Method for monitoring state of electromagnetic locking device of spinning station of rotor spinning machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the state of a locking device of a spinning station of a rotor spinning machine, comprising the following steps: generating two current pulses in a time sequence, the second current pulse having an amplitude opposite the sign of the first current pulse, the time sequence being controlled by a switching unit of a control device of the spinning station; a measured value of each current pulse is determined on the basis of a switching process of the switching unit, a difference between the measured values is ascertained, the difference is evaluated on the basis of a comparison with a reference value range, the reference value range being specific to whether the locking device is in the closed state or the open state, and the locking device is in the closed state or the open state. -determining the state of the locking device on the basis of the result of the evaluation. The invention further relates to a rotor spinning machine and a computer program.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for monitoring the state of an electromagnetic locking device of a spinning station of a rotor spinning machine. The invention also relates to a rotor spinning machine, a computer program and a device for this purpose. Existing technology

[0002] Open rotor spinning machines with one or more spinning stations are known in the art. Each spinning rotor for a spinning station is located in a rotor housing, which is covered by a cover. The rotor housing can only be opened, i.e., the cover is opened, when the speed of the rotor has been sufficiently reduced. Otherwise, there is a risk that the operator will be injured by the rotor or parts of the spinning machine that continue to rotate. If the actuator for the rotor motor is also checked, effective monitoring of the drive ensures that no faulty yarn is produced. On the other hand, this also ensures that the rotor, which can currently reach speeds in the range of more than 100,000 rpm, will not be destroyed by incorrect operation and will not cause harm to the staff or damage the rotor spinning machine.

[0003] For example, spinning rotors driven by individual motors are usually electrically braked. This means that in this drive, the direction of the motor current is simply reversed in order to stop the spinning rotor. This braking current enables the spinning rotor driven by the individual motors to be braked in the shortest possible time without damaging the material. However, for these magnetically mounted spinning rotors driven by the individual motors, additional measures must be taken to ensure that the spinning rotor rotates only below a specified speed limit before the rotor housing is opened, and in particular, that the rotor housing is also correctly closed before the spinning rotor is restarted. Known open spinning devices with magnetically mounted spinning rotors driven by individual motors are therefore equipped with sensor devices that can monitor whether the rotor housing is correctly closed. However, known monitoring solutions are often not reliable enough to correctly determine whether the rotor housing is correctly closed. Therefore, there may be a risk of damaging the machine and a risk of injuring the operator. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to at least partially eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, one object of the present invention is to provide a method for a spinning station of a rotor spinning machine that is independent of manufacturing tolerances in the coils and their consequently fluctuating inductance. Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to improve the process of safely starting and / or stopping the rotor of a rotor spinning machine in order to prevent damage to people and material.

[0005] The present invention relates to a method having the features of claim 1, a rotor spinning machine having the features of claim 12, a computer program having the features of claim 13, and an apparatus having the features of claim 14. Further features and details of the invention are apparent from the corresponding dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in conjunction with the method according to the invention naturally also apply to the rotor spinning machine according to the invention, the computer program according to the invention, and the apparatus according to the invention, and vice versa, so that when disclosing various aspects of the invention, reference is always made to one another or can always be made to one another.

[0006] In particular, the present invention relates to a method for monitoring the state of a locking device of a spinning station of a rotor spinning machine, the method comprising the following steps:

[0007] - generating two current pulses in a time sequence, wherein the second current pulse has an amplitude with an opposite sign to the first current pulse, wherein the time sequence is controlled by a switching unit of a control device of the spinning station,

[0008] - determining a measured value for each current pulse based on the switching process of the switching unit,

[0009] - detect the difference between each measurement,

[0010] - evaluating the difference based on a comparison with a reference value range, wherein the reference value range is specific to whether the locking device is in the closed state or the open state,

[0011] - Determining the state of the locking device based on the result of the evaluation.

