EP3741890B1 - Method for monitoring required air currents for handling a yarn and/or sliver and a spinning machine unit - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the necessary air flows for handling a thread and/or a sliver in a spinning machine having a plurality of spinning positions and a spinning machine unit for carrying out the method.

As is well known, spinning machines comprise a plurality of similar spinning positions, which are equipped with handling units for handling a thread and/or a sliver, which at least temporarily require an air flow in order to handle the sliver in the course of the spinning process or the spun thread, in particular to influence the quality. The airflow is typically generated by at least one airflow generating source. Depending on the type of spinning machine, it can be a suction air system, which is used in particular in a rotor spinning machine to generate a negative spinning pressure, for example, or a source that generates compressed air, which is used in particular in an air spinning machine to generate a spinning pressure.

Accordingly, the spinning rotor of the rotor spinning machine can be regarded as a handling unit, for example, the rotor cup of which is supplied with suction air during regular spinning operation, but also during a piecing process. In an air-jet spinning machine, the spinneret can certainly be viewed as a handling unit. In general, all devices that pneumatically handle a thread or a sliver come into consideration as handling units.

For the quality of the thread produced by the spinning machine, it is necessary for the air flow, in particular the associated pressure, negative pressure or volume flow, to be within a defined range for proper handling of the thread or sliver by the handling unit. It also maximizes the productivity of the machine if the air flow is made available as soon as possible after a corresponding request, since the handling unit would otherwise have to spend an unproductive waiting time. On the other hand, the dimensioning of the source generating the air flow to a maximum required air flow requirement increases its costs in a disadvantageous manner. Similarly, maintaining airflow above a level needed increases energy consumption. This provision can be necessary, among other things, if there are losses within the air flow path, for example due to leaks.

It has therefore prevailed in the prior art, on the one hand, to accept certain waiting times for the air flow, at least in extreme situations, and on the other hand to regulate the air flow as precisely as possible to the required requirement. However, since regulation of the air flow is relatively sluggish, primarily due to the length of the air flow channels, the required air flow often cannot be maintained with purely tracking controls.

Therefore, for example, with the publication DE 195 11 960 A1 proposed that a handling unit has to report its air flow requirement in advance, i.e. it should submit a request, whereupon the air flow control regulates it sufficiently in good time before the air flow is called up in order to maintain a sufficient air flow for all connected handling elements even after this request has been allocated. This can lead to increased energy consumption by increasing the required energy intake. When a maximum permissible energy consumption is reached, further requests are no longer allocated, but the requesting handling unit is placed on hold. Waiting handling units are only served again when the energy consumption has dropped sufficiently due to the processing of previous requests.

With the pamphlet DE 10 2006 050 220 A1 a priority-controlled processing of the requirements is suggested. In particular, the waiting times of scarce resources, such as the operating units responsible for several jobs and the operating personnel, can be reduced.

The pamphlet DE 10 2006 050 220 A1 discloses the distribution of the requirements of the handling units at spinning station level. Specifically, allocations are only permitted to a certain number of spinning positions. Once the maximum number is reached, requests for additional handles are queued. The air flow can therefore only be allocated to a waiting spinning position when one of the spinning positions just supplied has completed the work for which it had requested the air flow, i.e. the spinning position no longer has a current need.

From the pamphlet U.S. 5,182,900A a method for checking the function of a pneumatic yarn end connection device, a so-called splicer, is known. In the method, a volume flow of air is supplied to a splicing channel of the splicer without thread ends being placed in the splicing channel. At least one state variable of the outflowing air is measured during this period of time at a specific opening in the splicing head.

A reference value is measured on a further splicer, which is identical to the splicer to be tested, by also supplying an air volume flow to the further splicer without yarn ends being inserted into the splicing channel, with the reference value being measured at an identical opening in the splicing head. The at least one state variable is compared with the measured reference value in order to determine a deviation. The size of the deviation is used as a basic criterion for evaluating the function of the splicer to be checked. Consequently, with this previously known method, state variables are measured at an exit point at which the effect is to be achieved, compared with a reference value and the comparison is used as the basis for an evaluation and adjustment of the device.

