METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPERATING A WORKSTATION OF A YARN BALLOON FORMING TEXTILE MACHINE

Abstract

A method for operating a workstation (1) of a yarn balloon forming textile machine, wherein a yarn balloon (B) formed by a continuous yarn (5) circling a spindle (2) of the workstation (1) is scanned with a sensor means (33) at said workstation. Data (D) recorded by the sensor means (33), providing information about the current diameter of the yarn balloon (B) to be monitored, is transmitted to a control circuit (18), in that the control circuit (18) calculates the current actual diameter of the yarn balloon (B) by means of this data (D) and further known data, compares this with a stipulated target diameter of the yarn balloon (B), and in that the control circuit (18) ensures that the yarn balloon (B) has the stipulated target diameter with the aid of a means (6) switched into the yarn path of the yarn (5), for influencing the yarn tension.

Claims

1. Method for operating a workstation (1) of a yarn balloon forming textile machine, wherein a yarn balloon (B) formed by a yarn (5) circulating a spindle (2) of the workstation (1) is scanned with a sensor means (33) at the workstation (1); characterized in that data (D) recorded by the sensor means (33), providing information about the current diameter of the yarn balloon (B) to be monitored, is transmitted to a control circuit (18), the control circuit (18) calculates the current actual diameter of the yarn balloon (B) with the aid of this data (D) and further known data, compares these with a stipulated target diameter of the yarn balloon (B), and the control circuit (18) ensures with a means (6) for influencing the yarn tension, switched in the yarn path of the yarn (5), that the yarn balloon (B) has the stipulated target diameter.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control circuit (18) controls the means (6) in such a way that the production speed of the workstation (1) of the yarn balloon forming textile machine always remains high and constant outside of the start and stop phases of the workstation (1).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control circuit (18) controls the means (6) in such a way that the yarn balloon (B) already has the desired target diameter during the start and stop phases of the workstation (1).

4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the control circuit (18) controls the means (6) in such a way that the target diameter of the yarn balloon (B) is limited during the start and stop phases of the workstation (1) in such a way that the distance to neighboring workstations (1) of the textile machine can be reduced.

5. Device for carrying out the method described in claim 1 and a multitude of workstations arranged next to each other, wherein each workstation (1) of the yarn balloon forming textile machine comprises a sensor means (33) for scanning the diameter of a yarn balloon (B), characterized in that the relevant sensor means (33) generates signals (i) depending on the actual diameter of the yarn balloon (B), has a control circuit (18) that evaluates the signals (i) of the sensor means (33), and is equipped with a means (6) connected to the control circuit (18) that enables the influencing of the yarn tension of a circulating yarn (5) forming the yarn balloon (B).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the yarn balloon forming textile machine is a Two-for-one twisting or cabling machine.

7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the yarn balloon forming textile machine is a ring spinning machine.

8. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the means (6) connected to the control circuit (18) is a yarn supply mechanism positioned in the yarn path of the yarn (5) before the yarn balloon (B).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the means (6) is an outer yarn supply mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

[0063] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a workstation of a double-wire twisting or cabling machine with a sensor means according to the invention, connected to a control circuit;

[0064] FIG. 2 is a control circuit for maintaining a target diameter of a yarn balloon monitored by the sensor means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0065] A schematic side view of a workstation 1 of a double-wire twisting or cabling machine is shown in FIG. 1, which comprises a creel 4, as is usual, which is normally positioned above or behind the workstation 1.

[0066] The creel 4 here serves for receiving at least one first feed package 7, from which a so-called outer yarn 5 is extracted.

[0067] The workstation 1 further has a spindle 2, rotatable around an axis of rotation 35, in the present embodiment example consisting of a cabling spindle equipped with a protective cap 19, in which a second feed package 15 is stored.

[0068] A so-called inner yarn 16 is extracted overhead from this second feed package 15, and is supplied to a balloon eye or a so-called balancing system 9 arranged above the spindle 2.

[0069] The protective cap 19, mounted on the yarn diverting means 8 designed as a rotatable yarn plate in this embodiment example, is preferably secured against rotating by a magnetic means (not shown).

[0070] The yarn diverting means of the spindle 2 is activated by a spindle drive 3, which can either be a direct drive or an indirect drive.

