WO2023066544A1

WO2023066544A1 - An electronic device for adjusting operational parameters of a winding machine of a spinning mill and a method for adjusting the same

Info

Publication number: WO2023066544A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/072711
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adalbert Stephan; Gerard Küsters; Nitin Patil
Original assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter Ag
Priority date: 2021-10-22
Filing date: 2022-08-12
Publication date: 2023-04-27
Also published as: EP4170076A1

Abstract

An electronic device (10) for operational parameters (op) of winding machines (7) of a spinning mill, the spinning and winding section (1) including one or more spinning machines (5) and one or more winding machines (7), the one or more spinning machines (5) being configured to produce cops (6) with wound yarn, the one or more winding machines (7) being configured to receive such cops (61) to produce yarn bobbins (8) with rewound yarn. The electronic device (10) is configured to determine during production of yarn bobbins (8) winding quality information (wqi) at a winding machine (7); to determine spinning parameters (sp) of cops (6); to determine a quality measure (qm) of a produced cop (6) based on present and/or earlier winding quality information (wqi) and based on spinning parameters (sp); to adjust an operational parameter (op) of a winding machine (7) based on the quality measure (qm).

Description

An electronic device for adjusting operational parameters of a winding machine of a spinning mill and a method for adjusting the same

Field of invention

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device for adjusting operational parameters of a winding machine of a spinning mill and to a method for adjusting the same.

More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an electronic device for adjusting one or more operational parameters of winding machines of a spinning and winding section of a spinning mill and to a method for adjusting one or more operational parameters of winding machines of a spinning and winding section of a spinning mill.

Description of related art

Spinning mills include various sections comprising different types of textile machines for converting natural and man-made fibers and their blends into yams. Spinning mills are designed to produce yams in a form enabling a proper yam performance in subsequent manufacturing steps. For this purpose, it is required that the yam matches predefined quality parameters, and that the yam is produced in a configuration which is adapted for subsequent manufacturing steps. Quality parameters of yams may relate to mass, thickness, number of filaments, etc. Configurations of yams produced by the spinning mill may relate to yam bobbins, on which a large amount of yam is wound up for efficient transportation and use.

A spinning and winding section of a spinning mill may include one or more spinning machines and one or more winding machines.

A spinning machine includes a plurality of spinning positions. At the spinning positions, roving bobbins are received from upstream textile machines. At the spinning positions, roving is unwound from the roving bobbins, stretched, twisted (spun) and wound as spun yam onto a cop. During the production of the cops, spinning parameters may be monitored.

The winding machines are arranged downstream from the spinning machines and receive the cops produced by the spinning machines. A winding machine typically includes a plurality of winding positions. At the winding positions, cops which were produced by upstream spinning machines are rewound one after the other onto a yam bobbin with rewound yarn. One purpose of rewinding is to produce large yarn bobbins that can be transported and used efficiently. During the rewinding, properties of the yam can be monitored and compared with predefined quality criteria. If a quality criterion is not met, the defective part of the yam can be removed. So- called yam clearing systems are known for this purpose, see e.g., WO2012051730, which enable respective clearing operations.

The yam bobbins are produced by the winding machines in a configuration which is adapted for subsequent manufacturing steps.

WO201 9227241 discloses a method to operate a spinning system which contains a ring spinning machine having a plurality of spinning positions and a winding machine having a plurality of winding positions. Yam is spun at one of the spinning positions and wound up to a cop. Values of a spinning parameter are determined at different times during the winding of the cop and stored as spinning data. At the winding position, the yam is rewound from the cop onto a yam bobbin. Values of a yam parameter are determined at different times during the rewinding of the cop and stored as yam data. The spinning data and the yam data are automatically assigned to each other in such a way that they relate to the same yam section. Based on the spinning data and yam data assigned to each other, an intervention is made on the ring spinning machine.

EP3549892A1 discloses an automatic winder which includes a yam winding unit including a yam feeder configured to supply yam and a winding apparatus configured to wind the yam supplied from the yam feeder and to form a package, and a receiving unit configured to receive a setting of target quality of the yam to be wound by the winding apparatus.

Brief summary of the invention

There may be a need for an electronic device for adjusting one or more operational parameters of a winding machine of a spinning and winding section of a spinning mill and for a method for adjusting one or more operational parameters of a winding machine of a spinning and winding section of a spinning mill which increase performance, which optimize quality and/or which reduce energy consumption. Such a need may be met by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

An aspect of the invention relates to an electronic device for adjusting one or more operational parameters of winding machines of a spinning and winding section of a spinning mill, the spinning and winding section including one or more spinning machines and one or more winding machines, the one or more spinning machines being configured to produce cops with wound yam, the one or more winding machines being configured to receive cops with wound yarn produced by the one or more spinning machines to produce yarn bobbins with rewound yam. The electronic device is configured to determine during production of yam bobbins winding quality information at the one or more winding machines. The electronic device is configured to determine spinning parameters of cops produced by the one or more spinning machines. The electronic device is configured to determine a quality measure of one or more of the produced cops based on present and/or earlier winding quality information and based on spinning parameters. The electronic device is configured to adjust one or more operational parameters of at least one of the winding machines based on the quality measure. Using winding quality information and spinning parameters enables determining a quality measure of produced cops. For example, winding quality information can relate to a hairiness of a cop which was received earlier at a winding position and spinning parameters can relate to a cop identifier enabling determining a spinning position at which the cop has been produced. For example, based on its cop identifiers, spinning positions of cops currently received at winding positions can be determined, thereby enabling determining a respective quality measure, such as a hairiness, on the basis of present and/or earlier winding quality information. For example, operational parameters of winding units can be adjusted in accordance with the estimated quality measure of cops received in the winding units, for example a winding speed of a winding unit can be adjusted in accordance with the determined hairiness of the cop currently received in the winding unit, thereby enabling an increased performance, an optimized quality and/or a reduced energy consumption by adjusting operational parameters of the winding machine in accordance with the determined quality measure.

