Patent Application
20240410087
The present application is based upon and claims the right of priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2023 114 850.8, filed Jun. 6, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.
The present subject matter relates to a textile machine, in particular having at least one textile mixing machine, having at least one textile conveying machine, and/or having at least one bale opener, for processing and/or transporting fiber material using at least one processing unit, by means of which the fiber material can be processed and/or transported, and having at least one sensor unit, by means of which soiling on and/or at the at least one processing unit and/or damage to the at least one processing unit can be determined.
DE 10 2017 109 568 A1 discloses a fiber opener having lighting elements which can illuminate according to lighting scenarios in order to display various information.
However, a need exists for a solution that improves the presentation of information on textile machines.
In various aspects, the present subject matter is directed to a textile machine and a method for operating the textile machine having the features described and claimed herein.
In one aspect, the present subject matter relates to a textile machine, in particular having at least one textile mixing machine, having at least one textile conveying machine, and/or having at least one bale opener, preferably as a textile machine assembly, for processing and/or transporting fiber material. The textile machine can also be a bale opener, a textile machine, and/or a textile conveying machine. Moreover, the textile machine, for example, in the form of a textile machine assembly, can be and/or include one or more bale opener(s), one or more textile mixing machine(s), and/or one or more textile conveying machine(s). By means of a bale opener, for example, fiber material in the form of a fiber bale can be opened. The bale opener can be a textile fiber bale opener. The bale opener can remove the fiber material from the fiber bales. Thereafter, the fiber material can be stored for the interim in a fiber store. By means of the textile mixing machine, fiber material can be mixed together. This can be applied, in particular, when multiple types of fiber material are present. By means of the textile conveying machine, the fiber material can be transported. Preferably, the textile machine, for example, in the form of a textile machine assembly, can include multiple bale openers, and each bale opener can open one fiber bale which has one certain type of fiber material. Each bale opener can then feed the assigned type of fiber material to the textile mixing machine, which then mixes the various types of fiber material together. The fiber material can be textile fiber material.
Moreover, the textile machine includes at least one processing unit, by means of which the fiber material can be processed and/or transported. Additionally or alternatively, by means of the at least one processing unit, the fiber material can also be stored. When the textile machine includes or is designed as at least one bale opener, at least one textile mixing machine, and/or at least one textile conveying machine, then the at least one bale opener, the at least one textile mixing machine, and/or the at least one textile conveying machine include(s) the at least one processing unit.
Furthermore, the textile machine includes at least one sensor unit, by means of which soiling on and/or at the at least one processing unit and/or damage to the at least one processing unit can be determined and/or identified.
In addition, the textile machine includes at least one display unit, by means of which the soiling of and/or the damage to the at least one processing unit can be displayed.
It is advantageous when the display unit is designed such that it can display a position of the soiling and/or the damage on and/or at the at least one processing unit. As a result, where, or at which point, or position, the soiling and/or damage on and/or at the at least one processing unit is located can be immediately displayed, for example, to an operator.
It is beneficial when the display unit is designed such that it can display an amount of the soiling and/or the damage on and/or at the at least one processing unit. As a result, a decision can be made, in particular by the operator, as to whether cleaning should be carried out, in the case of soiling, and/or if repair or a replacement should be carried out, in the case of damage.
It is advantageous when the display unit is designed such that it can display a type of the soiling and/or the damage on and/or at the at least one processing unit. As a result, a decision can be made, in particular by the operator, as to whether cleaning should be carried out, in the case of soiling, and/or if repair or a replacement should be carried out, in the case of damage.
It is advantageous when the at least one sensor unit includes a camera, in particular a 3D camera, or an optical sensor. By means of the camera, the soiling and/or the damage, in particular in a large area, on and/or at the at least one processing unit can be detected and/or determined. In particular, by means of the sensor unit, an image, or an area, of the at least one processing unit can be recorded, or captured. By means of the 3D camera, depth information can also be recorded, and therefore, for example, a height of the soiling and/or of the damage can be detected. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor unit can also include at least one depth sensor, at least one RGB camera, at least one IR camera, and/or at least one passive IR- and/or radar-proximity detector. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one sensor unit includes a line scan camera.