What all previously known solutions have in common is that air flow losses, for example due to leaks along the air flow path, are not explicitly taken into account. Such losses can have such a negative effect on the functionality of the corresponding handling unit that an insufficient air flow on the handling unit can lead to a loss in quality of the thread or sliver to be handled by the handling unit. For example, a spinning pressure that is too low or a negative spinning pressure can lead to the production of a thread of inferior quality. It should also be mentioned by way of example that too little pressure for compacting the fibers of a sliver in the area of a drafting system of the spinning machine can also lead to a thread of inferior quality.

Against this background, the present invention is intended to provide a possibility of monitoring the air flows required for handling a thread and/or sliver and of detecting unwanted air flow losses, for example due to leaks, in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner. In the context of the present invention, an air flow is understood to mean an air flow generated by negative or positive pressure from a source generating an air flow, with an air flow generated by negative pressure differing from the air flow generated by positive pressure only in the direction of the air flow.

For this purpose, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a method for monitoring the necessary air flows for handling a thread and/or a sliver in a spinning machine having a plurality of spinning positions is proposed. The spinning machine is assigned at least one source that generates an air flow, which is connected in communication with an air flow channel carrying the air flow, hereinafter referred to as the flow side, the air flow channel having a main air flow channel coupled to the source on the flow side and a plurality of air flow branch channels branching off from the main air flow channel having. The air flow branch ducts each branch off to a spinning station for air flow supply from the spinning station's own handling units for handling the thread or the sliver. The spinning machine is also assigned an evaluation device for evaluating measurement data and a detection device for detecting productive and/or non-productive spinning positions and/or handling units, the detection device being connected to the evaluation device in a data-transmitting manner. A data-transmitting connection can generally be implemented in a customary manner as required, in particular with a cable or wirelessly.

The source, the evaluation device and/or the detection device can preferably be included in the spinning machine. As an alternative to this, the source, the evaluation device and/or the detection device can be arranged externally to the spinning machine and operatively connected to it, as a result of which a spinning machine unit is formed in the sense of the present invention.

The invention is characterized in that an air volume flow measuring unit is provided which is arranged in the air flow main duct between the source and the air flow branch duct next to the source along the air flow path, wherein the air volume flow measuring unit is connected to the evaluation device in a data-transmitting manner, in particular in a manner as described above. In the course of the method, the air volume flow is measured by means of the air volume flow measuring unit and the measurement result is transmitted to the evaluation device, for example in the form of a specific measured value or a code representing the measured value. Furthermore, the number of productive and/or non-productive spinning positions and/or handling units is recorded by the recording unit at the time of the air volume flow measurement and is transmitted to the evaluation device. A spinning position or handling unit is in productive operation until it no longer requires an air flow to produce the thread or to handle the thread and/or sliver, for example due to a malfunction and the associated shutdown of the spinning position. Purely by way of example, processes that define a productive operation include piecing, spinning the thread, placing a thread end on an empty tube, compressing the sliver or the like. All of these processes require air currents, with which the thread or sliver is handled by appropriate handling units.

In the course of the method, an air volume flow target value is also determined as a function of the number of productive and/or non-productive spinning positions recorded at the time the air volume flow is measured, with the air volume flow target value corresponding to a total air volume flow requirement for the spinning positions that are productive at the time of measurement. The determined air volume flow target value is compared with the actual value of the measured air volume flow and the comparison is evaluated to determine whether there is an impermissible deviation of the actual value from the air volume flow target value. An impermissible deviation can exist, for example, if the target value defines a limit of a value range that is considered to be tolerable or permissible, with the actual value of the measured air volume flow lying outside the value range. Another impermissible deviation can exist if a difference value between the actual value and the target value exceeds a specified, corresponding threshold value.

The processes of determination, comparison and evaluation are carried out by the evaluation device. Within the meaning of the present invention, an evaluation device includes those functionally interacting elements or units which are designed to carry out these necessary processes. The elements or units can be separate from one another or implemented in a common assembly. The evaluation device can preferably a processor-based device such as a control unit assigned to one or more spinning machines or spinning stations.

