Textile machine, especially spinning machine or winding machine, with a control and communication system

Abstract

A textile machine, especially a spinning machine or winding machine, has numerous identical workstations arranged beside one another along a longitudinal side, with numerous maintenance devices movable along the workstations for servicing the workstations, and with a control and communication system. The maintenance devices are connected to a bus topology component through a maintenance device bus line, in which case at least some of the bus topology components are connected to the control and communication system with a common bus line. The bus topology components are arranged in a middle area of the textile machine, in the longitudinal direction (LR) of the textile machine.

Claims

1. A textile machine having a plurality of spinning or winding workstations arranged side-by-side along a longitudinal side of the textile machine between opposite terminal end frames of the textile machine, the textile machine comprising: a plurality of maintenance devices configured to move in the longitudinal direction alongside the workstations for servicing the workstations; a control and communication system having a common data bus line, the maintenance devices in communication with the control and communication system; each of the maintenance devices connected to a bus topology component through a maintenance device bus line, wherein the maintenance device bus lines are a trailing cable or self-spooling line; at least certain ones of the bus topology components connected to the common bus line and arranged in a stationary connection device located at a middle area of the textile machine in the longitudinal direction between the terminal frames of the textile machine; the bus topology components physically connecting the maintenance device bus lines to the common bus line.

2. The textile machine as in claim 1, wherein the bus topology components are repeaters or bridges.

3. A textile machine, having a plurality of spinning or winding workstations arranged side-by-side along a longitudinal side of the textile machine between opposite terminal end frames of the textile machine, the textile machine comprising: a plurality of maintenance devices configured to move in the longitudinal direction alongside the workstations for servicing the workstations; a control and communication system having a common bus line, the maintenance devices in communication with the control and communication system; each of the maintenance devices connected to a bus topology component through a maintenance device bus line; at least certain ones of the bus topology components connected to the common bus line and arranged in a middle area of the textile machine in the longitudinal direction between the terminal frames of the textile machine; and wherein the bus topology components are arranged in a connection device on an upper side of the textile machine in a vacuum duct, wherein the vacuum duct is configured to supply the maintenance devices with vacuum.

4. The textile machine as in claim 1, wherein the maintenance bus lines comprise trailing cables.

5. The textile machine as in claim 1, wherein the bus topology components are electrically reactionless components wherein if one of the bus topology components shorts or otherwise electrically fails, remaining ones of the bus topology components are electrically unaffected.

6. The textile machine as in claim 1, wherein the bus topology components are arranged longitudinally in the direction of the textile machine on a common board at a middle area of the textile machine.

7. The textile machine as in claim 1, wherein the common bus line comprises a machine bus line that extends along the textile machine between the opposite terminal end frames, the bus topology components connected directly or indirectly to the machine bus line.

8. The textile machine as in claim 7, wherein the bus topology components are connected to a linear continuation of the machine bus line that extends from the bus topology components to one of the terminal end frames of the textile machine.

9. The textile machine as in claim 7, wherein the bus topology components are connected to an additional bus line that extends from the bus topology components to a middle area of the machine bus line in the longitudinal direction, the additional bus line connected to the machine bus line through either of an electrically reactionless machine bus repeater or machine bus bridge.

10. The textile machine as in claim 7, wherein the bus topology components are connected to a connecting bus line that extends from the bus topology components to one of the terminal end frames of the textile machine, the connecting bus line connected to the machine bus line at the terminal end frame with a bridge or repeater.

11. The textile machine as in claim 7, wherein the bus topology components are connected to a maintenance bus line, the maintenance bus line connected to the machine bus line or another bus line of the control and communication system through a maintenance bus bridge that is connected to the maintenance bus line through a supplementary repeater.

12. The textile machine as in claim 11, wherein the bus topology components are arranged longitudinally in the direction of the textile machine on a common board at a middle area of the textile machine, the maintenance bus bridge arranged on the common board.

13. The textile machine as in claim 12, wherein the supplementary repeater is arranged on the common board.

14. The textile machine as in claim 1, wherein the bus topology components are divided into groups, with each of the groups assigned to a different longitudinal work area of the textile machine, the bus topology components of each group arranged on a respective common board, wherein the common boards are arranged on the textile machine at a middle of their respective work area.

15. The textile machine as in claim 14, wherein each of the groups has a maintenance bus line and a maintenance bus bridge assigned thereto and arranged on the common board.

