Spinning Machine or Winder and Method for Operating a Spinning Machine or Winder

Abstract

In a spinning machine or winder comprising at least one pneumatic device (7) including a supply line (8) for a first pressure (P.sub.1), a regulating line (9) for an operating pressure (P.sub.2), a valve system (10), a manometer (13), and a data processing unit (14), the regulating line (9) is connected to the manometer (13) in such a way that the operating pressure (P.sub.2) is measured by the manometer (13). The valve system (10) comprises a first valve (11), which is connected to the supply line (8), or a first path (17) of a directional control valve (16) for feeding a pressure medium into the regulating line (9), and a second valve (12), which is connected to a surrounding atmosphere, or a second path (18) of a directional control valve (16) for draining the pressure medium from the regulating line (9), wherein the data processing unit (14), which is connected to the manometer (13) and to the valve system (10), is designed for opening the first valve (11) or the first path (17) and closing the second valve (12) or the second path (18) if the operating pressure (P.sub.2) is less than a first set value, and opening the second valve (12) or the second path (18) and closing the first valve (11) or the first path (17) if the operating pressure (P.sub.2) is greater than the first set value or a second set value, wherein the first pressure (P.sub.1) is greater than the operating pressure (P.sub.2).

Claims

1. A spinning machine or winder comprising at least one pneumatic device (7) including a supply line (8) for a first pressure (P1), a regulating line (9) for an operating pressure (P2), a valve system (10), a manometer (13), and a data processing unit (14), wherein the regulating line (9) is connected to the manometer (13) in such a way that the operating pressure (P2) is measured by the manometer (13), characterized in that the valve system (10) comprises a first valve (11), which is connected to the supply line (8), or a first path (17) of a directional control valve (16) for feeding a pressure medium into the regulating line (9), and a second valve (12), which is connected to a surrounding atmosphere, or a second path (18) of a directional control valve (16) for draining the pressure medium from the regulating line (9), wherein the data processing unit (14), which is connected to the manometer (13) and to the valve system (10), is designed for opening the first valve (11) or the first path (17) and closing the second valve (12) or the second path (18) if the operating pressure (P2) is less than a first set value, and opening the second valve (12) or the second path (18) and closing the first valve (11) or the first path (17) if the operating pressure (P2) is greater than the first set value or a second set value, wherein the first pressure (P1) is greater than the operating pressure (P2).

2-14. (canceled)

Description

[0039] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. In the drawings:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a winding area of a spinning machine or winder,

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a pneumatic device according to the invention, comprising two valves, and

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a pneumatic device according to the invention, comprising one valve.

[0043] In the following description of the figures, the same reference signs are utilized for features which are identical and/or at least comparable in each of the various figures. The individual features, their embodiment and/or mode of operation are explained in detail usually only upon the first mention thereof. If individual features are not explained in detail once more, their embodiment and/or mode of operation correspond/corresponds to the embodiment and mode of operation of the features which act in the same way or have the same name and have already been described.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a view of a winding area of a workstation 1 of a spinning machine or winder. A thread 2 is wound onto a package 3 in this area. The thread 2 can originate, for example, from the spin box of a spinning machine, where it is produced from fibers. On a winder, the thread 2 can originate from a delivery bobbin. The package 3 is driven by a drive roller 4, wherein the weight of the package 3 acts on the drive roller 4 and, thereby, ensures a frictional engagement. As the length of the wound thread 2 increases, the weight and the circumference of the package 3 increase. A package loading device 5 is provided in order to consistently ensure a contact pressure which is advantageous for the winding process and the package quality, and in order to consistently ensure a uniform drive of the package 3. In addition, vibrations can be damped by the package loading device 5.

[0045] The package loading device 5 comprises a pneumatic cylinder 6, the piston force of which is determined by an operating pressure P.sub.2 of a pressure medium, for example, air. The regulation of the operating pressure P.sub.2 takes place in a pneumatic device 7, wherein the pressure medium is fed, at a first pressure P.sub.1, to the pneumatic device 7 via a supply line 8. The pneumatic device 7 is designed in such a way that it regulates the operating pressure P.sub.2 in a regulating line 9. This is explained in greater detail with the aid of the description of FIGS. 2 and 3. The regulating line 9 is connected to the pneumatic cylinder 6.