[0012] The state of the locking device of a spinning station for a rotor spinning machine can thus be determined independently of temperature changes at the spinning station. This is because the detected differences between the measured values ​​compensate for temperature influences. Temperature influences can particularly be the ambient temperature at the spinning station and / or the locking device, for example, at the start of operation and / or during operation. Furthermore, by evaluating the detected differences, the method according to the invention ensures that the electromagnetic properties of locking devices of different sizes can be referenced, which advantageously improves the reliability and effectiveness of determining the locking state of the locking device. Furthermore, this makes it possible to decouple the detected differences from the influence of fluctuating inductances.

[0013] The locking device preferably locks the cover element of the rotor housing of the spinning station. The locking device preferably prevents unauthorized opening of the cover element. For the reasons mentioned at the beginning, monitoring the state of the locking device is particularly important.

[0014] The locking device preferably comprises an electromagnetic actuator.The current pulses for monitoring the locking state may preferably be generated in the same electrical coil that is also used for locking and / or unlocking the locking device.

[0015] It is also advantageous within the scope of the invention if the determination of the measured value comprises the following steps:

[0016] - Determine the duration t of each current pulse increase according to the switching process of the switching unit x As a measured value, the switching process is performed when the switching unit reaches a specified current value or a corresponding voltage value.

[0017] The determined or measured duration of each current pulse thus provides a corresponding measured variable with a measured value in order to determine the state of the locking device.The voltage corresponding to the current can preferably be measured via a measuring resistor.

[0018] Preferably, the duration of the increase in the current pulse is monitored. If the duration has reached a predetermined maximum value t max If the switching process has not yet occurred or the specified current value or corresponding voltage value has not yet been reached, the process is terminated and / or an error is displayed. This error can be caused, for example, by a wrongly connected locking device, so that no current can flow and the specified current value cannot be reached.

[0019] Optionally, it is envisaged that the determination of the measured value comprises the following steps:

[0020] - determining an amplitude value of each current pulse as a measured value from a switching process of the switching unit, wherein the pulse duration of both current pulses is identical, wherein the switching unit performs the switching process when a specified duration of the current pulse is reached.

[0021] This makes it possible to use each determined current amplitude value each time for determining the state of the locking device as an alternative to determining the duration.

[0022] Optionally, it is also conceivable that the assessment comprises the following further steps:

[0023] - checking whether the detected difference is above, below, or within a reference value range, wherein the reference value range is defined by a reference upper value and a reference lower value, and

[0024] If the result of the check indicates that the difference is above the reference value range, the locking device is closed, or

[0025] If the result of the check indicates that the difference is below the reference value range, the locking device is in the open state, or

[0026] If the check result indicates that the difference is within the reference value range, the state of the locking device is faulty.

[0027] Checking the detected differences in this manner means that, based on the results of the check, the closed state of the locking device can be determined more effectively and efficiently based on the established reference value range.

[0028] In another possibility, it can be provided that the reference value range is specified according to the electromagnetic properties of the lifting magnet of the locking device. It is also possible that the reference value range is defined by a reference upper value and a reference lower value, wherein the reference upper value corresponds to the value 3000 and the reference lower value corresponds to the value 300.

[0029] This allows possible manufacturing tolerances during coil production and the resulting inductance to be advantageously taken into account or included for the reference value range in order to increase the validity or reliability of the determined state. Depending on the choice and size of the lifting magnet used for the locking device, the corresponding reference range can be flexibly specified.

[0030] It may be provided within the scope of the present invention that the method comprises the following steps:

[0031] - triggering output of at least one item of status information based on the determined status.

[0032] This prompts the control device to provide or display status information to the operator, for example via an output unit, so that the operator is informed of the locked or unlocked state of the locking device and can initiate corresponding control measures on the rotor spinning machine. It is also conceivable that the output of the status information can be advantageously used for further automated control interventions on the rotor spinning machine.