In some embodiments, the electronic device is further configured to adjust one or more operational parameters based on optimization information, preferably including one or more of production quantity, production quality, and energy consumption. Production of yarn bobbins with rewound yam can further be adapted to optimization information. For example, for a quality measure deviating from a predefined quality measure, such as a hairiness deviating from a predefined hairiness, a predefined production rate, a quality level, an energy consumption, etc. can be adapted according to optimization information. Optimization information can relate to customer preferences.

In some embodiments, the electronic device is further configured to adjust one or more operational parameters based on one or more of the spinning parameters and winding quality information. For example, operational parameters can match spinning parameters of a cop received at a winding position, and respective winding quality information.

In some embodiments, the electronic device is further configured to repeat adjusting at least one of the one or more operational parameters as long as winding quality information remains within predefined limits. For example, a winding speed can be increased as long as a number of winding errors remains below a predefined threshold.

In some embodiments, the electronic device is further configured to evaluate the quality measure for determining a functional disorder at a spinning machine. For example, a number of cut out operations exceeding a predefined threshold at a winding unit of a winding machine can indicate a functional disorder at a spinning unit of a spinning machine.

In some embodiments, one or more spinning parameters relate to performance parameters of the one or more spinning machines, selected from a group comprising a remaining time until the next doffing operation, a total number of cops delivered by at least one spinning machine during the next doffing operation, an expected total number of yam breaks of all cops delivered by at least one spinning machine during the next doffing, and an information regarding an actual or scheduled downtime of at least one spinning position of at least one spinning machine. For example, the quality measure can be determined taking into account e.g. the number of cops delivered during the next doffing operation, according to the yam breaks of cops, according to a downtime, etc., and winding parameters can be adjusted accordingly.

In some embodiments, one or more spinning parameters relate to cop parameters, selected from a group comprising a cop identifier, a yam thickness, a yam imperfection index, a yam hairiness, a yam length on a cop, a number of yam breaks on a cop, a position of at least one yarn break on a cop, an indication for the probability of a quality problem of yam on a cop, an indication for the probability of a quantity problem of yarn on a cop, a number of yam breaks per unit of time, a number of yam breaks per unit of yam length, a variation coefficient of yam mass, a variation index of yam diameter, a number of thick places per unit of length, a number of thin places per unit of length, a number of periodic yam faults per unit of length, a number of yam count variants per unit of length, a number of foreign materials per unit of length. For example, the quality measure can take into account e.g. a number of yam breaks per unit of yam length, a yam thickness, a yam imperfection index, etc., and winding parameters can be adjusted accordingly.

In some embodiment, one or more spinning parameters relate to operational parameters of the one or more spinning machines, selected from a group comprising a a spindle speed, a drafting rate, a mode of movement of a ring bench and/or of a spindle bench, a rotation speed of a spinning pot, a rotation speed of a driven spinning ring, a rotation speed of a controlled rotating spinning ring, a ring traveler speed, an information on whether a yam compaction module has been applied, a type of a ring traveler, an accumulated service life of a ring traveler, a remaining service life of a ring traveler, a condition score of a ring traveler, an air temperature during production of a cop, and an air humidity during production of a cop. For example, the quality measure can take into account e.g. whether a yam compaction module has been applied, a ring traveler speed, a rotation speed, etc., and winding parameters can be adjusted accordingly.

In some embodiments, winding quality information relates to performance parameters of the one or more winding machines, selected from a group comprising a number of yam end searches in a cop preparation station, a number of winding errors of at least one winding station, and optionally a consumption of energy, a number of produced yam bobbins per unit of time, and a pressure distribution and/or a flow rate of a vacuum system. For example, the quality measure can take into account e.g. a number of yam end searches, a number of winding errors, etc., and winding parameters can be adjusted accordingly.

In some embodiments, winding quality information relates to yam bobbin parameters, selected from a group comprising a yam tension, a number of clearing operations, a yam imperfection index, and a hairiness. For example, the quality measure can take into account e.g. a yarn tension, a number of clearing operations, etc., and winding parameters can be adjusted accordingly.

In some embodiment, one or more operational parameters relate to one or more of a winding speed, a number of active winding positions, a number of active cops preparation stations, a power of a vacuum system, a valve position of a vacuum system, and a speed of a conveyor system for cops and/or for yarn bobbins. Based on the quality measure, operation of winding machines can be varied according to various aspects, for example for increased performance, optimized quality and/or reduced energy consumption.

In some embodiment, the electronic device is further configured to determine a spinning position of a cop received at a winding position of a winding machine and to adjust at least one of the one or more operational parameters depending on the spinning position. For example, for cops produced at spinning position with recent maintenance, different operational parameters can be used than for spinning positions with obsolete maintenance.

In some embodiments, the one or more operational parameters depend on one or more winding positions of the winding machines. For example, different operational parameters can be used for winding positions with recent or obsolete maintenance.

In some embodiments, the electronic device is further configured to determine at least one of the spinning parameters and winding quality information by accessing at least one of a controller of a spinning machine and a controller of a winding machine and a central database of a mill management system. Spinning parameters and/or winding quality information can relate to real time data, to trend data, etc.

In some embodiments, determining the quality measure and/or adjusting the one or more operational parameters is based on one or more of a neural network algorithm and a fuzzy logic algorithm. Powerful tools can be used for adjusting operational parameters of winding machines.

The invention also relates to a computer system which is configured for putting into practice a method as described below. The computer system comprises one or more computers, the one or more computers preferably comprising a graphical user interface. The invention can be put into practice in the form of distributed devices.

The invention also relates to a method for adjusting one or more operational parameters of winding machines of a spinning and winding section of a spinning mill, the spinning and winding section including one or more spinning machines and one or more winding machines, the one or more spinning machines being configured to produce cops with wound yam, the one or more winding machines being configured to receive cops with wound yam produced by the one or more spinning machines to produce yam bobbins with rewound yam. The method Includes the steps executed by an electronic device or a computer system of: determining during production of yam bobbins winding quality information at the one or more winding machines; determining spinning parameters of cops produced by the one or more spinning machines; determining a quality measure of one or more of the produced cops based on present and/or earlier winding quality information and based on spinning parameters; adjusting one or more operational parameters of at least one of the winding machines based on the quality measure.

