Method for operating a textile machine and textile machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a textile machine (1), in particular a spinning machine, wherein article-related operating parameters (5) for the textile machine (1) are provided by an article management system (3). According to the invention, it is proposed that the article-related operating parameters (5) are provided as constant values, that machine-related correction factors (6) are also provided, and that operating parameters (7) adapted to the individual characteristics of the textile machine (1) are calculated from the article-related operating parameters (5) and the correction factors (6). The invention further relates to a textile machine (1), in particular a spinning machine, with a control system (4) and an article management system (3) for carrying out the method.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating a textile machine, in particular a spinning machine, wherein article-related operating parameters for the textile machine are provided by an article management system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a textile machine, in particular a spinning machine, with a control system and an article management system.

[0002] It is well known that a yarn-producing textile machine, especially a spinning machine, can produce yarns from different raw materials and / or with different properties. A specific yarn is also referred to as an article, and the production period of a specific yarn or article is also referred to as a batch. A specific article is linked to a specific set of operating parameters for the textile machine, also called a recipe. An operating parameter set refers to a set of setting variables for selected working elements of the textile machine. These setting variables can include, for example, setpoints for the speed of rollers or for the working distance between two mutually adjustable elements.

[0003] DE 35 10 521 A1 describes a method for determining suitable operating parameters for a spinning machine using an independent test spinning station. The test spinning station is initially started with a basic setting of the operating parameters, which corresponds to certain, stored empirical values. Optimization tests of the set values ​​are then carried out, with yarn values ​​being recorded for each setting using a yarn testing device. If necessary, correction variables such as machine data of the spinning machine in question can also be entered into the control unit of the independent test spinning station, which are then also taken into account in the optimization tests. In any case, however, numerous tests are necessary until the operating parameters suitable for the machine are found.

[0004] Nowadays, changing operating parameters on textile machines can be done automatically or with software support. Operating parameter sets can, for example, be optimized in pilot plants and then stored in databases. Accordingly, it is desirable to apply the created recipes to a large number of textile machines, for example, those located at different locations and / or used by different operators.

[0005] DE 10 2004 014 257 A1, for example, describes an article or recipe management system for a textile machinery plant. The recipes can be centrally retrieved and saved in this system. The recipes can also be edited on the control units of the respective machines in the textile machinery plant and thus adapted to a specific, individual machine. This addresses the problem that operating parameter sets cannot simply be generalized for machines of different series and of different operating ages. Due to series-specific differences, aging phenomena, and manufacturing tolerances, the quality of a produced yarn can vary considerably from machine to machine when using the same recipe. These differences can be partially compensated for by increased material usage, but this is not desirable from an economic perspective.The recipes edited in DE 10 2004 014 257 A1 are stored centrally in the textile machine system, creating a unique "machine recipe" for a specific machine. This may be an adequate solution for the closed system of a single plant, but is difficult or impossible to apply to recipes for machines at different locations and / or different operators.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the state of the art with regard to the disadvantages mentioned.

[0007] The problem is solved by a method and a textile machine having the features of the independent patent claims.

[0008] In the method according to the invention for operating a textile machine, in particular a spinning machine, article-related operating parameters are provided to the textile machine by an article management system. According to the invention, it is proposed that the article-related operating parameters be provided as constant values, that machine-related correction factors are also provided, and that operating parameters adapted to the specific conditions of the textile machine are calculated from the article-related operating parameters and the correction factors.

[0009] The article management system is a database connected to the textile machine's control system and featuring a user interface capable of supplying the textile machine with article-specific operating parameters. As already mentioned, article-specific operating parameters are a collection of setting values ​​for various components of a textile machine that enable the textile machine to produce a specific product from a specific raw material with specific properties. A typical raw material is cotton, for example, and the most important properties of a yarn include thickness, hairiness, and twist. Typical setting values ​​can be, for example, specific speeds or speed ratios of specific components that are particularly suitable for producing an article.