[0033] It may be advantageous, within the scope of the invention, that the status information comprises commands for a user of the auxiliary spinning machine, wherein initiating a process for outputting information comprises at least one of the following steps:

[0034] - triggering the activation of an optical display on the rotor spinning machine and / or the corresponding spinning station,

[0035] - triggering the display of information on a user interface of the control device, wherein the user interface visualizes a digital twin of at least a part of the rotor spinning machine,

[0036] - triggering an acoustic output, in particular a warning signal, related to the state of a locking device of the rotor spinning machine.

[0037] These alternative output variants enable faster and more efficient control and monitoring of the spinning stations of rotor spinning machines. Activating an optical display or an acoustic output means that the detected status can be made visible or audible, allowing for a quick reaction to the corresponding display or intervention in the control measures. In particular, this can mean stopping the rotor at the spinning station or preventing the rotor motor from starting.

[0038] Optionally, it may be provided that the method comprises the following further steps:

[0039] The determined state of the locking device is forwarded as a control signal to a main control device for controlling the rotor motor of the spinning station, wherein the rotor motor is controlled by switching the rotor motor on and / or off.

[0040] This allows the main control device to check whether the rotor motor is to be switched on or off, or whether the rotor is to be actuated, based on the determined state of the locking device. If the unlocked state is determined, the rotor motor is not switched on because the main control device can detect that the locking device is unlocked. This has the advantage of preventing any risk of damage to the rotor spinning machine and / or any risk of injury to the operator.

[0041] It may also be possible to ascertain the difference between each measured value based on the voltage induced in the locking device by each current pulse. This makes it possible to ascertain or measure the difference very easily and accurately.

[0042] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the switching unit has a comparator and / or an A / D converter in order to control the temporal sequence of each current pulse based on the switching process. This results in fast and precise switching or clocking when generating the temporal sequence of each current pulse in order to detect and evaluate the differences between the individual measured values.

[0043] The present invention also relates to a rotor spinning machine comprising at least one spinning station and a control device for monitoring the state of a locking device of the spinning station. The control device is designed to carry out the method according to the invention. The rotor spinning machine according to the invention thus has the same advantages as those described in detail with reference to the method according to the invention.

[0044] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the computer program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to the invention. The computer program according to the invention therefore has the same advantages as those described in detail with reference to the method according to the invention.

[0045] As a computer, a device for data processing, for example, a device for executing a computer program according to the present invention, may be provided. The computer may have at least one processor for executing the computer program. A non-volatile data memory may also be provided, in which the computer program may be stored and from which the processor may read the computer program for execution.

[0046] It is also conceivable that the computer includes at least one integrated circuit, for example, a microprocessor or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or an application-specific standard product (ASSP) or a digital signal processor (DSP) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or the like. The computer may also have at least one interface for data exchange, for example, an Ethernet interface or an interface for a LAN (local area network) or a WLAN (wireless local area network) or a system on a chip (SoC) or other radio interface, for example, Bluetooth or near field communication (NFC). In addition, the computer can be implemented as one or more control devices, i.e., it can also be implemented as a system of control devices. For example, the computer can also be arranged in the cloud and / or as a server to provide data processing for local applications via an interface. The computer can also be implemented as a mobile device, for example, a smartphone.

[0047] The present invention also relates to a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of the method according to the present invention. The computer-readable storage medium according to the present invention thus offers the same advantages as those described in detail with reference to the method according to the present invention. The storage medium can be designed, for example, as a data storage device, such as a hard disk and / or a non-volatile memory and / or a memory card. The storage medium can, for example, be integrated into a computer. Furthermore, the method according to the present invention can also be implemented as a computer-implemented method.

[0048] The invention also relates to a device for processing data, comprising means for carrying out the method according to the invention. The device according to the invention thus has the same advantages as those described in detail with reference to the method according to the invention.

[0049] Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. This is as follows:

[0050] Figure 1 a schematic diagram showing a method, a rotor spinning machine, a storage medium and a computer program according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention,

[0051] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

[0052] Figure 3 is another schematic diagram according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and

[0053] Figure 4 is another schematic diagram according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] In the following figures, the same reference numerals are used for the same technical features even for the same technical features of different exemplary embodiments.

