METHOD FOR OPERATING A SEMI-AUTOMATIC OR FULLY AUTOMATIC, CROSS-WOUND PACKAGE-MANUFACTURING SPINNING MACHINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for operating a semi-automatic or fully automatic cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine, in particular an open-end rotor spinning machine, comprising a plurality of identical, adjacently arranged, at least partially autonomous workstations, wherein each of the workstations comprises a spinning device for manufacturing a thread as well as a winding device comprising a package holder for winding the thread onto a cross-wound package. Once an end of a lot of one of the workstations has been reached, the relevant workstation is stopped.

BACKGROUND

Semi-automatic or fully automatic spinning machines are known from the prior art in various embodiments. The workstations of these spinning machines each comprise a spinning device, for example, an open-end spinning rotor, for manufacturing a thread, a winding device for winding the produced thread onto a cross-wound package, and a plurality of further elements for manufacturing the thread, as well as for handling the manufactured thread and the presented fiber material. Essential components for manufacturing the thread are the so-called spinning components, which comprise, in the case of a rotor spinning machine, inter alia, the spinning rotor, the thread take-off nozzle, and the opening roller.

If a so-called lot change, i.e., a yarn having properties other than those produced so far, is to be carried out at a spinning machine and/or at a single workstation, numerous change-over operations are necessary at the individual workstations. In the simplest case, all that is necessary is for other empty tubes to be made available and for a few operating parameters of the spinning machine and/or the workstation to be changed. Generally, however, the presented fiber material, and at least a few of the aforementioned spinning elements must also be replaced by an operator.

In the case of centrally driven spinning machines, it is always necessary to carry out the lot change simultaneously at all jointly driven workstations. By comparison, in the case of spinning machines comprising so-called at least partially autonomous workstations, which can automatically carry out a majority of the necessary service actions with the aid of operating elements arranged on the workstation, it is also possible to manufacture different yarn lots at the individual workstations. In any case, however, the change-over of the workstations to the new lot requires a considerable amount of time, which results in longer downtimes of the workstations and productivity losses associated therewith.

In order to reduce the amount of time necessary for servicing multiple workstations and/or for the change-over of the workstations during a lot change, it was provided in DE 10 2004 044 551 A1 to divide the particular necessary service action into working steps to be carried out manually and mechanically. In this way, the operator can perform the working steps to be carried out manually at workstations that have already been stopped, while, in parallel thereto, an automatic maintenance device carries out the working steps to be carried out mechanically. In the case of a centrally driven spinning machine, in which the lot change is carried out at a plurality of workstations at the same time, a considerable amount of time can be saved as a result.

Moreover, it is known from DE 10 2014 018 628 A1 to arrange an LED light bar at each of the workstations of a spinning machine. The light bar indicates the particular manufactured yarn lot and/or operating conditions at the particular workstation. As a result, the operating personnel can quickly recognize which workstations are producing the same yarn lot on a spinning machine loaded with multiple lots, on which multiple yarn lots are manufactured at the same time. The operating personnel can also recognize, on the basis of the different-colored LED lights, which problem exists at which workstation and, on the basis thereof, determine an advantageous sequence for working through the problems.

SUMMARY

A problem addressed by the present invention is that of providing a method for operating a spinning machine, as well as a spinning machine, which allows for a preferably fast lot change also at individual workstations. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be leamed through practice of the invention.

The problem is solved by a method having the features described and claimed herein.

In the method for operating a semi-automatic or fully automatic, cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine, in particular an open-end rotor spinning machine, comprising a plurality of identical, adjacently arranged workstations, each of the workstations comprises a spinning device for manufacturing a thread as well as a winding device comprising a package holder for winding the thread onto a cross-wound package. Once an end of a lot of one of the workstations has been reached, the relevant workstation is stopped.

It is provided that a requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is displayed at the workstation that has reached the end of a lot. As a result, the operating personnel can very quickly recognize at which workstations manual actions are necessary and can therefore quickly and preferentially work through these. Therefore, the workstations that must be changed over for a lot change can also be worked through very quickly by the operator. As a result, the workstations can quickly restart their production and downtimes of the relevant workstations can be kept short.

It is also advantageous when the particular current lot is indicated at the workstations, in particular being indicated by a color display. As a result, the operating personnel can quickly recognize which workstations are producing the same yarn lot. This, as well, enables the operating personnel to determine a meaningful sequence for working through manual service actions. In addition, as a result, the operating personnel can more easily monitor the condition and the loading of the particular workstations, i.e., for example, whether the correct fiber material or the correct empty tubes is/are present for the relevant yarn lot.

