EP3771756A1 - Spinning machine with a plurality of working stations arranged side by side and a movable maintenance device with a pneumatic element and method for supplying the pneumatic element with vacuum - Google Patents

Abstract

A spinning machine (1) with a large number of workstations (2) arranged next to one another, each of which has a spinning device (3) that can be acted upon by a process negative pressure (PU) and / or a suction nozzle that can be acted upon by a process negative pressure (PU), has at least one along the workstations (2) extending negative pressure channel (8) for supplying the spinning devices (3) and / or suction nozzles with the process negative pressure (PU) and at least one maintenance device (12) which can be moved along the work stations (2) and which has at least one pneumatic working element (13) and has at least one vacuum line (14) for supplying the pneumatic working element (13) with vacuum. The spinning devices (3) and / or the suction nozzles each have a closable connection opening which is connected to the process negative pressure (PU). The maintenance device (12) has a suction head (16) which can be advanced to the connection opening (15) and is connected to the vacuum line (14). In a method for supplying a pneumatic working element (13) of a maintenance device (12) with negative pressure, the pneumatic working element (13) is supplied with process negative pressure (PU) by a suction head (16) of the maintenance device (12), the suction head (16) being a closable connection opening (15) of the spinning device (3) or the suction nozzle is delivered.

Description

The present invention relates to a spinning machine, in particular an open-end spinning machine, with a plurality of work stations arranged next to one another, each having a spinning device that can be acted upon by a process vacuum, with at least one vacuum channel extending along the work stations for supplying the spinning devices with the process vacuum and with at least one Maintenance device which can be moved along the work stations and has at least one pneumatic working element and at least one vacuum line for supplying the pneumatic working element with negative pressure.

Open-end spinning machines with movable maintenance devices are known from the prior art. As a rule, the maintenance devices have several working elements which can carry out various maintenance work on the individual spinning positions such as bobbin change, rotor cleaning, piecing after a thread break or after a bobbin change and the like. The maintenance facilities or their work organs must therefore be supplied with electrical energy, with negative pressure and / or with compressed air, depending on the design of their work organs. Various systems have become known for supplying the working organs of the maintenance facilities with negative pressure.

From the DE 102 05 786 A1 For example, it is known to arrange a vacuum source for the maintenance device in the form of a vacuum pump directly on the movable maintenance device. The vacuum pump has a correspondingly high space requirement and a correspondingly high weight, which must always be carried with the maintenance device. If many working elements of the maintenance device have to be supplied with negative pressure, then the performance of such a vacuum pump which can be moved with the maintenance device may possibly not be sufficient.

Spinning machines have therefore become established which, in addition to their regular negative pressure system, which makes the process negative pressure available, have a further negative pressure system which supplies negative pressure to the maintenance device. Such a spinning machine is in DE 10 2004 038 697 A1 shown. For this purpose, the spinning machine has a first fan, which applies negative pressure to a first negative pressure channel, via which the work stations of the spinning machine are supplied with negative process pressure. A second negative pressure channel runs above the spinning machine and is acted upon by a second fan, via which the maintenance device is supplied with negative pressure. The vacuum supply to the machine is correspondingly complex.

However, spinning machines with so-called self-sufficient workplaces are increasingly being produced, which can carry out the necessary maintenance work predominantly independently by means of work organs arranged at the spinning stations. However, a movable maintenance device is still required to change the bobbin. The DE 101 39 078 A1 proposes in such a machine to dispense with a vacuum supply for the maintenance device. In this case, the maintenance device only provides an auxiliary thread for piecing. The further work is carried out by the workplace's own working bodies. However, there are still cases where Maintenance activities must be carried out by a mobile maintenance device.

The object of the present invention is therefore to ensure the supply of negative pressure to the maintenance device in a simple manner.

The object is achieved by a device and a method with the features of the independent claims.