In some embodiments, the method further includes adjusting one or more operational parameters based on optimization information, preferably including one or more of production quantity, production quality, and energy consumption

In some embodiments, the method further includes adjusting one or more operational parameters based on one or more of the spinning parameters and winding quality information.

In some embodiments, the method further includes repeating adjusting at least one of the one or more operational parameters as long as winding quality information remains within predefined limits.

Brief description of drawings

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description of an embodiment given by way of example an illustrated by the figures, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically an electronic device for adjusting one or more operational parameters of a winding machine of an exemplary spinning and winding section of a spinning mill having arranged a spinning machine and the winding machine; Fig. 2 illustrates schematically an electronic device for adjusting one or more operational parameters of a winding machine of an exemplary spinning and winding section of a spinning mill having arranged a plurality of spinning machines and a plurality of winding machines;

Fig. 3 illustrates schematically possible method steps of a method for adjusting one or more operational parameters of a winding machine of a spinning and winding section of a spinning mill.

Detailed Description of the invention

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically an electronic device 10 for adjusting one or more operational parameters of a winding machine 7 of an exemplary spinning and winding section 1 of a spinning mill having arranged a spinning machine 5 and the winding machine 7. In typical spinning mills, the spinning and winding section 1 includes a plurality of spinning machines and a plurality of winding machines (not illustrated in Fig. 1 ).

As illustrated in Fig. 1 , the spinning machine 5 is arranged upstream from the winding machine 7. Correspondingly, the winding machine 7 is arranged downstream from the spinning machine 5. In spinning and winding sections of typical spinning mills, a plurality of spinning machines and a plurality of winding machines are arranged respectively.

The spinning machine 5 may relate to a ring spinning machine. The spinning machine 5 can also relate to another type of spinning machine producing yam sections with a relatively limited length, which are then to be rewound by a winding machine to form bobbins comprising yarn of sufficient length. For example, the spinning machine 5 may also be a pot spinning machine.

The spinning machine 5 receives roving 4, which was produced by an upstream roving machine 3 (typically, a plurality of roving machines is arranged), and produces relatively small yarn supply bobbins having spun yarn wound on a tube, also known as cops 6. The spinning machine 5 produces a plurality of cops 6. The spinning machine 5 includes a plurality of spinning positions 51 , 52, 53. At each spinning position 51 , 52, 53, roving 41 , 42, 43 is received. For example, roving 41 , 42, 43 may be arranged on bobbins or another type of carrier, such as containers, of specific dimensions. Each spinning position 51 , 52, 53 includes a spinning unit 511 , 521 , 531 . Each spinning unit 511 , 521 , 531 can include a drafting device and a twisting device, wherein the drafting device is configured to draft the roving and the twisting device is configured to spin the drafted roving into spun yam and to wind the spun yarn to produce a cop. At each spinning position 51 , 52, 53, cops 61 , 62, 63 are produced which each have wound up a specific amount of spun yam. Typically, at specific times, the cops 61 , 62, 63 are doffed from the spinning positions 51 , 52, 53 for subsequent processing.

The winding machine 7 receives cops 6, which were produced by the upstream spinning machine 5 (typically, a plurality of upstream spinning machines is arranged), and produces yam bobbins 8 with rewound yam, also known as packages. Various types of carriers are known in the prior art for providing yam bobbins 8 with rewound yam. Yam bobbins 8 can relate to flanged bobbins, cross-wound bobbins, etc. The winding machine 7 includes a plurality of winding positions 71 , 72. At each winding position 71 , 72, cops 61 , 65, 63, 68 are received. Each winding position includes a winding unit 711 , 721 . Each winding unit 711 , 721 may include a winding device, a tension applying device, a yam monitoring device, an upper yam catching device, a lower yam catching device, a splicing device, a clearing system for removing yam not matching a predefined quality criterion, etc. At each winding position 71 , 72, one or more cops 61 , 65, 63, 69 can be received. In the example illustrated in Fig. 1 , at each winding position 71 , 72 two cops 61 , 65, 63, 68 are received. However, more or less cops can be received at winding positions of a winding machine. At each winding position 71 , 72, yam is unwound from cops 61 , 65, 63, 68 and rewound on yam bobbins 81 , 82. Thus, each winding position 71 , 72 is configured to produce yam bobbins 81 , 82 with rewound yam from cops 61 , 65, 63, 69 received at the winding positions 71 , 72. At specific times, the yam bobbins 8 are unloaded from the winding positions 71 , 72 for subsequent manufacturing steps.

Typically, the number of spinning positions 51 , 52, 53 of a spinning machine 5 and the number of winding positions 71 , 72 of a winding machine 7 are large and strongly exceed the small number of positions schematically illustrated in Fig. 1.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 , the spinning machine 5 includes a spinning controller 50 for controlling operation of the spinning machine 5. The spinning controller 50 is connected via signal line 5s with control units 510, 520, 530 of the spinning units 511 , 521 , 531 arranged at the spinning positions 51 , 52, 53. The control units 510, 520, 530 receive from the spinning controller 50 control signals via the signal line 5s for controlling operation of the spinning units 511 , 521 , 531 for producing cops 61 , 62, 63 of a desired specification from roving 41 , 42, 43. The desired specification of the cops 61 , 62, 63 may relate to a quality of yam, a quantity of yarn, a number of produced cops 61 , 62, 63 per unit of time, etc.

