Roving creel for ring spinning machine

Abstract

To provide a roving creel in which a remaining operation time of a roving package can be accurately obtained, the roving package being present in the roving creel for a ring spinning machine.SOLUTION: A roving creel 2 for a ring spinning machine includes at least two creel rows formed by a longitudinal direction holding body 3, in which a roving package 4 can be mounted to one of the creel rows. The longitudinal direction holding body is supported to a vertical creel rod 9 via a lateral direction molding material 8. A sensor unit 6 is provided in a roving creel to ensure at any time without a problem a call-out of a remaining operation time of the roving package 4 suspended from the roving creel. The sensor unit detects an amount of a roving present in the creel row by measurement and transmits the information to a computer unit 7. The computer unit can calculate the remaining operation time of the roving present in the roving creel from the amount of the roving.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a roving creel for a ring spinning machine, comprising at least two creel rows formed by longitudinal holders, on which roving packages can be mounted, the longitudinal holders being supported on vertical creel rods via transverse mouldings.

[0002] Roving creels have long been known in a wide variety of embodiments in connection with ring spinning machines and have been described in part in detail in numerous patent applications.

[0003] For example, the roving creel described in German Utility Model No. 297 12 880 has three creel rows on each machine side of a ring spinning frame, on which a roving package can be attached in each case. The roving packages are connected via so-called package suspension holders to the longitudinal holders of the roving creel, the longitudinal holders themselves being supported via transverse profiles on the vertical creel rods of the roving creel. The roving bundles unwound from the roving packages are guided in each case via different roving bundle guides into the drafting device of the ring spinning frame.

[0004] A similar roving creel is also described in DE 10 2007 007 864 A1. In this known roving creel, the roving package is likewise connected to the longitudinal holder of the roving creel via a package suspension holder, which is, however, in this case designed as a suspension rail. Furthermore, the package suspension holders are grouped together by means of connecting elements into so-called suspension trains, which can ensure a rapid supply to the working units of the ring spinning machine. The suspension trains, which are loaded with new roving packages before the start of the spinning process, not only orderly supply new roving material, but also quickly remove the empty tubes after the end of the spinning process.

[0005] Although such a suspension train, on which the roving packages are mounted and which can be positioned in the roving creel, certainly ensures a good supply of new roving to the ring spinning machine during the ongoing spinning process, it is often relatively difficult, however, to determine the exact moment at which the roving package becomes empty and must be replaced.

[0006] Thus, with such roving creels, the calculation of the so-called remaining run time of a yarn lot is often relatively difficult and, ultimately, often quite inaccurate.

[0007] As described in EP 0 321 404, the remaining yarn amount present in the roving creel of a ring spinning machine is often calculated, for example, via the consumption of the ring spinning machine. The roving creel known from EP 0 321 404, for example, has a device for measuring the length of yarn unwound from the roving package during the spinning operation. After the measurement, the remaining yarn length remaining in the roving package is calculated from these measured lengths, and from these remaining yarn lengths the remaining operating time of the yarn lot is calculated. Since in this method a full roving package is always used as the starting point, it is often not at all clear how much yarn amount is actually still available in the roving creel.

[0008] In order to optimize the operation of spinning installations, a wide variety of alternative operating methods have been proposed in the past; however, these operating methods are often very complicated and therefore usually too costly.

[0009] The method and device known, for example from EP 0 512 442 A1, comprise means for determining a production plan which provides for the distribution of defined production quantities of a set yarn to the various machines, wherein further means are provided for estimating the production quantity per unit time.

[0010] EP 0 541 483 A1 describes a comparable process control system in textile operations, where a spinning installation is provided with a process guide computer for a machine group, with each machine of the machine group being provided with its own control device for controlling the machine actuators, and in addition, in this known process control system a network is provided which allows two-way communication between the process guide computer and each machine of the machine group.

[0011] However, with the known methods and devices, which are often quite complex, there is still considerable room for improvement, particularly with regard to determining the remaining operating time of a roving package and thus with regard to determining the exact time for replacing an empty roving package with a new flyer package.

[0012] Taking the above-described prior art as a starting point, the object underlying the present invention is therefore to provide a further improved roving creel for ring spinning machines, which makes it possible to determine the exact remaining operating time of a roving package present in the roving creel at any time without any problems.

[0013] According to the invention, this problem is solved by providing a sensor unit in the roving creel, which detects the amount of roving present in the creel row by measurement and transmits it to a computer device, which calculates the remaining operating time of the roving present in the roving creel from the amount of roving.