A spinning machine, in particular an open-end spinning machine , with a plurality of work stations arranged next to one another, each of which has a spinning device that can be acted upon by a process vacuum, has at least one vacuum channel extending along the work stations for supplying the spinning devices with the process underpressure. As an alternative or in addition, the work stations can also have a suction nozzle that can be subjected to a process vacuum. For example, on air-jet spinning machines, such a suction nozzle is assigned to a drafting system at each work station. In rotor spinning machines with so-called self-sufficient workplaces, on the other hand, suction nozzles are often provided at the workplaces in order to find a new thread end to be spun from a pay-off bobbin. Furthermore, the spinning machine has at least one maintenance device which can be moved along the work stations and which has at least one pneumatic working element and at least one vacuum line for supplying the pneumatic working element with negative pressure. It is proposed that the spinning devices each have a closable connection opening which is connected to the process negative pressure. Alternatively or in addition, the suction nozzles can each have such a closable connection opening. Furthermore, the maintenance device has a suction head which can be brought to the connection opening of the spinning devices and / or the suction nozzles and is connected to the vacuum line. Closing the The connection opening can be made through a cover element or just through a valve.

In a method for supplying a pneumatic working element of a maintenance device of a spinning machine with negative pressure, the spinning machine has a plurality of workplaces arranged next to one another, each of which has a spinning device that can be subjected to a negative process pressure and / or a suction nozzle that can be subjected to a negative process pressure. The maintenance device can be moved along the work stations. In the method it is accordingly proposed that the working element is supplied with process negative pressure by a suction head of the maintenance device, the suction head being fed to a closable connection opening of the spinning device and / or the suction nozzle.

In contrast to the state of the art, the negative pressure supply is thus now brought about by the negative pressure system which is present in any case and which makes the process negative pressure available. The structural effort for such a spinning machine is therefore much lower and the spinning machine can be manufactured much more cost-effectively. Only connection openings are required on the individual spinning devices or suction nozzles, which can be introduced into a housing of the spinning device in a structurally simple manner. It is also possible to use existing openings as connection openings.

The supply of the maintenance device with the process negative pressure via a connection opening arranged at the work station is particularly advantageous in the case of spinning machines with self-sufficient work stations. These machines only need negative pressure for a few maintenance tasks. The negative pressure can therefore be taken easily and in sufficient quantity directly at the spinning device without impairing the negative pressure system of the machine.

It is advantageous if the spinning device is designed as a rotor spinning device with a rotor housing. This type of vacuum supply can be used particularly advantageously on a rotor spinning machine. However, it is also conceivable to supply the maintenance device of a friction spinning machine with negative pressure in this way.

Alternatively, however, it is also advantageous if the spinning device is designed as an air spinning device with a spinning chamber that can be acted upon by the negative process pressure. In this case, the maintenance device can be supplied with negative pressure both via a connection opening of the spinning device near the spinning chamber or via a connection opening of a suction nozzle.

It is also advantageous if the connection opening is an opening in the rotor housing that can be closed by a cover element. In the method, accordingly, in a spinning device designed as a rotor spinning device with a rotor housing, the working element is advantageously supplied with process negative pressure via an opening in the rotor housing. In any case, the rotor housing has an opening which can be closed by a cover element and which enables the spinning rotor to be cleaned, the spinning rotor to be replaced and the rotor housing itself to be cleaned. In the spinning operation, this opening is closed by the cover element. No additional components are therefore required to supply the maintenance device with the negative pressure, so that this can be carried out in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner.

It is also advantageous if the suction head can be moved from a rest position into a working position in order to deliver it to the connection opening. As a result, the maintenance device can easily drive along the workplaces without the risk of collisions with the suction head. In addition, the suction head can only then be delivered to the respective connection opening, even if actually Negative pressure is required. An unnecessary opening and closing of the connection openings when driving past the maintenance facility can thereby be avoided.

It is also advantageous if the suction head completely covers the connection opening, in particular the opening of the rotor housing, in the working position. The connection opening can hereby be sealed off from the outside in a particularly simple manner, so that negative pressure losses are avoided.

In order to seal the connection opening, in particular the opening of the rotor housing, towards the outside in the working position of the suction head, it is advantageous if the suction head cooperates with a sealing element of the spinning device. This is particularly advantageous if the connection opening is the opening of the rotor housing, since it is usually provided with a sealing element anyway, which interacts with the cover element of the rotor housing when the workstation is in operation.

