An attending device for a ring spinning machine for producing yarn, a ring spinning machine with an attending device, and a method of using the attending device to detect the working state at a workstation of the ring spinning machine
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing attending devices for ring spinning machines struggle to accurately distinguish between spinning interruptions that can be automatically resumed and those requiring further maintenance, often leading to futile attempts and reduced productivity due to expensive and complex sensor systems.
An attending device equipped with a non-contact sensor and evaluation system that detects the presence or absence of a fibre ribbon on the draw-off roller, coupled with a control system to determine if spinning can be resumed, thereby preventing unnecessary operations and optimizing workstation management.
The solution enables accurate identification of spinning interruptions, allowing the attending device to efficiently resume spinning operations only when conditions are met, reducing waste and improving productivity by avoiding futile attempts and operator intervention.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024064871_05122024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] An attending device for a ring spinning machine for producing yarn, a ring spinning machine with an attending device, and a method of using the attending device to detect the working state at a workstation of the ring spinning machine
[0002] Technical field
[0003] The invention relates to an attending device for a ring spinning machine for producing yarn which comprises, arranged in its supporting structure, means for mounting displaceable on the machine along at least one row of workstations and for moving along that row of workstations, means for carrying out service operations at the workstations of the machine and which further comprises a power supply system and a control system.
[0004] In addition, the invention relates to a ring spinning machine on which the above-mentioned attending device is arranged and to a method of using the attending device to detect the working state at the workstation of the ring spinning machine.
[0005] Background art
[0006] Certain technical solutions are known from the patent literature which seek to provide identification of improperly operating spinning units on spinning machines for producing staple yam, which comprise a plurality of next to each other in at least one row arranged workstations which comprise means for producing yam.
[0007] Document US5347449 discloses a method and a system for eliminating malfunctions in textile machines, especially spinning machines. Malfunction signals are transmitted from the machine to a process control computer which controls the elimination of the malfunctions. The process control computer then activates an alarm call transmitter which calls a desired specialist to eliminate the malfunction in the machine. Document GB1186946 discloses an optical detector, arranged on an attending spinning-in device, which is used to confirm the completion of the yam spinning-in operation. This detector consists of a projector, illuminating the yam between draw-off rollers with a corresponding yam guide member of a ring spinning machine, and a receiver for reflected light from the yam and a photoelectric transducer which transforms the output of the light receiver, whereby frequencies corresponding to the frequency of the vibration of the yam are detected and the absence of yam is distinguished by comparing the outputs of the device.
[0008] Document JP2017172096 describes a method for automatically detecting yam breakage and / or spindle defects. A control system is provided for this detection, which includes an individual workstation monitoring system and a transportation system that navigates and facilitates the movement of a robotic mechanism. The robotic mechanism moves along a row of workstations of the ring spinning machine and eliminates a yam breakage and possibly other defects at the workstation, so that the activity of the workstation of the ring spinning machine is quickly resumed and occurrences of defective yams due to other spinning defects are also eliminated.
[0009] Document DE4312026 discloses a method of distinguishing the operating state from the point of view of yam production at individual workstations by processing signals from a sensor arranged on an attending device of a ring spinning machine. In doing so, a distinction is made between the following three states: a) the yam is running in a certain position, i.e., the workstation works normally, there is no need for the intervention of the attending device b) at there is no yam running and no stationary yam the workstation, so the attending device must attempt to remove the yam break c) a stationary yam is present at the workstation, i.e., there is a fault that the attending device is unable to remove, so the workstation is marked as needing further servicing by another device or operator.
[0010] The workstation is identified as being in need of attention when a yam break is registered, state (b), and also when the yam is present but not moving, state (c). As the attending device travels along the spinning units, the appropriate sensor identifies the yam state as running, broken or stationary, and if the yam break cannot be repaired, the spinning unit is marked as requiring further maintenance. To distinguish between yam running and yam static, the sensor signal is integrated after filtering according to the receiver frequency and the signal level is compared with a reference level. The reference levels are modified according to the speed of the attending device. The disadvantage of this solution is that state (b), where the attending device must attempt to repair the break, also includes some states which cannot be repaired by the attending device, such as missing material between the draw-off roller and the pressure roller of the drafting device. Moreover, the sensor is expensive and the device for evaluating its signal is complex.
[0011] The object of the present invention is to propose an attending device capable of accurately and reliably distinguish whether spinning can be resumed by the means of an attending device at the workstation of a spinning machine, especially a ring spinning machine, where spinning has been interrupted, or decide that the attending device will not make futile attempts to resume spinning and continue its movement along the workstations.
