Spinning machine with a plurality of adjacently arranged workstations and method for operating a spinning machine with a plurality of adjacently arranged workstations

Abstract

A spinning machine and associated operational method include a plurality of adjacently arranged workstations that each have a spinning device for making a thread and a suction nozzle for seeking a thread end on a package. A first suction system includes a first vacuum source and a first vacuum duct extending along the workstations, the spinning devices of the workstations connected to the first suction system. A second suction system includes a second vacuum source and a second vacuum duct extending along the workstations, the suction nozzles of at least a first partial number of the workstations connected to the second suction system. The first suction system and the second suction system are pneumatically completely disconnected from one another.

Claims

1. A spinning machine, comprising: a plurality of adjacently arranged workstations, each of the workstations comprising a spinning device impingeable with vacuum to manufacture a thread, and each of the workstations having a workstation-specific suction nozzle impingeable with vacuum that seeks a thread end on a package; at least one first suction system comprising at least one first vacuum source and at least one first vacuum duct extending along the workstations; the spinning devices of the workstations connected to the first suction system; at least one second suction system comprising at least one second vacuum source and at least one second vacuum duct extending along the workstations; the second suction system isolated from the first suction system such that the first suction system comprises a first vacuum level (pU1) and the second suction system comprises an independent second vacuum level (pU2); wherein the suction nozzles of at least a first partial number of the workstations are connected to the second suction system; and wherein the the second vacuum level (pU2) is greater than the first vacuum level (pU1).

2. The spinning machine of claim 1, wherein that the first suction system and the second suction system are independently adjustable.

3. The spinning machine of claim 1, wherein, in addition to the suction nozzle, each of the workstations further comprises at least one working element connectable to the first suction system.

4. The spinning machine of claim 3, further comprising a shut-off device configured to individually disconnect the suction nozzle from the second suction system and the working element from the first suction system.

5. The spinning machine of claim 4, wherein the shut-off device is configured to perform one or both of: connect the suction nozzle to the first suction system instead of the second suction system; or connect the work element to the second suction system instead of the first suction system.

6. The spinning machine of claim 5, wherein the shut-off device comprises multiple ducts and is connectable to the first suction system via a first duct and to the second suction system via a second duct.

7. The spinning machine of claim 3, wherein the working element comprises a thread storage nozzle.

8. A method for operating a spinning machine, wherein the spinning machine includes a plurality of adjacently arranged workstations each having a spinning device impingeable with vacuum to manufacture a thread and a workstation-specific suction nozzle impingeable with vacuum to seek a thread end on a package, the method comprising: acting upon the spinning devices with a vacuum via at least one first suction system; acting upon the suction nozzles of at least one first partial number of the workstations with a vacuum via at least one second suction system; pneumatically operating the at least one first suction system and the at least one second suction system pneumatically independent of one another such that the first suction system has a first vacuum level (pU1) and the second suction system has an independent second vacuum level (pU2) that is greater than the first vacuum level (pU1).

9. The method of claim 8, comprising adjusting the first suction system and the second suction system independently of one another.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the suction nozzles of all workstations are acted upon by the vacuum via the second suction system.

11. The method of claim 8, comprising acting upon at least one working element at each of the workstations that is in addition to the suction nozzle with a vacuum via the first suction system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising disconnecting the suction nozzles from the second suction system and the working elements from the first suction system with a shut-off device when the suction nozzles and working elements are not operating.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising disconnecting the suction nozzles from the second suction system and connecting the suction nozzles to the first suction system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the suction nozzles are connected to the first suction system or to the second suction system as a function of a type of thread manufactured at the workstation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first vacuum level (pU1) or the second vacuum level (pU2) are increased at a beginning of the search for the thread end with the suction nozzles.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the spinning machine is loaded with multiple different lots for manufacturing different threads, the first partial number of workstations processing the same lot and an additional number of the workstations processing a same different lot, and an additional number of the workstations processing the same lot or a same different lot.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a front view of a spinning machine with two suction systems as an overview representation,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic, partially cutaway side view of a workstation of the spinning machine according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic, partially cutaway side view of a workstation of a spinning machine according to a second embodiment,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a shut-off device in a first condition, and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of the shut-off device from FIG. 4 in a second condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the drawings. Each embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation of the invention. For example features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be combined with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein.

(8) 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 numbers. Moreover, these 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.