In the case of the method, it is correspondingly advantageous if, while the working organ is being supplied with the process vacuum, the connection opening is sealed from the outside by a sealing element, in particular by a sealing element of the connection opening.

Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the suction head to have a sealing element which seals the connection opening to the outside or, in the process, the connection opening is sealed by a sealing element of the suction head while the working organ is being supplied with the process negative pressure. For example, it is conceivable that the sealing element of the spinning device is not arranged on the rotor housing, but on the cover element. In this case, it is useful to equip the suction head with a sealing element. Furthermore, it is also advantageous to equip the suction head with a sealing element if a connection opening different from the opening of the rotor housing which is already present is provided. In this case, each individual connection opening does not have to be provided with a sealing element, but it is sufficient to arrange a single sealing element on the suction head. If, for example, the connection openings are provided in the suction nozzles, it would be conceivable to arrange the sealing element on the suction head.

It is also advantageous if the suction head has a centering element by means of which the suction head can be centered with respect to the connection opening. This makes it easier to connect the suction head to the connection opening and to seal it to the outside. The centering element can be designed in a simple manner, for example, as a centering cone which can be introduced into a cylindrical connection opening.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the suction head has a cover element which, in the working position of the suction head, covers a spinning rotor arranged in the rotor housing. This protects the spinning rotor from damage caused by the suction head as well as from soiling and flying fibers which can occur during individual maintenance activities. It is also advantageous in the method if the spinning rotor is covered by a cover element of the suction head while the working element is being supplied with the process negative pressure.

It is particularly advantageous if the pneumatic working element is a sliver application device or at least a component, in particular a suction tube, of a fiber sliver application device. Sliver laying devices are known in the prior art for picking up a sliver end from a can after a break or a change in the fiber material fed to the spinning device and feeding it back to the feed device or the drafting device of the spinning device. In the method, it is advantageous if by means of the pneumatic working member a Sliver end is received and fed to a feed device or a drafting system of the spinning device.

In contrast to many other maintenance activities, such an application of the sliver is a maintenance activity that is comparatively seldom to be carried out, so that it can be carried out sensibly and economically by a movable maintenance device. It is in turn advantageous if, as stated at the outset, all or at least a large part of the further maintenance activities are carried out by working bodies of the individual work stations themselves.

It is also advantageous if the cover element has a passage opening which, in the working position of the suction head, connects the vacuum line of the maintenance device to a suction opening in the rotor housing. This makes it possible to use the vacuum flow to convey materials through the suction head. For example, in the case of a sliver laying device, a severed piece of sliver can easily be passed via the vacuum line and through the opening of the suction head into the connection opening and disposed of via the vacuum channel. If the connection opening is the opening of the rotor housing, the severed sliver piece can be sucked past the rotor into the vacuum channel without getting tangled on the rotor or contaminating it. For this purpose, the cover element completely covers the spinning rotor. The cover element preferably fills the rotor housing almost completely and only leaves the passage opening free.

In the method, it is correspondingly advantageous if the received sliver end is cut to length before being fed to the spinning device, in particular to a feed device or a drafting device of the spinning device, a severed piece of sliver being produced.

It is also advantageous if the severed piece of sliver is sucked off via the suction head and the connection opening and disposed of.

In the case of a rotor spinning machine, it is particularly advantageous if the severed piece of sliver is sucked off via the opening in the rotor housing and a suction opening in the rotor housing and then disposed of. The suction opening of the rotor housing is present in any case in order to apply negative pressure to the rotor housing and is usually also provided with a valve anyway so that the negative pressure supply can also be switched off.

Alternatively, however, it is possible not to dispose of the severed sliver piece via the suction head and the connection opening, but instead to deposit it in a collecting container. For this purpose, for example, the severed piece of sliver can be deposited in a collecting container by means of the pneumatic working element or possibly also by means of a further handling element which does not necessarily have to be pneumatic.

Preferably, several separated pieces of sliver are first collected in the collecting container.

