METHOD FOR DETERMINING LEAKS AND/OR BLOCKAGES IN A SPINNING UNIT OF A SPINNING DEVICE OF A ROTOR OR AIR-JET SPINNING MACHINE

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting leaks and/or blockages in a spinning unit of a spinning apparatus of a spinning machine. The method can comprise: setting the spinning machine wherein compressed air valves are set to an open state to release a compressed air flow feed to the spinning unit, switching on a compressed air source provided that the compressed air source is switched off, closing the compressed air valves one after the other in a defined order, wherein each time a compressed air valve is closed, the compressed air flow value is measured and transmitted to an evaluation device and assigned to the spinning unit assigned to the air valve and is compared with a specified limit value or limit value range, and identifying and assessing whether compressed air flow values of which deviate from the limit value or limit value range.

Claims

1. A method for detecting leaks and/or blockages in a spinning unit of a spinning apparatus of a rotor or air-jet spinning machine, wherein the rotor or air-jet spinning machine-comprises: at least one section comprising a defined number of spinning apparatuses, each of the defined number of spinning apparatuses having a spinning unit; at least one compressed air source; compressed air supply lines, which are each coupled to at least one spinning unit of the defined number of spinning apparatuses, wherein compressed air flow of the at least one compressed air source is feedable via at least one of the compressed air supply lines to the at least one spinning unit assigned thereto; switchable compressed air valves assigned to at least one spinning unit of the defined number of spinning apparatuses, wherein the switchable compressed air valves are designed to keep at least a pressure constant regardless of a pressure volume flow, at least one compressed air flow meter for measuring a compressed air flow rate within the compressed air supply lines, wherein the rotor or air-jet spinning machine comprises, or is coupled to, a control and regulation unit coupled to the at least one compressed air source and the switchable compressed air valves for controlling and/or regulating the at least one compressed air source and the respective compressed air valves, and an evaluation device connected to the at least one compressed air flow meter in a data-transmitting manner for evaluating measured data from the at least one compressed air flow meter; wherein the method comprises the steps of: setting the rotor or air-jet spinning machine to an inspection mode in which the switchable compressed air valves are set to an open state in order to release a compressed air flow feed to the spinning unit; switching on the at least one compressed air source for feeding the compressed air flow, provided that the at least one compressed air source is switched off; closing the switchable compressed air valves one after the other in a defined order, wherein each time one of the switchable compressed air valves is closed, a prevailing compressed air flow value is measured and a measurement result is transmitted to the evaluation device and assigned to the at least one spinning unit assigned to one of the switchable compressed air valves and is compared with a specified limit value or limit value range stored in the evaluation device or a memory unit connected to the evaluation device; and identifying, by the evaluation device, at least one spinning unit the-assigned compressed air flow values of which deviate from the specified limit value or limit value range, and assessing whether the compressed air flow value falls below or exceeds the specified limit value or limit value range.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control and regulation unit is connected to the evaluation device in a data-transmitting manner.

3. The method according to claim 1, further including initiating an alarm signal by the evaluation device if the step of assessing shows an impermissible deviation of the compressed air flow values from the specified limit value or limit value range.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the alarm signal comprises information about a type of impermissible deviation and about the spinning apparatus, spinning unit and/or compressed air supply lines relating to the impermissible deviation.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the switchable compressed air valves assigned to the at least one spinning unit-in each case is moved to a closed position if deviations in the compressed air flow values at a relevant one of the defined number of spinning apparatuses has been assessed to be impermissible.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotor or air-jet spinning machine-is an air-jet spinning machine, wherein the at least one spinning unit is formed by an air-jet spinneret, by which a thread is formed from a fed sliver via the compressed air flow fed to the air-jet spinneret, which compressed air flow generates a vortex air flow within the air-jet spinneret.

7. The method according to claim 13, wherein the spinning apparatus, spinning unit and/or compressed air supply line relating to the impermissible deviation is indicated by a display unit.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein an extent of a deviation from the specified limit value or limit value range is identified and indicated in a display unit.

