Spinning Machine and Method for Operating a Spinning Machine with a Multiple Number of Spinning Stations

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a spinning machine with a multiple number of spinning stations, whereas, in the normal case, the individual spinning stations are supplied with a fiber material and produce a yarn from this, whereas, upon the occurrence of predefined events, yarn production is interrupted at any or all spinning stations, whereas the spinning stations at which yarn production has been interrupted are, when required, spun in with the assistance of a spinning-in process in order to once again start up yarn production, and whereas the respective spinning-in is carried out with the assistance of handling tools with their own spinning machines. In accordance with the invention, it is proposed that the individual spinning stations are classified on the basis of one or more production-related parameters, and that, if more spinning-in processes are to be carried out at the same time than can be carried out by the handling tools, at least the selection of the spinning station to be spun in next is carried out under consideration of the specified classification.

Claims

1. Method for operating a spinning machine with a multiple number of spinning stations, whereas, during spinning operation, the individual spinning stations are supplied with a fiber material and produce a yarn from this, whereas, upon the occurrence of predefined events, yarn production is interrupted at any or all spinning stations, whereas the spinning stations at which yarn production has been interrupted are, when required, spun in with the assistance of a spinning-in process in order to once again start up yarn production, and whereas the respective spinning-in process is carried out with the assistance of handling tools with their own spinning machines, characterized in that the individual spinning stations are classified on the basis of one or more production-related parameters, and that, if more spinning-in processes are to be carried out at the same time than can be carried out by the handling tools, at least the selection of the spinning station to be spun in next is carried out under consideration of the specified classification.

2-11. (canceled)

Description

[0028] It is also advantageous if individual spinning stations are temporarily not spun in, depending on their classification. For example, it would be conceivable to temporarily block spinning stations, for which one or more parameters is outside of defined threshold values, from the spinning-in process. The lifting of the block may take place, for example, after a predetermined time period or manually. Likewise, the blocking of individual spinning stations may take place manually or automatically with the assistance of the control unit, whereas, upon an automatic blocking, a message may be outputted to an operator of the spinning machine (for example, in the form of a visual signal). For example, it would be conceivable to not spin in individual spinning stations for a certain period of time if the number of spinning stations that must be spun in simultaneously exceeds a defined amount, whereas, in such a case, forecasts regarding the spinning-in processes to be expected could be taken into account in a period of time in the future.

[0029] It is also extremely advantageous if individual spinning stations are temporarily not spun in, depending on the overall efficiency of the spinning machine. One dimension for assessing the overall efficiency would be, for example, the yarn quantity or yarn length, produced per time unit, averaged through the spinning stations that are not blocked. If the overall efficiency of the spinning machine decreases over time, individual or additional spinning stations can be blocked from the spinning-in process. If the efficiency increases over time, individual or all previously blocked spinning stations could be released again for the spinning-in process.

[0030] It is particularly advantageous if the spinning stations that were temporarily not spun in in accordance with the previous description are spun in once again, if the overall efficiency of the spinning machine reaches or exceeds a defined value. In other words, there may be a saving of threshold values, upon the exceeding or falling below of which individual spinning stations are automatically blocked from the spinning-in process or are once again released for it, whereas the selection of the spinning stations to be blocked or once again released is to take place on the basis of the parameters specified above.

[0031] It is likewise conceivable to once again spin in individual or all spinning stations that were previously not spun in, depending on the classification that took place, by means of a corresponding control command, for example, if a batch change is pending (that is, a different type of yarn is to be produced on the spinning machine).

[0032] It is advantageous if the spinning stations temporarily not spun in in accordance with the previous description are once again spun in, if the number of spinning-in processes that were actually carried out or were requested by the individual spinning stations reaches or falls below a defined value. For example, a value X (for example, 5), which states that up to X spinning stations could be simultaneously spun in, could be saved in the control unit. If, for example, the number of spinning stations to be spun in at a certain point in time is at X+2, 2 spinning stations would be temporarily blocked from the spinning-in process. If, because of successfully carried out spinning-in processes, the number falls once again to a value below the specified value X, additional spinning stations that were previously blocked may be spun in.

[0033] It is likewise advantageous if the spinning-in process is carried out at least partially, preferably exclusively, with the assistance of handling devices with their own spinning stations. These include, for example, suction or blowing nozzles or mechanically acting devices, such as gripping elements or pairs of rollers, with which the yarn can be guided or transported.

[0034] It may also be advantageous if, in carrying out the spinning-in processes, a service unit (a so-called service robot) that is movable back and forth between individual spinning stations is involved, or if the spinning-in processes are carried out exclusively with the assistance of corresponding service units, whereas the movement of the service unit takes place under consideration of the specified classification (whereas, of course, multiple service units may also be used). In other words, the service unit(s) does/do not move, or does/do not always move, to the spinning stations to be spun in, which is at least at a distance from the service unit. Rather, one or more of the parameters specified above of the spinning stations to be spun in are also taken in account, such that the service unit(s) at least partially also initially spins in spinning stations that are further away from the other spinning stations to be spun in.

[0035] It is advantageous if the classification of the individual spinning stations takes place on a regular basis; that is, in predetermined time intervals. Preferably, the classification takes place continuously. It is thereby ensured that, for example, spinning stations that have a particularly high rate of production or a particularly reliable spinning-in behavior are preferably spun in. Since the amounts of the monitored parameters may always change, the spinning-in priority of the individual spinning stations (that is, what spinning station is preferably spun in compared to another) may also constantly change.

[0036] Finally, the invention relates to a spinning machine with the physical characteristics described above, whereas the spinning machine comprises a control unit or is in operative connection with a control unit that is designed to operate the spinning machine according to the previously described aspects (whereas the aspects may be realized individually or in any combination). In particular, the spinning machine also features sensors, with the assistance of which the parameters considered upon spinning-in can be determined.

[0037] The invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments. Variations within the framework of the patent claims, such as any combination of the described characteristics, even if they are illustrated and described in different parts of the description or the claims.