[0071] The outer yarn 5 extracted from the first feed package 7 is supplied to a controllable means 6 arranged in the yarn path between the creel 4 and the spindle 2 for influencing the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension, with which the yarn tension of the outer yarn 5 can be varied if necessary.

[0072] The means 6 is connected with a control circuit 18 via a control line, which regulates the yarn supply speed and/or the yarn tension applied to the outer yarn 5 by the means 6.

[0073] The controllable yarn tension applied to the outer yarn 5 by the means 6 is here preferably of a magnitude that, depending on the geometry of the spindle 2, leads to an optimisation of the free yarn balloon B, i.e. to a yarn balloon B with the smallest possible diameter.

[0074] After the means 6 the outer yarn 5 runs through the spindle drive 3 in the area of the axis of rotation of the spindle drive, and exits the hollow axis of rotation of the spindle drive 3 in a radial direction below the yarn plate 8 through a so-called yarn output bore. The outer yarn 5 then runs to the outer area of the yarn plate 8.

[0075] With the present embodiment example the outer yarn 5 is diverted upwards at the edge of the yarn plate 8 and circles the protective cap 19 of the spindle 2, in which the second feed package 15 is positioned, whilst forming a free yarn balloon B.

[0076] As is clear from FIG. 1, a sensor means 33 is also arranged above the protective head 19 of the spindle 2, which is designed as a light barrier in the embodiment example. This means that the sensor means 33 comprises a light source 41 and a light receiver 40.

[0077] With the embodiment example shown in FIG. 1 the light barrier is positioned in such a way that a measuring beam 42 emitted by the light source 41 of the sensor means 33, in this case a light beam, passes through the area of the yarn balloon B orthogonally to the axis of rotation 35 of the spindle 2, and meets the associated light receiver 40 of the sensor means 33, which is in turn connected with a control circuit 18 via a signal line.

[0078] The sensor means 33, with which the relevant current actual diameter of the yarn balloon B to be monitored is determined, does however not have to be designed as a light barrier, but can in principle also work according to another physical principle.

[0079] The measuring beam of the sensor means 33 can for example also work with any other wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum, for example radar, ultrasound, infrared etc.

[0080] As is clear from FIG. 1, the outer yarn 5 extracted from the first feed package 7 and the inner yarn 16 extracted from the second feed package 15 are joined in the area of a balloon eye or a balancing system 9, wherein the position of the balloon eye or the balancing system 9 determines the height of the free yarn balloon B that is formed.

[0081] The so-called cabling or also cording point is located in the balloon eye or the balancing system 9, in which the two yarns, the outer yarn 5 and the inner yarn 16, come together and for example form a cord yarn 17.

[0082] A yarn extraction device 10 with which the cord yarn 17 is extracted and supplied to a spooling and winding device 12 via a balancing element, such as for example a compensating means 11, is arranged above the cabling point.

[0083] The spooling and winding device 12 here comprises a drive cylinder 13, as is usual, which drives a spool 14 by means of friction.

[0084] The means 6 for influencing the yarn supply speed and/or the yarn tension described above is either designed as an electronically regulated brake or as an active supply mechanism, wherein a combination of the two above mentioned components can also be used.

[0085] A galette, a serrated lock washer or a drive roll with a corresponding pressure roll are for example possible as design variations of a supply mechanism.

[0086] The means 6 regulates the yarn tension and/or the yarn speed of the outer yarn 5 depending on the diameter of the free yarn balloon B, which is determined by the sensor means 33. This means that a measuring beam 42 initiated by the light source 41 of the sensor means 33 is for example crossed twice by the running outer yarn 5 forming the rotating yarn balloon B at every rotation of the yarn balloon B during the operation of the workstation 1, which is immediately recognised as a fault in form of a shadow by the light receiver 40 of the sensor means 33 and transmitted to the control circuit 18 as an electric signal i.

[0087] The control circuit 18 then immediately calculated the current actual diameter of the yarn balloon B from the time gap between the two faults, and therefore the electric signal I generated by the light receiver 40 of the sensor means 33 at every rotation of the yarn balloon B. The control circuit 18 also immediately acts to regulate the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension of the outer yarn 5 via the means 6 if necessary when the actual detected diameter of the yarn balloon differs from the target diameter. This means that the control circuit 18 immediately initiates a correction of the diameter of the circulating yarn balloon B.