[0012] Principle of the invention
[0013] The object of the invention is achieved by an attending device comprising a supporting structure in which are arranged means for mounting displaceable on a ring spinning machine for producing yam and for moving along at least one row of workstations of the machine according to independent claim 1.
[0014] The attending device further comprises service means for performing service operations at the working stations of the machine, the service operation being for instance a piecing operation, i. e. resuming spinning.
[0015] Further a power supply and control system are arranged on / in the structure of the attending device.
[0016] The attending device comprises a front side, a back side and two lateral sides. The front side is adapted to be arranged against the row of workstations of the ring spinning machine and is intended for the passage of the service means in order to perform a service operation at a workstation of the ring spinning machine.
[0017] The attending device on the ring spinning machine is provided with a non-contact sensor of the profile of the surface of a rotating element, which has a sensing area directed in front of the front side of the attending device, the front side of the attending device being intended to be arranged against the machine (e. g. towards the workstation of the ring spinning machine), wherein the sensing area is adapted to sense the frontal profile of the rotating element of the spinning machine.
[0018] When using the attending device on the ring spinning machine, the sensing area of the non-contact sensor of the profile of the surface of the rotating element is adapted to sense the frontal profile of a draw-off shaft of a drafting device of the workstation of the machine.
[0019] To simplify evaluation, the sensing area is arranged horizontally, wherein a plane interspersed with the sensing area passes through the axis of the sensed rotating element (e. g. rotation axis of the rotating element such as draw-off shaft of the drafting device) of the spinning machine, i.e., in the case of a ring spinning machine, through the axis of the draw-off shaft of the drafting device, which usually is arranged horizontally.
[0020] The at least one contact sensor is mounted / arranged on the support structure of the attending device.
[0021] The at least one non-contact sensor is, according to an embodiment of the invention, coupled or can be coupled to the control system.
[0022] The non-contact sensor of the profile of the surface of the rotating element comprises, or is coupled to, or can be coupled to an evaluation system which is provided with means for identifying a fibre ribbon on a draw-off roller of the ring spinning machine in a position appropriate for resuming spinning, wherein these means are coupled to or can be coupled to the control system of the attending device for controlling the service means of the attending device to resume spinning at the workstation of the machine. This, upon detecting the presence of a fibre ribbon on the draw-off roller of the drafting device of the machine in the area allowing to resume spinning, makes it possible to easily put the respective service means for resuming spinning into operation.
[0023] According to an embodiment of the invention the presence or absence of the ribbon of fibres on the draw-off roller is detected by the control system.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the evaluation system is part of the noncontact sensor or is part of the control system of the attending device or is part of an external device.
[0025] To monitor more than one rotating element of the workstation, the noncontact sensor of the profile of the surface in the supporting structure of the attending device is arranged displaceable for moving the position of the sensing area.
[0026] The non-contact sensor of the profile of the surface of a rotating element is formed by a laser sensor of the profile.
[0027] The object of the invention is also achieved by a ring spinning machine for producing yam according to claim 9, which comprises at least one attending device according to any of the above-mentioned embodiments.
[0028] In addition, the object of the invention is achieved by a method of using the attending device according to any of the above-mentioned embodiments for detecting the operating state at the workstation of the ring spinning machine, wherein the attending device stops in front of the workstation requiring operation after interruption of yam production according to claim 10.
[0029] Furthermore, the object of the invention is also achieved by a method of using the attending device according to any of the above-mentioned embodiments to detect the operating state at the workstation of the ring spinning machine, wherein the attending device moves along the row of workstations of the machine according to claim 11 .
[0030] In both methods, the shape of the frontal profile of the rotating element of the ring spinning machine is sensed, preferably in a horizontal direction.
[0031] Preferably, the rotating element is a draw-off roller of a drafting device of the ring spinning machine. Brief description of drawings
[0032] The invention is schematically represented in the attached drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows a ring spinning machine, Fig. 2. shows a cross-section of a workstation of the ring spinning machine in the presence of an attending device, Fig.3 shows a view of the suction of a fibre ribbon into a suction nozzle after the interruption of spinning at the workstation, Fig. 4 shows a view of a sensing area with a draw-off shaft and a section through the fibre ribbon, Fig. 5 shows a detail of a draw-off roller and the suction of the fibre ribbon after a break occurs and of the sensing area, Fig. 6 shows a detail of the draw-off roller and the sensing area during spinning and Fig. 7 shows an overview of operationally favourable, unfavourable and fault states on the draw-off shaft sensed by a non-contact sensor, including various types of laps on the draw-off shaft and draw-off rollers of the drafting device of the machine.