[0010] With the method according to the invention, article-specific operating parameters or recipes are strictly separated from the operating parameters individually adapted for the individual machines. The machine-specific correction factors make it possible to provide recipes that, when applied to machines of different series and different operating ages, result in products of the same quality. Different software versions of the individual machines and / or manufacturing tolerances of the components can also be compensated for in this way. The machine-specific correction factors can be specified by the manufacturer during machine assembly and supplied with the machine, or even integrated into the article management system if necessary. Likewise, the machine-specific correction factors can also be determined by an operator only during machine commissioning or after a batch change, as described below.

[0011] As already mentioned, the article-specific operating parameters can be generated, for example, in the textile machinery manufacturer's test facilities. These can be made available to the respective operator in the form of a database. This database can be stored locally at the operator's location or, for example, on an internet-connected server of the manufacturer. Preferably, such a database contains, in addition to the operating parameters, information about the product to be manufactured from it and the time at which the operating parameters were generated.

[0012] It is also conceivable for article-specific operating parameters to be generated and stored by the respective operator of the textile machine themselves. This can, of course, also be combined with the previously described option, so that a collection of article-specific operating parameters provided by the manufacturer can be supplemented by the respective operator. However, once established, article-specific operating parameters for a specific product are preferably not changed.

[0013] In the specific case of a spinning machine, and in particular a rotor spinning machine, the article-related operating parameters can include, for example, the tensioning draft and the speeds, particularly of the rotor and the opening roller. These parameters are in turn determined, for example, by control values ​​of electric motors that control the corresponding components. On the one hand, it is conceivable that the higher-level parameters (e.g., speeds) are stored in the article management system, which are converted into corresponding control values ​​by the textile machine's control system when used. On the other hand, it is also conceivable that the basic parameters, such as the control values ​​of the motors, are stored in the article management system and applied directly. The same applies to the correction factors and the adjusted operating parameters.

[0014] The correction factors are numerical values ​​used to adapt the article-specific operating parameters to the specific conditions prevailing on a specific textile machine. Unlike the data provided by the article management system, the correction factors are generally only valid for a specific machine. Accordingly, the correction factors must be created and saved on that specific machine.

[0015] The correction factors can be set by a textile machine operator, for example, by directly refining them until the desired quality or properties of the manufactured product are achieved. For this purpose, the textile machine or the textile machine control system preferably has a corresponding user interface. It is particularly conceivable that an initial set of correction factors is already determined by the manufacturer during production of the textile machine or during initial commissioning.

[0016] For example, it is conceivable for an operator to manually adjust the settings of certain components based on the item-related operating parameters provided by the item management system until the desired quality or properties of the manufactured product are achieved. The textile machine, or rather the textile machine's control system, can then independently calculate correction factors based on the differences between the data from the item management system and the manually set settings of the textile machine's components, which are then stored on the textile machine.

[0017] In addition to the above, or possibly exclusively, it is also conceivable that sensors of the textile machine, in particular sensors for yarn monitoring, are used to adjust certain component settings or directly the correction factors until the desired quality and / or properties of the manufactured product are achieved. It is thus possible, for example, for the textile machine or the textile machine's control system to independently determine correction factors.

[0018] As already mentioned, the correction factors are stored locally on the textile machine in a memory connected to the control system. In particular, in addition to the correction factors themselves, information about the correlation between the correction factors and the individual article-specific operating parameters is also stored. In addition, information about the textile machine, such as the type and / or age of the installed components and possibly the operating age of the entire textile machine, can be stored. The correction factors can preferably be changed via a corresponding user interface.

[0019] According to the invention, the article-specific operating parameters and correction factors are calculated to produce the adjusted operating parameters in the textile machine's control system. The calculation can be performed automatically by the control system as soon as the operator has made the machine settings for a new batch in the usual way. However, it is also conceivable for the operating parameters to be adjusted only upon request from the operator. Despite the term "correction factors," other mathematical operations are conceivable in addition to multiplication. These include, for example, addition, subtraction, and / or exponentiation.

