EP2309043A1 - Spinning machine with sensors and actuators - Google Patents

Abstract

The spinning machine has a sensor (1), which senses an operating state of the spinning machine and emits a signal which characterizes the operating state. An actuator (3) is provided to which this signal is passed and which initiates a measure in accordance with this signal. The sensor is connected to the actuator by a radio link (2). The radio link is effective in both directions, where the actuator initiates measurement in the sensor.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a spinning machine with at least one sensor which senses an operating state of the spinning machine and emits a signal characterizing this operating state and with at least one actuator to which this signal is fed and which initiates a measure in accordance with this signal.

State of the art

Spinning machines often have a plurality of sensors that sense certain operating conditions of the machine and deliver a signal representing those operating conditions or their occurrence or absence. This signal is then fed via a separate signal line or via a bus system to one or more actuators, which initiate appropriate measures in accordance with this signal.

An example of such a functional chain is a yarn breakage monitoring, which activates a device for interrupting the Luntenzufuhr about the drafting system when a thread break occurs. At the thread running a thread breakage sensor is arranged, which feels the thread breakage and emits a signal which is fed via a signal line of a Luntenstopp device and interrupts the Luntenzufuhr through this.

The operative connection between each of the many yarn breakage sensors on the yarn path at each spinning station to the respective associated Luntenstopp device requires a variety of wiring. Although a reduction of the required wiring can be achieved by means of a bus connection between a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators, a galvanic connection between these components is still required.

General description of the invention

The invention therefore had the task of simplifying the transmission of the signals by eliminating the need for galvanic connection between the sensors and the actuators. It solves this problem in that at least the sensor can be in communication with the actuator via radio link.

Normally, a radio link effective in one direction from the sensor to the actuator is sufficient. In many cases, however, a two-track radio link from the sensor to the actuator and from the actuator to the sensor is advantageous if the actuator should be able to influence the operation of the sensor. The radio link is then effective in both directions. The actuator (3) can therefore also initiate measures in the sensor.

The radio connection can use any known transmission method such as Zigbee, Bluetooth, WLAN or similar.

In order to avoid wiring for the purpose of power supply, it is provided to provide at least each of the sensors with its own battery. Since actuators are usually provided with a wiring to the components influenced by them, this wiring can also take over the power supply of the actuators. Of course, however, the actuators can also be made energy self-sufficient.

A self-sufficient energy supply can be achieved in that the - low - required energy of at least the sensor from light, heat, vibration, forces or the like is related.

Specific description of the invention

• Fig. 1 eine in nur einer Richtung wirksame Sensor/Aktor-Kombination;
• Fig. 2 eine in beiden Richtungen wirksame Sensor/Aktor-Kombination;
• Fig. 3 eine Sensor/Aktor-Kombination mit mehreren, nur einen Aktor beaufschlagenden Sensoren;
• Fig. 4 eine Sensor/Aktor-Kombination mit mehreren, nur einen Sensor beaufschlagenden Aktoren.

In the figures of the drawing embodiments of the invention are shown schematically. Show it

• Fig. 1 a sensor / actuator combination effective in one direction only;
• Fig. 2 a bidirectional sensor / actuator combination;
• Fig. 3 a sensor / actuator combination with multiple, only one actor acting sensors;
• Fig. 4 a sensor / actuator combination with multiple, only one sensor acting actuators.

The sensor / actuator combination of FIG. 1 consists of a sensor 1, which is connected via a radio link 2 with an actuator 3.

On the one hand, the sensor has a sensor which can be influenced by an effect. The effect may be a force, for example the pressure exerted by deflecting a thread. The effect can also be the action of light, for example on the receiver of a light barrier. Further, the effect may be a temperature, for example a thermocouple that senses a temperature. Other effects are also possible. The sensor emits a preferably electrical signal, which may be proportional to the applied force.

