U.S. patent application number 16/905302 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-24 for method for operating a semi-automatic or fully automatic, cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG. Invention is credited to Bernd Bahlmann, Franz Huettinger, Romeo Pohn, Adalbert Stephan, Martin Zipperer.
Application Number | 20200399793 16/905302 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004975661 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200399793 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bahlmann; Bernd ; et
al. |
December 24, 2020 |
METHOD FOR OPERATING A SEMI-AUTOMATIC OR FULLY AUTOMATIC,
CROSS-WOUND PACKAGE-MANUFACTURING SPINNING MACHINE
Abstract
A method is provided for operating a semi-automatic or fully
automatic cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine that
has a plurality of identical, adjacently arranged, and at least
partially autonomous workstations. Each of the workstations has a
spinning device for manufacturing a thread and a winding device
including a package holder for winding the thread onto a
cross-wound package. Once an end of a lot being processed at one of
the workstations has been reached, the workstation is stopped. A
requirement that at least one manual service action must be carried
out at the workstation before a lot change at the workstation is
displayed at the workstation.
Inventors: |
Bahlmann; Bernd;
(Schrobenhausen, DE) ; Pohn; Romeo;
(Geisenfeld/Rottenegg, DE) ; Stephan; Adalbert;
(Beilngries/Paulushofen, DE) ; Zipperer; Martin;
(Beilngries, DE) ; Huettinger; Franz; (Geisenfeld,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG |
Winterthur |
|
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004975661 |
Appl. No.: |
16/905302 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D01H 4/44 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D01H 4/44 20060101
D01H004/44 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 19, 2019 |
DE |
10 2019 116 646.2 |
Claims
1-15: (canceled)
16. A method for operating a semi-automatic or fully automatic
cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine that has a
plurality of identical, adjacently arranged, and at least partially
autonomous workstations, wherein each of the workstations has a
spinning device for manufacturing a thread and a winding device
including a package holder for winding the thread onto a
cross-wound package, the method comprising: once an end of a lot of
one of the workstations has been reached, stopping the workstation;
and displaying at the workstation a requirement that at least one
manual service action must be carried out at the workstation.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying at the
workstation an indication of a current lot being processed at the
workstation.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the requirement that at least
one manual service action be carried out is indicated by an
occupancy condition of the package holder or by an occupancy
condition of a supply position for empty tubes at the
workstation.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the cross-wound package of a
current lot processed at the workstation is automatically withdrawn
and the requirement that at least one manual service action be
carried out is indicated by the package holder at the work station
being empty.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the cross-wound package of a
current lot processed at the workstation is automatically withdrawn
and the requirement that at least one manual service action be
carried out is indicated by an empty tube at the workstation.
21. The method of claim 16, wherein the cross-wound package of a
current lot processed at the workstation is automatically withdrawn
and the requirement that at least one manual service action be
carried out is indicated by incorrectly loading the package holder
at the work station.
22. The method of claim 16, wherein requirement that at least one
manual service action be carried out is indicated by an optical
display element at the workstation that generates any combination
of a graphical, coded, lighted signal.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the requirement that at least
one manual service action be carried out is indicated by an icon
presented on the optical display element.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein the requirement that at least
one manual service action be carried out is indicated by the
optical display element after actuation of an input device
associated with the optical display element.
25. The method of claim 22, wherein an operator confirms that the
manual service action has been carried out by actuation of a button
associated with the optical display element, and a further manual
service action to be carried out is then indicated by the optical
display element.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the manual service action and
the further manual service action are displayed as a text display
or as an icon on the optical display element.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein after the operator confirms
that the manual service action and the further manual service
action have been carried out, a new lot is started at the
workstation.
28. The method of claim 16, wherein the manual service action to be
carried out is one or both of: a replacement of spinning
components; and a replacement of fiber material.
29. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying at the
workstation an indication of a current lot being processed at the
workstation and a different indication of a new lot to be processed
after a lot change at the workstation.
30. A semi-automatic or fully automatic cross-wound
package-manufacturing spinning machine, comprising: a plurality of
identical, adjacently arranged, and at least partially autonomous
workstations; each of the workstations comprising a spinning device
and a winding device, the winding device comprising a package
holder for winding a thread onto a cross-wound package; a control
device and a display element; and wherein the control device and
the display element are configured to carry out the method
according to claim 16.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating a
semi-automatic or fully automatic cross-wound package-manufacturing
spinning machine, in particular an open-end rotor spinning machine,
comprising a plurality of identical, adjacently arranged, at least
partially autonomous workstations, wherein each of the workstations
comprises a spinning device for manufacturing a thread as well as a
winding device comprising a package holder for winding the thread
onto a cross-wound package. Once an end of a lot of one of the
workstations has been reached, the relevant workstation is
stopped.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Semi-automatic or fully automatic spinning machines are
known from the prior art in various embodiments. The workstations
of these spinning machines each comprise a spinning device, for
example, an open-end spinning rotor, for manufacturing a thread, a
winding device for winding the produced thread onto a cross-wound
package, and a plurality of further elements for manufacturing the
thread, as well as for handling the manufactured thread and the
presented fiber material. Essential components for manufacturing
the thread are the so-called spinning components, which comprise,
in the case of a rotor spinning machine, inter alia, the spinning
rotor, the thread take-off nozzle, and the opening roller.
[0003] If a so-called lot change, i.e., a yarn having properties
other than those produced so far, is to be carried out at a
spinning machine and/or at a single workstation, numerous
change-over operations are necessary at the individual
workstations. In the simplest case, all that is necessary is for
other empty tubes to be made available and for a few operating
parameters of the spinning machine and/or the workstation to be
changed. Generally, however, the presented fiber material, and at
least a few of the aforementioned spinning elements must also be
replaced by an operator.
[0004] In the case of centrally driven spinning machines, it is
always necessary to carry out the lot change simultaneously at all
jointly driven workstations. By comparison, in the case of spinning
machines comprising so-called at least partially autonomous
workstations, which can automatically carry out a majority of the
necessary service actions with the aid of operating elements
arranged on the workstation, it is also possible to manufacture
different yarn lots at the individual workstations. In any case,
however, the change-over of the workstations to the new lot
requires a considerable amount of time, which results in longer
downtimes of the workstations and productivity losses associated
therewith.
[0005] In order to reduce the amount of time necessary for
servicing multiple workstations and/or for the change-over of the
workstations during a lot change, it was provided in DE 10 2004 044
551 A1 to divide the particular necessary service action into
working steps to be carried out manually and mechanically. In this
way, the operator can perform the working steps to be carried out
manually at workstations that have already been stopped, while, in
parallel thereto, an automatic maintenance device carries out the
working steps to be carried out mechanically. In the case of a
centrally driven spinning machine, in which the lot change is
carried out at a plurality of workstations at the same time, a
considerable amount of time can be saved as a result.
[0006] Moreover, it is known from DE 10 2014 018 628 A1 to arrange
an LED light bar at each of the workstations of a spinning machine.
The light bar indicates the particular manufactured yarn lot and/or
operating conditions at the particular workstation. As a result,
the operating personnel can quickly recognize which workstations
are producing the same yarn lot on a spinning machine loaded with
multiple lots, on which multiple yarn lots are manufactured at the
same time. The operating personnel can also recognize, on the basis
of the different-colored LED lights, which problem exists at which
workstation and, on the basis thereof, determine an advantageous
sequence for working through the problems.
SUMMARY
[0007] A problem addressed by the present invention is that of
providing a method for operating a spinning machine, as well as a
spinning machine, which allows for a preferably fast lot change
also at individual workstations. Additional objects and advantages
of the invention will be set forth in part in the following
description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be
leamed through practice of the invention.