16. The textile machine as in claim 15, wherein each of the groups has a supplementary repeater assigned thereto and arranged on the common board.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described in more detail below with the help of drawings, which show:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic exemplary representation of a longitudinal side of an open-end spinning machine according to the invention with movable maintenance devices;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a control and communication system of a textile machine according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a control and communication system of a textile machine according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a control and communication system of a textile machine according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a control and communication system of a textile machine according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of a control and communication system of a textile machine according to the invention; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a sixth embodiment of a control and communication system of a textile machine according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) 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.

(10) In the following figures, only those components of a textile machine will be explained and identified with reference characters that are necessary for understanding the invention. It goes without saying that the textile machine according to the invention can comprise additional parts and assemblies.

(11) FIG. 1 shows a part of the longitudinal side of a rotor spinning machine that serves as example for a textile machine 1 according to the invention. In the figure, the longitudinal direction LR of the textile machine 1 has been symbolized by a double arrow. Three full sections 2a, 2e and 2i, which comprise in each case exemplarily six workstations 3, namely six spinning units 3, are shown. Every one of the sections 2a, 2e and 2i, however, could clearly also have more spinning units 3, for example 16. Owing to the chosen perspective, only three of the six spinning units 3namely the spinning units 3a, 3b and 3c of section 2a, the spinning units 3d, 3e and 3f of section 2e, and the spinning units 3g, 3h and 3i of section 2iare visible. The three additional spinning units 3 of sections 2 are arranged on the other longitudinal side of the textile machine (not visible).

(12) Several additional sections 2 are provided between sections 2a and 2e as well as between sections 2e and 2i, not shown owing to reasons of space. The number of sections 2 of a rotor spinning machine 1 can vary. Usually, there are 20 sections, for example.

(13) All spinning units 3a to 3i shown have an identical design. For reasons of clarity, only the essential components of spinning unit 3a have been identified with reference characters.

(14) A feeding attachment 4 serves for withdrawing a sliver FB from the can KA made available by the spinning unit 3a and the feeding of the sliver FB to an opening device 5. By means of the opening device 5, the fibers being held together in the sliver FB are opened, so that by using means not shown, individual fibers can be fed to the spinning device 6. With the help of the spinning device 6, these individual fibers are spun to a thread F. The term thread means the same as the term yarn.

(15) The spun thread F is drawn off from the spinning device 6 with a pulling-off device 7. Downstream from the pulling-off device 7, a thread monitor 8 has been arranged. The thread monitor 8 has been designed for recognizing thread breaks and to automatically implement suitable measures to rectify the malfunction in case a thread breaks. A winding device 9 finally has the purpose of winding up the spun thread F in a way to create a cross-wound bobbin KS.

(16) Furthermore, for controlling the functional units of the spinning unit 3a, a workstation control device (not shown) has been provided that, as the other workstation control devices of spinning units 3a, 3b and 3c of section 2a, are connected for exchanging data with a section control device 10a. The workstation control devices of section 2e are analogously connected to section control device 10e the ones of section 2i are connected to section control device 10i, etc.

(17) On one end of the textile machine 1, a first terminal frame 11 has been schematically drawn that contains a plurality of central devices of the textile machine 1 in a known way. For reasons of clarity, only one machine control device 12 for controlling and monitoring the production of the textile machine 1 has been shown. A control unit (not shown in detail) has been allocated to the machine control device 12. For this reason, the first terminal frame is also known as the operating frame.

(18) On another end of the textile machine 1, a second terminal frame 13 has been schematically drawn that contains a plurality of central drives of the textile machine 1 in a known way. For reasons of clarity, only one drive control device 14 for controlling and monitoring the central drives of the textile machine 1 is shown. The second terminal frame is also known as the driving frame.

(19) Also provided as examples are four maintenance devices 15 movable in longitudinal direction LR from which only the maintenance devices 15a and 15b are shown because the other maintenance devices 15c and 15d are located on the other longitudinal side of the textile machine 1. However, even more maintenance devices 15 can be provided. These maintenance devices 15 serve, among other things, for the automatic execution of a piecing process in one of the spinning units 3. The movable maintenance devices 15a-d include in each case one control device 16a-d, which, as usual, can have an operating unit (not shown).

(20) To make it possible that the maintenance devices 15a-d can be moved in longitudinal direction LR from spinning unit 3 to spinning unit 3, they are mounted on a running rail 17 with rollers, for example, from which at least one can be driven.

