The present invention relates to a method and a
system for managing consumable parts in textile machinery such
as looms, spinning machines and the like.
In the textile machinery typified by the weaving
machine or loom such as a jet loom, there are employed a great
number of consumable parts. As typical ones of such
consumable parts, there may be mentioned a brake mechanism for
a loom driving motor, ropes for driving heald frames
constituting a shedding apparatus, supporting shafts for cam
levers constituting a cam mechanism, felt layers secured
around a peripheral surface of a press roller adapted to be
pressed against a surface roller for taking up a woven fabric,
cutters for cutting off a weft yarn or selvage for trimming,
components of an on/off valve device for controlling air
supply for effectuating weft yarn insertion and so forth. On
the other hand, in the case of the spinning machines typifying
the textile machine, there are employed, such consumable parts
as mentioned below. In the fly frame, for example, there may
be mentioned mounting pins for a presser of a flyer, while in
the spinning frame, rings, travellers and the like may be
mentioned as the typical consumable parts. Additionally, in a
draft motion employed in the drawing frame, fly frame or the
spinning frame, such parts as top rollers, apron and the like
represent the consumable parts. Besides, in the open-end
spinning machine, combing rollers and driving belts may be
mentioned as the typical consumable parts. In a card or
carding engine, card clothing and the like represent
consumable parts. Needless to say, these consumable parts
have to be exchanged or replaced at proper time points. In
the present state of the art, the consumable parts are managed
by an operator on the basis of information written in a so-called
management notebook for replacement of the consumable
parts upon lapse of operation or use periods determined
previously for every type of the consumable parts,
respectively. Alternatively, exchange of the consumable part
is performed upon occurrence of abnormality. However,
exchange of the consumable part upon detection of abnormality
is not preferred because such abnormality may have exerted
adverse influence to a textile product already manufactured at
the time point of the abnormality detection. On the other
hand, management based on the management book is a very
troublesome procedure. Besides, there may arise such case
that the consumable part is exchanged too early, i.e., before
the useful or serviceable life thereof has not been exhausted
or consumed, or the consumable part is exchanged after
abnormality has taken place in that consumable part without
being attended.
In Japanese U. M. Registration Application
Publication No. 92585/1992, there is disclosed a system for
displaying information concerning temporal spans during which
consumable parts have been installed as well as information
concerning inspections. On the basis of such displayed
information, operator or worker can speedily perform exchange
of the consumable parts or maintenance and inspection
procedures therefor.
However, in the system described in the publication
mentioned above, the temporal span as displayed is given
simply in terms of a number of years lapsed from installation
of a consumable part of concern in a weaving machine
irrespective of whether or not the weaving machine has
actually been put into operation during the period as
displayed. Thus, in an extreme case, a consumable part
employed in a loom may be replaced without being used for
operation of the loom. At any rate, with the display of such
time lapse information as disclosed in the above-cited
publication, it is impossible to determine correctly the
residual serviceable or useful life of the consumable
part, rendering thus it impossible to carry out the
exchange of the consumable part at a proper time point.
Document WO 92/21804 discloses a method and
apparatus for monitoring and possibly replacing
travellers on rings of a ring-spinning machine. The
presence of travellers is monitored over a given number
of spinning points. The presence or absence of a
traveller on a ring is detected by means of a sensor. If
a predetermined traveller failure rate is exceeded, a
signal is generated for indicating the necessity of
replacement of travellers.
In the light of the state of the art described
above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
consumable part managing method which makes it possible to
determine easily a proper time point at which a consumable
part in a textile machine is to be replaced.
Another object of the present invention is to
provide a system for carrying out the method motioned above.
In view of the above and other objects which will
become apparent as the description proceeds, there is provided
according to a general aspect of the present invention a
consumable part managing system according to claim 1.
With the arrangement of the consumable part managing
system, the consumed lifetime arithmetic means arithmetically
determines or calculates the consumed lifetime of a consumable
part on the basis of the serviceable life affecting factor
detected by the factor detecting means. When the consumed
lifetime determined arithmetically has reached the preset
lifetime value, the message generating means issues
information messaging need for replacement of the consumable
part of concern. With the aid of such information, it is
possible to determine or decide a proper time point for
replacement of the consumable part.
