Method for Operating a Workstation of a Spinning Machine or Winder

Abstract

A method at a workstation of a spinning machine or winding machine supplies an auxiliary thread from a thread nozzle to a suction assigned to the workstation, the auxiliary thread stretched between the thread nozzle and the suction. The auxiliary thread is severed to form a thread section protruding into the suction and a thread section extending into the thread nozzle, wherein the thread section protruding into the suction is carried away by the suction. The thread section extending into the thread nozzle is grasped with a thread receiver such that the thread section extending into the thread nozzle extends between the thread nozzle and the thread receiver. The thread section extending into the thread nozzle is severed to form a thread section remaining in the thread nozzle and a thread section coming from the thread receiver. The thread section coming from the thread receiver is transferred to the suction of the workstation. The thread section coming from the thread receiver is grasped with a capture arrangement adjacent a tube at the workstation prior to starting a process of winding the thread section coming from the thread receiver onto the tube.

Claims

1-14: (canceled)

15. A method for operating a workstation of a spinning machine or winding machine, comprising: supplying an auxiliary thread from a thread nozzle to a suction assigned to the workstation, wherein the auxiliary thread is stretched between the thread nozzle and the suction; severing the auxiliary thread to form a thread section protruding into the suction and a thread section extending into the thread nozzle, wherein the thread section protruding into the suction is carried away by the suction; grasping the thread section extending into the thread nozzle with a thread receiver of the workstation, wherein the thread section extending into the thread nozzle extends between the thread nozzle and the thread receiver; severing the thread section extending into the thread nozzle to form a thread section remaining in the thread nozzle and a thread section coming from the thread receiver; transferring the thread section coming from the thread receiver to the suction of the workstation; and grasping the thread section coming from the thread receiver with a capture arrangement in an area of a tube made available by the workstation and starting a process of winding the thread section coming from the thread receiver onto the tube.

16. The method as in claim 15, wherein the auxiliary thread is supplied from the thread nozzle to the suction with a compressed-air flow generated by the thread nozzle.

17. The method as in claim 15, wherein the auxiliary thread is supplied by the thread nozzle, is subsequently grasped by a suction section of the workstation, and is drawn into the suction via the suction section.

18. The method as in claim 15, wherein before the severing of the auxiliary thread, the auxiliary thread is deflected towards the thread receiver by a movable thread manipulator.

19. The method as in claim 15, wherein the severing of the thread section extending into the thread nozzle is done with a cutting within the thread nozzle.

20. The method as in claim 15, wherein the transfer of the thread section coming from the thread receiver to the suction is done with the thread nozzle, wherein after the transfer, the thread section coming from the thread receiver extends from the thread receiver via the thread nozzle to the suction.

21. The method as in claim 15, wherein the thread section coming from the thread receiver enters the thread nozzle via a first opening of the thread nozzle and exits the thread nozzle via a second opening of the thread nozzle such that the thread section coming from the thread receiver extends through the thread nozzle.

22. The method as in claim 15, wherein after the severing of the thread section extending into the thread nozzle, the thread section coming from the thread receiver is joined in the thread receiver to a fiber material of a sliver delivered to the thread receiver or to a thread coming from a supply bobbin before the thread section coming from the thread receiver is transferred to the suction.

23. The method as in claim 15, wherein the thread nozzle is a component of a service unit that is displaceable along multiple workstations of the spinning machine or winding machine, and the auxiliary thread is made available by the service unit.

24. A thread nozzle for making an auxiliary thread available at a workstation of a spinning machine or winding machine, comprising: a first opening configured as an outlet or an inlet for the auxiliary thread; a second opening configured as an outlet or an inlet for the auxiliary thread; a compressed air inlet; and a valve configured to establish which of the first or second openings is an exit for compressing air from the thread nozzle thereby defining the outlet and the inlet for the auxiliary thread.

25. The thread nozzle as in claim 24, further comprising a pair of delivery rollers configured such that the auxiliary thread extending into or through the thread nozzle is held in position or moved by the delivery rollers.

26. The thread nozzle as in claim 24, further comprising a cutting unit disposed so as to sever the auxiliary thread.

27. A service unit for a spinning machine or winding machine for delivering an auxiliary thread to a tube made available at a workstation of a spinning machine or a winding machine, wherein the service unit comprises the thread nozzle in accordance with claim 24.

28. A workstation of a spinning machine or winding machine for manufacturing or for rewinding a yarn, comprising the thread nozzle in accordance with claim 24 assigned to one or multiple workstations of the spinning machine or winding machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments, wherein:

[0046] FIG. 1 is a front view of a workstation of a rotor spinning machine comprising a thread nozzle;

[0047] FIG. 2 is a front view of a workstation of a winding device comprising a thread nozzle; and

[0048] FIGS. 3 through 5 are front views of a workstation of a spinning machine or winding machine comprising a thread nozzle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] 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.

