METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT AN AUTOMATIC CAN CHANGING PROCESS AT A SPINNING STATION OF A SPINNING MACHINE, AND SPINNING MACHINE AND MOVABLE CAN CHANGER

Abstract

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.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. A method for carrying out an automatic can changing process at a spinning station of a spinning machine with a movable can changer, wherein at the spinning station a supply device delivers a sliver in a delivery direction from a sliver can positioned underneath the spinning station, the method comprising: clamping the sliver with a clamp on the can changer; once clamped, separating the sliver; and after separation of the sliver, driving the supply device 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.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sliver residue is removed from a sliver guide at the spinning station and disposed of.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sliver is separated while production of a yarn from the sliver is underway at the spinning station.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein a length of the sliver residue is predefined and stored in a control, once the predefined length of the sliver residue has been reached, the can changing process is initiated and the shyer is separated.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sliver can is initially pulled by the can changer out from underneath the spinning station into a position in front of the spinning station before the shyer is clamped, and the sliver is then clamped at a front edge of the sliver can facing the spinning station.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein the clamp is a fixed clamp on a can gripper of the can changer.

23. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sliver is separated by by the can changer moving the sliver can with the clamped sliver away from the spinning station.

24. The method according to claim 17, wherein the clamp is a movable clamp, and the sliver separated by moving the movable clamp relative to the can.

25. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sliver residue is removed by a suction device of the spinning machine or the can changer.

26. A spinning machine, comprising: a plurality of adjacently arranged spinning stations; each of the spinning stations comprising a supply device to deliver sliver to a spinning device; a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to carry out the process according to claim 17.

27. The spinning machine according to claim 26, wherein the spinning stations each comprise a measuring device configured to determine a length of the sliver residue to be spun, a value for the length of the sliver residue predefined and stored in the control unit such that the can changing process is initiated when the value for the length of the sliver residue is reached.

28. The spinning machine according to claim 26, further comprising a handling device configured to remove the remaining sliver residue from a sliver guide at the spinning station.

29. A movable can changer, comprising: a can gripper; a fixed clamp on the can gripper; and the movable can changer configured to perform the method for carrying out an automatic can changing process at a spinning station of a spinning machine in accordance with claim 17.

30. The movable can changer according to claim 29, further comprising a movable clamp configured on the can gripper.

31. The movable can changer according to claim 29, further comprising a handling device configured to remove the sliver residue remaining at the spinning station from a sliver guide of the spinning station.

32. The movable can changer according to claim 31, wherein the handling device comprises a suction device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments, wherein, schematically:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows an overview representation of a spinning machine in a schematic front view,

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of spinning station of a spinning machine with a can changer prior to an automatic can changing process,

[0029] FIG. 3 shows the spinning station from FIG. 2 after the clamping of the sliver,

[0030] FIG. 4 shows the spinning station from FIG. 2 after the separation of the sliver according to a first embodiment, which includes a fixed clamp,

[0031] FIG. 5 shows the spinning station from FIG. 2 after the separation of the sliver according to a second embodiment, which includes an additional movable clamp,

[0032] FIG. 6 shows a truncated representation of a spinning station after the separation and prior to the ejection of the sliver,

[0033] FIG. 7 shows the spinning station from FIG. 6 during the removal of the sliver,

[0034] FIG. 8 shows the spinning station from FIG. 6 after the ejection of the sliver,

[0035] FIG. 9 shows the spinning station from FIG. 2 during the disposal of the sliver residue according to a first embodiment, and

[0036] FIG. 10 shows the spinning station from FIG. 2 during the disposal of the sliver residue according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In the following description of the alternative exemplary embodiments represented in the figures, the same reference signs are utilized for features that are identical or at least comparable in terms of their configuration and/or mode of operation. Provided the features are not described in detail again, their design and/or mode of operation correspond/corresponds to the design and mode of operation of the above-described features. For the sake of greater clarity, reference signs for previously described components have not been individually included in the figures.

