Method for Operating a Work Station and a Work Station

Abstract

With a method for operating a work station of a spinning machine and/or a winding machine, which has a spinning device (1) for producing a thread (2) or a head for delivering a thread (2) along with a winding device (6) for producing a package (7) on a sleeve (18), the winding device (6) features a swivel-mounted coil holder (8) with a coil plate (9) for receiving the sleeve (18) and for catching the thread (2), a powered winding roller (11) for rotating the sleeve (18) and/or the coil (7) along with a thread traversing device, and the work station is equipped with a first suction nozzle (5) that is directed towards the coil circumference and also with a second suction nozzle (12) that is arranged on the side of the coil plate (9) turned away from the package (7) and is directed essentially counter to the first suction nozzle (5) and is spaced apart from it. The thread (2) is arranged for attachment on an empty sleeve (18) in the two suction nozzles (5, 12), and is stretched between in particular by means of negative pressure in at least the second suction nozzle (12). Subsequently, the thread (2) stretched between the two suction nozzles (5, 12) is captured by a catching device, in order to catch the thread (2) and subsequently wind it onto the sleeve (18). With a corresponding work station of a spinning machine and/or a winding machine, the two suction nozzles (5, 12) are arranged at each other in such a manner that the thread (2) may be arranged for the attachment to an empty sleeve (18) in the two suction nozzles (5, 12) and may be stretched between the two suction nozzles (5, 12) by means of negative pressure in at least the second suction nozzle (12) in such a manner that the stretched thread (2) can be captured between the two suction nozzles (5, 12) by a catching device, in order to catch the thread (2) and subsequently wind it onto the sleeve (18).

Claims

1. Method for operating a work station of a spinning machine and/or a winding machine, which has a spinning device (1) for producing a thread (2) or a head for delivering a thread (2) along with a winding device (6) for producing a package (7) on a sleeve (18), whereas the winding device (6) features a swivel-mounted coil holder (8) with a coil plate (9) for receiving the sleeve (18) and for catching the thread (2), a powered winding roller (11) for rotating the sleeve (18) and/or the coil (7) along with a thread traversing device, and the work station is equipped with a first suction nozzle (5) that is directed towards the coil circumference and also with a second suction nozzle (12) that is arranged on the side of the coil plate (9) turned away from the package (7) and is directed essentially counter to the first suction nozzle (5) and is spaced apart from it, characterized in that the thread (2) is arranged for attachment on an empty sleeve (18) in the two suction nozzles (5, 12), and is clamped in between in particular by means of negative pressure in at least the second suction nozzle (12), and that, subsequently, the thread (2) stretched between the two suction nozzles (5, 12) is captured by a catching device, in order to catch the thread (2) and subsequently wind it onto the sleeve (18).

2-17. (canceled)

Description

[0033] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following embodiments. The following is shown:

[0034] FIG. 1a-1c a side view of a spinning/winding machine with a section through two suction nozzles,

[0035] FIGS. 2a - 2f the method steps for attaching a thread to an empty sleeve with an assisting thread in accordance with a first version of the device,

[0036] FIGS. 3a-3h the method steps for attaching a thread to an empty sleeve with a thread of a previously wound coil with a second version of the device,

[0037] FIG. 4 an outlined thread guide with a lateral cutting device, and

[0038] FIG. 5 an alternative cutting device.

[0039] FIGS. 1a to 1c show a side view of an outlined work station of a spinning/winding machine, such as a rotor spinning machine or an air spinning machine, in which two suction nozzles are shown in cut-out. The following embodiments refer to a catching device that is equipped by means of a toothed coil plate. A catching device that is located on the sleeve or between the sleeve and the coil plate operates analogous to the following description. Thereby, the positioning of the thread with respect to the catching device can be modified such that the corresponding catching device is able to capture the thread easily and reliably.

[0040] FIG. 1 a shows the spinning/winding machine during production. In a spinning device 1, a thread 2 is produced and is drawn out from the spinning device 1 by means of powered draw-off rollers 3. The thread 2 runs through an opening 4 of a first suction nozzle 5 through this first suction nozzle 5 and arrives at a winding device 6. The winding device 6 features a coil 7 on which the thread 2 is wound. The coil 7 is held in a coil holder 8. The coil holder 8 is swivel-mounted according to the direction of the double arrow and is adjusted to the current diameter of the coil 7. In addition, it is able to raise or lower the coil 7 or the sleeve presented in the following figures where necessary. A coil plate 9, which features teeth 10, is arranged on the coil holder 8, which surrounds the coil 7 and the sleeve 18 on both sides. The teeth 10 serve the purpose of catching the thread 2, as will be described in more detail below. For the rotation of the coil 7 in the direction of the arrow, it attaches to a winding roller 11, which is powered. The thread 2 is located in a thread guide 11, which oscillates back and forth in front of the coil 7 and winds the thread 2 crosswise on the coil 7.