Control signals enable adjusting operational parameters of the spinning units 511 , 512, 513, such as a spindle speed, a drafting rate, a mode of movement of a ring bench and/or of a spindle bench, a rotation speed of a spinning pot, a rotation speed of a driven spinning ring, a rotation speed of a controlled rotating spinning ring, a ring traveler speed, an information on whether a yarn compaction module has been applied, a type of a ring traveler, an accumulated service life of a ring traveler, a remaining service life of a ring traveler, a condition score of a ring traveler, etc. Control signals can also be used to control an auxiliary module of a spinning machine. For example, an auxiliary module may be a spindle monitor of a spinning machine or a service robot of a spinning machine. For example, by means of a control signal, a service robot can be instructed to drive to a specific spinning position and carry out a more detailed analysis of the spinning position and/or carry out certain maintenance actions (e.g. replace a ring traveler or clean the rollers of a drafting system, etc.).

The control units 510, 520, 530 transmit monitor signals to the spinning controller 50 via the signal line 5s. Monitor signals may relate to the spinning units 511 , 521 , 531 (e.g. signals related to spindle speed, ring traveler speed, drafting rate, etc.), to the roving 41 , 42, 43 (e.g. signals related to the presence and/or amount of roving at a specific spinning position (e.g. spindle position of a ring spinning machine, identifier of a roving carrier, etc.), to the yam spun in the spinning units 511 , 521 , 531 (e.g. signals related to yam imperfection index, hairiness, etc.), to the cops 61 , 62, 63 (e.g. identifier of a yam carrier), etc. Monitor signals may be based on or derived from signals generated by respective sensors. Monitor signals may relate to a cop identifier (cf. further description below), an imperfection index, a hairiness, a spinning position, a doffing time (time remaining until next doffing), a spindle speed, a number of yam breaks per unit of time, a ring traveler speed, a rotation speed of a spinning pot, a rotation speed of a driven spinning ring, a rotation speed of a controlled rotating spinning ring, a number of yam breaks per unit of time, a number of yam breaks per unit of yam length, an air temperature, an air humidity, etc. As illustrated in Fig. 1 , the winding machine 7 includes a winding controller 70 for controlling operation of the winding machine 7. The winding controller 70 is connected via signal line 7s with control units 710, 720 of the winding units 711 , 721 arranged at the winding positions 71 , 72. The control units 710, 720 receive from the winding controller 70 control signals via the signal line 7s for controlling operation of the winding units 711 , 721 for producing yam bobbins 81 , 82 of a desired specification from cops 61 , 65, 63, 68. The desired specification of the yam bobbins 81 , 82 may relate to a quantity of yam per yam bobbin 81 , 82, a number of produced yam bobbins 81 , 82 per unit of time, an amount of energy required for producing a yam bobbin 81 , 82, etc. Control signals enable adjusting operational parameters of the winding units 711 , 721 , 731 , such as a winding speed, a number of active winding positions, a power of a vacuum system, a number of active cops (bobbin) preparation stations, etc.

The control units 710, 720 transmit monitor signals to the winding controller 70 via the signal line 7s. Monitor signals may relate to the winding units 711 , 721 , to the cops 61 , 65, 63, 68, to the yam unwound from the cops 61 , 65, 63, 68 and wound onto the yam bobbins 81 , 82, to the yam bobbins 81 , 82, etc. Monitor signals may be based or derived from signals generated by respective sensors, in particular of a yam clearer or of multiple yam clearers (e.g. different types of yam clearers). Monitor signals may relate to cop identifiers of cops received in the winding units (cf. further description below), a yam tension, a number of clearing operations performed by a clearing system, a consumption of energy, a number of produced yam bobbins per unit of time, etc. Monitor signals provided by or derived from one yam clearer or multiple yam clearers may relate to yam count, thick places, thin places, twist level, yam strength, yam elongation properties, tenacity, twist and count, yam hairiness, yam imperfection index, yam color and others.

A cop 6 can include an identifier unit, such as an RFID tag (RFID: Radio Frequency Identifier), a barcode, etc., having stored a cop identifier in the form of a unique identification number, for example. At the spinning positions 51 , 52, 53 of the spinning machine 5 and at the winding positions 71 , 72 of the winding machine 7, reader units, such as an RFID reader, a barcode reader, etc., can be arranged for determining cop identifiers of cops 6 arranged at the spinning positions 51 , 52, 53 respectively at the winding positions 71 , 72 by reading the unique identification number from the identifier unit attached to the respective cop 6. As indicated in Fig. 1 by respective reference numerals, the spinning machine 5 produces cops with reference numerals 61 , 62, 63, while the winding machine 7 has received cops having different reference numerals 61 , 65, 63, 68. The difference in the reference numerals illustrates that the cops received in the winding machine may relate to cops which were produced at various spinning positions of various upstream spinning machines. For example, on the basis of the cop identifier of cops 61 , 62, 63, the spinning position 51 , 52 can be recorded in an electronic device 10 as described below, and for cops 61 , 65, 63, 68 received in winding units 71 , 72 the spinning position of these cops 61 , 65, 63, 68 can be determined on the basis of recorded data.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 , an electronic device 10 is arranged. The electronic device 10 is connected via signal line 1 s to the spinning controller 50 of the spinning machine 5 and to the winding controller 70 of the winding machine 7. Typically, the electronic device 10 is connected to a plurality of spinning machines and to a plurality of winding machines. As indicated in Fig. 1 , the electronic device 10 may be connected via signal line 1s to further upstream machines, such as the roving machine 3.

The electronic device 10, the spinning controller 50, the winding controller 70, the signal lines 1 s, 5s, 7s, etc. may relate to computerized devices and computerized networks. The computerized networks may relate to wired computer networks, wireless computer networks, etc. The computerized networks enable transmission of control signals, monitor signals, etc. between respective devices, controllers, units, etc. The computerized devices may relate to microcontrollers, computers, etc. The computerized devices may include one or more processors and program instructions stored in a memory, which program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, provide the functions as described in the present disclosure. The devices, controllers, units, etc. may include user interfaces such as graphical user interfaces (GUI) for enabling displaying status information to an operator, for enabling receiving commands from an operator, etc. For example, the electronic device 10 may relate to a control and monitoring device of a spinning mill.

