formed. In addition, the reel support part <NUM> composed of the insertion portion 23b and the collar portion 23a has a through-hole penetrating through a center thereof in a thickness direction. An inner diameter of the through-hole is such that the reel support part <NUM> can be inserted and rotated with respect to the bearing part <NUM>. Further, the reel support part <NUM> has a pair of protrusions 23c and 23c formed to protrude in the thickness direction around the through-hole on both end faces in the thickness direction.

Note that a dimension in the thickness direction of the insertion portion 23b of the reel support part <NUM> is substantially the same as the dimension in the axis line direction of the reel <NUM>. In addition, a dimension in the thickness direction of the collar portion 23a is substantially the same as that of the insertion portion 23b in the shown example. Further, the reel <NUM> is mounted to the reel support part <NUM> by means of a screw member or the like in a state in which the insertion portion 23b of the reel support part <NUM> is inserted in the through-hole of the reel and in contact with an end surface of the collar portion 23a.

Each reel <NUM> is supported with respect to the bearing part <NUM> via the reel support part <NUM> in such a way that the bearing part <NUM> is inserted in the through-hole of the reel support part <NUM>. As a result, the six reels <NUM> are in the arrangement state described above. Further, in the arrangement state, each reel support part <NUM> is oriented in the same direction, and is arranged on the bearing part <NUM> in such an orientation that the insertion portion 23b is disposed on the one end portion side (snap ring 22a side) of the bearing part <NUM> with respect to the collar portion 23a. Therefore, an interval between the adjacent reels <NUM> and <NUM> is defined by dimensions in the thickness direction of the collar portion 23a and the two protrusions 23c and 23c of the reel support part <NUM>.

Note that the reel support part <NUM> is formed of a material with a lower friction coefficient than that of the bearing part <NUM>. Thereby, the reel support part <NUM> can rotate with respect to the bearing part <NUM> with less frictional resistance. In addition, the reel support parts <NUM> and <NUM> adjacent to each other on the bearing part <NUM> abut against each other at the respective protrusions 23c in the arrangement state. However, since the reel support parts are formed of a material with low frictional resistance, they can individually rotate without inhibiting relative rotation of each other.

Further, in the arrangement state, the positions of the reels <NUM> (reel support parts <NUM>) on the bearing part <NUM> are regulated by the regulating part <NUM>, so that the six reels <NUM> are unitized with the support mechanism <NUM> including the bearing part <NUM> and a unit body <NUM> is thus formed.

In addition to the pair of lever members <NUM> and <NUM> described above, the resistance applying mechanism <NUM> includes a braking member <NUM> as a press-contact part that is in press-contact with each reel <NUM> and applies a press-contact force. The braking member <NUM> is provided for each reel <NUM>. That is, the resistance applying mechanism <NUM> includes six braking members <NUM> in the form of corresponding to each reel <NUM>. In addition, the resistance applying mechanism <NUM> includes an adjusting mechanism <NUM> as an adjusting part for adjusting the press-contact force that is applied to the corresponding reel <NUM> by the braking member <NUM>.

Specifically, each lever member <NUM> is a lever-shaped member having, as a main body, a supported portion 41a that is a part in which the bearing part <NUM> is inserted as described above and which is supported by the bearing part <NUM>. Note that the supported portion 41a is formed to have a rectangular shape whose dimension in a long side direction is sufficiently longer than a dimension in a short side direction, when seen in a thickness direction thereof. The dimension in the long side direction of the supported portion 41a is larger than an outer diameter of the reel <NUM> (flange portion 12b).

Further, each lever member <NUM> is an L-shaped member as a whole having an extension portion 41b extending in a direction (a direction substantially parallel to the short side direction of the supported portion 41a) substantially orthogonal to the long side direction of the supported portion 41a at one end portion of the supported portion 41a. Note that the extension portion 41b is also formed to have a substantially rectangular shape when seen in a thickness direction thereof. In addition, a dimension of the extension portion 41b in the extension direction from the supported portion 41a is such that a distance from a center of the supported portion 41a to a distal end of the extension portion 41b in the short side direction of the supported portion 41a is larger than a radius of the collar portion 23a of the reel support part <NUM>. Accordingly, in a state in which the lever member <NUM> is supported by the bearing part <NUM>, as the arrangement state of the reel <NUM>, the distal end of the extension portion 41b is located outside (upward) the presence range of the collar portion 23a of the reel support part <NUM>.

