Patent Description:
A spun yarn take-up apparatus for taking up yarns spun from a spinning machine so as to form a wound package has required a yarn setting operation of setting, when the production is started, yarns spun from the spinning machine in such a manner that the spun yarns reach a spooling unit along a yarn path.

A general spun yarn take-up apparatus has been configured, as disclosed in, e.g., Patent Document <NUM> (see <FIG> in particular), such that processing assemblies including a plurality of rollers or the like are arranged below the spinning machine, and the spooling unit is arranged below the processing assemblies. Performing a yarn setting operation for such a spun yarn take-up apparatus has required a first floor staff, i.e., a yarn setting staff expected to set yarns to their respective rollers or the like (mezzanine staff) and a yarn setting staff expected to set yarns to the spooling unit arranged below the plurality of rollers or the like.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses an apparatus for the spin-texturing of synthetic yarns, comprising a spun yarn take-up unit for taking up and drawing a plurality of yarns spun from a spinning machine and a winding device for winding the plurality of yarns delivered from the spun yarn take-up unit to form a wound package, wherein the spun yarn take-up unit includes a first guide section, including a plurality of direction-changing rollers for changing travelling directions of the plurality of yarns, respectively; a drawing section including a plurality of rollers for drawing the plurality of yarns guided by the first guide section; and a second guide section for guiding the plurality of yarns from the drawing section to the winding device, and wherein the drawing section is arranged at substantially the same height as that of the winding device, a first yarn delivery roller is provided on a yarn path from the plurality of direction-changing rollers to the drawing section.

In the meantime, manpower savings have recently been required in plants and equipment. The general spun yarn take-up apparatus disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> has, however, required the yarn setting operation to be performed by at least two staffs having the mezzanine staff expected to set yarns to their respective rollers or the like and the yarn setting staff expected to set yarns to the spooling unit. When the yarn setting operation is performed by two staffs consisting of the mezzanine staff expected to set yarns to their respective rollers or the like and the yarn setting staff expected to set yarns to the spooling unit, it has undesirably taken a longer time because transferring a suctioning gun suctioning yarns between the staffs is required at each operation of setting yarns to their respective rollers or the like and to the spooling unit. Even if the yarn setting operation of setting yarns to their respective rollers or the like and to the spooling unit is performed only by one operator, the operator would have to get in and out of a working truck, which results in not only taking a longer time but also putting an increased burden on the operator because setting yarns at the mezzanine having their respective rollers arranged thereon is a high-place operation. It has urgently been required, therefore, to suppress a height of the spun yarn take-up apparatus having a reduced floor level so as to shorten a yarn setting time and save manpower.

In view of the above-described problems, the objective of the present invention is to provide a spun yarn take-up apparatus having a suppressed height so as to be lower in floor level than a conventional apparatus thereby to shorten a yarn setting time and save manpower.

According to the above-described aspect [<NUM>] of the spun yarn take-up apparatus, the plurality of yarn suctioning units, the first guide section, the drawing section, the second guide section, and the first yarn delivery roller are all arranged within a range of the spooling unit in a width direction. As a result, for the spun yarn take-up apparatus, not only a floor level thereof can be reduced but also any expansion in a width direction thereof can be suppressed, and thereby, the spun yarn take-up apparatus can be compact in its entirety.

According to the present invention, the spun yarn take-up apparatus can have a suppressed height so as to be lower in floor level than a conventional apparatus thereby to achieve the shortening of a yarn setting time and the savings of manpower.

The following section will describe a spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> in accordance with the present invention with reference to the drawings. The spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> in accordance with the present invention is an apparatus configured to take up industrial material yarns of <NUM> denier or more for example. <FIG> is an example of a perspective view schematically illustrating the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM>. <FIG> is an example of a side view schematically illustrating the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM>.

In this embodiment, a direction X and a direction Y are defined as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The direction X and the direction Y are both arranged in a horizontal direction and are orthogonal to each other. The direction X is one direction indicated by the arrows shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Therefore, the term "a direction opposite to the direction X" herein is intended to mean a direction opposite to the arrows shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. On the other hand, the direction Y means two directions shown by the arrows in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The following section will schematically describe the entire configuration of the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> includes mainly, in an order from the upstream side in a yarn traveling direction, an oil supply unit <NUM>, a yarn suctioning unit <NUM>, a spun yarn take-up unit <NUM>, and a spooling unit <NUM>.

The oil supply unit <NUM> has a plurality of oil supply units <NUM>. The plurality of oil supply units <NUM> are arranged in a single row in a left-and-right direction on the paper surface of <FIG>. The reason for describing the arrangement not by the wording "arranged in a single row in a direction X" but by the wording "arranged in a single row in a left-and-right direction on the paper surface of <FIG>" will be described later with reference to <FIG>.

Although not shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a spinning machine is arranged above the plurality of oil supply units <NUM>. The plurality of oil supply units <NUM> are used to coat, with oil solution, a yarn <NUM> obtained as a filament bundle spun from the spinning machine through the spinning operation. In this embodiment, the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> includes the oil supply unit <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The spinning machine may also include the oil supply unit <NUM>.

The yarn suctioning unit <NUM> has a plurality of yarn suctioning units <NUM> and is generally called an aspirator. When the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> includes the oil supply unit <NUM>, the plurality of yarn suctioning units <NUM> are arranged beneath the corresponding oil supply units <NUM>, respectively, and operate to temporarily retain a plurality of yarns <NUM> by suctioning the yarns <NUM> when the yarns <NUM> are wound around their respective rollers or when the yarns <NUM> are cut for example. Each yarn <NUM> coated with an oil solution provided by the oil supply unit <NUM> is delivered downward to pass the front face of the yarn suctioning unit <NUM> to run toward the first guide section <NUM> (which will be described later). The plurality of yarn suctioning units <NUM> are configured such that the flow of compressed fluid is used mainly to generate a suctioning force in a suctioning opening, respectively.

The spun yarn take-up unit <NUM> is configured, in an order from the upstream side in a yarn traveling direction, to include mainly the first guide section <NUM>, the first yarn delivery roller <NUM>, a drawing section <NUM>, a relaxing section <NUM>, and the second guide section <NUM>. The first guide section <NUM>, the first yarn delivery roller <NUM>, the drawing section <NUM>, the relaxing section <NUM>, and the second guide section <NUM> will be described later in detail.