To dispose of the severed sliver piece or the several collected sliver pieces, it is advantageous if these are transported to one end of the machine. The cut-off piece of sliver or sliver can be deposited at the end of the machine, for example in an empty can or transferred to a transport vehicle. It is again possible to transport a severed piece of sliver directly to the end of the machine. However, it is also possible to collect several pieces of sliver in the collecting container from time to time to be transported to the end of the machine. The transport to the end of the machine can take place, for example, by means of a dirt transport belt that is already present.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the separated piece of sliver is fed to a dirt conveyor belt in order to dispose of it. The piece of sliver can be placed on the dirt conveyor belt directly after being severed by the pneumatic working element or, if necessary, also by another handling element. It is also conceivable, however, to feed several pieces of fiber sliver collected in the above-described collecting container together to the dirt conveyor belt from time to time.

Figur 1

eine Vorderansicht einer Spinnmaschine in einer schematischen Übersichtsdarstellung,

Figur 2

eine Vorderansicht einer Spinnvorrichtung mit einer durch ein Deckelelement verschließbaren Anschlussöffnung,

Figur 3

eine Vorderansicht einer Spinnvorrichtung mit einer durch ein Deckelelement verschließbaren Anschlussöffnung und einem zugestellten Saugkopf,

Figur 4

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Arbeitsstelle einer Spinnmaschine sowie einer vor der Arbeitsstelle positionierten Wartungseinrichtung,

Figur 5

eine Detailansicht eines Rotorgehäuses mit einem der Öffnung des Rotorgehäuses zugestellten Saugkopf in einer schematischen, teilweise geschnittenen Seitenansicht,

Figur 6

eine Vorderansicht einer Arbeitsstelle einer Spinnmaschine mit einer davor positionierten Wartungsvorrichtung, welche eine Faserbandanlegevorrichtung beinhaltet, sowie

Figur 7

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Arbeitsstelle einer als Luftspinnmaschine ausgeführten Spinnmaschine sowie einer vor der Arbeitsstelle positionierten Wartungseinrichtung.

Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Figure 1

a front view of a spinning machine in a schematic overview representation,

Figure 2

a front view of a spinning device with a connection opening that can be closed by a cover element,

Figure 3

a front view of a spinning device with a connection opening that can be closed by a cover element and a supplied suction head,

Figure 4

a schematic side view of a work station of a spinning machine and a maintenance device positioned in front of the work station,

Figure 5

a detailed view of a rotor housing with a suction head delivered to the opening of the rotor housing in a schematic, partially sectioned side view,

Figure 6

a front view of a work station of a spinning machine with a maintenance device positioned in front, which includes a sliver laying device, and

Figure 7

a schematic side view of a work station of a spinning machine designed as an air-jet spinning machine and a maintenance device positioned in front of the work station.

In the following description of the figures, the same reference numerals are used for features that are identical or at least comparable in the individual embodiments or the individual figures. Some of the features are therefore only explained when they are first mentioned or only once based on a suitable figure. If these features are not separately explained again in connection with the further figures, their design and / or mode of action corresponds to the design and mode of action of the identical or comparable, described features. For the sake of clarity, if there are several identical features or components in a figure, only one or only a few of these identical features are labeled.

Figure 1 shows a front view of a spinning machine 1 in a schematic representation. The spinning machine 1 has a plurality of work stations 2 arranged next to one another, at which a fiber sliver 25 is spun into a yarn 26 in a manner known per se. For this purpose, each of the work stations 2 has a feed device 5 to which the sliver 25 is fed from a can 24. In order to avoid looping in the sliver 25 or to break up existing loops, the sliver 25 can be guided through a loop catcher 28 arranged at the work station 2. In the present case, the feed device 5 contains a driven feed roller 6 and a feed trough 7 which feed the sliver 25 to an opening roller 4. From there, the fiber material dissolved into individual fibers becomes one Spinning device 3 supplied, where it is spun into yarn 26. The yarn 26 is withdrawn from the spinning device 3 by means of a withdrawal device 29 and fed to a winding device 10, where it is wound onto a bobbin 11.

For spinning the sliver 25, the spinning device 3 requires a process negative pressure PU which is supplied to the individual work stations 2 via a vacuum channel 8 extending along the work stations 2. Each of the spinning devices 3 is acted upon by the process negative pressure PU through a branch line 9 branching off from the negative pressure channel 8.