The display of the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out at the workstation that has reached the end of a lot can take place in different ways, in principle.

For example, according to a first embodiment of the method, the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated via an occupancy condition of the package holder of the relevant workstation. The occupancy conditions of the package holder can be, for example, “empty”, “loaded”, or “incorrectly loaded”. If there is a discrepancy between the occupancy condition of the package holder and the display of the current lot at the workstation, a requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is thereby signaled to the operating personnel. In this case, the display of the manual service requirement therefore takes place with the aid of components of the particular workstations themselves.

If a storage position for empty tubes is provided at the workstation, it is also possible, alternatively or additionally, that the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated via an occupancy condition of the storage position for empty tubes. The occupancy conditions “empty”, “loaded”, or “incorrectly loaded” are conceivable in this case as well. If, for example, there is a discrepancy between the occupancy condition of the storage position, at which an empty tube of the new lot is already situated, and the display of the current, old lot at the workstation, a requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is thereby signaled to the operating personnel.

For example, a wound cross-wound package of a current lot is automatically withdrawn at the workstation that has reached the end of the lot and the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated via an empty package holder. The operating personnel can recognize, on the basis of the empty package holder, that change-over operations for a lot change are to be carried out at this workstation, because a new empty tube of the current lot would otherwise have been automatically installed.

It is also possible that an empty tube of a new lot is made available in the storage position at the workstation that has reached the end of the lot, and the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated via the empty tube made available. Since the package holder has the “empty” occupancy condition at the same time, the operating personnel can recognize that manual service actions are to be carried out at this workstation because the new empty tube would otherwise have already been automatically installed. It is also possible that, although an empty tube of the new lot has been made available in the storage position, the current, old lot is still displayed at the workstation, however. On the basis of this discrepancy as well, the operating personnel can recognize that there is a requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out.

According to another embodiment, a wound cross-wound package of a current lot is automatically withdrawn at the workstation that has reached the end of the lot, and an empty tube of a new lot is automatically installed. In this case, the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated via an incorrectly loaded package holder, since the already installed empty sleeve of the new lot does not match the display of the current lot at the workstation.

It is also possible, of course, that the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated via a combination of the three different indicators, namely the occupancy condition of the package holder, the occupancy condition of the storage position, and the display of the lot at the workstation. Various combinations are possible here.

According to another embodiment of the method, the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated by an optical display element, in particular a graphic display, assigned to the workstation. As a result, the operating personnel does not need to draw inferences from the prevailing combination at the workstation, as in the two aforementioned embodiments, but rather obtains a direct and unambiguous display of the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out. It is conceivable that the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated merely via a colored light or a certain flashing light, which must be differentiated, of course, from the displays of other conditions at the workstation. As a result, the operating personnel must know exactly what the meaning is of the different colors and/or flashing signals, in order to be able to assign to these the different conditions at the workstation. By comparison, if the optical display element is a graphic display, it can be clearly and unequivocally communicated to the operator, in the form of text or icons, that there is a requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out.

Particular advantages therefore also result when the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is displayed in the form of an icon. These types of icons can be easily understood regardless of the language of the operator.

It is also advantageous when, after actuation of an input device associated with the display element, at least one first manual service action to be carried out is indicated via the display element. As a result, the operator can find out, by actuating the input device, specifically which manual service action must be carried out. It is advantageous when the input device is a button of the display. The optical display element and the input device are combined in a touchscreen in this case.

Moreover, it is advantageous when, after the operator has confirmed that the first manual service action has been carried out, one further manual service action to be carried out is indicated via the display element. The operator must therefore confirm that the first manual service action has been carried out and, thereafter, receives a precise indication of which further specific service action is to be carried out. This can also be repeated several times, of course, so that the operator is instructed, step by step, on how to carry out the necessary manual service actions. It is advantageous in this case as well when the confirmation that the particular service action has been carried out takes place with the aid of a button of the graphic display.

For example, the replacement of the spinning rotor can be specified to the operator as the first service action to be carried out and the replacement of the fiber material can be specified as the second service action. The provision of appropriate empty tubes and, if necessary, a replacement of the take-off nozzle can be specified as a further service action to be carried out.

According to one alternative embodiment of the method, a replacement of spinning components and/or a replacement of fiber material are/is indicated as a manual service action to be carried out. The operating personnel can identify, on the basis of the display “Replace Spinning Components” or “Replace Fiber Material”, that multiple manual service actions are to be carried out and then give preference to handling these particularly complicated workstations.