[0055] Figure 1 A method 100 , a rotor spinning machine 1 , a storage medium 25 and a computer program 50 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention are schematically shown. Figure 1 According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for monitoring the state of a locking device of a spinning station 2 of a rotor spinning machine 1 is shown, which method comprises the following steps:

[0056] In step 101, two current pulses are generated in a time sequence, where the second current pulse has an amplitude with an opposite sign to the first current pulse. The time sequence is controlled by a switching unit of the control device 20 of the spinning station 2. In step 102, a measured value is determined for each current pulse based on the switching process of the switching unit. According to step 103, the difference between each measured value is then determined. In step 104, the difference is evaluated based on a comparison with a reference value range. The reference value range is specific to whether the locking device 10 is in the closed or open state. Then, in step 105, the state of the locking device 10 is determined based on the evaluation result.

[0057] also, Figure 1 A rotor spinning machine 1 is shown, comprising a spinning station 2, wherein the spinning station 2 has a control device 20 which comprises a computer-readable storage medium 25. The storage medium 25 contains a computer program 50.

[0058] Figure 2 An exemplary structure of a locking device 10 for a spinning station 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The locking device 10 preferably includes an electromagnetic actuator, such as a lifting magnet 11. The lifting magnet 11 has, for example, a coil 12 wound around a magnetic core. When current flows through the coil 12, this generates a magnetic field around the plunger 13, which can cause the lifting magnet 11 (in particular, a permanent magnet 14) to attract or repel metal objects such as a metal plunger 13, depending on the polarity of the magnetic field and the polarity of the object in question. Magnetic return is provided via a yoke 17. In addition, the lifting magnet 11 has a centering bushing 15 for securing the plunger 13 when the locking device 10 is in the locked state. The lifting magnet 11 (sometimes also referred to as an electromagnet) can be used as a device, such as a locking device 10, which is capable of generating an attractive magnetic force by applying a voltage. This magnetic field can be used to attract or repel objects such as the plunger 13, depending on how the lifting magnet 11 is constructed and how the voltage is applied.

[0059] exist Figure 2In the locked state shown on the right side (V), the plunger 13 is securely held in place by a permanent magnet 14 and a centering bushing 15. The permanent magnet 14 generates a strong magnetic field that attracts the plunger 13 and holds it in the centering bushing 15. This ensures a secure and precise locking of the mechanism. The system is also designed to withstand vibrations and external forces to prevent unintended unlocking.

[0060] To unlock the lock, Figure 2 As shown on the left (E), the coil 12 is activated by passing current through it. This generates an opposing magnetic field that moves the plunger 13 against the attractive force of the permanent magnet 14. A centering bushing 15 ensures that the plunger 13 is precisely aligned to ensure smooth unlocking. Once the plunger 13 has reached its unlocked position, the locking device 10, such as the rotor housing, can be opened.

[0061] In addition, the control device 20 may have a switching unit (not shown). The switching unit may include a comparator and / or an A / D converter for controlling the time sequence of each current pulse according to a specified voltage value. The comparator in the control device 20 can be defined in different ways, depending on the requirements and behavior expected during its application. This allows setting the desired input voltage range over which the comparator will operate. The range may include positive and negative reference values. In addition, the required comparator hysteresis may be taken into account. This may mean that when there is a difference between the set reference value and the threshold at which the comparator switches from "low" to "high", the comparator switches from "high" to "low", or vice versa. In addition, the initial state of the comparator may also be taken into account. This makes it possible to determine whether the output of the comparator should be "high" or "low" in the inactive state.

[0062] Lifting magnets 11 can be used in a variety of applications, such as industrial machinery, rotor spinning machines 1, conveyor systems, circuits for closed mechanisms, robotics, medical devices, and many other applications requiring controllable magnetic attraction or repulsion. They are particularly useful because their magnetic force can be easily controlled by switching an electric current on and off, which is beneficial in many applications.