The spinning machine 1 shown here is designed as an open-end spinning machine, here as a rotor spinning machine. However, the invention can also be used in other spinning machines 1 which require a process negative pressure PU for the spinning process. In particular, friction spinning machines and air jet spinning machines are conceivable. An air-jet spinning machine is in Figure 7 shown.

The spinning machine 1 also has a maintenance device 12 which can be moved along the work stations 2 and has at least one pneumatic working element 13 and at least one vacuum line 14 for supplying the pneumatic working element 13 with negative pressure. The pneumatic working element 13 can, for example, be a suction tube for picking up a thread end or a sliver end 27 (see FIG Figure 5 ) or a pneumatic thread store.

To supply the pneumatic working member 13 with negative pressure, it is now proposed to supply the pneumatic working member 13 with process negative pressure directly via the spinning device 3. For this purpose, a connection opening 15 of the spinning device 3 is fed with a suction head 16 of the maintenance device 12, through which the pneumatic working element 13 is supplied with process negative pressure PU. The For this purpose, connection openings 15 are connected to the process negative pressure PU via a further branch line 9, for example. For this purpose, the suction head 16 of the maintenance device 12 is connected to the vacuum line 14 and can be delivered to the connection openings 15.

According to the present example, the connection openings 15 are designed as independent openings of the spinning device 3, ie they are provided explicitly and exclusively for supplying the maintenance device 12 with negative pressure on the spinning devices 3. As an alternative, however, openings which are connected to the process vacuum PU and which are already present can also be used to supply the maintenance device 12, as is shown on the basis of FIG Figures 2-4 and 6 executed. On an air jet spinning machine, such an independent connection opening 15 could also be provided on the spinning device 3 near the spinning chamber. However, it would also be conceivable to provide such a connection opening 15 on the suction nozzles of the drafting system.

Figure 2 shows a schematic front view of a spinning device 3, which is designed as a rotor spinning device. The spinning device 3 has a rotor housing 17 in which a spinning rotor 31 is received. The rotor housing 17 also has an opening 18 which is closed by a cover element 30 during the spinning operation. The cover element 30 is pivotable about a pivot axis 34 in order to open and close the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17. The cover element 30 is shown in a closed state in which it closes the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17 in dash-dotted lines. In contrast, the cover element 30 is shown in its folded-down state from the rotor housing 17 in solid lines. The rotor housing 17 also has a suction opening 32, which connects it to the vacuum channel 8 via the branch line 9. The suction opening 32 can be closed by means of a valve 33. This allows the spinning device 3 of the Process negative pressure PU are separated when the spinning device 3 is not in operation. In the present case, the valve 33 is shown in the closed state.

Unlike in the Figure 1 In the present example, the connection opening 15 is formed directly through the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17. This embodiment has the advantage that no changes to the work stations 2 are required to supply the pneumatic working element 13 of the maintenance device 12, since the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17 is present anyway and can be used without changes to supply the maintenance device 12 with negative pressure. The suction head 16 (see Figure 3 ) is designed in this case for connection to the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17 and adapted to its size.

Figure 3 now shows a spinning device 3 in which the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17 the suction head 16 of the maintenance device 12 has already been delivered. For this purpose, the cover element 30 was swiveled away, which can be done either by the maintenance device 12 or by the work station 2 or spinning device 3 itself. Again Figure 3 removable, the suction head 16 completely covers the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17 or the connection opening 15, so that a loss of negative pressure or the sucking in of false air from the environment is avoided. The valve 33 is now opened in order to enable the vacuum supply to the maintenance device 12 via the suction head 16 and the vacuum line 14 via the suction opening 32 of the rotor housing 17.

Figure 4 shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a work station 2 of a spinning machine 1. A maintenance device 12 is positioned in front of the work station 2 in order to carry out a maintenance activity at the work station 2. The individual components and parts of the work station 2 and the maintenance facility 12 largely correspond to those of Figure 1 and are no longer explained here.