[0041] A second suction nozzle 12, which is directed counter to the first suction nozzle 5, is arranged at the side of the coil 7. The two mouths of the first suction nozzle 5 and the second nozzle 12 are essentially opposed to each other, even if they can be offset to each other laterally with a viewing direction towards the winding surface of the coil 7. As will be described below, the thread 2 is stretched between the two mouths in a manner corresponding to the method in accordance with the invention.

[0042] A holder 13, which is rotatably mounted, is provided in the area of the draw-off rollers 3. A seal 14 and an eyelet 15 are arranged on the holder 13. The seal 14 is provided for the purpose of sealing the opening 4 of the first suction nozzle 5, while the eyelet 15 is located within the first suction nozzle 5 or if the first suction nozzle 5 at the mouth is to feature a suction force for attracting and holding the thread 2.

[0043] The first suction nozzle 5 is connected to a first extraction port Al and the second suction nozzle 12 is connected to a second extraction port A2. Both extraction ports A1 and A2 can be independently switched on and off. In the presentation of FIG. 1a, the two extraction ports are switched oft since the thread 2 passes directly from the spinning device 1 through the opening 4 and the upper part of the first suction nozzle 5 to the winding device 6 and is wound onto the coil there 7. In this state, a suction force of the first suction nozzle 5 at the thread 2 is not required.

[0044] In the presentation of FIG. 1b, in comparison to FIG. 1a, the holder 13 is swiveled upwards and, with the seal 14, closes the opening 4. Both extraction ports A1 and A2 are switched on. The thread 2 is located with one end in the first suction nozzle 5 and with the other end in the second suction nozzle 12. The thread 2 passes through the eyelet 15 of the holder 13. The thread 2 in FIG. 1b thereby originates, for example, from an auxiliary coil, which was brought by a maintenance carriage (not shown) to the corresponding work station. At that point, by means of corresponding handling elements, the maintenance carriage has inserted a thread end into the two suction nozzles 5 and 12. The thread 2 is no longer located in the thread guide 16, and thus no longer oscillates. Alternatively, the insertion of the thread 2 into the two suction nozzles 5 and 12 may be carried out by hand.

[0045] In FIG. 1c, the holder 13 is swiveled back downwards and has a thread end that was previously located in the first suction nozzle 5, pulled through the opening 4 and inserted between the two draw-off rollers 3. Thus, the thread 2 is fixed by the draw-off rollers 3. Through the rotation of the draw-off rollers 3, the thread 2 may be moved in its longitudinal direction. The other end of the thread 2 is also located in the second extraction port 12 and is held in this suction nozzle 12 by the suction force.

[0046] In the method step in accordance with FIG. 1b, or only in or after the method step in accordance with FIG. 1c, the coil 7 may be replaced with an empty sleeve 18.

[0047] In the further description, the method in accordance with the invention is more specifically described. FIGS. 2a to 2f, along with 3a to 3h, show a top view of the winding device 6.

[0048] The presentation of FIG. 2a essentially corresponds to the situation as shown in FIG. 1b. The two extraction ports A1 and A2 are turned on and the thread 2 is located with two ends both in the first suction nozzle 5 and in the second suction nozzle 12.

[0049] A sleeve 18 is held between two coil plates 9. On its circumference, the coil plate 9 features teeth 10, with which the thread 2 can be caught. On the other hand, the opposing coil plate 9 does not feature any teeth 10, since the thread 2 must not be caught at this place. The sleeve 18 is removed from the first suction nozzle 5 so far that the coil plate 9 is not engaged in an area in which the thread 2 passes. For this purpose, the sleeve 18 is lifted from the winding roller 11 with the coil holder 8, which is not shown for reasons of greater clarity.

[0050] The thread 2 passes by means of the first suction nozzle 5 through a first hook 19 to a second hook 20 into the second suction nozzle 12. It is not guided in the thread guide 16 (FIG. 1a). The first hook 19 and the second hook 20 are parts of a guide device 22, which guides the thread 2 for re-attachment at the sleeve 18. The two hooks 19 and 20 are attached to one side of a plate 23, which, in this embodiment, is in turn located on the housing of the first suction nozzle 5. The plate 23 may be a type of a mouthpiece of the first suction nozzle 5, which may have other functions, such as the sucking in of a thread end at a coil 7 or the lifting of the thread 2 from the thread guide 16.