[0063] Figure 3 A method 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated. In particular, Figure 3 The determination of the position of the lifting magnet 11 when the locking device 10 is in the locked state is schematically illustrated.

[0064] Figure 3The upper figure shows the switching states of the semiconductor switches T0, T1, T2 and T3 of the H-bridge (not shown) for supplying current to the coil 12 of the locking device 10. If the switches T0 and T3 are actuated, the voltage across the coil 12 will decrease. Therefore, when the switches T1 and T2 are actuated, the voltages with opposite signs decrease. The middle figure shows the resulting current through the coil 12 of the locking device 10. The lower figure shows the output of the comparator, which in this embodiment serves as a switching unit of the control device 20. In this embodiment, the current is measured as a voltage proportional to the current by means of a measuring resistor and compared with a reference voltage V proportional to the current by means of a comparator. Ref When the reference voltage V Ref When , the current is cut off by means of semiconductor switches T0 and T3 or T1 and T2.

[0065] In this way, each of the durations t1 and t2 is detected or measured based on each of the generated current pulses. A current pulse is applied to each lifting magnet 11 of the locking device 10, wherein one of the two current pulses has an amplitude with an opposite sign to the first current pulse. This means that, in one case, the magnetic field generated by the current pulse cancels the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 14 (duration t1), and in the other case, the current amplifies the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 14 (duration t2) and can therefore retain the plunger 13 (locked state).

[0066] Preferably, a maximum duration t is established max If the maximum duration t max The reference voltage V Ref , an error can be inferred and the semiconductor switches T0, T1, T2 and T3 of the H bridge can be switched off. In this way, for example, the plug connection between the lifting magnet 11 and the actuating device can be checked.

[0067] For example, subtracting the two measured durations t1 and t2 now gives a difference or differential value. This means that the difference can be considered to be "decoupled" from the inductance. In particular, the formation of this difference means that any temperature influences during operation of the rotor spinning machine 1 can therefore be avoided and that each state of the locking device 10 can therefore be determined safely and correctly, regardless of the temperature. This detected difference is then evaluated. The evaluation is based on a careful comparison with a reference value range. The reference value range can depend on the electromagnetic properties of the lifting magnet 11. The reference value range has a reference upper value and a reference lower value. In Figure 3 In the example, the upper baseline value of the baseline value range is 3000 and the lower baseline value is 300.

[0068] During the evaluation, for example, it is checked whether the detected difference is above the reference value range, below the reference value range, or within the reference value range, and if the result of the check indicates that the difference is above the reference value range, the locking device 10 is in the closed or locked state. If the result of the check indicates that the difference is below the reference value range, the locking device 10 is in the open state. If the result of the check indicates that the difference is within the reference value range, the state of the locking device 10 is a fault. Figure 3 In the locked position without the air gap 16, the times t1 and t2 are significantly different, ie, the difference is large.

[0069] Figure 4 The determination of the position of the lifting magnet 11 in the unlocked state of the locking device 10 is schematically shown. Figure 3 In comparison, Figure 4 In the unlocked state of locking device 10, due to the air gap 16 between permanent magnet 14 and plunger 13, the influence of permanent magnet 14 on method 100 according to the present invention cannot be determined to be so strong. Therefore, this influence can be ignored here. In addition, the detected durations t1 and t2 are almost equal, that is, the difference is small.

[0070] In another exemplary embodiment (not shown), the position of the lifting magnet 11 of the locking device 10 can alternatively be determined using the amplitude value of each current pulse as a measured value. In contrast to the determination of durations t1 and t2 (in which the switching unit of the control device 20 is designed as a comparator), an A / D converter is used as the switching unit when determining the current amplitude value of each current pulse to enable determination of the measured value. Furthermore, each current pulse has the same pulse width.

