Patent Application
20200180901
The present invention relates to a winding station of a textile machine producing cross-wound bobbins, consisting of a base unit and a cover unit, wherein the winding station includes a bobbin holder for holding a cross-wound bobbin and a traversing device for laying a thread in a crosswise manner on the cross-wound bobbin. A thread seeking device is provided in order to seek a thread end on the cross-wound bobbin.
Moreover, the invention relates to a method for operating a winding station of a textile machine producing cross-wound bobbins, wherein the winding station consists of a base unit and a cover unit, and wherein a thread is laid in a crosswise manner on the cross-wound bobbin with the aid of a traversing device. A thread end is sought, if necessary, on the cross-wound bobbin with the aid of a thread seeking device, and the winding station is cleaned at intervals of time.
Winding stations of textile machines producing cross-wound bobbins, wherein the winding station comprises a bobbin holder for holding a cross-wound bobbin and a traversing device for laying a thread in a crosswise manner on the cross-wound bobbin, are well known. The textile machine can be a winder or even a spinning machine, in particular a rotor spinning machine or an air-jet spinning machine.
It has also been well known for some time that a thread seeking device is provided in such winding stations in order to seek a thread end on the cross-wound bobbin. The thread end running onto the cross-wound bobbin occurs, in particular, after a thread break or a cleaning cut, or, for example, when the supply bobbin is empty. In a cleaning cut, the thread is intentionally severed because it does not have the desired properties, such as thickness or cleanliness. In such cases, the cross-wound bobbin cannot be stopped fast enough, due to its inertia, and so the thread end runs onto the cross-wound bobbin. In order to further wind the cross-wound bobbin, a new thread can now be pieced on the cross-wound bobbin. In this case, the thread is no longer continuous, however. In order to ensure that a continuous thread is nevertheless present on the cross-wound bobbin, the thread end which has run onto the cross-wound bobbin must be sought and found. Thereupon, in the case of a winder, the thread end is connected to a thread coming from a supply bobbin or, in the case of a spinning machine, the thread end is connected to the freshly spun thread or is pieced on a spinning assembly. In this way, the thread located on the cross-wound bobbin remains continuous.
A suction nozzle to which vacuum is applied and which sucks in the free thread end is frequently utilized as a thread seeking device. Thread seeking devices are also known, however, which wipe the thread end off of the surface of the cross-wound bobbin using brushes or which blow the thread end off of the surface of the cross-wound bobbin with the aid of compressed air.
The more components a winding station comprises, however, the more difficult it is to clean the winding station.
The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore that of designing a winding station including a thread seeking device, in the case of which cleaning is made easier.
The problem is solved using a winding station and a method for operating a winding station having the features described and claimed herein. 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 learned through practice of the invention.
The invention provides a winding station of a textile machine producing cross-wound bobbins. The textile machine can be a winder or a spinning machine, in particular a rotor spinning machine or an air-jet spinning machine. The winding station consists of a base unit and a cover unit in this case. The winding station also includes a bobbin holder for holding a cross-wound bobbin and a traversing device for laying a thread in a crosswise manner on the cross-wound bobbin. These components are essential to the production of a cross-wound bobbin.
Moreover, a thread seeking device is provided for seeking a thread end on the cross-wound bobbin. A thread end runs onto the cross-wound bobbin, for example, after a thread break, a cleaning cut, or when a supply bobbin is empty. The cross-wound bobbin can generally not be stopped in a timely manner in order to prevent the thread end from running onto the cross-wound bobbin in this way. In order to obtain a continuous thread on the cross-wound bobbin—which is important for the further utilization of the cross-wound bobbin—the thread which has run onto the cross-wound bobbin must first be sought and found. This step is carried out by the thread seeking device. Thereupon, in the case of a winder, the thread end is connected to the thread coming from the supply bobbin or, in the case of a spinning machine, the thread end is connected to the freshly spun thread or is pieced onto a spinning assembly. In this way, a continuous thread is obtained.
According to the invention, the base unit is at least partially covered by the cover unit. The points of the base unit which are covered by the cover unit are exposed to flying dust and fiber fly to a considerably lesser extent in this case than are points which are not covered. Moreover, the cover unit is movable with respect to the base unit between a working position for laying the thread and seeking the thread end and a cleaning position for cleaning the winding station. At least some parts of the thread seeking device are assigned to the cover unit in this case. Due to the cleaning position, the operating personnel or a traveling cleaner or a robot including a cleaning unit is provided with access to various points of the winding station, which therefore simplifies and improves the cleaning overall. Due to the fact that at least some parts of the thread seeking device are assigned to the cover unit, these parts of the thread seeking device are also more easily accessed, which makes the cleaning easier.
