GB2460934A

GB2460934A - Control of rollers in a textile carding machine

Info

Publication number: GB2460934A
Application number: GB0909943A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fritz Hoesel; Dieter Wirtz; Alexander Loos; Peter V Dreusche
Original assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2008-06-19
Filing date: 2009-06-10
Publication date: 2009-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-10
Also published as: CH699003A2; CN101608354A; GB2460934B; BRPI0901772B1; GB0909943D0; IT1398277B1; CN101608354B; BRPI0901772B8; DE102008028807A1; BRPI0901772A2; ITMI20091021A1; CH699003B1

Abstract

A piece of industrial processing plant, which is normally a textile carding machine, features two or more processing rollers, or two or more groups of rollers, two or more roller drives 27,28 and a control unit 41. One or more switches 44, permit the control 41 unit to selectively power up or down, either of the first or second drives 27, 28 optionally, but in particular, to control the start-up or braking cycles of one of the rollers, or groups of rollers.

Description

Apparatus on a textile machine, in particular a flat card, roller card or the like, having at least two rollers or roller groups.

The invention relates to an apparatus on a textile machine, in particular a flat card, roller card or the like, having at least two rollers or roller groups, each driven by a controllable electric drive motor, wherein a control device and a switch unit are present in the power supplies to the drive motors of two rollers or roller groups.

In the textile industry, in particular insofar as cards are concerned, special measures are required for driving certain work elements, for example, the cylinder, owing to their great weight. Here, either special motors, which must be suitable in particular for high-inertia start-up, are employed, or a "standard" motor, which is controlled by a frequency converter or a special start-up device, is used. Consequently, in both cases the costs incurred for the specially constructed motor and the additional apparatuses are not insignificant.

DE 35 07 242 A discloses a drive system for flat cards or roller cards, in which a respective controlled asynchronous motor is arranged for the feed roller, for the licker-in in driving connection with the cylinder, for the doffer and for the flat chain. Frequency-controlled asynchronous motors are used as drives. For the frequency control, a frequency converter is associated with each motor, and can be replaced with a separate AC power controller for the acceleration and braking operations of the cylinder/licker-in system. For reasons of cost, only one AC power controller is provided for a relatively large number of cards, and is disposed on a transport unit and if required is connected up to a particular machine. The technology involved in this is extremely complicated and not practicable under the conditions found in a spinning works. In addition, it is inconvenient that the cylinder is mechanically connected to the licker-in in respect of drive, the cylinder requiring fairly lengthy acceleration and braking times owing to its much greater weight and the speed regulation of the licker-in therefore being linked to that of the cylinder. In addition, the licker-in has to be in coupled motion with the cylinder as the latter is accelerated.

It is an aim of the invention to produce an apparatus of the kind described initially which avoids or mitigates the said disadvantages, and which allows the use of standard motors in a simple way without using an additional control unit or regulating unit.

The invention provides a apparatus on a textile machine having a machine control system and further having: a first roller or roller group; a first drive motor for the first roller or roller group; a second roller or roller group; a second drive motor for the second roller or roller group; and at least one control unit and/or regulating unit for the drive of the further roller or roller group, which control unit and/or regulating unit is capable of exchanging data with the machine control system; the apparatus further comprising a switch unit in electrical supply leads of the drive motor of the first roller or roller group and the drive motor of the further roller or roller group for permitting the control unit and/or regulating unit for the drive of the further roller or roller group to be used also for start-up and/or braking of the first roller or roller group.

According to the invention, one of the existing control units or regulating units is additionally used for acceleration and, if required, also for deceleration, for example, of the cylinder motor. When the machine is started up, the unit is first of all used for acceleration of, for example, the cylinder motor. Once the machine has reached its rated speed, the motor is connected directly to the mains, the unit that has been used is loaded with new parameters and corresponding function software, and is then available for the real purpose, driving the feed, doffer etc. . If the machine is to be stopped, then first of all the rotational speed for the doffer or similar is brought to zero, then the control unit or regulating unit is loaded with the parameters and the corresponding function software for operation of the cylinder motor.

The rotational speed of the latter is then decelerated electrically to a standstill. The apparatus according to the invention is possible owing to the fact that the drives for feed, doffer or the like only have to rotate when the cylinder is already running at its rated speed.

