Tube Supply Control for Textile Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current spinning machines face inefficiencies in replacing fully wound bobbins with empty tubes due to complex mechanisms and potential delays in tube transport, especially with multiple attending devices, leading to unnecessary stoppages and suboptimal time utilization.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that utilize a control unit with a decision algorithm to optimize the assignment of empty tubes on a one-way conveyor to attending devices based on their positions, current needs, and operational activities, ensuring efficient tube distribution and minimizing idle time by evaluating the mutual position of workstations and attending devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a one-way belt conveyor is used to transport empty tubes to attending devices, then tube transport is simplified, but the risk of tube misallocation increases when multiple attending devices are present

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetube transport mechanismVSAvoidtube delivery accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors the positions of multiple attending devices and the location of tubes on the conveyor, using this feedback information to dynamically determine which attending device should receive the next tube, preventing misallocation even when devices are in motion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-assigns tubes to specific attending devices based on their current positions and expected arrival times at workstations, ensuring that tubes are delivered to the correct device before other devices can interfere with the allocation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If tube requests from multiple attending devices are suppressed sequentially, then tube misallocation is prevented, but workstation stoppage time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetube allocation accuracyVSAvoidworkstation stoppage time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically evaluates the positions and states of multiple attending devices in real-time, continuously adjusting which device receives tube priority based on their current locations and the timing of their requests, rather than using fixed sequential suppression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary that receives tube requests from multiple attending devices, evaluates their positions and timing, and intelligently allocates tubes from the conveyor to the appropriate devices, optimizing both allocation accuracy and minimizing stoppage time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If multiple attending devices operate simultaneously on one side of the machine, then productivity is improved, but the complexity of managing tube distribution increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine efficiencyVSAvoidtube distribution control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs multiple functions: it monitors positions of multiple attending devices, tracks tube locations on the conveyor, evaluates request timing, and makes allocation decisions, thereby managing complex multi-device coordination through a single integrated control system

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical coordination mechanisms with an electronic control system that uses sensors, processors, and algorithms to manage tube distribution to multiple attending devices, simplifying the physical complexity while enabling simultaneous operation of multiple devices

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

Data Source

PatentEP3279123B1Method and device for supplying empty tubes to attending devices of a textile machine
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 RIETER CZ AS
  • EP3279123B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3279123B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3279123B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for supplying empty tubes (5) to attending devices (2, 3, 4) of a textile machine, particularly of a spinning machine (100), in which tubes (5) are by means of a conveyor (6) supplied in one direction to the workstations (1101-1151-11 nn) of the textile machine (100), at which attending devices requesting a new tube (5) are positioned. During the presence of at least one tube (5) on the running conveyor (6) and at a simultaneous request of another attending device (2, 3, 4) for supplying a tube (5), another tube (5) is placed on the running conveyor (6), whereby evaluation is made of at least one mutual position of the workstations (1101-11 nn) of the machine, at which the attending devices (2, 3, 4) requesting a new tube (5) are positioned, and with respect to the optimal use of the working time of the machine a decision is made on the optimal order of assignment of the tubes (5) present on the running conveyor (6) to the individual attending devices (2, 3, 4) requesting a new tube (5).