Advantageously, the cover unit is displaceable, in particular, rotatably and/or linearly displaceable, with respect to the base unit between the working position and the cleaning position. These motions can be carried out easily and, simultaneously, robustly, which makes the operation of the winding station reliable. Moreover, rotational or displacement motions can also be easily carried out by a motor, which allows the automation of the cleaning process. It is also possible to completely remove the cover unit from the working position, for example, by loosening screws, and to bring the cover unit back into this working position and secure it by tightening the screws.
It is also advantageous when the thread seeking device includes a suction nozzle, to which vacuum can be applied and which includes a suction port. In order to search for the thread, a suction opening of the suction port is positioned a short distance away from the surface of the cross-wound bobbin. With the vacuum switched on, the cross-wound bobbin is rotated backward relative to the direction of rotation during winding. The free thread end is sucked into the suction port and further into the suction nozzle. Seeking a thread with the aid of a vacuum is one of the most gentle thread seeking methods, since the surface of the cross-wound bobbin is not touched. The surface of the cross-wound bobbin is therefore only very slightly or not at all damaged, which provides for a high quality of the cross-wound bobbin.
It is also advantageous when the suction port is movable with respect to the suction nozzle. In general, the distance from the suction port to the cross-wound bobbin should be changeable. As a result, a greater distance can be selected during the normal winding operation, and so the winding is not obstructed and any damage to the cross-wound bobbin by the suction port is avoided. In order to seek a thread, in turn, the suction port can be moved close to the surface of the cross-wound bobbin, and so the available vacuum is utilized in the best way possible. If the suction port is then movable with respect to the suction nozzle, the distance from the suction port to the cross-wound bobbin can be changed by moving a component which is relatively small as compared to the entire suction nozzle.
Moreover, it is advantageous when a drive means, in particular, a drive motor is provided for moving the suction port. In this way, the suction port can be automatically moved into the position for thread seeking and back again. This is particularly advantageous for an automated spinning position. Without such a drive means, the suction port would have to be brought into the desired position either by the operating personnel or a robot.
Advantageously, the suction port is rotatably and/or linearly displaceable with respect to the suction nozzle. With the aid of one or both of these motions, the suction port can be moved, easily and precisely, into the position for thread seeking, and back again. In addition, rotational and linear displacement motions can be carried out particularly well by the drive means.
It is also advantageous when a first portion of the suction nozzle is assigned to the base unit and a second portion is assigned to the suction nozzle of the cover unit. In this way, the two parts of the suction nozzle are separated from one another in the cleaning position, which makes it easier to access these parts and, therefore, clean the parts.
It is advantageous when the suction port is assigned to the first part or to the second part of the suction nozzle. In this way, the suction port is not divided in the cleaning position. As a result, edges and separating joints are also dispensed with, on which the found thread would otherwise rub, get caught, or become jammed. The thread is therefore handled in a more gentle manner, which benefits the quality of the product. In addition, the sequence of the thread seeking is less error-prone, whereby fewer interventions by the operating personnel or by robots are required and, consequently, the productivity of the textile machine is increased.
Advantageously, an interruption means is provided for interrupting the vacuum in the cleaning position of the cover unit. Since, in the cleaning position, no vacuum is required for seeking the thread, it is ensured by way of this interruption means that no vacuum is consumed during the cleaning.
It is also advantageous when a locking means is provided for locking the cover unit in its working position and/or cleaning position. In this way, an unintentional movement of the cover unit from one position into the other position is made difficult. In addition, the cover unit is then located in defined positions, which allows, in particular, for an exact position for the thread seeking, but also enables a cleaning assembly to clean in a precise manner. The locking means can be unlocked manually and/or automatically in this case.
The device is designed according to the preceding description, wherein the mentioned features can be present individually or in any combination.