[0033] Examples of embodiment
[0034] An attending device 1. is adapted and intended to be mounted displaceable along a row of workstations 2 of a textile spinning machine for producing yarn and comprises a supporting structure in which are mounted means 11 for displaceable mounting on the spinning machine and for moving along the row of workstations 2 of this machine. It further comprises service means SM for performing service operations at the workstations 2 of the spinning machine for which the attending device 1 is intended. Each workstation 2 of the spinning machine comprises means for producing yam. Several attending devices 1 for example two, may be mounted on the spinning machine, as shown in Fig. 1.
[0035] The textile spinning machine for which the attending device 1 is intended is a ring spinning machine and it is for this type of machine that it will be described further, wherein the arrangement of the attending device will be similar for other types of spinning machines, such as air-jet or rotor spinning machines.
[0036] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each workstation 2 of the ring spinning machine comprises means for producing yarn which comprise a roving bobbin 20 from which the roving 201 is drawn off to a drafting device 21 by which it is refined into a ribbon 202 of fibrous material which is further guided through a guiding eyelet 22 and over a traveller 23 to a rotating tube 24 on which it is wound already in the form of yam 203 with a twist which is formed between the outlet of the drafting device 21 and the traveller 23 as a result of the movement of the traveller 23 on the ring 25 caused by the rotational movement of the tube 24 during the winding of the yam 203. Between the guiding eyelet 22 and the traveller 23, the yam 203 passes through a balloon separator 26. The ring 25 and the balloon separator 26 are mounted on a ring plate 27 which is vertically reciprocally movable. The tube 24 is mounted on a drive mandrel 2, which is mounted rotationally on the frame of the machine and coupled to a drive by some of the known methods. When wound on the tube 24, the yam 203 is distributed across the tube 24 by the movement of the ring plate 27 and its package together with the tube 24 forms the so-called cop 240.
[0037] Along the length of the ring spinning machine, a travelling track 29 for the attending device 1 is created in a suitable place which, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, includes a travelling rail 290 and a stabilizing rail 291.
[0038] The attending device 1, intended for the ring spinning machine, comprises a control unit 10 which is coupled to means 11 for mounting and for moving the attending device 1 along the travelling track 29 along the row of workstations 2_of the machine with the possibility of stopping at a workstation 2 requiring service. The attending device 1 further comprises service means SM for resuming spinning at the workstation 2 of the ring spinning machine for which the attending device 1 is intended.
[0039] For yam spinning on the ring spinning machine, at each workstation 2 of the ring spinning machine, from the roving bobbin 20, is drawn off the roving 201 which is guided to the drafting device 21 in which the roving 201 is refined by drafting, and its fibres are parallelized to form a fibre ribbon 202 which, after passing through the drafting device 21, is transformed by twisting into yam 203. At the outlet of the drafting device 21, there is a draw-off roller 211 and a pressure roller 212 tilted to it in the working position, wherein from the grip of the draw-off roller 211 and the pressure roller 212, the fibre ribbon 202 emerges during spinning and subsequently is transformed by twisting into yam 203. The draw-off roller 211 of each workstation 2 of the ring spinning machine is arranged on a continuous draw-off shaft 210 which is common to all the identical workstations 2 of the machine arranged next to each other.
[0040] During spinning the yarn at the workstation of the ring spinning machine, a yarn 203 break may occur. To monitor whether the workstation is spinning or whether spinning has been interrupted, i.e. , a break occurs, each workstation 2 is provided with means for monitoring the state of its operation. The information about the workstation 2 where a break occurred is transmitted to a control system CS of the attending device 1 installed on the machine and the attending device 1 moves to the machine workstation 2 which requires service. After stopping at that workstation 2, the attending device 1 is ready to resume spinning at the workstation 2 by means of its service means SM which comprise means for resuming spinning at the workstation 2 of the ring spinning machine. However, successful resumption of spinning at the workstation 2 is possible only if between the draw-off roller 211 and the pressure roller 212, is situated a ribbon 202 of fibres formed from the roving 201, which is still being drawn off the roving bobbin 20, and the ribbon passes through the drafting device 21 , downstream of the draw-off roller 211 of the drafting device 21 it is sucked into a suction nozzle 2110, wherein on the draw-off roller 211 it is in a position suitable for resuming spinning by the service means SM of the attending device 1. This condition being met, it is also necessary that fibre lapping 204 is not situated on the draw-off roller 211 of the respective workstation 2.