It is advantageous when the textile machine includes a control unit which, by means of the at least one sensor unit, can determine the position, the amount, and/or the type of the soiling and/or of the damage. The control unit can, for example, run an evaluation program which, on the basis of the information recorded by the sensor unit, can evaluate, for example, images, recordings, depth data regarding the at least one processing unit. As a result, the control unit can determine the soiling of and/or damage to the at least one processing unit. For example, the control unit, for example, by means of the evaluation program, can evaluate a recording, or an image, of at least one area of the at least one processing unit. As previously described, the control unit can also determine the position, the amount, and/or the type of the soiling and/or the damage. For example, the control unit can determine the location, i.e., the position, at and/or on the at least one processing unit, at which how much, i.e., the amount of, soiling and/or damage are/is located. By means of the display unit, in this case, the position and the amount of the soiling and/or the damage can be displayed, and therefore an operator performs cleaning and/or repair first, for example, where the greatest amount of soiling and/or damage is present. As a result, the cleaning and/or the repair, or replacement, of components, or of the at least one processing unit, can be prioritized.
It is useful when the at least one processing unit has at least one marking, which the at least one sensor unit can detect and by means of which a location, position, and/or orientation of the at least one processing unit can be determined, in particular by means of the control unit. As a result, a relationship between the position of the soiling and/or the damage and the at least one marking can be established. The operator can thus be informed as to where the soiling and/or the damage is located with respect to the marking, i.e., for example, to the left, the right, above or below. Additionally or alternatively, by means of the control unit, a distance between the soiling and/or the damage and the marking and/or a direction from the marking to the soiling and/or the damage can be determined.
The control unit can advantageously be designed such that it can carry out at least one evaluation, or an evaluation method, as described in the preceding and/or the following description.
Furthermore, the control unit can be designed such that non-critical states of the at least one processing unit can be ignored. The non-critical states can be, for example, discolorations on the at least one processing unit, which are non-critical for the operation of the textile machine. The control unit can store, for example, the position, the amount, or the size, and/or the type of the non-critical state, for example, the discoloration. Thereupon, although the control unit can identify the non-critical state, nothing else is displayed by the display unit.
An advantage results when the at least one display unit includes a projection unit, by means of which at least one item of information regarding the position, amount, and/or type of the soiling and/or the damage can be projected onto the at least one processing unit. As a result, the position, the amount, and/or the type of the soiling and/or the damage can be displayed to the operator. When the position is displayed, the soiling and/or the damage can be more quickly found.
For example, by means of a light beam, in particular a laser beam, a figure or a point can be projected onto the at least one processing unit, specifically where soiling and/or damage is located. Additionally or alternatively, by means of the projection unit, a direction and/or a distance can be indicated, and therefore the operator can be guided to the soiling and/or the damage.
Additionally or alternatively, the amount of the soiling and/or the damage can be projected. For example, a number can be projected onto the at least one processing unit, which indicates the amount of the soiling and/or the damage.
Additionally or alternatively, the type of the soiling and/or the damage can also be projected onto the at least one processing unit. For example, whether this is soiling and/or damage can be indicated by means of various colors. Additionally or alternatively, the type of the soiling and/or the damage can also be indicated using various symbols.
It is advantageous when the at least one display unit includes a screen for displaying the position, amount, and/or type of the soiling and/or the damage. As a result, the position, amount, and/or type of the soiling and/or the damage can be quickly identified. On the screen, for example, a position, amount, and/or type of the soiling and/or the damage can be indicated by means of colors and, in particular, using different colors and/or using different symbols, preferably also symbols having different sizes. In this way, for example, heavy soiling and/or damage can be indicated using the color red and/or using larger symbols. By comparison, less relevant soiling and/or damage can be indicated using a yellow color and/or using correspondingly smaller symbols.