The roving 4 respectively the cops 6 may be transported automatically, semi-automati- cally or manually from the roving machine 3 to the spinning machine 5 (or a plurality of spinning machines) respectively from the spinning machine 5 to the winding machine 7 (or a plurality of winding machines). The yarn bobbins 8 may be transported away from the winding machine 7 automatically, semi-automatically or manually.

The electronic device 10 is configured to determine one or more spinning parameters sp of cops 6 produced by the spinning machine 5. For this purpose, the spinning controller 50 transmits spinning parameters sp to the electronic device 10, for example, upon request by the electronic device 10, by accessing respective information of the control units 510, 520, 530 of the spinning units 511 , 521 , 531 . Spinning parameters sp may relate to performance parameters of the spinning machine 5, to cop parameters of produced cops 6, to operational parameters of the spinning machine 5, etc. For example, the electronic device 10 can store for each produced cop 6 its cop identifier together with its spinning parameters sp.

The electronic device 10 is configured to determine winding quality information wqi at the winding machine 7. Winding quality information is related to the production of yarn bobbins 8 with rewound yam from cops 6 by the winding machine 7. For this purpose, the winding controller 70 transmits winding quality information wqi to the electronic device 10, for example, upon request by the electronic device 10, by accessing respective information of the control units 710, 720 of the winding units 711 , 721. Winding quality information wqi may relate to performance parameters of the winding machine 7, such as a number of yam end searches in a cop preparation station, a number of winding errors at winding stations, etc., to yam bobbin parameters of produced yam bobbins 8, such as yam tension, a number of clearing operations, a yam imperfection index, a hairiness, etc., and optionally to operational parameters of the winding machine 7, such as a consumption of energy, a number of produced yam bobbins per unit of time, etc. For example, the electronic device 10 can store for each cop 6 received in the winding machine its cop identifier and its resulting winding quality information wqi.

The electronic device 10 is configured to determine a quality measure qm of one or more of the produced cops 6 based on present and/or earlier winding quality information wqi and based on spinning parameters sp. For example, the quality measure qm may relate to an imperfection index, to a hairiness, to a number of yam breaks on a cop, a number of clearing operations, etc. For example, winding quality information wqi may include a hairiness determined at the winding machine 7 (the spinning machine 5 may not be configured for determining a hairiness). On the basis of the cop identifier of a cop 6, the spinning position can be determined which produced the cop 6 effecting the hairiness determined at the winding machine 7. Thus, it may be concluded that cops 6 produced at that spinning position have a specific quality measure qm as regards a specific hairiness. Upon receipt of cops 6 at the winding machine 7 from that spinning position, operational parameters at the winding machine 7 can be adjusted accordingly.

For example, a first cop 61 is produced at spinning position 51 of the spinning machine 5. During production of the first cop 61 , the electronic device 10 determines spinning parameters such as the spinning position 51 and the cop identifier of the first cop 61 , and stores the spinning parameters such as the spinning position 51 assigned to the cop identifier of the first cop 61 . Thereafter, the first cop 61 is received in the winding machine 7 and used for the production of a first yam bobbin 81 . During production of the first yarn bobbin 81 using the first cop 61 , the electronic device 10 determines the cop identifier of the first cop 61 and winding quality information wqi, such as a number of clearing operations. Based on the winding quality information wqi, such as the number of clearing operations, and the spinning parameters sp, such as the spinning position 51 , the electronic device determines a quality measure qm of cops produced at spinning position 51 of the spinning machine 5. Thus, it may be concluded that cops 6 produced at spinning position 51 have a specific quality measure qm as regards a specific number of clearing operations when received in the winding machine 7. Upon receipt of further cops 6 produced at spinning position 51 , operational parameters of the winding machine 7 can be adjusted accordingly.

For example, winding quality information wqi may indicate an anomality regarding the number of winding errors at one or more winding positions 71 , 72, .... While winding quality information may indicate proper operation of respective winding positions 71 , 72, ... , the spinning parameters, e.g. cop identifiers of cops 6, enable determining the spinning position of cops 6 which effect an anomality regarding the number of winding errors, and it may be concluded that the anomality regarding the number of winding errors is caused by cops 6 which were produced at a particular spinning position 51 , 52, 53, .... Thus, the quality measure qm may relate to spinning positions producing cops 6 which effect an anomality regarding the number of winding errors when rewound at winding positions.

The quality measure qm can relate to a classification determined by labels such as “high quality”, “normal quality”, “low quality”, “functional disorder”, etc. For example, on the basis of winding quality information wqi such as winding errors, etc., and spinning parameters sp, such as a cop identifier, a spindle speed, etc., respective labels can be assigned to the cops 6.

Optionally, the electronic device 10 is configured to transmit, after determining the quality measure qm, a signal related to the quality measure qm, such as a signal requesting to resolve a functional disorder at the spinning machine 5, which signal is transmitted, for example, to the spinning controller 50, to a display of a mobile device of a shift worker, etc. Response to the signal related to the quality measure qm, such as a signal for resolving a functional disorder, may occur automatically, semi-automatically, or manually. For example, signals for resolving a functional disorder automatically may be transmitted to the controller 50. For example, signals for resolving a functional disorder manually may relate to signals transmitted to a display assigned to a shift worker for displaying respective information to the shift worker.

For example, the electronic device 10 is configured to adjust operational parameters op of the winding machine 7 based on spinning parameters sp such as cops build information, such as number and position of cuts, doffing time, spindle position. For example, the electronic device 10 is configured to adjust operational parameters op of the winding machine 7 based on winding quality information wqi, such as number and kind of cuts per cop, number and kind of additional events like tension breaks, a yam tension profile when unwinding, efficiency of bobbin preparation, data determined at a clearer, such as a yam imperfection index, a hairiness, kind and position of faults in the yam which were not cut out, etc. Spinning parameters sp and/or winding quality information wqi may relate to real time data, trend data, etc.

