Thread production device, and aggregating part

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016153125-A1
Application number	US-201314905225-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 22, 2013
Priority date	Jul 22, 2013
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A yarn producing apparatus produces CNT (carbon nanotube) yarn from CNT fibers while causing the CNT fibers to run. The yarn producing apparatus includes an aggregating unit that aggregates the CNT fibers, and a twisting and winding device that twists the CNT fibers aggregated by the aggregating unit. The aggregating unit includes an adjusting mechanism that adjusts the aggregation state of the CNT fibers.

First claim

1 . A yarn producing apparatus for producing carbon nanotube yarn from carbon nanotube fibers while causing the carbon nanotube fibers to run, the yarn producing apparatus comprising:
an aggregating unit that aggregates the carbon nanotube fibers; and a twisting unit that twists the carbon nanotube fibers aggregated by the aggregating unit; wherein the aggregating unit includes an adjusting mechanism that adjusts an aggregation state of the carbon nanotube fibers.

2 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the aggregating unit aggregates the carbon nanotube fibers while exerting a force on the carbon nanotube fibers in a direction vertical to a direction of the carbon nanotube fibers running.

3 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the aggregating unit aggregates the carbon nanotube fibers while exerting the force on the carbon nanotube fibers by causing the carbon nanotube fibers to pass through a through hole in contact with the through hole.

4 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the aggregating unit further includes a plurality of assembly parts that define the through hole; and the adjusting mechanism adjusts the aggregation state of the carbon nanotube fibers by adjusting a positional relation between the assembly parts and adjusting an opening area of the through hole.

5 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the aggregating unit further includes a first plate-shaped member and a second plate-shaped member defining the assembly parts, the first plate-shaped member and the second plate-shaped member being provided with a first notch and a second notch respectively, the first notch and the second notch defining the through hole; and the adjusting mechanism adjusts the opening area of the through hole by moving at least one of the first plate-shaped member and the second plate-shaped member and adjusting an overlapping state of the first notch and the second notch.

6 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the aggregating unit further includes a plurality of wires and a plurality of holding pieces defining the assembly parts, the wires defining the through hole, and the holding pieces holding respective ends of the wires; and the adjusting mechanism adjusts the opening area of the through hole by swinging each of the holding pieces and adjusting an overlapping state of the wires.

7 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a tensioning unit that acts on the carbon nanotube fibers running between the aggregating unit and the twisting unit and applies tension to the carbon nanotube fibers to be twisted by the twisting unit.

8 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the tensioning unit includes a pneumatic tensioning mechanism that blows air to the carbon nanotube fibers to exert a force on the carbon nanotube fibers in a direction opposite to a direction of the carbon nanotube fibers running.

9 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the tensioning unit includes a gate-type tensioning mechanism that bends the carbon nanotube fibers by using comb tooth-shaped contact portions arranged alternately to exert a resistive force on the running carbon nanotube fibers.

10 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an additional aggregating unit arranged between the aggregating unit and the twisting unit and that aggregates the running carbon nanotube fibers.

11 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a substrate support that supports a carbon nanotube forming substrate from which the carbon nanotube fibers are drawn.

12 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the twisting unit includes:
a wind driving mechanism that causes a winding shaft provided with a winding tube to rotate about a winding centerline of the winding shaft to wind the carbon nanotube yarn onto the winding tube;
a twist driving mechanism that causes a guide to rotate around the winding tube and guide the carbon nanotube yarn to the winding tube, to twist the carbon nanotube fibers and produce the carbon nanotube yarn while causing the carbon nanotube fibers, the carbon nanotube yarn, or both of the carbon nanotube fibers and the carbon nanotube yarn, to swirl; and
a traverse driving mechanism that causes the guide to reciprocate relative to the winding tube along the winding centerline of the winding shaft to cause the carbon nanotube yarn to traverse the winding tube.

13 . An aggregating unit, in a yarn producing apparatus for producing carbon nanotube yarn from carbon nanotube fibers while causing the carbon nanotube fibers to run, that aggregates the carbon nanotube fibers, the aggregating unit comprising an adjusting mechanism that adjusts an aggregation state of the carbon nanotube fibers.

14 . The aggregating unit according to claim 13 , wherein
the aggregating unit aggregates the carbon nanotube fibers while exerting a force on the carbon nanotube fibers in a direction vertical to a direction of the carbon nanotube fibers running.

15 . The aggregating unit according to claim 14 , wherein
the aggregating unit aggregates the carbon nanotube fibers while exerting the force on the carbon nanotube fibers by causing the carbon nanotube fibers to pass through a through hole in contact with the through hole.

16 . The aggregating unit according to claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of assembly parts that define the through hole; wherein
the adjusting mechanism adjusts the aggregation state of the carbon nanotube fibers by adjusting a positional relation between the assembly parts and adjusting an opening area of the through hole.

17 . The aggregating unit according to claim 16 , further comprising a first plate-shaped member and a second plate-shaped member as the assembly parts, the first plate-shaped member and the second plate-shaped member being provided with a first notch and a second notch respectively, the first notch and the second notch defining the through hole; wherein
the adjusting mechanism adjusts the opening area of the through hole by moving at least one of the first plate-shaped member and the second plate-shaped member and adjusting an overlapping state of the first notch and the second notch.

18 . The aggregating unit according to claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of wires and a plurality of holding pieces defining the assembly parts, the wires defining the through hole, and the holding pieces holding respective ends of the wires, wherein
the adjusting mechanism adjusts the opening area of the through hole by swinging each of the holding pieces and adjusting an overlapping state of the wires.

19 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a tensioning unit that acts on the carbon nanotube fibers running between the aggregating unit and the twisting unit and applies tension to the carbon nanotube fibers to be twisted by the twisting unit.

20 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a tensioning unit that acts on the carbon nanotube fibers running between the aggregating unit and the twisting unit and applies tension to the carbon nanotube fibers to be twisted by the twisting unit.

Assignees

• Murata Machinery Ltd

Inventors

• Takashima Hiroki

Classifications

• B65H54/2896

  Flyers · CPC title

• B65H2701/314

  Carbon fibres · CPC title

• D01H1/14

  Details (drafting arrangements D01H5/00; twisting arrangements D01H7/00) · CPC title

• D01G99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• D01H5/72 Primary

  Fibre-condensing guides · CPC title