As soon as an impermissible deviation is evaluated, an alarm signal can be initiated according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The alarm signal has been initiated when the evaluation device transmits a signal suitable for triggering the alarm signal, for example directly to a unit triggering the alarm signal or to an interposed unit. The alarm signal can be a visual, optical, acoustic and/or haptic signal. Such an alarm signal can be used to indicate to an operator of the spinning machine that the spinning machine is not operating properly, in particular that the air flow is not proper for handling the thread or the sliver, which can lead to a thread of inferior quality.

The proposed method provides an inexpensive and very simple way of monitoring air flows and in particular identifying air flow losses in a spinning machine.

The processes of measuring, transmitting, ascertaining, adjusting and evaluating can preferably take place continuously, periodically or at fixed times, depending on the requirement for energy consumption. The more frequently such processes are carried out, the higher the corresponding energy requirement of the spinning machine can be, but the more reliable is the monitoring and the possibility of immediate intervention or troubleshooting, as a result of which the productivity of the spinning machine can be optimized

The method proposed by the invention is particularly suitable for a spinning machine designed as an air spinning machine, the source generating an air stream being a compressed air source at least for generating a predetermined spinning pressure in a spinning unit or spinneret of the spinning station.

According to a preferred embodiment, the alarm signal contains not only the information about an insufficient air flow supply but also the information in which spinning station section, more preferably which spinning station, more preferably which handling unit and/or air flow branch channel is affected. For this purpose, a further air volume flow measuring unit is preferably installed in at least one air flow branch duct, in particular in each air flow branch duct leading to a spinning position or directly to a handling unit arranged, wherein the further air volume flow measuring unit can in particular be assigned its own retrievable code for identifying the spinning position or the handling unit or the air flow branch duct. At a specified point in time, the air volume flow is measured by the additional air volume flow measuring unit and transmitted to the evaluation device. At the time of the air volume flow measurement, the detection unit detects whether the spinning position or handling unit that is actively connected to the further air flow measuring unit is productive and/or not productive. A corresponding individual actual value of the measured air volume flow is assigned to the productive spinning station or handling unit and compared with an individual target value, which corresponds to a total air volume flow requirement of the operatively connected spinning station or handling unit. Based on the comparison, the evaluation device carries out an assessment as to whether there is an impermissible deviation of the individual actual value from the individual setpoint. If a deviation is assessed as impermissible, an alarm signal is initiated, which includes information about the additional air volume flow measuring unit, spinning station, handling unit and/or air flow branch duct relating to the impermissible deviation.

More preferably, the airflow branch duct has a closure element for closing the airflow branch duct, particularly preferably near the junction of the airflow main duct. The closure element can preferably be moved manually and/or automatically between an open position for the passage of the air volume flow and a closed position for the closure of the air flow branch duct. By means of such a closure element, when there is an impermissible deviation, advantageously only the spinning station or handling unit needs to be shut down or separated from the air flow supply which is affected by the air flow loss. The remaining spinning positions or handling units can continue to be operated properly.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a spinning machine unit for carrying out a method according to one of the preferred embodiments is proposed.

The spinning machine unit comprises a plurality of spinning positions, each with at least one handling unit requiring an air flow for handling a thread or sliver by means of the required air flow. Further, the spinning machine unit has an airflow generating source which is communicatively connected to an airflow channel airflow, hereinafter referred to as upstream, the airflow channel including a main airflow channel upstream coupled to the source and a plurality of the main airflow channel has branching off air flow branch ducts, each branching off to a spinning station for supplying air flow to the at least one spinning station's own handling unit. The spinning machine unit also includes an evaluation device for evaluating measurement data and a detection device for detecting productive and/or non-productive spinning positions, wherein the detection device can be connected or is connected to the evaluation device for data transmission.