In a preferred mode,
the consumable part managing system may further include a
modifying means for modifying an arithmetic expression for
arithmetically determining the consumed lifetime by the
consumed lifetime arithmetic means. Thus, unless the consumed
lifetime calculated in accordance with the arithmetic
expression as defined reflects correctly the actually consumed
lifetime, it is possible to alter or correct the expression
properly by the modifying means.
In another preferred mode,
the consumable part managing system can further
include an exchange decision means for deciding whether the
consumed lifetime determined arithmetically by the consumed
lifetime arithmetic means has reached a preset lifetime value,
to thereby output a corresponding indication signal to the
message generating means. With this arrangement, when the
consumed lifetime of a consumable part has reached the preset
lifetime, the exchange decision means outputs a corresponding
signal indicating this fact to the message generating means.
Upon reception of this signal, the message generating means
gives information messaging necessity for replacement of the
consumable part of concern on the basis of the message signal
as inputted. With the aid of such information, it is possible
to determine a proper time point for replacement of the
consumable part.
In yet another preferred mode,
the factor detecting means may include operation
time detecting means for detecting a time duration for which
the textile machine has been put into operation. By virtue of
this arrangement, the consumed lifetime of a consumable part
which is affected by the operation time of a textile machine
in which the consumable part is installed or mounted can be
arithmetically determined on the cumulation or integration
value of the operation time of that textile machine. As a
typical one of this sort of consumable part, there may be
mentioned such a part of the textile machine, which is always
put into operation whenever the textile machine is operated.
In still another preferred mode,
the factor detecting means may be provided for each
of plural textile machines, wherein the consumed lifetime
arithmetic means may be provided in common for determining the
consumed lifetimes of consumable parts in the plural textile
machines, respectively, on the basis of information obtained
from the factor detecting means, respectively. With the
arrangement mentioned above, the consumed lifetimes of the
consumable parts employed in a plurality of textile machines
can be arithmetically determined by the single consumed
lifetime arithmetic means provided in common to a plurality of
textile machines. Thus, the management system implemented in
the arrangement mentioned above can be applied to a system for
monitoring or managing a plurality of textile machines with
the aid of a single central computer.
In a preferred mode,
the textile machine may be constituted by at least one Jet
loom. In that case, the consumable part may be at least one
selected from a group consisting of a brake mechanism provided
in association with a loom driving motor, ropes for driving a
plurality of heald frames constituting a shedding apparatus,
supporting shafts for cam levers constituting a cam mechanism
for driving the shedding apparatus, an anti-slip felt member
provided around a circumferential surface of a press roller
adapted to be pressed against a surface roller for pulling a
woven fabric, a cutter for cutting off a weft and on/ off
valves for controlling supply of compressed fluid to weft
inserting nozzles in the jet loom.
In yet further preferred mode,
the consumable part managing system may further
include a preset lifetime storing means for storing preset
lifetimes of the consumable parts, and a means for inputting
the preset lifetimes to the preset lifetime storing means.
In still further preferred mode,
the factor detecting means may be implemented as a
functional part of a loom control computer. The consumed
lifetime arithmetic means may then include a time integrating
means composed of a timer for counting cumulatively the
operation time of the jet loom in response to a time
integrating command issued from the loom control computer when
the jet loom is in an operation state. The time integrating
means may be so adapted as to store latest integrated times as
the serviceable life affecting factor for each of the
consumable parts.
Further, the exchange decision means may preferably
be so implemented as to compare the preset lifetime stored in
the preset lifetime storage means with the consumed lifetime
cumulated or integrated by the time integrating means for at
least one of the consumable parts. When the consumed lifetime
of the consumable part has reached a corresponding preset
lifetime, a signal indicating necessity of exchange of the
consumable part may be issued to the message generating means.
Furthermore, the message generating means may
include a display means and a display control means connected
to the display means. In that case, the exchange decision
means may be adapted to output to the display control means a
display command signal containing an index indicating the
consumable part for which the comparison has been performed.
The display control means may then be so implemented as to
read the preset lifetime of the consumable part identified by
the index contained in the display command signal from the
preset lifetime storing means, while reading out the consumed
lifetime of the consumable part issued from the time
integrating means, for thereby commanding the display means to
display an identifier of the consumable part together with the
preset lifetime and the consumed lifetime.
Additionally, the factor detecting means may include
an environment sensing means for detecting an environmental
factor acting as the serviceable life affecting factor onto
the jet loom.
