Handling apparatus for a maintenance device for cleaning thread-guide elements, and a cleaning method

Abstract

The invention relates to a handling apparatus (1) for a maintenance device (5) of a ring spinning machine for cleaning a thread-guide element (2), wherein the thread-guide element (2) to be cleaned comprises at least one flat main body having at least one guide slot for horizontal thread guidance, wherein the handling apparatus (1) is controllably connected to the maintenance device (5) and can be moved in multiple axes, and wherein the handling apparatus (1) comprises at least one cleaning element (3). The invention also provides a maintenance device (5) having a handling apparatus (1) according to the invention, to a method for cleaning a thread-guide element (2), and to a cleaning element (3).

Description

[0001] HANDLING DEVICE FOR A MAINTENANCE DEVICE FOR CLEANING THREAD GUIDE ELEMENTS AND A CLEANING PROCEDURE

[0002] TECHNICAL AREA

[0003] The present invention relates to a handling device for a maintenance unit of a ring spinning machine for cleaning a yarn guide element, a method for cleaning a yarn guide element, a maintenance unit comprising a corresponding handling device and a cleaning element for use in a handling unit.

[0004] TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

[0005] Guide elements for guiding a moving fiber assembly (e.g., in the form of a so-called roving or wick, or yarn / thread) are used in ring spinning machines in a wide variety of designs. A guide element of this type, used at a spinning station of a ring spinning machine, is generally located between a drafting unit and a spindle bank or ring bank of the spinning station and is usually detachably connected to a support of the spinning station by a screw or other fastener. In this case, the guide element's function is to guide the fiber assembly between the drafting unit and the spindle bank and to center it with respect to the spindle axis.

[0006] In the event of a yarn break at a spinning station on a ring spinning machine, a maintenance unit is called to the affected spinning station and positioned in front of it. Common maintenance units typically have at least one handling device with various functions, such as actuating the spindle brake, locating the yarn end on the head, opening the yarn guide, threading a chamfer / fiber bundle into the spinning ring, the yarn guide or balloon constriction rings, and feeding the yarn end or replacement yarn end into the drafting unit.

[0007] In the event of a yarn break, the yarn guide element is folded up into an open position to improve access to the spinning area for the handling device. The yarn guide element remains folded up until the yarn end is located and the threading process begins, i.e., threading the yarn end or replacement yarn end into the ring runner, the yarn guide (if applicable), the balloon constriction ring / balloon constriction sleeve, and feeding the yarn end or replacement yarn end into the drafting unit, etc. For the threading process, the yarn guide element is returned to a closed position so that the yarn can be threaded. The yarn guide element can become dirty due to fiber debris or general contamination during the operation of a spinning mill. A yarn break or other malfunction can also cause a wrap around the yarn guide element or leave yarn remnants stuck to it.These contaminants (=fibers, thread remnants, impurities and thread wraps) are detrimental to the subsequent spinning operation and can make spinning more difficult and / or lead to renewed thread breakage.

[0008] To counteract this problem, thread guides were developed that minimize, for example, the formation of thread tangling compared to known thread guides made of a coiled wire with a loop forming a spinning channel – often called a "pig's tail" guide. These thread guides are flat with a guide slot for the thread and are usually made of sheet metal.

[0009] An embodiment of a flat yarn guide element for a spinning station of a ring spinning machine is known from EP 4 023 799 A1 and shows a yarn guide element consisting of a flat base body with a guide slot incorporated therein. The guide slot has at least one change of direction. Further yarn guide elements of the described type are known from EP 3 521 490 A1 and EP 4 332 285 A1. In the case of the yarn guide element described here, the frequency of yarn winding can be reduced but not completely avoided.

[0010] Yarn guide elements of the type described above can be operated by known maintenance equipment, such as the maintenance equipment known from WO 2020 / 254954 A1. For this purpose, a handling device is provided that folds the yarn guide element up from the spinning axis, i.e., moves it from the spinning axis into an open position. Once the yarn end has been located by the same or a separate handling device, the yarn guide element is returned to the spinning axis, i.e., to a closed position, and the yarn end / spare yarn end is threaded into the various spinning components and fed to the drafting unit by a handling device, or by the same handling device for all functions.

[0011] The cleaning of spinning components and corresponding devices are known from the prior art. For example, DE 3930366 A1 discloses a spinning machine with a plurality of drawing units arranged side by side, each containing a cleaning device. Furthermore, a cleaning device for the cleaning devices, movable along the spinning machine, is known, characterized in that the cleaning devices are arranged to be movable from an operating position to a cleaning position, and that the cleaning device is equipped with means for transferring the cleaning devices from the operating position to the cleaning position. The cleaning device on the drawing unit itself can be a pair of brushes. A disadvantage of this solution is that a plurality of cleaning devices are required, and such a solution is not suitable for cleaning yarn guide elements.The invention aims to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and provide a means for the effective cleaning of thread guide elements of the type mentioned above, thereby further minimizing the occurrence of thread breaks. Furthermore, the cleaning element should be cost-effective, easy to handle, replace, and clean.