Further, a first support rod 43a for supporting the braking members <NUM> are bridged between the distal ends of the extension portions 41b and 41b of the pair of lever members <NUM> and <NUM> of the resistance applying mechanism <NUM>. In the support mechanism <NUM> in which the reel <NUM> is in the arrangement state, the first rod 43a is attached to each lever member <NUM> at a position where a position of a shaft center of the first rod substantially coincides with a position of a vertex of the outer circumferential surface of the collar portion 23a of the reel support part <NUM> with respect to the short side direction of the supported portion 41a (a radial direction of the collar portion 23a). Note that attachment of the first support rod 43a to the lever members <NUM> is performed in such a way that the first support rod 43a is non-rotatably inserted into a hole formed in each of the extension portions 41b.

In addition, a second support rod 43b on which the adjusting mechanism <NUM> is hooked is bridged between the other end portions of the supported portions 41a of the pair of lever members <NUM> and <NUM> (end portions on an opposite side to the side on which the extension portions 41b are provided). Similar to the attachment of the first support rod 43a, the attachment of the second support rod 43b to the supported portion 41a is also performed in such a way that the second support rod 43b is non-rotatably inserted into holes formed in the supported portions 41a. Thereby, in the resistance applying mechanism <NUM>, the frame body is formed by the pair of lever members <NUM> and <NUM>, the first support rod 43a and the second support rod 43b.

Each braking member <NUM> is a lever-shaped member whose cross section is formed in a substantially prismatic shape with a rectangular shape, and is a member whose dimensions in long side directions of both side surfaces (surfaces orthogonal to the thickness direction) and both end surfaces (surfaces parallel to the thickness direction) each forming a rectangular shape are sufficiently large with respect to dimensions in short side directions. In addition, a dimension of the braking member <NUM> in a longitudinal direction (long side direction of the side surface and the end face) is slightly larger than the dimension of the supported portion 41a of the lever member <NUM> in the long side direction. Further, a thickness dimension of the braking member <NUM> is slightly smaller than a dimension of the collar portion 23a in the thickness direction of the reel support part <NUM>.

The braking member <NUM> is supported to be swingable with respect to the first support rod 43a in such a manner that the first support rod 43a is inserted into a hole formed to penetrate through one end portion of the braking member in the thickness direction. That is, each braking member <NUM> has a shaft center of the first support rod 43a as a support center and is provided to be swingable about the support center as a swing center. Note that, as described above, the six braking members <NUM> are provided in the form of corresponding to the six reels <NUM>, respectively. In addition, in the support mechanism <NUM> in which the reel <NUM> is in the arrangement state, each braking member <NUM> is arranged to be located within the presence range of the collar portion 23a of the reel support part <NUM> that supports the corresponding reel <NUM>. Therefore, in a state of being supported by the first support rod 43a, each braking member <NUM> is in a state in which one of the end faces thereof faces the outer circumferential surface of the collar portion 23a of the corresponding reel support part <NUM>.

In addition, each braking member <NUM> is provided with an arc-shaped groove (arc groove) 44a, which is formed in such a way that the one end surface is depressed. The arc groove 44a is formed to have the same curvature as that of the outer circumferential surface of the collar portion 23a of the reel support part <NUM>. Further, a depth dimension of the arc groove 44a is substantially the same as a distance A from the one end surface of the braking member <NUM> to a center of the hole in which the first support rod 43a is inserted.

Further, in the support mechanism <NUM> in which the reel <NUM> is in the arrangement state, the arc groove 44a is formed at a position where a distance B from the support center of the braking member <NUM> to a center of the arc groove 44a in the longitudinal direction of the braking member <NUM> substantially coincides with a distance C from the support center (a center of the hole in the extension portion 41b where the first support rod 43a is inserted) to a center of the collar portion 23a of the reel support part <NUM> (a center of the hole in the supported portion 41a where the bearing part <NUM> is inserted) in the long side direction of the supported portion 41a of the lever member <NUM>. Thereby, in the support mechanism <NUM>, each braking member <NUM> is in a state in which an inner surface of the arc groove 44a can abut against the outer circumferential surface of the collar portion 23a over its entire surface in a state of being substantially parallel to the supported portion 41a.