As already described, the maintenance device 12 has a pneumatic working element 13, which is supplied with process negative pressure PU via the negative pressure line 14 and the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17. In the situation shown here, the cover element 30 has already been swiveled away and the suction head 16 of the maintenance device 12 has already been delivered to the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17. In the present example, the suction head 16 can be moved from a rest position I, in which it is protected inside the maintenance device 12, into a working position II, in which it is advanced to the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17. The movement can take place in any way by a linear movement, a pivoting movement or a combined movement, which can be achieved in an advantageous manner by means of pneumatic cylinders (not shown here). As soon as the suction head 16 is closed to the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17 or the connection opening 15, and a possibly present valve 33 (not shown here) has been opened, the pneumatic working element 13 can again be supplied with the process vacuum PU.

In order to seal the connection opening 15 from the outside and to avoid negative pressure losses during the supply of the pneumatic working element 13, the connection opening 15 is sealed by means of a sealing element 19. In the present case, the sealing takes place by the sealing element 19, which is already arranged at the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17 and which seals the rotor housing 17 in cooperation with the cover element 30 when the spinning device 3 is in operation. During the supply of the working member 13 with negative pressure, on the other hand, the suction head 16 interacts with the sealing element 19 of the spinning device 3 in order to seal the rotor housing 17. For this purpose, the suction head 16 is placed on the sealing element 19, for example, by means of the pneumatic cylinder or cylinders or other actuating units, and is pressed against it.

In order to correctly position the suction head 16 to the connection opening 15, which for the sake of clarity in FIG Figure 4 is not marked to position, the suction head 16 according to the present example also has a centering element 20. The centering element 20 is embodied here as a centering cone and engages in the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17 or the connection opening 15 for centering.

The suction head 16 shown here also has a cover element 21. In the present case, this is embodied separately from the centering element 20 and serves to protect the spinning rotor 31 from damage by the suction head 16 and also from contamination from materials that may have been extracted. In the working position II of the suction head 16, the cover element 21 completely covers the spinning rotor 31 and only leaves a narrow passage opening 22 open in an edge region of the rotor housing 17. This enables materials passed through the vacuum line 14 to be discharged via the suction opening 32 and the branch line 9 into the vacuum channel 8. In the present case, the passage opening 22 is formed by a recess in the cover element 21.

Figure 5 shows such a suction head 16 with a passage opening 22 in a schematic, sectioned detailed illustration. The spinning rotor 31 is for the sake of clarity in the Figure 5 not shown. The passage opening 22 is designed here in the form of a passage channel within the cover element 21.

Of course they are in the Figures 4 and 5 The embodiments shown of the suction head 16 are only to be understood as examples. For example, the vacuum line 14 does not necessarily have to be connected centrally to the suction head 16. The centering element 20 and the cover element 21 can also be formed completely in one piece with one another. Also a cover element 21 is also not absolutely necessary, depending on which function the pneumatic working element 13 exerts and where exactly the connection opening 15 is arranged.

Figure 6 shows a front view of a maintenance device 12 with a pneumatic working element 13, which is designed as a sliver application device 23. The pneumatic working element 13 is in this case a suction tube which is movably arranged on the maintenance device 12, as indicated by the double arrow. If the sliver 25 is torn on a spinning device 3 or if the sliver 25 stored in the can 24 assigned to the respective work station 2 has run out, it is necessary to pick up a new fiber sliver end 27 from the can 24 and transfer it to the spinning device 3 or the feed device 5 again feed.

For this purpose, after the empty can 24 has been replaced with a full can 24, if necessary, the maintenance device 12 is positioned in front of the relevant work station 2, in the present case the middle of the three work stations 2 shown. The cover element 30 is then opened, which can be done either by the maintenance device 12 or by the work station 2 itself. The cover element 30 is not shown here for reasons of clarity. Then how to Figure 4 already described, the suction head 16 is moved from its rest position I into the working position II in order to dock the suction head 16 to the connection opening 15, which is also formed here by the opening 18 of the rotor housing 17. Since the work station 2 is stopped when the sliver 25 is broken or run out, the valve 33 is in the suction opening 32 (see FIG Figures 2 and 3 ) closed at this time.