(21) Furthermore, a vacuum duct 18 is provided on one of the upper sides of the textile machine 1 in the longitudinal direction LR for supplying the maintenance devices 15a-d with a vacuum. To achieve this, a connection can be provided on every one of the spinning units 3 for allowing the maintenance units 15 to have an automatic link to the vacuum duct 18.

(22) To make it possible that the maintenance device control devices 16a-d can be connected to the machine-proof part of the control and communication system of the textile machine 1, the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d designed as trailing cables are provided, from which only the maintenance device bus lines 19a-b are visible. Here, the maintenance device bus line 19a extends from the maintenance device control device 16a, passes through a maintenance device-proof connection device 20a, and reaches a machine-proof connection device 21. The maintenance device bus line 19b extends analogously from the maintenance device control device 16b through a maintenance device-proof connection device 20b until it reaches a machine-proof connection device 21, etc.

(23) The maintenance device bus lines 19a-d are advantageously designed as trailing cables 19a-d. Trailing cables 19a-d are long lived because the bending radius can be maintained by the trailing chain via a permissible minimum radius. In addition, they need no active drive of their own, as they can be arranged so they can be dragged by the drive of the movable maintenance devices 15a-d. In all of this, it is especially advantageous for the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d to be laid with more lines (such as with energy supply lines, for example) in a guiding device. In principle, the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d can also be designed as self-spooling cables, however.

(24) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a control and communication system of the textile machine 1 according to the invention. It has a machine bus line 22 that extends along the textile machine 1 from the first terminal frame 11 to the second terminal frame 13. The section control devices 10a to 10i, the machine control device 12 and the drive control device 14 are connected as nodes by means of so-called IDC technology or a plug technique without having to physically interrupt the machine bus line 22 as a result of this. Such IDC or plug connections are shown here with short double arrows.

(25) The machine bus line 22 can be, in particular, a linear, continuous physical line that is laid in a machine-long cable duct, for example. The machine bus line 22 can especially consist of section-long parts that are attached with screw connections, plug connections or the like when the textile machine 1 is assembled.

(26) In a first embodiment, the machine bus line 22 has a linear continuation 23 that extends from a first terminal frame 11 to an area of the machine-proof connection device 21. The resulting linear bus line 22, 23 is terminated in the area of the second terminal frame 13 with a first terminal resistance 24 and in the area of the machine-proof connection device 21 with a second terminal resistance 25.

(27) Each one of the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d is connected to the machine bus line 22 via a repeater 26a-d and via the continuation 23 and terminated on both ends through terminal resistances (not shown).

(28) According to the invention, the bus topology components 26a-d, designed as repeaters 26a-d, are arranged, when seen in longitudinal direction LR of the textile machine 1, in a middle area of the textile machine 1. By arranging the repeaters 26a-d in precisely the middle area, the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d, all other things being equal, can now be significantly shortened compared to solutions in which the repeaters 26a-d are arranged in one of the terminal frames 11, 13, so that the entire line length effective for the transfer behavior between two of the maintenance devices 15a-d can be significantly shortened. In this way, it is possible to increase the entire length of the textile machine 1 (i.e. the number of sections 2 or workstations 3).

(29) Since the repeaters 26a-d are at least indirectly connected to the machine bus line 22, a direct and therefore fast communication between the maintenance devices 15a-d, on the one hand, and of the central control device 12, the drive control device 14 and the section control devices 10a-i, on the other hand, is now possible. This is especially advantageous when malfunctions are rectified in one of the workstations 3.

(30) Since the repeaters 26a-d are connected to the machine bus line through the linear continuation 23 of the machine bus line 22, this results especially in production technology advantages because the machine bus line 22 can inherently be designed continuously, as has hitherto been customary, so that in this respect all sections 2 of the textile machine 1 are wired in the same way. The linear continuation 23 can now be led separately from the terminal frame 11 to the middle area of the textile machine 1. For example, the continuation 23 can be laid on or inside the vacuum duct 18.

(31) The repeaters 26a-d are advantageously arranged in an area of a machine-proof connection device 21 of the maintenance device bus line 19a-d respectively allocated to it. This method makes it possible to minimize the machine-proof section of the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d. As a result of this, the entire line length effective for the transfer behavior between two of the maintenance devices 15a-d can be minimized and the entire length of the textile machine 1 (i.e. the number of sections 2 or workstations 3) maximized.

(32) The repeaters 26a-d are conveniently arranged on an upper side of the textile machine 1. Usually, the movable section of the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d runs along the upper side of a textile machine 1. By arranging the repeaters 26a-d also on the upper side of the textile machine 1, it is possible to shorten even more the entire line length effective for the transfer behavior between two of the maintenance devices 15a-d.

