System for setting a plurality of cleaning points by means of capture by a sensor and method for same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for setting a plurality of cleaning points (190) by means of capture by a sensor (110) of the processed fibres in a fibre processing facility. Each sensor (110) is connected to an evaluation unit (120), and captures the fibres processed by the cleaning point (190). As soon as the system has identified a parameter to be adjusted, the system performs setting in order to keep the degree of cleaning constant or improve it. Alternatively, the system can also make a recommendation.

Description

[0001] SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING A NUMBER OF CLEANING POINTS USING A

[0002] SENSOR DETECTION AND ITS METHODS

[0003] Technical area

[0004] The present invention relates to a method for setting a plurality of cleaning points by means of a sensor detection.

[0005] Technological background

[0006] In a fiber preparation plant in a spinning mill, incoming fibers or fiber flakes are prepared for use in a spinning machine. In a fiber preparation plant, the fibers to be prepared for spinning go through several processing stages. In a first stage, the fibers are separated from fiber bales in the form of fiber flakes. So-called bale openers are usually used for this. These fiber flakes are removed from the bale opener via a pneumatic flake conveyor and transferred, for example, to a downstream cleaning machine. In the subsequent stages, the fiber preparation plant has a sequence of cleaning machines through which the fibers or fiber flakes pass. The sequence and design of the cleaning machines are tailored to the fibers to be processed and are used to clean, mix and separate the fiber flakes into individual fibers, as well as to parallelize them.The arrangement of the individual cleaning machines in a fiber preparation plant can be designed in different ways, depending, among other things, on the raw material to be processed and the product to be achieved.

[0007] Cleaning machines used include coarse cleaners, fine cleaners, foreign part separators, cards, and carding machines. Other types of machines, such as accumulators or mixers, can also be equipped with cleaning modules, which also count as cleaning machines. The individual points in a machine at which a waste product from cleaning, the so-called processed fibers, arise are referred to as cleaning stations. This means that a single cleaning machine can have several cleaning stations. For example, in a carding machine, the processed fibers of a licker-in can be removed separately from the processed fibers of a revolving flat unit. Conversely, however, the processed fibers that arise at different points in the machine can also be combined within the machine.

[0008] In the cleaning machine or cleaning station itself, so-called processed fibers are generated. This includes the dirt particles, foreign matter, seed or stem parts, dust particles or even short fibers or fiber knots, so-called neps, separated from the fibers or fiber flakes during the cleaning process. Due to the design of the cleaning stations, good fibers, i.e. fibers that could actually be processed in the downstream spinning mill, also end up in the processed fibers. The proportion of good fibers in the processed fibers at a cleaning station should be kept as low as possible. However, it cannot be completely avoided that good fibers are separated from the fiber material during cleaning and end up in the processed fibers. The more intensive the cleaning of the fiber material, the higher the proportion of good fibers in the processed fibers.

[0009] After a certain period of operation, the cleaning point could become misaligned, resulting in less efficient processing of the fiber material. It's also possible that the fiber flakes from fiber bales contain a higher proportion of dirt particles, and adjusting the cleaning point could be counterproductive.

[0010] Summary of the invention

[0011] The object of the invention is to create a method and a system which enables a central recording of the processed fibers and thereby optimises the operation of the entire fiber preparation plant as well as the individual cleaning stations.

[0012] The object is achieved in whole or in part by the features of the invention. To achieve this object, a method is proposed for setting a plurality of cleaning stations by means of sensor detection of the processed fibers in a fiber preparation system. Each cleaning station has a sensor connected to an evaluation unit. The method comprises:

[0013] - Detection of the fibers processed by the cleaning station with the sensor;

[0014] - Collection of all sensor data from each cleaning station and the processed fibers;

[0015] - identifying at least one parameter to be adjusted of at least one cleaning point of the plurality of cleaning points;

[0016] Advantageously, the method can identify at least one cleaning point of the plurality of cleaning points or a parameter in order to keep the degree of cleaning constant or to improve it.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the detection comprises a timestamp.