Besides, the environment sensing means may be so
implemented as to include at least one of sensors selected
from a group consisting of a temperature sensor, a humidity
sensor, a load current sensor, a power consumption sensor, a
fluid consumption sensor, an acceleration sensor, a load
torque sensor and a displacement sensor.
According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method of managing at least one
consumable part in a textile machine according to claim 13.
The above and other objects, features and attendant
advantages of the present invention will more easily be
understood by reading the following description of the
preferred embodiments thereof taken, only by way of example,
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the course of the description which follows,
reference is made to the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic side view showing generally a
structure of a jet loom together with a consumable part
managing system according to a first embodiment of the present
invention; Fig. 2 is a view showing a display control system; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of
a consumable part managing system according to a first
embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is a flow chart for illustrating execution of
a consumable part managing program by the consumable part
managing system according to the first embodiment of the
invention; Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of
a consumable part managing system according to a second
embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a flow chart for illustrating a consumable
part managing program executed by the consumable part managing
system according to the second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of
a consumable part managing system according to a third
embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a flow chart for illustrating a consumable
part managing program executed by the consumable part managing
system according to the third embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing a managing system
according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Now, the present invention will be described in
detail in conjunction with what is presently considered as
preferred embodiments thereof by reference to the drawings.
In the following description, like reference characters
designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
Embodiment 1
A first embodiment of the present invention applied
to a jet loom will be described by reference to Figs. 1 to 4.
Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing generally
a structure of a jet loom together with a control circuit
configuration. Referring to the figure, reference character M
denotes a loom driving motor, whose operation is under the
control of a loom control computer C1. A feed motor 11
constituted by a reversible electric motor is provided
separately or independent of the loom driving motor M to serve
for driving a warp yarn beam 12. Warp yarns T fed out from
the warp yarn beam 12 are caused to pass through a heald 15
and a modified reed 16 under the guidance of a back roller
assembly 13 and a tension roller assembly 14. A woven fabric
W is wound up by a cloth roller 21 after having undergone
operations exerted by an expansion bar 17, a surface roller 18
operatively coupled to the loom driving motor M, a press
roller 19 and a crease eliminating guide member 20.
The tension roller 14 is mounted on a tension lever
22 at one end thereof, while a tension spring 23 is mounted at
the other end of the tension lever 22, whereby a predetermined
tension is constantly applied to the warp yarns T. The
tension lever 22 in turn is rotatably supported by a detecting
lever 24 at one end thereof, while a load cell 25 is coupled
to the other end portion of the detecting lever 24. The
tension applied to the warp yarnss is sensed by the load cell
25 by way of the tension roller 14, the tension lever 22 and
the detecting lever 24. An electric signal indicative of the
warp yarn tension is inputted through the load cell 25 to be
thereby supplied the loom control computer C1.
The loom control computer C1 controls the rotation
speed of the feed motor 11 on the basis of the result of
comparison of the preset tension with the detected tension
indicated by the output signal of the load cell 25 and the
information concerning the diameter of the warp beam indicated
by an output signal of a rotary encoder 26 provided for
detecting a rotational angle or angular position of the jet
loom. Through the rotation speed control mentioned above, the
warp yarn tension is controlled in a normal operation of the
jet loom.
The loom control computer C1 responds to an ON
signal generated by a starting switch 27 to thereby issue a
command for the forward rotation of the feed motor 11 as
detected. A rotary encoder 111 issues a rotation speed
detection signal indicative of the rotation speed of the feed
motor 11. Thus, the loom control computer C1 can control the
rotation speed of the feed motor 11 on the basis of the
rotation speed detection signal fed back from the rotary
encoder 111.
A weft yarn is inserted into a shed formed by the
warp yarns under injection by a weft yarn inserting main
nozzle 28. The weft yarn inserted into the shed is caused to
run through the shed under relaying action of the jets
produced by a plurality of weft yarn inserting auxiliary
nozzles 29. The weft yarn ejected from the weft inserting
main nozzle 28 is cut off from the weft yarn inserting main
nozzle 28 by means of a cutter 30 immediately after beating by
the reed.
A consumable part managing system C2 is electrically
connected to the loom control computer C1. In this
conjunction, it is to be noted that a backup power supply
source E is provided for both the loom control computer C1 and
the consumable part managing system C2 with a view to
preventing information as stored from erasure upon occurrence
of service interruption.
