JP7848466B2 - Method and apparatus for preparing spinning cups - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for preparing spinning cups for a subsequent rewinding process in the working section of a winding machine equipped with an automatic cup/winding tube transport system, wherein, within a preparation device, the yarn end is released from the spinning cup, picked up, and positioned in a standby position, and the spinning cup is transported on a transport means within the cup/winding tube transport system, and the spinning cup or transport means contains a storage medium, the storage medium containing information about each spinning cup. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a preparation device for preparing spinning cups and a winding machine including such a preparation device.

In relation to ring spinning machines, it has long been known, and described in detail in numerous patent applications, that spinning cups containing relatively small amounts of yarn material produced in this textile machine must first be rewound into twill packages before being further processed in subsequent textile machines, such as looms. The rewounding of such relatively small spinning cups to produce relatively large twill packages is typically carried out in the working section of a winding machine.

The spinning cup supplied by a ring spinning machine usually requires a so-called preparation. This is because, unless special measures are taken, the yarn end of the spinning cup is positioned in the ring spinning machine in a way that prevents it from being picked up in the working section of the winding machine and, correspondingly, from being transferred to the yarn supply mechanism in the working section. Often, the spinning cup has a so-called backwinding, which depends on the operating mode of the ring spinning machine. That is, in a ring spinning machine, at the end of the cup formation process, the so-called end of spinning, the ring rail is usually moved from its upper position to its lower position, which brings about so-called underwinding on the spindle warp. This underwinding is necessary so that the ring spinning machine can automatically start spinning again after doffing the spinning cup. During the downward movement of the ring rail, several yarn windings are formed on the surface of the still-rotating spinning cup, and these yarn windings are generally also called backwinding.

Such backwinding, which is relatively fixed on the surface of the spinning cup, offers significant advantages during the transport of the spinning cup from the ring spinning machine to the subsequent winding machine. For example, it avoids the risk of generating drag yarn (Schleppfaden). However, in the working section of the winding machine, such backwinding fixed to the surface of the cup is inconvenient because, in this area, it is usually impossible to release the backwinding, and consequently, the yarn ends of the spinning cup.

In an automated spindle and spool transport system, spindles circulate on the transport mechanism. The winding status of the spindles or data related to each spindle is typically stored in the transport mechanism or the spindle itself, or in a storage medium within the transport mechanism or the spindle itself, within such a system. A reader can read the information from the storage medium, and branching points in the transport path ensure that the spindles are advanced to the corresponding transport section.

For these reasons, in practice in the textile industry, the spinning cup first passes through a preparation device for an automatic cup/winding tube transport system on its path from the ring spinning machine to the winding machine's working section. Within this preparation device, the yarn ends are released from the surface of the spinning cup and positioned in a waiting position on the spinning cup so that they can be easily handled by the yarn processing and guiding mechanism in the winding machine's working section for the subsequent rewinding process.

Therefore, preparation apparatus for preparing spinning cups has long been known in various embodiments within the textile industry and has been described in considerable detail in numerous publications.

According to German Patent Application Publication No. 3602002, the apparatus includes a cutting mechanism that works to release and cut passing yarn bundles, a yarn end retrieval mechanism positioned near the cutting mechanism along the path for releasing yarn ends from bobbins, and a yarn end introduction mechanism positioned near the yarn end retrieval mechanism for introducing yarn picked up from the bobbin head into the central opening of the winding tube. The bobbin, with its yarn end securely picked up and a defined length of yarn end section positioned within the central opening of the spinning cup, is guided along the transport path and transported to the winding machine.

German Patent Application Publication No. 102006050219 describes an apparatus including a yarn release station for releasing yarn ends and a yarn end pick-up station for picking up yarn ends and placing them in a waiting position. The waiting is performed in the form of top winding, in this case, tip winding. That is, a predetermined number of windings are wound onto the spinning cup winding tube in the region of the winding tube's tip.

When positioning the thread end in the form of a tip winding, particularly with relatively smooth threads, the occurrence of dragged thread in the section from the preparation device to the winding section cannot be eliminated. Furthermore, the thread length is often insufficient when placed in a cup winding tube, especially with relatively small cups. Therefore, German Patent Application Publication No. 4424462 discloses a device that, during the continued rotation of the cup after the formation of the tip winding, automatically brings the remaining thread end directly onto the center of the opening of the cup winding tube, thereby ensuring that it is then reliably fed into the cup winding tube.