[0012] PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] To solve the problem, a handling device for a maintenance unit of a ring spinning machine for cleaning a thread guide element, a method for cleaning a thread guide element, a maintenance unit comprising a corresponding handling device and a cleaning element for use in a handling unit according to the independent claims is proposed.

[0014] The essence of the invention therefore consists in a handling device for a maintenance unit of a ring spinning machine for cleaning a thread guide element, wherein the thread guide element to be cleaned comprises at least one flat base body with at least one guide slot for horizontal thread guidance, wherein the handling device is controllably connected to the maintenance unit and is movable on multiple axes, and wherein the handling device comprises at least one cleaning element.

[0015] In the context of the invention, a handling device is understood to be a device of a maintenance unit or service cart that operates spinning components at a spinning station and is controlled by the maintenance unit. For example, a handling device can locate the yarn end at the head when repairing a yarn break. This could be a robot arm. A handling device according to the invention performs at least the cleaning of a yarn guide element. Depending on the embodiment, the handling device can perform further actions, such as moving the yarn guide element from a closed to an open position and vice versa.

[0016] Within the scope of the invention, a thread guide element is understood to be a thread guide element comprising at least one flat base body with at least one guide slot for horizontal thread guidance. Horizontal thread guidance refers to thread guidance in the horizontal plane. Horizontal thread guidance allows, for example, the threading of the thread / yarn into the thread guide element. The flat base body can be designed as a single piece or in two parts. A balloon constriction ring is also understood to be a thread guide element. This can be designed as a single piece or in two parts.

[0017] A flat base body is understood to be a base body that lies in a plane (horizontal plane) and comprises a top and a bottom, wherein the top, in the assembled state, faces the drafting unit of the spinning station and the bottom faces the ring bank. The flat base body allows contaminants such as thread or fiber remnants or spools to be removed by a linear movement of the cleaning element or the handling device to which the cleaning element is attached, along the orientation of the thread guide element – ​​this orientation is generally perpendicular to the spindle axis. Thus, the base body can be a sheet of metal or a wire that has no windings in the vertical direction. It is not excluded from the invention that, in the case of a two-part flat base body, the two parts lie at least partially on top of each other.

[0018] Multi-axis movement means that the handling device can perform all movements in three-dimensional space. For example, the handling device can be moved up and down vertically, forward and backward in the horizontal plane (e.g., from the maintenance unit to the spinning station), as well as left and right, or perform corresponding rotations / tilts. The handling device is controlled by a control unit integrated into the maintenance unit.

[0019] A cleaning element is a mechanical component used to clean a yarn guide element. This can be a brush, scraper, slider, scrubber, etc. The cleaning element is designed to remove contaminants such as yarn remnants and other impurities from the yarn guide element. This is achieved, for example, through a linear movement of the handling device to which the cleaning element is attached. This eliminates the need for compressed air, resulting in cost-effective operation. Furthermore, the cleaning element removes contaminants from the spinning area, preventing them from being spread or blown onto other spinning components, thus reducing the number of subsequent cleaning steps required at the spinning area.

[0020] Advantageously, the cleaning element includes at least one brush element. Brush elements are advantageous because they enable efficient cleaning of the thread guide element. For example, dirt in the form of thread remnants is picked up by the brush; that is, the thread remnants are trapped or caught between the bristles and can then be pulled off, or, depending on the bristle thickness, torn off or separated and removed from the thread guide element by, for example, a linear movement of the handling device to which the cleaning element is attached. In addition to thread remnants, dirt in the form of dust and fiber residue, etc., is also removed. Furthermore, brush elements are standard components that can be produced and procured cost-effectively. Their operation is inexpensive compared to, for example, compressed air. Moreover, brush elements are easy to clean and therefore reusable.

[0021] Advantageously, at least one brush element is a radial, vertical, and / or conical brush. Depending on the orientation of the bristles—radial, vertical, or at an angle—a distinction is made between the aforementioned brush shapes. An example of a radial brush is a roller brush, and an example of a vertical brush is a cup brush. The radial, vertical, and / or conical brushes are advantageously rotatable and connected to the handling device. The connection may be detachable.