In order to display the particularly high amount of change-over effort necessary in the case of a replacement of spinning components to the operating personnel as early and quickly as possible, it can therefore also be advantageous, in deviation from the present invention, to indicate the replacement of spinning components directly as a requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out. This means that the operating personnel can already recognize that complicated change-over operations are necessary while walking past and without actuating the input device.

Particular advantages result when the first manual service action and/or the further manual service action are/is displayed in the form of a text display and/or in the form of an icon.

Moreover, it is advantageous when, in the case of an impending lot change at the relevant workstation, the new lot is displayed in addition to the current lot, in particular being indicated via a color display. As a result, the operator can recognize, already before the end of the lot has been reached at the particular workstation, that complicated change-over operations are necessary and already obtain all necessary new spinning components, fiber materials, etc. The amount of time necessary for the lot change at the workstation can be further reduced as a result.

Finally, it is advantageous when, after the operator has confirmed that the first service action and/or the at least one further manual service action have/has been carried out, the new lot is started at the workstation, preferably being automatically started by the workstation. Due to the manual confirmation, by the operator, that the necessary service actions have been carried out, it can be ensured that all necessary steps have been carried out correctly. Erroneous detections of the type that can occur in the case of automatic queries by a control software are avoided as a result.

Moreover, a cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine, in particular an open-end rotor spinning machine, comprising a plurality of identical, adjacently arranged workstations is claimed. Each of the workstations comprises a spinning device for manufacturing a thread as well as a winding device comprising a package holder for winding the thread onto a cross-wound package. Moreover, the spinning machine comprises a control device and a display element for implementing the above-described method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. Wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine in the form of an overview representation,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a workstation of a cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine,

FIG. 3 shows a face representation of an optical display element comprising a first display,

FIGS. 4 through 8 show a face representation of an optical display element comprising various further displays,

FIG. 9 shows a schematic side view of a workstation of a cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine comprising a package holder having a first occupancy condition,

FIG. 10 shows a schematic side view of a workstation of a cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine comprising a package holder having a second occupancy condition, and

FIG. 11 shows a schematic side view of a workstation of a cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine comprising a storage position for empty tubes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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.

In the following description of the figures, the same reference numbers are utilized for features that are identical or at least comparable in each of the individual embodiments or the individual figures. Some of the features are therefore explained only upon the first mention thereof or only once with reference to a suitable figure. Provided these features are not explained once more separately in connection with the further features, their design and/or mode of operation correspond(s) to the design and mode of operation of the identical or comparable, described features. For the sake of clarity, in the case of multiple identical features or components in a figure, only one feature or only a few of these identical features is/are labeled.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine 1 in an overview representation. The spinning machine 1 is designed as an automatic or at least semi-automatic spinning machine 1 and comprises a plurality of identical, adjacently arranged workstations 2, which are arranged between two end stocks (not described in greater detail here). Each of the workstations 2 comprises a feed device for a fiber material 7, which, in the case of an open-end rotor spinning machine, is designed as an opening roller 8 (see FIG. 1). Moreover, each of the workstations 2 comprises a spinning device 3 for manufacturing a thread 6, a take-off device 9 for withdrawing the produced thread 6, and a winding device 4 for winding the produced thread 6 onto a cross-wound package 10. The workstations 2 are designed as at least partially autonomous workstations. This means, the individual workstations 2 comprise a plurality of single drives for driving their thread-producing units, so that the individual workstations can also be operated independently of the other workstations 2 of the spinning machine 1. Moreover, the workstations 2 can automatically eliminate at least a portion of the interferences arising during operation, without the need for a service robot or the intervention by an operator. Therefore, further components (not represented here), such as handling units and maintenance units, are arranged at the workstations 2. Moreover, a display element 12 is provided at each of the workstations 2, which can display, for example, various operating conditions of the workstations 2 or the particular yarn lot being produced. As an alternative to the representation shown, it is also conceivable that one display element 12 is jointly associated with two workstations 2.

FIG. 2 shows a workstation 2 of such a spinning machine 1 in a schematic side view. The spinning machine 1 is designed as an open-end rotor spinning machine in the present case and therefore comprises an opening roller 8 as a feed device and a spinning rotor 13 as a spinning element of the spinning device 3. The thread 6 produced in the spinning rotor 13 is drawn off via a take-off nozzle 14 and is fed to the winding device 4. The winding device 4 comprises a package holder 5, in which an empty tube 11 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) is accommodated, which can then be wrapped in order to form a cross-wound package 10. A winding roller 19 is provided in the present case for driving the winding device 4. The single drives of the at least partially autonomous workstations 2 as well as further handling units and maintenance units of the workstations 2 are also not represented in FIG. 2.