9. A rotor or air-jet spinning machine comprising: at least one section comprising a defined number of spinning apparatuses, each of the defined number of spinning apparatuses having a spinning unit; at least one compressed air source; compressed air supply lines which are each coupled to at least one spinning unit of the defined number of spinning apparatuses, wherein compressed air flow of the at least one compressed air source is feedable via the compressed air supply lines to the at least one spinning unit assigned thereto; switchable compressed air valves assigned to at least one spinning unit, wherein the switchable compressed air valves are designed to keep at least a pressure constant regardless of a pressure volume flow to control a fed compressed air flow; and at least one compressed air flow meter for measuring a compressed air flow rate within the compressed air supply lines; wherein the rotor or air-jet spinning machine comprises, or is coupled to, a control and regulation unit coupled to the at least one compressed air source and the switchable compressed air valves for controlling and/or regulating the at least one compressed air source and the switchable compressed air valves, and an evaluation device connected to the compressed air flow meter in a data-transmitting manner for evaluating measured data from the compressed air flow meter; wherein the evaluation device is set up to: compare, when the switchable compressed air valves are closed one after the other in a defined order, a compressed air flow value measured each time a compressed air valve is closed with a specified limit value or limit value range stored in the evaluation device or a memory unit connected to the evaluation device; and identify the spinning unit the compressed air flow values of which deviate from the specified limit value or limit value range, and assessing whether the compressed air flow value falls below or exceeds the specified limit value or limit value range.

10. The rotor or air-jet spinning machine according to claim 9, wherein the compressed air valve is arranged in a compressed air flow branch duct, via which the assigned spinning unit is connected to the compressed air supply lines so as to guide the compressed air flow.

11. The rotor or air-jet spinning machine-according to claim 9, wherein the control and regulation unit is connected to the evaluation device in a data-transmitting manner.

12. The rotor or air-jet spinning machine-according to claim 9, wherein the evaluation device is connected in a data-transmitting manner to a display unit in a wireless or wired manner and is designed to have the display unit indicate a spinning apparatus, spinning unit, pressure supply line relating to a deviation and/or an extent of the deviation from the specified limit value or limit value range.

Description

[0033] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a spinning machine, and

[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for detecting leaks and/or blockages in a spinning unit of a spinning apparatus of the spinning machine.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a purely schematic representation of a spinning machine 1 having several spinning apparatuses 3, which are shown here only in part, are combined to form a section, and each have a spinning unit 4. The spinning apparatuses 3 can be the spinning apparatuses 3 of a rotor spinning machine or air-jet spinning machine.

[0037] At one end of the machine, the spinning machine 1 comprises a machine frame with a control housing 2, from which a plurality of spinning apparatuses 3 extend in rows on and along a longitudinal machine side of the spinning machine 1, wherein the respective spinning apparatuses 3 are connected on the data transmission side to a central control and regulation unit 14 shown in the control housing 2. Each spinning apparatus 3 has a spinning unit 4 for producing a thread from a sliver provided at the respective spinning apparatus 3.

[0038] The spinning machine 1 comprises a compressed air source 6, which generates a compressed air flow and is arranged in the control housing 2. The compressed air source 6 is set up to generate a compressed air flow caused by negative or positive pressure. The compressed air source 6 is connected to a compressed air supply line 8 so as to guide the compressed air flow, wherein several compressed air flow branch ducts 9 branching off from the compressed air supply line 8 are arranged on said compressed air supply line. Each of the branching compressed air flow branch ducts 9 leads to a spinning apparatus 3 and to the spinning unit 4 assigned to the spinning apparatus 3, in order to supply them with the compressed air flow that can be generated by the compressed air source 6.

[0039] In a compressed air flow branch duct 9 between the compressed air source 6 and a compressed air flow branch duct nearest to the compressed air source 6, the compressed air supply line 8 has a compressed air flow meter 10 for measuring a compressed air flow value (namely the compressed air volume flow in the present exemplary embodiment), which compressed air flow meter is arranged in the control housing 2 according to the preferred exemplary embodiment shown. The compressed air flow meter 10 can be accessible in the control housing 2 through a maintenance flap and, in particular, can be visible through a viewing window integrated in the maintenance flap. According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, the compressed air flow meter 10 can have a display for the scaled and/or digital display of the measurable compressed air volume flow passing through.