[0046] The regulating line 9 can be connected to further pneumatic elements (not represented) of the spinning machine or winder. The pneumatic device 7 can regulate, for example, the operating pressure P.sub.2 for the operation of the pneumatic elements of a section of the spinning machine or winder. In particular, the pneumatic device 7 can regulate the operating pressure P.sub.2 for the operation of the pneumatic cylinders 6 of the package loading devices 5.

[0047] A possible configuration of the pneumatic device 7 is schematically represented in FIG. 2: A valve system 10 comprises a first valve 11, which is connected to a supply line 8 for a first pressure P.sub.1. In addition, the valve system 10 comprises a second valve 12, which is connected to a surrounding atmosphere. Both valves 11, 12 are also connected to the regulating line 9 in which the operating pressure P.sub.2 to be regulated prevails. In this example, the valves 11, 12 are designed as uniform 2/2 directional control valves, each of which can be either open or closed.

[0048] The regulating line 9 is connected to a manometer 13, which measures the operating pressure P.sub.2 and forwards it, as a signal, to a connected data processing unit 14. The data processing unit 14 is in control connection with the two valves 11, 12 and can open or close the valves 11, 12 independently of one another with the aid of control signals.

[0049] The data processing unit 14 compares the operating pressure P.sub.2 transmitted by the manometer 13 to a first set value, and opens the first valve 11 and closes the second valve 12 if the operating pressure P.sub.2 is below the first set value. In addition, the data processing unit 14 closes the first valve 11 and opens the second valve 12 if the operating pressure P.sub.2 is above the first set value. The operating pressure P.sub.2 is in the range between the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere and the first pressure P.sub.1, depending on the device.

[0050] Alternatively, the data processing unit 14 can compare the operating pressure P.sub.2 transmitted by the manometer 13 to a first set value and a second set value. In this case, the data processing unit 14 opens the first valve 11 and closes the second valve 12 if the operating pressure P.sub.2 is below the first set value. In addition, the data processing unit 14 closes the first valve 11 and opens the second valve 12 if the operating pressure P.sub.2 is above the second set value.

[0051] In addition, the data processing unit 14 can close both valves 11, 12 if the operating pressure P.sub.2 is between the first set value and the second set value, whereby a static state sets in.

[0052] The two valves 11, 12, together with the manometer 13, are located on a common circuit board 15.

[0053] A further possible configuration of a pneumatic device 7 is represented in FIG. 3: A valve system 10 comprises, in this case, a directional control valve 16, which is designed as a 3/3 directional control valve 16. The other features correspond to those from FIG. 2. The directional control valve 16 has three possible switch positions, specifically a first path 17, which connects the supply line 8 to the regulating line 9, a second path 18, which connects the regulating line 9 to the surrounding atmosphere, and a neutral position, in which all connections are disconnected.

[0054] In this exemplary embodiment as well, a signal, which corresponds to the operating pressure P.sub.2 in the regulating line 9, is fed to the data processing unit 14 by the manometer 13. With the aid of at least one electrical switch signal, the data processing unit 14 brings the directional control valve 16 into a position in which the first path 17 is open and the second path 18 is closed if the operating pressure P.sub.2 is less than a first set value. If the operating pressure P.sub.2 is greater than the first set value or a second set value, the data processing unit 14 brings about the assumption of a position of the directional control valve 16, in which the first path 17 is closed and the second path 18 is open.

[0055] If a pressure range between a first set value and a second set value is specified to the data processing unit 14, it is advantageous when the data processing unit 14 brings the directional control valve 16 into the neutral position or leaves the directional control valve 16 in the neutral position if the operating pressure P.sub.2 is between the first set value and the second set value.

[0056] 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 features, even if they are represented and described in different exemplary embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0057] 1 workstation [0058] 2 thread [0059] 3 package [0060] 4 drive roller [0061] 5 package loading device [0062] 6 pneumatic cylinder [0063] 7 pneumatic device [0064] 8 supply line [0065] 9 regulating line [0066] 10 valve system [0067] 11 first valve [0068] 12 second valve [0069] 13 manometer [0070] 14 data processing unit [0071] 15 circuit board [0072] 16 directional control valve [0073] 17 first path [0074] 18 second path [0075] P.sub.1 first pressure [0076] P.sub.2 operating pressure