On these types of spinning machines 1 comprising at least partially autonomous workstations 2, it is possible to manufacture multiple yarn lots simultaneously at various workstations 2. A lot change from an old, current yarn lot to a new yarn lot can therefore also be carried out at a single workstation 2. In order to carry out a lot change, numerous change-over operations are generally necessary after the workstation 2 has been stopped, which include, for example, replacing the presented fiber material 7 as well as a portion of the spinning components, which are formed in this case by the spinning rotor 13, the opening roller 8, as well as the take-off nozzle 14. Moreover, it is usually also necessary to provide other empty tubes 11 (see FIGS. 9 and 10). In order to keep the downtimes and the associated losses of production as low as possible for the workstations 2 intended for a lot change, it is provided that a requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is displayed at a workstation 2 that has reached the end of a lot.

Preferably, the display of the requirement for a manual service action takes place via an optical display element 12 (FIG. 1), as explained in the following with reference to FIGS. 3 through 8. Alternatively, it is also possible, however, to indicate the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out via an occupancy condition of the package holder 5, as described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 3 shows a face of an optical display element, which is designed as a graphic display 15 in the present case. FIG. 3 shows the display 15 including a first display, which shows a regular operating condition of the workstation 2. In this regular operating condition, the particular current lot, labeled here with “A”, is indicated by a color display 20 (represented here lightly dotted). Moreover, the regular operating condition itself is indicated by an icon 16 that is easy to understand. Associated with the display element 12 is an input device 17, with the aid of which the operator can perform inputs and communicate with a control unit (not represented here) of the workstation 2 and/or a central control unit (also not represented here). In the present case, the display 15 and the input device 17 are combined in one component, so that the input device 17 is appropriately formed by various buttons 18 of the display 15. In the display shown here, the display 15 comprises, for example, a button 18 for retrieving information. By actuating this button, the operator can enter the menu of the control unit of the workstation 2 and, there, change various settings.

By comparison, FIG. 4 shows a face of the display element 12 or the display 15, via which a requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is displayed once the end of a lot of the relevant workstation 2 has been reached. The current lot is still indicated via the color display 20. The requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated in the present case by a further icon 16 that is easy to understand. The operating personnel can very quickly recognize, on the basis of this icon, that manual actions are to be carried out at this workstation 2 and, as a result, give preference to working through these workstations 2 and/or better plan the maintenance of the relevant workstations. The display of the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is designed as a button 18 in the present case, which is recognizable by the frame surrounding the button 18 as well as by the prompt for actuation in the form of the check mark. If the operator actuates this button 18, he/she receives, in a subsequent display, more precise information regarding which specific maintenance actions are to be carried out.

FIG. 5 shows one further view of the display 15, which indicates, to the operator after actuation of the button 18 of the previous display (FIG. 4) or, in the general case, after actuation of the input device 17, the manual maintenance action to be carried out. In the present case, the task “Check Spinning Components” is indicated in the form of a display text. The operator receives, as a result and, possibly, via subsequent displays, the alert that he/she must check and, possibly, replace the spinning components.

It is advantageous that the same displays can be utilized both for interferences during the regular spinning operation that result in a stoppage of the workstation 2, as well as in the case of a service requirement due to an impending lot change. It is merely necessary that the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out be displayed to the operator, who is then guided through the menu and receives, step by step, specific handling instructions. The operator therefore does not need to differentiate between interferences of the regular operation and a lot change and think about which manual service actions he/she must carry out in which case, but rather only needs to follow the sequentially retrievable handling instructions, as explained in the following.

It would also be conceivable, of course, not to indicate the manual service action to be carried out in the form of a display text, as in FIG. 5, but rather via an icon in this case as well. For example, a view of a display 15 is represented in FIG. 6, which indicates, to the operator after actuation of the button 18 of the previous display (FIG. 4), the task “Replace Spinning Components” as a manual service action to be carried out.

The displays of the manual service actions to be carried out (FIGS. 5 and 6) also contain a button 18, with the aid of which the operator, after having completed the service action, must confirm that the service action was carried out. After the operator has confirmed that the service action has been carried out, one further necessary manual service action can possibly be displayed, the execution of which must also be confirmed by the operator, whereupon a further necessary manual service action is possibly displayed. Once all necessary manual service actions have been carried out and have been confirmed by the operator, the workstation 2 can automatically restart production and start the new lot.