[0038] In the following description of the exemplary embodiments, features that are identical or at least comparable with respect to their design and/or mode of operation are provided with identical reference characters. Moreover, these features are explained in detail only at their first mention, while only the differences from the previously described exemplary embodiments are discussed in the subsequent exemplary embodiments. Moreover, for the sake of clarity, often only one or only a few of several identical components and/or features is/are labeled.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a spinning machine 1 that includes a plurality of adjacently arranged spinning stations 2. The spinning stations 2 are arranged, in the usual way, between two frames 11 on one or also on both longitudinal side(s) of the spinning machine 1. Each of the spinning stations 2 includes a supply device 5, by means of which a sliver 4 is delivered out of a sliver can 3 to a spinning device 6. The sliver cans 3 are placed underneath the spinning stations 2 in one row or also in multiple rows. By means of the spinning device 6, a yarn 8 is spun out of the sliver 4, the yarn 8 also being wound, as is known, onto a bobbin 7 by means of a winding device. The sliver 4 is guided by a sliver guide 9 at the spinning station 2 as it travels between the sliver can 3 and the supply device 5. In the spinning machine 1 shown, a measuring device 17 is also arranged at each spinning station 2, by means of which a remaining length of the sliver 4 still located in the particular sliver can 3 can be ascertained. This can be carried out, for example, indirectly, by measuring the running length of the sliver 4 that has already been processed.

[0040] In the present example, the spinning machine 1 also has a movable service device 12 that includes service elements 24, which can carry out service operations, such as, for example, bobbin changes, cleaning processes, or also piecing processes, depending on the design of the spinning machine 1. The spinning stations 2 of the spinning machine 1 are preferably designed, however, as at least semi-autonomous spinning stations 2, which can automatically carry out at least one piecing process. The spinning stations 2 can also be fully autonomous, and therefore a movable service device 12 is not absolutely necessary.

[0041] The spinning machine 1 shown in the present case also includes a negative pressure channel 22, which extends along the spinning stations 2 and which is acted upon by vacuum from a central vacuum source 23. The negative pressure channel 22 can provide the negative pressure for spinning in the case of a rotor spinning machine. Suction devices 19 (see FIG. 10) of the spinning machine 1 can also be acted upon by means of the negative pressure channel 22.

[0042] The spinning machine 1 also includes at least one control unit 16 for controlling the spinning stations 2 and, if necessary, the service device 12. In the present case, a control unit 16, as a central machine control system of the spinning machine 1, is apparent. Control units 16 can also be additionally provided at the spinning stations 2, however, as shown in the present case, in order to control working elements of the spinning stations, such as, for example, the measuring device 17, the supply device 5, the spinning device 6, and others. Each spinning station 2 can include a separate control unit 16 as a spinning station control system, or one control unit 16 can be provided as a spinning station control system for a group of spinning stations 2.

[0043] The spinning machine 1 can be designed as a rotor spinning machine, and therefore a feeder is provided as a supply device 5. The spinning machine 1 could also be designed as an air-jet spinning machine, however, wherein the supply device 5 would then be designed as a drafting system.

[0044] With reference to FIGS. 2 through 4, a method is presented for carrying out an automatic can changing process at a spinning station 2 of a spinning machine 1 by means of a movable can changer 14.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows the spinning station 2 in a schematic side view. The sliver 4 is guided out of the sliver can 3a, which is to be removed in the can changing process, through the sliver guide 9 and over the measuring device 17 before reaching the supply device 5, and is fed by the supply device 5 to the spinning device 6. The can changing process can, for example, be initiated as soon as the measuring device 17 registers that a predefined sliver residue length has been reached. The desired sliver residue length can be stored, for example, in the control unit 16 of the spinning machine 1 and/or of the spinning station 2. The measuring device 17 is in a control connection with the control unit 16 for this purpose.

[0046] The can changer 14 is summoned for the automatic can changing process, the can changer 14 carrying a full sliver can 3b (represented using dash-dotted lines). The can changer 14 includes a can gripper 15 in order to handle the sliver cans 3 and exchange the sliver can 3a (represented using solid lines), which is to be removed and replaced, for the full sliver can 3b. In the view shown in FIG. 2, the can changer 14 has already positioned itself in front of the relevant spinning station 2 and, using the can gripper 15, grasped the sliver can 3a to be removed. The can changer 14 in the present case has a fixed clamp 18 for clamping the sliver 4 at the sliver can 3, the fixed clamp 18 being arranged at the can gripper in the present case. The fixed clamp 18 is shown in the open state in the present case. Production is preferably still underway at the spinning station 2 at this point in time. Therefore, sliver 4 is still spun during and possibly also after the separation of the sliver 4, and so only a short piece of sliver residue 21 remains and the downtimes of the spinning station 2 are reduced. It is also possible, however, to first stop the spinning station 2 and only then initiate the can changing process by separating the sliver.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows the spinning station 2 from FIG. 2 after the clamping of the sliver 4. The clamp 18 is now shown in the closed state. By means of the can gripper 15, the sliver can 3a to be removed has been grasped and initially moved out of its position underneath the spinning station 2, which is shown in FIG. 2, into a position in front of the spinning station 2. In this position, the front edge 20 of the sliver can 3, which faces the spinning station 2, is now also easily accessible, since the spinning can 3 is no longer located underneath the spinning station 2. As the sliver can 3a to be removed is pulled forward, the sliver 4 is simultaneously laid over the edge or the front edge 20 of the sliver can. The sliver 4 is now accessible by the fixed clamp 18. By actuating the fixed clamp 18, the sliver 4 is now clamped at the front edge 20 of the sliver can 3a. Thereafter, the sliver can 3a, including the clamped sliver 4, can be completely transferred onto the can changer 14, as a result of which the sliver 4 is separated.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows the spinning station 2 from FIG. 2 after the separation of the sliver. The sliver can 3a, including the sliver 4 clamped at the front edge 20 of the sliver can 3a, has been removed from the spinning station 2 and transferred out of the pulled-forward position completely onto the can changer 14 by means of the can gripper 15. The sliver 4 was separated at the same time due to the movement of the can gripper 15. The sliver residue 21 remaining at the spinning station 2 is now exposed and can be ejected or removed from the spinning station 2 and disposed of.