It is advantageous when the at least one display unit includes lighting means for indicating the position, amount, and/or type of the soiling and/or the damage. As a result, the position, the amount, and/or the type of the soiling and/or the damage can be identified even from a greater distance.
Furthermore, it is advantageous when the lighting means is designed and/or includes multiple lighting elements such that various colors can be output, preferably by means of color sequences and/or flash sequences, in order to output various status messages. Various colors can represent various positions, amounts and/or types of the soiling and/or the damage. For example, one color can indicate that the soiling and/or the damage is located on a back side or on a front side of a spiked lattice as the processing unit.
It is advantageous when the textile machine includes a memory unit, in which data gathered by the at least one sensor unit can be stored. Preferably, the position, amount and/or type of the soiling and/or the damage can be stored.
It is beneficial when the processing unit is a spiked lattice, a return roller, a transfer roller, and/or a first conveying unit of the bale opener. The first conveying unit can be installed upstream from the spiked lattice, and therefore the first conveying unit transports the fiber bales to the spiked lattice. The first conveying unit is therefore a bale conveying unit for transporting fiber bales. As an alternative to the spiked lattice, multiple spiked rollers can also be arranged one above the other, which open the fiber bales and transfer these from spiked roller to spiked roller.
Furthermore, it is advantageous when the processing unit is a mixer of a textile machine.
It is advantageous when the processing unit is a second conveying unit of a textile conveying unit. When the first conveying unit is referred to as a bale conveying unit, the second conveying unit can also be referred to simply as a conveying unit. The second conveying unit, or the conveying unit, is preferably arranged downstream from the textile mixing system, or the mixer. The second conveying unit, or the conveying unit, can remove the mixed fiber material, which is a mixture of multiple various types of fiber material. For this purpose, the second conveying unit, or the conveying unit, is preferably arranged downstream from the mixer, such that the textile conveying unit, or the second conveying unit, or the conveying unit, can also be integrated into the textile mixing system, or can form a structural unit therewith. For example, the mixer can also preferably mix the fiber material, or the various types of fiber material, arranged or located on the textile conveying unit, or the second conveying unit, or the conveying unit, when the fiber material is transported.
In another aspect, the present subject matter also relates to a method for operating a textile machine. The textile machine can be designed according to one or multiple feature(s) described in the preceding and/or the following description(s). Furthermore, the structural features of the preceding and/or the following description(s) can be used in the method for operating the textile machine. Moreover, the textile machine can include at least one textile mixing machine, at least one textile conveying machine, and/or at least one bale opener. These can be combined to form a textile machine assembly. For example, the textile machine, or the textile machine assembly, can include multiple bale openers, one fiber bale being opened by one bale opener in each case. Once the fiber bales have been opened, the fiber material can reach weighing units of the textile machine, or of the textile machine assembly, at each of which the fiber materials are weighed. This is advantageous when multiple various types of fiber material are mixed together, such that a precise mixing ratio is achieved. Thereafter, the various types of fiber material, which can now be weighed, can reach a textile conveying unit of the textile machine, or of the textile machine assembly, which transports the fiber materials. Thereafter, the fiber materials can reach a textile mixing system of the textile machine, or of the textile machine assembly, which mixes the fiber materials together.
The textile machine includes at least one processing unit, by means of which the fiber material is processed and/or transported.
In addition, the textile machine includes at least one sensor unit, by means of which the soiling on and/or at the at least one processing unit and/or damage to the at least one processing unit can be determined.
Moreover, the textile machine includes at least one display unit, by means of which the soiling on and/or the damage to the at least one processing unit can be displayed.
It is advantageous when a position, an amount, and/or a type of the soiling and/or the damage at and/or on the at least one processing unit is displayed by means of the at least one display unit. As a result, for example, a highly precise display can be presented to an operator, which indicates where the soiling and/or the damage are/is located, what type of soiling and/or damage this is, and/or how much soiling and/or damage there is.