All known preparation devices share the common feature of performing one preparation mode, each involving the corresponding positioning of the yarn or yarn end in a waiting position. That is, in a single preparation device, for each spinning cup to be prepared, the yarn of the spinning cup is either loosely placed inside a hollow winding tube, or the yarn of the spinning cup is provided as a top winding in the region of the winding tube tip in a way that allows for easy release, or the yarn of the spinning cup is positioned as a top winding by subsequent positioning at the winding tube tip.

Various winding states on the spinning cup, where one waiting position is advantageous at any given time, are ignored. One winding state may, for example, be the amount of yarn present on the spinning cup. Alternatively, it may be a winding state where the spinning cup has not been fully unwound, for example, because the yarn start end can no longer be grasped in the winding section after yarn breakage, or because the yarn clearer has detected a number of yarn defects exceeding a limit. These spinning cups are removed from the work area, and their information is recorded on a storage medium. Another winding state may be a spinning cup where, despite preparation being carried out, the yarn end is not grasped by the yarn processing/guide mechanism in the work area, and this spinning cup still contains the original total amount of yarn.

Similarly, known preparation devices are not very flexible in handling the simultaneous processing of various different lots. For yarns with specific characteristics, preparation as top winding is advantageous, while for other yarns, placement within the winding tube tip is more suitable. Furthermore, known preparation devices cannot change the number of top windings to be produced as needed, nor can they adapt to each winding condition.

Therefore, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for preparing spinning cups for a subsequent rewinding process in the working section of a winding machine equipped with an automatic cup/winding tube transport system, wherein, within a preparation device, the yarn end is released from the spinning cup, picked up, and positioned in a standby position, and the spinning cup is transported on a transport means of the cup/winding tube transport system, and the spinning cup or transport means includes a storage medium, the storage medium holding information about each spinning cup.

This method is characterized by the following steps: 1. Identifying (defining) different winding states of the spinning cup; 2. Assigning one preparation configuration, including a waiting position for the yarn end, to each winding state; 3. Storing the various winding states together with the preparation configurations assigned to them in a control device; 4. Reading information about the winding state of each spinning cup from the preparation device; 5. Comparing the read-out information about the winding states with the stored winding states; and 6. Preparing the spinning cup according to the preparation configuration assigned to its winding state by creating a top winding on the bobbin tip and/or by placing the yarn inside the bobbin tip.

In a winding tube conveying system, spinning cups are typically placed on a conveying device, also called a conveying tray, and circulate. After passing through a preparation device and with the yarn end fixed in a waiting position, the spinning cups are guided to the conveying section for the winding machine's working area. Information about each spinning cup, including its winding status and other data, is stored on a storage medium. A reading device can retrieve the information stored on the storage medium, ensuring that branching points on the conveying path guide the cup to the corresponding conveying section.

The information stored in the memory medium for each spinning cup includes not only technical parameters such as spinning position identification or the fineness or twist count of the ring-spun yarn, but also data on processing and any abnormalities that may have occurred. For example, if a spinning cup could not be rewinded as specified in the winding machine's working section, this is recorded in the memory medium before the spinning cup is discharged from the working section and, if necessary, transported back to the preparation device. The inventors recognized that various preparation configurations for the waiting positions of the yarn ends on or within the spinning cup, corresponding to different winding states or other states of the spinning cup, are advantageous for the subsequent winding process. Therefore, various preparation configurations, particularly different waiting positions for the yarn ends on the spinning cup, are assigned to different winding states of the spinning cup and stored in the control unit.

When the spinning cup reaches the preparation device, the winding state is read from the memory medium and compared or verified against the winding state stored in the control device. As soon as the match between the winding state of the spinning cup and the winding state stored in the control device is confirmed, the preparation mode assigned to this winding state is executed, and the yarn end is prepared by being placed on the tip of the bobbin as a top winding that can be easily released, or introduced into the tip of the bobbin, or by being introduced into the tip of the bobbin as a top winding at the tip of the bobbin.