[0041] If these conditions are fulfilled, the attending device 2 resumes spinning by its service means SM at the respective workstation 2 of the ring spinning machine and is ready to continue its operation in attending the other workstations 2. To resume spinning at the workstation 2, the attending device 2 normally has a predetermined number of attempts and, if the last attempt is not successful, issues a signal to call the operator or marks the workstation 2 as a workstation 2 that cannot be automatically serviced.
[0042] If the condition of the presence of the ribbon 202 between the draw-off roller 211 and the pressure roller 212 and the suction nozzle 2110, in a position allowing to resume spinning by the service means SM of the attending device 1. and / or the condition of the presence of fibre lapping 204 on the active surface of the draw-off roller 211 is not fulfilled, it is advisable to detect this fact in advance, so that the attending device 1 at such a workstation 2 does not perform unnecessary operations of spinning resumption and waste time, which has an undesirable effect on the productivity of the spinning machine.
[0043] The continuous draw-off shaft 210, on which the draw-off rollers 211 , which usually have a larger diameter than the continuous draw-off shaft 210, are arranged at each workstation 2 of the ring spinning machine, continuously rotates during the operation of the ring spinning machine, so that if, for example, after a yam break at the workstation 2, it is not possible to suck the fibre ribbon 202 into the suction nozzle 2110 behind the respective draw-off roller 211 , the fibres are lapped on the draw-off roller 211 , and / or on the thinner part of the draw-off shaft 210 adjacent thereto. The fibre lapping on the draw-off roller 211 and / or on the thinner part of the draw-off shaft 210 adjacent thereto also occurs during spinning, when a portion of the fibres deviates from the processed fibre ribbon 202 and gradually forms fibre lapping on the draw-off roller 211 and / or on the thinner part of the draw-off shaft 210 adjacent thereto. In that case, the yarn 203 breaks after a certain time, wherein the fibre ribbon 202 has not been sucked into the suction nozzle 2110, and therefore spinning at the workstation 2 cannot be automatically resumed by the service means SM of the attending device 2.
[0044] In an unillustrated alternative embodiment, the draw-off rollers have the same diameter as the remainder of the draw-off shaft.
[0045] The same problem arises if a roving 201 break occurs between the roving bobbin 20 and the drafting device 21 , so that there is no fibre ribbon 202 on the draw-off roller 211 , or, more specifically, between the draw-off roller 211 and the pressure roller 212. As a result, the fibre ribbon 202 cannot be sucked into the suction nozzle 2110, and therefore spinning at the workstation 2 cannot be automatically resumed by the service means SM of the attending device 2.
[0046] In order to detect the operating state at the workstation 2 at which the yarn 203 break has occurred and in front of which the attending device 1 has been stopped, the attending device 1 is provided with at least one non-contact sensor 12 of the profile of the surface of the rotating element, which has a sensing area SA which is directed outside the ground plan of the attending device 1. and is adapted to transmit the sensed data about the profile or is coupled to means for transmitting the data about the sensed profile or it can be coupled to the means for transmitting the data about the sensed profile. The sensing area is planar.
[0047] The sensing area SA is directed in front of the front side of the attending device 1 which is intended to be arranged against the machine and is adapted to sense the frontal profile of the rotating element of the spinning machine on which the attending device 1 is installed.
[0048] On the ring spinning machine, the rotating element is the draw-off shaft 210 with the draw-off rollers 211 of the drafting device 21 of the workstation 2. The non-contact sensor 12 of the profile of the surface of the rotating element is formed in a specific embodiment by a profile laser sensor which is coupled to the control system CS of the attending device 1. The control system CS contains information about the initial shape of the draw-off shaft 210 in the sensing plane including all draw-off rollers 211 and information about the expected width of the fibre ribbon 202 and the area of the surface of the draw-off roller 211 in which the fibre ribbon 202 moves, wherein at the same time it contains information about the desired position of the fibre ribbon 202 on the draw-off roller 211 allowing spinning to be resumed at the workstation 2 by means of the service means SM of the attending device 1.
[0049] In an alternative embodiment on which the attending device 1 is installed, the control system of the machine contains the above-mentioned information, wherein the control system of the machine is coupled to the control system CS of the attending device through electronic data communication.