In addition, the resistance applying mechanism <NUM> includes the adjusting mechanism <NUM> that urges each braking member <NUM>, which is in a state in which it can abut against the collar portion 23a of the reel support part <NUM>, toward the collar portion 23a. In addition, the adjusting mechanism <NUM> is configured to be able to adjust a force (urging force) to be urged to the braking member <NUM>. Each adjusting mechanism <NUM> includes, as its constitutional elements, a main body part <NUM> that becomes a main body of the adjusting mechanism <NUM>, a nut member <NUM> screwed to the main body part <NUM>, and a spring member <NUM> for applying the urging force.

As for each component, specifically, the main body part <NUM> is composed of a rod-shaped rod member 51a and a hook member 51b attached to one end portion of the rod member 51a. In addition, the hook member 51b is a member formed by bending a plate material to form a substantially J-shape when seen in a direction parallel to a plate surface. The main body part <NUM> is formed in such a way that the hook member 51b is attached by means of a screw member to a flat portion formed on a circumferential surface of one end portion of the rod member 51a.

In the support mechanism <NUM> in which the reel <NUM> is in the arrangement state, the main body part <NUM> is provided in such a way that the hook member 51b is hooked to the second support rod 43b. Note that at the other end portion of each braking member <NUM> (an end portion on a side opposite to the side supported by the first support rod 43a), an insertion hole penetrating in a direction parallel to the end face thereof (a direction orthogonal to the end face) is formed. The insertion hole has an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the rod member 51a.

In addition, in a state of being hooked to the second rod 43b at the hook member 51b as described above, the main body part <NUM> is provided in a state in which the rod member 51a is inserted in the insertion hole of the braking member <NUM>. Therefore, a length dimension of the main body part <NUM> formed by combining the rod member 51a and the hook member 51b as described above is such that the main body part protrudes upward beyond the other end surface of the braking member <NUM> in a state of being in contact with the collar portion 23a (an end surface on a side opposite to the side where the arc groove 44a is provided) in a state in which the main body part is hooked to the second support rod 43b and the rod member 51a is directed toward the braking member <NUM> in a direction orthogonal to the long side direction of the supported portion 41a. More specifically, the main body part <NUM> is formed to have such a length dimension that the end face on the other side of the braking member <NUM> is located at a substantially middle portion of the main body part in a state in which the main body part is inserted in the insertion hole of the braking member <NUM> as described above.

Further, in the main body part <NUM>, a male screw portion is formed at the other end portion of the rod member 51a (an end portion on a side opposite to the one end portion to which the hook member 51b is attached). Further, the nut member <NUM> is attached in the form of being screwed onto the male screw portion of the rod member 51a. Note that the nut member <NUM> is a wing nut and can be rotated manually by an operator without using a tool, and a rotation operation thereof facilitates changing a screwing position on the rod member 51a.

In addition, the spring member <NUM> is mounted between the nut member <NUM> and the braking member <NUM> in the form of being inserted into a portion protruding from the braking member <NUM> of the rod member 51a of the main body <NUM>. Note that the male screw portion of the rod member 51a is formed such that the nut member <NUM> can be arranged at a position where an interval from the braking member <NUM> becomes smaller than a natural length of the spring member <NUM>. By putting the spring member <NUM> into a compressed state by the arrangement of the nut member <NUM> (the screwing position), the braking member <NUM> is always urged toward the collar portion 23a of the reel support part <NUM> by the spring member <NUM>.

Further, by changing the position of the nut member <NUM> on the rod member 51a to change an amount of compression of the spring member <NUM>, the urging force is changed. In other words, the adjusting mechanism <NUM> is configured such that when the screwing position of the nut member <NUM> to the main body part <NUM> (rod member 51a) is changed, the braking member <NUM> is urged toward the collar portion 23a, and accordingly, the press-contact force acting on the reel <NUM> (collar portion 23a) corresponding to each braking member <NUM> is changed (adjusted).

The unit body <NUM> configured as above is supported with respect to the creel device <NUM> in such a form that the bearing part <NUM> of the support mechanism <NUM> is fitted to the support shaft <NUM> of the creel device <NUM>. Therefore, the creel device <NUM> includes a mechanism that fixes a position in the axis line direction to the support shaft <NUM> of the unit body <NUM> in a state of being fitted to the support shaft <NUM>.

