TEXTILE MACHINE WITH DISPLAY UNIT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A TEXTILE MACHINE

Abstract

In one aspect, a textile machine for processing and/or transporting fiber material includes at least one processing unit configured to process and/or transport fiber material and at least one sensor unit configured to detect soiling on and/or at the at least one processing unit and/or damage to the at least one processing unit. The textile machine also includes at least one display unit configured to display the soiling on and/or the damage to the at least one processing unit.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A textile machine for processing and/or transporting fiber material, the textile machine comprising: at least one processing unit configured to process and/or transport fiber material; at least one sensor unit configured to detect soiling on and/or at the at least one processing unit and/or damage to the at least one processing unit; and at least one display unit configured to display the soiling on and/or the damage to the at least one processing unit.

19. The textile machine of claim 18, wherein the display unit is configured to display a position of the soiling and/or the damage on and/or at the at least one processing unit.

20. The textile machine of claim 18, wherein the display unit is configured to display an amount of the soiling and/or the damage on and/or at the at least one processing unit.

21. The textile machine of claim 18, wherein the display unit is configured to display a type of the soiling and/or the damage on and/or at the at least one processing unit.

22. The textile machine of claim 18, wherein the at least one sensor unit includes a camera.

23. The textile machine of claim 22, wherein the camera is a 3D camera.

24. The textile machine of claim 18, further comprising a control unit configured to determine a position, an amount, and/or type of the soiling and/or the damage on and/or at the at least one processing unit.

25. The textile machine of claim 18, wherein the at least one processing unit has at least one marking identifiable by the at least one sensor unit to allow for a determination of a location, position, and/or orientation of the at least one processing unit.

26. The textile machine of claim 18, wherein the at least one display unit includes a projection unit configured to project at least one item of information regarding a position, an amount, and/or type of the soiling and/or the damage onto the at least one processing unit.

27. The textile machine of claim 26, wherein the projection unit is configured to project colors, symbols, numbers, and/or letters onto the at least one processing unit.

28. The textile machine of claim 18, wherein the at least one display unit includes a screen configured to display a position, an amount, and/or type of the soiling and/or the damage.

29. The textile machine of claim 18, wherein the at least one display unit includes at least one lighting element configured to indicate a position, an amount, and/or type of the soiling and/or the damage.

30. The textile machine of claim 29, wherein the at least one lighting element is configured to output different colors to provide status messages.

31. The textile machine of claim 18, further comprising a memory unit configured to store data gathered by the at least one sensor unit.

32. The textile machine of claim 18, wherein the at least one processing unit forms part of at least one bale opener, at least one textile conveying machine, and/or at least one textile mixing machine.

33. The textile machine of claim 32, wherein the at least one processing unit is: a spiked lattice, a return roller, a transfer roller, and/or a first conveying unit of the at least one bale opener; a mixer of the at least one textile mixing machine; and/or a second conveying unit of the at least one textile conveying machine.

34. A method for operating a textile machine, the method comprising: processing and/or transporting fiber material using at least one processing unit of the textile machine; detecting soiling on and/or at the at least one processing unit and/or damage to the at least one processing unit using at least one sensor unit of the textile machine; and displaying the soiling on and/or the damage to the at least one processing unit using at least one display unit of the textile machine.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein displaying the soiling on and/or the damage to the at least one processing unit comprises displaying a position, an amount, and/or a type of the soiling and/or the damage at and/or on the at least one processing unit.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising identifying non-critical states of the at least one processing unit and removing the non-critical states from the display provided by the at least one display unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0035] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments, wherein:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a textile machine, in the form of a bale opener in this case, with multiple processing units,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a textile machine, in the form of a bale opener in this case, with multiple processing units and with soiling and damage, and

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a display unit in the form of a screen which displays a spiked-lattice front side and a side view of the spiked lattice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a textile machine 1 for processing and/or transporting fiber material 2, the textile machine 1 having multiple processing units 3-10. The textile machine 1 is a bale opener in this exemplary embodiment. Additionally or alternatively, the textile machine 1 can also be a textile mixing machine for mixing multiple fiber materials 2 and/or a textile conveying machine for conveying fiber material 2.

[0040] The fiber material 2 is shown here at various points, although it can also be at only one point.

[0041] The textile machine 1 shown here in the form of a bale opener can include, as a processing unit 3-10, a first conveying unit 3, a spiked lattice 4, a return roller 5, and/or a transfer roller 6. The fiber material 2 is present on the conveying unit 3 in the form of a bale, which is transported. The first conveying unit 3 can also be referred to as a bale conveying unit.