For example, the electronic device 10 is configured to adjust operational parameters op of the winding machine 7based on optimization information oi, such as a priority as regards the production throughput, production quantity, production quality, energy consumption, etc. Optimization information oi may include limits as regards a yam imperfection index, a hairiness, etc.

The electronic device 10 is configured to adjust one or more operational parameters op of the winding machine 7 based on the quality measure qm. For example, the quality measure qm may relate to labels such as “low quality”, “high quality”, etc. For example, in case of a “low quality”, a winding speed may be reduced, while in case of a “high quality” the winding speed may be increased.

For example, the electronic device 10 is configured to adjust one or more operational parameters op of the winding machine 7. For this purpose, the electronic device 10 determines one or more operational parameters, such as a winding speed, and transmits respective control signals to the winding controller 70. The winding controller 70 adjusts respective operational parameters of the winding units 711 , 721 by transmitting respective control signals to the control units 710, 720 of the winding units 711 , 721 . For example, adjusting an operational parameter may relate to reducing a winding speed at winding positions 71 , 72, ... which have received cops 6 having a particular quality measure qm. For example, the operational parameter can be adjusted as long as winding quality information wqi remains within predefined limits, for example a winding speed may be increased as long as a yarn imperfection index, a hairiness, etc. remains within limits (e.g. according to optimization information), or as long as additional events such as tension breaks do not increase disproportionally, or as long as a yarn tension is adapted for a higher speed, etc.

Fig. 2 illustrates schematically an electronic device 10 for adjusting one or more operational parameters of a winding machine 7, 7’, 7”, ... of an exemplary spinning and winding section of a spinning mill having arranged a plurality of spinning machines 5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... and a plurality of winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, .... Upstream from the spinning machines 5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ..., a plurality of roving machines 3, 3’, ... can be arranged for producing roving 4. Roving 4 is received at the spinning machines 5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... for producing cops 6 with wound yam. Cops 6 with wound yam is received at the winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... for producing yam bobbins 8.

As described above, the electronic device 10 is configured to determine spinning parameters sp of the one or more spinning machines 5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... producing cops 6. For example, the electronic device 10 can be configured to store for each cop 6 respective spinning parameters. For example, each cop 6 can include an identifier unit having stored a cop identifier as described above and for each cop 6, the spinning parameters can be stored together with the cop identifier.

During production of a cop 6, the electronic device 10 can store spinning parameters after lapse of a predefined time interval, after production of a predefined amount of yam, etc. The time interval, amount of yam, etc. may be variable. For example, during a first phase of the production of a cop 6, a different time interval, amount of yam, etc. may be selected than during a second phase. For example, during an initial phase of the production of a cop 6, a smaller time interval may be selected than during an end phase of the production of a cop 6. For example, in accordance with the yam wound on a cop 6, the electronic device 10 can have stored different imperfection indices, hairiness values, etc. for different sections of the yam wound on the cop 6. Thus, for each produced cop 6, the electronic device 10 can have stored spinning parameters assigned to yam and/or sections of yam wound on the cop 6, together with the cop identifier of the cop 6. The spinning parameters can include an identification of the spinning machine 5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ..., an identification of the spinning position 51 , 52, 5T, 52’, ... , etc.

Accordingly, when cops 6 are received in winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... , for each winding position, the electronic device 10 can determine spinning parameters of the cops 6 received in the winding position, in particular based on respective cop identifiers and/or based on a production plan defining a route of cops 6 from spinning positions 51 , 52, 5T, 52’, ... to winding positions 711 , 721 , ....

The electronic device 10 is configured to determine winding quality information wqi of the one or more spinning machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... For this purpose, for example, the electronic device 10 accesses the winding controllers 70 of the winding machine 7, 7’, 7”, ... for receiving respective information from the control units 710, 720 of the winding positions 711 , 721 of the winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, 7’”, ....

As described above, the electronic device 10 is configured to determine a quality measure qm of the produced cops 6 based on winding quality information wqi of the one or more winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... and based on spinning parameters sp of the one or more spinning machines 5, 5’, 5”, 5’”, .... For example, winding quality information wqi may indicate an excessive number of winding errors at particular windings positions, and the spinning parameters may indicate that the winding errors occur when cops 6 produced at a particular spinning position of a spinning machine 5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... are received in a respective winding position. For example, the quality measure qm can relate to a hairiness and a yam imperfection index being each at uncritical levels, but in combination effect an excessive number of winding errors.

For example, for each cop 6, the quality measure qm can include information about a hairiness, a number of clearing operations, etc. which is based on winding quality information wqi of cops which are currently and/or previously received in the winding machine 7, and information about a rotation speed, application of a compaction module, etc. which is based on spinning parameters sp of cops which are currently produced by the spinning machine 5. Relevant winding quality information wqi of cops 6 can be based on a cop identifier, on a production plan defining the route of cops from a spinning position of the spinning machine 5 to a winding position of the winding machine 7, etc., wherein winding quality information wqi of cops produced earlier at a specific spinning position becomes relevant for a cop 6 currently produced at that spinning position.

Optionally, the electronic device 10 is configured to transmit, after determining the quality measure qm, a signal for example to the spinning controllers 50, 50’, 50”, 50”’, ... related to the quality measure qm as described above for resolving a functional disorder.

The electronic device 10 is configured to adjust operational parameters of the one or more winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... based on the quality measure qm, which in particular may include information as described above related to the spinning machines 5, 5’, 5”, 5’”, ... , the winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... , etc.

The electronic device 10 is configured to adjust one or more operational parameters of the one or more winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... based on, for example, information which may relate to cops 6 being produced at a particular spinning position, and having a hairiness above or below a predefined level, or having assigned labels such as “high quality”, “normal quality”, “low quality”, “functional disorder”, as described above. For ex- ample, adjusting one or more operational parameters may relate to adjusting a winding speed. Adjusting the winding speed may relate to an increase or a decrease of the winding speed. For example, for cops 6 having a hairiness above a predefined level, the winding speed may be decreased. For example, for cops 6 having a hairiness below a predefined level, the winding speed may be increased.