The spinning machine unit is characterized in that an air volume flow measuring unit is provided, which is arranged in the air flow main duct between the source and the air flow branch duct next to the source along the air flow path, wherein the air volume flow measuring unit can be connected or is connected to the evaluation device for data transmission. The air volume flow measuring unit can be arranged in a preferred manner in a machine end or middle frame from which the arrangement of the several spinning stations takes place. The machine end frame or central frame can have a control housing with units for controlling and/or regulating the associated spinning positions, in which the air volume flow measuring unit is preferably accessible and more preferably arranged so that it can be viewed from outside the control housing, for example through a viewing window or opening.

Furthermore, the evaluation device is set up to determine an air volume flow target value as a function of the number of productive and/or non-productive spinning positions detected at the time the air volume flow is measured, with the air volume flow target value corresponding to a total air volume flow requirement of the spinning positions that are productive at the time of measurement. The evaluation device is also set up to compare the air volume flow target value with the actual value of the measured air volume flow and, based on the comparison, to carry out an assessment as to whether there is an impermissible deviation of the actual value from the air volume flow target value.

With such a spinning machine unit, the advantages associated with the proposed method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can also be achieved. The components assigned to the spinning machine unit can preferably be correspondingly further developed in such a way that the steps or processes described in the course of the method according to a preferred embodiment can be executed and carried out by the respective component.

Preferably, according to a preferred embodiment, there is a further air volume flow measuring unit in at least one air flow branch channel, in particular in each one leading to a spinning station or directly to an air flow branch duct leading to a handling unit, wherein the detection device is set up to detect at a point in time of an air volume flow measurement carried out by the further air flow measuring unit whether the spinning positions or handling unit actively connected to the further air flow measuring unit are productive and/or not productive. In this context, the evaluation device is set up to assign an individual actual value of the measured air volume flow to the productive spinning position or handling unit that is operatively connected to the further air volume flow measuring unit and to compare it with a corresponding individual setpoint value, which corresponds to a total air volume flow requirement of the operatively connected spinning position or handling unit. Based on the comparison, the evaluation device is also set up to evaluate whether there is an impermissible deviation of the individual actual value from the individual target value, and if a deviation is evaluated as impermissible, to initiate an alarm signal, which provides information about the impermissible deviation in relation to another air volume flow measuring unit , Spinning station, handling unit and/or air flow branch channel.

Furthermore, according to one embodiment, a closure element that can be moved between an open and closed position is preferably arranged in the air flow branch duct, which includes a further air volume flow measuring unit, the closure element being in the closed position for shutting off the air flow supply to the associated spinning position and/or handling unit when a deviation relating to the air flow branch duct having the closure element has been assessed as inadmissible.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, using the figures and drawings that show details essential to the invention, and from the patent claims. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the individual features can each be implemented individually or together in any desired combination.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine Spinnmaschineneinheit nach einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel; und

Fig. 2

schematisch ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens nach einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel.

Show it

1

schematically a spinning machine unit according to a preferred embodiment; and

2

schematically a flowchart of a method according to a preferred embodiment.

figure 1 shows a purely schematic representation of a spinning machine unit 1 according to a preferred embodiment, which is suitable for carrying out a method 100 according to a preferred embodiment, which is with the figure 2 schematically illustrated flowchart is shown.

The spinning machine unit 1, which is, for example, a rotor spinning machine or air-jet spinning machine, comprises at one machine end a machine frame with a control housing 2, from which a plurality of spinning positions 3 extend in a row on and along a longitudinal side of the spinning machine unit, with the respective spinning positions 3 having a Control housing 2 central control unit, not shown, are connected on the data transmission side. Each spinning position 3 has first 4 and second handling units 5 for handling a thread or sliver to be handled at the respective spinning position 3 . Depending on the type of spinning machine, the first 4 and second handling units 5 can be conventional units assigned to a respective spinning station 3 and requiring an air stream to handle a thread or sliver, such as spinning rotors, pneumatic thread stores, spinnerets, compression devices or the like.

The spinning machine unit 1 comprises an air flow generating source 6 which is arranged in the control housing 2 in this preferred embodiment. The source 6 is set up to generate an air flow caused by underpressure or overpressure. The source 6 communicates with an air flow duct 7 air flow, hereinafter referred to as flow-side, the air flow duct 7 having an air flow main duct 8 and a plurality of air flow branch ducts 9 branching off from it. Each of the branching off air flow branch ducts 9 leads to a spinning station 3 and the first 4 and second handling units 5 assigned to the spinning station 3 in order to supply them with the air flow that can be generated by the source 6 .