[0014] Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0015] The roving creel constructed according to the invention has the advantage, inter alia, that it allows the remaining operating time of a yarn lot present in the roving creel to be determined in a comparatively simple manner. By using the roving creel according to the invention, the time when a roving package change must be initiated can be determined very precisely and, as a result, the time during which the ring spinning machine is shut down, i.e. during non-production, can be minimized. Overall, the precise timing of the roving package change allows a significant improvement in the productivity of the ring spinning machine, especially in the case of frequent lot changes.

[0016] In order to ensure the most accurate calculation possible of the remaining running time of the rovings present in the roving creel, it is expedient to first calibrate the sensor unit when starting up the roving creel according to the invention, for this purpose firstly empty flyer tubes are fitted to the roving creel and the weight of the empty flyer tubes is determined, which then serves as a reference value for the subsequent measurement of the amount of roving present in the creel train.

[0017] In this case, various embodiments are possible regarding the suitable arrangement of the sensor unit.

[0018] In the first embodiment, the sensor units can be arranged, for example, in the region of the longitudinal holders of the roving creel, i.e. each longitudinal holder of the roving creel preferably has its own sensor unit in the region of each machine section of the ring spinning machine. Such an arrangement ensures a highly accurate determination of the amount of roving still present in the roving creel and thus a highly accurate calculation of the remaining running time of the yarn lot, and also provides the possibility of determining the weight distribution within the roving creel and thus of early avoidance of harmful unilateral loading of the roving creel.

[0019] However, the constructional complexity required when arranging a sensor unit in each longitudinal holder of the machine section of the ring spinning machine is considerable, but this complexity can be significantly reduced by arranging the sensor units in the transverse profiles of the roving creel. In such an embodiment, preferably only two sensor units are required per transverse profile, one sensor unit being arranged on the rear side and one on the front side of the transverse profile in each case. With such a significantly simpler embodiment, the measurement results that can be obtained are certainly somewhat less accurate than those that can be obtained when installing sensor units in all longitudinal holder sections as described above, but the installation costs are significantly lower.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, it is proposed that each package suspension holder of a number of package suspension holders for roving packages is provided with its own sensor unit. Such an embodiment is indeed relatively complex to implement, but nevertheless achieves an infinitely high degree of accuracy when determining the remaining operating time. Preferably, each of the above-mentioned sensor units is provided with a strain gauge. Such a strain gauge is often designed as a foil strain gauge, which has a measuring grid foil with a resistance wire, which is applied to a thin plastic holder and has an electrical connection.

[0021] Furthermore, such foil strain gauges often have a further thin plastic foil on their surface, which is firmly bonded to the holder parts, in this case to the longitudinal holders or transverse profiles of the roving creel, and which mechanically protects the measuring grid.

[0022] Such strain gauges can quickly and accurately detect deformations of the components, for example due to a load. The extension or compression of the relevant components when a load is applied causes a change in the resistance of the strain gauges, which can be transmitted relatively simply as an electrical signal to a computer device and used by the computer device to determine the load on the components. Deformations caused by the weight of the roving packages on the longitudinal supports, transverse profiles or package suspension supports can thus be detected relatively accurately, and the instantaneous weight of the roving packages present in the roving creel can thus be determined. The weight of the roving packages also reproduces the respective filling rate of the roving packages, so that the remaining run time of the yarn lot can also be calculated relatively simply by the computer device.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, it is proposed that a sensor unit is arranged in each case in the region of the vertical creel rod of the roving creel. The sensor unit then preferably has a bearing element fixedly attached to the creel rod and a measuring element movably supported relative to the bearing element, on which the holding area of ​​the roving creel rests with one of the transverse profiles. That is to say, the weight of the roving creel together with the roving package suspended on the roving creel exerts a load on the movably supported measuring element of the sensor unit, which is preferably formed as a pressure sensor.

[0024] The use of such a pressure sensor, located on the vertical creel rod of the roving creel, allows for a further reduction in the complexity of the required sensor unit, even if the accuracy of the measurement results is somewhat reduced.

[0025] Not only are numerous variations possible in the configuration and arrangement of the sensor unit, but numerous variations are also possible in the manner in which the sensor unit communicates with the computing device.

[0026] The sensor unit and / or the sensor system can be connected to the computer device of the ring spinning machine, for example in a reliable configuration, respectively via signal conductors, however, it is also possible for the communication of the sensor unit with the computer device of the ring spinning machine to take place wirelessly, for example by means of known wireless communication networks such as WLAN or Bluetooth.

[0027] In both cases, a direct and reliable transmission of the values ​​determined by the sensor unit to a computer device is guaranteed, where they are processed to calculate the exact remaining operating time of the existing yarn lot.

