A spinning machine and method are provided for feeding a sliver end of a sliver deposited in a can to a spinning position of the spinning machine, wherein the spinning machine includes a plurality of adjacently arranged spinning positions and a plurality of cans arranged in at least a first row under the spinning positions. With a sliver gripper of a robot, the method includes seeking the sliver end from one of the cans in an area that includes at least one adjacent spinning position to a spinning position to be supplied. The sliver end is grasped with the sliver gripper and fed to the spinning position to be supplied.

A spinning machine includes a plurality of adjacently arranged spinning stations, wherein carrier devices for a fiber bundle are assigned to the spinning stations. Each spinning station operating with a fiber bundle feed device and a fiber bundle piecing device. The fiber bundle piecing device includes a sliver pickup configured to grasp and pick up a leading end of the fiber bundle from the carrier device and a supply device configured to move the leading end of the fiber bundle to the feed device. The piecing device with the sliver pickup and the supply device is at a fixed stationary position relative to the spinning stations and is assigned to a single spinning station or a group of spinning stations.

A method and a handling unit (13) are utilized for transferring a sliver (8) from a sliver can (9) into a workstation (3) of a sliver (8) processing textile machine, in particular an open-end spinning machine (1). A plurality of identical workstations (3) are arranged next to one another and a handling unit (13) is displaceable along the plurality of workstations (3). In order to transfer the sliver (8), the handling unit (13) stops at the workstation (3), the sliver (8) is captured by the handling unit (13) at the sliver can (9), and the sliver (8) is transferred to a receiving unit of the workstation (3). After the sliver (8) has been transferred, the handling unit (13) releases the sliver (8) and leaves the workstation (3). After the sliver (8) has been released, a check is carried out to determine whether the sliver (8) has been completely removed from the handling unit (13). (FIG. 4)

A spinning machine and method separate a sliver delivered out of a sliver can at a spinning station of the spinning machine. The sliver is delivered out of the sliver can with a supply device at the spinning station in a delivery direction to a spinning device, and is guided by a sliver guide between the sliver can and the supply device. The sliver is clamped in the supply device at the spinning station. In order to separate the sliver, the supply device is driven counter to the delivery direction, wherein the sliver is returned by the supply device and, as a result, the clamping of the sliver in the supply device is released.

A spinning machine includes a plurality of adjacently arranged spinning stations, wherein carrier devices for a fiber bundle are assigned to the spinning stations. Each spinning station operating with a fiber bundle feed device and a fiber bundle piecing device. The fiber bundle piecing device includes a sliver pickup configured to grasp and pick up a leading end of the fiber bundle from the carrier device and a supply device configured to move the leading end of the fiber bundle to the feed device. The piecing device with the sliver pickup and the supply device is at a fixed stationary position relative to the spinning stations and is assigned to a single spinning station or a group of spinning stations.

A method for carrying out an automatic can changing process at a spinning station of a spinning machine uses a movable can change. At the spinning station, a supply device delivers a sliver in a delivery direction from a sliver can positioned underneath the spinning station. The sliver is clamped with a clamp on the can changer and, once clamped, the silver is separated. after separation of the sliver, the supply device is driven counter to the delivery direction such that a sliver residue remaining at the spinning station is returned by the supply device and ejected from the spinning station.

A method carries out an automatic can change process at a spinning station of a spinning machine where a sliver is delivered to a spinning device from a sliver can positioned underneath the spinning station using a movable can changer that includes a can gripper. A length of a sliver residue is predefined and stored. Once the predefined length of the sliver residue length has been reached, the sliver is separated while production of a yarn from the sliver is underway at the spinning station. The sliver is clamped at the sliver can with a fixed clamp on the can changer, wherein separation of the sliver is performed by, with the can changer, removing the sliver can with the clamped sliver from the spinning station, or additionally clamping the sliver with a movable clamp on the can changer and moving the movable clamp relative to the fixed clamp.

A method for feeding a sliver end (2) of a sliver (8) deposited in a can (9) to a spinning station (3) of a spinning machine (1), wherein the spinning machine (1) comprises a plurality of adjacently arranged spinning stations (3) including cans (9) located under the spinning stations (3) in at least one row, and wherein a robot (12) grasps the sliver end (2) with the aid of a sliver gripper (14) and feeds it to a spinning station (3a) to be supplied. According to the invention, the sliver end (2) is sought in an area of at least one of the adjacent spinning stations (3b) of the spinning station (3a) to be supplied, preferably in the area (Ba) of the spinning station (3a) to be supplied and of at least one of the spinning stations (3b) adjacent to this spinning station (3a), is taken up by the sliver gripper (14) and is then fed to the spinning station (3a) to be supplied. In the case of a corresponding spinning machine, the sliver gripper (14) is designed and/or arranged on the robot (12) in such a way that it can take up the sliver end (2) in an area (Bb) of at least one spinning station (3b), which is adjacent to the spinning station (3a) to be supplied, preferably in the area (Ba) of the spinning station (3a) to be supplied and in the area (Bb) of at least one of the spinning stations (3b) adjacent to this spinning station (3a), and then feed the sliver end (2) to the spinning station (3a) to be supplied.

A method and associated handling unit transfer a sliver from a sliver can into a workstation of a sliver processing textile machine that has a plurality of identical workstations arranged next to one another. The handling unit is stopped at the workstation and the sliver is captured with the handling unit at the sliver can. The captured sliver is transferred to a receiving unit of the workstation and, after the sliver has been transferred, the sliver is released from the handling unit as the handling unit leaves the workstation. After the sliver has been released, a check is performed to determine whether the sliver has been completely removed from the handling unit.