For example, adjusting one or more operational parameters may relate to adjusting a number of active winding positions based on the quality measure qm. At an active winding position, production of yam bobbins 8 from cops 6 is enabled. At an inactive winding position, production is disabled. For example, the number of winding positions may be decreased for enabling a reduced energy consumption. For example, the number of winding positions may be increased for enabling an increased production throughput. Reducing energy consumption, increasing production throughput may be in accordance with optimization information oi.

For example, adjusting operational parameters op of winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... based on the quality measure qm may relate to spinning parameters of sections of yam wound on a cop 61 having a hairiness which is above a predefined limit requiring a reduced winding speed for producing the yam bobbin 8. The hairiness may be an actual measured hairiness or an estimated hairiness — for example, depending on the operating parameters (e.g. with or without compaction module) with which the yam was processed at a particular spinning position. For example, adjusting operational parameters op of winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... based on the quality measure qm may further relate to winding parameters of a particular winding speed at the winding position 71 , 72 having received the cop 61. Accordingly, the electronic device can adjust the winding speed of the respective winding unit 711 , 721 of the winding machine 7, 7’, 7”, ... which has received the cop 61 with yam above a predefined hairiness.

For example, adjusting operational parameters op of winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... based on the quality measure qm may relate to spinning parameters of particular spinning positions 52 of a particular spinning machine 5, and to winding parameters indicating the occurrence of winding failures, such as an increased number of clearings of a yam clearing system in case a cop 6 produced at the particular spinning position 52 of the particular spinning machine 5 is received in a winding position 71 , 72 of a winding machine 7, 7’, 7”, .... The electronic device 10 can adjust the winding speed of winding positions 71 , 72 of winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... which have received cops produced at the particular spinning position 52 of the particular spinning machine 5 for reducing the occurrences of winding failures, such as for reducing the number of clearings of a yam clearing system, thereby increasing the number of produced yarn bobbins 8 per unit of time, because, for example, a lower winding speed with a smaller number of clearings and thereby smaller total clearing time can increase the number of produced yam bobbins with respect to a higher winding speed with a larger number of clearings and thereby a larger total clearing time.

For example, adjusting operational parameters op of winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... based on the quality measure qm may relate to spinning parameters of yarn wound on cops 6 having a thickness which is above a predefined limit, thereby enabling a wide range of possible winding speeds. The cops may be arranged in a large number of active winding positions and a slower winding speed may be selected for enabling yarn bobbins 8 of a high quality, or the cops may be arranged in a small number of active winding positions and a slower winding speed may be selected for enabling reduced energy consumption.

The electronic device 10 may include neural network algorithms, fuzzy logic algorithms, etc. for determining the quality measure based on spinning parameters and winding parameters, for adjusting operational parameters of the winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... based on the the quality measure qm, etc.

For example, determining the quality measure qm enables classifying each cop 6 into classes such as “high quality”, “normal quality”, etc. For example, winding positions having received cops 6 of a particular class such as “high quality, “normal quality”, etc. can be determined. For example, adjusting one or more operational parameters op of winding machines enables adapting winding units in accordance with the particular class such as “high quality”, “normal quality”, etc. of the cops received in the winding units.

For example, winding units having received cops 6 of a “high quality”, winding units having received cops 6 of a “normal quality”, etc. can be operated using operational parameters in accordance with the classification of the received cops 6, such as a “high winding speed”, a “normal winding speed”, etc.

Fig. 3 illustrates schematically possible method steps of a method for adjusting one or more winding parameters of winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... of a spinning and winding section 1 of a spinning mill, the spinning and winding section 1 including one or more spinning machines 5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... and one or more winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... , the one or more spinning machines 5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... being configured to produce cops 6 with wound yam, the one or more winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, ... being configured to receive cops 61 , 63, 65, 68, ... with wound yarn produced by the one or more spinning machines 5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... to produce yarn bobbins 8 with rewound yam. At step S1 , during production of yam bobbins 8, winding quality information wqi is determined at the one or more winding machines 7, 7’, 7”, .... At step S2, spinning parameters sp of cops 6 produced by the one or more spinning machines 5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... is determined. At step S3, a quality measure qm of one or more of the produced cops 6 is determined based on present and/or earlier winding quality information wqi and based on spinning parame- ters sp. At step S4, one or more operational parameters op of at least one of the winding machines 7, 7’, 7”’, ... is adjusted based on the quality measure qm.

Reference numerals/signs

1 spinning and winding section of a spinning mill

10 electronic device

1s, 5s, 7s signal lines id identifier unit of roving, cops, yarn bobbins

3, 3’ roving machines

4, 41 , 42, 43 roving

5, 5’, 5”, 5”’ spinning machines

50 spinning controller

51 , 52, 53 spinning positions

511 , 521 , 531 spinning units

510, 520, 530 control units of spinning units

6, 61 , 62, 63, 65, 68 cops with wound yam

7, 7’, 7”, 7”’ winding machines

70 winding controller

71 , 72, 73 winding positions

711 , 721 , 731 winding units

710, 720, 730 control units of winding units

8, 81 , 82 yam bobbins sp spinning parameters wqi winding quality information op operational parameters oi optimization information