[0008] The problem is solved by a method having the features
described and claimed herein.
[0009] In the method for operating a semi-automatic or fully
automatic, cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine, in
particular an open-end rotor spinning machine, comprising a
plurality of identical, adjacently arranged workstations, each of
the workstations comprises a spinning device for manufacturing a
thread as well as a winding device comprising a package holder for
winding the thread onto a cross-wound package. Once an end of a lot
of one of the workstations has been reached, the relevant
workstation is stopped.
[0010] It is provided that a requirement that at least one manual
service action be carried out is displayed at the workstation that
has reached the end of a lot. As a result, the operating personnel
can very quickly recognize at which workstations manual actions are
necessary and can therefore quickly and preferentially work through
these. Therefore, the workstations that must be changed over for a
lot change can also be worked through very quickly by the operator.
As a result, the workstations can quickly restart their production
and downtimes of the relevant workstations can be kept short.
[0011] It is also advantageous when the particular current lot is
indicated at the workstations, in particular being indicated by a
color display. As a result, the operating personnel can quickly
recognize which workstations are producing the same yarn lot. This,
as well, enables the operating personnel to determine a meaningful
sequence for working through manual service actions. In addition,
as a result, the operating personnel can more easily monitor the
condition and the loading of the particular workstations, i.e., for
example, whether the correct fiber material or the correct empty
tubes is/are present for the relevant yarn lot.
[0012] The display of the requirement that at least one manual
service action be carried out at the workstation that has reached
the end of a lot can take place in different ways, in
principle.
[0013] For example, according to a first embodiment of the method,
the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried
out is indicated via an occupancy condition of the package holder
of the relevant workstation. The occupancy conditions of the
package holder can be, for example, "empty", "loaded", or
"incorrectly loaded". If there is a discrepancy between the
occupancy condition of the package holder and the display of the
current lot at the workstation, a requirement that at least one
manual service action be carried out is thereby signaled to the
operating personnel. In this case, the display of the manual
service requirement therefore takes place with the aid of
components of the particular workstations themselves.
[0014] If a storage position for empty tubes is provided at the
workstation, it is also possible, alternatively or additionally,
that the requirement that at least one manual service action be
carried out is indicated via an occupancy condition of the storage
position for empty tubes. The occupancy conditions "empty",
"loaded", or "incorrectly loaded" are conceivable in this case as
well. If, for example, there is a discrepancy between the occupancy
condition of the storage position, at which an empty tube of the
new lot is already situated, and the display of the current, old
lot at the workstation, a requirement that at least one manual
service action be carried out is thereby signaled to the operating
personnel.
[0015] For example, a wound cross-wound package of a current lot is
automatically withdrawn at the workstation that has reached the end
of the lot and the requirement that at least one manual service
action be carried out is indicated via an empty package holder. The
operating personnel can recognize, on the basis of the empty
package holder, that change-over operations for a lot change are to
be carried out at this workstation, because a new empty tube of the
current lot would otherwise have been automatically installed.
[0016] It is also possible that an empty tube of a new lot is made
available in the storage position at the workstation that has
reached the end of the lot, and the requirement that at least one
manual service action be carried out is indicated via the empty
tube made available. Since the package holder has the "empty"
occupancy condition at the same time, the operating personnel can
recognize that manual service actions are to be carried out at this
workstation because the new empty tube would otherwise have already
been automatically installed. It is also possible that, although an
empty tube of the new lot has been made available in the storage
position, the current, old lot is still displayed at the
workstation, however. On the basis of this discrepancy as well, the
operating personnel can recognize that there is a requirement that
at least one manual service action be carried out.
[0017] According to another embodiment, a wound cross-wound package
of a current lot is automatically withdrawn at the workstation that
has reached the end of the lot, and an empty tube of a new lot is
automatically installed. In this case, the requirement that at
least one manual service action be carried out is indicated via an
incorrectly loaded package holder, since the already installed
empty sleeve of the new lot does not match the display of the
current lot at the workstation.
