Suction Nozzle for Automatic Cheese Changing in Rotor Spinning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Open-end rotor spinning machines require manual intervention or specialized service units for cheese/empty tube changes, leading to inefficiencies and increased downtime.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a movably mounted second suction nozzle, controlled by a drive device, which can be positioned to cut and temporarily dispose of the thread, allowing for automatic cheese/empty tube changes without operator intervention, minimizing downtime and eliminating the need for additional service units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual intervention or specialized service units are used for cheese/empty tube changes, then the changing process can be performed, but efficiency decreases and downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecheese changing efficiencyVSAvoiddowntime during cheese change
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The workstation is equipped with its own empty tube magazine and automatic cheese changing mechanism, enabling it to perform cheese/empty tube changes independently without requiring external service units or manual intervention. The creel automatically exchanges the filled cheese for a new empty tube using the stored empty tubes,实现 self-service functionality that eliminates waiting for mobile service units and reduces downtime

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If multiple service units are used simultaneously on long open-end rotor spinning machines, then individual work stations can be served faster, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaiting time for package changerVSAvoidnumber of service units
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The empty tube magazine and cheese changing functionality are extracted from the mobile service units and integrated directly into each workstation. This distributes the cheese changing capability to individual workstations rather than concentrating it in separate service units, eliminating the need for multiple service units while maintaining fast response times

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Extent of automation

If a movable second suction nozzle is added to automatically dispose of thread during cheese changes, then automation increases and downtime decreases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic thread disposalVSAvoidnumber of movable components
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second suction nozzle is designed with multi-functionality: it can dispose of thread during cheese/empty tube changes, and can also be used for thread cutting and other thread management tasks. This universal component serves multiple purposes within the workstation, justifying its addition by providing broad automation capabilities rather than being a single-purpose addition

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

Enables safer, faster, and cost-effective cross-wound bobbin/empty tube changes, reducing time expenditure and increasing productivity by automating the cheese/empty tube change process, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of open-end spinning machines.

Implementation Method 1

a movably mounted second suction nozzle (11) which, if required, can be subjected to a defined vacuum and can be positioned by a drive device (13)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum suction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP2657380B1Method and apparatus for operating workstations of an open-end rotor spinning machine
Publication Date: 2016.07.20 SAURER GERMANY GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2657380B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2657380B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The method involves introducing a change of cross-coil/empty sleeve, when a predetermined diameter (D) of cross-wound bobbin (8) of working station (1) is reached during interruption of winding process of bobbin. A thread (9) is manufactured temporarily by a winding device (3), by appropriate control of coil frame (22) on own transportation unit of spinning machine. A movably mounted suction nozzle (11) is positioned such that the thread running into suction nozzle is transferred to a new empty case (33) supported in coil frame and the winding process is again started on empty case. An independent claim is included for a working station of open-end rotor spinning machine.