Capacitive Thread Cleaner for Cross-Wound Bobbin Weight Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing cross-wound bobbins lack precision in determining the weight of the cheese during the winding process, leading to inaccuracies in machine productivity assessment due to variations in yarn number and production length caused by spinning process tolerances and thread tension.

Innovation Solution

A method where a capacitive thread cleaner continuously scans the yarn mass, calculates the yarn mass integral over the production length, and uses this data to determine the weight of the cheese with high accuracy, allowing for real-time monitoring and correction of weight deviations during the winding process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the weight of cross-wound bobbins is determined using yarn count and yarn production length, then the determination can be performed without additional measurement devices, but the weight determination precision deteriorates due to variations in yarn number and production length caused by spinning process tolerances and thread tension

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement device complexityVSAvoidweight determination precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/physical measurement methods (direct weighing) with an optical measurement system. A capacitive sensor detects the mass of individual yarn fibers as they pass through the thread path, converting mechanical mass measurement into an optical/electrical field-based measurement process. This substitution enables continuous, non-contact measurement of yarn mass throughout the winding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous measurement of yarn mass throughout the entire winding process. The capacitive sensor continuously detects mass deviations of individual yarn fibers as they pass through the thread path, and the control unit continuously integrates these measurements to determine the total bobbin weight in real-time, eliminating the need for discrete, post-production weighing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Manufacturing precision

If capacitive thread cleaners are used to remove mass deviations, then thread quality improves, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethread qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the capacitive sensor serve multiple functions: it simultaneously acts as both a thread cleaning device (removing mass deviations) and a measurement device (detecting yarn mass for weight determination). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate measurement equipment, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high thread quality standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures precise determination of cheese weight, eliminating the need for subsequent weighing and providing accurate insights into machine productivity, with the ability to adjust parameters to maintain consistent spool weights.

Implementation Method 1

a capacitive thread cleaner arranged in the region of the thread path, which removes undesirable mass deviations of the thread during the winding process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP4001193B1Method for determining the weight of a cross coil
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 SAURER SPINNING SOLUTIONS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4001193B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining the weight of a cross-wound bobbin (5) produced on a textile machine (1) with a plurality of workstations (2), each of which has a winding device (4) for laying a thread on the cross-wound bobbin (5) and a capacitive thread cleaner (21) arranged in the area of ​​the thread path, which cleans out undesirable mass deviations of the thread (16) during the winding process. In order to enable the operator of a cross-wound bobbin-producing textile machine (1) to gain insight into the production output of the textile machine, the weight of the cross-wound bobbins (5) produced at the workstations of the textile machine should be predictable and as uniform as possible with respect to their bobbin weights.To solve the problem described above, the invention provides that the thread cleaner (21) successively scans the yarn mass of a running thread (16) and yarn mass values ​​are determined, and that, to determine the weight of the cross-wound bobbin (5), values ​​are determined from the yarn scans of the thread cleaner (21) which are summed over the yarn production length of the cross-wound bobbin (5).