[0050] The non-contact sensor 12 of the profile of the surface of the rotating element has two modes of operation on the attending device 1. The first is the sensing of the draw-off roller 211 and possibly also the adjacent parts of the drawoff shaft 210 after stopping at the workstation 2 of the ring spinning machine on which the attending device 1 is installed. The second mode of operation of the non-contact sensor 12 is the sensing of the surface of the draw-off roller 211 and the adjacent parts of the draw-off shaft 210 as the attending device 1 travels along the row of workstations 2 of the ring spinning machine on which the attending device 1 is installed. The non-contact sensor 12 is provided with a radiation source 121 and a receiver 122 of reflected radiation. The radiation emitted by the radiation source 121 creates a sensing area SA, which, when the attending device 1 is installed on the ring spinning machine, is arranged horizontally against the frontal profile of the draw-off shaft 210 with the draw-off rollers 211. In exemplary embodiments shown, the radiation receiver 122 is located in the non-contact sensor 12 lower than the radiation source 121 so that the reflected radiation creates a reflex area RA which forms an acute angle with the sensing area SA which is determined by the design of the non-contact sensor 12. The non-contact sensor 12 of the profile of the surface of the rotating element comprises or is coupled or can be coupled to an evaluation system ES which is provided with means for identifying the presence of the fibre ribbon 202 on the draw-off roller 211 of the drafting device 21 of the workstation 2 of the ring spinning machine, wherein these means for identification are coupled or can be coupled to the power supply system and the control system CS of the attending device 1, which, among other things, is used to control the service SM of the attending device 1. to resume spinning at the workstation 2_of the machine.
[0051] According to an alternative embodiment, the evaluation system ES of the attending device 1 is either part of the non-contact sensor 12, or it is part of the control system of the attending device 1, or it is part of the control system 3 of the ring spinning machine.
[0052] In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 4, the sensing area SA extends to a width which, when the attending device 1 has been stopped in front of the workstation 2 of the ring spinning machine, is wider than the width of the draw-off roller 211 at the point of radiation incidence in the sensing area SA on the surface of the draw-off roller 211 of the respective workstation 2, so that the radiation in the sensing area SA is also incident on the thinner part of the drawoff shaft 210 on both sides of the draw-off roller 211. The reflection of the radiation from the surface of the draw-off roller 211 and from the thinner part of the draw-off shaft 210 forms a reflex area RA and is sensed by the receiver 122 of the non-contact sensor 12, and information about the distances of the individual points of the sensed area SA of the draw-off roller 211 and of the drawoff shaft 210 from the sensor is transmitted to the control system CS of the attending device 1, so that the control system CS of the attending device 1 is able to detect deviations of the sensed profile of the draw-off shaft 211 from the stored information about the desired profile of the draw-off roller 211 and of the adjacent thinner parts of the draw-off shaft 210 at the respective workstation 2. This means that the control system CS is able to evaluate any deviation from the initial shape of the draw-off shaft 210, i.e. , it is able to evaluate both the presence of the fibre ribbon 202 between the draw-off roller 211 of the respective workstation 2_of the machine and the suction nozzle 2110 of the same workstation 2_of the machine, as well as other deviations from the initial shape of the draw-off shaft 210 that is, possible laps of fibres on the draw-off roller 211 or on the draw-off shaft 210, as will be described further.
[0053] In an alternative embodiment, the above-described width of the sensing area S at the point of radiation incidence on the draw-off roller 211 does not exceed the width of the draw-off roller 211 , but it is sufficient if it is at least the same as the assumed width of the fibre ribbon 202 and the area of the surface of the draw-off roller 211 in which the ribbon 202 of roving fibres moves on the surface of the draw-off roller 211 during spinning.
[0054] The attending device 1 is intended to attend the ring spinning machine and is provided with means for its moving along a row of workstations 2 and to stop at the workstation 2, at which spinning has been interrupted. After stopping at the workstation 2 at which spinning is interrupted, the attending device 1 first determines whether the conditions for resuming spinning by the service means SM of the attending device are met at the workstation 2, that is, whether the fibre ribbon 202 is present on the draw-off roller 211 , or between the draw-off roller 211 and the suction nozzle 2110, in a position allowing the resumption of spinning at the respective workstation 2.
[0055] For this purpose, the control system CS of the attending device 1 activates the non-contact sensor 12 of the profile of the surface, from the signals of which, after processing, it determines, whether the ribbon 202 of fibres is present on the draw-off roller 211 in a position allowing the service means SM of the attending device 1 to resume spinning at the workstation. If the ribbon 202 of fibres is present in the corresponding position on the draw-off roller 211 of the workstation 2 at which spinning has been interrupted and where the attending device has stopped, the control system CS of the attending device 1 issues instructions to its service means SM to resume spinning.