[0022] For example, a rotatable roller brush arranged vertically with respect to the spindle axis offers the advantage of simple assembly and eliminates the need to distinguish between bristles facing upwards (towards the drawing unit) and bristles facing downwards (towards the ring bench). This distinction would be necessary with a cup brush. Furthermore, thread or fiber remnants caught in the bristles of the roller brush can be pulled out of the thread guide element, even if they are very long. They are wound onto the roller brush and efficiently removed from the thread guide element. The invention also provides for the alternative use of vertical and conical brushes that can be rotatably connected to the handling device.

[0023] It is advantageous if the at least one axial, radial, and / or conical brush is rotatable in such a way that contaminants can be separated from the thread guide element to be cleaned. Separation is understood to mean the stripping, tearing, pulling off, or removal of, for example, a thread remnant by a linear movement of the brush element or the handling device to which the at least one brush element is attached. Separation also includes pulling off / tearing off a thread remnant or other contaminants such as dust, fiber remnants, thread spools, etc., whereby the thread remnant may, for example, be wound onto the rotating brush element.

[0024] It is further advantageous if the at least one cleaning element is designed such that, in the operating position, it can be brought into contact with at least one upper surface of the thread guide element. The cleaning element can be an axial, radial, and / or conical brush, which may be rotating or non-rotating. Furthermore, the cleaning element can be a wiper, scraper, pusher, or scrubber made of, for example, rubber. Alternatively, the cleaning element can be a pair of brush elements, wherein one brush element, e.g., a roller brush, can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the thread guide element, and the other brush element, e.g., a roller brush, can be brought into contact with the underside of the thread guide element. The handling device must be aligned accordingly, which is controlled by the control unit in the maintenance device.

[0025] It is advantageous if the at least one cleaning element is designed such that, in its operating position, it can be brought into contact with both the top and bottom of the thread guide element. The cleaning element can be a pair of brush elements, one of which can be brought into contact with the top of the thread guide element and the other with the bottom. In addition to a pair of brush elements, two wipers, scrapers, pushers, or scrubbers can be provided. The handling device must be aligned accordingly—that is, brought into its operating position—which is controlled by the maintenance device. Sensors can be provided on the maintenance device or the handling device to monitor the alignment.

[0026] It is advantageous if the cleaning element is detachably connected to the handling device. This allows the cleaning element to be replaced if it shows signs of wear or if requirements change. The connection is mechanical, e.g., a positive or friction fit, such as a screw connection, snap connection, etc.

[0027] The essence of the invention further provides a method for cleaning a thread guide element of a ring spinning machine, wherein the method comprises at least the process step of cleaning a thread guide element which is in a closed position, wherein this process step is carried out by a handling device according to the invention.

[0028] The closed position refers to the position in which the yarn guide element guides the yarn along the spinning axis – which usually corresponds to the spindle axis – or the yarn path. The yarn path defines the route the yarn to be spun takes along the spinning unit and may include a balloon, which is limited by a balloon constriction ring. The yarn must also be centered with respect to the spindle axis.

[0029] The cleaning process includes the removal of contaminants such as thread remnants, fiber remnants, coils and / or debris by the cleaning element, which is attached to a handling device.

[0030] Advantageously, the method includes the additional step of cleaning the cleaning element. For this purpose, a device can be provided in the maintenance unit, such as a suction device and / or a scraper, like a comb, to remove thread or fiber remnants and other contaminants from the cleaning element. This step can be performed after each use of the cleaning element, after a predefined number of uses, or after the cleaning element has been detected as contaminated by appropriate sensors.

[0031] Advantageously, the method additionally comprises at least the following process steps for detecting contamination on the thread guide element, wherein the detection of contamination on the thread guide element is carried out by the maintenance device. For this purpose, suitable sensors (optical sensor, camera) with corresponding electronics and evaluation unit, e.g., object recognition software, can be provided in the maintenance device. In this way, the handling device according to the invention is only actuated when necessary, which is energy- and time-efficient. Contamination refers to all types of contamination that can occur on a thread guide element—i.e., thread or fiber remnants, dust, thread spools, etc.

[0032] Advantageously, the handling device moves the thread guide element into an open and / or closed position before and / or after cleaning. This procedure helps to avoid collisions with other handling devices, if present, and is efficient because the handling device is already located near the thread guide element and can, if necessary, sensorially inspect it for contamination.

[0033] Furthermore, the invention essentially comprises a maintenance device for remedying thread breaks on a ring spinning machine, wherein the maintenance device includes a handling device according to the invention.

[0034] Advantageously, the maintenance device includes a mechanism for detecting contamination on the thread guide element. This mechanism comprises a sensor such as an optical sensor or a camera with corresponding electronics and an evaluation unit.

