Ring Spinning Service Carriage for Selective Thread Break Piecing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing service carriages on ring spinning machines have limited usability due to irreparable thread breaks, leading to increased downtimes and reduced production capacity.

Innovation Solution

A method and module for determining the status of spinning stations to assess whether thread breaks can be addressed by the standard program of the service carriage, allowing it to avoid unnecessary attempts and focus on stations where piecing is possible, combined with sensors and cameras for precise analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the service carriage attempts to eliminate all thread breaks using the standard program, then it can handle simple thread breaks, but it wastes time on irreparable thread breaks and has limited usability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethread break handling efficiencyVSAvoidspindle downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary status determination at the spinning station before the service carriage attempts thread piecing. Sensors detect conditions such as whether the spinning tube is properly attached, the spinning sleeve position is correct, and other prerequisites are met. This preliminary check prevents the service carriage from wasting time on irreparable thread breaks, thereby improving overall productivity while reducing unnecessary downtime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors and detection means to continuously monitor the status of spinning stations and provide feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between repairable and irreparable thread breaks, enabling the service carriage to selectively approach only those stations where piecing is possible, thus optimizing time utilization and handling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the service carriage approaches all spinning stations with thread breaks, then it can potentially repair all breaks, but it reduces production capacity due to unnecessary attempts at irreparable breaks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethread break elimination reliabilityVSAvoidproduction capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Before the service carriage attempts to eliminate a thread break, the system performs preliminary checks using sensors and detection means to determine whether the spinning station is in a state that allows successful piecing. This preliminary action ensures that the service carriage only approaches stations with repairable thread breaks, maintaining high reliability while preserving production capacity by avoiding unnecessary interruptions at stations with irreparable breaks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If the service carriage operates without status determination, then it can respond quickly to thread breaks, but it cannot distinguish between repairable and irreparable breaks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speed to thread breakVSAvoidthread break repairability assessment
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs rapid status determination using sensors and detection means immediately upon detecting a thread break. This preliminary action occurs so quickly that it does not significantly delay the service carriage's response, while simultaneously providing reliable information about whether the thread break is repairable. The fast status check enables the system to maintain high response speed while ensuring reliable assessment of repairability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3628761B1Method for operating a ring spinning machine
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 RIETER CZ AS
  • EP3628761B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3628761B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A method for operating a ring spinning machine (1) having a service carriage (14) is disclosed, wherein the ring spinning machine (1) has a plurality of spinning stations (2), wherein the spinning stations (2) include a drafting system (5) having a discharge cylinder, a thread guide (7), a balloon control ring (8), a spindle (8), a ring traveller (13), and a spindle monitor (15), and wherein the service carriage (14) moves along the spinning stations (2) on one side of the ring spinning machine (1) and eliminates thread breaks at the spinning stations (2) by means of a standard program. When a thread break is detected at a spinning station (2), a status of the spinning station (2) having the thread break is determined in a module (241, 242), and based on the determined status a decision is made as to whether the thread break can be eliminated by the standard program of the service carriage (14). The invention further relates to a corresponding ring spinning machine (1).