[0049] FIGS. 2 through 4 show a clamp 18 that is arranged at the can gripper 15. Alternatively, it would also be possible, however, to arrange the clamp 18 separately at the can changer. It would also be conceivable to arrange a fixed clamp 18 at each spinning station.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows the separation of the sliver 4 according to a second embodiment, which includes an additional movable clamp 10, which is also arranged at the can gripper 15 in the present case. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable in this case, however, to arrange the movable clamp at the can changer 14 separately from the can gripper 15. An arrangement at the spinning station 2 would also be conceivable. FIG. 5 shows the spinning station from FIG. 2 after the separation of the sliver 4.

[0051] In contrast to the embodiment from FIGS. 2 through 4, once the sliver can 3a to be removed has been pulled out of its position underneath the spinning station 2 into the position in front of the spinning station 2, the sliver 4 has now been additionally clamped by means of the movable clamp 10. The sliver 4 is now separated not by moving or removing the sliver can 3a, which is to be removed, but rather by moving the movable clamp 10. The movable clamp 10, with the sliver 4 clamped therein, is moved away from the fixed clamp 18 to a certain extent, as a result of which the sliver 4 is separated. As a result, a clean separation point can be produced in the sliver 4 at a defined and reproducible position at the spinning station 2 or the can changer 14 in a particularly advantageous way. This facilitates the handling of the sliver residue 21 after the separation, since the sliver residue 21 can be more easily located and picked up by handling devices 13 (not shown here) at the exactly defined point.

[0052] After the separation of the sliver 4, the sliver residue 21 is still clamped in the supply device 5 of the spinning station 2. The sliver residue 21 may also still be engaged with further working elements of the spinning station 2. For example, the sliver residue is still threaded in the sliver guide 9 in the examples shown in the present case. In order to now dispose of the sliver residue 21, the sliver residue 21 is ejected from the spinning station 2 and, provided this has not yet been done, unthreaded from the sliver guide. This is shown with reference to FIGS. 6 through 8.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows the workstation 2 in a truncated representation in a front view, immediately after the separation of the sliver 4. The sliver residue 21 is still guided in the sliver guide 9 and clamped in the supply device 5. The supply device 5 can be designed, for example, as a feed roller (not shown), and therefore the sliver residue 21 is clamped between the feed roller and a feed trough (not shown here). Alternatively, the supply device 5 can also be a drafting system (not shown), between the rollers of which the sliver residue 21 is clamped. The spinning device 6 can still be operating and, therefore, at this point in time, the sliver 4, specifically the sliver residue 21 in this case, is still being delivered into the spinning device 2 in a delivery direction LR by the supply device 5.

[0054] The spinning station 2 is therefore stopped, provided this has not yet taken place. This can be carried out, for example, by stopping the feed roller, resulting in a thread break. It is also possible, however, to shut down the working elements of the spinning station 2 in a controlled manner. For this purpose, the control unit 16 of the spinning machine 1 and/or of the spinning station 2 is in control connection, among other things, with the spinning device 6 and with the supply device 5. Next, the supply device 5, specifically the feed roller in this case, is briefly driven counter to the delivery direction and, thereby, counter to its regular direction of rotation.

[0055] As is shown in FIG. 7, the sliver residue 21 is thereby returned counter to the delivery direction LR until the sliver residue 21 is conveyed out of the supply device 5 and, as a result, ejected from the spinning station 2. The sliver residue 21 is now guided only in the sliver guide 9.