More specifically, as described above, the dimension of the bearing part <NUM> in the axis line direction is slightly smaller than the dimension of the support shaft <NUM> in the axis line direction. Therefore, in a state in which the unit body <NUM> is fitted, an end portion on one end side of the support shaft <NUM> (an end portion on a side opposite to a side attached to the upright plate part 14b in the creel device <NUM>) protrudes from the unit body <NUM>. In addition, a distal end portion including the protruding portion (protrusion) of the support shaft <NUM> is formed so that an outer diameter thereof is smaller than that of the other portion. The distal end portion is formed with a male screw, forming a male screw portion.

In addition, the creel device <NUM> has a handle member <NUM> that is screwed to the distal end portion (male screw portion) of each support shaft <NUM>. The handle member <NUM> has a disk shape, and is formed so that a portion on one end side with respect to a middle portion in a thickness direction becomes a large-diameter portion <NUM> whose diameter is enlarged. The large-diameter portion <NUM> of the handle member <NUM> becomes an operation portion that an operator grips and operates by hand. In addition, an outer diameter of a small-diameter portion <NUM> excluding the operation portion (large-diameter portion) <NUM> of the handle member <NUM> is larger than the outer diameter of the bearing part <NUM>. Further, the handle member <NUM> is formed with a through-hole penetrating through in the thickness direction. The through-hole has a female screw formed on its inner circumferential surface to form a female screw portion. The female screw portion is sized to screw with the male screw portion of the support shaft <NUM>.

Further, in the warp supply device <NUM>, in a state in which the unit body <NUM> is fitted to each support shaft <NUM> of the creel device <NUM>, the handle member <NUM> is screwed to the protrusion at the distal end portion of the support shaft <NUM>. Note that the handle member <NUM> is screwed to the support shaft <NUM> in a state in which the small-diameter portion <NUM> is directed toward the unit body <NUM> (bearing part <NUM>).

When the operator grips the handle member <NUM> (operation portion <NUM>) with a hand and operates to rotate it in a tightening direction, the handle member <NUM> is moved toward the unit body <NUM> (bearing part <NUM>), and the handle member <NUM> comes into contact with the unit body <NUM> (bearing part <NUM>) on an end face on the small-diameter portion <NUM> side. Then, when the handle member <NUM> is rotated in the further tightening direction from that state, the bearing part <NUM> is sandwiched by the handle member <NUM> and the creel device <NUM> (upright plate part 14b). Thereby, the unit body <NUM> becomes in a state in which the position on the support shaft <NUM> is fixed and the unit body is supported non-rotatably with respect to the support shaft <NUM> (creel device <NUM>).

In the warp supply device <NUM> configured as described above, the six reels <NUM> are unitized to form one unit body <NUM> by the support mechanism <NUM>, and are mounted to the reel device <NUM> in the form of the unit body <NUM>. Therefore, according to such a warp supply device <NUM>, in a replacement operation of the reel <NUM>, when attaching and detaching the reels <NUM> with respect to the creel device <NUM>, the reels <NUM> are attached and detached for each unit body <NUM>, and the six reels <NUM> can be thus attached and detached in one operation.

Thereby, the number of times of attachment and detachment operations for replacing the reels <NUM> is reduced corresponding to the number of reels <NUM> constituting the unit body <NUM>, as compared with a case of replacing the reels <NUM> one by one. Since a great number of reels <NUM> should be replaced as a whole of the warp supply device <NUM>, by being able to perform the replacement in a unit of the unit body <NUM> in this way, the replacement operation of the reels <NUM> can be performed in a short time, and the burden on the operation is reduced.

In addition, in the warp supply device <NUM> of the present embodiment, each support mechanism <NUM> is provided with the resistance applying mechanism <NUM> for applying resistance to each reel <NUM>. Therefore, according to the configuration, in the stage of forming the unit body <NUM> by the six reels <NUM> and the support mechanism <NUM>, i.e., in the stage before mounting the reels <NUM> (unit body <NUM>) to the creel device <NUM>, a state in which resistance is applied to each reel <NUM> can be realized by the resistance applying mechanism <NUM>. Thereby, in the attachment and detachment operation of the reels <NUM>, it is only necessary to attach and detach the unit body <NUM> with respect to the creel device <NUM>, and it is not necessary to perform the operation of making a state in which resistance is applied to each reel <NUM> on the creel device <NUM>, so that the replacement operation of the reels <NUM> can be performed more easily.