The air flow main duct 8 has an air flow measuring unit 10 in an air flow branch duct 9 closest to the source 6 , which is arranged in the control housing 2 according to the preferred exemplary embodiment shown. The air volume flow measuring unit 10 can be accessed in the control housing 2 through a maintenance flap and in particular can be viewed through a viewing window integrated in the maintenance flap. According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, the air volume flow measuring unit 10 can have a display for the scaled and/or digital display of the measurable air volume flow passed through.

The respective air flow branch duct 9 leading to a spinning station 3 and the air flow branch ducts 9 leading from it to a respective first 4 and second handling unit 5 have a further air volume flow measuring unit 11 for measuring the air volume flow passed through. A closure element 12 , for example in the form of a controllable valve, is arranged along the air flow path between the air flow main channel 8 and the air flow branch channel 9 . The closure element 12 can be moved between an open and a closed position. In the open position, an air flow can be passed through the corresponding air flow branch duct 9 via the closure element 12, whereas the corresponding air flow branch duct 9 is blocked for the air flow when the closure element 12 is in the closed position. The intermediate arrangement of the closure element 12 between the further air volume flow measuring unit 11 and the air flow main duct 8 is advantageous in that in the respective open and closed position it can be checked by a measurement whether the further air flow branch duct 9 can be supplied with the air flow or is blocked off.

The air volume flow measuring unit 10, the further air volume flow measuring units 11 and the closure elements 12 are connected to an evaluation device 13 on the data transmission side. Air volume flows measured by the air volume flow measuring unit 10 and the further air volume flow measuring units 11 can thus be transmitted to the evaluation device 13 . Furthermore, the respective closure element 12 can be controlled to bring it into the open or closed position. Even if in the block diagram of figure 1 the data transmission path is shown as monodirectional, according to a further preferred exemplary embodiment it can be a bidirectional connection in order in particular to be able to give or retrieve corresponding feedback.

The evaluation device 13 is also connected monodirectionally or bidirectionally to a detection device 14 on the data transmission side. According to this preferred exemplary embodiment, the detection device 14 is in turn connected monodirectionally or bidirectionally on the data transmission side to a respective spinning position 3 and a respective first 4 and second handling unit 5 . In this context, it should be emphasized that in the figure 1 purely for the sake of clarity, only the data-transmission-side connection of the next spinning station 3 along the air flow path to the source 6, first handling unit 4, closure elements 12 and further air volume flow measuring units 11 is shown. A corresponding connection applies in an equivalent manner to the rest, in the figure 1 shown unconnected components.

The detection device 14 is set up to detect a productive and/or non-productive spinning station 3, first 4 and second handling unit 5 and to transmit it to the evaluation device 13.

The spinning machine unit 1 described above according to a preferred embodiment is set up with the figure 2 to carry out a method 100, shown schematically as a flow chart, for monitoring required air flows for handling a thread and/or a sliver according to a preferred exemplary embodiment. The method 100 includes a step 110 of measuring an air volume flow using the air volume flow measuring unit 10 which is arranged in the air flow main duct 8 . The measured value measured at a defined point in time or a coding value representing this is transmitted to the evaluation device 13 . At the defined point in time of the measurement, the number of productive and/or non-productive spinning positions 3 is recorded in a further step 120 and transmitted to the evaluation device 13 . Then, in a further step 130, the evaluation device 13 is used to determine an air volume flow target value as a function of the number of productive and/or non-productive spinning positions 3 detected, with the air volume flow target value corresponding to a total air volume flow requirement for the spinning positions that are productive at the time of measurement. The total air volume flow requirement is a theoretical value and corresponds to such an air volume flow which is required for the proper operation of the productive spinning positions. Usually, an individual target value is known for the correct operation of a productive spinning position or can be determined in advance, this value generally depending on the design of a particular spinning position. This value can be called up by the evaluation device 13 in a volatile or non-volatile memory (not shown) and can be stored in a way that it can be changed by an operator or a control unit. The store is assigned at least to the spinning machine and can in particular be comprised by it. According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, the individual target value is multiplied by the number of productive spinning positions in order to obtain the air volume flow target value. Alternatively, a concordance table comprising a respective air volume flow target value for a respective different number of productive spinning positions can be stored in the memory so that an air volume flow target value can be called up directly depending on the number of productive spinning positions. The number of productive spinning positions can be determined directly by detecting the productive spinning positions or by detecting the non-productive spinning positions, the latter involving a step of calculating a known total number connected to the main air flow channel Spinning positions minus the recorded number of non-productive spinning positions required.