[0056] In an alternative embodiment, the control system CS of the attending device 1 is replaced or supplemented for this function by the control system 3 of the machine, on which the attending device 1 is installed.
[0057] If it is obvious from the information of the non-contact sensor 12 that the fibre ribbon 202 is not present on the draw-off roller 211 or is situated outside the position allowing to resume spinning by means of the service means SM of the attending device, the control system CS of the attending device 1 issues a command to call the operator, or to mark the workstation 2 as a workstation 2 that cannot be automatically serviced, since spinning cannot be resumed by the service means SM of the attending device
[0058] In order to speed up the operator's activity, it is advisable for the attending device 1 to evaluate information about the reasons why it is not possible to resume spinning automatically at the subject workstation 2 by the service means SM of the attending device and passes the information to the operator.
[0059] As the attending device 1 travels along the row of workstations 2 of the ring spinning machine on which the attending device 1 is installed, the attending device 1 senses by the non-contact sensor 12 the profile of the surface of the draw-off shaft 210 on the row of identical workstations 2 arranged next to each other and its control system CS or the control system 3 of the machine compares the profile of the surface of the draw-off shaft 211 with the preset initial shape of the profile of the surface and, from this comparison, determines the occurrence of an operationally favourable or unfavourable state or fault state at a specific workstation 2.
[0060] An operationally favourable state is understood to be a state of spinning during which the non-contact sensor 12 transmits information about the presence of yarn 203 in the sensing area SA in front of the surface of the draw-off roller 211 of the respective workstation 2, which is the space of the workstation 2 through which the yarn 203 passes during spinning.
[0061] An operationally unfavourable state is understood to be a state where the workstation 2 is not spinning, but the conditions at the workstation 2_are suitable for resuming spinning by the service means SM of the attending device 1, that is, a state where the non-contact sensor 12 transmits information about the presence of a fibre ribbon 202 on the draw-off roller 211 and between the drawoff roller 211 and the suction nozzle 2110 in a position allowing the service means SM of the attending device 1 to resume spinning at that workstation 2.
[0062] A fault state is understood to be a state where the workstation 2 is not spinning, but the conditions at the workstation 2 are not suitable for resuming spinning by the service means SM of the attending device 1, that is, the state when the non-contact sensor 12 transmits information on the absence of the ribbon 202 on the draw-off roller 211 in a position suitable for resuming spinning by the service means SM of the attending device 1 and / or about the fibre lapping 204 on the active surface of the draw-off roller 211 and it is necessary to call the operator to manually remove the fault. Most of the fault states are represented by laps 204 of fibres on the draw-off shaft 210, either in the area of the draw-off roller 211 of the respective workstation 2, or on the draw-off shaft 210 in the area between the draw-off rollers 211. These laps are created either by winding the ribbon 202 of fibres which has not been sucked into the suction nozzle 2110 after spinning is interrupted, or by the gradual lapping of fibres released from the ribbon 202 of fibres during spinning.
[0063] Examples of operationally favourable, operationally unfavourable and fault states at the workstations 2 are schematically represented in Fig. 7. The monitoring of the operating state at the workstation 2 takes place, as described above, in a horizontal plane passing through the front side of the draw-off shaft 210. For illustrative purposes, examples of operating states are shown in a 45° upwardly rotated position, so that the textile material, whether yam 203, ribbon 202 or lapping 204 is displayed above or on top of the surface profile of the drawoff roller 211 and / or the draw-off shaft 210. Detected operating state are shown in Fig. 7 marked with letters A to H and will be described below.
[0064] Operating state A represents the spinning state of the yam 203, where the yam 203 has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the spun yam and is situated outside the surface of the draw-off roller 211 of the respective workstation 2. The same operating state is also shown in Fig. 6 in a side view. When the attending device 1 passes by the workstation 2 which has operating state A, the attending device 1 does not stop and can transmit information that spinning is in progress at the workstation 2.
[0065] Similar is operating state D, which is the spinning state of the yam 203 in a position during spinning as in operating state A, but lapping 204 is formed on the draw-off roller 211 next to the yam 203, wherein there is a high probability of interruption of spinning at the respective workstation 2 within a short time. The operator can be informed by the attending device of the danger of a break at the workstation 2 and, if the operator notes operating state D of the workstation 2, he will not return to it in the event of a subsequent break, since such a subsequent break represents a fault state which cannot be eliminated by the service means SM of the attending device 1.