The spooling unit <NUM> includes mainly a main frame <NUM>, the first winder <NUM>, and the second winder <NUM>. The first winder <NUM> and the second winder <NUM> are arranged in a direction Y. The first winder <NUM> has the same structure as that of the second winder <NUM>. Therefore, the following section will describe the first winder <NUM> and will not further describe the second winder <NUM>. In this embodiment, the spooling unit <NUM> includes two apparatuses of the first winder <NUM> and the second winder <NUM>. However, the present invention is limited to this. Therefore, the spooling unit <NUM> includes one winder <NUM>.

The first winder <NUM> includes mainly a disk-like turret <NUM> rotatably arranged in the main frame <NUM>, two winding axes <NUM> that are cantilever-supported by the turret <NUM> to have an axis in a direction X, and a plurality of traversing apparatuses <NUM> to traverse the yarns <NUM>.

The winding axis <NUM> is attached with a plurality of bobbins <NUM> arranged in series. The winding axis <NUM> is driven by a motor (not shown) to rotate so as to cause a plurality of bobbins <NUM> attached to the winding axis <NUM> to rotate so as to wind the yarn <NUM> around the plurality of rotating bobbins <NUM>. The yarn <NUM> wound around the bobbin <NUM> forms a wound package. A case where the spooling unit <NUM> is seen in a direction opposite to a direction X will be described later.

The following section will describe the positional relation between the drawing section <NUM> owned by the spun yarn take-up unit <NUM> and the spooling unit <NUM> with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> again. The drawing section <NUM> is arranged upstream from the spooling unit <NUM> along a yarn traveling direction and is arranged in a direction opposite to a direction X than the spooling unit <NUM>. More specifically, the drawing section <NUM> and the spooling unit <NUM> are horizontally arranged so that the same floor have an axis direction of the winding axis <NUM> that is parallel to a direction along which the yarn <NUM> travels in the drawing section <NUM> when seen in a planar view. More specifically, in this embodiment, the drawing section <NUM> is arranged at substantially the same height as that of the spooling unit <NUM> in contrast with the conventional spun yarn take-up apparatus in which the work area of the first floor is divided to the upper work area and the lower work area so that the lower work area of first floor has a spooling unit and the upper work area has a drawing section. This arrangement allows the drawing section <NUM> to be arranged so that one operator can perform the yarn setting operation of the drawing section and the spooling unit without using any working truck for example. This can result in the shortened time required for the yarn setting operation and the manpower saving.

The drawing section <NUM> has the first guide section <NUM> in the vicinity of the upper side thereof. The yarn suctioning unit <NUM> is arranged immediately above the first guide section <NUM>. The oil supply unit <NUM> is arranged immediately above the yarn suctioning unit <NUM>. This arrangement of their respective member arranged in proximity to one another provides an effect which will be described later with regards to the positional relation to the first yarn delivery roller <NUM>.

The following section will describe the first guide section <NUM>, the first yarn delivery roller <NUM>, the drawing section <NUM>, the relaxing section <NUM>, and the second guide section <NUM> included in the spun yarn take-up unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is an example of a side view illustrating the periphery of the first guide section <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the first guide section <NUM> includes mainly a plurality of (or twelve) direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> for example. The plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> are arranged in a single row in a left-and-right direction on the paper surface of <FIG>. More specifically, the direction-changing rollers 10A-10F are arranged from left to right on the paper surface of <FIG>, and the direction-changing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are arranged from right to left on the paper surface of <FIG>. The reason for not using the wording "arranged in a single row in a direction X" but using the wording "arranged in a single row in a left-and-right direction on the paper surface of <FIG>" will be described later with reference to <FIG> in relation to the plurality of oil supply units <NUM> described as being "arranged in a single row in a left-and-right direction on the paper surface of <FIG>".

In this embodiment, the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> are described as being arranged in a single row in a left-and-right direction on the paper surface of <FIG>. However, the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> may be horizontally arranged or may also be arranged to be displaced in an up-and-down direction.

The plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> are rollers to deliver, to the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> arranged in a direction inclined downward from a horizontal direction, a plurality of (or <NUM>) yarns <NUM> for example spun in a lower direction from the spinning machine and coated with oil solution. The position "inclined downward from a horizontal direction" is preferably slightly inclined downward from a horizontal direction. For example, the yarns <NUM> delivered from the direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> to the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> preferably has such an acute angle larger than <NUM>° as well as smaller than or equal to <NUM>° formed by a yarn traveling direction and a horizontal plane. An angle α shown in <FIG> corresponds to "an acute angle formed by a yarn traveling direction and a horizontal plane for the yarns <NUM> delivered from the direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> to the first yarn delivery roller <NUM>".

The yarn <NUM> having a traveling direction changed by the direction-changing rollers 10A-10F is delivered to the first winder <NUM> (see <FIG>) and is wound. The yarn <NUM> having a traveling direction changed by the direction-changing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> is delivered to the second winder <NUM> (see <FIG>) and is wound.

The first yarn delivery roller <NUM> is a roller that is arranged on a yarn path extending from the first guide section <NUM> to the drawing section <NUM> and that has, as an axis direction, a direction substantially orthogonal both to a yarn traveling direction and a vertical direction (i.e., direction Y). The first yarn delivery roller <NUM> is arranged in an up-and-down direction between the first guide section <NUM> (i.e., plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM>) and the drawing section <NUM> and is arranged in a horizontal direction close to a direction opposite to a direction X than any of the first guide section <NUM> (more particularly the direction-changing roller <NUM>) and the drawing section <NUM>. More specifically, the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> has a positional relation by which the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> are arranged in an up-and-down direction to be superposed to each other when seen in a planar view. On the other hand, the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> is arranged no to be superposed with any of the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> when seen in a planar view and is arranged at a position displaced in a horizontal direction. However, from the space saving viewpoint, the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> is preferably arranged in the vicinity of the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> in a horizontal direction.

As described above, the first guide section <NUM> is arranged in the vicinity of the upper part of the drawing section <NUM> and the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> is arranged in a direction opposite to a direction X at a position displaced from any of the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM>. This can consequently reduce the distance between the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> in an up-and-down direction. This can also reduce the distance between the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> in an up-and-down direction. This can provide a reduced height to the first guide section <NUM>, the yarn suctioning unit <NUM> arranged immediately above the first guide section <NUM>, and the oil supply unit <NUM> arranged immediately above the yarn suctioning unit <NUM> and can allow the entire spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> to have a lower floor. This can consequently eliminate the conventional need to divide the work area of the first floor to an upper work area and a lower work area in which operators are provided, respectively. Therefore, a single operator can perform the yarn setting operation, and as a result, achieving the shortened time for the yarn setting operation and the manpower saving.

