Yarn Piecing Guidance System for Ring Spinning Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

In textile spinning plants, workers face challenges in efficiently identifying and responding to yarn breaks across multiple ring type spinning machines due to distance limitations, leading to wasted time and potential delays in addressing yarn breaks, and existing systems can cause misidentification of yarn break indicators.

Innovation Solution

A ring type spinning machine apparatus equipped with yarn break sensors, motion sensors, and a control system that uses large lamps and blinking LED indicators to guide workers to the exact spindle with a yarn break, prioritizing the machine with the most breaks or closest to the worker, reducing unnecessary movement and improving response efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If indicator lamps are provided for each spindle to indicate yarn breaks, then the worker can identify the location of yarn breaks, but the worker cannot recognize the indicator lamp from a long distance due to the longer machine frame

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyarn break location identificationVSAvoidindicator lamp visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a hierarchical indication system that adds a spatial dimension to the notification. Instead of relying solely on small lamps at spindle level, large-area display panels are mounted on the machine frame to provide macroscopic visual cues. This multi-scale approach allows workers to detect yarn breaks from a distance while maintaining precise location identification capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The indication system is segmented into multiple levels: individual spindle indicator lamps provide precise location identification, while large-area display panels divided into regions corresponding to different spindle blocks provide distant visibility. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function optimally without compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If working lamps are provided for each spindle to indicate yarn breaks, then the worker can identify the position of the spinning machine, but another worker may erroneously recognize the lamp illumination as a yarn break indicator and move to the wrong location

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespinning machine position identificationVSAvoidyarn break indicator accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the large-area display panel are assigned different visual characteristics or colors to distinguish between yarn break indications and other operational statuses. This local differentiation ensures that workers can immediately recognize the specific meaning of each illuminated region, preventing misidentification and erroneous responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the indication mode based on the situation. When yarn breaks occur, the large-area display panel highlights the affected regions with distinctive patterns or colors that differ from normal operational indicators. This dynamic differentiation enhances reliability by making the distinction between actual yarn breaks and other conditions visually unambiguous.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the worker moves around the spinning machines to check for indicator lamps, then the worker can identify yarn breaks, but time is wasted and yarn break remediation is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyarn break location identificationVSAvoidtime to identify and respond to yarn breaks
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The large-area display panels are pre-positioned at locations easily visible to workers approaching the spinning machines. This preliminary arrangement of information eliminates the need for workers to search for indicator lamps, allowing them to immediately identify yarn break locations upon arrival and proceed directly to remediation, significantly reducing response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The system significantly reduces the time spent by workers in identifying yarn breaks and ensures timely remediation by providing clear guidance to the spindle with issues, minimizing delays and optimizing yarn piecing operations.

Implementation Method 1

yarn break sensor that detects a yarn break at each of the spindles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

position detector that detects the position of a worker attending to the ring type spinning machines

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMotion detection:

Implementation Method 3

blinking LED indicators to guide workers to the exact spindle with a yarn break

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission from LED: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP2952461B1Ring type spinning machine comprising apparatus for assisting in yarn piecing
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP2952461B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP2952461B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An apparatus for assisting in yarn piecing in a ring type spinning machine (11) having a plurality of spindles (12) and a plurality of yarn break detectors (13) provided for the respective spindles (12) includes a position detector (16, 17) that detects a position of a worker who provides yarn piecing service, a plurality of indicators (14, 15) that guides the worker to a position of one of the spindles (12A) having a yarn break, and a controller (18, 20) that controls the indicators (14, 15) based on the position of the spindle (12A) having the yarn break and the position of the worker.