Moreover, in preferred embodiments an advantageous operation is possible especially through the use of digitally operating control units and regulating units, which are capable of exchanging data with the machine control system.

Particular advantages of certain embodiments of the invention are inter alia as follows: 1. The arrangement according to the invention enables motors of different capacity and/or different functional principles, for example, synchronous and asynchronous motors, to be operated by turn and dependent on the particular operating situation by means of the same control unit or regulating unit.

2. Alternatively, it is possible to use motors of the same capacity and/or the same functional principles.

3. A relatively simple and inexpensive standard motor can be used, for example, for the cylinder drive.

4. No additional regulating unit or control unit is required.

5. Compared with conventional solutions, the solution according to the invention is extremely advantageous and simple. In particular, devices that are not present cannot fail either, need no maintenance and no replacement units need to be kept in stock.

Further advantageous embodiments can include inter alia: 1. Apart from being used for the cylinder, the principle according to the invention can also be used for other work elements, for example, the licker-in.

2. If digitally operating and specially equipped control units and/or regulating units are used, then these are able, for example, to function without adaptation of hardware, and merely through different software, either as frequency converters for controlling asynchronous motors or as servo controllers for regulating synchronous motors (servo motors) 3. If digitally operating and specially equipped control units and/or regulating units are used, then these are able to communicate with the machine control and, depending on requirements and the operating situation, can receive therefrom the appropriate parameters or an appropriate control or regulating program for the relevant motors to be controlled or regulated.

4. Acceleration of the cylinder is monitored using speed sensors or similar. In this way, one can ensure that shut-off is effected always exactly at the desired time.

In a preferred embodiment, the textile machine is a carding machine, and the first roller or roller group comprises a carding cylinder. In that case, a further roller group, for example a linker-in or a licker-in group, may optionally be arranged in analogous manner such that the start-up and/or braking process of a motor thereof can be effected using a control unit and/or regulation unit that is arranged to drive, in normal operation of the machine, a motor of another roller or roller group.

In a preferred arrangement, the control unit and/or regulation unit is a digitally operating unit.

Where the first roller or roller group comprises a carding cylinder, one of the available control units and/or regulating units can additionally be used for the acceleration and/or deceleration of the cylinder motor.

Preferably, on reaching the rated speed of rotation, the drive motor of the cylinder is connectable directly to the mains. Preferably, after switching to the mains, the control unit and/or regulating unit is loadable with new parameters as well as corresponding function software.

Advantageously, after being loaded with new parameters as well as corresponding function software, the control unit and/or regulating unit can be used for the drive of further rollers or roller groups, for example, feed, doffer. Preferably, the control unit and/or regulating unit is re-programmable (function software) . The re-programming or loading with function software enables the control unit and/or regulating unit, for example, to effect on the one hand suitable driving of a motor of a roller that is operational during normal use after start-up, and on the other hand suitable driving of a motor of another roller during start-up or braking thereof.

In certain embodiments, the same control unit and/or regulating unit can be used for driving motors of different rating respectively subject to open-loop control and closed-loop control. If desired, the motors to be subject to open-loop control and to closed-loop control may be capable of operating according to identical functional principles. In other embodiments the same control unit and/or regulating unit can be used for driving motors of different functional principles subject respectively to open-loop control and closed-loop control.

For example, the motors to be subject respectively to open-loop control and to closed-loop control have the same rating.

It is preferred that the control unit and/or regulating unit is capable of communicating with the machine control and of exchanging data. Preferably, the particular functional principle of the control unit and/or regulating unit is determined by the machine control and as a function of the current operating situation and this is correspondingly communicable to the control and/or regulating unit. Preferably, the input parameters defining the functional principle by which the control unit and/or regulating unit operates, are presettable at the latter by the machine control via a communication device, for example, the CANbus. In one embodiment, the control unit and/or regulating unit is alternatively capable of operating as a frequency converter for asynchronous motors or as servo controller for synchronous motors. Preferably, the machine control is capable of transmitting the parameters required for the current connected motor to the control unit and/or regulating unit. Advantageously, in dependence on the particular operating situation, the machine control is capable of controlling corresponding switching devices.

Advantageously, the switching device for, for example, the cylinder motor, is capable of switching between mains connection and connection to control units and/or regulating units. In one embodiment, a further switching device is capable of disconnecting the output of the control unit and/or regulating unit for, for example, the doffer motor or cylinder motor. Advantageously, the switching devices are lockable with respect to one another, so that no switching errors occur.