Figure 3 shows an internal arrangement or
configuration of the consumable part managing system C2. As
can be seen in the figure, the consumable part managing system
C2 includes a preset lifetime storage unit 31 for storing
preset lifetimes usable durations of a brake mechanism
provided in association with the loom driving motor M, ropes
for driving a heald frame constituting a part of the shedding
apparatus, supporting shafts for cam levers constituting a cam
mechanism for driving the shedding apparatus, an anti-slip
felt member provided around and over a circumferential surface
of the press roller 19 pressed against the surface roller 18
for taking up the woven fabric W, the cutter 30, on/off valves
for controlling supply of compressed air to the weft inserting
main nozzle 28 and the weft inserting auxiliary nozzle 29.
These preset lifetime values or data can be stored in the
preset lifetime storage unit 31 through input operation or
manipulation of an input unit 32.
Further, the consumable part managing system C2
includes an operation time integrating circuit 33 which
constitutes a consumed lifetime arithmetic means for
determining accumulatively the time or period during which the
jet loom has been operated. So long as the jet loom is in the
operating state, the loom control computer C1 issues a signal
commanding the time integrating operation to the operation
time integrating circuit 33. A timer 34 is connected to the
operation time integrating circuit 33 so that the operation
time integrating circuit 33 can determine cumulatively the
time lapse on the basis of the output signal of the timer 34
so long as the time integrating command signal is issued by
the loom control computer C1. In this conjunction, it should
be mentioned that the time integrating operation mentioned
above is performed for each of the consumable parts or
elements. Thus, the operation time integrating circuit 33
stores the integrated times updated most recently for every
consumable parts. The integrated time for each of the
consumable parts represents a factor affecting or influencing
the serviceable lifetime of the relevant consumable part and
may be regarded as the consumed lifetime of the relevant
consumable part. Parenthetically, it is to be mentioned that
the loom control computer C1 and the timer 34 cooperate to
constitute an operation time detecting means which is one of
the lifetime affecting factor detecting means.
Furthermore, the consumable part managing system C2
includes an exchange decision circuit 35 constituting an
exchange decision means for comparing the preset lifetimes
stored in the preset lifetime storage unit 31 with the
consumed lifetimes arithmetically determined by the operation
time integrating circuit 33. When the consumed lifetime of a
given consumable part has reached the preset lifetime, the
exchange decision circuit 35 outputs an activation signal to
an alarm device 36 and at the same time outputs a display
command signal to a display control circuit 37. The display
command signal contains index information for identifying
discriminatively the part or member of concern. The display
control circuit 37 serving as a message generating means reads
out the preset lifetime information of the consumable part
identified by the index information contained in the display
command signal from the preset lifetime storage unit 31 and
fetches concurrently the consumed lifetime of the consumable
part of concern from the operation time integrating circuit
33. Subsequently, the display control circuit 37 commands
display of the name of the consumable part of concern, the
preset lifetime and the consumed lifetime of that part on the
display unit 38. The display unit 38 serving as the messaging
means thus displays the name or identifier, the preset
lifetime and the consumed lifetime of a consumable part or
parts of concern on a display screen 381, as shown in Fig. 2.
A reset switch 39 is electrically connected to the
exchange decision circuit 35. When the reset switch 39 is
closed or turned on, a reset signal is generated, to which the
exchange decision circuit 35 responds for thereby causing the
operation time integrating circuit 33 to reset to zero the
consumed lifetime of the consumable part which has reached the
preset lifetime, while the corresponding content displayed on
the display unit 38 is erased with the alarm generated by the
alarm device 36 also being cleared.
Fig. 4 is a flow chart for illustrating a consumable
part managing program executed by the consumable part managing
system C2. When a consumed lifetime Tn of a certain
consumable part has reached a preset lifetime Tn0, the
consumable part managing system C2 activates the alarm device
36 and at the same time issues a command for displaying the
name or identifier of the consumable part, the preset
serviceable lifetime and the consumed lifetime. Thus, the
operator can exchange the consumable part whose consumed
lifetime has reached the preset lifetime Tn0 with a fresh one
on the basis of the content displayed on the display unit 38
in response to the alarm generated by the alarm device 36.