As soon as the suction head 16 is docked to the connection opening 15, the valve 33 can now be opened in order to make the process negative pressure PU available to the pneumatic working element 13. To locate the sliver end 27, the suction pipe or the pneumatic Working member 13 is pivoted back and forth until the sliver end 27 is found through the suction tube and sucked in. To make it easier to find the sliver end 27, when the cans 24 are full, the sliver end 27 is usually placed over the edge of the can 24. If the sliver 25 is torn, a sliver end 27, which is located inside the can 24, must be placed over the edge of the can 24 again by an operator. After the sliver end 27 has been picked up by the working element 13, it is pivoted again, as indicated by the dash-dotted line, and thereby fed to the feed device 5. If a loop catcher 28 is arranged at the work station 2, the sliver end 27 can also be inserted directly into the loop catcher 28 by the pneumatic working element 13.

The sliver application device 23 can also have several pneumatic working elements 13 or also other, non-pneumatic handling devices. For example, for threading the sliver 25 or the end 27 of the sliver into the loop catcher 28, one or more additional working members 13 or handling devices can also be present. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the received fiber sliver end 27 is first cut to a defined length and thinned before it is fed to the feed device 5. The cutting to length and fading out, as well as the feeding to the feed device 5, can take place both through the pneumatic working element 13, here the suction pipe, as well as through another pneumatic working element 13 or another handling device.

If the fiber tape end 27 is cut to length before being fed to the feed device 5, a severed piece of fiber tape is produced. This can be sucked in through the pneumatic working element 13 and through the vacuum line 14, as has already been done Figure 4 described, are sucked into the vacuum channel 8.

After the sliver end 27 has been fed to the feed device 5 and the severed piece of sliver has possibly been sucked off, the valve 33 is closed again and the suction head 16 is brought back to its rest position I. The cover element 30 of the spinning device 3 is closed and the maintenance device 12 leaves the work station 2. The work station 2 in question can now resume its regular production.

Figure 7 shows a schematic side view of a work station 2 of a spinning machine designed as an air jet spinning machine 1. In such an air jet spinning machine, the spinning device 3 of each work station 2 has a spinning chamber 35 in which the supplied sliver 25 is spun into a yarn by means of compressed air. The spinning chamber 35 is also provided with a vacuum connection 36, via which it can be acted upon with a process vacuum PU. For feeding or feeding the sliver 25 to the spinning device 3, a drafting device 37 is provided in this case at each of the work stations 2, in which a sliver 25 is already drawn. A suction nozzle 38 is preferably assigned to the drafting system 37 at each work station 2, by means of which loose fibers are suctioned off. The suction nozzle 38 is then also connected to the process negative pressure PU via a negative pressure connection 36. To supply the spinning chambers 35 and / or the suction nozzles 38 of the individual workstations 2, a vacuum channel 8 extending along the workstations 2 is also provided in the air jet spinning machine. Each of the spinning devices 3 or the spinning chambers 35 and / or also each of the suction nozzles 38 is acted upon by a branch line 9 branching off from the vacuum channel 8 with the process vacuum PU.

In the present case, the suction nozzle 38 is arranged at the work station 2 so that it can be folded down. The suction nozzle 38 is shown in solid lines in its position during the spinning operation, while the folded position is shown in dash-dotted lines. If the suction nozzle 38 is folded down, so If the vacuum connection 36, which in the present case is also provided with a sealing element 19, is free and can be used as a connection opening 15 for the maintenance device 12.

As an alternative to the illustration shown, it would also be conceivable to use the negative pressure connection 36 of the spinning chamber 35 for the negative pressure supply of the maintenance device 12.

The present invention is not restricted to the illustrated and described exemplary embodiments. Modifications within the scope of the claims are just as possible as any combination of the features described, even if they are shown and described in different parts of the description or the claims or in different exemplary embodiments, provided that there is no contradiction to the teaching of the independent claims.

List of reference symbols

1

Spinning machine

2

place of work

3

Spinning device

4th

Opening roller

5

Feeding device

6th

Feed roller

7th

Food tray

8th

Vacuum duct

9

Branch line

10

Winding device

11

Kitchen sink

12

Maintenance facility

13

pneumatic working organ

14th

Vacuum line

15th

Connection opening

16

Suction head

17th

Rotor housing

18th

opening

19th

Sealing element

20th

Centering element

21st

Cover element

22nd

Passage opening

23

Sliver application device

24

Jug

25th

Sliver

26th

yarn

27

Sliver end

28

Snare catcher

29

Trigger device

30th

Cover element

31

Spinning rotor

32

Suction opening

33

Valve

34

Swivel axis

35

Spinning chamber

36

Vacuum connection

37

Drafting system

38

Suction nozzle

I.