[0020] The result of such an operation are the adjusted operating parameters, which are preferably transmitted by the textile machine's control system to the individual components to be adjusted and applied there. Preferably, the adjusted operating parameters are not stored permanently and are recalculated for each batch. This promotes the separation between article-specific operating parameters of the article management system and adjusted operating parameters that are only valid for a specific machine.

[0021] It is beneficial for the process if the correction factors are readjusted as needed. This means that the correction factors are reset if the desired result is not achieved for the article despite the correct selection of the operating parameters and correction factors. The individual conditions of a textile machine can change over time. These changes primarily include signs of aging of components. To ensure consistent product quality, it is therefore advantageous to adjust the correction factors. The adjustment can be done manually, for example, by an operator who enters new correction factors.However, it is also conceivable that the operator readjusts individual setting values ​​of the textile machine and derives new correction factors from the differences between the setting values ​​and the article-related operating parameters provided by the article management system, which are then saved.

[0022] It is also advantageous if the correction factors are readjusted automatically. This can be done, for example, depending on the age of certain components or the textile machine as a whole. Specific sensor data can also be used to adjust correction factors.

[0023] It is particularly advantageous if the correction factors are readjusted based on the power consumption of individual components, the yarn breakage rate, and / or the hairiness of a yarn. Power consumption can, for example, indicate certain signs of wear that must be compensated for to guarantee consistent product quality. A high yarn breakage rate should be avoided from an economic perspective, as the yarn-manufacturing or yarn-processing machine is at least briefly idle each time a yarn breaks. The yarn breakage rate can be reduced by adjusting certain operating parameters. In particular, an improvement can be achieved by reducing the production speed using the correction factors. Hairiness is a typical quality characteristic of a spun yarn, and any change must be responded to by adjusting the operating parameters.Here, too, corrective action can be taken by changing the production speed using the correction factors.

[0024] It is also advantageous if the correction factors are reapplied to the provided operating parameters during a batch change. This makes it possible to maintain a separation between article-specific operating parameters of the article management system and the operating parameters adapted to the respective textile machine. By reapplying these factors during a batch change, consistent quality of the manufactured products can be ensured. As already described, a batch change involves switching from the production of one product to the production of another or to a different batch of the product. Thanks to the existing correction factors, a batch change can be carried out without time-consuming manual adjustment of the textile machine.

[0025] The respective textile machine has a memory for storing the correction factors, which is connected to the control system of the textile machine.

[0026] In an advantageous development of the method, a permissible value range for one or more of the correction factors is stored in the article management system. A calculated or otherwise determined correction factor is therefore only applied if it lies within the permissible value range. By limiting the correction factors in this way, it can be ensured that all setting values ​​remain within the intended and safe parameters despite the adjustment by the correction factors. This can improve the safety of the textile machines and the longevity of the components. It is also conceivable that limits for the adjusted operating parameters are stored in the article management system, which in turn restrict the possible value range for the correction factors. The value range for correction factors can be displayed on a display element of the textile machine in a corresponding user interface.

[0027] It is particularly advantageous if the individual conditions of the textile machine that can be compensated for by the correction factors are signs of aging and / or manufacturing tolerances and / or individual design-related conditions. These conditions have a particularly strong influence on the quality of the manufactured product. Therefore, there is particular interest in compensating for them. By compensating for signs of aging and, in particular, wear and tear using correction factors, wearing parts can possibly be replaced later, thus saving costs during ongoing operation. In a spinning machine, particularly a rotor spinning machine, signs of aging can include, for example, wear on opening rollers or their clothings, take-off nozzles and spinning rotors, and the age-related expansion of belts. Wear and tear on the linings of winding rollers and take-off rollers can also be a factor.The influence of manufacturing and / or assembly tolerances can manifest itself, for example, in slightly different gaps, component dimensions, moments of inertia of rotating components, and / or different efficiencies of electrical components. Design-related factors include, for example, different key performance indicators for different components, different software versions, and / or different electronic performance capabilities.

[0028] A further advantage is provided if the operating parameters include a speed and / or a speed ratio and / or a switching-on time and / or a number of movements, in particular revolutions, of one or more components.