(33) The repeaters 26a-d are advantageously arranged in the area of the vacuum duct 18 for supplying the maintenance devices 15a-d with a vacuum. More typically, machine-proof connection devices 21 of the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d are arranged on one such vacuum duct 18, so that the arrangement of the repeaters 26a-d in an area of a vacuum duct 18 contributes to the further shortening of the effective line lengths. In addition, the continuation 23 can run along the vacuum duct 18, especially inside the vacuum duct 18, from which it can be easily and protectively laid.

(34) The repeaters 26a-d are advantageously developed to be reactionless. The resulting advantage is that a malfunction on one of the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d does not lead to the breakdown of the entire system. If, for example, there is a short circuit in one of the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d, it will not affect the continuation 23 of the machine bus line 22, so that the other maintenance devices 15a-d can keep communicating through the continuation 23.

(35) It is convenient to attach the repeaters 26a-d directly to the linear continuation 23 of the machine bus line 22. If the repeaters 26a-d are now directly attached to the machine bus line, which could alternatively be possible, or to the linear continuation 23 of the machine bus line 22, then the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d and the maintenance devices 15a-d are a direct part of the machine buses. As a result of this, directand therefore fastcommunication between the maintenance devices 15a-d, on the one hand, and the central control device 12, the drive control device 14 and the section control devices 10a-i, on the other hand, is possible and this is especially advantageous when malfunctions are rectified in one of the workstations.

(36) It is advantageous if all repeaters 26a-d are arranged in immediate proximity to one another. This arrangement makes it possible to shorten even more the entire effective line length for the transfer behavior between two maintenance devices 15a-d.

(37) It is advantageous if all repeaters 26a-d are arranged on a common board (not shown). On the one hand, this reduces the effective line length further and, on the other hand, an electronic assembly can be created in this way that can be mounted as a prefabricated whole during final assembly, something that greatly simplifies the final assembly of the textile machine 1.

(38) It is convenient if the repeaters 26a-d are arranged in the middle of the textile machine 1, in longitudinal direction LR of it. This concept leads to especially short line lengths with the advantages described above.

(39) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a control and communication system of a textile machine 1 according to the invention. However, in contrast to the first embodiment, only the differences are explained.

(40) Here, the repeaters 26a-d are connected to at least one additional bus line 28 (terminated by means of a third terminal resistance 27), which extends from the repeaters 26a-d to a middle area of the machine bus line 22 when seen in longitudinal direction LR. In this case, no continuation 23 is needed and the machine bus line itself is now terminated with the second terminal resistance 25. This allows the physical line lengths to be shortened even more compared to the usage of the linear continuation 23.

(41) It is advantageous for the additional bus line 28 to be connected to the machine bus line 22 via a machine bus repeater 29. If a machine bus repeater 29 that links the machine bus line 22 and the additional bus line 28 is used, then the additional bus line 28 andas far as no logical separation is foreseen herethe repeaters 26a-d, the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d and the maintenance devices 15a-d are an integral part of the machine bus, which makes directand therefore fastcommunication possible.

(42) In an embodiment not shown, the additional bus line is connected via a machine bus bridge to the machine bus line, which can replace the machine bus repeater. Specifically, if a machine bus bridge is used for connecting the machine bus line 22 and the additional bus line 28, a data bus separated logically (and if applicable, electrically) from the machine bus that includes the additional bus line 28, the repeaters 26a-d, the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d and the maintenance devices 15a-d is created. In this case, another protocol can be employed in the separated data bus created than in the machine bus. Likewise, different bandwidths can be provided in the separated data bus and in the machine bus. Moreover, the additional bridge can assume a filter function so that only the data relevant to the receiver is transferred between the separated data bus and the machine bus. As a result of this, the control and communication system can be optimized so more sections can be provided.

(43) It is advantageous for the machine bus repeater 29 and/or the machine bus bridge to have a reactionless design. This especially means that a short circuit or defective signal on one of the bus lines 22, 28 will have no reactions on the other connected bus line 22, 28. This has the advantage that a malfunction on one of the bus lines 22, 28 will not lead to a breakdown of the entire system. If, for example, there is a short circuit on the additional bus line 28, then the machine bus line 22 will not be affected by it.