Further, the resistance applying mechanism <NUM> includes the press-contact part (braking member) <NUM> that is provided for each reel <NUM> and applies the press-contact force to the corresponding reel <NUM>, and the adjusting part (adjusting mechanism) <NUM> that adjusts the press-contact force and is provided for each contact part <NUM>, and is configured so that the press-contact force can be adjusted for each press-contact part <NUM>. Therefore, according to the configuration, the press-contact force that is applied to each reel <NUM> by the press-contact part <NUM> can be adjusted to the force corresponding to each reel <NUM>, so that unevenness in the tension of the warp yarns T pulled out from the respective reels <NUM> can be prevented. As a result, a problem that a quality of a fabric to be woven is deteriorated due to unevenness is prevented as much as possible.

In the above, one embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as 'above embodiment') of the warp supply device to which the present invention is applied has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can also be implemented by other embodiments (modified embodiments) as described below.

For example, the resistance applying mechanism may be configured to have one adjusting part common to all the press-contact parts, and to collectively adjust the press-contact force by the one adjusting part. Specifically, in the case where the press-contact part has the same configuration as the braking member <NUM> of the above embodiment, the resistance applying mechanism may be configured such that all the press-contact parts are configured to be connected by a rod (connecting rod) provided in parallel with the second support rod 43b and (one) adjusting part is provided between the connecting rod and the second support rod 43b. However, in this case, the press-contact force by each press-contact part becomes a force of the same magnitude.

Further, the resistance applying mechanism may be configured not to include the adjusting part (so that the press-contact force to the reel <NUM> by the press-contact part cannot be adjusted). Specifically, the resistance applying mechanism may be configured such that a tension spring is provided between each press-contact part and the second support rod 43b and each tension spring always urges the corresponding press-contact part toward the reel support part <NUM> (collar portion 23a). Note that, in this case, the press-contact force applied to the reel <NUM> by each press-contact part has a predetermined magnitude corresponding to an elastic force of the tension spring.

(<NUM>) As for the resistance applying mechanism, the resistance applying mechanism <NUM> of the above embodiment is configured such that the braking member <NUM> as a press-contact part is provided for each reel <NUM>. However, the resistance applying mechanism is not limited to the configuration where the press-contact part is provided for each reel <NUM>, and may also be configured such that the press-contact part is provided as a single member common to all reels <NUM>. Specifically, the resistance applying mechanism may be configured such that a (for example, rod-shaped) member provided in parallel with the bearing part of the support mechanism and to cover the presence range of all the reels <NUM> is used as a press-contact part and the press-contact part is caused to press-contact the outer circumferential surfaces of both the flange portions 12b and 12b to apply the press-contact force (rotational resistance) to each reel <NUM>.

In addition, the resistance applying mechanism is not limited to being provided in the form of provided for the support mechanism <NUM> (the support mechanism <NUM> includes the resistance applying mechanism <NUM>) like the resistance applying mechanism <NUM> of the above embodiment, and may be provided for the creel device <NUM>.

For example, it is assumed that the press-contact part is composed of a single member as described above. In addition, the resistance applying mechanism may be configured such that the press-contact part is provided for the creel device <NUM> to be able to abut against all the reels <NUM> (both the flange portions 12b and 12b) of the unit body mounted to the creel device <NUM> and the press-contact part applies the press-contact force (rotational resistance) to each reel <NUM>.

Alternatively, a shaft parallel to each support shaft <NUM> is provided for each support shaft <NUM> in the creel device <NUM>, and a belt-shaped member is straddled between each reel support part <NUM> (collar portion 23a) of the unit body mounted to the creel device <NUM> and the shaft. Further, the resistance applying mechanism may be configured such that rotational resistance is applied to the reel <NUM> by sliding resistance between the belt-shaped member and the reel support part <NUM>. Note that, in this case, the belt-shaped member becomes a press-contact part.

(<NUM>) As for the configuration of the unit body, in the above embodiment, the unit body <NUM> is configured such that each reel <NUM> is supported with respect to the bearing part <NUM> of the support mechanism <NUM> via the reel support part <NUM>. However, as described above, in the case where the resistance applying mechanism directly applies the press-contact force (rotational resistance) to the reel <NUM>, the unit body may be configured such that the reel <NUM> is directly supported with respect to the bearing part of the support mechanism without interposing the reel support part <NUM>. Note that, in this case, a member such as a spacer is preferably provided between the adjacent reels <NUM> and <NUM>.