Claims

24

Claims An electronic device (10) for adjusting one or more operational parameters (op) of winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ) of a spinning and winding section (1 ) of a spinning mill, the spinning and winding section (1 ) including one or more spinning machines (5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... ) and one or more winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ), the one or more spinning machines (5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... ) being configured to produce cops (6) with wound yam, the one or more winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ) being configured to receive cops (61 , 63, 65, 68, ... ) with wound yam produced by the one or more spinning machines (5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... ) to produce yam bobbins (8) with rewound yam, the electronic device (10) being configured to: determine during production of yam bobbins (8) winding quality information (wqi) at the one or more winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ), determine spinning parameters (sp) of cops (6) produced by the one or more spinning machines (5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... ), determine a quality measure (qm) of one or more of the produced cops (6) based on present and/or earlier winding quality information (wqi) and based on spinning parameters (sp), adjust one or more operational parameters (op) of at least one of the winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ) based on the quality measure (qm). The electronic device (10) of claim 1 , further configured to adjust one or more operational parameters (op) based on optimization information (oi), preferably including one or more of production quantity, production quality, and energy consumption. The electronic device (10) of claim 1 or 2, further configured to adjust one or more operational parameters (op) based on one or more of the spinning parameters (sp) and winding quality information (wqi). The electronic device (10) of one of claims 1 to 3, further configured to repeat adjusting at least one of the one or more operational parameters (op) as long as winding quality information (wqi) remains within predefined limits. The electronic device (10) of one of claims 1 to 4, further configured to evaluate the quality measure (qm) for determining a functional disorder at a spinning machine (5a). The electronic device (10) of one of claims claim 1 to 5, wherein one or more spinning parameters (sp) relate to performance parameters of the one or more spinning machines (5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... ), selected from a group comprising a remaining time until the next doffing operation, a total number of cops delivered by at least one spinning machine during the next doffing operation, an expected total number of yam breaks of all cops delivered by at least one spinning machine during the next doffing, and an information regarding an actual or scheduled downtime of at least one spinning position of at least one spinning machine. The electronic device (10) of one of claims 1 to 6, wherein one or more spinning parameters (sp) relate to cop parameters, selected from a group comprising a cop identifier, a yarn thickness, a yarn imperfection index, a yarn hairiness, a yarn length on a cop, a number of yam breaks on a cop, a position of at least one yam break on a cop, an indication for the probability of a quality problem of yam on a cop, an indication for the probability of a quantity problem of yam on a cop, a number of yam breaks per unit of time, a number of yam breaks per unit of yam length, a variation coefficient of yam mass, a variation index of yam diameter, a number of thick places per unit of length, a number of thin places per unit of length, a number of periodic yam faults per unit of length, a number of yam count variants per unit of length, a number of foreign materials per unit of length. The electronic device (10) of one of claims 1 to 7, wherein one or more spinning parameters (sp) relate to operational parameters of the one or more spinning machines (5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... ), selected from a group comprising a a spindle speed, a drafting rate, a mode of movement of a ring bench and/or of a spindle bench, a rotation speed of a spinning pot, a rotation speed of a driven spinning ring, a rotation speed of a controlled rotating spinning ring, a ring traveler speed, an information on whether a yam compaction module has been applied, a type of a ring traveler, an accumulated service life of a ring traveler, a remaining service life of a ring traveler, a condition score of a ring traveler, an air temperature during production of a cop, and an air humidity during production of a cop. The electronic device (10) of one of claims 1 to 8, wherein winding quality information (wqi) relates to performance parameters of the one or more winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ), selected from a group comprising a number of yarn end searches in a cop preparation station, a number of winding errors of at least one winding station, and optionally a consumption of energy, a number of produced yarn bobbins per unit of time, and a pressure distribution and/or a flow rate of a vacuum system. The electronic device (10) of one of claims 1 to 9, wherein winding quality information (wqi) relates to yarn bobbin parameters, selected from a group comprising a yam tension, a number of clearing operations, a yam imperfection index, and a hairiness. The electronic device (10) of one of claims 1 to 10, wherein one or more operational parameters (op) relate to one or more of a winding speed, a number of active winding positions, a number of active cops preparation stations, a power of a vacuum system, a valve position of a vacuum system, and a speed of a conveyor system for cops and/or for yam bobbins. The electronic device (10) of one of claims 1 to 11 , further configured to determine a spinning position of a cop (6) received at a winding position of a winding machine (7, 7’, 7”, ... ) and to adjust at least one of the one or more operational parameters (op) depending on the spinning position. The electronic device (10) of one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the one or more operational parameters (op) depend on one or more winding positions of the winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ). The electronic device (10) of one of claims 1 to 13, further configured to determine at least one of the spinning parameters (sp) and winding quality information (wqi) by accessing at least one of a controller (50) of a spinning machine (5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... ) and a controller (70) of a winding machine (7, 7’, 7”, ... ) and a central database of a mill management system. 27 The electronic device (10) of one of claims 1 to 14, wherein determining the quality measure (qm) and/or adjusting the one or more operational parameters (op) is based on one or more of a neural network algorithm and a fuzzy logic algorithm. A computer system which is configured for putting into practice a method according to one of claims 17 to 20, the computer system comprising one or more computers, the one or more computers preferably comprising a graphical user interface. A method for adjusting one or more operational parameters (op) of winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ) of a spinning and winding section (1 ) of a spinning mill, the spinning and winding section (1 ) including one or more spinning machines (5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... ) and one or more winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ), the one or more spinning machines (5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... ) being configured to produce cops (6) with wound yarn, the one or more winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ) being configured to receive cops (61 , 63, 65, 68, ... ) with wound yam produced by the one or more spinning machines (5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... ) to produce yam bobbins (8) with rewound yam, wherein the method Includes the steps executed by an electronic device (10) or a computer system of: determining (S1 ) during production of yam bobbins (8) winding quality information (wqi) at the one or more winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ), determining (S2) spinning parameters (sp) of cops (6) produced by the one or more spinning machines (5, 5’, 5”, 5”’, ... ), determining (S3) a quality measure (qm) of one or more of the produced cops (6) based on present and/or earlier winding quality information (wqi) and based on spinning parameters (sp), adjusting (S4) one or more operational parameters (op) of at least one of the winding machines (7, 7’, 7”, ... ) based on the quality measure (qm). The method of claim 17, further including adjusting one or more operational parameters (op) based on optimization information (oi), preferably including one or more of production quantity, production quality, and energy consumption. 28 The method of claim 17 or 18, further including adjusting one or more operational parameters (opi) based on one or more of the spinning parameters (sp) and winding quality information (wqi). The method of one of claims 17 to 19, further including repeating adjusting at least one of the one or more operational parameters (op) as long as winding quality information (wqi) remains within predefined limits.