Upon completion of the part exchanging process, the reset
switch 39 is closed. Then, the consumable part managing
system C2 resets the consumed lifetime Tn being stored to zero
and at the same time erases the relevant content displayed on
the display unit 38 and deactivates the alarm device 36.
In this manner, operator or attendant of the jet
loom can recognize the consumable part to be exchanged with a
fresh one by watching the display content displayed on the
display unit 38. The consumed lifetime Tn displayed on the
display unit 38 represents an accumulated or integrated value
of a period for which the jet loom has actually been put into
operation. Thus, the accumulated or integrated time can
reflect with high reliability or fidelity the consumed
lifetime of the consumable part which has actually been
consumed, which in turn means that the display content
generated on the display unit 38 can reflect with high
accuracy and reliability the actually consumed lifetime of the
consumable part. Consequently, the operator can easily know
the proper time point at which the exchange of the consumable
part has to be performed.
When degree of actual consumption of the consumable
part, e.g. degree of actual wearing or abrasion of the cutter
30, is greater or smaller than the predicted one, it is
desirable to alter the preset lifetime Tn0 so as to match the
progress of actual consumption of the consumable part. Such
alteration of the preset lifetime Tn0 can be realized through
input manipulation of the input unit 32.
Embodiment 2
A second embodiment of the present invention will be
described by reference to Figs. 5 and 6, wherein like
components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by
like reference characters and repeated description thereof
will be omitted. In the system according to the second
embodiment of the invention, an environment sensor 41 serving
as a factor detecting means is electrically connected to an
operation time integrating circuit 40 of a consumable part
managing system C3. As the environment sensor 41 for
detecting the environmental conditions, there may be
mentioned, for example, a temperature sensor, a humidity
sensor, a load current sensor, a power consumption sensor, an
air consumption sensor, an acceleration sensor, a load torque
sensor, a displacement sensor and the like. The temperature
and the load current representing the lifetime affecting
factors will affect the lifetimes of electric capacitors and
the backup power supply source E and others, respectively,
while the factors such as the acceleration and the load torque
exert influence to the lifetime of mechanical parts such as
gears, bearings or the like. Furthermore, the consumption
power represents indirectly heat generation in the system,
while the humidity and other atmospheric factors exert
influence to corrosion of metallic parts.
The loom control computer C1 supplies the operation
time integrating circuit 40 with operation information such as
loom rotation speed derived from the output of the rotary
encoder 26, the number of times the weft has been inserted,
the tension of warps and other operation signal indicative of
the loom operation state. The operation time integrating
circuit 40 arithmetically determines consumed lifetimes of the
components or parts on the basis of the environment
information and the operation information in accordance with
predetermined arithmetic expression(s). Fig. 6 shows a flow
chart for illustrating a consumable part managing program
executed by the consumable part managing system C3. As can be
seen from Fig. 6, the consumable part managing system C3
fetches the environment information and the operation
information at a predetermined timing to thereby determine
arithmetically the consumed lifetimes Tn. The succeeding
processing is similar to the processing described previously
in conjunction with the first embodiment of the invention.
The display contents generated on the display unit
38 by taking into consideration the operation information and
the environment information except for operation time of the
jet loom reflect the real or actual consumed lifetimes of the
consumable parts with higher accuracy when compared with the
system according to the first embodiment of the invention,
which allows the operator to determine more easily the proper
or appropriate time points at which the consumable parts are
to be exchanged.
Embodiment 3
Next, description will be made of a third exemplary
embodiment of the present invention by reference to Figs. 7
and 8. In these figures, like components as those of the
second embodiment are denoted by like reference characters and
repeated description thereof will be omitted. In the system
according to the third embodiment of the invention, an
arithmetic expression modifying device 42 is electrically
connected to an operation time integrating circuit 40 of a
consumable part managing system C3. When the degree of actual
consumption of the consumable part, e.g. degree of abrasion of
the edge of the cutter 30, is more severe than the predicted
degree or less than the latter, the arithmetic method of
determining the consumed lifetime of the consumable part
should be modified in place of altering the preset lifetime
Tn0 in conformance with the degree of the actual consumption
of the consumable part. To this end, the correcting or
modifying device 42 may be provided as a means for modifying
the predetermined arithmetic expression(s) employed in the
operation time integrating circuit 40.