Advantageously, on start-up, the input parameters for the control unit and/or regulating unit are transmittable or alterable during the time in which the first motor, especially cylinder motor, is already running on the mains and the second motor, for example, for the doffer, is still stationary. Advantageously, on braking, the input parameters for the control unit and/or regulating unit are transmittable or alterable during the time in which the first motor, especially cylinder motor, is still running on the mains and the second motor, for example, for the doffer, is already stationary. Advantageously, the achievement of the rated speed of rotation of, for example, the cylinder motor, is determinable by means of corresponding sensors, for example, by speed sensors.

Advantageously, the switch-over of the control and regulating unit between, for example, cylinder motor and doffer motor, is capable of being effected dependent on time. Advantageously, the machine control is capable of presetting desired values and/or parameters at the control unit and/or regulating unit. Advantageously, setpoint values for the controllable speed of rotation of the drive motor are presettable at the control and/regulating unit as servo controller. Advantageously, setpoint values for the adjustable change in speed of rotation during acceleration or deceleration of the drive motor are presettable at the control units and/or regulating unit as frequency converter.

The invention, in one embodiment, provides an apparatus on a textile machine, in particular a flat card, roller card or the like, having at least two rollers or roller groups, each driven by a controllable electric drive motor, and a control device and a switch unit being present in the power supply leads to the drive motors of two rollers or roller groups, wherein at least one digitally operating control unit and/or regulating unit is present for the drive of a roller or roller group which control unit and/or regulating unit is capable of exchanging data with the machine control system, and the switch unit is arranged in the current supply leads of the drive motor of the cylinder and the drive motor of a further roller or roller group, whereby the control unit and/or regulating unit for the drive of the further roller or roller group can be used also for the start-up and/or braking process of the cylinder.

The invention additionally provides, in another embodiment, apparatus on a textile machine, in particular a flat card, roller card or the like, having at least two rollers or roller groups, each driven by a controllable electric drive motor, and a control device and a switch unit being present in the power supply leads to the drive motors of two rollers or roller groups, wherein at least one digitally operating control unit and/or regulating unit is present for the drive of a roller or roller group, which control unit and/or regulating unit is capable of exchanging information with the machine control system, and the switch unit is arranged in the current supply leads of the drive motor of the licker-in or licker-in group and of the drive motor of a further roller or roller group, whereby the control unit and/or regulating unit for the drive of the further roller or roller group can be used also for the start-up and/or braking process of the licker-in or licker-in group.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus on a textile machine, in particular a flat card, roller card or the like, having at least two rollers or roller groups, each driven by a controllable electric drive motor, a control device and a switch unit being present in the power supplies to the drive motors of two rollers or roller groups, wherein at least one control unit and/or regulating unit is present for the drive of a roller or roller group, which control unit and/or regulating unit is capable of exchanging information with the machine control system, and the switch unit is arranged in the current supply leads of the drive motor of the cylinder and of the drive motor of a further roller or roller group, whereby the control unit and/or regulating unit for the drive of the further roller or roller group can be used also for the start-up and/or braking process of the cylinder.

In yet a further embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus on a textile machine, in particular a flat card, roller card or the like, having at least two rollers or roller groups, each driven by a controllable electric drive motor, a control device and a switch unit being present in the power supply leads to the drive motors of two rollers or roller groups, wherein at least one control unit and/or regulating unit is present for the drive of a roller or roller group, which control unit and/or regulating unit is capable of exchanging information with the machine control system, and the switch unit is arranged in the current supply leads of the drive motor of the licker-in or licker-in group and of the drive motor of a further roller or roller group, whereby the control unit and/or regulating unit for the drive of the further roller or roller group can be used also for the start-up and/or braking process of the licker-in or licker-in group.