The yarn <NUM> delivered from the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> proceeds to the drawing section <NUM>. The yarn <NUM> is wound around the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> at a winding angle smaller than <NUM>°.

The plurality of yarns <NUM> spun downward from the spinning machine abutting their respective roller faces of the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> are wound at a winding angle larger than or equal to <NUM>° as well as smaller than <NUM>° for example. In particular, the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> is arranged in a direction opposite to a direction X with respect to the direction-changing roller <NUM> and a winding angle α is minimized. This can consequently increase the winding angle to allow the yarns to be wound around their respective direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> and can increase the winding angle of the yarns <NUM> around their respective direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM>. Therefore, tension can be applied to the yarns <NUM> between the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> and the first yarn delivery roller <NUM>, and the yarn <NUM> is allowed to stabilize traveling downstream from the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> along a yarn traveling direction. Further, no need is required to provide a guide used in the conventional case to minutely adjust the tension to the yarns, and therefore allowing the oil supply unit <NUM> and the yarn suctioning unit <NUM> to be arranged at a correspondingly-lower position than in the case of a spun yarn take-up apparatus including a guide. Further, a traveling direction of the yarn <NUM> can be changed by the roller, and therefore minimizing the burden on the yarn <NUM>. When the positions at which the yarns on the peripheral surfaces of the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> are separated from one another are lower in a vertical direction than the position at which the yarn is introduced onto the peripheral surface of the first yarn delivery roller <NUM>, winding angles to their respective roller faces of the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> exceed <NUM>°.

The plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> have a plurality of motors (not shown) corresponding to their respective rollers. When the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> is displaced from the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> in a direction opposite to a direction X, there may be a probability that different distances (i.e., yarn lengths) between their respective direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> and the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> cause different tensions of the plurality of yarns <NUM>. To prevent this, the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> may be allowed to be individually driven, respectively, thereby to stabilize the yarn delivery velocity to suppress the dispersion of the yarn tensions even when different yarn lengths are caused.

Next, with reference to <FIG>, the following section will describe the positional relation among a plurality of oil supply units <NUM>, a plurality of yarn suctioning units <NUM>, and a plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM>. <FIG> is an example of a plan view illustrating the plurality of oil supply units <NUM>, the plurality of yarn suctioning units <NUM>, and the first yarn delivery roller <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of oil supply units 2A-<NUM> of the oil supply unit <NUM> are arranged in a left-and-right direction on the paper surface of <FIG> as well as are displaced at an equal interval to form a single row in a direction Y (i.e., a direction orthogonal to both of the winding axis <NUM> (see <FIG>) and a vertical direction). Although not shown in <FIG>, the yarn suctioning units 4A-<NUM> (see <FIG>) are arranged immediately below their respective oil supply units 2A-<NUM>. As in the case of the direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM>, the oil supply units 2A-2F are arranged from left to right on the paper surface of <FIG>, and the oil supply unit <NUM>-<NUM> are arranged from right to left on the paper surface of <FIG>.

<FIG> does not illustrate the first guide section <NUM> (the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM>); however, the direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> are arranged immediately below their respective yarn suctioning units 4A-<NUM>. Therefore, the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> are displaced in a direction Y at an equal interval to form a single row. This arrangement allows the plurality of yarns <NUM> spun from the spinning machine to proceed while being mutually displaced in a direction Y so that the spun yarns are parallel to one another in a planar view, thereby preventing the mutual interference or entanglement of the yarns. In particular, in this embodiment, the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> have a reduced distance in an up-and-down direction. Even in such a case, the plurality of yarns <NUM> are allowed to travel in a parallel manner, and therefore preventing the mutual interference or entanglement of the plurality of yarns. Further, the yarn setting operation can be easily performed on a guide (not shown) and/or an interlacing apparatus (not shown) used to retain the interval among yarns arranged in a yarn path extending from the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> to the distribution rollers 70A-<NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Therefore, no guide or interlacing apparatus used to retain the interval among yarns may be arranged in the yarn path extending from the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> to the distribution rollers 70A-<NUM>.

The plurality of oil supply units 2A-<NUM> and the plurality of yarn suctioning units 4A-<NUM> have been described as not being "arranged in a direction X so as to be displaced in a direction Y" but as being "arranged in a left-and-right direction on the paper surface of <FIG> so as to be displaced in a direction Y". The reason is that, since a direction X means a single direction, when the wording "arranged in a direction X" is interpreted in a limited manner as "arranged in series in a single direction such as a direction X", the above description intends to avoid a risk of being interpreted inconsistently with the wording "displaced in a direction Y". In the description with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the same reason applies to the description not including the wording "arranged in a single row in a direction X" but including the wording "arranged in a single row in a left-and-right direction on the paper surface of <FIG>" or the wording "arranged in a single row in a left-and-right direction on the paper surface of <FIG>". In other words, the above description intends to avoid a risk that the wording "arranged in a single row in a direction X" is interpreted as being "not displaced in a direction Y".

The present invention is not particularly limited to the number of the plurality of oil supply units <NUM>, the plurality of yarn suctioning units <NUM>, the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM>, the plurality of traversing apparatuses <NUM>, and the plurality of bobbins <NUM>.

<FIG> is an example of a side view illustrating the periphery of the drawing section <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the drawing section <NUM> includes mainly a plurality of preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> to heat the yarns <NUM> before being drawn, a plurality of drawing rollers (drawing godets) <NUM>-<NUM> arranged downstream along a yarn traveling direction from the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and a plurality of thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> arranged downstream along a yarn traveling direction from the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> to condition the drawn yarns <NUM>.

In the meantime, the heating length has been conventionally secured by winding yarns around a long roller having a relatively large width a plurality of times. In contrast with this, the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> of this embodiment allows yarns to be wound around a short roller having a width shorter than the conventional case to reach a distance shorter than the entire periphery of the roller. However, in order to secure the heating length while allowing the yarns to be wound around the roller to reach a distance shorter than the entire periphery of the roller, a higher number of rollers than in the conventional case is required. In the case of a spun yarn take-up apparatus to produce industrial material yarns of <NUM> denier or more for example in particular, a larger heating length is required than in the case of a spun yarn take-up apparatus for clothing yarns. To solve this, the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> of this embodiment is configured such that the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are horizontally arranged in series on the same floor in a direction X. This arrangement can secure the heating length by winding the yarns around the rollers to reach a distance shorter than the entire periphery of each roller (or a winding angle around the roller smaller than <NUM>°) and can provide the drawing section <NUM> with a lower floor. The preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> correspond to "a plurality of rollers" of the present invention.

