Abstract
A spinning machine and method separate a sliver delivered out of a sliver can at a spinning station of the spinning machine. The sliver is delivered out of the sliver can with a supply device at the spinning station in a delivery direction to a spinning device, and is guided by a sliver guide between the sliver can and the supply device. The sliver is clamped in the supply device at the spinning station. In order to separate the sliver, the supply device is driven counter to the delivery direction, wherein the sliver is returned by the supply device and, as a result, the clamping of the sliver in the supply device is released.
Claims
1–16. (canceled)
17. A method for separating a sliver delivered out of a sliver can at a spinning station of a spinning machine, comprising: delivering the sliver out of the sliver can with a supply device at the spinning station in a delivery direction to a spinning device; with a sliver guide, guiding the sliver between the sliver can and the supply device; clamping the sliver in the supply device at the spinning station; and in order to separate the sliver, driving the supply device counter to the delivery direction, wherein the sliver is returned by the supply device and, as a result, the clamping of the sliver in the supply device is released.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, after the separation of the sliver, the sliver is unthreaded from the sliver guide of the spinning station.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the separation of the sliver takes place during an automatic can change process at the spinning station.
20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising pre-defining a remaining length of the sliver to be left in the sliver can, wherein the can change process is initiated when the predefined remaining sliver length has been reached.
21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the sliver is unthreaded by a handling device configured with the spinning machine.
22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the sliver is unthreaded by a handling device configured on a movable can changer.
23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the sliver is clamped by a can gripper of the can changer in order to unthread the sliver from the sliver guide.
24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the sliver is unthreaded from the sliver guide before a can change process.
25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the sliver is unthreaded during a can change process.
26. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sliver is clamped by a can gripper at the sliver can and is pulled out of the sliver guide upon removal of the sliver can from the spinning station.
27. A spinning machine, comprising: a plurality of adjacently arranged spinning stations; a row of sliver cans placed i underneath the spinning stations; each of the spinning stations comprising a supply device that delivers a sliver out of one of the sliver cans at the spinning station, a spinning device, and a sliver guide in which the sliver is guided between the sliver can and the supply device; a control unit configured to operate the spinning machine for: delivering the sliver out of the sliver can with the supply device at the spinning station in a delivery direction to the spinning device, wherein the sliver is guided by the sliver guide between the sliver can and the supply device; clamping the sliver in the supply device at the spinning station; and in order to separate the sliver, driving the supply device counter to the delivery direction, wherein the sliver is returned by the supply device and, as a result, the clamping of the sliver in the supply device is released.
28. The spinning machine according to claim 27, wherein the control unit defines a remaining sliver length of the sliver to remain in the sliver can at initiation of an automatic can change process.
29. The spinning machine according to claim 28, wherein each spinning station comprises a measuring device that determines when the remaining sliver length is reached.
30. The spinning machine according to claim 27, further comprising a handling device that unthreads the sliver from the sliver guide.
31. A movable can changer configured to carry out an automatic can change process at a spinning machine, comprising a handling device that is movable to a position to engage and unthread a separated sliver from a sliver guide at a spinning station of the spinning machine.
32. The movable can changer according to claim 31, wherein the handling device comprises a clamp.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments, wherein:
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a spinning machine;
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view of a spinning station of a spinning machine before the separation of the sliver;
[0031] FIG. 3 shows the spinning station from FIG. 2 after the separation of the sliver;
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view of a spinning station that includes a handling device for unthreading the sliver after the separation of the sliver;
[0033] FIG. 5 shows the spinning station from FIG. 4 after the unthreading of the sliver;
[0034] FIG. 6 shows a section of a spinning machine with a movable service unit that includes a handling device for unthreading the sliver;
[0035] FIG. 7 shows a schematic side view of a spinning station that includes a can changer according to a first embodiment before an automatic can change process is carried out;
[0036] FIG. 8 shows the spinning station from FIG. 7 during the automatic can change process;
[0037] FIG. 9 shows a schematic side view of a spinning station that includes a can changer according to a second embodiment before an automatic can change process is carried out;
[0038] FIG. 10 shows the spinning station from FIG. 9 during the automatic can change process;
[0039] FIG. 11 shows a schematic side view of a spinning station that includes a can changer according to a third embodiment before an automatic can change process is carried out; and
[0040] FIG. 12 shows the spinning station from FIG. 11 during the automatic can change process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] 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.