Resting position

II

Working position

PU

Process vacuum

Claims (15)

Spinning machine, in particular open-end spinning machine (1), with a large number of work stations (2) arranged next to one another, each of which has a spinning device (3) that can be acted upon by a negative process pressure (PU) and / or a suction nozzle that can be acted upon by negative process pressure (PU), with at least a vacuum channel (8) extending along the work stations (2) for supplying the spinning devices (3) and / or the suction nozzles with the process vacuum (PU) and with at least one maintenance device (12) which can be moved along the work stations (2) and which has at least one pneumatic working member (13) and at least one vacuum line (14) for supplying the pneumatic working member (13) with negative pressure, characterized in that
that the spinning devices (3) and / or the suction nozzles each have a closable connection opening (15) which is connected to the process vacuum (PU), and that the maintenance device (12) is one of the connection openings (15) of the spinning devices (3) and / or the suction nozzles deliverable and connected to the vacuum line (14) suction head (16). Spinning machine (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the spinning device (3) is designed as an air spinning device with a spinning chamber that can be acted upon by the negative process pressure (PU). Spinning machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spinning device (3) is designed as a rotor spinning device with a rotor housing (17), wherein the connection opening (15) is an opening in the rotor housing (17) that can be closed by a cover element (30). Spinning machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction head (16) can be moved from a rest position (I) into a working position (II) for feeding to the connection opening (15). Spinning machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction head (16) completely covers the connection opening (15), in particular the opening (18) of the rotor housing (17), in the working position (II). Spinning machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction head (16) in the working position (II) interacts with a sealing element (19) of the spinning device and / or the suction nozzle to create the connection opening (15), in particular the opening of the rotor housing (17) to be sealed to the outside. Spinning machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction head (16) has a centering element (20) by means of which the suction head (16) can be centered with respect to the connection opening (15). Spinning machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pneumatic working element (13) is a sliver laying device (23) or a component, in particular a suction pipe, of a sliver laying device (23). Spinning machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover element (21) has a passage opening (22) which, in the working position (II) of the suction head (16), the vacuum line (14) of the maintenance device (12) with a Suction opening (32) of the rotor housing (17) connects. A method for supplying a pneumatic working element (13) of a maintenance device (12) of a spinning machine, in particular an open-end spinning machine (1), with negative pressure, the spinning machine (1) having a plurality of work stations (2) arranged next to one another, each of which has a Process negative pressure (PU) have a spinning device (3) that can be acted upon and / or a suction nozzle that can be acted upon by a process negative pressure (PU), and wherein the maintenance device (12) can be moved along the work stations (2), characterized in that
that the pneumatic working element (13) is supplied with the process negative pressure (PU) by a suction head (16) of the maintenance device (12), the suction head (16) being delivered to a closable connection opening (15) of the spinning device (3) and / or the suction nozzle becomes. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the spinning device (3) is designed as a rotor spinning device with a rotor housing (17) and the pneumatic working element (13) is supplied with process vacuum (PU) via an opening in the rotor housing (17). Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that a sliver end (27) is picked up by means of the pneumatic working element (13) and fed to a feed device or a drafting device of the spinning device (3). Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the received sliver end (27) is cut to length prior to being fed to the spinning device (3) or the drafting device, a severed piece of sliver being produced. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the separated piece of sliver is sucked off via the suction head (16) and the connection opening (15) and disposed of or that the separated piece of sliver is passed through the opening (18) of the rotor housing (17) and a The suction opening (32) of the rotor housing (17) is sucked off and disposed of. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the separated piece of sliver is deposited in a collecting container by means of the pneumatic working element (13), the separated piece of sliver preferably being transferred from the collecting container to an empty can (24) or a transport vehicle.

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