It is advantageous when non-critical states of the at least one processing unit are identified and no longer displayed by the at least one display unit. For example, the non-critical states can be discolorations of the at least one processing unit, which do not affect the processing and/or transport of the fiber material. Nevertheless, such non-critical states can be detected and identified by the sensor unit. After cleaning, these non-critical states can still be present, however, and would be continually detected and identified by the sensor unit. A control unit can, for example, determine that this is a non-critical state in order to no longer allow this non-critical state to be subsequently displayed by the at least one display unit. Additionally or alternatively, an operator can also decide that this is a non-critical state and make an appropriate entry. In this case as well, this non-critical state is no longer displayed.
Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments, wherein:
The fiber material 2 is shown here at various points, although it can also be at only one point.
The textile machine 1 shown here in the form of a bale opener can include, as a processing unit 3-10, a first conveying unit 3, a spiked lattice 4, a return roller 5, and/or a transfer roller 6. The fiber material 2 is present on the conveying unit 3 in the form of a bale, which is transported. The first conveying unit 3 can also be referred to as a bale conveying unit.
By means of the spiked lattice 4, the fiber material 2, which is transported thereto in the form of the bale, can be opened. In order to open the bale formed from fiber material 2, or to loosen and/or divide the fiber material 2, the spiked lattice 4 has opening elements 20, only some of which are shown here and provided with a reference character. The spiked lattice 4 has a plurality of opening elements 20. The opening elements 20 can have, for example, the shape of small teeth and/or needles, and therefore the fiber material 2 can be carried along, or pulled apart, by means of the opening elements 20. The spiked lattice 4 has the form of a conveyor belt which revolves endlessly and transports the fiber material 2 upward.
Moreover, a return roller 5 is shown here as a processing unit, which return roller 5 can throw the fiber material 2 back to the region of the first conveying unit 3 when too much fiber material 2 has been transported by the spiked lattice 4.
A transfer roller 6 is additionally shown here as a processing unit 3-10, with which the fiber material 2 can be removed from the spiked lattice 4. The fiber material 2 is moved by the transfer roller 6 into a downstream weighing unit 7. In the weighing unit 7, the fiber material 2 can be collected and weighed. Once a certain amount of fiber material 2 has been collected, it can be transferred.
In this exemplary embodiment, a mixing system 8 is also shown. The fiber material 2 which has been collected and weighed by the weighing unit 7 can be transferred into the mixing system 8. In the mixing system 8, various types of fiber material 2 can then be mixed together. The mixing system 8 can include a mixing element 9 (as shown here), by means of which the fiber material 2 is mixed. The mixing element 9 can be rotated, as a result of which it mixes the fiber material 2. Moreover, the mixing system 8 can include a second conveying unit 10, by means of which the fiber material 2 can be transported in the mixing system 8. The fiber material 2 can also be mixed during transport. The weighing unit 7, the mixing system 8, the mixing element 9, and/or the second conveying unit 10 are also embodiments of the processing element in this case. The various types of fiber material 2 can originate, for example, from various weighing units 7 and/or from various bale openers, or spiked lattices 4. The textile machine 1 can therefore have multiple processing units 3-10, in particular multiple first conveying units 3 and/or multiple spiked lattices 4. By means of the multiple first conveying units 3 and/or multiple spiked lattices 4, various types of fiber material 2 can therefore be processed and/or transported. In addition, each spiked lattice 4 can be assigned one weighing unit 7. The mixing system 8 can be the aforementioned textile mixing machine.
It is also conceivable that the mixing element 9 is not present. In this case, the fiber material 2 is merely dropped onto the second conveying unit 10 and can be transported. When fiber material 2 is dropped from multiple bale openers, multiple types of fiber material 2 lie next to one another and/or one above the other on the second conveying unit 10. These multiple types of fiber material 2 can then reach a mixer (not shown here).