[0042] In the following description of the exemplary embodiments, features that are identical or at least comparable with respect to their design and/or mode of operation are provided with identical reference characters. Moreover, these are explained in detail only at their first mention, while only the differences from the previously described exemplary embodiments are discussed in the subsequent exemplary embodiments. Moreover, for the sake of clarity, often only one or only a few of several identical components and/or features is/are labeled.
[0043] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a spinning machine 1 that includes a plurality of adjacently arranged spinning stations 2. The spinning stations 2 are arranged, in the usual way, between two frames 11 on one or also on both longitudinal side(s) of the spinning machine 1. Each of the spinning stations 2 includes, in the usual way, a supply device 5, by means of which a sliver 4 is delivered out of a sliver can 3 to a spinning device 6. The sliver cans 3 are placed underneath the spinning stations 2 in one row or also in multiple rows. By means of the spinning device 6, a yarn 8 is spun out of the sliver 4, the yarn 8 also being wound, as known, onto a bobbin 7 by means of a winding device. The sliver 4, after exiting the sliver can 3 and before reaching the supply device 5, is guided through a sliver guide 9 at the spinning station 2, the sliver guide 9 being arranged underneath the supply device 5 in the present example. In the spinning machine 1 shown, a measuring device 17 is also arranged at each spinning station 2, by means of which a remaining length of the sliver 4 still located in the particular sliver can 3 can be ascertained. This can be carried out, for example, indirectly, by measuring the running length of the sliver 4 that has already been processed.
[0044] In the present example, the spinning machine 1 also includes a movable service unit 12, which can carry out maintenance operations, such as, for example, bobbin changes, cleaning processes, or, depending on the design of the spinning machine 1, spinning start-up processes as well. The spinning stations 2 of the spinning machine 1 can preferably also be designed as at least semi-autonomous spinning stations 2, however, which can then automatically carry out at least one spinning start-up process. The spinning stations 2 can also be designed to be fully autonomous, and so a movable service unit 12 is not absolutely necessary.
[0045] The spinning machine also includes at least one control unit 16 for controlling the spinning stations 2 and, possibly, the movable service unit 12. In the present case, a control unit 16 is apparent as a central machine control system of the spinning machine 1. Control units 16 can additionally also be provided at the spinning stations 2, however, in order to control the working elements of the spinning stations, for example, the measuring device 17, the supply device 5, the spinning device 6, and others. Each spinning station 2 can include a separate control unit 16 as a workstation control system or one control unit 16 can be provided as a workstation control system for a group of spinning stations 2.
[0046] The spinning machine 1 can be designed as a rotor spinning machine, and so a feeder is provided as a supply device 5. The spinning machine 1 could also be designed as an air-jet spinning machine, however, wherein the supply device 5 would then be designed as a drafting system.
[0047] FIG. 2 shows a method for separating a sliver 4 delivered out of a sliver can 3 at a spinning station 2, using the example of a workstation 2 at a rotor spinning machine. The sliver 4 is guided through the sliver guide 9 before the sliver 4 reaches the supply device 5 and is fed by the supply device 5 to the opening device 19. The supply device 5 is designed as a feeder in the present case and includes a feed roller 21 and a feed trough 20, between which the sliver 4 is clamped. The feed roller 21 is driven in the regular direction of rotation of the feed roller 21 during the production operation, as the result of which the sliver 4 is fed to the opening roller 19 in the delivery direction LR. The sliver 4 is opened into individual fibers by the opening roller 19, the individual fibers then being fed to the spinning device 6.