[0050] FIGS. 1 through 5 show, in general, a workstation 1 of a spinning machine or winding machine. Only the sections and components which are important for the understanding of the invention are represented. The workstation 1 comprises further elements, of course, such as a holder (not shown) for the tube 25 shown in FIG. 5 and a corresponding tube drive. In addition, not all the sections shown in FIG. 1 are shown in all figures, such as the compressed-air inlet 16 of the above-described valve 15 of the thread nozzle 3, even though they are actually present.

[0051] It is also pointed out that the figures show a piecing of a thread onto a tube 25, which can be applied, in principle, on a spinning machine or also on a winding machine. The thread nozzle 3 described in the following can also be utilized on both types of textile machines.

[0052] Purely by way of example, therefore, the feeding of a sliver 18 into the thread receiver 7 is shown in FIG. 1. The thread receiver is described in greater detail in the following and is designed as a rotor spinning unit in this case. FIG. 2 shows, also by way of example, that the machine can also be a winding machine, in which a thread 20 coming from a supply bobbin 19 is rewound onto a tube 25 which is shown exclusively in FIG. 5. In this case, within the scope of the method, the end of the thread 20 coming from the supply bobbin 19 is joined to an auxiliary thread 2 coming from above within a splicing or knotting unit which forms the thread receiver 7 in this case.

[0053] The individual steps of one advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is described in the following, which is utilized, in general, for bringing a thread into contact with an empty tube 25 in order to start a winding process of a thread supplied by the thread receiver 7 onto the tube 25. A corresponding method can be carried out, for example, after the workstation 1 has completely loaded a tube 25 with a thread and the full bobbin must be replaced by an empty tube 25.

[0054] Furthermore, it is pointed out that the empty tube 25 is first shown in FIG. 5. The tube 25 can also be made available to the workstation 1 at an earlier point in time, of course.

[0055] At the beginning of the method, an auxiliary thread 2 is made available by an auxiliary-thread supply 23 (for example, an auxiliary-thread bobbin). The auxiliary-thread supply 23 can be part of the thread nozzle 3, which is described in the following, or can merely be assigned thereto. The auxiliary thread 2 is preferably supplied to a valve 15 of the thread nozzle 3 with the aid of a pair of delivery rollers 26 (which can also be part of the thread nozzle 3). For example, the auxiliary thread 2 can be drawn into the valve 15 by means of an air flow. The air flow can arise, according to the venturi principle, by way of compressed air, which has been introduced into the valve 15 via a compressed-air inlet 16 of the thread nozzle 3, exiting the thread nozzle 3 via a first opening 13.

[0056] The thread nozzle 3, the pair of delivery rollers 26, the auxiliary-thread supply 23, and the cutting unit 12 described in the following can be components of a service unit 17 patrolling along multiple workstations 1. It is also conceivable that the aforementioned elements are part of the workstation 1.

[0057] In any case, the auxiliary thread 2 is supplied by the thread nozzle 3 to a suction 4 assigned to the workstation 1, wherein the suction 4 is preferably part of the workstation 1 and can be situated behind a housing 27 of the workstation 1 or a cover. In addition, the suction 4 is connected to a vacuum source, and therefore the suction 4 has a suctioning effect on the auxiliary thread 2.

[0058] As FIG. 1 shows, it is advantageous when the auxiliary thread 2 is not drawn directly into the suction 4. Instead, the auxiliary thread 2 should be initially drawn in by a suction section 11 which can be designed, for example, as a slot or any other type of opening in the housing 27. Finally, extending behind the suction section 11 is a flow connection (not shown) to the suction 4, and therefore the auxiliary thread 2 is drawn into the suction 4 via the suction section 11.

[0059] In the end, the auxiliary thread 2 is finally stretched between the thread nozzle 3 and the suction 4.

[0060] Furthermore, the sections of the auxiliary thread 2 which are visible from the outside are represented in the figures by a solid line, wherein the sections which are not visible from the outside are dashed.

[0061] In the next step, the auxiliary thread 2 is deflected downward with the aid of a thread manipulator 22, wherein, for this purpose, the thread manipulator 22 is swiveled about a swivel axis with the aid of a pivot bearing 24 (FIG. 2).

[0062] In order to correspondingly deflect the thread, the thread manipulator 22 comprises a gripping section 21, for example, in the form of an eyelet or a hook. The gripping section 21 can also be in contact with the auxiliary thread 2 in the stage shown in FIG. 1 and holds the auxiliary thread 2 when the thread manipulator 22 is swiveled.