Further, in the above embodiment, the bearing part <NUM> of the support mechanism <NUM> is a single pipe-shaped member with a length capable of supporting all the reels <NUM>. However, in the present invention, the bearing part is not limited to being composed of such a single member, and may be formed by combining a plurality of members. For example, an annular member having a length substantially equal to the dimension in the thickness direction of the reel <NUM> (or, the reel support part <NUM> in the case where the reel <NUM> is supported via the reel support part <NUM> in the above embodiment) is configured to be connectable in a longitudinal direction thereof, and the reel <NUM> (or the reel support part <NUM>) is configured to be supported by the annular member. Then, the bearing part may be formed by connecting the annular members.

(<NUM>) As for the configuration for putting the unit body of the warp supply device into a state of being mounted to the creel device, in the above embodiment, the warp supply device <NUM> is configured such that the bearing part <NUM> of the support mechanism <NUM> is configured as a pipe-shaped member and the pipe-shaped bearing part <NUM> is fitted to the support shaft <NUM> provided for the creel device <NUM>, so that the unit body is mounted to the creel device <NUM>. However, in the warp supply device of the present invention, the configuration for putting the unit body into a state of being mounted to the creel device is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment.

For example, it is assumed that the bearing part of the support mechanism is composed of a (solid) cylindrical member. Further, the support shaft <NUM> is omitted on the creel device side, and instead, an attachment part configured to be able to attach and detach the cylindrical bearing part is provided. Then, the warp supply device may be configured such that the unit body is put into the state of being mounted to the creel device by attaching the bearing part to the attachment part of the creel device.

(<NUM>) As for the number of reels in the unit body, in the present invention, the support mechanism is configured to support the preset number of reels <NUM>, and in the above embodiment, the set number is <NUM> (reels). However, in the present invention, the set number may be <NUM> or more, and may be appropriately set according to the number of warp yarns used for weaving, the configuration of the creel device, or the like. In addition, the plurality of unit bodies (support mechanisms) mounted to the creel device may not be all the same.

For example, when the number of warp yarns used for weaving is <NUM>, <NUM> reels <NUM> are mounted to the creel device. However, in this case, when the number of support shafts in the creel device is <NUM>, the number (set number) of reels <NUM> supported by the support mechanism in each unit body is <NUM> (seven). In addition, when the number of warp yarns is <NUM> and the number of support mechanisms is <NUM>, for example, a unit body with a set number of <NUM> (the number of reels <NUM> is <NUM>) and a unit body with a set number of <NUM> (the number of reels <NUM> is <NUM>) are combined, and <NUM> unit bodies in each of which the reels <NUM> are <NUM> and <NUM> unit bodies in each of which the reels <NUM> are <NUM> may be properly mounted to the creel device. In addition, it is not essential to mount the unit bodies to all the support shafts in the creel device, and the number of support shafts to be used may be appropriately set, and the number (set number) of reels <NUM> in each unit body may be appropriately set, taking into account the number of support shafts and the number of warp yarns to be used.

Note that, in the case where the set number is different from the above embodiment, the support mechanism can be adapted to the configuration of the above embodiment by, for example, changing the collar member to one whose dimension in the axis line direction is different, or forming the bearing part so that a dimension in the axis line direction thereof is sized to correspond to the set number of reels <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A warp supply device (<NUM>) for a loom including reels (<NUM>) on each of which a tape-shaped flat yarn (T) as a warp yarn is wound in line, and a creel device (<NUM>) in which the same number of the reels as the number of the warp yarns to be used for weaving in the loom is mounted, the warp supply device (<NUM>) comprising:
a plurality of support mechanisms (<NUM>) provided to be attachable and detachable with respect to the creel device (<NUM>), the plurality of support mechanisms (<NUM>) each configured to support a predetermined set number of the reels (<NUM>), the predetermined set number is two or more, wherein
each of the plurality of support mechanisms (<NUM>) includes:
a bearing part (<NUM>) having a shaft shape and configured to support the set number of reels such that each reel can rotate individually; and
a regulating part (<NUM>) configured to regulate positions of the reels in an axis line direction of the bearing part.