Textile machine producing cross-wound packages and method for operating a textile machine producing cross-wound packages

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A textile machine producing cross-wound packages, the textile machine comprising: 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 a tube supply device, which has a central tube magazine and has at least one tube conveyor belt installed in the area of the longitudinal sides of the machine, wherein 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, and an empty tube provided on the at least one tube conveyor belt of the tube supply device can be inserted by a tube gripper into the winding device of the relevant workstation, the tube supply device being designed in such a way that the at least one tube conveyor belt can be used as a tube accumulator for empty tubes during the operation of the textile machine producing cross-wound packages, characterised in that a drive is connected to the at least one tube conveyor belt, which drive enables reversible operation of the tube conveyor belt, and the empty tube is blocked at an end of the tube conveyor belt whereas the tube conveyor belt is first driven further in a corresponding direction.

2. The textile machine producing cross-wound packages according to claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of empty tubes can be stored on the tube conveyor belt during the operation of the textile machine.

3. The textile machine producing cross-wound packages according to claim 2, characterised in that each of the empty tubes stored on one of the tube conveyor belts has an identical configuration.

4. The textile machine producing cross-wound packages according to claim 2, characterised in that a plurality of empty tubes are stored on a tube conveyor belt and must be assigned to different yarn lots.

5. The textile machine producing cross-wound packages according to claim 2, characterised in that the empty tubes stored on the tube conveyor belts are identified for each specific lot.

6. The textile machine producing cross-wound packages according to claim 5, characterised in that the empty tubes identified for each specific lot have a special colour or special pattern.

7. The textile machine producing cross-wound packages according to claim 5, characterised in that the empty tubes are each equipped with an RFID transponder which has a lot-specific identification.

8. The textile machine producing cross-wound packages according to claim 1, characterised in that the textile machine has a tube detection device for the insertion of a suitable empty tube into the winding device of a workstation.

9. The textile machine producing cross-wound packages according to claim 8, characterised in that the tube detection device is configured as a colour sensor.

10. The textile machine producing cross-wound packages according to claim 8, characterised in that tube detection device is configured as an RFID reader.

11. The textile machine producing cross-wound packages according to claim 1, characterised in that the tube gripper is designed in such a way that, irrespective of the respective delivery direction (R or L) of the empty tube, the tube gripper can correctly pick up the empty tube from the tube conveyor belt and transfer it into the package cradle of the winding device of a workstation.

12. A method for operating a textile machine producing cross-wound packages, which comprises: a plurality of identical workstations arranged in the area of the longitudinal sides of the textile machine, each workstation being equipped with a winding device; and a tube supply device, which has a central tube magazine and has at least one tube conveyor belt installed in the area of the longitudinal sides of the machine, in which method a cross-wound package is transferred if necessary from the winding device of the relevant workstation to a cross-wound package transport device running the length of the machine and then an empty tube provided on the at least one tube conveyor belt of the tube supply device is inserted by means of a tube gripper into the winding device of the relevant workstation, a plurality of empty tubes being stored on the at least one tube conveyor belt during the operation of the textile machine producing cross-wound packages, characterised in that the tube conveyor belt is reversed if necessary, and the empty tube is blocked at an end of the tube conveyor belt whereas the tube conveyor belt is first driven further in a corresponding direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further details of the invention can be taken from the embodiment example explained below on the basis of the drawings.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an open-end spinning machine with a plurality of workstations, a tube magazine arranged at the end of the machine, a tube supply device which has a tube conveyor belt on each of the two longitudinal sides of the machine, the tube conveyor belts being designed and controllable in such a way that a plurality of empty tubes can be stored on each one of them,

(4) FIG. 2 shows a side view of an autonomous workstation of an open-end rotor spinning machine with a cleaner and changer carriage positioned in front of the workstation,

(5) FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of an open-end spinning machine with a tube supply device, the tube conveyor belts of which function as tube accumulators.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) The following description of the embodiments of the present invention is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. The following description is provided herein solely by way of example for purposes of providing an enabling disclosure of the invention, but does not limit the scope or substance of the invention.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a textile machine producing cross-wound packages, in the embodiment example an open-end spinning machine 1 which has a tube supply device which can be used in accordance with the present invention. As is known, open-end spinning machines 1 of this kind have a plurality of identical workstations 2 arranged on both longitudinal sides of the textile machine 1, between end frames.