[0051] As already described above, the thread 2 is stretched between the two hooks 19 and 20. Thereby, the first hook 19 is less curved than the second hook 20. The justification for this is that, at a later point in time of the process of the method, the thread 2 is to slip through the first hook 19, in order to be able to be inserted into the thread guide 16. However, the second hook 20 is more curved, in order to ensure that the thread 2 can be inserted into the mouth of the second suction nozzle 12. Of course, other versions of the hooks 19 and 20 are possible, depending on the circumstances at the individual winding devices 6. The first hook 19 and second hook 20 are spaced so far from each other that the coil plate 9 may engage between the two hooks 19 and 20, and may grip the thread 2 there.

[0052] The gripping of the thread 2 by the teeth 10 of the coil plate 9 is shown in FIG. 2b. Here, the sleeve 18 is lowered to the winding roller 11 of FIG. 1 a and starts to rotate. The teeth 10 of the coil plate 9 are located in the area between the two hooks 19 and 20 and capture the thread 2 that is stretched in between. Thereby, the thread 2 is further sucked into the second suction nozzle 12. The other end of the thread 2 is now located between the two draw-off rollers 3 in accordance with FIG. 1c. Alternatively, by means of an extraction port A1 of the first suction nozzle 5 that is still switched on, it would also be possible to hold the thread 2 at such end in a stretched manner.

[0053] FIG. 2c shows the thread 2, as it was captured by the teeth 10 of the coil plate 9, is drawn to the sleeve 18 and is clamped there between the sleeve 18 and the coil plate 9. Thereby, the thread still uns through the two hooks 19 and 20. If it is fixed at the lower end in the draw-off rollers 3, the other thread end is pulled from the second extraction port 12 against the suction force of the extraction port A2 and provides the length required for clamping at the sleeve 18. Alternatively, the required thread 2 may be made available by the delivery from the draw-off rollers 3.

[0054] In accordance with FIG. 2d, the thread end, which is not required for clamping on the sleeve 18, is severed by means of a severing device 24, which is symbolically represented here as a pair of scissors. The excess thread end is extracted by suction through the extraction port A2 of the second suction nozzle 12. The thread 2 now runs only through the first hook 19 to the sleeve 18.

[0055] As evident from FIG. 2e, the thread 2 is then transferred to the thread guide 16, which oscillates back and forth in front of the sleeve 18. The thread guide 16 was previously positioned outside of the engaging area of the thread 2, in order not to hinder the previous processing steps. Upon delivery, the thread 2 slides down from the hook 19. The transfer may be effected, for example, by means of a movement of the plate 23, by which the thread 2 slips down from the hook 19 or also through the movement of the thread guide 16, which is driven in the course of the thread 2 and, at that point, exercises drag forces on the thread 2 that are higher than the hook 19 features restraining forces.

[0056] The thread 2 now begins to oscillate back and forth on the sleeve 18, as evident in FIG. 2f. In order not to hinder the further coil structure, the plate 23 with the hooks 19 and 20 moves away from the sleeve 18. For this purpose, it makes sense that the housing of the first suction nozzle 5 serves as the guide.

[0057] The re-attachment of the thread in the spinning device 1 preferably occurs during the method step 2d. After the re-attachment of the thread 2 in the spinning device 1, the thread 2 is produced again; in accordance with the presentations of Figures 2e and 2f, it is wound onto the sleeve 18.

[0058] FIGS. 3a to 3h show a method that is modified compared to FIGS. 2a to 2f. A major difference is that the thread end used for re-attaching the thread 2 on a new sleeve 18 is taken from a coil 7 finished at this work station.

[0059] For this purpose, the guide device 22 features a cutting block 21 and a movable guide element 25. The cutting block 21 and the guide element 25 are arranged on the plate 23, which is located on the housing of the first nozzle 5. The guide element 25 features a cutting edge 26 and a guide groove 27. The cutting edge 26 is formed in a V-shape and may thus capture the thread 2 and move towards the cutting block 21. During such movement, the thread 2 is deflected between the coil 7 and the mouth of the first suction nozzle 5 and, as soon as the cutting block 21 is reached, is cut. This is shown in FIG. 3b.

[0060] This figure also indicates that the extraction port Al is switched on by the first suction nozzle 5. This is necessary, for example, if the thread is sought on the finished coil 7, is found and is to be withdrawn from the coil 7, In this case, the thread end that is found is sucked into the extraction port A1 and subsequently, as shown and described in FIGS. 1b and 1c, is brought into the engagement of the draw-off rollers 3.

