With a method for controlling a piecing process for piecing up a yarn at a textile machine, in particular a spinning machine, by means of a piecing device, a multiple number of work steps as preparation for the actual piecing operation are carried out successively in a chronological sequence. In each case, a predetermined time period is allocated to the work steps. For at least one of the work steps, the predetermined time period can be varied, whereas the current time period of the work step is determined as a function of a yarn characteristic of the currently produced yarn and/or as a function of a utilization of the piecing device. A control unit is designed to operate the textile machine according to this method.

A method for operating a textile machine producing cross-wound packages has a multiplicity of autonomous work stations that each have a spinning apparatus and a winding apparatus and are equipped with a suction nozzle, connected to the vacuum network of the textile machine, for receiving a thread from the surface of a cross-wound package, and also a storage nozzle, likewise connected to the vacuum network, for temporarily storing excess thread length, and which is operated at least by one service unit that exchanges full cross-wound packages for empty tubes as required. The invention provides for the actuation of a cross-wound package/empty tube exchange by one of the service units to be prevented during the operations of restarting of the work stations, thereby ensuring that, during the restarting of the autonomous work stations, the maximum number of work stations always starts up again at the same time.

A method for operating a textile machine producing cross-wound packages has a multiplicity of autonomous work stations that each have a spinning apparatus and a winding apparatus and are equipped with a suction nozzle, connected to the vacuum network of the textile machine, for receiving a thread from the surface of a cross-wound package, and also a storage nozzle, likewise connected to the vacuum network, for temporarily storing excess thread length, and which is operated at least by one service unit that exchanges full cross-wound packages for empty tubes as required. The invention provides for the actuation of a cross-wound package/empty tube exchange by one of the service units to be prevented during the operations of restarting of the work stations, thereby ensuring that, during the restarting of the autonomous work stations, the maximum number of work stations always starts up again at the same time.

With a method for controlling a setting process for re-setting a yarn (G) at a textile machine, in particular a spinning machine (1), by means of a setting device (5), a multiple number of work steps as preparation for the actual setting operation are carried out successively in a chronological sequence. In each case, a predetermined time period is allocated to the work steps within which the respective work step is carried out. For at least one of the work steps, the predetermined time period can be varied, whereas the current time period of the at least one work step is determined as a function of a yarn characteristic (GC) of the currently produced yarn (G and/or as a function of a utilization of the setting device (5). A textile machine features a control unit (12), which is designed to operate the textile machine according to this method.

A system has at least one winder configured to wind yarn to form a yarn package. At least one sampling and tying machine is configured to remove a portion of the yarn of the yarn package and tie off a free end of the yarn around the yarn package to inhibit the yarn package from unwinding. A dunnage supply area has therein at least one support structure for receiving a plurality of yarn packages thereon. A robotic arm is configured to: move the yarn package from the at least one winder to the at least one sampling and tying machine; move the yarn package from the at least one sampling and tying machine to at least one case assembly area; and stack the yarn package on a support structure in the at least one case assembly area.

A system has at least one winder configured to wind yarn to form a yarn package. At least one sampling and tying machine is configured to remove a portion of the yarn of the yarn package and tie off a free end of the yarn around the yarn package to inhibit the yarn package from unwinding. A dunnage supply area has therein at least one support structure for receiving a plurality of yarn packages thereon. A robotic arm is configured to: move the yarn package from the at least one winder to the at least one sampling and tying machine; move the yarn package from the at least one sampling and tying machine to at least one case assembly area; and stack the yarn package on a support structure in the at least one case assembly area.

A textile machine, especially a spinning machine or winding machine, has numerous identical workstations arranged beside one another along a longitudinal side, with numerous maintenance devices movable along the workstations for servicing the workstations, and with a control and communication system. The maintenance devices are connected to a bus topology component through a maintenance device bus line, in which case at least some of the bus topology components are connected to the control and communication system with a common bus line. The bus topology components are arranged in a middle area of the textile machine, in the longitudinal direction (LR) of the textile machine.

A textile machine, especially a spinning machine or winding machine, has numerous identical workstations arranged beside one another along a longitudinal side, with numerous maintenance devices movable along the workstations for servicing the workstations, and with a control and communication system. The maintenance devices are connected to a bus topology component through a maintenance device bus line, in which case at least some of the bus topology components are connected to the control and communication system with a common bus line. The bus topology components are arranged in a middle area of the textile machine, in the longitudinal direction (LR) of the textile machine.

A winding module and a winding installation including winding modules for winding metal wire. In such a winding installation or take-up bench a driven capstan is used to pull the metal wire through a processing installation before being led onto a take-up spool. The spool is driven by a cantilever supported shaft. In prior art take-up benches, both the capstan and the spool is reachable by an operator from the same side. This means that the capstan directionthe direction from the driven side of the capstan to the operator sideis equal to the shaft directionthe direction from the drive side of the shaft to the open end of the shaft. In the inventive winding module the capstan direction is opposite to the shaft direction, which provides a completely different operation of the winding module and the winding installation and facilitates the introduction of doffing robots.

A winding module and a winding installation including winding modules for winding metal wire. In such a winding installation or take-up bench a driven capstan is used to pull the metal wire through a processing installation before being led onto a take-up spool. The spool is driven by a cantilever supported shaft. In prior art take-up benches, both the capstan and the spool is reachable by an operator from the same side. This means that the capstan directionthe direction from the driven side of the capstan to the operator sideis equal to the shaft directionthe direction from the drive side of the shaft to the open end of the shaft. In the inventive winding module the capstan direction is opposite to the shaft direction, which provides a completely different operation of the winding module and the winding installation and facilitates the introduction of doffing robots.