[0029] In particular, by changing the speed of rotating components, many of the prevailing conditions on the textile machine that negatively impact the quality of the manufactured product can be compensated for. The speed is primarily determined by the operating parameters of the driving motor. These can be adjusted using correction factors. Both an increase or a decrease in the speed can be advantageous. In the case of a rotor spinning machine, for example, if the clothing of an opening roller is showing age-related wear, the speed of the opening roller can be adjusted using correction factors to ensure even opening of fiber slivers. Other rotating components include, in particular, spinning rotors, take-off rollers, and drive rollers for bobbins.

[0030] An example of a speed ratio on a spinning machine would be the tensioning draft, which can change due to wear of the linings of the winding roller and take-off roller.

[0031] For example, in rotor cleaning, the operating time of a pneumatic or mechanical cleaning element can be specified for certain articles and adjusted to the current machine's conditions using correction factors. Wear on the cleaning element can also be compensated for using correction factors. For pneumatic thread detection, specific operating times for a suction nozzle could also be specified as operating parameters. The operating parameters could also include operating times for pneumatic or mechanical yarn end preparation.

[0032] For other components, however, the speed or operating time is less important than the number of revolutions or movements, for example, to provide a defined length of yarn or fiber material or to achieve a defined position of a component. An example of this would be the return of a thread from a spool by a spool drive.

[0033] It is also advantageous if the correction factors are provided for an individual work station on the textile machine and / or for a group of work stations and / or for the entire textile machine. Modern textile machines sometimes consist of a large number of independently operating units. The smallest producing unit is usually referred to as a work station. The self-contained work stations of a textile machine receive electricity and control commands from the textile machine, but are otherwise independent of the other work stations. Accordingly, they are each equipped with a complete set of components, and different individual conditions can prevail at different work stations. Different work stations on the same textile machine can also produce different products. It may therefore be desirable to specify different correction factors for different work stations.

[0034] It is also advantageous if the provided operating parameters and / or the correction factors and / or the adjusted operating parameters are shown on a display element of the textile machine. It is particularly advantageous if the provided operating parameters are shown together with the correction factors and / or together with the adjusted operating parameters on a display element of the textile machine. This is particularly useful for manual readjustment of the correction factors and / or the adjusted operating parameters. If a value range for the correction factors and / or the adjusted operating parameters is specified by the article management, this can also be displayed. Depending on the size of the correction factors, an operator may also be able to estimate whether maintenance or replacement of a component of the textile machine will soon be necessary.However, it is also conceivable that despite a correction of the provided operating parameters using the correction factors, not the adjusted operating parameters but still only the provided operating parameters are displayed.

[0035] According to a further development of the method, it is advantageous if new, article-related operating parameters are generated by calculating the correction factors from the current setting values ​​of the textile machine and / or the adjusted operating parameters.

[0036] For example, on a textile machine, the production of a new article for which no article-specific operating parameters are yet available can begin with the article-specific operating parameters of a similar article. The correction factors stored on the machine are then applied to these article-specific operating parameters of the similar article, as described above, in order to provide the appropriate, adjusted operating parameters for the similar article. These are then further adjusted by the operator, possibly in several attempts, until the desired yarn quality is achieved for the new article with the current setting values. The correction factors are then "subtracted" from the current setting values, thereby obtaining the new, article-specific operating parameters for the new article. These can then also be saved in the article management system.

[0037] In a similar way, article-specific operating parameters for a specific article can of course also be changed. For example, if the correct selection of the article-specific operating parameters and correction factors does not lead to the desired result, and it can be ruled out that this is due to the conditions of the current machine, this could be an indication that the article-specific parameters need to be changed. In this case, the correction factors are not readjusted; rather, the adjusted operating parameters are readjusted until the desired result is achieved. From these adjusted and readjusted operating parameters, new, article-specific operating parameters for this specific article are then calculated, as described above, after deducting the correction factors, and fed back into the article management system.