[0063] At the same time, the thread manipulator 22 uncovers an inlet opening 28 by means of the swiveling, and therefore the auxiliary thread 2 coming from the thread nozzle 3 is drawn in via the suction section 11, extends behind a housing 27 or any other type of cover, and exits the inlet opening 28. Subsequently, the auxiliary thread 2 extends over the gripping section 21, from there back into the inlet opening 28 and, finally, into the suction 4. The auxiliary thread 2 therefore assumes the course shown in FIG. 2 after the thread manipulator 22 has swiveled.

[0064] Subsequent thereto in terms of time, the auxiliary thread 2 is severed in the area which had been previously deflected. The severing can take place by means of a device (not shown) for the preparation of thread ends, which can be located in the area of the thread receiver 7.

[0065] In any case, the severing yields a thread section 5 (FIG. 3) protruding into the suction 4 and a thread section 6 which extends into the thread nozzle 3 and is still fixed in position by the pair of delivery rollers 26.

[0066] While the thread section 5 protruding into the suction 4 is carried away with the aid of the suction 4, the thread section 6 extending into the thread nozzle 3 is grasped by the thread receiver 7 of the workstation 1, which can be a rotor or air-jet spinning unit of a spinning machine or a thread joining unit (splicing or knotting unit) of a winding machine or a spinning machine. In the end, the thread section 6 extending into the thread nozzle 3 extends between the thread nozzle 3 and the thread receiver 7, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0067] Subsequently, the thread section 6 extending into the thread nozzle 3 is severed, thereby yielding a thread section 8 remaining in the thread nozzle 3 and a thread section 9 coming from the thread receiver 7 (FIG. 4). The severing can take place, for example, with the aid of a cutting unit 12 of the thread nozzle 3.

[0068] In the next step, the valve 15 of the thread nozzle 3 is controlled in such a way that the air flowing in via the compressed-air inlet 16 flows outward via a second opening 14 of the thread nozzle 3. Due to the venturi principle, air is simultaneously drawn in via the first opening 13. Due to the air flow, the thread section 9 coming from the thread receiver 7 is output via the second opening 14 and is drawn into the effective area of the suction section 11 which finally draws in the aforementioned thread section. After passing through the suction section 11, this thread section is drawn into the suction 4. The thread section 9 coming from the thread receiver 7 is therefore transferred to the suction 4 of the workstation 1. The resultant course of the thread section 9 coming from the thread receiver 7 is shown in FIG. 4, wherein the thread receiver 7 already supplies new thread here, which is produced either with the aid of a rotor or air-jet spinning unit or originates from a supply bobbin 19 which is not shown in FIG. 4.

[0069] Subsequently, the thread section 9 coming from the thread receiver 7 is grasped in the area between the suction section 11 and the first opening 13 and, therefore, in the area of a tube 25 made available by the workstation 1, with the aid of a capture arrangement 10. The capture arrangement 10 can be, for example, one or multiple capture teeth of a tube plate holding the tube 25 or a brush plush of the tube 25.

[0070] In order to facilitate the grasping, the thread nozzle 3 can comprise a deflection element (not shown), with the aid of which the thread section 9 coming from the thread receiver 7 can be deflected in the direction of the capture arrangement 10.

[0071] After the thread section 9 coming from the thread receiver 7 has been grasped by the tube 25 or the capture arrangement 10, the thread section is severed between the capture arrangement 10 and the first opening 13, and therefore the thread subsequently supplied by the thread receiver 7 can be wound onto the tube 25, while the remaining section is carried away by the suction 4.

[0072] Finally, the process of winding the thread section 9 coming from the thread receiver 7 onto the tube 25 is started, as is known from the related art. In particular, the thread section 9 coming from the thread receiver 7 is guided in a laterally traversing manner during the winding onto the tube 25.

[0073] The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have been represented and described. 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.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0074] 1 workstation of a spinning machine or winding machine [0075] 2 auxiliary thread [0076] 3 thread nozzle [0077] 4 suction [0078] 5 thread section protruding into the suction [0079] 6 thread section extending into the thread nozzle [0080] 7 thread receiver [0081] 8 thread section remaining in the thread nozzle [0082] 9 thread section coming from the thread receiver [0083] 10 capture arrangement [0084] 11 suction section [0085] 12 cutting unit of the thread nozzle [0086] 13 first opening of the thread nozzle [0087] 14 second opening of the thread nozzle [0088] 15 valve [0089] 16 compressed-air inlet of the thread nozzle [0090] 17 service unit [0091] 18 sliver [0092] 19 supply bobbin [0093] 20 thread coming from the supply bobbin [0094] 21 gripping section [0095] 22 thread manipulator [0096] 23 auxiliary-thread supply [0097] 24 pivot bearing [0098] 25 tube [0099] 26 pair of delivery rollers [0100] 27 housing [0101] 28 inlet opening