This allows for the preparation of spinning cups to be carried out as needed and flexibly according to the winding state. Each individual spinning cup being prepared is individually adjusted according to its winding state and optimally prepared for the subsequent rewinding process. Whether the spinning cups are transported directly from the ring spinning machine to the preparation device or from the winding machine's working section to the preparation device, the preparation configuration is adapted to the current state of the spinning cup or the current winding state of the spinning cup. In the prior art, it was common to perform one of three possible preparation configurations regarding the placement of yarn on the spinning cup, but according to the present invention, the winding state of each individual spinning cup arriving at the preparation device is checked, and the yarn is placed in a manner optimal for that winding state.

The approach according to the present invention offers additional advantages, for example, regarding the preparation cycle speed or the yarn waste generated in the working section of the winding machine. Starting from the fact that laying top winding takes longer than placing yarn at the tip of the winding bobbin, laying top winding always results in a loss of preparation cycle power. That is, if the yarn is placed as top winding in each spinning cup, fewer spinning cups can be prepared in the same amount of time compared to if the yarn were inserted at the tip of the winding bobbin in all spinning cups. Furthermore, top winding generates more yarn waste in the working section because the yarn ends can be released again (i.e., unraveled), the yarn layer placed as top winding can be sucked up and cut, and then the yarn can be spliced and re-wound.

Since preparations for the yarn's waiting position on the spinning cup are carried out as needed, and top winding is performed either alone or in combination with placing the yarn in the tip of the winding bobbin only when advantageous for the subsequent rewinding process, the preparation time is generally shorter on average and yarn waste is reduced compared to preparations where top winding is produced on all spinning cups. Nevertheless, the advantages of top winding can be utilized when necessary.

In one advantageous configuration, the number of top windings is part of the preparation process when creating the top windings.

The desired number of top windings can generally be pre-set. However, sometimes there is insufficient yarn available to create the set number of top windings. In this case, towards the end of the top winding process, there is no yarn left, preventing the yarn brake from fixing the yarn position in the preparation device. In the worst-case scenario, all the top windings are sucked in by the suction device during preparation, resulting in no final, prepared ends remaining on the spinning cup. In such a spinning cup, the yarn ends cannot usually be captured by the yarn handling and guiding mechanism in the working area, and the spinning cup is discharged without being fed out. When such a spinning cup reaches the preparation device again and this information is read by the reading device, a new top winding can be created with the reduced number, and this spinning cup can then be processed according to the specifications in the working area.

Preferably, one characteristic representing the winding state is the amount of yarn on the spinning cup.

Depending on the amount of yarn present on the spinning cup, different preparation configurations may be advantageous. When there is relatively little yarn on the spinning cup, for example, it is more advantageous if the yarn is placed on the bobbin end as a top winding rather than being brought into the bobbin end. This is because small amounts of yarn are usually positioned in the lower region of the spinning cup's winding bobbin, resulting in a relatively long gap between the winding bobbin end and the yarn winding section where the yarn is loosely positioned. This makes it relatively easy for the yarn end to be pulled out from the winding bobbin end without control during subsequent transport, potentially becoming entangled as a drag yarn in the cup/winding bobbin transport system. In contrast, a full spinning cup with a larger amount of yarn is prepared by placing the yarn within the winding bobbin end for optimal yarn gripping in the subsequent working section. In this case, the distance between the winding bobbin end and the yarn winding section is relatively short, resulting in a smaller free area where the yarn is loosely positioned on the spinning cup's winding bobbin.

In this case, it is entirely possible that the spinning machine will produce spinning cups with less yarn than usual, or that spinning cups that have not been fully unfed will be discharged again from the winding machine's working section and provided for new preparation.

One advantageous characteristic of the winding state is the number of times the spinning cup in the winding machine's working section failed to grip the yarn and was returned.

