An apparatus and method of automatically moving yarn packages between yarn processing stations in a textile environment that includes the steps of providing a yarn package elevator, transporting a yarn package on the yarn package elevator from a textile machine position to a common transfer location, and holding the package in a stationary position on an elevator tray. A label is applied to a surface of the package and the elevator tray and package is moved to a knot-tying location, the package is removed from the elevator tray to a knotting head apparatus at the knot-tying location and a knot is tied in a package yarn tail of the package to secure the package tail from unraveling in subsequent package handling steps. Correct application of the knot to the yarn tail is either validated, or in the alternative, if the knot is not validated, the package is forwarded to a location for manual reworking to apply a correct knot to the yarn tail.

A creel assembly having an outer wall defines an interior space, a plurality of yarn package engagement locations distributed within the interior space, a gantry that is movable secured within the interior space, and at least one processor. The gantry is positioned to selectively engage yarn packages within the interior space. In use, the gantry can selectively access the plurality of yarn package engagement locations. The processor is communicatively coupled to the gantry and receives an input corresponding to a selected action by the gantry. Modular creel systems can be formed from a plurality of the disclosed creel assemblies. Methods of using and assembling the disclosed creel assemblies and modular creel systems are also disclosed.

A textile machine management system and associated method for textile machines include automated guided transportation vehicles that transport material carriers between the textile machines. A logistic control system controls movement of the transportation vehicles. A material management apparatus manages the material flow between the textile machines and includes: a material flow database; a prediction module; and a disposition module.

Automatic operation of a ring spinning system containing a ring spinning machine having spinning positions and a winding machine having winding positions. Yarn is spun at one of the spinning positions and wound up to a cop. Values of a parameter characteristic for the operation of the spinning position are determined during the winding of the cop and stored as spinning data that is assigned to the cop. The spinning data assigned to the cop is taken into account when deciding whether to feed the cop after it has been set down to one of the winding positions. The assignment is based on an identification of a point in time of winding of the cop and an identification of the spinning position at which the cop was wound.

A textile machine producing cross-wound packages with a plurality of identical workstations which are arranged in the area of the longitudinal sides of the textile machine and each of which has a winding device, and equipped with a tube supply device which includes a central tube magazine and at least one tube conveyor belt installed in the area of the longitudinal sides of the machine, in which case a cross-wound package can be removed, if necessary, from the winding device of the relevant workstation on the textile machine producing cross-wound packages and can be transferred to a cross-wound package transport device running the length of the machine, and an empty tube provided on the tube conveyor belt of the tube supply device can be inserted by means of a tube gripper into the winding device of the relevant workstation. The tube supply device is designed in such a way that the tube conveyor belt can be used as a tube accumulator for empty tubes during the operation of the textile machine producing cross-wound packages. In order to improve the efficiency of such a textile machine producing cross-wound packages, in particular to minimize significantly the tube delivery times arising in the event of yarn lot changes at a textile machine producing cross-wound packages, a drive is connected to the at least one tube conveyor belt, which drive enables reversible operation of the tube conveyor belt.

The method is used for the automatic operation of a ring spinning system (1) which contains a ring spinning machine (2) having a plurality of spinning positions (21) and a winding machine (3) having a plurality of winding positions (31). Yarn (92) is spun at one of the spinning positions (21) and wound up to a cop (91). For the spinning position (21), values of a parameter characteristic for the operation of the spinning position (21) are determined during the winding of the cop (91) and stored as spinning data. The spinning data are assigned to the cop (91). The cop (91) is set down from the spinning position (21). The spinning data assigned to the cop (91) is taken into account when deciding whether to feed the cop (91) after it has been set down to one of the winding positions (31). The automatic assignment is based on an identification of a point in time of winding of the cop (91) and an identification of the spinning position (21) at which the cop (91) was wound.

An automatic reading device for tracking a reel of thread having a tube provided with an RFID tag is provided. The automatic reading device has a reader suitable for exchanging information with the RFID tag by an antenna and an electronic system having a central processing unit. The automatic reading device has a reel handling support having a tip on which a plurality of reels of thread having the tube provided with the RFID tag are insertable in sequence. The tip is the antenna.

A weaving apparatus using devices for the processing and/or treatment of threads or yarns, comprising a system for the management of threads or yarns. The spools are associated with a respective marker and the apparatus comprises at least one reader of the marker, a storage device functionally associated with the at least one reader being provided.

A textile machine producing cross-wound packages with a plurality of identical workstations which are arranged in the area of the longitudinal sides of the textile machine and each of which has a winding device, and equipped with a tube supply device which includes a central tube magazine and at least one tube conveyor belt installed in the area of the longitudinal sides of the machine, in which case a cross-wound package can be removed, if necessary, from the winding device of the relevant workstation on the textile machine producing cross-wound packages and can be transferred to a cross-wound package transport device running the length of the machine, and an empty tube provided on the tube conveyor belt of the tube supply device can be inserted by means of a tube gripper into the winding device of the relevant workstation. The tube supply device is designed in such a way that the tube conveyor belt can be used as a tube accumulator for empty tubes during the operation of the textile machine producing cross-wound packages. In order to improve the efficiency of such a textile machine producing cross-wound packages, in particular to minimize significantly the tube delivery times arising in the event of yarn lot changes at a textile machine producing cross-wound packages, a drive is connected to the at least one tube conveyor belt, which drive enables reversible operation of the tube conveyor belt.

A creel assembly having an outer wall defines an interior space, a plurality of yarn package engagement locations distributed within the interior space, a gantry that is movable secured within the interior space, and at least one processor. The gantry is positioned to selectively engage yarn packages within the interior space. In use, the gantry can selectively access the plurality of yarn package engagement locations. The processor is communicatively coupled to the gantry and receives an input corresponding to a selected action by the gantry. Modular creel systems can be formed from a plurality of the disclosed creel assemblies. Methods of using and assembling the disclosed creel assemblies and modular creel systems are also disclosed.