Certain illustrative embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a card with an apparatus according to the invention, Fig. 2a is a schematic side view of a card according to Fig.l showing a drive arrangement having drive motors for the card and the card feeder, Fig. 2b is a side view of the can coiler of the card according to Fig 1, showing a drive arrangement having drive motors for the can coiler, and a card drafting system, Fig. 2c shows a speed-controlled drive motor, Fig. 2d shows an unregulated AC drive motor (AC, drive), Fig. 3 shows schematically an apparatus according to the invention with switch devices both in the power supply line to the drive motor of the cylinder and in the power supply line to the drive motor of the doffer, Fig 4a,4b show a drive subject to closed-loop control (Fig. 4a), i.e. a drive motor with regulating device, and a drive not subject to closed-loop control (Fig. 4b), i.e. a drive motor with control device, Fig 5a,5b show an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention with a. switch unit, in which the control unit and/or regulating unit is used as a frequency converter (Fig. 5a) and as servo controller (Fig. 5b) respectively, and Fig. 6 shows schematically the timeline of the operation of the apparatus according to the invention with the chronological speed sequence of the cylinder and the doffer as a function of particular operating states.

With reference to Figure 1, a card, for example, a card TC 07 made by TrÃ�tzschler GmbH & Co. KG of MÃ�nchengladbach, Germany, has a feed roller 1, feed table 2, licker-ins 3a, 3b, 3c, cylinder 4, doffer 5, stripping roller 6, squeezing rollers 7, 8, web-guide element 9, web funnel 10, take-off rollers 11, 12, revolving card flat 13 with card flat guide rollers 13a, 13b and card flat bars 14, can 15 and can coiler 15. The directions of rotation of the rollers are shown by respective curved arrows.

Reference letter N denotes the midpoint (axis) of the cylinder 4. The reference numeral 4a denotes the clothing and reference numeral 4b denotes the direction of rotation of the cylinder 4. Reference letter B denotes the direction of rotation of the revolving card flat 13 in the carding setting and reference letter C denotes the return transport direction of the card flat bars 14. Between the licker-in 3c and the rear card flat guide roller 13a there are arranged stationary cover or work elements, for example, fixed carding elements 171, and between the front card flat guide roller l3b and the doffer S there are arranged stationary cover or work elements, for example, fixed carding elements 17". The arrow A denotes the working direction. The curved arrows drawn inside the rollers denote the direction of rotation of the rollers.

One embodiment of drive arrangement is shown by way of example in Figure 2. Various drive motors and transmission elements together form the drive solution for the TC 07 card. Special three-phase AC motors drive the cylinder 4 and licker-in 3. Maintenance-free special belts ensure a long service life. A separate drive subject to closed-loop control is provided for removal of the web in the case of the TC 07. Consequently, it is possible for the ideal degree of drafting to be selected for any speed.

Even during acceleration and deceleration, the degree of drafting that is correct for the speed at any given moment is always set by the control system. This means that the slivers in the can are more uniform, from the first to the last metre. The motors for the feed roller 1, doffer 5 and web doffing are special servo drives. There are no high-maintenance gear mechanisms, for example, in the doffer drive. The motors are brushless and consequently completely maintenance-free. They are distinguished by very good dynamic properties and, consequently, by a speed-cf-rotation characteristic that is independent of the load. As a result, the short-wave evenness (Uster value) of the card slivers is improved. A servo drive is additionally used in the case of an optimum separate arrangement of the can coiler and can changer (see Fig. 2b).

Fig. 2c shows a speed-controlled electric drive motor 21, for example, an AC servo motor, and Fig. 2d shows an electric drive motor 22 wherein the speed of rotation is unregulated, for example, an unregulated AC motor (AC = alternating current) In accordance with Fig. 2a, the following rollers are driven by a speed-controlled motor 21: the intake roller 36 of the card feeder 18, by motor 23; the feed roller 1 of the card K, by motor 25; the doffer 5, by motor 28; stripper roller 6, squeezing rollers 7, 8 and take-off rollers 11,12, by motor 29; rear card flat guide roller l3a and clearer roller 19, by motor 30; intake and middle roller pair of the card drafting system 38, by motor 33; delivery roller pair of the card drafting system 38, by motor 34; and can turntable, by motor 35. The following rollers are driven by a motor wherein the speed is not regulated: opener roller 37 of the card feeder, by motor 24; licker-ins 3a, 3b, 3c, by motor 26; cylinder 4, by motor 27; stripper roller 20, by motor 31; and clearer roller 18, by motor 32.

For an illustrative embodiment of card K, as shown in Fig. 3 various drive motors and transmission elements are used, which together form a convincing drive solution.