[0048] If the sliver 4 is now to be separated at the spinning station 2, the spinning station 2 is initially stopped. This can be carried out, for example, by stopping the feed roller 21, resulting in a thread break. It is also possible, however, to shut down the working elements of the spinning station 2 in a controlled manner. For this purpose, the control unit 16 of the spinning machine 1 and/or of the spinning station 2 is in control connection, among other things, with the spinning device 6 and with the supply device 5, as indicated by the dashed lines. The spinning station 2 is now stopped, but the sliver end 10 (see FIG. 3) of the sliver 4 is still clamped in the supply device 5, however. In order to separate the sliver 4, the supply device 5, namely the feed roller 21 in this case, is now briefly driven counter to the regular direction of rotation of the supply device 5, as indicated by the arrow.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 3, as a result, the sliver 4 is returned counter to the delivery direction LR until the sliver end 10 has been conveyed out of the supply device 5 and the clamping in the supply device 5 has been released. The sliver end 10 is now free and can be removed from the sliver guide 9, for example, within the scope of a can change process.
[0050] As already indicated in conjunction with FIG. 1, the separation of the sliver 4 can take place due to the attainment of a remaining length predefined in the control unit 16, the remaining length being detected by a measuring device 17 (not represented here), which, for this purpose, is also connected to the control unit 16. This can also take place, however, due to a signal predefined by a control unit 16, for example, within the scope of a lot change, or can also be triggered manually by an operator. In any case, when the sliver 4 is separated by means of a return, no sliver residue is spun, and so defective places in the yarn 8 are avoided. Thereafter, if the sliver 4 is to be unthreaded from the sliver guide 9, for example, within the scope of an automatic can change process or also for cleaning purposes, multiple possibilities are conceivable according to the method.
[0051] According to a first variant of the method and of the corresponding spinning machine 1, which is described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the sliver 4 is removed from the sliver guide 9 by means of a spinning station-specific handling device 13. The handling device 13 is designed as a swivelable clamp 18 in this case. As soon as the return of the sliver 4 has ended and the sliver end 10 is free, the clamp 18 can be actuated by the control unit 16 and the sliver 4 can be clamped. Thereafter, the sliver end 10 is unthreaded from the sliver guide 9 by swiveling (see arrow in FIG. 4) the handling device 13.
[0052] This condition is shown in FIG. 5. Once the sliver 4 has been completely separated from the spinning station 2, the clamp 18 can be released so that the sliver 4 automatically drops into the sliver can 3 due to gravity. Alternatively, the handling device 13 can also be designed, however, such that the handling device 13 places the sliver 4 with the sliver end 10 directly in the sliver can 3.
[0053] According to a second variant of the method and of the corresponding spinning machine 1, the handling device 13 is arranged in a movable service unit 12. This is represented in FIG. 6. The handling device 13 is designed as a swivelable clamp 18 in the present case as well. In order to actuate the clamp, the handling device 13 is preferably connected to a control unit 16 (not shown here) of the service unit 12, which communicates with the control unit 16 of the spinning machine 1 and/or with the control unit 16 of the workstation 2. Furthermore, the unthreading can take place as described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0054] The clamp 18 described in FIGS. 4 through 6 can be designed, of course, not only to be swivelable, but rather also movable in another way, in order to unthread the sliver 4 from the sliver guide 9. Moreover, the handling device 13 also does not absolutely need to include a clamp 18. A finger that is swivelable, or movable in any other way, into the path of the sliver 4 and deflects and, as a result, unthreads the sliver 4 is also conceivable. The unthreading of the sliver 4 can be carried out before, during, or after an automatic can change process, provided that a can changer 14 (see FIGS. 7 through 12) is still positioned at the spinning station 2.
[0055] FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the method and of a movable can changer 14, in which the handling device 13 is arranged at the can changer 14. The can change process can be initiated, for example, as soon as the attainment of a predefined remaining sliver length has been registered by the measuring device 17. The desired remaining sliver length can be stored, for example, in the control unit 16 of the spinning machine 1 and/or of the spinning station 2. When the sliver cans 3 have been placed in multiple rows, however, a preventive can change of the sliver cans 3 of the other rows can also be carried out if a sliver can 3 has emptied in only one of the rows at the same standing area. A preventive can change after a certain operating time is also possible.
