Ring Spinning Machine Doffing Failure Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional doffing failure detection devices in ring spinning machines require significant time for workers to locate the position of a failure during the doffing operation, as they need to manually identify the affected spindle station within an identified spindle line.

Innovation Solution

A ring spinning machine equipped with a doffing failure detection device that includes an information processing device and a mobile terminal, utilizing yarn break sensors to detect failures and determine the position of spindle stations with doffing issues, allowing for quick and easy identification of the affected spindle station through signal changes and positional output to the worker.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If automated means are used to narrow down the position of doffing failure to a spindle line, then the detection speed is improved, but the worker still needs to manually find the specific spindle station, resulting in time loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime to locate doffing failureVSAvoidmanual search requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical search process with an automated optical detection system. Yarn break detectors equipped with light sources and light receivers automatically detect yarn breaks and identify the specific spindle station, eliminating the need for workers to manually search through spindle lines and reducing location time to seconds.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an information processing device as an intermediary that receives signals from yarn break detectors, processes the data to identify the specific spindle station with doffing failure, and outputs the position information. This intermediary system bridges the gap between detection and worker notification, providing precise location information without manual search.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If manual search is used to identify the specific spindle station with doffing failure, then the system complexity is reduced, but the productivity decreases due to time loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoffing operation efficiencyVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the yarn break detectors serve multiple functions: detecting yarn breaks during normal operation and detecting doffing failures during doffing operations. By reusing existing detectors for both purposes, the system achieves high productivity without adding separate detection systems, thereby limiting complexity increase.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback system where the information processing device receives real-time signals from yarn break detectors, processes the information to identify doffing failures, and provides immediate feedback to workers through position output. This closed-loop feedback system enables rapid response and maintains high productivity with manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3388564B1Ring spinning machine comprising a doffing failure detection device
Publication Date: 2022.01.05 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP3388564B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3388564B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~6C

AI summary

A ring spinning machine (10) that includes a doffing failure detection device is provided. The ring spinning machine (10) has a plurality of spindle stations (11) and a plurality of yarn break detectors (12) provided for the respective spindle stations (11). Each spindle station (11) has a spindle (50) on which a yarn package (70) including a bobbin (60) and a yarn is to be formed. The doffing failure detection device includes a determiner (21) and an output (13, 30). The determiner (21) is configured to determine whether there is a doffing failure for each of the spindle stations (11) based on a change in a signal received from the yarn break detectors (12) during a doffing operation. The output (30, 50) is configured to output a position of one of the spindle stations (11) that is determined as having a doffing failure by the determiner (21).