(9) FIG. 1 shows a front view of a spinning machine 1 in a schematic overview representation. The spinning machine 1 comprises a plurality of adjacently arranged workstations 2, which are arranged between two frames (not labeled) in the present case. Each of the workstations 2 comprises a spinning device 3, which is supplied with a fiber material by a supply device 27. If the spinning device 3 is designed as a rotor spinning device, the supply device 27 is an opening roller. If the spinning device 3 is designed as an air-jet spinning device, however, the supply of the fiber material generally takes place via a drafting system. The produced thread 4 is drawn off by means of a take-off device 28 and wound onto a package 6. Moreover, the spinning machine 1 comprises a central control unit 15 for controlling the functions of the spinning machine 1. The central control unit 15 can cooperate with workstation control systems 29 of the individual workstations 2, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

(10) Each of the workstations 2 comprises a workstation-specific suction nozzle 5 for seeking a thread end traveling on the package 6 after a thread break or also after a cleaning step. If the suction nozzle 5 has sought and sucked in the thread end, it can be transferred to further handling units of the workstation 2, which can operate mechanically or pneumatically, to be pieced again. The workstation 2 comprises, as handling units, for example, working elements 16 impingeable with vacuum, such as thread storage nozzles, thread-catching nozzles, and the like. In the present case, a workstation-specific thread storage nozzle is shown as an example of a working element 16 impingeable with vacuum. During piecing, temporary excess lengths of the thread generally arise, which result during start-up due to different rotational speeds of the working elements of the workstations 2, in particular of the take-off device 28 and of the winding device (not represented). These excess lengths can be taken up by means of the thread storage nozzle. The workstations 2 can comprise further working elements 16 impingeable with vacuum, for example, thread-catching nozzles, which are required during the piecing of the thread 4, or suction nozzles for removing thread pieces or trash at the workstation 2.

(11) To supply the workstation 2 with vacuum, the spinning machine 1 comprises a first suction system 7 and a second suction system 10. Vacuum is required during the regular operation for the spinning devices 3 and during the piecing for the spinning devices 3, the suction nozzles 5, and the thread storage nozzles represented here by way of example as a working element 16. The vacuum is also required at different times during the piecing. For example, initially only the suction nozzle 5 requires vacuum, in order to seek the thread end, while the spinning device 3 requires vacuum only after the thread end has been found. The thread storage nozzle also requires vacuum only after the thread end has been found.

(12) In order to supply these suction nozzles 5 and the further working elements 16 impingeable with vacuum in an optimal way with a vacuum at the optimal level, the two suction systems 7, 10 are pneumatically completely separated from one another. The first suction system 7 comprises at least one first vacuum duct 8, which extends along the workstations 2. The first vacuum duct 8 is acted upon by a first vacuum source 9, which is connected to the first vacuum duct 8 via a first waste collection box 13. The second suction system 10 also comprises a second suction duct 11, which extends along the workstations 2 and is acted upon by a second vacuum source 12 via a second waste collection box 14. A filter 23 is arranged in each of the two waste collection boxes 13, 14, in order to filter out fibers and thread pieces carried along with the air. In the present example, a first drive 25 is assigned to the first vacuum source 9 and a second drive 26 is assigned to the second vacuum source 12. It would also be conceivable, however, to provide a common drive 25, 26 for the two vacuum sources 9, 12.

(13) In the present example, the first vacuum duct 8 as well as the second vacuum duct 11 extend across the entire length of the spinning machine 1 and/or the entire plurality of workstations 2. It also lies within the scope of the invention, however, that the first suction system 7 comprises multiple first vacuum ducts 8, which each extend across only a portion of the workstations 2 and are acted upon by multiple first vacuum sources 9. The same also applies, of course, for the second suction system 10. It is also conceivable that multiple first suction systems 7 and/or multiple second suction systems 10 are present, which are pneumatically independent of one another. For example, at a spinning machine 1, the two longitudinal sides of the spinning machine could be acted upon by vacuum separately from one another. In this case, a first vacuum system 7 and a second vacuum system 10, i.e., four vacuum systems 7, 10 in all, would be present on each of the two longitudinal sides. Mixed forms are also conceivable, of course, for example, with two separate first vacuum systems 7 for the negative pressure for spinning, but a common second suction system 10 for the suction nozzles. More than the two aforementioned vacuum systems for further vacuum consumers can also be present.

(14) The spinning devices 3 of all workstations 2 are connected to the first suction system 7. According to the present representation, the suction nozzles 5 of all workstations 2 are also connected to the second suction system 10 and/or, here, to the second vacuum duct 11. Advantageously, the vacuum level pU2 of this second vacuum system 10 is set considerably higher than the vacuum level pU1 of the first suction system 7. As a result, a high efficiency of thread seeking can be achieved without unnecessarily affecting the spinning conditions in the spinning devices 3. Since, in the present case, the second vacuum source 12 has a separate, second drive 26, an optimal second vacuum level pU2 can also be set manually or automatically and, if necessary, also regulated by a separate regulating unit in each operating condition and/or also in the case of a different number of presently active suction nozzles 5.

(15) According to the present exemplary embodiment, the thread storage nozzles of all workstations 2 are connected to the first suction system 7. This is apparent, in particular, in FIG. 2, which shows a schematic side view of a workstation 2 of the spinning machine 1. The thread storage nozzles and/or, in general, the working elements 16 impingeable with vacuum generally require only a lower vacuum level, and so the connection to the first suction system 7 with the first, lower vacuum level pU1 is more advantageous with respect to energy.