[0066] Operating state B represents a state where the workstation 2 is not spinning, but the fibre ribbon 202 is situated on the draw-off roller 211 , on which there are no other fibres next to it. The information that the workstation 2 is not spinning is obtained by the attending device 1 from the control system of the machine and, having obtained this information, the attending device 1 travels to the workstation 2 to resume spinning. After stopping in front of the workstation 2 requiring servicing, the non-contact sensor 12 is actuated and, if it detects that the ribbon 202 is situated on the draw-off roller 211 and between the draw-off roller 211 and the suction nozzle 2110, in a position allowing to resume spinning at the workstation 2 by the service means SM of the attending device, which represents operating state B, the attending device 1 actuates the service means SM and makes an attempt to resume spinning.
[0067] If, while travelling along the row of workstations of the machine, the attending device 1 finds that the workstation 2 it is currently passing by is in operating state B, it may stop at that workstation and make an attempt to resume spinning or proceed to the workstation 2 it is currently approaching to determine its operating state and, if possible, resume spinning by its service means SM.
[0068] The remaining operating states shown represent fault states.
[0069] Operating state C represents a fault state where the workstation 2 is not spinning and there is neither a ribbon 202 nor other fibrous material on the draw- off roller 211. The reason for this state is missing material and repair requires operator intervention.
[0070] Operating state E represents a fault state that can develop from the abovedescribed operating state D after a yam 203 break. The workstation 2 is not spinning, and although there is a fibre ribbon 202 on the draw-off roller 211 , there is fibre lapping 204 next to it on the edge of the draw-off roller 211 , which prevents the service means SM of the attending device 1 from resuming spinning and requires operator intervention.
[0071] Operating state F represents a fault state where the workstation 2 is not spinning and fibre lapping 204 is formed across the entire width of the draw-off roller 211.
[0072] Operating state G represents a fault state where the workstation 2 is not spinning and fibre lapping 204 is formed on the draw-off roller 211, which extends beyond the active surface of the draw-off roller 211.
[0073] Operating state H represents another fault condition where the workstation is not spinning, and although there is a fibre ribbon 202 on the draw-off roller, there are adjacent fibre laps 204 on either side, one of which extends beyond the active surface of the draw-off roller 211 , which prevents the service means SM of the attending device 1 from resuming spinning and requires operator intervention.
[0074] Fault operating states C, E, F, G, H and any other unillustrated operating states represent information on the basis of which statistical assessment can be made, for example, on the quality of the material being spun, wear of the parts of the workstation used to spin-in the yarn, etc.
[0075] For monitoring more than one rotating element of one workstation 2, the non-contact sensor 12 of the profile of the surface in the support structure of the attending device 1 is arranged displaceable to relocate the sensing area SA. This allows, for example in a ring spinning machine, to monitor the possible fibre lapping also on the pressure roller 212 of the drafting device 21.
[0076] It is also possible to apply the invention to other rotating elements in spinning machines where unwanted lapping of fibres, yam or roving may occur. Industrial
[0077] The invention can be applied to ring, rotor or air-jet spinning machines for producing yam which are equipped with a movable attending device for resuming the spinning of broken yarn, for detecting the operating state of the rotating elements at the workstations and for detecting the occurrence of unwanted laps of fibres, yarn or roving on the rotating elements of the workstations of the respective machine.