Since the replacement of spinning components in the case of a lot change is time-consuming, it can also be advantageous to display the necessary replacement of spinning components directly to the operator. This is represented in the display from FIG. 7. The necessary service action “Replace Spinning Components” is displayed to the operator via an icon 16. The display of the necessary service action is designed as a button 18, with the aid of which the operator can directly confirm that the service action has been carried out. Moreover, in the display 15, the current lot is indicated via the color display 20 in this case as well. The button 18 for retrieving information is also included. It is conceivable that the operator receives this display after he/she has actuated the button from FIG. 4.

Alternatively, it is also possible, however, that the display “Replace Spinning Components” appears directly when the relevant workstation 2 has reached the end of the lot. As a result, the operating personnel can recognize, at first glance, that the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out relates to a lot change including a replacement of spinning components and can give preference to handling these workstations 2. This is also advantageous, in particular, for the case in which specially trained personnel are necessary for such a replacement of spinning components. The personnel can therefore immediately recognize whether simple manual service actions are to be carried out or whether a replacement of spinning components, for which the specially trained personnel are necessary, is to be carried out.

In order to further reduce the amount of time necessary for the change-over of the workstations 2 in the case of a lot change, it can also be advantageous to display, in advance, that a lot change is due at the relevant workstation 2. This is represented in the display from FIG. 8. The workstation 2 is still in regular operation, which is apparent on the basis of the icon 16. As is the case in FIG. 4, the button 18 for retrieving information is also apparent. In the upper area of the display 15, however, in contrast to the representation from FIG. 4, the color display 21 of the new lot (darkly dotted and labeled with “B”) is also apparent, in addition to the color display 20 of the current lot (lightly dotted and labeled with “A”). As a result, the operator can already obtain all necessary spinning components and the like, and, once the lot has ended, which is apparent via the display according to FIG. 4 or 7, replace the spinning components and carry out all other necessary steps.

Finally, FIGS. 9 through 11 show one further alternative embodiment, in which the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated via the occupancy condition of the package holder 5 or the occupancy condition of a storage position 22 for empty tubes 11.

FIG. 9 shows a situation, for example, in which the workstation 2 has reached the end of the lot and has already been stopped. In this case, empty tubes 11 of the new lot have already been made available at the spinning machine 1. Moreover, with the aid of the control unit of the workstation 2 and/or the spinning machine 1, the lot change has already been initiated, in that an empty tube 11 of the new lot has been placed into the package holder 5, as is apparent on the basis of the darkly dotted color of the empty tube. The display element 12, however, still displays the color display 20 of the current lot, which has just ended. The installed empty tube 11 therefore does not match the displayed lot, and so the package holder 5 has the condition “incorrect load”. The operating personnel can therefore recognize, on the basis of the stopped workstation 2 as well as the incorrect load of the package holder, that a lot change is due and manual actions are to be carried out.

Similarly, the workstation 2 is shown in FIG. 10 after the end of the lot has been reached and the workstation 2 has been stopped. A new empty tube 11 has not yet been installed, however. The package holder 5 therefore has the occupancy condition “empty”. The operating personnel can recognize, on the basis of the occupancy condition “empty” as well as the display of the current lot, that a lot change is due and manual actions are to be carried out.

FIG. 11 shows a workstation 2, which additionally comprises a storage position for empty tubes 11, wherein the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated via the empty tube 11 made available. The workstation 2 has reached the end of the lot in this case and has already been stopped. As is also the case in FIG. 9, empty tubes 11 of the new lot have already been made available at the spinning machine 1. With the aid of the control unit of the workstation 2 and/or the spinning machine 1, the lot change has already been initiated, in that an empty tube 11 of the new lot (darkly dotted color) has been made available in the storage position 22, but has not yet been placed into the package holder 5. The package holder 5 therefore has the occupancy condition “empty”. The operating personnel can therefore recognize, on the basis of the empty tube made available and the occupancy condition “empty”, that a lot change is due and manual actions are to be carried out.

In the present case, the color display 20 of the current lot, which has just ended, is additionally displayed by the display element 12. The empty tube 11 made available in the storage position 22 therefore does not match the displayed lot, on the basis of which the operating personnel can also recognize that a lot change is due and manual actions are to be carried out.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have been represented. 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.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 spinning machine

2 workstation

3 spinning device

4 winding device

5 package holder

6 thread

7 fiber material

8 opening roller

9 take-off device

10 cross-wound package

11 empty tube

12 display element

13 spinning rotor

14 take-off nozzle

15 display

16 icon

17 input device

18 button

19 winding roller

20 color display of the current lot

21 color display of the new lot

22 storage position

METHOD FOR OPERATING A SEMI-AUTOMATIC OR FULLY AUTOMATIC, CROSS-WOUND PACKAGE-MANUFACTURING SPINNING MACHINE

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