[0040] In the respective compressed air flow branch ducts 9 leading to the spinning apparatuses 3, a switchable, in particular controllable, compressed air valve 12 is arranged between the compressed air supply line 8 and the spinning units 4, which compressed air valve is adjustable, in particular in a controlled manner, between an open and closed position. In the open position, a compressed air flow can be passed through the corresponding compressed air flow branch duct 9 via the compressed air valve 12, whereas the corresponding compressed air flow branch duct 9 is blocked for the compressed air flow when the compressed air valve 12 is in the closed position.

[0041] An evaluation device 13 is connected directly to the compressed air flow meter 10 and indirectly, via the control and regulation unit 14, to the compressed air valves 12 of the individual spinning apparatuses 3. In this way, the measured compressed air volume flows can be transmitted to the evaluation device 13 from the compressed air flow meter 10. The control and regulation unit 14 can furthermore be used to adjust the respective compressed air valve 12 between the open and closed positions, in particular in a controllable manner. Even though the data transmission path is shown to be only unidirectional in the schematic representation of FIG. 1, according to a further preferred exemplary embodiment it can also be a bidirectional connection in order to be able in particular to provide or retrieve corresponding feedback.

[0042] The evaluation device 13 is set up to detect leaks and/or blockages in a spinning unit 4 of the spinning apparatuses 3 during an inspection mode carried out by the control and regulation unit 14. The method 100 for detecting leaks and/or blockages in a spinning unit 4 comprises, in a first step 110, setting the spinning machine to an inspection mode in the control and regulation unit 14, wherein, in the inspection mode, the compressed air valves 12 of the individual spinning apparatuses 3 are set to the open position, in particular in a controllable manner, in order to release a compressed air flow feed to the spinning units 4.

[0043] In a next step 120, the compressed air source 6 is then activated or switched on, provided that it is in the configured state. In the subsequent step 130 relating to a testing process, the control and regulation unit 14 adjusts the compressed air valves 12 on the individual spinning apparatuses 3 one after the other in a defined order to the closed position, in particular in a controllable manner, and subsequently records the compressed air volume flow determined on the compressed air flow meter 10 in each case. This measured value is assigned to the respective spinning unit 4 and compared in the evaluation device 13 with a specified limit value or limit value range, which is stored in the evaluation device 13 or in a memory unit (not shown here) that is connected to the evaluation device 13.

[0044] If the evaluation device 13 detects a deviation of the compressed air flow value determined by the compressed air flow meter 10 from the assigned limit value or limit value range, this is identified in a subsequent step 140 by the evaluation device 13, which evaluates whether the measured compressed air value exceeds or falls below the stored limit value or limit value range and, in particular, to what extent there is a deviation from the limit value or limit value range. An exceedance or shortfall, in particular the extent of the deviation from the limit value or limit value range, is indicated by the evaluation device 13 via a display unit 15 designed as an alarm signal display unit.

[0045] The alarm signal display unit 15 provides information about the type of deviation, wherein the measured compressed air flow value falling below the limit value or limit value range is signaled as a blockage of the spinning unit 4, whereas a compressed air flow value exceeding the limit value or limit value range is indicated on the alarm signal display unit 15 as a leak at the spinning unit 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0046] 1 Spinning machine [0047] 2 Control housing [0048] 3 Spinning apparatus [0049] 4 Spinning unit [0050] 6 Compressed air source [0051] 8 Compressed air supply line [0052] 9 Compressed air flow branch duct [0053] 10 Compressed air flow meter [0054] 12 Compressed air valve [0055] 13 Evaluation device [0056] 14 Control and regulation unit [0057] 15 Display unit [0058] 100 Method [0059] 110 Method step of setting to an inspection mode [0060] 120 Method step of switching on the compressed air source [0061] 130 Method step of closing, transmitting and comparing [0062] 140 Method step of identifying