At least the uppermost stream-side drawing roller <NUM> among the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> has a yarn delivery velocity lower than that of the downmost stream-side preheating roller <NUM> among the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>. Therefore, the yarn <NUM> is drawn between the downmost stream-side preheating roller <NUM> among the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> and the uppermost stream-side drawing roller <NUM> among the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>.

The preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> include a plurality of motors (not shown) corresponding to their respective rollers so that each of the rollers can be driven individually.

The preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> , the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> all have an axis direction in a direction substantially orthogonal to a yarn path when seen in a planar view (i.e., direction Y) and two rollers arranged in a up-and-down direction in proximity to each other are horizontally arranged along a direction X. However, the number of the rollers arranged in an up-and-down direction is not limited to <NUM>. Therefore, three rollers may also be arranged in an up-and-down direction so long as the yarn setting operation can be performed by one operator.

The yarn <NUM> delivered out from the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> is firstly delivered to the preheating roller <NUM> and is subsequently pass the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> in this order. While passing the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the yarn <NUM> is allowed to travel in an S-like manner from the lower side to the upper side of their respective two rollers arranged in proximity to each other in an up-and-down direction and is subsequently allowed to travel to the lower roller among the two upper and lower rollers arranged at the downstream side.

The yarn <NUM> is always wound around the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> , the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively, at a winding angle smaller than <NUM>°.

The preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> have a surface temperature set to be equal to or higher than the glass transition point of the yarn <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>). The drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> have a surface temperature set to be higher than the surface temperatures of the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., <NUM>). The thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> have a surface temperature set to be higher than the surface temperatures of the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., <NUM>).

The preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> have a surface temperature (e.g., <NUM>) corresponding to "the first temperature" of the present invention. The drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> have a surface temperature (e.g., <NUM>) corresponding to "the second temperature" of the present invention. The thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> have a surface temperature (e.g., <NUM>) corresponding to "the third temperature" of the present invention.

All of the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> do not always have to have the same surface temperature. Therefore, the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> may have different surface temperatures, respectively. Similarly, all of the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> do not always have to have the same surface temperature. Therefore, the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> may have different surface temperatures, respectively. Similarly, all of the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> do not always have to have the same surface temperature. Therefore, the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> may have different surface temperatures, respectively.

In this embodiment, all of the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> have an increased surface temperature. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, at least one roller among the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> may have an increased surface temperature while the other roller may not have an increased surface temperature. The same applies to the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>.

The drawing section <NUM> also includes the first warming box <NUM>, the second warming box <NUM>, and the third warming box <NUM>. All of the first warming box <NUM>, the second warming box <NUM>, and the third warming box <NUM> are formed by heat insulating material. The preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are accommodated in the first warming box <NUM>. The drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are accommodated in the second warming box <NUM>. The thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are accommodated in the third warming box <NUM>. This arrangement suppresses the heat dissipation from their respective rollers. In this embodiment, the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are accommodated in the first warming box <NUM>. The drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are accommodated in the second warming box <NUM>. The thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are accommodated in the third warming box <NUM>. However, each group of the above types of rollers do not have to be accommodated in one warming box. For example, the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> may be separately accommodated in the plurality of first warming boxes <NUM>. The drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> may be separately accommodated in the plurality of second warming boxes <NUM>. The thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> may be separately accommodated in the plurality of third warming boxes <NUM>.

The preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> , the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are accommodated in the warming boxes <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, respectively, and therefore are not actually visible in the drawings. However, these rollers are shown in their respective drawings referred herein for convenience.

In this embodiment, four preheating rollers, four drawing rollers, and six thermal setting rollers are arranged, respectively. However, their respective rollers are not limited to these numbers and can be arranged in a different number depending upon an application purpose.

Next, the following section will describe how the yarn <NUM> is delivered from any one warming box of the first warming box <NUM>, the second warming box <NUM>, and the third warming box <NUM> to other warming boxes at the downstream side with reference to <FIG> is an example schematically illustrating how the yarn <NUM> is delivered from the first warming box <NUM> to the second warming box <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the cross sections of the first warming box <NUM> and the second warming box <NUM> taken in a vertical direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the first warming box <NUM> has an outlet-side opening <NUM>. The second warming box <NUM> has an inlet-side opening <NUM>. The outlet-side opening <NUM> and the inlet-side opening <NUM> do not have communication therebetween and are separated from each other. More specifically, the yarn <NUM> having exited the first warming box <NUM> through the outlet-side opening <NUM> is allowed to contact with outside air to subsequently enter the second warming box <NUM> through the inlet-side opening <NUM>. The outlet-side opening <NUM> corresponds to "the yarn outlet of the first warming box" of the present invention. The inlet-side opening <NUM> corresponds to "the yarn inlet of the second warming box" of the present invention.

In this manner, the outlet-side opening <NUM> of the first warming box <NUM> and the inlet-side opening <NUM> of the second warming box <NUM> downstream from the first warming box <NUM> separated without having any communication therebetween can suppress the heat transfer between the first warming box <NUM> and the second warming box <NUM>. Although not shown, the outlet-side opening of the second warming box <NUM> and the inlet-side opening of the third warming box <NUM> are also separated without having any communication therebetween. The outlet-side opening of the second warming box <NUM> corresponds to "the yarn outlet of the second warming box" of the present invention. The inlet-side opening of the third warming box <NUM> corresponds to "the yarn inlet of the third warming box" of the present invention.

<FIG> is an example of a side view illustrating the periphery of the relaxing section <NUM>, the second guide section <NUM>, and the spooling unit <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the relaxing section <NUM> is arranged immediately above thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>.

The relaxing section <NUM> has: the first relaxing roller <NUM>; the second relaxing roller <NUM> arranged downstream from the first relaxing roller <NUM> along a yarn traveling direction; and the fourth warming box <NUM>. The first relaxing roller <NUM> and the second relaxing roller <NUM> are a roller that has, as an axis direction, a direction substantially orthogonal both to a yarn traveling direction of a yarn path when seen in a planar view (i.e., direction Y).

The yarn <NUM> delivered out from the downmost stream-side thermal setting roller <NUM> of the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> is allowed to pass the first relaxing roller <NUM> and the second relaxing roller <NUM> in this order.

The first relaxing roller <NUM> and the second relaxing roller <NUM> are arranged to be mutually displaced in an up-and-down direction. The first relaxing roller <NUM> and the second relaxing roller <NUM> are arranged so that the first relaxing roller <NUM> is mutually displaced to a direction X side in a direction X and the second relaxing roller <NUM> is mutually displaced in a direction opposite to a direction X. The arrangement of the first relaxing roller <NUM> and the second relaxing roller <NUM> as described above can provide the reduced height to the second relaxing roller <NUM>, and therefore providing an easier yarn setting operation to the second relaxing roller <NUM>.