In a subsequent step 140, the evaluation device 1 compares the determined air volume flow target value with the actual value of the measured air volume flow and subsequently or in the course of the comparison in a further step 150 carries out an assessment as to whether there is an impermissible deviation of the actual value from the air volume flow target value present. If an impermissible deviation is evaluated as present, the evaluation device 13 initiates an alarm signal, by means of which the impermissible deviation can be displayed to an operator, for example via an alarm signal display unit 15, which is connected to the evaluation device 13 in a data-transmitting manner (cf. figure 1 ).

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, the above steps can be carried out continuously or, according to an alternative exemplary embodiment, at fixed times, in particular periodically. An air volume flow loss in the air flow duct can be identified in a simple manner by means of the monitoring. Depending on the number of spinning positions, the spinning machine unit can have more than one air flow channel, with one air flow channel being provided for supplying a defined number of spinning positions. Depending on the air flow channel in which an impermissible deviation has been evaluated, the location of the air volume flow loss can be determined more precisely.

At the with figure 1 Spinning machine unit 1 shown according to a preferred exemplary embodiment, further air volume flow measuring units 11 and closure elements 12 are provided, which are arranged in the air flow branch channels 9 .

Equivalent to the above-described monitoring of the air flow main duct 8, an air flow branch duct 9 can also be monitored for an unusual loss of air volume flow, such as a leak. For this purpose, in a step 160 the air volume flow is measured by means of a further air volume flow measuring unit 11 and transmitted to the evaluation device 13 . At the time of the measurement, the detection unit 14 detects the productive and/or non-productive spinning positions 3 and/or first 4 and second handling units 5 in a step 170. In a step 180 the detected productive spinning positions and/or handling units are given a corresponding measured individual actual value of the measured air volume flow or vice versa, in order to be able to compare it in a further step 190 with a corresponding individual target value, the individual target value corresponding to an air volume flow requirement of the respective operatively connected spinning position or handling unit. Based on the comparison, a step 200 involves an evaluation using the evaluation device 13, whether there is an impermissible deviation of the individual actual value from the individual setpoint. If a deviation is assessed as impermissible, an alarm signal is initiated in step 210 by the evaluation device, which includes information about the additional air volume flow measuring unit, spinning station, handling unit and/or air flow branch duct relating to the impermissible deviation, making it even easier to localize the impermissible deviation is made possible. Furthermore, if a deviation is assessed as impermissible, the airflow branch channel 9 relating to the impermissible deviation is blocked from the airflow supply by moving the closure element 12 from the open position to the closed position in a step 220 . As a result, other spinning positions or handling units that are not connected to the air flow branch duct 9 and require the air flow can continue to operate properly and at the same time the affected air flow branch duct 9 can be examined to determine the reasons for the impermissible deviation.

The provision of further air volume flow measuring units 11 and/or closure elements 12 in air flow branch channels 9 of the spinning machine unit 1 can take place as required. Thus, only further air volume flow measuring units 11 or only closure elements 12 can be arranged in selected air flow branch ducts 9 . The method 100 described above can also be suitably adapted depending on an arrangement of further air volume flow measuring units 11 and/or closure elements 12 . The respective method steps or selected ones of them can be carried out for an air flow branch duct 9 and/or air flow main duct 8 or for several air flow branch ducts 9 and/or air flow main ducts 8 in order to be able to determine air volume flow losses in the respective air flow branch ducts 9 and/or air flow main ducts 8.