[0042] By means of the spiked lattice 4, the fiber material 2, which is transported thereto in the form of the bale, can be opened. In order to open the bale formed from fiber material 2, or to loosen and/or divide the fiber material 2, the spiked lattice 4 has opening elements 20, only some of which are shown here and provided with a reference character. The spiked lattice 4 has a plurality of opening elements 20. The opening elements 20 can have, for example, the shape of small teeth and/or needles, and therefore the fiber material 2 can be carried along, or pulled apart, by means of the opening elements 20. The spiked lattice 4 has the form of a conveyor belt which revolves endlessly and transports the fiber material 2 upward.

[0043] Moreover, a return roller 5 is shown here as a processing unit, which return roller 5 can throw the fiber material 2 back to the region of the first conveying unit 3 when too much fiber material 2 has been transported by the spiked lattice 4.

[0044] A transfer roller 6 is additionally shown here as a processing unit 3-10, with which the fiber material 2 can be removed from the spiked lattice 4. The fiber material 2 is moved by the transfer roller 6 into a downstream weighing unit 7. In the weighing unit 7, the fiber material 2 can be collected and weighed. Once a certain amount of fiber material 2 has been collected, it can be transferred.

[0045] In this exemplary embodiment, a mixing system 8 is also shown. The fiber material 2 which has been collected and weighed by the weighing unit 7 can be transferred into the mixing system 8. In the mixing system 8, various types of fiber material 2 can then be mixed together. The mixing system 8 can include a mixing element 9 (as shown here), by means of which the fiber material 2 is mixed. The mixing element 9 can be rotated, as a result of which it mixes the fiber material 2. Moreover, the mixing system 8 can include a second conveying unit 10, by means of which the fiber material 2 can be transported in the mixing system 8. The fiber material 2 can also be mixed during transport. The weighing unit 7, the mixing system 8, the mixing element 9, and/or the second conveying unit 10 are also embodiments of the processing element in this case. The various types of fiber material 2 can originate, for example, from various weighing units 7 and/or from various bale openers, or spiked lattices 4. The textile machine 1 can therefore have multiple processing units 3-10, in particular multiple first conveying units 3 and/or multiple spiked lattices 4. By means of the multiple first conveying units 3 and/or multiple spiked lattices 4, various types of fiber material 2 can therefore be processed and/or transported. In addition, each spiked lattice 4 can be assigned one weighing unit 7. The mixing system 8 can be the aforementioned textile mixing machine.

[0046] It is also conceivable that the mixing element 9 is not present. In this case, the fiber material 2 is merely dropped onto the second conveying unit 10 and can be transported. When fiber material 2 is dropped from multiple bale openers, multiple types of fiber material 2 lie next to one another and/or one above the other on the second conveying unit 10. These multiple types of fiber material 2 can then reach a mixer (not shown here).

[0047] Additionally or alternatively, the at least one weighing unit 7, the mixing system 8, the at least one mixing element 9, and/or the second conveying unit 10 are/is also a processing unit 3-10 of the textile machine 1. As processing, the fiber material 2 is weighed and/or collected in the at least one weighing unit 7. Additionally or alternatively, as processing, the fiber material 2 is mixed in the mixing system 8 and/or using the mixing element 9.

[0048] Features that have already been described with reference to the at least one preceding figure are not explained once more, for the sake of simplicity. Moreover, features can also be described first in this figure or in at least one of the following figures. Moreover, identical reference characters are utilized for identical features for the sake of simplicity. In addition, for the sake of clarity, not all the features may be shown and/or labeled with a reference character in the following figures. Features shown in one or several of the preceding figures can also be present in this figure or in one or several of the following figures, however. Moreover, for the sake of clarity, features can also be shown and/or labeled with a reference character first in this figure or in one or several of the following figures. Nevertheless, features that are first shown in one or several of the following figures can also be already present in this figure or in a preceding figure.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a textile machine 1, in the form of a bale opener in this case, with multiple processing units 2-4 and with soiling 15 and damage 16. For the sake of simplicity, most of the elements are omitted here in comparison to FIG. 1. Only the bale opener, as a textile machine 1, is shown in FIG. 2. By way of example, the soiling 15 and the damage 16 are shown here on the spiked lattice 4 as an exemplary embodiment of the processing element. The soiling 15 is represented here by means of circles and the damage 16 is represented here by means of triangles. The size of the circles and of the triangles can represent an amount of the soiling 15 and of the damage 16, respectively. A large circle or a large triangle represents a higher number of cases or a larger amount of soiling 15 or damage 16, respectively. Smaller circles or smaller triangles, however, represent a lower number of cases or a smaller amount of soiling 15 or damage 16, respectively. Additionally or alternatively, the symbols, for example, the circles and/or triangles, can be displayed in various colors, which represent, for example, various types of soiling 15 or damage 16, respectively. Yellow can represent slight soiling 15 or damage 16 and red can represent heavy soiling 15 or damage 16.