If the prepared yarn is not grasped by the yarn handling and guiding mechanism in the work unit, and therefore the rewinding process is not performed, this information is also stored in the memory medium. If the spinning cup is prepared in one preparation configuration, and a predetermined number of attempts to grasp the yarn in the work unit fail, subsequent preparation can be performed in a different configuration. For example, if the spinning cup is prepared by placing the yarn in the tip of the winding bobbin, and three attempts to grasp the yarn in the work unit fail, subsequent preparation can be performed by creating a top winding. This allows for automatic adaptation of the preparation configuration as needed. The number of failed yarn pick-up attempts before an alternative preparation configuration is performed can be individually configured.

In particular, one characteristic that indicates the winding state is the spinning cup that is discharged from the working section of the winding machine, but is not completely unwound.

For example, if the spinning cup is not fully extended because the yarn start end could not be grasped after the yarn breakage at the winding point, this information is recorded on the storage medium, and the spinning cup is removed from the work area. When such a spinning cup reaches the preparation device again, this information is read, and the spinning cup is prepared according to the preparation mode assigned to its winding state.

In one advantageous configuration, one characteristic representing the winding state is the lot to which it belongs.

For different lots, different preparation methods, particularly different ways of placing the yarn on the spinning cup, can be advantageous for yarn handling and guiding by the yarn processing and guiding mechanisms in the winding machine's working section. For example, smooth yarns are often better prepared by inserting them into the tip of the winding tube. This is because, when prepared by top winding, the yarn may unravel from the spinning cup during transport from the preparation device to the working section and get caught in the transport path. In contrast, yarns with particularly long fibers generally exhibit good adhesion when placed at the tip of the winding tube as top winding, and are less likely to unravel during transport. However, other parameters or technical characteristics of the manufactured yarn, such as twist or fineness, can also influence the optimal preparation method.

In another alternative configuration, the prepared state of the spinning cup is stored in its respective memory medium.

If the preparation device includes not only a reader that reads information about the winding state of each spinning cup, but also a writing device, then the preparation configuration performed each time, particularly the waiting position at which the yarn end was prepared or the number of top windings, can be stored on the memory medium associated with the spinning cup. This is particularly advantageous in terms of complete traceability of the entire manufacturing process.

Therefore, a second aspect of the present invention relates to a preparation device for preparing spinning cups for a subsequent rewinding process in the working section of a winding machine equipped with an automatic cup/winding tube transport system, wherein the preparation device releases the yarn end from the spinning cup, picks it up, and positions it in a waiting position, the spinning cup is transported on a transport means of the cup/winding tube transport system, and the spinning cup or transport means includes a storage medium, the storage medium holding information about each spinning cup.

The proposed preparation device is superior in the following ways: The control device is configured to store various winding states of spinning cups and to assign each preparation configuration of the spinning cup, including a waiting position for the yarn end, to each winding state. It includes at least one reading device that reads information about the winding state of a spinning cup placed in a predetermined position, stored in the storage medium, and transmits it to the control device. The control device compares (verifies) the winding state information within the control device with the transmitted and stored winding state, and then the control device implements the preparation configuration assigned to each winding state in the preparation device.

This allows the preparation device to flexibly adapt various preparation modes as needed to different winding states of the spinning cup. In other words, depending on the winding state or condition of the spinning cup, a preparation mode tailored to that state or condition can be implemented. The preparation mode may include the waiting position of the yarn on the spinning cup for the yarn handling and guiding mechanism in the winding machine's working section, and/or the number of top windings placed at the tip of the winding tube. Within the framework of this invention, the winding state is understood, for example, to be the amount of yarn or the lot to which the yarn belongs on the spinning cup. Similarly, the winding state may also be, for example, the state of the spinning cup where the initial amount of yarn is present without being unwound due to a failure to grasp the yarn, or the state of the spinning cup where the starting end of the yarn can no longer be grasped after yarn breakage in the working section, and therefore the spinning cup has not been fully unwound. This information is stored in a storage medium, and each spinning cup is discharged from the working section and, if necessary, transported back to the preparation device.

The control device, which stores the winding state and preparation configuration, and compares (verifies) the information regarding the winding state of each spinning cup read from the storage medium with the data (winding state) stored in this control device, may, within the framework of this invention, be, for example, a work unit computer or a central control unit. Similarly, an independent computer unit for the preparation device is also conceivable. The only important aspect of this invention is the use of a control unit configured accordingly.