[0018] Thanks to the timestamp, the process can classify the sensor data.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the collection includes an analysis of the collected sensor data.

[0020] Advantageously, the method can analyze the collected sensor data.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the analysis comprises comparing at least two collected sensor data from the detection and / or at least two collected sensor data from at least two cleaning locations.

[0022] Thanks to the comparison, the process can perceive the changes.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the analysis includes detecting the quantity of dirt particles in the fibers processed by the cleaning station. This detection allows the method to determine when the degree of cleaning has exceeded a predetermined threshold.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the identification comprises statistical analysis, machine learning and / or modeling.

[0025] Advantageously, the method can identify which parameter of which machine needs to be adjusted.

[0026] According to one embodiment, a determination of at least one parameter value of the at least one cleaning point comprises.

[0027] Thanks to the determination, a parameter value can be set.

[0028] According to one embodiment, an adjustment of at least one cleaning point of the plurality of cleaning points comprises changing the degree of cleaning.

[0029] Thanks to the setting, at least one of the multiple cleaning points can be adjusted to keep the cleaning level constant or to improve it.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the method comprises checking the change in the degree of cleaning after the adjustment based on the detection.

[0031] Thanks to the verification, it can be confirmed whether the identified parameter was the correct one.

[0032] The object is achieved in whole or in part by the features of the invention. To achieve the object, a system for adjusting a plurality of cleaning stations is proposed. The method comprises: - a plurality of cleaning stations, each cleaning station having a sensor; the sensor being configured to detect the fibers processed by the cleaning station; and,

[0033] - an evaluation unit connected to the sensors; wherein the evaluation unit is configured to collect all data and parameters of each cleaning point and to identify at least one parameter to be adjusted from at least one cleaning point.

[0034] Advantageously, the system can identify at least one cleaning point of the plurality of cleaning points or a parameter in order to maintain or improve the degree of cleaning.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the system comprises an adjustment device configured to adjust the at least one parameter of at least one cleaning location to change the degree of cleaning.

[0036] Thanks to the system, at least one of the multiple cleaning points can be adjusted to maintain or improve the level of cleaning.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the sensor is a camera or a microwave sensor.

[0038] Description of the characters

[0039] The above and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments, which are presented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a fiber preparation plant with a system 100 and method according to the invention. In the following description of the illustrated embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for features that are identical and / or at least comparable in their design and / or mode of operation, even if they are shown in different embodiments. Unless explained again in detail, their design and / or mode of operation corresponds to the design and mode of operation of the features already described above.

[0040] Description of an embodiment

[0041] In a fiber preparation plant in a spinning mill, incoming fibers or fiber flakes are prepared for use in a spinning machine. The degree of contamination of the fibers can vary greatly from one delivery to another. It is not easy to distinguish when the degree of contamination is high and when the settings of a cleaning machine have changed over time.

[0042] The present invention proposes a system 100 that adjusts at least one cleaning location 190 of the plurality of cleaning locations 190 to maintain or improve the degree of cleaning.

[0043] For this purpose, the system 100 has a sensor 110, or a camera 112 or a microwave sensor 111, a plurality of cleaning points 190, and an evaluation unit 120.

[0044] The plurality of cleaning stations 190 can, for example, comprise a bale opener, a carding machine 193 or carder, a storage device, or a mixer. According to one embodiment, each cleaning station 190 can have a sensor 110. Depending on the application, the sensor 110 can be a camera 112 or a microwave sensor 111 and can be directed at the batting feed and / or the output, and can monitor the fibers processed by the cleaning station 190. The detection of the fibers processed by the cleaning station 190, or the sensor data of the fibers processed by the cleaning station 190, can include a timestamp so that the sensor data can be classified. The sensor 110 can also be mounted on the bale opener and attached to the removal arm. As the removal tower moves over the fiber bales, the height of the removal arm is adjusted such that the removal element removes an upper layer of fiber material from the fiber bales.The removed fiber material can be observed by the sensor 110 or by the camera 112 in a collection channel, and the camera 112 can take an image of it and time-stamp the image. It is also entirely possible for the camera 112 to be mounted on the side of the removal device, allowing the upper layer of fiber material to be observed. In both cases, the camera 112, which is arranged above the fiber bales and directed with its viewing axis toward the surface of the fiber bales, can observe the fiber material. Advantageously, the camera 112 mounted on the bale opener can observe whether the fiber flakes from the fiber bales contain a high proportion of dirt particles.