[0050] Moreover, the textile machine 1, or the bale opener, includes at least one sensor unit 11, 12, by means of which the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 can be identified and/or determined. In this exemplary embodiment, two sensor units 11, 12 are shown. The first sensor unit 11 is arranged such that it can detect the spiked lattice 4. In particular, the first sensor unit 11 is arranged such that it can detect a spiked-lattice front side 17 of the spiked lattice 4. Moreover, the spiked lattice 4 has a spiked-lattice back side 18, which is arranged on the side facing away from the spiked-lattice front side 17. Advantageously, a sensor unit 11, 12 can, additionally or alternatively, be arranged such that it can detect the spiked-lattice back side 18. Additionally or alternatively, the first and/or the second sensor unit 11, 12 can also detect the return roller 5 and/or the transfer roller 6.

[0051] In the exemplary embodiment shown here, a second sensor unit 12 is shown, which in this case is arranged such that it can detect the spiked lattice 4 from above. By means of this second sensor unit 12, for example, the return roller 5 and/or the transfer roller 6 can be detected, neither of which is shown here, however. Consequently, the soiling on and/or the damage to the return roller 5 and/or the transfer roller 6 can also be displayed by the at least one display unit 14.

[0052] The at least one sensor unit 11, 12 can be in the form, for example, of a camera, in particular a 3D camera and/or a line scan camera. In particular, an image of the relevant processing unit 3-10 can be captured using the at least one sensor unit 11, 12. As is shown here, for example, the first sensor unit 11 can create and/or capture an image of the spiked lattice 4, or of the spiked-lattice front side 17.

[0053] The textile machine 1 of the exemplary embodiment shown here also includes a control unit 13. By means of the control unit 13, the sensor data of the at least one sensor unit 11, 12 can be evaluated. By evaluating the sensor data of the at least one sensor unit 11, 12, the control unit 13 can determine the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16. For example, the control unit 13 can run an evaluation program which can determine the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16.

[0054] By means of the at least one sensor unit 11, 12, positions, amounts, and/or types of the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 can be determined. For example, on the spiked-lattice back side 18, soiling 15 is present in the lower region of the spiked-lattice back side 18 and soiling 15 is present in the upper region of the spiked-lattice back side 18. Since the upper soiling 15 is represented using a circle which is larger in comparison to the lower soiling 15, and/or using various colors, it can be deduced that the soiling 15 is greater in the upper region. By means of the at least one sensor unit 11, 12, it was therefore determined that soiling 15 is present in the upper region of the spiked-lattice back side 18 as a position. The amount of the cases of soiling 15 was also determined, which is represented by the assignment of the size of the circles.

[0055] Furthermore, the textile machine 1 includes a memory unit 21, which is preferably coupled to the control unit 13. In the memory unit 21, the position, the amounts, and/or the types of the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 can be stored, for example, for evaluation. As a result, for example, the points at which soiling 15 and/or damage 16 frequently occur can be determined, and this can be acted upon.

[0056] The control unit 13 can also be connected to the processing units 3-10, or to actuators, and/or drives of the processing units 3-10. The control unit 13 can preferably control the processing units 3-10, or the actuators, and/or the drives of the processing units 3-10. As a result, for example, the spiked lattice 4 can be driven. For an operator, the spiked lattice 4 can be rotated such that a determined case of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 can be easily accessed by the operator. Furthermore, the operator can also rotate the spiked lattice 4 into a position he/she desires using the control unit 13.

[0057] Moreover, on the spiked-lattice back side 18, a case of damage 16 was determined in a central region of the spiked-lattice back side 18.

[0058] Additionally or as an alternative to the amount and/or the position of the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16, a type of the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 can be determined by means of the at least one sensor unit 11, 12.