Fig. 8 is a flow chart for illustrating a consumable
part managing program executed by the consumable part managing
system C3. A consumable part managing system C3 responds to
an arithmetic expression modifying command issued by the
arithmetic expression modifying device 42 to thereby modify
correspondingly the arithmetic expression(s) which is used for
determining arithmetically the consumed lifetime of the
consumable part in accordance with a modified or renewed
arithmetic expression or expressions. The other processing
steps are similar to those of the second embodiment except for
modification of the processing step for modification of the
preset serviceable life.
The display content derived from calculation in
accordance with the modified arithmetic expression and
generated on the display unit 38 which content is corrected by
taking the aforementioned lifetime affecting factors into
consideration can reflect the actually consumed lifetime of
the consumable part with much higher accuracy and reliability
when compared with the second embodiment. Thus, the operator
can easily know the proper or appropriate time point at which
the consumable part has to be exchanged.
Embodiment 4
Next, description will be made of a fourth
embodiment of the present invention by reference to Fig. 9.
In this figure, reference characters j, j+1, j+2 designate jet
looms, respectively, and C(j), C(j+1), C(j+2) designate loom
control computers, respectively. Each of the loom control
computers C(j), C(j+1), C(j+2) is composed of a central
arithmetic/ processing unit CPU, a data memory RAM and a
program memory ROM. Actuators Am and environment sensors Sn
of the individual jet looms j, j+1, j+2 are operatively
connected via input/output ports I/O to the loom control
computers C(j), C(j+1), C(j+2), respectively. On the other
hand, connected to the loom control computers C (j), C (j+1),
C(j+2) are communication interfaces I/F(j), I/F (j+1),
I/F(j+2), respectively.
The data memory RAM incorporated in each of the loom
control computers C(j), C(j+1), C(j+2) stores therein the
control data concerning the rotation number or speed of the
loom, the warp tension, weft inserting timing, weaving density
and other data for the associated jet loom. Furthermore, the
data memory RAM incorporated in each of the loom control
computers C(j), C(j+1), C(j+2) serves to store temporarily the
environment information derived from the output of the
environment sensor Sn provided in the associated jet loom. On
the other hand, the program memory ROM incorporated in each of
the loom control computers C(j), C(j+1), C(j+2) stores a
program for controlling operation of the relevant jet loom on
the basis of control data stored in the data memory RAM.
Further, a reference character CH denotes a host
computer for managing or controlling concentratively the jet
looms j, j+1, j+2. The host computer CH is comprised of a
central arithmetic/ processing unit CPUH, a data memory RAMH
and a program memory ROMH. Connected to the host computer CH
are an input unit 32, a reset switch 39, an alarm device 36
and a display unit 38 via an input/output port I/OH as in the
case of the first embodiment of the invention. A program
memory ROMH stores therein a program for controlling
concentratively the jet looms j, j+1, j+2. The
concentratively controlling program mentioned above contains a
consumable part managing program similar to the one executed
by one of the consumable part managing systems C2 and C3
described hereinbefore in conjunction with the first to third
embodiments.
The host computer Cn is provided with a
communication interface I/FH which is connected to the
communication interfaces I/F(j), I/F (j+1), I/F (j+2) of the jet
looms j, j+1, j+2, respectively, via communication lines L.
The host computer CH is in charge of concentratively
controlling the jet looms j, j+1, j+2 by way of the
communication interface I/FH, the communication lines L and
the communication interfaces I/F (j), I/F (j+1) , I/F (j+2).
The host computer CH retrieves scanwise the
operation information and the environment information stored
in the individual loom control computers C (j), C (j+1), C (j+2)
via the communication lines L and the communication interfaces
I/F (j), I/F (j+1), I/F (j+2), respectively, at a predetermined
time interval. In response to the scanwise inquiry of the
host computer CH, the individual loom control computers C(j),
C (j+1), C (j+2) send the operation information and the
environment information to the host computer CH via the
communication interfaces I/F(j), I/F(j+1), I/F (j+2), the
communication lines L and the communication interface I/FH.
The host computer CH arithmetically determines the consumed
lifetimes of the consumable parts of the jet looms j, j+1,
j+2, respectively, on the basis of the operation information
and the environment information as supplied. When the
consumed lifetime Tn of a consumable part of a given jet loom
has reached a preset lifetime thereof, the host computer CH
activates the alarm device 36 and displays the name or
identifier of the relevant consumable part(s), the preset
lifetime and the consumed lifetime thereof on the display unit
38.