[0028] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a roving creel of a ring spinning machine, as known from the prior art; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view, seen obliquely from the front, of a first embodiment of a roving creel constructed according to the invention with a sensor device in the region of the longitudinal holder; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a roving creel according to the invention with a sensor device in the region of the transverse mouldings. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a roving creel according to the invention, with a sensor device in the package suspension holder for the roving package. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a roving creel according to the invention with a sensor unit in the region of the vertical creel rod. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a strain gauge disposed in a sensor unit. [Figure 7]FIG. 2 shows a sensor unit placed on a vertical creel rod of a roving creel. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a sensor device disposed on a package suspension holder;

[0030] 1 shows a side view of a roving creel 2 of a ring spinning machine 1, which is known from the prior art. The ring spinning machine 1 is shown in a very schematic manner in FIG. 1, i.e. only one of the so-called dies 13, which holds the bottom roller of the drafting device of the ring spinning machine 1, and the central computer unit 7 of the textile machine are shown in FIG.

[0031] As is known, such a roving creel 2 usually has a number of longitudinal holders 3 extending in the machine length direction, which are supported via transverse mouldings 8 on vertical creel rods 9 which are themselves supported on the machine frame of the ring spinning machine 1.

[0032] The longitudinal carriers 3, which are often configured as suspension track rails, are frequently part of a suspension rail system, which supplies the ring spinning machine 1 with new roving packages 4. That is, on the suspension track rails 18 run suspension trains which consist of a number of interconnected package suspension carriers 5, on which full roving packages 4, preferably flyer packages, or, after the spinning process, empty flyer tubes, are attached.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment, the roving creel 2 has, on each long side of the spinning machine, two of these longitudinal supports 3 which are configured as Ω-shaped suspension track rails 18 open downwards, on which the linked package suspension supports 5 are guided in a manner known per se by means of rollers 17. Such suspension trains are usually driven by hand, by a "tractor" (not shown) or by a friction roller drive.

[0034] 2 shows in perspective, from the oblique front view, a portion of the machine section length of such a roving creel 2, which in practice is often quite long. As can be seen from the drawing and as already alluded to above, such a roving creel 2 consists essentially of a longitudinal holder 3 formed as a suspension rail track, transverse profiles 8 and a vertical creel rod 9.

[0035] The longitudinal supports 3 are fixed to transverse profiles 8, which themselves are supported on vertical creel rods 9. At a certain distance, determined on the basis of the length of one machine section 12 of the ring spinning machine 1, at least one transverse profile 8 is fixed at right angles to the vertical creel rods 9, which are mounted on the machine frame of the ring spinning machine 1. In the present embodiment, two longitudinal supports 3 are screwed to the transverse profiles 8 per machine side, which, as already mentioned above, are preferably configured as suspended track rails 18.

[0036] Furthermore, sensor units 6 are respectively arranged in the region of the longitudinal holders 3, which are communicatively connected to a computer device 7 of the ring spinning machine 1. The connection between the sensor units 6 and the computer device 7 is effected, as shown diagrammatically, for example via a signal line 11. However, it is also possible to connect the sensor units 6 to the computer device 7 wirelessly.

[0037] The sensor unit 6 is preferably equipped with strain gauges 10, which detect bending loads that are dependent on the weight of the roving package 4 on the associated longitudinal support 3. As is known, such strain gauges 10, which are shown on a relatively large scale in Fig. 6, can detect tensile and compressive deformations in a relatively simple manner, i.e., a relatively accurate experimental measurement of the mechanical stresses and thus a good measurement of the stresses in the support element, for example as a function of the weight, is possible.

[0038] In the computer device 7, the magnitude of the load detected by the sensor unit 6, i.e. the magnitude of the load caused by the weight of the roving package 4 suspended on the longitudinal holder 3 via the package suspension holder 5 as suggested above, is processed, i.e. the computer device 7 calculates the remaining remaining operating time of the corresponding yarn lot based on the load detected by the sensor unit 6.

[0039] Another preferred embodiment of a roving creel 2 formed according to the invention is shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment, sensor units 6 are arranged in the region of the respective transverse mouldings 8 for determining the weight of the roving packages 4.

[0040] That is to say, a sensor unit 6 is arranged on the transverse profile 8 before and after its fixing point on the vertical creel rod 9. The sensor units 6 detect bending stresses which are introduced into the corresponding parts of the transverse profile 8 by the weight of the roving package 4 suspended on the package suspension holder 5 and positioned on the longitudinal holder 3. In this example too, the sensor units 6 are communicatively connected to the computer device 7 of the ring spinning machine 1, which again can take place via a signal line 11 or wirelessly.