[0038] For the textile machine according to the invention with a controller and an article management system, it is proposed that the article management system be designed as a database with a connection to the controller of the textile machine and a user interface capable of supplying the textile machine with article-related operating parameters. The controller is designed to receive article-related operating parameters provided by the article management system as constant values ​​and to calculate operating parameters adapted to the individual conditions of the textile machine from the article-related operating parameters and machine-related correction factors. The textile machine has a memory connected to the controller of the textile machine for storing the correction factors.

[0039] The textile machine is particularly designed to carry out the method described above. The advantages of the method described above are therefore transferable to the textile machine according to the invention.

[0040] The textile machine can, for example, be a spinning machine, and in particular a rotor spinning machine. It can have a plurality of essentially independent workstations, which are preferably divided into several functional groups. For data exchange, the textile machine preferably has a corresponding interface, such as a network connection. Typical relevant operating parameters on the textile machine are, in particular, the current and voltage of installed electric motors. The textile machine preferably has a display to show the article-related operating parameters and / or the correction factors and / or possibly a predefined value range for the correction factors or the adjusted operating parameters. This can also be used for a user interface for manual readjustment of the correction factors.

[0041] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. It shows: Figure 1 a diagram showing the implementation of the method according to the invention on a textile machine, and Figure 2 a diagram showing the implementation of the method according to the invention on two textile machines.

[0042] In the following description of the figures, the same reference numerals are used for identical and / or at least comparable features in the various figures. The individual features, their design, and / or mode of operation are usually only explained in detail when first mentioned. If individual features are not explained in detail again, their design and / or mode of operation correspond to the design and mode of operation of the features with the same or identical functions already described.

[0043] Figure 1shows a schematically illustrated textile machine 1, which is intended to illustrate the sequence of the method according to the invention. The textile machine 1 is designed, for example, as a rotor spinning machine. It has a plurality of essentially independent workstations 2. The textile machine 1 also has an article management system 3, which supplies a controller 4 of the textile machine 1 with article-related operating parameters 5. In the controller 4 of the textile machine 1, the article-related operating parameters 5 are calculated with correction factors 6 stored on the textile machine 1 in order to generate operating parameters 7 adapted to the individual conditions of the textile machine 1.

[0044] The article-related operating parameters 5 of the article management system 3 can, for example, be generated by the manufacturer of the textile machine 1 and made available to an operator. It is also conceivable that the article-related operating parameters 5 are generated by the operator himself and / or, for example, are made available only for the textile machines 1 of a specific system.

[0045] Typical operating parameters that can be assigned to the production of a specific yarn on a rotor spinning machine include, in particular, current and voltage, or, more generally, control signals from electric motors, which particularly influence the speeds of certain rotating components. For example, the speeds of the opening roller, spinning rotor, and take-off roller must be adjusted in this way.

[0046] The individual conditions on a textile machine 1 that can be compensated for using correction factors 6 include, for example, signs of aging or wear, manufacturing tolerances in components of the textile machine 1, and certain series-specific properties. Signs of wear can, for example, have a negative impact on the quality of the end product on opening rollers or opening roller clothings. Wear on bearings, belts, and / or motors, as well as on friction linings on rollers, can also have similar effects. Likewise, for example, in the central rotor drive of a spinning machine, wear on the rotor belt can have a negative impact on the spun yarn. These can be at least partially compensated for using appropriate correction factors 6. Manufacturing tolerances include, for example, slightly different moments of inertia or power curves of electric motors.Series-specific properties include in particular parameters of the installed components and the software of the control system 4 of the textile machine 1.

[0047] The correction factors 6 are stored, for example, in the form of decimal values ​​that are multiplied by the article-specific operating parameters 5. The result of this mathematical operation is the operating parameters 7 adapted to the individual conditions of the textile machine 1.

[0048] The correction factors 6 are initially determined, for example, by an operator of the textile machine 1 and stored in a memory of the textile machine 1. On the one hand, the correction factors 6 can be set directly by an operator. However, it is also conceivable for an operator to set adjusted operating parameters 7 to improve the quality of the product manufactured by the textile machine 1. From the deviations between article-related operating parameters 5 and adjusted operating parameters 7, the textile machine 1 can, in particular, independently derive correction factors 6 and, if necessary, store them in the memory of the textile machine 1. In order to react to later changes in the individual conditions on the textile machine 1, the correction factors 6 can, for example, also be readjusted by an operator.For example, with such a correction factor 6, the speed of the rotor drive can be automatically adjusted according to wear, whereby previously determined correction factors 6 can also be used.

