Thread production device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016160401-A1
Application number	US-201314905202-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 22, 2013
Priority date	Jul 22, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A yarn producing apparatus is an apparatus for producing 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.

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:
a preliminary aggregating unit that aggregates the carbon nanotube fibers while exerting a resistive force on the carbon nanotube fibers against a direction in which the carbon nanotube fibers run; and a twisting unit that twists the carbon nanotube fibers aggregated by the preliminary aggregating unit.

2 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the preliminary aggregating unit includes an adjusting mechanism that adjusts an aggregation state of the carbon nanotube fibers.

3 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the preliminary aggregating unit further includes a plurality of assembly parts that define a through hole that the carbon nanotube fibers pass through while in contact with 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.

4 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the preliminary 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.

5 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the preliminary aggregating unit further includes a plurality of wires and a plurality of holding pieces defining the assembly parts, the plurality of wires defining the through hole and the plurality of holding pieces holding respective ends of the plurality of wires; and the adjusting mechanism adjusts the opening area of the through hole by swinging each of the plurality of holding pieces and adjusting an overlapping state of the plurality of wires.

6 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the adjusting mechanism monitors a value of tension exerted on the carbon nanotube fibers running between the preliminary aggregating unit and the twisting unit and changes the opening area of the through hole by feedback control, depending on a result of the monitoring.

7 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a tensioning unit that acts on the carbon nanotube fibers running between the preliminary 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 the direction opposite to the direction in which the carbon nanotube fibers run.

9 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the tensioning unit is a gate 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 8 , further comprising a substrate support that supports a carbon nanotube forming substrate from which the carbon nanotube fibers are drawn.

11 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 10 , 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 to guide the carbon nanotube yarn to the winding tube and 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.

12 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a substrate support that supports a carbon nanotube forming substrate from which the carbon nanotube fibers are drawn.

13 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 12 , 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 to guide the carbon nanotube yarn to the winding tube and 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.

14 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the adjusting mechanism monitors a value of tension exerted on the carbon nanotube fibers running between the preliminary aggregating unit and the twisting unit and changes the opening area of the through hole by feedback control, depending on a result of the monitoring.

15 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a tensioning unit that acts on the carbon nanotube fibers running between the preliminary aggregating unit and the twisting unit and applies tension to the carbon nanotube fibers to be twisted by the twisting unit.

16 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 15 , 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 the direction opposite to the direction in which the carbon nanotube fibers run.

17 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising a substrate support that supports a carbon nanotube forming substrate from which the carbon nanotube fibers are drawn.

18 . The yarn producing apparatus according to claim 17 , 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 to guide the carbon nanotube yarn to the winding tube and 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 nanot

Assignees

• Murata Machinery Ltd

Inventors

• Takashima Hiroki

Classifications

• D01H1/04

  flyer type · CPC title

• B65H51/015

  Gathering a plurality of forwarding filamentary materials into a bundle · CPC title

• D01G99/00

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

• B65H54/2896

  Flyers · CPC title

• D01H13/04

  Guides for slivers, rovings, or yarns; Smoothing dies (fibre-condensing guides D01H5/72 {; means to facilitate the unwinding of yarn in multiple-twist arrangements D01H7/866}) · CPC title