[0056] The can changer 14 is summoned for the automatic can change process, the can changer 14 carrying a full sliver can 3b. The can changer 14 also includes a can gripper 15 to handle the sliver cans 3 and exchange the sliver can 3a to be removed and replaced by the full sliver can 3b. In the representation shown in FIG. 7, the can changer 14 has become positioned in front of the relevant spinning station 2. The sliver 4 has already been separated at the relevant spinning station 2 due to the return carried out by means of the supply device 5 and is now connected to the spinning station 2 only at the sliver guide 9. In order to unthread the sliver 4, the handling device 13 is arranged at the can changer 14 directly at the can gripper 15 in the present case. The can gripper 15 includes a clamp 18, which clamps the sliver 4 underneath the sliver guide 9.
[0057] If, as represented in FIG. 8, the sliver can 3a to be removed is now removed by means of the can gripper 15, the sliver 4 is simultaneously unthreaded by means of the clamp 18 fastened at the can gripper 15 due to the movement of the can gripper 15.
[0058] FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of the method and of a movable can changer 14, in which the handling device 13 is arranged at the can changer 14. A clamp 18, as a handling device 13, is arranged directly at the can gripper 15. A situation is represented in FIG. 9, in which the sliver 4 has already been separated due to the return carried out by means of the supply device 5 and the can gripper 15 of the can changer 14 has just gripped the sliver can 3a to be removed. The sliver can 3a to be removed is now pulled out, to some extent, from its standing area underneath the spinning machine 1, as indicated by the arrow.
[0059] As soon as the can gripper 15, with the sliver can 3a, is located in the position represented in FIG. 10, in which the sliver can 3a is no longer located underneath, but rather in front of the spinning machine 1, the sliver 4 can be clamped by means of the clamp 18. In the present case, the sliver 4 is clamped directly at the front edge of the sliver can 3a to be removed. Due to the sliver can 3a being pulled out farther, the sliver 4 is also simultaneously unthreaded from the sliver guide 9. The sliver 4, more precisely, the sliver end 10, then remains outside of the sliver can 3a. In deviation from the embodiment shown, it is also possible, of course, to design the handling device 13 such that the handling device 13 places the sliver end 10 in the sliver can 3a.
[0060] FIGS. 11 and 12 show another embodiment of the method and of a movable can changer 14, in which the handling device 13 is arranged at the can changer 14. In this case, the handling device 13 includes a swivelable finger, which deflects the sliver 4 and, as a result, unthreads the sliver 4 from the sliver guide 9. FIG. 11 shows a situation in which the sliver can 3a to be removed has just been gripped by means of the can gripper 15.
[0061] FIG. 12 shows a situation, however, in which the sliver 4 has already been unthreaded from the sliver guide 9 by way of the finger of the handling device 13 having been swiveled.
[0062] The present invention is not limited to the represented and described exemplary embodiments. In deviation from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 through 12, a handling device 13 arranged at the can changer 14 could also include a swivelable clamp 18 similarly to FIGS. 4 through 6. Moreover, it would be conceivable to provide the handling device 13 at the can changer 14 separately from the can gripper 15. If the handling device 13 is provided at the can changer 14, it is also advantageous when the unthreading of the sliver 4 is carried out before or during the automatic can change process. It is also conceivable, however, to carry out the unthreading of the sliver 4 only after the actual can change process, as soon as the sliver can 3a has been accommodated on the can changer 14. Further modifications within the scope of the claims are also possible, as is any combination of the features, even if they are represented and described in different exemplary embodiments.
TABLE-US-00001 List of reference characters 1 spinning machine 2 spinning station 3 spinning station 3a sliver can to be removed 3b full sliver can 4 sliver 5 supply device 6 spinning device 7 bobbin 8 yarn 9 sliver guide 10 sliver end 11 frame 12 movable service unit 13 handling device 14 can changer 15 can gripper 16 control unit 17 measuring device 18 clamp 19 opening roller 20 feed trough 21 feed roller LR delivery direction