Additionally or alternatively, the at least one weighing unit 7, the mixing system 8, the at least one mixing element 9, and/or the second conveying unit 10 are/is also a processing unit 3-10 of the textile machine 1. As processing, the fiber material 2 is weighed and/or collected in the at least one weighing unit 7. Additionally or alternatively, as processing, the fiber material 2 is mixed in the mixing system 8 and/or using the mixing element 9.
Features that have already been described with reference to the at least one preceding figure are not explained once more, for the sake of simplicity. Moreover, features can also be described first in this figure or in at least one of the following figures. Moreover, identical reference characters are utilized for identical features for the sake of simplicity. In addition, for the sake of clarity, not all the features may be shown and/or labeled with a reference character in the following figures. Features shown in one or several of the preceding figures can also be present in this figure or in one or several of the following figures, however. Moreover, for the sake of clarity, features can also be shown and/or labeled with a reference character first in this figure or in one or several of the following figures. Nevertheless, features that are first shown in one or several of the following figures can also be already present in this figure or in a preceding figure.
Moreover, the textile machine 1, or the bale opener, includes at least one sensor unit 11, 12, by means of which the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 can be identified and/or determined. In this exemplary embodiment, two sensor units 11, 12 are shown. The first sensor unit 11 is arranged such that it can detect the spiked lattice 4. In particular, the first sensor unit 11 is arranged such that it can detect a spiked-lattice front side 17 of the spiked lattice 4. Moreover, the spiked lattice 4 has a spiked-lattice back side 18, which is arranged on the side facing away from the spiked-lattice front side 17. Advantageously, a sensor unit 11, 12 can, additionally or alternatively, be arranged such that it can detect the spiked-lattice back side 18. Additionally or alternatively, the first and/or the second sensor unit 11, 12 can also detect the return roller 5 and/or the transfer roller 6.
In the exemplary embodiment shown here, a second sensor unit 12 is shown, which in this case is arranged such that it can detect the spiked lattice 4 from above. By means of this second sensor unit 12, for example, the return roller 5 and/or the transfer roller 6 can be detected, neither of which is shown here, however. Consequently, the soiling on and/or the damage to the return roller 5 and/or the transfer roller 6 can also be displayed by the at least one display unit 14.
The at least one sensor unit 11, 12 can be in the form, for example, of a camera, in particular a 3D camera and/or a line scan camera. In particular, an image of the relevant processing unit 3-10 can be captured using the at least one sensor unit 11, 12. As is shown here, for example, the first sensor unit 11 can create and/or capture an image of the spiked lattice 4, or of the spiked-lattice front side 17.
The textile machine 1 of the exemplary embodiment shown here also includes a control unit 13. By means of the control unit 13, the sensor data of the at least one sensor unit 11, 12 can be evaluated. By evaluating the sensor data of the at least one sensor unit 11, 12, the control unit 13 can determine the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16. For example, the control unit 13 can run an evaluation program which can determine the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16.
By means of the at least one sensor unit 11, 12, positions, amounts, and/or types of the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 can be determined. For example, on the spiked-lattice back side 18, soiling 15 is present in the lower region of the spiked-lattice back side 18 and soiling 15 is present in the upper region of the spiked-lattice back side 18. Since the upper soiling 15 is represented using a circle which is larger in comparison to the lower soiling 15, and/or using various colors, it can be deduced that the soiling 15 is greater in the upper region. By means of the at least one sensor unit 11, 12, it was therefore determined that soiling 15 is present in the upper region of the spiked-lattice back side 18 as a position. The amount of the cases of soiling 15 was also determined, which is represented by the assignment of the size of the circles.
Furthermore, the textile machine 1 includes a memory unit 21, which is preferably coupled to the control unit 13. In the memory unit 21, the position, the amounts, and/or the types of the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 can be stored, for example, for evaluation. As a result, for example, the points at which soiling 15 and/or damage 16 frequently occur can be determined, and this can be acted upon.