[0045] In the fiber preparation system shown, the processed fibers or fiber flakes can be fed via a fiber feed 198 into a coarse cleaner 191. A sensor 110, for example, can be attached to the fiber feed 198 to monitor the incoming fibers. Via a conveyor line 197, the fibers are conveyed from the coarse cleaner 191 to the fine cleaner 192 and from there via another conveyor line 197 to a carding machine 193. During the conveying process, the camera 112 or the microwave sensor 111 can observe or record the conveyed fibers.

[0046] In the embodiment shown, a cleaning station 190 is provided on each of the coarse cleaner 191 and the fine cleaner 192. In the card 193, the fibers are introduced via a filling chute, then roughly processed in a licker-in 194 and transferred to a drum 195. At the circumference of the drum 195, the fibers are further processed, parallelized, and then passed via a doffer into a sliver forming unit, which forms the fibers into sliver 199. The sliver 199 then leaves the card 193 and is deposited in a can in a depositing device. The can is used to store the fiber material leaving the card 193 in the form of sliver 199. A camera 112 can be arranged above the can, the camera's line of sight being directed onto the surface of the sliver 199 located in the can.It is also possible to point a camera 110 at cans that have already been filled and removed from the storage device.

[0047] The cleaning stations 190 are individually connected to a transport line 197, which serves to transport the processed fibers generated at the cleaning stations 190. Thus, the cleaning station 190 of the coarse cleaner 191 is connected to the transport line 197 via connection 196. A camera 110 or a microwave sensor 111 can be directed at the generated processed fibers at connection 196. Additionally or alternatively, the camera could also be mounted on the carding or cleaner shaft, for example.

[0048] Furthermore, the cleaning point 190 of the fine cleaner 192 is connected to the transport line 197 via the connection 196. A sensor 110 can also be mounted on the connection 196 and monitor the resulting processed fibers.

[0049] In addition, the cleaning point 190 of the licker-in 194 of the card 193 is connected to the transport line 197 via the connection 196. Furthermore, the cleaning point 190 of the drum 195 of the card 193 is connected to the transport line 197 via the connection 196. A camera 111 or a microwave sensor 111 can be mounted on the connections 196 of the card 193 and view the resulting processed fibers.

[0050] The transport line 197 is connected to a central container 189 and has an air inlet at its end opposite the central container 189. The central container 189 comprises a transport air separator and an outlet 188 directed toward the interior of the central container 189.

[0051] The transport line 197 is connected to a vacuum source, a fan in the illustrated embodiment, via the central container 189. The wastewater from the various cleaning stations 190 is thus sucked into the central container 189 through the transport line 197 and captured, for example, optically, by the camera 110.

[0052] The cameras 112 and the microwave sensors 111 are connected to an evaluation unit 120. After the detection by all microwave sensors 111 or the optical detection by all cameras 110, the evaluation unit 120 can collect all sensor data from each cleaning station 190 and perform an analysis of the processed fiber. Based on this sensor data, the evaluation unit 120 can detect the amount of dirt particles in the fiber processed by the cleaning station 190. In particular, the method can detect when the degree of cleaning has exceeded a predetermined threshold.

[0053] By comparing at least two collected sensor data from the detection and / or at least two collected sensor data from at least two cleaning points 190, the analysis can determine whether the amount of dirt particles has changed over time, and the method can detect the changes. This detection or recognition of the changes can lead to the identification of at least one parameter to be adjusted for at least one cleaning point 190 of the plurality of cleaning points 190.