[0018] It is also possible, of course, that the requirement that at
least one manual service action be carried out is indicated via a
combination of the three different indicators, namely the occupancy
condition of the package holder, the occupancy condition of the
storage position, and the display of the lot at the workstation.
Various combinations are possible here.
[0019] According to another embodiment of the method, the
requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out
is indicated by an optical display element, in particular a graphic
display, assigned to the workstation. As a result, the operating
personnel does not need to draw inferences from the prevailing
combination at the workstation, as in the two aforementioned
embodiments, but rather obtains a direct and unambiguous display of
the requirement that at least one manual service action be carried
out. It is conceivable that the requirement that at least one
manual service action be carried out is indicated merely via a
colored light or a certain flashing light, which must be
differentiated, of course, from the displays of other conditions at
the workstation. As a result, the operating personnel must know
exactly what the meaning is of the different colors and/or flashing
signals, in order to be able to assign to these the different
conditions at the workstation. By comparison, if the optical
display element is a graphic display, it can be clearly and
unequivocally communicated to the operator, in the form of text or
icons, that there is a requirement that at least one manual service
action be carried out.
[0020] Particular advantages therefore also result when the
requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out
is displayed in the form of an icon. These types of icons can be
easily understood regardless of the language of the operator.
[0021] It is also advantageous when, after actuation of an input
device associated with the display element, at least one first
manual service action to be carried out is indicated via the
display element. As a result, the operator can find out, by
actuating the input device, specifically which manual service
action must be carried out. It is advantageous when the input
device is a button of the display. The optical display element and
the input device are combined in a touchscreen in this case.
[0022] Moreover, it is advantageous when, after the operator has
confirmed that the first manual service action has been carried
out, one further manual service action to be carried out is
indicated via the display element. The operator must therefore
confirm that the first manual service action has been carried out
and, thereafter, receives a precise indication of which further
specific service action is to be carried out. This can also be
repeated several times, of course, so that the operator is
instructed, step by step, on how to carry out the necessary manual
service actions. It is advantageous in this case as well when the
confirmation that the particular service action has been carried
out takes place with the aid of a button of the graphic
display.
[0023] For example, the replacement of the spinning rotor can be
specified to the operator as the first service action to be carried
out and the replacement of the fiber material can be specified as
the second service action. The provision of appropriate empty tubes
and, if necessary, a replacement of the take-off nozzle can be
specified as a further service action to be carried out.
[0024] According to one alternative embodiment of the method, a
replacement of spinning components and/or a replacement of fiber
material are/is indicated as a manual service action to be carried
out. The operating personnel can identify, on the basis of the
display "Replace Spinning Components" or "Replace Fiber Material",
that multiple manual service actions are to be carried out and then
give preference to handling these particularly complicated
workstations.
[0025] In order to display the particularly high amount of
change-over effort necessary in the case of a replacement of
spinning components to the operating personnel as early and quickly
as possible, it can therefore also be advantageous, in deviation
from the present invention, to indicate the replacement of spinning
components directly as a requirement that at least one manual
service action be carried out. This means that the operating
personnel can already recognize that complicated change-over
operations are necessary while walking past and without actuating
the input device.
[0026] Particular advantages result when the first manual service
action and/or the further manual service action are/is displayed in
the form of a text display and/or in the form of an icon.
[0027] Moreover, it is advantageous when, in the case of an
impending lot change at the relevant workstation, the new lot is
displayed in addition to the current lot, in particular being
indicated via a color display. As a result, the operator can
recognize, already before the end of the lot has been reached at
the particular workstation, that complicated change-over operations
are necessary and already obtain all necessary new spinning
components, fiber materials, etc. The amount of time necessary for
the lot change at the workstation can be further reduced as a
result.
[0028] