Method for Operating a Work Station of a Textile Machine

Abstract

A method for operating a work station of a textile machine that produces or rewinds yarn in a normal operation, wherein the normal operation is interrupted. The method includes performing at least one service step for restoring the normal operation, wherein a service result is specified for the service step. A standard service operation is carried out with a service device until the service result has been achieved or a predetermined number of failed attempts has been reached. When the predetermined number of failed standard service operation attempts has been reached, an extended service operation is carried out.

Claims

1-16: (canceled)

17. A method for operating a work station of a textile machine that produces or rewinds yarn in a normal operation, wherein the normal operation is interrupted, comprising: performing at least one service step for restoring the normal operation, wherein a service result is specified for the service step; carrying out a standard service operation with a service device until the service result has been achieved or a predetermined number of failed attempts has been reached; and wherein when the predetermined number of failed standard service operation attempts has been reached, an extended service operation is carried out.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising generating an indication to service personnel that the extended service operation is being performed.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the indication is one or both of a visual or an acoustic signal.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the visual or acoustic signals are emitted at one or more of the work station, at a central point of the textile machine, or at a display device that is remote from the textile machine.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the extended service operation is a modified service operation compared to the standard service operation.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the modified service operation is carried out with parameters that are changed compared to the standard service operation, or with a different service device than is used for the standard service operation.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the extended service operation comprises a supporting service operation that is carried out before the modified service operation or an additional standard service operation.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein one or more of the standard service operation, the modified service operation, or the supporting service operation are carried out by a service device of the work station, a robot, a traveling cleaner, or an additional service unit.

25. The method according to claim 23, further comprising recording one or both of a number of modified service operations or supporting service operations that are carried out at individual work stations, or recording a number of unsuccessfully carried out service operations performed by particular service devices.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the supporting service operation is a cleaning operation or an exchange operation.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the exchange operation is exchange of one or more of: a template material; a receiver coil; a sleeve; or parts of the work station.

28. The method according to claim 17, wherein the normal operation is interrupted due to a fault, the method further comprising performing an additional operation at a start of the service step or as part of the extended service operation to determine one or both of a cause of the fault or time of the fault, wherein one or more of the following is performed depending on a result of the additional operation: selection of subsequent operations at the work station, aborting the service step, or aborting the extended service operation.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the result of the additional operation is made clear to service personnel by a visual or acoustic indication.

30. The method according to claim 17, wherein a maintenance priority is assigned to each work station, the maintenance priority set lower when an extended service operation is carried out.

31. The method according to claim 17, wherein the standard service operation is a setting operation, a yarn search operation, a doffing operation, or a splicing operation.

32. A textile machine, comprising a control unit configured to operate the textile machine in accordance with claim 17.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following embodiments. The following is shown:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a side view of a work station;

[0031] FIG. 2 is a side view of a work station with a service unit; and

[0032] FIG. 3 is a side view of a work station with a traveling cleaner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] 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.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a work station 1 of a textile machine. In this case, the textile machine is a rotor spinning machine. However, in principle, the method in accordance with the invention is applicable to other spinning machines, such as ring or air spinning machines, or to winding machines.

[0035] The work station 1 features a spinning unit 2, which spins a sliver 4 coming from a can 3 into a yarn 5. The yarn 5 is then taken up by a pair of draw-off rollers 6 and wound on a coil 8 by means of a traverse element 7.

[0036] Furthermore, the work station 1 features a yarn search device 9 and a piecing device 10. In the event of yarn breakage, a yarn end is wound onto the coil 8. Then, a suction nozzle of the yarn search device 9 is moved near the surface of the coil 8. Thereupon, the suction nozzle is subjected to negative pressure, and the coil 8 is rotated backwards—compared to the spinning operation. The yarn end is thereby sucked in from the suction nozzle of the yarn search device 9. The yarn end is then transferred from the yarn search device 9 to the piecing device 10. The piecing device 10 sets the yarn end at the spinning unit 2 and the work station 1 is able to continue its spinning operation.

[0037] If, on the other hand, the yarn search operation is not successful, the yarn search device 9 once again carries out a yarn search operation. This is repeated until the yarn end has been found or until a predetermined number of failed attempts has been reached. If the predetermined number of failed attempts has been reached, an extended service operation is carried out. The carrying out of the modified service operation is indicated by a light signal 11 to the operator.

[0038] In this embodiment, the extended service operation comprises a modified service operation—this modified service operation is also a yarn search operation carried out by the yarn search device 9. Compared to the standard yarn search operation, the negative pressure is temporarily increased during the modified service operation, which, on the one hand, consumes more energy and increasingly stresses the yarn on the coil surface, but, on the other hand, increases the likelihood that the yarn end is found.

[0039] FIG. 1 also shows rails 12 along which mobile maintenance devices can be moved. In order for the maintenance devices to be precisely positioned at the work station 1, a positioning element 13 is also provided.

[0040] In the following description of the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the same reference signs are used for characteristics that are identical and/or at least comparable in their design and/or mode of operation in comparison to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. To the extent that such are not described once again in detail, their designs and/or modes of action correspond to the designs and modes of action of the characteristics described above.

[0041] FIG. 2 also shows the work station 1 of the textile machine. After a yarn breakage, the yarn search device 9 has carried out the predetermined number of standard yarn search operations, but all of them have been unsuccessful. Thereupon, the extended service operation is carried out. In this embodiment, the extended service operation once again comprises a modified service operation, which is carried out here by an additional service unit 14.

[0042] The carrying out of the extended service operation is again indicated by the light signal 11. The additional service unit 14 is requested by the work station 1 and travels along the rails 12 to the work station 1, where it is precisely positioned with the assistance of the positioning element 13.

[0043] The additional service unit 14 features a brush 16 that is rotatably mounted on a telescopic arm 15. The telescopic arm 15 is extended until the brush 16 makes contact with the surface of the coil 8. Then, the coil 8 is rotated in a reverse direction, and the brush 16 is likewise rotated, such that the yarn end is released from the coil 8. The yarn end that is then released is then sucked in by the yarn search device 9, and is then further transferred to the piecing device 10.

[0044] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the yarn search operation has been successfully carried out, but a predetermined number of failed attempts has occurred upon the piecing operation carried out by the piecing device 10. Thereupon, the extended service operation is carried out, which is indicated by the light signal 11.

[0045] In this embodiment, the extended service operation comprises a supporting service operation. For the supporting service operation, the work station 1 requests a traveling cleaner 17, which travels along the rails 12 to the work station 1 and positions itself precisely at the work station 1 with the assistance of the positioning element 13. The traveling cleaner 17 moves a blowing nozzle 18 with the assistance of three arms 19 and three hinges 20, in such a manner that it frees from dirt the areas of the piecing device 10 that are relevant for the piecing operation. After cleaning has taken place, the standard piecing operation is repeated by the piecing device 10. Since the piecing operation is no longer impaired by dirt, the probability that it is successfully carried out is increased.

[0046] This invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments. Variations within the scope of the claims, just as the combination of characteristics, are possible, even if they are illustrated and described in different embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0047] 1 Work station [0048] 2 Spinning unit [0049] 3 Can [0050] 4 Sliver [0051] 5 Yarn [0052] 6 Pair of draw-off rollers [0053] 7 Traverse element [0054] 8 Coil [0055] 9 Yarn search device [0056] 10 Piecing device [0057] 11 Light signal [0058] 12 Rails [0059] 13 Positioning element [0060] 14 Additional service unit [0061] 15 Telescopic arm [0062] 16 Brush [0063] 17 Traveling cleaner [0064] 18 Blowing nozzle [0065] 19 Arm [0066] 20 Hinge