(44) The repeaters 26a-d are advantageously connected directly to the additional bus line 28. As a result of this, the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d and the maintenance devices 15a-d become direct parts of the machine bus as long as the additional bus line is connected to the machine bus line 22 via the machine bus repeater 29. This makes it possible to have a directand therefore fastcommunication between the maintenance devices 15a-d, on the one hand, and the central control device 12, the drive control device 14 and the section control devices 10a-d, on the other hand, something that is especially advantageous when malfunctions are rectified in one of the workstations 3.

(45) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a control and communication system of a textile machine 1 according to the invention. However, only the differences to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 are explained below.

(46) In the third embodiment, the repeaters 26a-d are connected to at least one maintenance bus line 30 that is connected to the linear continuation 23 of the machine bus line 22 of the control and communication system through at least one maintenance bus bridge 31. The maintenance bus bridge 31, however, could also be connected to another bus line, especially to the machine bus line 22 or the additional bus line 28.

(47) As a result of this, a logical autonomous maintenance bus is created that comprises the maintenance devices 15a-d, the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d, the repeaters 26a-d and the maintenance bus line 30. In this case, another protocol can be employed in the maintenance bus created in this way than in the other data buses of the textile machine. Likewise, different bandwidths can be provided on the maintenance bus and on the other data buses of the textile machine. In addition, the maintenance bus bridge 31 can assume a filter function, so that only data is transferred between the maintenance bus and the other data buses of the textile machine 1 that is in each case relevant for the receiver. This allows the control and communication system to be optimized, so that more sections 2 can be provided.

(48) It is convenient if the maintenance bus bridge 31 is connected to the maintenance bus line 30 via a supplementary repeater 32, thus allowing the maintenance bus bridge 31 to be connected to the maintenance bus line 30 via a longer stub.

(49) Advantageously, the supplementary repeater 32 and/or the maintenance bus bridge 31 are reactionless. This especially means that a short circuit or defective signal on the side of the machine bus will have no reactions on the maintenance bus line 30. This has the advantage that a malfunction on the side of the machine bus will not lead to the breakdown of the entire maintenance bus, so that the maintenance devices 15a-d can keep communicating through the maintenance bus line 33.

(50) The maintenance bus bridge 31 is advantageously arranged in the immediate proximity to the repeaters 26a-d. As a result of this, the entire line length effective for the transfer behavior between two maintenance devices 15a-d can also be shortened.

(51) It is an advantage if the maintenance bus bridge 31 is arranged on the common board. On the one hand, this allows the effective line length to be reduced even more and, on the other hand, an electronic assembly can be created in this way and mounted as a prefabricated whole during the final assembly, something that greatly simplifies the final assembly of the textile machine 1.

(52) Preferably, the supplementary repeater 32 is arranged in immediate proximity to the repeaters 26a-d. As a result of this, the entire effective line length for the transfer behavior between two maintenance devices 15a-d can likewise be shortened.

(53) Advantageously, the supplementary repeater 32 is arranged on the common board. On the one hand, this allows the effective line lengths to be reduced even more, and on the other hand, an electronic assembly can be created in this way and mounted as a prefabricated whole during the final assembly, something that greatly simplifies the final assembly of the textile machine 1.

(54) FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a control and communication system of a textile machine 1 according to the invention. However, only the differences to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4 are explained below.

(55) Here, the repeaters 26a-d are connected through the maintenance bus bridge 31 to at least one connecting bus line 33, which extends from the repeaters 26a-d to one of the terminal frames 11, in which case the connecting bus line 33 is connected to the machine bus line 22 or to an additional repeater (not shown) via a supplementary bridge 34. The linear continuation 23 is not needed in this case. Alternatively, the repeaters 26a-d can be connected directly to the connecting bus line 33. If an additional repeater is employed, the connecting bus line 33 becomes a part of the machine bus and fast data transfer is ensured. On the other hand, if a connection line 33 and an additional bridge 34 connecting the connecting bus line 33 and the machine bus line 22 are employed, a data bus separated logicallyand, if applicable, electricallyfrom the machine bus is created that comprises the connecting bus line 33 and, as far as no logical separation (i.e. especially no maintenance bridge 31) is provided, the repeaters 26a-d, the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d and the maintenance devices 15a-d. In this case, another protocol can be employed in the separate data bus created in this way than in the machine bus. Likewise, different bandwidths can be provided on the separate data bus and the machine bus. In addition, the additional bridge 34 can assume a filter function, so that only data is transferred between the separate data bus and the machine bus that is in each case relevant to the receiver. As a result of this, the control and communication system can be optimized so more sections can be provided.

