Yarn Spindle Transit Control via MES-PLC Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

The efficient and smooth transit of yarn spindles in chemical fiber production lines is a bottleneck affecting overall production capacity and efficiency, with existing systems facing challenges in managing rapid transit and reducing manual intervention.

Innovation Solution

A system and method involving a Manufacturing Execution System (MES), a first Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), and multiple second PLCs, where the first PLC acts as an intermediate layer to manage data communication and control yarn spindle transit, reducing manual intervention and enhancing efficiency and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual control methods are used for yarn spindle transit, then operational simplicity is maintained, but transit efficiency and production capacity are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyarn spindle transit efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a transit control system as an intermediary between manual operations and automated execution. This system includes a transit control unit that receives transit requests from the MES, determines transit permissions based on workstation status, and sends control signals to transit devices. This intermediary layer automates the transit control process while maintaining system manageability, resolving the contradiction between improving transit efficiency and avoiding excessive system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The transit control system implements self-service by automatically determining transit permissions based on real-time workstation status data from the MES. The system autonomously decides whether to permit or prohibit transit without requiring continuous manual intervention, thereby improving transit efficiency while keeping the control mechanism relatively simple through rule-based automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Speed

If automated transit control is implemented, then transit speed and production rhythm are improved, but system complexity and data management requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyarn spindle transit speedVSAvoidcontrol system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a transit control unit for receiving requests and determining permissions, a data processing module for analyzing workstation status, and an execution module for sending control signals. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high transit speeds through automated processing while managing complexity by dividing functions into manageable, specialized components that can be independently optimized and maintained.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If real-time transit control is implemented, then production efficiency is improved, but error risks and system reliability challenges increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transit control system implements feedback by continuously monitoring workstation status data from the MES and using this information to dynamically determine transit permissions. The system receives real-time data about workstation availability, yarn spindle status, and production rhythm, then adjusts transit control decisions accordingly. This feedback mechanism improves production efficiency through real-time optimization while enhancing reliability by making control decisions based on actual system state rather than fixed predetermined rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4718191A1System and method for controlling automatic transit of yarn spindle, device and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 ZHEJIANG HENGYI PETROCHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP4718191A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4718191A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4718191A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a system and method for controlling automatic transit of a yarn spindle, relating to the field of chemical fiber intelligent technology. The system includes: a MES, a first PLC and second PLCs, the first PLC is configured to acquire second service data of a target workstation from the second PLCs, obtain first service data based on the second service data, and send the first service data to the MES; the MES is configured to determine first transit indication information for the target workstation, and send the first transit indication information to the first PLC; the first PLC is configured to return an analysis result of the first transit indication information to a second PLC corresponding to the target workstation; and the second PLC is configured to control the target workstation to perform a yarn spindle transit task based on the analysis result.