[0054] Once the at least one parameter to be adjusted has been identified, a determination of at least one parameter value of the at least one cleaning point 190 can take place. To change the degree of cleaning, a parameter value can indeed be established by this determination. Depending on the situation, the method can determine one or more parameter values ​​for one or more machines. To maintain or improve the degree of cleaning, the method can adjust at least one cleaning point 190 of the plurality of cleaning points 190.

[0055] For example, the speed of the bale opener can be throttled and / or the rotation speed of the removal arm can be slowed down. It may also be that the removal element does not penetrate as deeply into the upper layer. The result of this adjustment can be monitored by sensor 110 and sent to the evaluation unit 120 with a timestamp.

[0056] The method can also identify that adjustment of the coarse cleaner 191 and the fine cleaner 192 is necessary. The method would change the speed and / or the grate / blade position. If the detection of sensor 110 indicates that the cleaning level has deteriorated, the evaluation unit 120 can identify that the parameter to be adjusted was not the correct one. This identification can provide data for statistical analysis, machine learning, and / or modeling to improve the method.

[0057] For the card 193, the adjustment may be, for example, the speed of the drum 195 or the licker-in 194, or minimizing the carding gap or adjusting the separating knives, and the sensor 110 arranged above the can can observe the change in the degree of cleaning.

[0058] As mentioned, the cleaning stations 190 are individually connected to a transport line 197, which serves to transport the waste generated at the cleaning stations 190. Thus, the cleaning stations 190 are connected to the transport line 197 via connections 196, and the method can monitor the waste generated at the cleaning station 190 and identify the appropriate parameter to maintain or improve the degree of cleaning.

[0059] In Figure 1, the transport line 197 is connected to a central container 189, which includes the outlet 188 directed toward the interior of the central container 189. One advantage of the outlet 188 in the central container 189 is the general observation of the settings. It may be that, despite adjustments to the individual machines, the difference for each individual machine is minimal, but significant for the entire system.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for setting a plurality of cleaning stations (190) by means of a sensor (110) detecting the processed fibers in a fiber preparation plant; each cleaning station (190) has a sensor (110) which is connected to an evaluation unit (120); the method comprising: - detecting the fibers processed by the cleaning station (190) with the sensor (110); - collection of all sensor data from each cleaning point (190) and the processed fibers; and, - Identifying at least one parameter to be adjusted from at least one cleaning location (190) of the plurality of cleaning locations (190).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detection comprises a timestamp.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the collection comprises an analysis of the collected sensor data.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the analysis comprises comparing at least two collected sensor data from the detection and / or at least two collected sensor data from at least two cleaning locations (190).

5. The method according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the analysis comprises detecting the amount of dirt particles in the fibers processed by the cleaning station (190).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the identification comprises statistical analysis, machine learning and / or modeling.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising determining at least one parameter value of the at least one cleaning point (190).

8. Method according to any one of claims to 7, comprising adjusting the at least one cleaning point (190) of the plurality of cleaning points (190) to change the degree of cleaning.

9. Method according to claim 8, comprising checking the change in the degree of cleaning after the adjustment based on the detection.

10. A system (100) for setting a plurality of cleaning points (190), comprising: - a plurality of cleaning points (190), each Cleaning station (190) has a sensor (110); wherein the sensor (110) is configured to detect the fibers processed by the cleaning station (190); and, - an evaluation unit (120) connected to the sensors (110); wherein the evaluation unit (120) is configured to collect all data and parameters of each cleaning point (190) and to identify at least one parameter to be adjusted from at least one cleaning point (190).

11. System (100) according to claim 10, comprising an adjustment device which is designed to adjust the at least one parameter of at least one Cleaning point (190) is configured to change the degree of cleaning.

12. System (100) according to claim 10 or 12, wherein the sensor (110) is a camera or a microwave sensor (110).

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