These include special three-phase AC motors 26, 27 (for example, motor 22, as shown in Fig. 4b), which drive the cylinder 4 and the licker-ins 3a to 3c separately from one another. Maintenance-free special belts ensure a long service life. Servo motors 28, 29 subject to closed-loop control (for example, motor 21 as shown in Fig. 4a) are used as drives for the doffer 5 and the rollers 6; 7, 8; 11, 12 of the web doffing system. Added to that, electrical power loss is generally reduced by servo drives as a result of their high degree of efficiency. In addition, even at low speeds of rotation, they provide maximum rotational speed accuracy and control accuracy, which leads to better sliver CV values. The digital drive controls used communicate directly with the microcomputer of the card control system 40. From there, they receive the information required for the particular drive job.

The drive motor 27 of the cylinder 4 is controlled via a frequency converter. This allows the desired rotational speed of the cylinder to be infinitely variably adjusted directly at the monitor screen of the card, which is a great help, especially when frequent changes of material are involved. The motor 26 for the three licker-ins 3a to 3c of the fibre feed system (for example WESFEED system) is controlled by its own frequency converter 39.

The changes in the rotational speed of the licker-ins, e.g. WEEFEED rotational speed, can therefore be effected independently of the rotational speed of the cylinder. All pre-selected rotational speeds can be stored on a batch-related basis and are therefore reproducible at any time.

Connected to the machine control system 40, for example, the control system TMS 2 made by TrÃ�tzschler GmbH & Co. KG, is a digitally operating control unit and/or regulating unit 41, which, depending on the programming (loading with parameters and function software) operates as a servo controller (for example, servo controller 48 as shown in Fig. 4a) or as a frequency converter (for example, frequency converter 51 as shown in Fig. 4b) . A switch unit 44 is arranged in the power supply line 42 of the drive motor 27, for example, an asynchronous motor, for the cylinder 4 and in the power supply line 43 of the drive motor 28, for example, a synchronous motor, for the doffer 5. The control unit and/or regulating unit 41 for the drive motor 28 of the doffer 5, after corresponding switching of the switch unit 44 into the position shown in Fig. 3 and once the parameters and the corresponding function software for operation of the cylinder motor 27 have been loaded into the control unit and/or regulating unit 41, can thus be used both for acceleration and/or braking of the cylinder 4.

The drive motor 29 subject to closed loop control for the rollers of the web doffing system is connected to a servo controller 45. Rotor position sensors 46 and 47 are connected to the motors 28 and 29 respectively.

Fig 4a shows an illustrative example of a drive subject to closed 1oop control having a drive motor 21 subject to closed loop control, for example, for the doffer 5, a servo controller 48 and a rotor position sensor 49; setpoint values are entered in the servo controller 48 via a setpoint device 50. Fig 4b shows an illustrative example of a drive subject to open loop control having a drive motor 22, for example, for the cylinder 4, which motor is connected to a frequency converter 51 into which setpoint values are entered via a setpoint device 52. The change in rotational speed, for example, the ramp when accelerating and decelerating, is adjustable with the setpoint values.

In the embodiment of Figs 5a, 5b, according to the invention the control unit and/or regulating unit 41 is used both for the acceleration, and if required, also the deceleration of the motor 27 for the cylinder 4, and also for the acceleration and deceleration and for the rotational speed regulation of the motor 28 for the doffer 5.

When the card K starts up, the control unit and/or regulating unit 41 is first of all used for acceleration of the cylinder motor 27, for example, an asynchronous motor. In the illustrative arrangement in Fig. 5a, the control unit and/or regulating unit 41 operates in this situation as a frequency converter, once it has been correspondingly programmed (by appropriate parameterisation and function software) . The switches 44a and 44b of the switch unit 44 are located in the position shown in Fig. 5a. Once the drive motor 27 has reached its rated rotational speed, the drive motor 27 as shown in Fig. Sb is switched by the switch unit 44 -the switches 44a and 44b are located in the position shown in Fig. Sb -via the switch 44a directly to the mains 53,and the control unit and/or regulating unit 41 is loaded with new parameters and corresponding function software. As shown in Fig. Sb, the control unit and/or regulating unit 41 operates in this situation as servo controller and is available for driving the doffer S. If the machine is to be stopped, then first of all the rotational speed for the doffer 5 is brought to zero, then the parameters and the corresponding function software for operation of the cylinder motor 27 are loaded into the control and regulating unit 41 and the switch unit 44 is activated.