Reference List

1

spinning machine unit

2

control housing

3

spinning position

4

first handling unit

5

second handling unit

6

Airflow generating source

7

airflow channel

8th

main airflow channel

9

airflow branch duct

10

air flow measurement unit

11

further air volume flow measuring unit

12

closure element

13

evaluation device

14

detection device

15

alarm signal display unit

100

Proceedings

110

Step of measuring an air volume flow using the air volume flow measurement unit

120

Step of detecting the productive and/or non-productive spinning positions

130

step of matching

140

step of evaluating

150

Step of initiating an alarm signal

160

Step of measuring an air volume flow using the further air volume flow measuring unit

170

Step of detecting the productive and/or non-productive spinning positions and/or handling units

180

assignment step

190

Step of comparing the single setpoint with the single actual value

200

step of evaluating

210

Step of initiating an alarm signal

220

lockdown step

Claims (8)

1. Method (100) for monitoring air flows required for handling a thread and/or fibre band in a spinning machine having a plurality of spinning positions (3),

   at least one air flow-generating source (6) being associated with the spinning machine and being connected to an air flow duct (7) in an air flow-communicating manner, the air flow duct (7) having an air flow main duct (8), coupled to the source (6) in an air flow-communicating manner, and a plurality of air flow branch ducts (9) branching off from the air flow main duct (8), each branching off to a spinning position (3) for supplying the air flow to the spinning positions' handling units (4; 5) for handling a thread or fibre band, and

   the spinning machine being allocated an evaluation device (13) for evaluating measurement data and a detection unit (14) for detecting productive and/or non-productive spinning positions (83) and in particular for detecting productive and/or non-productive handling units (4; 5), the detection unit (14) being connected to the evaluation device (13) for data transmission,

   characterised in that

   an air volume flow measuring unit (10) is provided which is arranged in the air flow main duct (8) between the source (6) and the air flow branch duct (9) nearest to the source (6) along the air flow path, the air volume flow measuring unit (10) being connected to the evaluation device (13) for data transmission,

   in a step 110 the air volume flow is measured by means of the air volume flow measuring unit (10) and the measurement result is transmitted to the evaluation device (13),

   in a step 120 the number of productive and/or non-productive spinning positions (3) is detected by means of the detection unit (14) at the time of the air volume flow measurement and transmitted to the evaluation device (13),

   in a step 130 an air volume flow target value is determined depending on the number of productive and/or non-productive spinning positions (3) detected at the time when the air volume flow is measured, the air volume flow target value corresponding to a total air volume flow requirement of the spinning positions (3) which are productive at the time when the measurement is taken,

   in a step 140 the air volume flow target value is compared with the actual value of the measured air volume flow by means of the evaluation device (13), and

   in a step 150 the evaluation device (13) carries out an evaluation on the basis of the comparison to assess whether there is an unacceptable deviation between the actual value and the air volume flow target value.
2. The method (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that an alarm signal is initiated by the evaluation device (13) if the evaluation results in an unacceptable deviation between the actual value and the target value.
3. The method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the spinning machine is an air spinning machine, the air flow-generating source being a compressed-air source at least for generating a predetermined spinning pressure in a spinning unit of the spinning position (3).
4. The method (100) according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that a further air volume flow measuring unit (11) is arranged in at least one air flow branch duct (9), in particular in each air flow branch duct (9) leading to a spinning position (3) or directly to a handling unit (4; 5), the air volume flow being measured, in a step 160, at a fixed time by the further air volume flow measuring unit (11) and transmitted to the evaluation device (13), the detection unit (14) detecting, in a step 170, at the time the air volume flow is measured whether the spinning position (3) or handling unit (4; 5) which is operatively connected to the further air flow measuring unit (11) is productive and/or non-productive, a corresponding individual actual value of the measured air volume flow being assigned, in a step 180, to the operatively connected productive spinning position (3) or handling unit (4; 5), said individual actual value being compared, in a step 190, with an individual target value which corresponds to a total air volume flow requirement of the operatively connected spinning position (3) or handling unit (4; 5), the evaluation device (13) evaluating, in a step 200, on the basis of the comparison, whether there is an unacceptable deviation between the individual actual value and the individual target value, and, in the event that a deviation is evaluated as being unacceptable, the evaluation device (13) initiating, in a step 210, an alarm signal, which contains information about the further air volume flow measuring unit (11), spinning position (3), handling unit (4; 5) and/or air flow branch duct (9) affected by the unacceptable deviation.
5. The method (100) according to claim 5, characterised in that, in each air flow branch duct (9) comprising a further air volume flow measuring unit (11), a closing element (12) is arranged, in particular close to the air flow main duct (8), the closing element (12) being movable between an open position and a closed position, and the closing element (12) being moved into the closed position if a deviation affecting the air flow branch duct (9) which has the closing element (12) has been evaluated as being unacceptable.
6. A spinning machine unit (1) for carrying out a method (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the spinning machine unit (1) comprises