[0059] It is to be noted here that the spiked lattice 4 rotates. Since the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 rotate(s) along with the spiked lattice 4, these constantly change their position, of course. For example, the soiling 15 and damage 16 shown here, which are arranged on the spiked-lattice back side 18 in this case, can be arranged on the spiked-lattice front side 17 at a later point in time. The same applies for the soiling 15 and the damage 16, which, as shown here, are arranged on the spiked-lattice front side 17. At a later point in time, these can be arranged on the spiked-lattice back side 18.

[0060] Moreover, the textile machine 1 includes at least one display unit 14, by means of which the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 can be displayed. Advantageously, the positions, the amounts, and/or the types of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 can be displayed using the at least one display unit 14.

[0061] The at least one display unit 14 is designed as a lighting element in this exemplary embodiment. Advantageously, the lighting element can illuminate in various colors. The position, the amount, and/or the type of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 can be indicated using the various colors. For example, the at least one display unit 14 can turn red when a comparatively high number of cases of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 has been determined. By contrast, the at least one display unit 14 can turn yellow when the number of cases of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 is low. As a result, an operator can immediately recognize whether cleaning and/or maintenance is necessary or can be postponed. Additionally or alternatively, the cleaning can be prioritized among multiple units made up of at least one bale opener, at least one textile conveying unit, and/or at least one textile mixing system. Furthermore, the at least one display unit 14 can turn green when no soiling 15 and/or damage 16 are/is present. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one display unit 14 can also flash, in particular, flash in a color sequence. Advantageously, the positions, the amounts, and/or the types of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 can be displayed by means of the at least one display unit 14.

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the at least one display unit 14. The display unit 14 shown here is designed as a screen in this case. The screen shown here in FIG. 3 can be advantageously arranged on the textile machine 1 as shown in FIG. 1 or 2. Advantageously, the textile machine 1 includes one or more display units 14, which, in particular, can be designed differently from one another.

[0063] On the screen which is shown here as a display unit 14, the spiked-lattice front side 17 is shown on the left side and the schematic side view of the spiked lattice 4 is shown on the right side.

[0064] As is apparent here, multiple cases of soiling 15 are adjacently arranged in the central region on the spiked-lattice front side 17. These multiple cases of soiling 15 result, for example, in the large circle on the spiked-lattice front side 17 as shown in FIG. 2 or on the right side in FIG. 3. Moreover, other cases of soiling 15 are also apparent, which are arranged on the spiked-lattice front side 17 and on the spiked-lattice back side 18. As described above, the multiple adjacently arranged cases of soiling 15, which are arranged in the central region on the spiked-lattice front side 17 as shown in FIG. 3, can also move onto the spiked-lattice back side 18 when the spiked lattice 4 moves, or rotates. It is clear that the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 moves along with the spiked lattice 4.

[0065] The soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 are/is represented here using various symbols, specifically circles and triangles by way of example. Moreover, the symbols can also have various sizes, for example, depending on the amount of soiling 15 and/or damage 16, wherein larger symbols represent more soiling 15 and/or damage 16. Additionally or alternatively, the symbols, which represent the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16, can also be shown with different colors.

[0066] In addition, the at least one processing unit 3-10, which is the spiked lattice 4 here, can have at least one marking 19. As is apparent here, four markings 19 are arranged on the spiked lattice 4 according to this exemplary embodiment. The markings 19 are fixedly arranged on the spiked lattice 4 in this case. The markings 19 are shown as stars in this case. By means of the markings 19, a position of the spiked lattice 4 can be determined. The at least one marking 19 can also be identified by the at least one sensor unit 11, 12 and, for example, identified by the control unit 13. By means of the at least one marking 19, the positions of the soiling 15 and/or the positions of the damage 16 can be advantageously determined. The positions of the soiling 15 and/or the positions of the damage 16 are set in relation to the at least one marking 19.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0067] 1 textile machine [0068] 2 fiber material [0069] 3 first conveying unit [0070] 4 spiked lattice [0071] 5 return roller [0072] 6 transfer roller [0073] 7 weighing unit [0074] 8 mixing system [0075] 9 mixing element [0076] 10 second conveying unit [0077] 11 first sensor unit [0078] 12 second sensor unit [0079] 13 control unit [0080] 14 display unit [0081] 15 soiling [0082] 16 damage [0083] 17 spiked-lattice front side [0084] 18 spiked-lattice back side [0085] 19 marking [0086] 20 opening elements [0087] 21 memory unit