The yarn <NUM> is wound around the first relaxing roller <NUM> and the second relaxing roller <NUM> at a winding angle smaller than <NUM>°. The relaxing rollers <NUM> and <NUM> have a surface temperature set to be lower than those of the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., <NUM>) so that the internal strain of the yarn <NUM> is relaxed. However, the first relaxing roller <NUM> and the second relaxing roller <NUM> do not always have to have the same surface temperature. Therefore, the relaxing rollers <NUM> and <NUM> may have different surface temperatures. Further, any of the first relaxing roller <NUM> and the second relaxing roller <NUM> does not always have to have an increased surface temperature. For example, at least one roller of the first relaxing roller <NUM> and the second relaxing roller <NUM> may have an increased surface temperature while the other roller may not have an increased surface temperature.

The fourth warming box <NUM> is formed by heat insulating material. The two relaxing rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are accommodated in the fourth warming box <NUM> so as to suppress the heat dissipation. Although not shown, the outlet-side opening of the third warming box <NUM> and the inlet-side opening of the fourth warming box <NUM> are also separated from each other without having any communication therebetween. This arrangement can suppress the heat transfer between the third warming box <NUM> and the fourth warming box <NUM>.

The yarn <NUM>, which is delivered out from the second relaxing roller <NUM> in the relaxing section <NUM> arranged downstream along a yarn traveling direction, is allowed to exit the fourth warming box <NUM> and is subsequently guided to the second guide section <NUM>. The second relaxing roller <NUM> corresponds to a "guide roller" of the present invention.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the following section will describe the second guide section <NUM>. <FIG> is an example of a plan view illustrating the periphery of the second guide section <NUM>.

The second guide section <NUM> includes mainly a plurality (or six) first winder distribution rollers 70A-70F for example and a plurality (or six) second winder distribution rollers <NUM>-<NUM> (see <FIG>). The plurality of yarns <NUM> delivered out from the second relaxing roller <NUM> is delivered in divided manner in two directions of a direction toward the first winder distribution rollers 70A-70F and a direction toward the second winder distribution rollers <NUM>-<NUM>. The first winder distribution rollers 70A-70F are a roller that changes a traveling direction of the plurality of yarns <NUM> delivered from the second relaxing roller <NUM> to a downward direction so that the yarns <NUM> are allowed to travel toward bobbins <NUM> attached to the winding axis <NUM> of the first winder <NUM> (see <FIG>). The second winder distribution rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are a roller that changes a traveling direction of the plurality of yarns <NUM> delivered from the second relaxing roller <NUM> to a downward direction so that the yarns <NUM> are allowed to travel toward the bobbins <NUM> attached to the winding axis <NUM> of the second winder <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The first winder distribution rollers 70A-70F are arranged immediately above the first winder <NUM>. More specifically, the first winder distribution rollers 70A-70F correspond to the plurality of traversing apparatuses <NUM> (see <FIG>) and a plurality of bobbins <NUM> (see <FIG>), respectively and are arranged in series in a direction X at a position immediately above the corresponding traversing apparatuses <NUM>. The traversing apparatuses <NUM> are arranged in series along a direction X at a position immediately above the corresponding traversing apparatuses <NUM>.

An acute angle larger than or equal to <NUM>° as well as smaller than or equal to <NUM>° is preferably formed by a yarn traveling direction of the yarns <NUM> delivered from the second relaxing roller <NUM> to their respective first winder distribution rollers 70A-70F and a horizontal plane. This can reduce the heights of the relaxing section <NUM> and the second guide section <NUM>. However, this is not always required. Therefore, the acute angle formed by a yarn traveling direction of the yarns <NUM> delivered from the second relaxing roller <NUM> to their respective first winder distribution rollers 70A-70F and a horizontal plane may also have a negative value for example or may slightly exceed <NUM>° so long as the height of the second relaxing roller <NUM> can be reduced. The wording "the acute angle formed by a yarn traveling direction of the yarns <NUM> delivered from the second relaxing roller <NUM> to their respective first winder distribution rollers 70A-70F and a horizontal plane" corresponds to an angle β shown in <FIG> is an example a schematic view illustrating an acute angle β formed by a yarn traveling direction of the yarns <NUM> delivered from the second relaxing roller <NUM> to the first winder distribution roller 70A and a horizontal plane. <FIG> illustrates the first winder distribution roller 70A among the plurality of first winder distribution rollers 70A-70F as an example. In this embodiment, the second relaxing roller <NUM> is arranged so that the angle β of the acute angle larger than or equal to <NUM>° as well as smaller than or equal to <NUM>° is formed by a yarn traveling direction of the yarns <NUM> delivered from the second relaxing roller <NUM> to their respective first winder distribution rollers 70A-70F and a horizontal plane.

When a traveling direction of the yarn <NUM> is changed by the first winder distribution rollers 70A-70F to a downward direction, the yarn <NUM> is traversed by the corresponding traversing apparatus <NUM> and is wound around the corresponding bobbin <NUM> to form a wound package.

Similarly, the second winder distribution rollers <NUM>-<NUM> (see <FIG>) is arranged immediately above the second winder <NUM>. The second winder distribution rollers <NUM>-<NUM> changes a traveling direction of the plurality of yarns <NUM> delivered from the second relaxing roller <NUM> to a downward direction so that the yarns <NUM> are allowed to travel to the corresponding bobbin (not shown) for their respective yarns <NUM>. Then, the yarns <NUM> for which a traveling direction is changed by the second winder distribution rollers <NUM>-<NUM> to a downward direction are traversed by the corresponding traversing apparatus (not shown) and are wound around the corresponding bobbins to form a wound package.

With reference to <FIG>, the following section will describe the arrangement (front view) when the spooling unit <NUM> is seen in a direction opposite to a direction X. <FIG> is an example of an arrow view taken along the line B-B shown in <FIG>.