[0035] The invention essentially provides a cleaning element for use in a handling device according to the invention. This can be a brush element – ​​with a vertical, radial, and / or conical arrangement of bristles – or a pair of brushes. Furthermore, it can be a wiper, a pair of wipers, a scraper, a pair of scrapers, a slider, a pair of sliders, a scrubber, or a pair of scrubbers made of plastic in the form of rubber. BRIEF EXPLANATIONS OF THE FIGURES

[0036] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. These show, schematically:

[0037] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a handling device according to the invention;

[0038] Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of an invention.

[0039] Handling device; and

[0040] Figure 3 shows a maintenance facility in front of a spinning station with a handling device according to the invention.

[0041] WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

[0042] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a handling device 1 according to the invention with a cleaning element 3 for cleaning a thread guide element 2. The thread guide element is flat and has a top and a bottom surface 2.1 and 2.2. The handling device 1 is designed with multiple joints and enables multi-axis movement of the handling device, which is connected to a maintenance device via a cable 4 for control purposes. In the embodiment shown, the cleaning element 3, which is detachably attached to the handling device, is designed as a roller brush. Alternatively, the cleaning element can be another radial brush, vertical brush, conical brush, slider, wiper, scraper, or scrubber made of, for example, rubber or a non-woven fabric.

[0043] Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a handling device according to the invention, which differs from the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in that the cleaning element 3 no longer consists only of a rotatable / rotating roller brush, but of a rotating roller brush pair, wherein one of the two roller brushes can be brought into contact with the upper side 2.1 of the thread guide element 2 and the other of the two roller brushes with the lower side 2.2 of the thread guide element 2.

[0044] Fig. 3 schematically shows a maintenance device 5 with a handling device 1 according to the invention, as well as a schematically depicted spinning station 6 comprising a drafting unit 7, a spindle with a sleeve 8 spinning into a head, a ring-runner system 9, and at least one yarn guide element 2. A maintenance device 5 is positioned opposite the spinning station 6. The maintenance device 5 comprises a handling unit 3 with a cleaning element 3 detachably arranged thereon, and an optical sensor 11 with associated electronics and evaluation unit 12. The sensor 11 detects contamination in the form of yarn or fiber remnants, dust, or spools on the yarn guide element 2. The handling device 3 according to the invention is controlled accordingly, and the yarn guide element 2 is cleaned. Furthermore, a stripping device 10 in the form of a comb with a suction device for cleaning the cleaning element 3 is provided.The cleaning element 3 can be cleaned as needed or after each use to clean a thread guide element 2.

[0045] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described. Modifications within the scope of the claims are possible, as is any combination of the described features, even if they are shown and described in different parts of the description or the claims, or in different embodiments, provided that no contradiction arises with the teaching of the independent claims.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Handling device (1) for a maintenance device (5) of a ring spinning machine for cleaning a yarn guide element (2), wherein the yarn guide element (2) to be cleaned comprises at least one flat base body with at least one guide slot for horizontal yarn guidance, wherein the handling device (1) is controllably connected to the maintenance device (5) and is movable on multiple axes, and wherein the handling device (1) comprises at least one cleaning element (3).

2. Handling device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element (3) comprises at least one brush element.

3. Handling device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one brush element is an axial, radial and / or conical brush.

4. Handling device (1 ) according to claim 3, wherein the axial, radial and / or conical brush is rotatably connectable to the handling device (1 ).

5. Handling device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the at least one axial, radial and / or conical brush is rotatable in such a way that contaminants can be separated from the thread guide element (2) to be cleaned.

6. Handling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one cleaning element (2) is designed such that it can be brought into contact with at least one upper surface (2.1) of the thread guide element (2) in the operating position.

7. Handling device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one cleaning element (2) is such that is designed so that in the operating position it can be brought into contact with both a top (2.1 ) and a bottom (2.2) of the thread guide element (2).

8. Handling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning element (3) is detachably connected to the handling device (1).

9. Method for cleaning a yarn guide element (2) of a ring spinning machine, wherein the method comprises at least the following process steps: - Cleaning of a thread guide element (2) which is in a closed position, wherein this process step is carried out by a handling device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method additionally comprises the following process step: - Cleaning of the cleaning element (3).

11. Method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the method additionally comprises at least the following method steps: - Detection of contamination on the thread guide element (2), wherein the detection of contamination on the thread guide element (2) is carried out by the maintenance device (5).

12. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the handling device (1) brings the thread guide element (2) into an open and / or closed position before and / or after cleaning the thread guide element (2).

13. Maintenance device (5) for repairing thread breaks on a ring spinning machine, wherein the maintenance device (5) comprises a handling device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

14. Maintenance device (5) according to claim 13, wherein the maintenance device (5) comprises a device for detecting contamination on the thread guide element (2).

15. Cleaning element (3) for use in a handling device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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