On the other hand, the sensor has a transmitter, which converts the signal emitted by the sensor into a high-frequency signal, encodes and transmits. For this purpose, the sensor is provided with a power supply not shown here, which may consist of a battery. Alternatively, the power supply can also be effected by the action of light, heat, vibration or in any other way. Since the distance to be crossed by the radio bridge 2 is small, typically between one and 100 m, the energy demand of the sensor is very low and can be covered by the sources mentioned.

The sensor 1 thus transmits this signal via its radio transmitter to the actuator 3. Accordingly, the actuator 3 with a radio receiver for the signals of the sensor
1 equipped. This radio receiver decodes the signal and converts it into a signal transmitted via a signal line 5 only if it is determined by its coding for it. It can then initiate an action of the spinning machine or a component thereof. The actuator, like the sensor, can be provided with a self-sufficient power supply.

An example of an application of such a sensor / actuator combination is the yarn breakage monitoring on a spinning machine. In this case, a sensor 1 can be arranged on the yarn path at each spinning position of the machine, which for a broken yarn forwards a radio signal to an actuator in a Luntenstoppvorrichtung this spinning station and activates this to interrupt the Luntenzufuhr to this spinning position.

In the embodiment of the FIG. 2 is the radio link 2, 2 'formed in such a two-lane, that the actuator 3 is in communication with the sensor 1. The actuator can also influence the sensor and influence its signal formation. For this purpose, the actuator also has a radio transmitter whose signal can be received and converted by the sensor also having a radio receiver.

Thus, e.g. In the stated application, the actuator give up the sensor, no yarn breakage signal to generate, as long as the occurred yarn breakage is corrected and a yarn breakage signal would interfere with this.

It is understood that the signals exchanged between a sensor 1 and an actuator 2 must be coded so that they act on only the two sensors and actuators for which they are intended.

Anendungsfälle are conceivable, according to FIG. 3 several sensors 1 act on only one actuator 3. Here, the signals of all sensors have the same, the associated actuator responsive coding.

Conversely shows FIG. 4 an arrangement in which an actuator 3 acts on several sensors 1. Its radio signals have a coding, by which all th sensors are addressed. An application for this embodiment is, for example, then given when the signal formation of several sensors simultaneously and consistently turned off, turned on or changed.

Due to the self-sufficient energy supply in particular of the sensors, but also the actuators can be dispensed with in addition to the signal transmission and the power supply wiring of the sensors and / or actuators, which greatly simplifies their installation, accelerated and cheaper. Of course, if, for a sensor or - in particular an actuator as in the cases shown via the signal line 5 - a wiring is required anyway, will be apart from a self-sufficient power supply.

In many cases, a distinction between a sensor signal and yes / no is sufficient. However, there are also cases in which the sensor signal must be proportional to the sampled state. Thus, for example, a temperature-sensing, the heating of a component or space monitoring sensor in a first temperature range via the actuator turn on a cooling fan. In a second, higher temperature range, he can turn on a warning lamp and in a third, dangerous temperature range, he can initiate the shading of the heat-generating component.

The object of the present invention results not only from the subject matter of the individual claims, but also from the combination of the individual claims with each other.

All information and features disclosed in the documents, in particular the spatial design shown in the drawings, are claimed to be essential to the invention, as far as they are new individually or in combination with respect to the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. 1 sensor
2. 2 radio connection
3. 3 actor
4. 4 impact arrow
5. 5 signal line

Claims (4)

Spinning machine with at least one sensor that can sense an operating state of the spinning machine and can emit a signal characterizing this operating state, characterized in that the sensor (1) is designed to be energy self-sufficient. Spinning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (1) can be fed by a battery. Spinning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (1) can draw its energy from light, heat, vibration, forces or the like. Spinning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spinning machine is equipped with at least one actuator to which the signal of the sensor can be fed and which can initiate measures in accordance with this signal, and that the actuator is designed self-sufficient energy.

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