(16) As is also apparent from FIG. 1, it is also possible that the plurality of workstations 2 is subdivided into two or also multiple groups or partial numbers 21, 24. In the present case, for example, the workstations 2 of the represented longitudinal side of the spinning machine 1 are subdivided into a first partial number 21 and a second partial number 24. Since the workstations 2 of the spinning machine 1 are designed to be autonomous, i.e., after an interruption of the spinning process they can automatically restart the spinning process, the subdivision of the workstations into groups can take place completely independently of structural conditions, such as sections or longitudinal sides of the spinning machine 1. Preferably, the subdivision into such groups takes place in a lot-related manner, and so the first partial number 21 processes a first yarn lot and the second partial number 24 processes a second yarn lot. A subdivision into even more groups or partial numbers 21, 24 can also take place, of course. Workstations 2 belonging to a partial number 21, 24 also do not necessarily need to be situated next to one another.

(17) According to another embodiment of the invention, it is therefore also possible not to connect all suction nozzles 5 of all workstations 2, but rather only the suction nozzles 5 of a first partial number 21, to the second suction system 10. The suction nozzles 5 of the second partial number 24, however, can be connected to the first suction system 7. This can be dependent, for example, on the position of the particular workstation 2 within the machine, since the vacuum level pU1, pU2 is usually higher close to the vacuum sources 9, 12 than at a greater distance therefrom. The partial numbers 21, 24 can also be connected to the first suction system or to the second suction system in a lot-specific manner. This can also take place temporarily or in an alternating manner, as explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

(18) FIG. 2 shows a workstation 2 of the spinning machine 1 from FIG. 1 in a schematic, partially cutaway side view. As previously described with respect to FIG. 1, the suction nozzle 5 is connected to the second suction system 10 and the spinning device 3 as well as the thread storage nozzle are connected to the first suction system 7. As is also apparent, the thread storage nozzle as well as the suction nozzle 5 are each individually disconnectable, i.e., separable from the suction system 7, 10, to which they are connected, by means of an independent shut-off device 17. As a result, the suction nozzles 5 and the thread storage nozzles can be disconnected from the vacuum when they are not required. For this purpose, each shut-off device 17 contains a shut-off element 18, which, in the present example, is controlled by the workstation control system 29. Of course, the shut-off element 18 could also be controlled by the control unit 15, however.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a workstation 2 of a spinning machine 1 according to a second embodiment in a schematic, cutaway side view. In contrast to FIG. 2, the suction nozzle 5 can be optionally connected to the first suction system 7 with the first, lower vacuum level pU1 and also to the second suction system 10 with the second, higher vacuum level pU2. This can be advantageous, for example, when the spinning machine 1 is loaded with multiple lots, since, in the case of yarn lot-specifically lower requirements on the suction effect, the suction system 7, 10 with the lower vacuum level pU1, pU2 can be selected, in order to save energy.

(20) The present shut-off device 17 is designed with multiple ducts for this purpose. The shut-off device 17 is connected to the first suction system via a first duct 19 and to the second suction system 10 via a second duct 20. Each of the ducts 19, 20 is disconnectable by means of a separate shut-off element 18.

(21) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a further shut-off device 17 in a first condition. In contrast to FIG. 3, the two ducts 19, 20 are not disconnectable by means of separate shut-off elements 18, however, but rather the shut-off device 17 comprises only one single shut-off element 18 for shutting off the suction nozzle 5. The shut-off device 17 also makes it possible, however, to optionally connect the suction nozzle 5 to the first suction system 7 or to the second suction system 10. For this purpose, the shut-off device 17 contains a sliding valve 22. In FIG. 4, the sliding valve 22 is in a first position, in which it disconnects the first duct 19 and, thereby, the connection to the first suction system 7 and releases the second duct 20 and, thereby, the connection to the second suction system 10.

(22) FIG. 5, however, shows the shut-off device 17 from FIG. 4 in a second condition. The sliding valve 22 is located in a second position, in which it releases the first duct and, thereby, the connection to the first suction system 7 and disconnects the second duct 20 and, thereby, the connection to the second suction system 11.

(23) The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment that has been represented and described. 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 NUMBERS

(24) 1 spinning machine 2 workstation 3 spinning device 4 thread 5 suction nozzle 6 package 7 first suction system 8 first vacuum duct 9 first vacuum source 10 second suction system 11 second vacuum duct 12 second vacuum source 13 first waste collection box 14 second waste collection box 15 control unit 16 working element impingeable with vacuum 17 shut-off device 18 shut-off element 19 first duct 20 second duct 21 first partial number 22 sliding valve 23 filter 24 second partial number 25 first drive 26 second drive 27 supply device 28 take-off device 29 workstation control system pU1 first vacuum level pU2 second vacuum level