The control unit 13 can also be connected to the processing units 3-10, or to actuators, and/or drives of the processing units 3-10. The control unit 13 can preferably control the processing units 3-10, or the actuators, and/or the drives of the processing units 3-10. As a result, for example, the spiked lattice 4 can be driven. For an operator, the spiked lattice 4 can be rotated such that a determined case of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 can be easily accessed by the operator. Furthermore, the operator can also rotate the spiked lattice 4 into a position he/she desires using the control unit 13.
Moreover, on the spiked-lattice back side 18, a case of damage 16 was determined in a central region of the spiked-lattice back side 18.
Additionally or as an alternative to the amount and/or the position of the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16, a type of the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 can be determined by means of the at least one sensor unit 11, 12.
It is to be noted here that the spiked lattice 4 rotates. Since the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 rotate(s) along with the spiked lattice 4, these constantly change their position, of course. For example, the soiling 15 and damage 16 shown here, which are arranged on the spiked-lattice back side 18 in this case, can be arranged on the spiked-lattice front side 17 at a later point in time. The same applies for the soiling 15 and the damage 16, which, as shown here, are arranged on the spiked-lattice front side 17. At a later point in time, these can be arranged on the spiked-lattice back side 18.
Moreover, the textile machine 1 includes at least one display unit 14, by means of which the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 can be displayed. Advantageously, the positions, the amounts, and/or the types of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 can be displayed using the at least one display unit 14.
The at least one display unit 14 is designed as a lighting element in this exemplary embodiment. Advantageously, the lighting element can illuminate in various colors. The position, the amount, and/or the type of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 can be indicated using the various colors. For example, the at least one display unit 14 can turn red when a comparatively high number of cases of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 has been determined. By contrast, the at least one display unit 14 can turn yellow when the number of cases of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 is low. As a result, an operator can immediately recognize whether cleaning and/or maintenance is necessary or can be postponed. Additionally or alternatively, the cleaning can be prioritized among multiple units made up of at least one bale opener, at least one textile conveying unit, and/or at least one textile mixing system. Furthermore, the at least one display unit 14 can turn green when no soiling 15 and/or damage 16 are/is present. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one display unit 14 can also flash, in particular, flash in a color sequence. Advantageously, the positions, the amounts, and/or the types of soiling 15 and/or damage 16 can be displayed by means of the at least one display unit 14.
On the screen which is shown here as a display unit 14, the spiked-lattice front side 17 is shown on the left side and the schematic side view of the spiked lattice 4 is shown on the right side.
As is apparent here, multiple cases of soiling 15 are adjacently arranged in the central region on the spiked-lattice front side 17. These multiple cases of soiling 15 result, for example, in the large circle on the spiked-lattice front side 17 as shown in
The soiling 15 and/or the damage 16 are/is represented here using various symbols, specifically circles and triangles by way of example. Moreover, the symbols can also have various sizes, for example, depending on the amount of soiling 15 and/or damage 16, wherein larger symbols represent more soiling 15 and/or damage 16. Additionally or alternatively, the symbols, which represent the soiling 15 and/or the damage 16, can also be shown with different colors.
In addition, the at least one processing unit 3-10, which is the spiked lattice 4 here, can have at least one marking 19. As is apparent here, four markings 19 are arranged on the spiked lattice 4 according to this exemplary embodiment. The markings 19 are fixedly arranged on the spiked lattice 4 in this case. The markings 19 are shown as stars in this case. By means of the markings 19, a position of the spiked lattice 4 can be determined. The at least one marking 19 can also be identified by the at least one sensor unit 11, 12 and, for example, identified by the control unit 13. By means of the at least one marking 19, the positions of the soiling 15 and/or the positions of the damage 16 can be advantageously determined. The positions of the soiling 15 and/or the positions of the damage 16 are set in relation to the at least one marking 19.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2023 114 850.8 | Jun 2023 | DE | national |