[0088] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment example for a control circuit 18 as used with the method according to the invention for maintaining a desired diameter of a yarn balloon B.

[0089] As is clear, a regulator element 20 of the control circuit 18 is connected to an input device 22 via a line 21 as well as a sensor means 33 via line 23. The regulator element 20 is further connected with a means 6 for influencing the yarn tension via a line 24.

[0090] Operators can enter the data of the yarn balloon created at the workstation in question via the input device 22 here, i.e. the regulator element 20 is supplied with values and data for the target diameter of a yarn balloon B via the input device.

[0091] The values and data of the target diameter of the yarn balloon B can of course be corrected at any time at the input device 22 if necessary.

[0092] The stipulated target data of the yarn balloon B are immediately compared with the actual data of the sensor means 33 in the regulator element 20 by means of the input device 22, i.e. with data that has been generated by the sensor means 33 whilst monitoring the circulating yarn balloon B.

[0093] As already explained above the sensor means can for example be designed as a light barrier that monitors the circulating yarn forming the yarn balloon B with a light beam 42 emitted by a light source 41.

[0094] If the regulator element 20 detects a deviation from the actual values of the yarn balloon diameter recorded by the sensor means 33 from the target values of the diameter of the yarn balloon B stipulated via the input means 22, the regulator element 20 immediately activates the means 6 via a control line 24, with which the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension of the outer yarn 5 can be influenced.

[0095] This means that the regulator element 20 ensures that the diameter of the monitored yarn balloon B is immediately corrected with the means 6 in a case of a deviation of actual values of the yarn balloon diameter from the target values in such a way that the target values for the diameter of the monitored yarn balloon B stipulated via the input means 22 once again exist precisely.

[0096] This means that the control circuit 18 immediately applies a correction in the control path area 25 if a fault 26 relating to the diameter of the yarn balloon B occurs in the present system, wherein regulation of the diameter of the yarn balloon B is characterized by the constant balancing of actual and target values of the yarn balloon B, i.e. such balancing is carried out at every rotation of the yarn balloon B.

[0097] This statement applies for the variable process speed of a workstation during the start and stop phases as well as during normal operation of a workstation, when a constant production speed is maintained.

[0098] The referenced balloon shape, and thus also the optimally minimised diameter of the yarn balloon B, does not only lead to a minimal energy requirement of the workstations of the yarn balloon forming textile machine, but also to a minimisation of the space requirement needed for the twisting process. This means that the space requirement needed for the twisting process, which has to date been stipulated by the yarn type or the diameter of the yarn balloons of the yarn type, amongst other things, can be clearly reduced with the method according to the invention, as there is no longer an unnecessarily large formation of the yarn balloon B thanks to the constant measuring and regulation of the diameter of the yarn balloon B irrespective of the relevant yarn type.

[0099] The continuous regulation of the diameter of the yarn balloon consequently leads to a smaller space requirement for individual workstations of a yarn balloon forming textile machine. This means that a yarn balloon forming textile machine, the workstations of which work with the method according to the invention, can be equipped with more workstations without changing the original machine length of the yarn balloon forming textile machine.

[0100] As the devices for carrying out the method according to the invention are present at every workstation, an independent yarn balloon control is possible at every workstation of the yarn balloon forming textile machine.

[0101] The values and data of the diameter of the yarn balloon of every individual workstation, or the corresponding values and data of a multitude of workstations, preferably all of the workstations of a yarn balloon forming textile machine, can also for example be evaluated in a central computer means.

[0102] The evaluated data can then serve for statistical purposes as well as for the optimisation of the referenced diameter of the yarn balloon.

[0103] Although the aim of the present method according to the invention is a twisting or cabling process that can be operated without use of a storage plate, the twisting or cabling process can also in principle be operated with an existing storage plate.

[0104] Use of the method according to the invention is in principle also possible at workstations equipped with a twisting plate. With such workstations, where the running yarn circulating during the twisting process before it circulates as a yarn balloon is subject to guiding or a constant output from a twisting plate, the method according to the invention can be used to advantage.

[0105] The method according to the invention can also be used to advantage in connection with a reference spindle. This means that the method according to the invention is used on at least one workstation of the yarn balloon forming textile machine, which works as a reference spindle. The values determined by the reference spindle by means of method according to the invention are then used for setting up the neighboring workstations of the textile machine.

[0106] It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiment, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.