As described above, the spooling unit <NUM> includes the first winder <NUM> and the second winder <NUM>. The first winder <NUM> and the second winder <NUM> are arranged side by side in a direction Y. The first winder <NUM> has two winding axes <NUM>. Similarly, the second winder <NUM> has two winding axes <NUM>. The second relaxing roller <NUM> is arranged at a position in a direction Y displaced to the first winder <NUM> side from the center line CL of the spooling unit <NUM>. This allows the yarn <NUM> traveling to the bobbin <NUM> attached to the winding axis <NUM> of the first winder <NUM> to have substantially the same angle as that of the yarn <NUM> traveling to the bobbin <NUM> attached to the winding axis <NUM> of the second winder <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the main frame <NUM> has the length of about <NUM> in a direction Y. The oil supply unit <NUM>, the yarn suctioning unit <NUM>, the first guide section <NUM>, the first yarn delivery roller <NUM>, the drawing section <NUM>, the relaxing section <NUM>, and the second guide section <NUM> are all arranged within the width of the spooling unit <NUM> (more particularly within about a half of the length of the main frame <NUM> in a width direction (e.g., <NUM>) (e.g., about <NUM>)). This can provide a compact size in a width direction of the spooling unit <NUM> while securing the work area for the operator. The width direction of the spooling unit <NUM> corresponds to a direction orthogonal to an axis direction and a vertical direction of winding axis <NUM> (i.e., direction Y).

According to the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> of this embodiment described above, the drawing section <NUM> and the spooling unit <NUM> are horizontally arranged so that an axis direction of the winding axis <NUM> is parallel to a traveling direction of the yarn <NUM> in the drawing section <NUM> in a planar view on the same floor. Therefore, the first guide section <NUM> arranged above at least one roller of the drawing section <NUM> can have a reduced height and the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> can have a lower floor. This can consequently eliminate the conventional need to divide the work area of the first floor to an upper work area and a lower work area in which operators are arranged, respectively. Therefore, a single operator can perform the yarn setting operation, and as a result, achieving the shortened time for the yarn setting operation and the manpower saving.

The preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are arranged so that two or three of their respective rollers are arranged along a direction X in an up-and-down direction. These rollers are arranged in series when seen in a planar view. This allows the drawing section <NUM> to have a lower floor. In particular, a spun yarn take-up apparatus for industrial material yarns of <NUM> denier or more for example requires a longer heating length than in the case of a spun yarn take-up apparatus for clothing yarns. Further, the yarns <NUM> are wound around their respective rollers at a winding angle smaller than <NUM>° so that the drawing section has an increased number of rollers. Even in such a case, the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> can have a lower floor.

The first guide section <NUM> is arranged immediately above the drawing section <NUM>. The first yarn delivery roller <NUM> is arranged at a position displaced in a direction opposite to a direction X than any of the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM>. Therefore, the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> can have a reduced distance in an up-and-down direction, the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> can have a reduced height, and allowing the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> can have a lowed floor.

The plurality of yarns <NUM> spun downward by the spinning machine can receive the tension from the plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM>, thereby stabilizing the travel of the yarn <NUM>. Further, no need is required to provide a guide used in the conventional case to minutely adjust the tension to the yarns, and therefore allowing the oil supply unit <NUM> and the yarn suctioning unit <NUM> to be arranged at a correspondingly-lower position and allowing the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> to have a lower floor. Further, a traveling direction of the yarn <NUM> can be changed by the roller, and therefore minimizing the burden on the yarn <NUM>.

The plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> are arranged in a displaced manner in a direction Y, respectively. Therefore, the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> can have a reduced distance therebetween in an up-and-down direction to thereby prevent the mutual interference or entanglement of the plurality of yarns <NUM> while providing the reduced height of the first guide section <NUM>.

The plurality of direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> have a plurality of corresponding motors (not shown) so as to be driven independently, respectively. Therefore, the plurality of yarns <NUM> can have a reduced difference in tension thereamong even when their respective direction-changing rollers 10A-<NUM> and the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> have different distances therebetween.

According to the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> of this embodiment, the first yarn delivery roller <NUM>, the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> , the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, as well as the relaxing rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are all wound around the yarn <NUM> at a winding angle smaller than <NUM>°. Further, the above respective rollers have an axis direction substantially orthogonal to the yarn traveling direction of the yarn <NUM> when seen in a planar view (i.e., direction Y). Therefore, the plurality of yarns <NUM> are allowed to horizontally travel from the first guide section <NUM> to the second relaxing roller <NUM> in a traveling direction when seen in a planar view along a direction X or a direction opposite to a direction X. Therefore, the plurality of yarns <NUM> are allowed to travel so that a yarn path from the first guide section <NUM> to the second relaxing roller <NUM> is prevented from being deviated in an axis direction of their respective rollers (i.e., direction Y).

According to the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> of this embodiment, the outlet-side opening of the Nth warming box and the inlet-side opening of the (N+<NUM>)th warming box arranged downstream along a yarn traveling direction from the Nth warming box are separated from each other without having any communication therebetween. This can consequently reduce the heat transfer between the Nth warming box and the (N+<NUM>)th warming box. The reference numeral "N" means a natural number having an upper limit (at the number obtained by deducting <NUM> from the number of the warming boxes).

Further, the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> of this embodiment not only has a lower floor but also has a compact size in a width direction of the spooling unit <NUM>. Therefore, the entire spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> can have a space saving and an improved work efficiency.

Next, the following section will describe a modified example including various modifications to the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> of this embodiment. However, the modified examples will be described based on an assumption that components having the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted with the same reference numerals and will not be further described.

In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of oil supply units <NUM>, a plurality of yarn suctioning units <NUM>, and the first guide section <NUM> are arranged immediately above the drawing section <NUM> as shown in <FIG> for example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the spun yarn take-up apparatus 1A shown in <FIG> is configured such that the plurality of oil supply units <NUM>, the plurality of yarn suctioning units <NUM>, and the first guide section <NUM> are arranged not immediately above the drawing section <NUM> but are arranged at a position displaced from the drawing section <NUM> and the first yarn delivery roller <NUM> in a direction opposite to a direction X.

The spun yarn take-up apparatus 1A in accordance with the first modified example has a longer length in a direction X than the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> described in the above-described embodiment but allows the drawing section <NUM> to have a lower floor. Further, the yarn <NUM> is allowed to travel in one direction, and therefore reducing the burden due to an operation to wind yarns.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in <FIG> for example, the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are accommodated in the first warming box <NUM>, the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are accommodated in the second warming box <NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are accommodated in the third warming box <NUM>.

In the meantime, depending upon the drawing process of the yarn brand for example, the preheating roller, the drawing roller, the thermal setting roller, and the relaxing roller may require the change of the number of all or some rollers.

When the number of all or some rollers of the preheating roller, the drawing roller, the thermal setting roller, and the relaxing roller is changed depending upon the change of the yarn brand for example, the total number of the rollers may not be changed or may be changed.