The rotational speed of the cylinder is then decelerated electrically to standstill.

In the arrangement according to the invention, a control unit and/or regulating unit that, during operation of the textile machine, is used for the drive of one roller or group of rollers, may be used for a different application during start-up and/or closing down of the machine, namely for the drive of another roller or roller group.

The described procedure is possible owing to the fact that, because of the way the system operates, the drives for feed, doffer 5 or similar only have to turn when the cylinder 4 is already running at its rated rotational speed. Moreover, an advantageous operation is possible only through the use of digitally operating control units and regulating units 41, which are able to exchange data with the machine control system 40.

Owing to the communication between the control unit or regulating unit 41 and the machine control 40, it is advantageously possible in particular to use one control unit and/or regulating unit 41 for several different motors 27, 28. Using the data transfer, the exact parameters necessary for operation of different motors or for different functional principles, or corresponding software, can be loaded. In this way, one and the same apparatus can operate, for example, either as a frequency converter or as a servo controller. In addition and alternatively, motors having different capacities can also be operated in this way.

The apparatus according to the invention enables motors of different functional principles or power ratings to be operated in succession using the same control unit and/or regulating unit 41, and for that purpose the parameters required in each case, or the necessary function software, to be transferred in accordance with requirements from the machine control 40 to the control and regulating unit 41. In order to be able to operate motors of different fufictional principles (for example, asynchronous or synchronous motors) or of different capacities using one and the same control unit and/or regulating unit 41, it is necessary to use software exactly adapted to and co-ordinated with the motors. In the case of the apparatus according to the invention, the function software required each case and the required parameters are transferred from the machine control 40 to the control unit and/or regulating unit 41 during the switch-over phase.

The timing of the mode of operation of an illustrative apparatus according to the invention is illustrated in Fig. 6 using the example of the drive of the cylinder 4 and the drive of the doffer 5. The timelines of the rotational speeds of the cylinder 4 and the doffer 5 are shown in dependence on different operating states.

A digitally operating and specially equipped control and regulating unit 41 (Figs 5a, Sb) is capable of functioning, without any hardware adaptation, merely by applying different software, either as a frequency converter for controlling an asynchronous motor (drive motor 27 in Fig. Sa) or as a servo controller for regulating a synchronous motor (drive motor 28 in Fig. 5b).

In the graphs of Figures Ga and Gb, the rotational speed of the cylinder (or rather the rotational speed of the drive motor 27 of the cylinder 4) and the rotational speed of the doffer (or rather the rotational speed of the drive motor 28 of the doffer 5) are plotted on the y-axis, in each case as a function of time t in seconds.

Figure Gc shows the operating states over time, divided into five regions I to V. The meanings of the regions are as follows: Region I, double ended time arrow a: the control and regulating unit 41 operates as a frequency converter, which is used to bring the cylinder motor 27 (for example, an asynchronous motor) to its rated speed of rotation.

Region II, double-ended time arrow b: switch over from frequency converter to servo control. Loading of parameters for the doffer motor 28.

Region III, double-ended time arrow c: The cylinder motor 27 is fed directly from the mains 53.

Region III, double-ended time arrow d: The control and regulating device 41 operates as servo drive, which is used to bring the doffer motor 28 (for example, a synchronous motor) to the desired speed of rotation and to hold it there (speed of rotation regulation) Region IV, double-ended time arrow e: Switch over from servo operation to frequency converter operation, loading of the parameters for the cylinder motor 27.