(56) To prevent reflections, the connecting bus line is terminated through the ends of a fourth terminal resistance 35 and a fifth terminal resistance 36.

(57) FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of a control and communication system of a textile machine 1 according to the invention, but only the differences to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 are explained below.

(58) In the fifth embodiment, the repeaters 26a-d are subdivided into groups 37a-b, in which case group 37a includes repeaters 26a and 26c as well as group 37b that includes repeaters 26b and 26d. Here, all repeaters 26a and 26c or 26b and 26d of groups 37a or 37b, respectively, have been arranged in immediate proximity to one another. This solution is especially advantageous when more maintenance devices 15a-d (e.g. eight or more) are provided. In this case, it can be provided that the individual maintenance devices are movable merely along a portion of the workstations 3. Here, the effective line lengths have been minimized within the groups 37a, 37b. Generally, between the groups 37a, 37b no communication is necessary between the maintenance devices 15a and 15c or 15b and 15d. In this way, the number of sections 2 can be increased even more with the same maximum effective line length.

(59) Advantageously, repeaters 26a and 26c or 26b and 26d are arranged in a group 37a or 37b in the longitudinal direction of the textile machine 1 in the middle of a work area of group 37a or 37b of the maintenance devices 15a and 15c or 15b and 15c attached to group 37a or 37b. A work area of a group 37a or 37b is understood to be the area of those workstations 3 for whose maintenance the maintenance devices 15a and 15c or 15b and 15c of the group 37a or 37b are responsible. In this way, the effective line lengths can be further reduced within groups 37a or 37b.

(60) All repeaters 26a and 26c or 26b and 26d are conveniently arranged on a common board of one of the groups 37a or 37b. On the one hand, this allows effective line lengths to be reduced even more and on the other hand, an electronic assembly can be created that can be mounted as a prefabricated whole during final assembly, something that greatly simplifies the final assembly of the textile machine 1.

(61) One maintenance bus bridge 31 and one maintenance bus line 30 are advantageously provided for every one of the groups 37a-b, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and described above, and arranged in the immediate proximity of the repeaters 26a and 26c or 26b and 26d of group 37a or 37b. In this way, several maintenance buses are created and this allows the control and communication system to be optimized even more, especially for very long machines 1. Thus, the effective line lengths within groups 37a or 37b, in particular, can be further reduced.

(62) Every one of the maintenance bus bridges 31 is advantageously arranged on the corresponding common board of group 37a or 37b. On the one hand, this reduces the effective line lengths even more and on the other hand, it creates an electronic assembly that can be mounted as a prefabricated whole during final assembly, something that greatly simplifies the final assembly of the textile machine 1.

(63) One supplementary repeater 32 (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and described above) is advantageously provided for every one of the groups 37a-b, arranged in the immediate proximity to the repeaters 26a and 26c or 26b and 26d of group 37a or 37b. This arrangement makes it for the respective maintenance bus bridge 31 of group 37a or 37b to be connected to the maintenance bus line 30 of group 37a or 37b via a longer stub.

(64) It is advantageous if every one of the supplementary repeaters 32 is arranged on the corresponding common board of group 37a or 37b. This allows, on the one hand, the further reduction of effective line lengths and, on the other hand, the creation of an electronic assembly that can be mounted as a prefabricated whole during final assembly, something that greatly simplifies the final assembly of the textile machine 1.

(65) FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a sixth embodiment of a control and communication system of a textile machine 1 according to the invention, but only the differences to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be explained below.

(66) In FIG. 7, the bus topology components 26a-d; 38a-d have been designed as bridges 38a-d. In this way, a first maintenance device bus is created that comprises the first maintenance device control device 16a, the first maintenance device bus line 19a and the first bridge 38a. Furthermore, a second maintenance device bus (which comprises the second maintenance device control device 16b, the second maintenance device bus line 19b and the second bridge 38b), a third maintenance device bus (which comprises the third maintenance device control device 16c, the third maintenance device bus line 19c and the third bridge 38c), and a fourth maintenance device bus (which comprises the fourth maintenance device control device 16d, the fourth maintenance device bus line 19d and the fourth bridge 38d) are created.

(67) Here, particularly long maintenance device bus lines 19a-d are possible because in this case, the length of the maintenance device bus lines 19a-d can correspond to the maximum possible length of the corresponding maintenance device buses. Additionally, the bandwidth on the four maintenance device bus lines 19a-d can be chosen to be smaller, so that they can be particularly long.

(68) Modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments illustrated or described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.