When the total number of the rollers is not changed, the pitch at which the rollers are attached must have the same distance. However, when the warming boxes are changed without the change of the rollers, their respective roller groups (the preheating rollers, the drawing rollers, the thermal setting rollers, and the relaxing rollers) can have a different number of rollers. For example, when four preheating rollers, four drawing rollers, six thermal setting rollers, and two relaxing rollers are used, the warming boxes can be changed to set two preheating rollers, four drawing rollers, and eight thermal setting rollers for example. In this case, the warming box for accommodating the preheating rollers is changed from a warming box for four rollers to a warming box for two rollers and the warming box for accommodating the thermal setting roller is changed from a warming box for six rollers to a warming box for eight rollers. The warming box for accommodating the drawing rollers are the same as the one for four rollers but accommodates rollers different from those accommodated in the one for four rollers. In this manner, when there is no change in the total number of the rollers, rollers can be easily switched depending upon an application purpose by merely changing the warming boxes.

When the total number of the rollers is changed, a roller, a warming box, and a motor for driving the roller for example are unitized as a unit. This unit is configured such that the unit can be attached to a body frame <NUM>. This provides the entire or partial change of the number of the preheating rollers, the drawing rollers, the thermal setting rollers, and the relaxing rollers. The following section will describe a specific example to change the total number of the rollers with reference to <FIG> are an example a side view schematically illustrating the spun yarn take-up apparatus in accordance with the second modified example. <FIG> illustrate one example of the recombination pattern of their respective rollers.

In the example shown in <FIG>, a unit including a roller, a warming box, and a motor for driving the roller for example is configured such that the unit can be attached to the body frame <NUM> to thereby provide the arbitral change of the number of their respective rollers within a region of the drawing section <NUM>. In particular, the drawing section <NUM> is horizontally arranged on the same floor as that of the spooling unit <NUM>, and therefore providing an easy recombination of the rollers. In the example shown in <FIG>, a unit including four rollers for example is removed and a unit including two rollers for example is attached. The following section will describe an example of units.

The body frame <NUM> of the spun yarn take-up apparatus 1B shown in <FIG> has a preheating roller unit <NUM>, a drawing roller unit <NUM>, and a thermal setting roller unit <NUM>. The numbers of the preheating rollers, the drawing rollers, and the thermal setting rollers shown in <FIG> are the same as those of the spun yarn take-up apparatus <NUM> described in the above-described embodiment.

The preheating roller unit <NUM> is a unit including four preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the first warming box <NUM> that can accommodate the four preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and four motors (not shown) connected to the four preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively.

The drawing roller unit <NUM> is a unit including four drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the second warming box <NUM> that can accommodate the four drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and four motors (not shown) connected to the four drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively.

The thermal setting roller unit <NUM> is a unit including six thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the third warming box <NUM> that can accommodate six thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and six motors (not shown) connected to the six thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively.

The body frame <NUM> of the spun yarn take-up apparatus 1B shown in <FIG> has the preheating roller unit 30A, the drawing roller unit <NUM>, and the thermal setting roller unit 50A.

The preheating roller unit 30A is a unit including two preheating rollers <NUM> and <NUM>, the first warming box 39A that can accommodate the two preheating rollers <NUM> and <NUM>, and two motors (not shown) connected to the two preheating rollers <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

The drawing roller unit <NUM> is as described above.

The thermal setting roller unit 50A is a unit including four thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the third warming box 59A that can accommodate the four thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and four motors (not shown) connected to the four thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively.

The body frame <NUM> of the spun yarn take-up apparatus 1B shown in <FIG> has the preheating roller unit 30A, the drawing roller unit 40A, and the thermal setting roller unit 50B.

The preheating roller unit 30A is as described above.

The drawing roller unit 40A is a unit including two drawing rollers <NUM> and <NUM>, the second warming box 49A that can accommodate the two drawing rollers <NUM> and <NUM> and two motors (not shown) connected to the two drawing rollers <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

The thermal setting roller unit 50B is a unit including eight thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the third warming box 59B that can accommodate the eight thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and eight motors (not shown) connected to the eight thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively.

Therefore, even when the total number of the rollers is changed, a plurality of units having different numbers of their respective rollers prepared in advance can be altered in a roller-recombinant manner to be attached to the body frame <NUM> in accordance with a drawing process and/or a yarn brand so that the rollers can be easily recombined depending upon an application purpose. The recombination of their respective rollers has been particularly difficult in the conventional case where the spun yarn take-up apparatus has the drawing section at the upper floor. In contrast with this, the roller recombination can be further simplified, in the spun yarn take-up apparatus in which the spooling unit <NUM> and the drawing section <NUM> are arranged on the same floor, by the advance preparation of such units that can be arbitrarily attached to the body frame <NUM> using the region of the drawing section <NUM>.

When the preheating roller unit <NUM>, the drawing roller unit <NUM>, or the thermal setting roller unit <NUM> is replaced in a roller-recombinant manner with another unit, the replacement is performed by removing and attaching the connection wiring of the motor. When the number of the rollers of the unit after the replacement is smaller than the number of the rollers of the unit before the replacement, this means excessive motor wiring. Therefore, empty sockets may be prepared in accordance with the difference in the number of the rollers before and after the replacement and are connected wirings for the adjustment of the wiring arrangement.

In the second modified example, the unitization of relaxing rollers has not been described. However, as in the unitization of the preheating rollers, the drawing rollers, and the thermal setting rollers, a plurality of units for different numbers of relaxing rollers may also be prepared in advance for the relaxing rollers that can be attached to the body frame <NUM>.

When a to-be-recombined roller is a preheating roller, the preheating roller unit <NUM> corresponds to "the first unit" of the present invention and the preheating roller unit 30A corresponds to "the second unit" of the present invention. When a to-be-recombined roller is a drawing roller, the drawing roller unit <NUM> corresponds to "the first unit" of the present invention and the drawing roller unit 40A corresponds to "the second unit" of the present invention. When a to-be-recombined roller is a thermal setting roller, the thermal setting roller unit <NUM> corresponds to "the first unit" of the present invention and the thermal setting roller unit 50A or the thermal setting roller unit 50B corresponds to "the second unit" of the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in <FIG> for example, the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are arranged on the same floor along a direction X. As shown in <FIG> for example, the relaxing section <NUM> is arranged immediately above the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>. However, the positional relation among the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the relaxing rollers <NUM> and <NUM> is not limited to the above one. Therefore, the positional relation shown in <FIG> for example may be used.