[0041] A third alternative embodiment of the roving creel 2 constructed according to the invention is shown in Fig. 4. In this embodiment, each of the package suspension holders 5 of the multiplicity of package suspension holders 5 has its own sensor unit 6 for directly measuring the weight of the suspended roving package 4. In this embodiment, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8, each package suspension holder 5 with rollers 17 and running on an Ω-shaped suspension track rail 18 is provided with its own sensor unit 6, which is communicatively connected to the computer device 7 of the ring spinning machine 1 when the package suspension holder 5 is positioned at its unwinding point in the area of ​​the spinning unit. The connection is made via mechanical contacts 19 and signal lines 11, as shown, or wirelessly, as already mentioned in connection with the other exemplary embodiments.

[0042] Also in this embodiment, the computer device 7 always accurately calculates the remaining operating time of the existing yarn lot based on the package weight transmitted from the sensor unit 6 of the package hanging holder 5 during the spinning process and further known parameters.

[0043] The remaining run time of a roving package which can be determined by means of such an embodiment is indeed very accurate and very detailed, but the required constructional complexity is however relatively high.

[0044] An alternative embodiment of a roving creel 2 according to the invention is shown in FIG.

[0045] In this embodiment, a sensor unit 14 is installed in each case in the region of the vertical creel rods 9, which sensor unit 6 is communicatively connected to the computer device 7 of the ring spinning machine 1 via a signal line 11 or wirelessly, as known from the above-mentioned embodiment. The sensor unit 14, as can be seen from FIG. 7, consists of a bearing element 16 which is fixedly arranged on one of the vertical creel rods 9 and a measuring element 15 which is movably supported relative to said bearing element 16. The sensor unit 14 acting as a pressure sensor detects the laying pressure of the laid transverse profiles 8, which themselves are loaded by the longitudinal supports 3, which in turn take up the weight of the roving packages 4 suspended from and positioned in the package suspension supports 5 in the region of the machine section 12.

[0046] The sensor unit 14 informs the computer device 7 of the movement of the measuring element 15 relative to the support element 16, which movement is caused based on the weight of the roving yarn package 4 in the machine section 12, and based on this movement and further known parameters, the computer device 7 always accurately determines the remaining operating time of the existing yarn lot. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 Ring Spinning Machine 2 Roving Creel 3 Longitudinal support 4. Roving Package 5 Package Suspension Support 6 Sensor Unit 7 Computer Equipment 8 Lateral forming material 9 Creel Rod 10 Strain Gauge 11 Signal conductor 12 Mechanical Section 13 Die 14 Sensor unit 15 Measuring Parts 16 Supporting member 17. Lola 18 Suspended track rail 19 Contact points

Claims

1. A roving creel (2) for a ring spinning machine (1), comprising at least two creel rows formed by longitudinal holders (3) on which roving packages (4) can be mounted, said longitudinal holders (3) being supported on vertical creel rods (9) via transverse mouldings (8), A roving creel (2) is provided with a sensor unit (6, 14) which detects by measurement the amount of roving present in the creel train and transmits it to a computer device (7), which calculates the remaining operating time of the roving present in the roving creel (2) from the amount of roving, the sensor unit (6) has a strain gauge (10) arranged on the longitudinal support (3) of the roving creel (2), the strain gauge (10) detecting a bending load related to the weight of the roving packages (4) on the longitudinal support (3) on which the sensor unit (6) is arranged, and each longitudinal support (3) of the roving creel (2) has its own sensor unit (6) arranged in an area approximately midway between the transverse profile (8) and another transverse profile (8) adjacent to the transverse profile (8), or a sensor unit (6) is arranged on the transverse molding (8) adjacent to a fixing point of the transverse molding (8) on the vertical creel rod (9) in the extension direction of the transverse molding (8) respectively before and after the fixing point, the sensor unit (6) detecting bending stresses induced in the corresponding parts of the transverse molding (8) by the weight of the roving packages (4), or Each of the sensor units (14) has a support member (16) fixedly fixed to the vertical creel rod (9) and a measuring member (15) supported movably on the support member (16) and on which the transverse molding member (8) is placed, and detects the placement pressure of the transverse molding member (8) against the measuring member (15) which is loaded by the longitudinal holder (3) receiving the weight of the roving packages (4). A roving creel (2).

2. Each transverse section (8) is provided with two sensor units (6), 2. A roving creel (2) according to claim 1.

3. Each of the sensor units (6, 14) is connected to the computer device (7) of the ring spinning machine (1) via a signal conductor (11). A roving creel (2) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. each of the sensor units (6, 14) being wirelessly connected to the computer device (7) of the ring spinning machine (1); The roving creel (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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