Moreover, a method for operating a winding station of a textile machine producing cross-wound bobbins is provided. The winding station consists of a base unit and a cover unit in this case. A thread is laid in a crosswise manner on the cross-wound bobbin with the aid of a traversing device. If necessary, a thread end is sought on the cross-wound bobbin with the aid of a thread seeking device and the winding station is cleaned at intervals of time. There is a need to seek a thread when a thread end has run onto the cross-wound bobbin, for example, after a thread break, after a cleaning cut, or when the supply bobbin is empty. The cleaning of the winding station can take place at fixed or even variable intervals of time. The latter could always be, for example, when a traveling cleaner passes by the winding station or when the winding station reports a need for cleaning, for example, because a sensor establishes that there is a large amount of pollution.
According to the invention, in order to clean the winding station, the cover unit is moved with respect to the base unit out of a working position into a cleaning position, pollutant is removed from the winding station, and the cover unit is moved from the cleaning position back into the working position. Due to the movement of the cover unit into the cleaning position, access to certain parts of the winding station is made possible and, therefore, the cleaning of the winding station is made easier and is improved. This results in shorter cleaning times as well as a better cleaning result and, therefore, finally, to a higher quality of the thread. A better cleaning result means, in turn, that more time is allowed to pass until the next cleaning and, therefore, the next stoppage of the winding station can take place at a later point in time. Therefore, overall, the productivity of the textile machine is also increased.
Advantageously, the cover unit is rotated and/or linearly displaced with respect to the base unit from the working position into the cleaning position and back. These motions are easily carried out, and are robust and fast. In particular, these motions can also be carried out very well automatically. It is also possible to completely remove the cover unit from the working position, for example, by loosening screws, and to bring the cover unit back into this working position and secure it by tightening the screws.
It is also advantageous when vacuum is applied to a suction nozzle assigned to the thread seeking device in order to seek the thread end. The reason therefor is that using vacuum to seek the thread end is particularly gentle, since the surface of the cross-wound bobbin is not directly touched in this case and, therefore, the thread on the surface of the cross-wound bobbin is not damaged. Thus, a high level of quality of the produced thread is achieved.
It is advantageous when a suction port assigned to the suction nozzle is moved, in particular, rotated and/or linearly displaced with respect to the suction nozzle into the proximity of the surface of the cross-wound bobbin in order to seek the thread end. In this way, the distance of the suction port to the surface of the cross-wound bobbin can be adapted in a simple but highly effective way. In particular, a rotational and/or linear displacement motion can also be easily automated. The movement of only the suction port as compared to the entire suction nozzle also has the advantage that only one lightweight part must be moved and less space is required for the movement.
Finally, it is advantageous when the cover unit is locked in its working position and/or cleaning position. This prevents an unintentional movement of the cover unit. In addition, the cover unit is then located in a defined position in each case, which is required for seeking the thread end as well as for cleaning with the aid of a cleaning assembly. Overall, the operation of the winding station is therefore simplified and improved by way of the locking of the cover unit.
Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. Wherein:
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.
The bobbin holder 3, the drive roller 4, the traversing device 5, and a first part 6.1 of a suction nozzle 6 form a base unit 7 of the winding station 1. A second part 6.2 of the suction nozzle 6 and a suction port 8 form a cover unit 9 of the winding station 1. The cover unit 9 can be rotated about an axis A with respect to the base unit 7 between a working position, which is shown here, and a cleaning position. The cover unit 9 can be locked in the working position with the aid of a locking means 10. Moreover, the suction port 8 can be linearly displaced with the aid of a motor 11, and so the suction port 8 can be brought into the proximity of the surface of the cross-wound bobbin 2. Due to the fact that only the relatively small suction port 8 and not the entire suction nozzle 6 needs to be displaced, the space required for the displacement is relatively small and, in addition, a small motor 11 is sufficiently powerful.
Moreover, an interruption flap 13 is provided, which is connected to the cover unit 9 via a linkage (not shown). In the position shown here, the interruption flap 13 allows air to pass through the air duct 12 without obstruction.
A cleaning of the winding station 1 is carried out, for example, after a predetermined time or when a sensor has established that pollution is present. For this purpose, the winding station 1 is brought into the cleaning position shown in
In the following description of the alternative exemplary embodiment represented in
For cleaning, the cover unit 9 is moved into the cleaning position represented in
Finally,
In
In order to then return to the working position, the cover unit 9 is placed onto the base unit 7 again. A precise positioning is achieved in this case with the aid of the adjusting means 16. The cover unit 9 is then fixedly fastened to the base unit 7 with the aid of the locking means 10. Thereupon, the winding operation can be started again.
The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have been represented and described. 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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2016 112 641.1 | Jul 2016 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2017/066540 | 7/4/2017 | WO | 00 |