<FIG> is an example of a side view schematically illustrating the spun yarn take-up apparatus C in accordance with the third modified example. The spun yarn take-up apparatus 1C shown in <FIG> is configured such that the drawing section <NUM> and the relaxing section <NUM> are horizontally arranged. More particularly, the first relaxing roller <NUM> and the second relaxing roller <NUM> are arranged along a direction X on the same floor as that on which the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are arranged. More specifically, the relaxing section <NUM> does not always have to be arranged above the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> for example. However, in this case, the second relaxing roller <NUM> as the downmost stream-side roller in the relaxing section <NUM> and the second guide section <NUM> have preferably therebetween the second yarn delivery rollers <NUM> and <NUM> in a traveling direction of the yarn <NUM>, i.e., upward from the relaxing section <NUM>. In this case, the second yarn delivery roller <NUM> corresponds to "the second yarn delivery roller" of the present invention. As described above, the second relaxing roller <NUM> corresponds to the "guide roller" of the present invention. This allows the yarn <NUM> to be smoothly delivered from the downmost stream-side second yarn delivery roller <NUM> among the second yarn delivery rollers <NUM> and <NUM> to the second guide section <NUM>. The number of the second yarn delivery rollers is not limited to two and therefore may be one or three or more. The number of the second yarn delivery rollers can be appropriately selected depending upon a contact angle and a contact area of the yarns wound around the roller peripheral surfaces of the second relaxing roller <NUM> and the second yarn delivery roller, respectively.

The spun yarn take-up apparatus 1C in accordance with the third modified example as described above is also preferably configured such that the second guide section <NUM> is arranged so that the yarns <NUM> delivered from the second relaxing roller <NUM> to their respective distribution rollers 70A-<NUM> at a position immediately above the spooling unit <NUM> have such an acute angle formed by a yarn traveling direction and a horizontal plane that is larger than or equal to <NUM>° as well as smaller than or equal to <NUM>°.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in <FIG> for example, the first guide section <NUM> is arranged in the vicinity of the upper part of the drawing section <NUM>, the yarn suctioning unit <NUM> is arranged immediately above the first guide section <NUM>, and the oil supply unit <NUM> is arranged immediately above the yarn suctioning unit <NUM>. Further, the drawing section <NUM> and the spooling unit <NUM> (see <FIG>) are horizontally arranged. The preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are horizontally arranged in a direction X in series on the same. Further, the preheating rollers <NUM>-<NUM> , the drawing rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, and the thermal setting rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are arranged so that two or three rollers are closely adjacently arranged in an up-and-down direction, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to the above positional relation among the oil supply unit <NUM>, the yarn suctioning unit <NUM>, the first guide section <NUM>, the drawing section <NUM>, and the spooling unit <NUM>. Therefore, the positional relation shown in <FIG> for example may be used to include the relaxing section <NUM>.

<FIG> is an example of a side view illustrating the periphery of the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section 28A in accordance with the fourth modified example. Although <FIG> does not show the spooling unit <NUM>, the drawing section 28A in the fourth modified example includes at least one lower roller horizontally arranged with the spooling unit <NUM> (see <FIG> for example) on the same floor in a direction X in series and at least one upper roller arranged at the same height of those of the oil supply unit <NUM> and the yarn suctioning unit <NUM>. More specifically, instead of horizontally arranging all of a plurality of rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM> (see <FIG>) included in the drawing section <NUM> shown in <FIG> for example with the spooling unit <NUM>, a plurality of rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM> included in the drawing section 28A may also be partially arranged horizontally with the spooling unit <NUM> and other rollers may be arranged at the same height as those of the oil supply unit <NUM> and the yarn suctioning unit <NUM>. The first guide section <NUM> is arranged in the vicinity of the upper part of at least one lower roller included in the drawing section 28A. The yarn suctioning unit <NUM> is arranged immediately above the first guide section <NUM>. The oil supply unit <NUM> is arranged immediately above the yarn suctioning unit <NUM>. The first yarn delivery roller <NUM> is arranged at a position displaced from any of the first guide section <NUM> and the drawing section 28A in a direction opposite to a direction X. Therefore, the spun yarn take-up apparatus can have a reduced height and a lower floor even when the positional relation shown in <FIG> for example is arranged among their respective rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM> (see <FIG>) included in the oil supply unit <NUM>, the yarn suctioning unit <NUM>, the first guide section <NUM>, the first yarn delivery roller <NUM>, and the drawing section 28A.

In <FIG>, <NUM> lower rollers for example and nine upper rollers for example are shown. However, the present invention is not limited to these numbers of rollers. The drawing section 28A includes at least one preheating roller, at least one drawing roller, and at least one thermal setting roller. The numbers of the preheating rollers, the drawing rollers, and the thermal setting rollers can be appropriately determined depending upon the drawing process and/or the yarn brand for example. Therefore, at least one of the preheating rollers, the drawing rollers, and the thermal setting rollers may be used as an upper roller or any of the preheating rollers, the drawing rollers, and the thermal setting rollers may be used as exclusively used as an upper roller.

Claim 1:
A spun yarn take-up apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C) comprising a spun yarn take-up unit (<NUM>) for taking up and at least drawing a plurality of yarns (<NUM>) spun from a spinning machine, a plurality of yarn suctioning units (<NUM>, 4A-<NUM>) capable of suctioning the plurality of yarns (<NUM>), respectively, and a spooling unit (<NUM>) for winding the plurality of yarns (<NUM>) delivered from the spun yarn take-up unit (<NUM>) to form a wound package, wherein
the spun yarn take-up unit (<NUM>) includes:
a first guide section (<NUM>), arranged below the plurality of yarn suctioning units (<NUM>, 4A-<NUM>), including a plurality of direction-changing rollers (10A-<NUM>) for changing traveling directions of the plurality of yarns (<NUM>), respectively;
a drawing section (<NUM>, 28A) including a plurality of rollers (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) having at least one roller for drawing the plurality of yarns (<NUM>) guided by the first guide section (<NUM>); and
a second guide section (<NUM>) for guiding the plurality of yarns (<NUM>) from the drawing section (<NUM>, 28A) to the spooling unit (<NUM>), and wherein
the drawing section (<NUM>, 28A) is arranged at substantially the same height as that of the spooling unit (<NUM>), and the first guide section (<NUM>) is arranged above at least one roller of the drawing section (<NUM>, 28A),
a first yarn delivery roller (<NUM>) is provided on a yarn path from the plurality of direction-changing rollers (10A-<NUM>) to the drawing section (<NUM>, 28A), and
the first yarn delivery roller (<NUM>) is arranged below the plurality of yarn suctioning units (<NUM>, 4A-<NUM>) and separated in a horizontal direction from the first guide section (<NUM>) and the drawing section (<NUM>, 28A).