By virtue of the system arrangement in which the
management of the consumable parts in a plurality of jet looms
is performed en bloc by the host computer CH, there can be
achieved advantages mentioned below. Namely, because the
arithmetic determination or calculation of the consumed
lifetimes of consumable parts as well as storage of the
results thereof is performed solely by the host computer CH,
the burden imposed on the individual loom control computers
can be mitigated. Thus, the management of the consumable
parts can be carried out without need for enhancing the
capabilities of the individual jet loom computers. Besides,
because the identification numbers of the jet looms of
concern, the names of the consumable parts, the preset
serviceable life and the consumed lifetimes thereof can be
displayed on the single display unit 38, expensiveness
involved in the system can be mitigated when compared with the
system in which the information mentioned above is displayed
on a loom-by-loom basis. Additionally, because the data input
for the preset serviceable life of the consumable parts in the
individual jet looms as well as determination of the
arithmetic expressions to be relied on for determining the
consumed lifetime can be realized en bloc by the host computer
CH, operability of plural jet looms can significantly be
enhanced. Additionally, accuracy of the arithmetic prediction
of the serviceable lifetimes of the individual consumable
parts as well as the data or time points at which they are to
be exchanged can be enhanced. Besides, because the
environmental sensors for detecting the air-conditioning,
electric power consumption state, moisture state and the like
can be provided on a shop-by-shop basis, the number of the
environment sensors can be decreased when compared with the
case where the environment sensors are provided for the jet
looms, respectively. Besides, the inventory management of the
parts to be reserved for the exchange in the shop as a whole
can be facilitated, whereby an effective part exchange
schedule can be established for all the shops.
In a modification of the present invention, such
arrangement may be adopted that the preset lifetime and the
consumed lifetime are displayed so as to allow the operator to
make decision as to the exchange of a consumable part without
employing the exchange decision means. Alternatively, the
operated periods of individual consumable parts may be
arithmetically determined on the basis of specifications of
the loom, preset values of the control computer and the
operated period of the loom, whereon the consumed lifetimes of
the individual parts may be determined on the basis of the
individual operation times determined arithmetically.
Besides, the present invention may be applied to
generation of a message indicating an appropriate time point
for maintenance and/or inspection of the consumable part.
Further, it should be appreciated that the invention can
equally be applied to other textile machinery than the loom
such as, for example, blowing machinery, card, drawing frame,
fly frame, spinning frame, open-end spinning frame, winder or
the like textile machinery. Accordingly, the phrase "textile
machinery" used herein should be interpreted in the broadest
sense.
As will now be apparent from the foregoing, with the
consumable part managing system according to the present
invention in which the consumed lifetimes of consumable parts
are arithmetically determined on the basis of the information
detected by the factor detecting means for detecting factors
which affect the serviceable lifetimes of consumable parts,
and a corresponding message is issued when the consumed
lifetime as determined arithmetically has reached a preset
lifetime of that consumable part, it is possible to manage the
consumable part concerning the time point appropriate for the
exchange thereof.
Many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in the light of the above techniques.
It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the
appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than
as specifically described.
In a textile machinery, a system and method capable
of determining time points appropriate for exchange of
consumable parts, respectively. A preset lifetime storage
unit 31 stores preset lifetime values of the consumable parts
as inputted through an input unit 32. So long as a jet loom
is in operating state, a loom control computer C1 issues a
signal commanding a time integrating operation to an operation
time integrating circuit 33. The operation time integrating
circuit 33 determines consumed lifetime of consumable part on
the basis of a time lapse counted by a timer 34 so long as the
time integrating command signal is issued by the loom control
computer C1. An exchange decision circuit 35 compares the
preset lifetime of the consumable part stored in the preset
lifetime storage unit 31 with the consumed lifetime determined
by the operation time integrating circuit 33. When the
consumed lifetime of a given consumable part has reached the
preset lifetime, the exchange decision circuit 35 outputs an
activation signal to an alarm device 36 and at the same time
outputs a display command signal to a display control circuit
37. Subsequently, the display control circuit 37 commands a
display unit 38 to display the name of the consumable part of
concern together with the preset lifetime and the consumed
lifetime thereof.