Region V, double-ended time arrow f: The control and regulating unit 41 operates as frequency converter. With its help, the cylinder motor 27 is decelerated to a standstill.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus on a textile machine having a machine control system and further having: a first roller or roller group; a first drive motor for the first roller or roller group; a second roller or roller group; a second drive motor for the second roller or roller group; and at least one control unit and/or regulating unit for the drive of the further roller or roller group, which control unit and/or regulating unit is capable of exchanging data with the machine control system; the apparatus further comprising a switch unit in electrical supply leads of the drive motor of the first roller or roller group and the drive motor of the further roller or roller group for permitting the control unit and/or regulating unit for the drive of the further roller or roller group to be used also for start-up and/or braking of the first roller or roller group.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the first roller or roller group comprises a carding cylinder.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the control unit and/or regulating unit is a digitally operating unit.
4. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which one of the available control units and/or regulating units can additionally be used for the acceleration and/or deceleration of the cylinder motor.
5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which, on reaching the rated speed of rotation, the drive motor of the first roller or roller group is connectable directly to the mains.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, in which, after switching to the mains, the control unit and/or regulating unit is loadable with new parameters as well as corresponding function software.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, in which, after being loaded with new parameters as well as corresponding function software, the control unit and/or regulating unit can be used for the drive of said second roller or roller groups.
8. An apparatus according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, in which said second roller or roller group comprises one or more feed rollers.
9. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which said second roller or roller group comprises at least one doffer.
10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the control unit and/or regulating unit is re-programmable.
11. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to lo-in which the same control unit and/or regulating unit can be used for driving motors of different rating subject respectively to open-loop control and closed-loop control.
12. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the same control unit or regulating unit can be used for driving motors of different functional principles subject respectively to open-loop control and closed-loop control.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, in which the motors to be subject respectively to open-loop control and to closed-loop control have the same rating.
14. An apparatus according to claim 11, in which the motors to be subject respectively to open-loop control and to closed-loop control are capable of operating according to identical functional principles.
15. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the control unit and/or regulating unit is capable of communicating with the machine control and of exchanging data.
16. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, in which the particular functional principle of the control unit and/or regulating unit is determined by the machine control and as a function of the current operating situation and this is correspondingly communicable to the control unit and/or regulating unit.
17. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16, in which the input parameters defining the functional principle by which the control unit and/or regulating unit operates are presettable at that unit by the machine control via a communication device.
18. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17, in which the control unit and/or regulating unit is alternately capable of operating as a frequency converter for asynchronous motors or as servo controller for synchronous motors.
19. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18, in which the machine control is capable of transmitting the parameters required for the currently connected motor to the control unit and/or regulating unit.
20. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, in which, in dependence on the particular operating situation, the machine control is capable of controlling corresponding switching devices.
21. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20, in which the switching device for the first roller or roller group is capable of switching between mains connection and connection to one or more control units and/or regulating units.
22. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 21, in which a further switching device is capable of disconnecting the output of the control unit and/or regulating unit for, for example, the doffer motor or cylinder motor.
23. An apparatus according to claim 22, in which the switching devices are lockable with respect to one another, so that no switching errors occur.
24. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 23, in which the input parameters for the control unit and/or regulating unit are transmittable or alterable during the time in which the drive motor of the first roller or roller group is already running on the mains and the second roller or roller group is still stationary.
25. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 24, in which for braking of the first roller or roller group the input parameters for the control unit and/or regulating unit are transmittable or alterable during the time in which the motor for the first roller or roller group is still running on the mains and the second roller or roller group is already stationary.
26. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 25, in which the achievement of the rated speed of rotation of the first roller or roller group is determinable by means of sensors.
27. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 26, in which the switch-over of the control and regulating unit between the motor for the first roller or roller group and the motor for the second roller or roller group is capable of being effected dependent on time.
28. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 27, in which the machine control is capable of presetting desired values and/or parameters at the control unit and/or regulating unit.
29. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 28, in which setpoint values for the controllable speed of rotation of the drive motor are presettable at the control unit and/or regulating unit as servo controller.
30. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 29, in which setpoint values for the adjustable change in speed of rotation during acceleration or deceleration of the drive motor are presettable at the control unit and/or regulating unit as frequency converter.
31. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 30, in which the first roller or roller group comprises at least one licker-in.
32. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 32, in which the first roller or roller group comprises a carding cylinder, and in which at least a third roller or roller group comprising a licker-in or licker-in group is present there being a control device and a switch unit present in the power supply leads to the drive motors of the licker-in or licker-in group and a further roller or roller group, wherein at least one digitally operating control unit and/or regulating unit is present for the drive of the further roller or roller group, which control unit and/or regulating unit is capable of exchanging information with the machine control system, and the switch unit is arranged in the current supply leads of the drive motor of the licker-in or licker-in group and of the drive motor of the further roller or roller group, whereby the control unit and/or regulating unit for the drive of the further roller or roller group can be used also for the start-up and/or braking process of the licker-in or licker-in group.
33. An apparatus on a textile machine for start-up and/or braking of a roller substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any of Figs. 1, 2a to 2d, 3, 4a and 4b, 5a and 5b and 6a to 6c.