[0071] The foregoing description of the embodiments describes the present invention only by way of example. Of course, the individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another if this is technically useful, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0072] Reference Signs List

[0073] 1 rotor spinning machine

[0074] 2 Spinning Stations

[0075] 10. Lock your device

[0076] 11 Lifting Magnet

[0077] 12 coils

[0078] 13 Plunger

[0079] 14 permanent magnets

[0080] 15 Centering bushing

[0081] 16 Air Gap

[0082] 17 Yoke

[0083] 20 Control device

[0084] 25 Storage Media

[0085] 50 computer programs

[0086] 100 methods

[0087] 101 Generates two current pulses

[0088] 102 Determine one measurement value at a time

[0089] 103 Discovering the Difference

[0090] 104 Assessment Differences

[0091] 105 Determine the state of the locked device

Claims

1. A method (100) for monitoring the status of an electromagnetic locking device (10) of a spinning station (2) of a rotor spinning machine (1), comprising the following steps: - generating (101) two current pulses in a time sequence, wherein the second current pulse has an amplitude with an opposite sign to the first current pulse, wherein the time sequence is controlled by a switching unit of a control device (20) of the spinning station (2), - determining (102) a measured value for each current pulse based on the switching process of the switching unit, - ascertaining (103) the difference between each of said measured values, - evaluating (104) the difference based on a comparison with a reference value range, wherein the reference value range is specific to whether the locking device (10) is in the closed state or the open state, - determining (105) the state of said locking device (10) based on the result of said evaluation (104).

2. The method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that Said determination (102) of said measured value comprises the following steps: - determining the duration t of each current pulse increase based on the switching process of the switching unit x As a measurement value, The switching process occurs when the switching unit reaches a specified current value or a corresponding voltage value.

3. The method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that Said determination (102) of said measured value comprises the following steps: - determining an amplitude value of a corresponding current pulse as a measured value based on the switching process of the switching unit, the switching process of the switching unit occurring when a specified duration of the current pulse is reached.

4. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Said evaluation (104) comprises the further steps of: - checking whether the detected (103) difference is above, below or within the reference value range, said reference value range being defined by a reference upper value and a reference lower value, and If the result of the checking indicates that the difference is above the reference value range, the locking device (10) is in the closed state, or If the result of the checking indicates that the difference is below the reference value range, the locking device (10) is in the open state, or If the result of the checking indicates that the difference is within the reference value range, the state of the locking device (10) is a fault.

5. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The reference value range is specified based on the electromagnetic characteristics of the lifting magnet (11) of the locking device (10).

6. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The reference value range is defined by a reference upper value and a reference lower value, the reference upper value corresponds to a value of 3000, and the reference lower value corresponds to a value of 300.

7. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The method (100) comprises the following steps: - Initiating a process of outputting at least one item of status information based on the determined status.

8. The method (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that The status information comprises commands for assisting a user of the rotor spinning machine (1), the initiation of the process of outputting the information comprising at least one of the following steps: - triggering the activation of an optical display on the rotor spinning machine (1) and / or the corresponding spinning station (2), - triggering the display of information on a user interface of the control device (20), said user interface visualizing a digital twin of at least a part of the rotor spinning machine (1), - triggering an acoustic output, in particular a warning signal, related to the state of the locking device (10) of the rotor spinning machine (1).

9. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The method (100) comprises the following additional steps: - forwarding the determined (105) state of the locking device (10) as a control signal to a main control device for controlling the rotor motor of the spinning station (2), the rotor motor being controlled by switching it on and / or off.

10. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The difference between each of the measured values ​​is ascertained (103) based on a voltage induced in the locking device (10) by the corresponding current pulse.

11. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The switching unit has a comparator and / or an A / D converter in order to control the time sequence of each current pulse based on the switching process.

12. A rotor spinning machine (1) comprising at least one spinning station (2), a control device (20) for monitoring the state of a locking device (10) of the spinning station (2), characterized in that The control device (20) is designed to carry out the method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

13. A computer program (50) comprising instructions for causing a computer of a control device (20) to carry out the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 when the computer program (50) is executed by the computer.

14. A device (20) for processing data, comprising means for performing the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

Images