[0049] The schematically illustrated textile machine 1 additionally has a display 8, which serves, among other things, to display the article-related operating parameters 5 together with the correction factors 6 and / or the adjusted operating parameters 7. The display 8 facilitates any necessary readjustment of the correction factors 6 or the adjusted operating parameters 7 for an operator.

[0050] Figure 2is intended to illustrate the broadest possible applicability of the article-related operating parameters 5 of the article management system 3. The diagram shows two textile machines 1 that receive the same article-related operating parameters 5 from an article management system 3. Despite the possibly very different individual conditions on both textile machines 1, the same article-related operating parameters 5 lead to essentially the same end product. This is achieved by the application of different correction factors 6 on both textile machines 1. The adjusted operating parameters 7 calculated from the article-related operating parameters 5 and the correction factors 6 are correspondingly different on both textile machines 1 and compensate for any individual conditions that may have a detrimental effect on product quality.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments. Modifications within the scope of the claims are possible. List of reference symbols

[0052] 1Textile machine 2Workstation 3Article management system 4Control 5Article-related operating parameters 6Correction factors 7Adjusted operating parameters 8Display

Claims

1. A method for operating a textile machine (1), in particular a spinning machine, wherein article-related operating parameters (5) for the textile machine (1) are provided by an article management system (3), characterized in that the article management system (3) is designed as a database with a connection to the control (4) of the textile machine (1) and a user interface, which is capable to supply the textile machine (1) with article-related operating parameters (5), wherein the article-related operating parameters (5) are provided as constant values, machine-related correction factors (6) are furthermore provided, wherein the correction factors are stored in a memory of the textile machine (1), which is connected to the control (4) of the textile machine (1), and in that operating parameters (7) adapted to the individual conditions of the textile machine (1) are calculated from the article-related operating parameters (5) and the correction factors (6) in the control (4) of the textile machine (1).

2. The method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the correction factors (6) are readjusted if necessary.

3. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the correction factors (6) are readjusted automatically.

4. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the correction factors (6) are readjusted on the basis of a power consumption of individual components, a yarn break rate and / or a hairiness of a yarn.

5. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the correction factors (6) are applied again to provided article-related operating parameters (5) in the case of a batch change.

6. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a value range for one or more of the correction factors (6) is stored in the article management system (3).

7. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individual conditions of the textile machine (1) are aging phenomena and / or manufacturing tolerances and / or assembly tolerances and / or design-related.

8. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating parameters (5, 7) comprise a rotational speed and / or a rotational speed ratio and / or a switch-on time and / or a number of movements, in particular revolutions, of one or more components.

9. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the correction factors (6) are provided for an individual working station (2) of the textile machine (1) and / or for a group of working stations (2) and / or for the entire textile machine (1).

10. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the provided article-related operating parameters (5) and / or the correction factors (6) and / or the adapted operating parameters (7) are displayed on a display (8) of the textile machine (1).

11. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that new, article-related operating parameters (5) are generated, wherein the correction factors (6) are calculated from current setting values of the textile machine (1) and / or the adapted operating parameters (7).

12. A textile machine (1), in particular a spinning machine, with a control (4) and an article management system (3), characterized in that the article management system (3) is designed as a database with a connection to the control (4) of the textile machine (1) and a user interface, which is capable to supply the textile machine (1) with article-related operating parameters (5), wherein the control (4) is designed to receive article-related operating parameters (5) provided as constant values by the article management system (3) and to calculate operating parameters (7) adapted to the individual conditions of the textile machine (1) from the article-related operating parameters (5) and machine-related correction factors (6), wherein the textile machine (1) has a memory connected to the control (4) of the textile machine (1) for storing the correction factors.

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