While prior art preparation devices perform a single preparation mode for all spinning cups, the preparation device according to the present invention can flexibly switch between any of three preparation modes. Compared to a preparation device that always produces a top winding, the preparation device according to the present invention is more efficient and has a higher cycle output. This is because laying a top winding is fundamentally more time-consuming than placing the yarn in the tip of the winding bobbin. Nevertheless, a top winding can be produced if necessary and significant. On the other hand, in all other spinning cups, the yarn is placed in the tip of the winding bobbin.

Another advantage is that, compared to preparation equipment that always produces top windings, yarn waste is reduced. In top winding, the yarn end is connected to the yarn end present in the work area, and before the winding process begins, it is grasped, fed out, sucked up, and cut by a yarn handling and guiding mechanism in the work area. If the winding state requires that the spinning cup be prepared by top winding, the amount of yarn waste generated can be reduced overall. However, top windings can still be produced if necessary.

Advantageously, in addition to the reading device, a writing device is provided, which, after the preparation of the spinning cup is completed, stores the preparation configuration and, if applicable, the number of top windings in a storage medium.

This allows each preparation process to be stored on a storage medium and tracked later. This is particularly advantageous for complete product tracking in the context of Industry 4.0.

Therefore, a third aspect of the present invention relates to a winding machine equipped with a preparation device for preparing spinning cups for a subsequent rewinding process in the working section of a winding machine equipped with an automatic cup/winding tube transport system, wherein the preparation device releases the yarn end from the spinning cup, picks it up, and positions it in a standby position, and transports the spinning cup on the transport means of the cup/winding tube transport system, and the spinning cup or transport means includes a storage medium, the storage medium holding information about each spinning cup.

The winding machine is superior because its preparation device is configured based on one of the embodiments described above.

This allows us to achieve the advantages and effects described in relation to this.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent based on the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, the figures illustrating important details for the invention, and the claims. Each feature can be implemented individually or in any combination in preferred embodiments of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures.

This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between a ring spinning machine and a winding machine, where the preparation device according to the present invention for the spinning cup is installed in the area of the winding machine's cup/winding tube conveying system.

Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view illustrating an embodiment of the connection between the ring spinning machine 1 and the winding machine 2.

As is publicly known and therefore merely indicated by the arrows, the conveying systems of both textile machines are connected via the connecting system 3. The conveying system installed in the area of the ring spinning machine 1 is not described in detail, as it is both publicly known and not the subject of this application.

The cup and reel conveying system 5, located in the area of the winding machine 2, has various different conveying sections, as is typical. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, it includes a cup supply section 6, a reel return section 7, a reversibly drivable storage section 8, and a lateral conveying section 9 leading to the work section 4. The lateral conveying section 9 may be equipped with sensor devices 16 in its standby area. These sensor devices 16 are connected to the control device 18 of the winding machine 2 via a signal line 17.

The cup supply section 6 is further connected to a so-called preparation section 10. At its end, this preparation section 10 is connected to the storage section 8 via a branching section 11, or it is connected again to the cup supply section 6. A preparation device 12 for spinning cups is located within the area of the preparation section 10.

In this preparation device 12, the spinning cup produced in the ring spinning machine 1 is prepared so that it can then be processed, i.e., rewound, in the working section 4 of the winding machine 2. The preparation device 12 may be configured, for example, as described in German Patent Application Publication No. 4424462. The important point for the present invention is that the preparation device 12 can prepare the yarn either as top winding on the winding tube in a standby position, or as yarn into the winding tube tip in a standby position, or as a combination of both preparation modes, thereby enabling the preparation device 12 to ultimately perform three preparation modes.

The preparation device 12 is connected to the control device 18 of the winding machine 2 via a signal/control line 15. The preparation device 12 includes a reading device 13, which can read data related to each spinning cup, and especially data related to the winding state, stored on the storage medium. This data is transmitted to the control device 18, where the currently read winding state is compared with the winding state stored within the control device 18.

For example, if the spinning cup arrives in the preparation device 12 in an incompletely unwound state because the starting end of the yarn could no longer be gripped in the work section 4 after the yarn breaks, and the amount of yarn remaining on the spinning cup falls below a predetermined limit, the preparation mode assigned to this winding state is performed, and the yarn is placed at the tip of the winding tube using top winding. Then, the spinning cup is transported again to the work section 4 of the winding machine 2, where it is completely unwound.