   a plurality of spinning positions (3), each having at least one handling unit (4; 5) requiring an air flow for handling a thread or fibre band by means of the required air flow,

   an air flow-generating source (6) connected to an air flow duct (7) in an air flow-communicating manner, the air flow duct (7) having an air flow main duct (8), coupled to the source (6) in an air flow-communicating manner, and a plurality of air flow branch ducts (9) branching off from the air flow main duct (8), each branching off to a spinning position (3) for supplying the air flow to the spinning position's handling unit (4; 5), of which there is at least one,

   an evaluation device (13) for evaluating measurement data, and

   a detection unit (14) for detecting productive and/or non-productive spinning positions (83) and in particular for detecting productive and/or non-productive handling devices (4; 5), the detection unit (14) being connectable or connected to the evaluation device (13) for data transmission,

   characterised in that

   an air volume flow measuring unit (10) is provided which is arranged in the air flow main duct (8) between the source (6) and the air flow branch duct (9) nearest to the source (6) along the air flow path, the air volume flow measuring unit (10) being connectable or connected to the evaluation device (13) for data transmission, and

   the evaluation device (13) is set up

   - to determine an air volume flow target value depending on the number of productive and/or non-productive spinning positions (3) detected at the time when the air volume flow is measured, the air volume flow target value corresponding to a total air volume flow requirement of the spinning positions (3) which are productive at the time when the measurement is taken,

   - to compare the air volume flow target value with the actual value of the measured air volume flow, and

   - to carry out an evaluation on the basis of comparison to assess whether there is an unacceptable deviation between the actual value and the air volume flow target value.
7. The spinning machine unit (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that a further air volume flow measuring unit (11) is arranged in at least one air flow branch duct (9), in particular in each air flow branch duct (9) leading to a spinning position (3) or directly to a handling unit (4; 5),

   the detection unit (14) being set up to detect, at a time when an air volume flow is measured by the further air volume flow measuring unit (11), whether the spinning position (3) or handling unit (4; 5) operatively connected to the further air flow measuring unit (11) is productive and/or non-productive,

   the evaluation device (13) being set up

   - to assign an individual actual value of the measured air volume flow to the productive spinning position (3) or handling unit (4; 5) operatively connected to the further air volume flow measuring unit (11), and to compare this value with a corresponding individual target value which corresponds to a total air volume flow requirement of the operatively connected spinning position (3) or handling unit (4; 5),

   - to carry out an evaluation on the basis of the comparison to assess whether there is an unacceptable deviation between the individual actual value and the individual target value, and

   - if a deviation is evaluated as being unacceptable, to initiate an alarm signal which includes information about the further air flow measuring unit (11), spinning position (3), handling unit (4; 5) and/or air flow branch duct (9) affected by the unacceptable deviation.
8. The spinning machine unit (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that, in the air flow branch duct (9) comprising a further air volume flow measuring unit (11), a closing element (12) is arranged, in particular close to the air flow main duct (8), which is movable between an open and closed position, the closing element (12) being in the closed position if a deviation affecting the air flow branch duct (9) which has the closing element (12) has been evaluated as being unacceptable.

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