Yarn Spindle Station-Passing Control With Offline PLC Data Caching

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in chemical fiber production is the inefficient station-passing of yarn spindles, which acts as a bottleneck in improving output capacity due to the need for rapid and smooth flow through production stations.

Innovation Solution

A system involving a Manufacturing Execution System (MES), a first Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), and multiple second PLCs, with an intermediate first PLC managing data communication and caching offline station-passing records to ensure seamless operation even in disconnected states, enhancing data synchronization and reducing manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the first PLC operates in offline mode without MES connection, then the production line can continue operating independently, but data synchronization with MES is delayed or lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction continuityVSAvoiddata synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing station-passing records in an offline cache area before MES connection is lost. This allows data to be preserved and synchronized later when connection is restored, preventing information loss while maintaining production continuity during offline operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The offline cache area acts as an intermediary storage between the first PLC and MES. It temporarily holds station-passing records when MES is unavailable, enabling data to be buffered and transferred later, thus resolving the conflict between offline operation and data synchronization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If manual intervention is used for station-passing control, then system complexity is reduced, but production efficiency and accuracy decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestation-passing efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by enabling the first PLC to automatically generate station-passing indication information and manage offline caching without manual intervention. This automated approach improves productivity while the modular design keeps complexity manageable through clear separation of functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If the first PLC continuously synchronizes data with MES, then data accuracy is maintained, but system response time during disconnection increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic action by implementing conditional synchronization - data is synchronized with MES during connection, and automatically transferred from offline cache when connection is restored. This periodic synchronization approach maintains data accuracy while minimizing time loss during disconnection periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4718187A1Method and apparatus for controlling automatic station-passing of yarn spindle, electronic device and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 ZHEJIANG HENGYI PETROCHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP4718187A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4718187A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4718187A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a method and apparatus for controlling automatic station-passing of a yarn spindle, an electronic device and a storage medium, relating to the technical field of chemical fiber intelligent manufacturing. The method includes: monitoring (S201) whether a control button of a first PLC is in an offline mode and whether a control button of a second PLC corresponding to a target station is in an online mode; and storing (S202) offline data to an offline cache area if the first PLC generates station-passing indication information for the target station, responsive to determining that the control button of the first PLC is in the offline mode and the control button of the second PLC corresponding to the target station is in the online mode.