(8) In the present embodiment example, the workstations are designed as autonomous workstations 2, i.e. the workstations 2 are each equipped with an open-end spinning device 3, a winding device 4 as well as a suction nozzle 29 which can be subjected to a vacuum. During the spinning/winding operation of the textile machine 1, the workstations 2 are supplied by service units 5; in the embodiment example this is effected by two cleaner and changer carriages, each of identical design. The service units 5 are guided on guide rails 17, 18 and can be moved at least along the workstations 2 of a longitudinal side of the open-end spinning machine 1.

(9) As is known, in the open-end spinning devices 3 of the workstations 2, slivers that are stored in spinning cans 6, are spun into threads, which are then wound into cross-wound packages 7 on the winding devices 4 of the workstations 2. The winding devices 4, as depicted in FIG. 2, are each equipped with a package cradle 8 for the pivotable holding of an empty tube 9 or a cross-wound package 7, a winding drum 10 for rotating these elements correctly as well as with a thread traversing device 24.

(10) The open-end spinning machine 1 also has a central control unit 11 which is connected not only to the control devices 19 of the service unit 5 but also to the control devices 13 of the workstations 2 via a bus system 12.

(11) Moreover, such open-end spinning machines 1 have a cross-wound package transport device 14 for removing completed cross-wound packages 7 and a tube supply device 30 which essentially consists of a central tube magazine 15 arranged at the end of the machine as well as tube conveyor belts 16.

(12) The tube conveyor belts 16 can also function as tube accumulators 34 during the spinning/winding operation of the open-end spinning machine 1, as shown in FIG. 3, i.e. a plurality of empty tubes 9 can be constantly stored on the tube conveyor belts 16 during the spinning/winding operation of the open-end spinning machine 1.

(13) The cleaner and changer carriages 5 can, as shown schematically in FIG. 2 and described in relative detail, for example, in German Patent Publication DE 44 43 818 B4, each be moved along the workstations 2 on guide rails 17, 18, which are arranged at or on the open-end spinning machine 1, and can be positioned at one of the workstations 2 if required. The cleaner and changer carriages 5 each have various handling devices which enable the service units to clean a workstation or to perform a cross-wound package/empty tube change at a workstation 2 when required.

(14) Such service units 5 are equipped, for example, with a device 21, shown very schematically, for cleaning the open-end spinning devices 3, an auxiliary thread delivery device 22 for providing a piecing thread 25, a pivotally mounted thread delivery tube 28 as well as with a thread positioning and repositioning device 23 which has, among other things, what is referred to as a package cradle opener (not shown in greater detail). In this case, the auxiliary thread delivery device 22 is preferably provided with a reserve package 27 and a thread delivery unit 26 which, when required, draws the piecing thread 25 from the reserve package 27.

(15) Furthermore, such cleaner and changer carriages 5 are equipped with a tube gripper 20, which is only shown schematically in FIG. 2. By means of the tube gripper 20, an empty tube 9 can if necessary be picked up from one of the tube conveyor belts 16 acting, for example, as a tube accumulator 34 and transferred to the package cradle 8 of the workstation 2.

(16) According to an advantageous embodiment, the tube gripper 20 is configured in this case to pick up an empty tube 9, which is standing ready or has been delivered on the tube conveyor belt 16, correctly from the tube conveyor belt 16 and transfer it to the package cradle 8 of the workstation 2, irrespective of the transport direction R or L in which the empty tube 9 is delivered.

(17) Advantageously, the cleaner and changer carriage 5 is further equipped with a tube detection device 31 which is arranged, for example, in the area of the gripping device of the tube gripper 20. In this case, the tube detection device 31 is configured in a manner adapted to the design of the empty tubes 9 that are to be identified, for example as a colour sensor or as an RFID reader.

(18) FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of an open-end spinning machine 1, which has a plurality of identical, preferably autonomous workstations 2 and which is equipped with a tube supply device 30, the tube conveyor belts 16 of which can also function as tube accumulators 34 during the spinning/winding operation of the open-end spinning machine 1.

(19) As can be seen, the tube supply device 30 has a tube magazine 15, which is arranged at an end of the machine and comprises a tube distribution device 37, and two tube conveyor belts 16, which run the length of the machine and can be reversibly or reversingly driven by means of electric drives 35. The electric drives 35, for example stepper motors, are connected to the central control unit 11 of the open-end rotor spinning machine 1. As already indicated above, the tube conveyor belts 16 can also function as tube accumulators 34 during the spinning/winding operation of the textile machine; in other words, the tube conveyor belts 16 loaded with a plurality of empty tubes 9 can if required be reversibly driven either in the running direction R or in the running direction L, as indicated by the double arrows 38, so that empty tubes 9 stored on them can be conveyed within the shortest possible time, irrespective of the position of a workstation 2 requesting it. The associated service unit 5 also positions itself at the workstation 2 concerned and inserts the empty tube 9, which is already present or has been delivered, into the package cradle 8 of the workstation 2.