[0056] FIG. 8 shows the removal of the sliver residue 21 from the sliver guide. In the present case, the sliver residue 21 is lifted upward out of the sliver guide 9 by means of a handling device 13, as indicated by the arrow. The handling device 13 is preferably arranged at the can changer 14, although an arrangement at each of the spinning stations 2 would also be possible, however. In the present case, the handling device 13 is formed as a lifter. A movable clamp 10 that pulls the sliver residue 21 out of the sliver guide 9 would also be conceivable as a handling device 13, however. After having been removed, the sliver residue is completely released and can be disposed of, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0057] According to the representation from FIG. 9, the sliver can 3a has already been pulled out of its position underneath the spinning station 2 into a position in front of the spinning station 2 and transferred onto the can changer 14. The front end of the sliver can 3a, including the front edge 20, is still located underneath the spinning station 2, however. Once the sliver residue 21 has been completely separated from the spinning station 2, the sliver residue 21 automatically drops into the sliver can 3a due to gravity and can be carried away together with the empty sliver can 3a.

[0058] Since the sliver can 3a is still at least partially located underneath the spinning station 2 and can receive the sliver residue 21 in this embodiment of the method, it is also possible in a modification of the order shown in FIGS. 6 through 8 to remove the sliver residue 21 from the sliver guide 9 at an earlier point in time. It would also be conceivable in the case of an openable sliver guide 9 to remove the sliver residue 21 from the sliver guide 9 even prior to the separation. If the handling device 13 is designed as a movable clamp 10, it would also be possible in the case of a closed sliver guide 9 to remove the sliver residue 21 from the sliver guide 9 even prior to ejection or during ejection.

[0059] FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the method, in which the sliver residue 21 is disposed of by a suction device 19. For this purpose, the sliver residue 21 is lifted out of the sliver guide 9 by means of the handling device 13 and, as a result, transferred into the effective area of the suction device 19. The handling device 13 can also be provided at the can changer 14 and also at the spinning station 2 in this case. The suction device 19 in the present case is arranged at the movable can changer 14 and has, for example, a telescopic suction arm. The telescopic suction arm is moved toward the spinning station 2 before the sliver residue 21 is removed from the sliver guide 9, and therefore the sliver residue 21, when lifted out, automatically enters the effective area of the telescopic suction arm and can be removed. The sucked-off sliver residue 21 can be advantageously collected on the can changer 14 and fed to a separate recycling or disposal process.

[0060] According to one alternative embodiment of the method, it would also be possible to dispense with the handling device 13. In this case, the sliver residue 21 is then unthreaded from the sliver guide 9 directly by means of the suction process itself.

[0061] Alternatively to the disposal by means of a suction device 19 of the can changer, it is also possible to dispose of the sliver residue by means of a spinning station-specific suction device 19. Generally, the spinning stations 2 include suction devices 19 anyway, which are used in the spinning process, for example, as thread stores, as a cleaning opening, or the like. A suction device 19 of this type is shown on the right in FIG. 10. The suction device 19 has a suction opening, which, in the present case, is arranged in the area of the sliver 4 between the measuring device 17 and the supply device 5. The suction device 19 is acted upon via the negative pressure channel 22. After the separation of the sliver 4, the sliver residue 21 remaining at the spinning station 2 can be lifted out of the sliver guide 9 by means of the handling device 13 and, as a result, brought into the effective area of the suction opening.

[0062] The can changing process and the separation of the sliver 4 can be carried out, as described with reference to the figures, due a sliver residue length having been reached, the sliver residue length having been predefined in the control unit 16. Alternatively, this can also take place, however, due to a signal predefined by a control unit 16, for example, within the scope of a lot change, or can also be triggered manually by an operator. The described methods and devices are equally suited for both alternatives.

[0063] The present invention is not limited to the represented and described exemplary embodiments. Modifications within the scope of the claims are also possible, as is any combination of the described features, even if they are represented and described in different parts of the description or the claims or in different exemplary embodiments, provided no contradiction to the teaching of the independent claims results.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0064] 1 spinning machine [0065] 2 spinning station [0066] 3 sliver can [0067] 3a sliver can to be removed [0068] 3b full sliver can [0069] 4 sliver [0070] 5 supply device [0071] 6 spinning device [0072] 7 bobbin [0073] 8 yarn [0074] 9 sliver guide [0075] 10 movable clamp [0076] 11 frame [0077] 12 movable service device [0078] 13 handling device [0079] 14 can changer [0080] 15 can gripper [0081] 16 control unit [0082] 17 measuring device [0083] 18 fixed clamp [0084] 19 suction device [0085] 20 front edge [0086] 21 sliver residue [0087] 22 negative pressure channel [0088] 23 vacuum source [0089] 24 service element [0090] LR delivery direction