[0078] List of references
[0079] 1 attending device
[0080] 10 control unit of the attending device
[0081] 11 means for mounting the attending device on the ring spinning machine and for moving it along the row of workstations of the machine
[0082] 12 non-contact sensor of the profile of the surface
[0083] 121 radiation source
[0084] 122 radiation receiver
[0085] SA sensing area
[0086] RA reflex area
[0087] SM service means on the attending device
[0088] CS the control system of the attending device
[0089] 2 workstation of the ring spinning machine
[0090] 20 roving bobbin
[0091] 201 roving
[0092] 202 fibre ribbon 203 yarn
[0093] 204 fibre lapping
[0094] 21 roving drafting device
[0095] 210 draw-off shaft
[0096] 211 draw-off roller of the roving drafting device
[0097] 2110 suction nozzle
[0098] 212 pressure roller of the roving drafting device
[0099] 22 yam guiding eyelet
[0100] 23 traveller
[0101] 24 tube
[0102] 240 cop
[0103] 25 ring
[0104] 26 balloon separator
[0105] 27 ring plate
[0106] 28 drive mandrel of this workstation
[0107] 29 running track on the ring spinning machine pro the attending device
[0108] 290 running rail
[0109] 291 stabilizing rail
[0110] 3 control system of the machine
Claims
PATENT CLAIMS1. An attending device for a ring spinning machine for producing yam which comprises a supporting structure in which are arranged- means (11 ) for mounting the attending device displaceable along at least one row of workstations and for moving it along the row of workstations (2) of the machine,- service means (SM) for performing service operations at the workstations (2) of the machine and- a power supply system and a control system (CS) characterized in that at least one non-contact sensor (12) of the profile of the surface of a rotating element is mounted in the supporting structure of the attending device, wherein the non-contact sensor (12) has a sensing area (SA) which extends outside the ground plan of the attending device (1 ) and is directed in front of the front side of the attending device (1 ), which is intended to be arranged against the ring spinning machine and wherein the sensing area (SA) is adapted to sense a frontal profile of the rotation element of the ring spinning machine and wherein the non-contact sensor (12) is adapted to evaluate and / or transmit the data about the sensed profile of the rotating element, or it is coupled to means for evaluating and / or transmitting the data about the sensed profile of the rotating element or it may be coupled to means for evaluating and / or for transmitting the data about the sensed profile of the rotating element.
2. The attending device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sensing area (SA) is adapted to sense the frontal profile of a draw-off shaft (210) with draw-off rollers (211 ) of a drafting device (21 ) of the workstation (2) of the ring spinning machine.
3. The attending device according to any of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the sensing area (SA) is arranged horizontally.
4. The attending device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control system (CS) of the attending device (1 ) contains information about the initial shape the draw-off shaft (210) including the draw-off rollers (211 )in the sensing plane, and information about the expected width of the fibre ribbon (202) and desired position of the fibre ribbon (201 ) on the surface of the draw-off roller (211 ) which allows to resume spinning at the workstation (2) by means of the service means (SM) of the attending device.
5. The attending device according to claim 4, characterized in that a part of the control system (CS) of the attending device (1 ) is an evaluation system (ES).
6. The attending device according to claim 5, characterized in that the evaluation system (ES) is part of the non-contact sensor (12).
7. The attending device according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the non-contact sensor (12) is arranged in the supporting structure of the attending device (1 ) displaceable to move the position of the sensing area (SA).
8. The attending device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the non-contact sensor (12) of the profile of the surface of the rotating element je is formed by a laser sensor of the profile.
9. A ring spinning machine for producing yam which comprises at least one row of identical workstations (2) arranged next to each other, each workstation comprising means for producing and winding yam, wherein at least one attending device (1 ) is arranged displaceable along the row of workstations with a possibility of stopping at a selected workstation (2), characterized in that the attending device (1 ) is formed according to any of claims 1 to 8.
10. A method of using the attending device according to claims 1 to 8 to determine the operating state at the workstation of the ring spinning machine according to claim 9, in which the attending device (1 ) stops in front of a workstation requiring servicing after interruption of production and yam winding, characterized in that after the attending device (1 ) stops, the non-contact sensor (12 ) of the profile of the surface of the rotating element senses the profile of the surface of the draw-off shaft (210) of the drafting device at the workstation (2) and detects the presence or absence of the ribbon (2) of fibres on the draw-off roller (211 ) in a position allowing to perform resumption of spinning at this workstation (2) by the service means (SM) of the attending device (1 ), while no other fibres are present on the surface of the draw-off roller (211 ), wherein, afterdetecting the presence of the ribbon (202) of fibres and the absence of other fibres on the surface of the draw-off roller (211 ), the service means (SM) of the attending device are activated and a series of service operations are performed to resume spinning at the workstation (2).11 . The method of using the attending device according to claims 1 to 8 for detecting an operating state at the workstation of the ring spinning machine according to claim 9, in which the attending device (1 ) moves along the row of workstations of the machine, characterized in that during the movement of the attending device (1 ), the profile of the surface of the draw-off shaft (210) of the machine on the row of workstations (2) arranged next to each other is sensed, wherein the frontal profile of the rotating element of the spinning machine is sensed, wherein the shape of the profile of the surface is evaluated and compared with at least one initial shape of the profile and from this comparison, the occurrence of an operationally favourable or unfavourable or fault state at a specific workstation (2) is determined.
12. The method according to claims 10 and 11 , characterized in the shape of the frontal profile of the rotating element of the ring spinning machine is sensed in a horizontal direction.
13. The method according to claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the rotating element is formed by the draw-off roller (211 ) of the drafting device (21 ) of the ring spinning machine.