The preparation device 12 may optionally include a writing device 14, which can store the preparation configuration performed, particularly the waiting position at which the yarn was placed in the spinning cup and, consequently, the preparation process.

1. Ring spinning machine 2. Winding machine 3. Connection system 4. Working section 5. Cup and reel conveying system 6. Cup supply section 7. Reel return section 8. Storage section 9. Lateral conveying section 10. Preparation section 11. Branching section 12. Preparation device 13. Reading device 14. Writing device 15. Signal and control lines 16. Sensor device 17. Signal lines 18. Control device

Claims (10)

A method for preparing spinning cups for a subsequent rewinding process in the work section (4) of a winding machine (2) equipped with an automatic cup/winding tube transport system (5), wherein, in a preparation device (12), the yarn end is released from the spinning cup, picked up, and positioned in a waiting position, the spinning cup is transported on a transport means within the cup/winding tube transport system (5), and the spinning cup or the transport means includes a storage medium, the storage medium having information about each spinning cup,
In the first step, different winding states of the spinning cup are identified, and one preparation configuration is assigned to each winding state, including a waiting position for the yarn end.
In the second step, the various winding states are stored in the control device (18) along with the preparation states assigned to those winding states.
In the third step, the preparation device (12) reads information regarding the winding state of each of the spinning cups from the storage medium .
In the fourth step, the read-out information regarding the winding state is compared with the stored winding state.
A method characterized in that, in the fifth step, the spinning cup is prepared by installing a top winding on the tip of the winding tube and/or by placing yarn inside the tip of the winding tube, according to the preparation configuration assigned to its winding state. The method according to claim 1, wherein, during the production of the top winding, the number of top windings is included as part of the preparation configuration. The method according to claim 1, wherein one characteristic representing the winding state is the amount of yarn on the spinning cup. The method according to claim 1, wherein one characteristic representing the winding state is the number of times the spinning cup of the work section (4) of the winding machine (2) has failed to grasp the yarn and returned to its original position. The method according to claim 1, wherein one characteristic representing the winding state is a spinning cup that has not been completely unwound, discharged from the working section (4) of the winding machine (2). The method according to claim 1, wherein one characteristic representing the winding state is the lot to which it belongs. The method according to claim 1, wherein the prepared states of the spinning cups are stored in their respective storage media. A preparation device (12) for preparing spinning cups for a subsequent rewinding process in the work section (4) of a winding machine (2) equipped with an automatic cup/winding tube transport system (5), wherein within the preparation device (12), the yarn end is released from the spinning cup, picked up, and positioned in a waiting position, the spinning cup is transported on a transport means within the cup/winding tube transport system (5), and the spinning cup or the transport means includes a storage medium, the storage medium having information about each spinning cup,
The control device (18) is configured to store various winding states of the spinning cup and the prepared states of the spinning cup, including a waiting position for the yarn end, which are assigned to each of the winding states.
At least one reading device (13) is provided to read information regarding the winding state of the spinning cup, which is positioned in a predetermined location, stored in the storage medium, and to transmit this information to the control device (18).
The information regarding the winding state within the control device (18) is compared with the transmitted winding state.
The preparation device (12) is characterized in that the control device (18) starts the preparation mode assigned to each winding state in the preparation device (12). The preparation device (12) according to claim 8, wherein a writing device (14) is provided in addition to the reading device (13), and the writing device (14) stores the preparation configuration in the storage medium after the preparation of the spinning cup has been carried out. A winding machine (2) equipped with an automatic cup/winding tube transport system (5) and a preparation device (12) for preparing spinning cups for a subsequent rewinding process in the work section (4) of the winding machine (2), wherein the preparation device (12) releases the yarn end from the spinning cup, picks it up and positions it in a standby position, transports the spinning cup on the transport means of the cup/winding tube transport system (5), and the spinning cup or the transport means includes a storage medium, the storage medium having information about each spinning cup, in the winding machine (2),
A winding machine (2) characterized in that the preparation device (12) is the preparation device (12) according to claim 8 or 9.