(20) Function of the device or method according to the present invention:

(21) At the beginning of the spinning/winding process of the open-end spinning machine 1 and/or before a yarn lot change, the tube distribution device 37 of the tube magazine 15 first loads the tube conveyor belts 16 of the tube supply device 30 with a plurality of empty tubes 9 of the yarn lot which is being processed, or is about to be processed, on the workstations 2 of the longitudinal side of the machine in question.

(22) If, during the spinning/winding process of the open-end spinning machine 1, an action is required at one of the workstations 2, e.g. if a cross-wound package/empty tube change is due, this is signalled by the workstation 2, i.e. the workstation 2 concerned sends a work order to the central control unit 11 of the open-end spinning machine 1, as indicated in FIG. 3 by the lightning symbol 39. The central control unit 11 then in turn notifies a service unit 5, in the present embodiment example a cleaner and changer carriage, which immediately runs to the relevant workstation 2 and positions itself. This means that as soon as the service unit 5 is notified via the bus system 12 of the open-end spinning machine that there is a work order at one of the workstations 2, for example because the cross-wound package 7 has reached a predetermined diameter at the workstation 2 and has to be replaced by an empty tube 9, the service unit 5 runs to the relevant workstation 2, positions itself there and conveys the finished cross-wound package 7 onto a cross-wound package transport device. In practice, after the package cradle 8 of the winding device 4 has been opened, the service unit 5 transfers the completed cross-wound package 7 to the cross-wound package transport device 14 of the open-end spinning machine 1 by means of a take-off and drive arm.

(23) At the same time, the tube conveyor belt 16 equipped with a plurality of empty tubes 9 is controlled in such a way that a new empty tube 9 is conveyed to the workstation 2 concerned in the fastest possible manner. The service unit 5 stops with its tube gripper 20, irrespective of the delivery direction, then the tube gripper 20 takes the empty tube 9 from the tube conveyor belt 16, on which there are generally numerous other empty tubes 9 lying ready, and inserts them into the package cradle 8 of the workstation 2.

(24) While the cross-wound package transport device 14 of the textile machine 1 is conveying the completed cross-wound package 7 to a transfer point arranged at the end of the machine, a piecing thread 25 is provided by an auxiliary thread delivery device 22 of the cleaner and changer carriage 5, as has already been disclosed, that piecing thread 25 being drawn off from a reserve package 27 by a thread delivery unit 26 and is pneumatically transferred via a pivotally mounted delivery tube 28 into the area of a suction nozzle 29 belonging to the workstation, which sucks in the thread end. Then the delivery tube 28 transports the piecing thread 25 into the area of a thread positioning and repositioning device 23, which in turn brings the piecing thread 25 to the area of the empty tube 9 which is held in package cradle 8 of a workstation 2.

(25) In the meantime, moreover, the free end of the piecing thread 25 has been transferred from the suction nozzle 29 to the workstation's (not shown) piecing tool, which prepares the thread end as usual.

(26) By means of the prepared piecing thread 25, the piecing process is then started and the spinning thread freshly produced in the open-end spinning device 3 is placed on the empty tube 9 held in the package cradle 8 and rotationally acted upon by the winding drum 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(27) 1 Open-end spinning machine 2 Workstation 3 Open-end spinning device 4 Winding device 5 Cleaner and changer carriage 6 Spinning can 7 Cross-wound package 8 Package cradle 9 Empty tube 10 Winding drum 11 Central control unit 12 Bus system 13 Control device 14 Cross-wound package transport device 15 Tube magazine 16 Tube conveyor belt 17 Guide rail 18 Guide rail 19 Control device 20 Tube gripper 21 Cleaning device 22 Auxiliary thread delivery device 23 Thread positioning and repositioning device 24 Thread traversing device 25 Piecing thread 26 Thread delivery unit 27 Reserve package 28 Thread delivery tube 29 Suction nozzle 30 Tube supply device 31 Tube detection device 34 Tube accumulator 35 Electric drive 36 RFID transponder 37 Tube distribution device 38 Double arrow 39 Work order L Transport direction R Transport direction