[0061] In another case, an on-the-fly coil change may take place, with which the thread 2 continues to be produced. Thereby, the thread 2 is conveyed by the draw-off rollers 3 into the extraction port A2. In this case, unlike that in FIG. 3b, the extraction port A1 is switched off. The thread 2 is either conveyed continuously into the extraction port 12 and is disposed of there. Alternatively, it is possible that the thread 2 is stopped and subsequently must once again be re-attached in the spinning device 1.

[0062] In accordance with FIG. 3c, the thread 2 is held or conveyed by the draw-off rollers 3. The thread 2 is now located in the second suction nozzle 12, the extraction port A2 of which is switched on. The other severed thread end passing to the coil 7 is wound onto the coil 7. The coil 7 may then be removed from the winding device 6.

[0063] After the coil 7 has been exchanged for an empty sleeve 18 in accordance with FIG. 3d, the guide element 25 moves in an opposite direction and, using the guide groove 27, guides the thread 2 away from the cutting block 21. The thread 2 is now stretched between the guide groove 27 and the mouth of the second suction nozzle 12 and opposite to the coil plate 9 with the teeth 10.

[0064] As in FIG. 2b, the coil holder 8 in accordance with FIG. 3e with the sleeve 18 and the two coil plates 9 and 9 lowered to the winding roller 11 (FIG. 1) begins to rotate, and the teeth 10 of the coil plate 9 engage in the stretched thread 2 between the guide element 25 and the second nozzle 12. The thread 2 is captured by the teeth 10 and is drawn to the sleeve 18, and there is fixed between the sleeve 18 and the coil plate 9 in accordance with FIG. 3f. The excess thread end that still protrudes into the second suction nozzle 12 is cut off by means of the severing device 24 and is disposed of through the second extraction port A2.

[0065] The thread 2 lying in the guide groove 27 is now transferred to the thread guide 16, which oscillates back and forth in front of the sleeve 18 (FIG. 3g). The transfer may be effected, for example, once again by means of a movement of the plate 23, by which the thread 2 slips down from the guide groove 27 or also through the movement of the thread guide 16, which is driven in the course of the thread 2 and, at that point, exercises drag forces on the thread 2 that are higher than the guide groove 27.

[0066] Subsequently, in accordance with FIG. 3h, the plate 23 with the guide element 25 and the cutting block 21 is shifted into a position that is removed far from the coil 7, in order not to hinder the winding of the thread 2.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows an alternative guide element 25. Thereby, the guide groove 27 is arranged such that the thread 2 may oscillate back and forth in front of the sleeve 18. Thus, the guide groove 27 has the additional function of the thread guide 16. Accordingly, the guide element 25 also remains in the area immediately in front of the coil 7 and will not be shifted back from this area in a manner corresponding to FIG. 3h. The advantage of this version is that a transfer of the guide element 25 to the thread guide 16 does not have to take place.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows an additional alternative version of the guide device 22. The guide element 25 features only a cutting edge 26. It is rotatably mounted in relation to the cutting block 21. As soon as the thread 2 enters the area between the cutting edge 26 and the cutting block 21, the cutting edge 26 is rotated in the direction of the cutting block 21 and cuts through the thread 2. This version may be advantageous because of its low space requirement.

[0069] This invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments. In particular, it must be noted that the presented components are merely outlined and may be different in a specific arrangement. In particular, the coil plate 9 and its teeth 10 may be designed differently. Thus, for example, a clamping of the thread 2 may take place by means of a narrow groove passing in parallel to the coil plate 9, in which the thread 2 is caught. In this case, the clamping of the thread 2 must be carried out in such a manner that the thread 2 comes to lie in this groove, if the coil holder 8 lowers the sleeve 18 into the stretched thread 2. Additional variations within the framework of the claims, such as a combination of features, are also possible, even if they are presented and described in different embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0070] 1 Spinning device

[0071] 2 Thread

[0072] 3 Draw-off rollers

[0073] 4 Opening

[0074] 5 First suction nozzle

[0075] 6 Winding device

[0076] 7 Coil

[0077] 8 Coil holder

[0078] 9 Coil plate

[0079] 10 Tooth

[0080] 11 Winding roller

[0081] 12 Second suction nozzle

[0082] 13 Holder

[0083] 14 Seal

[0084] 15 Eyelet

[0085] 16 Thread guide

[0086] 18 Sleeve

[0087] 19 Hook

[0088] 20 Hook

[0089] 21 Cutting block

[0090] 22 Guide device

[0091] 23 Plate

[0092] 24 Severing device

[0093] 25 Guide element

[0094] 26 Cutting edge

[0095] 27 Guide groove

[0096] A1 First suction port

[0097] A2 Second suction port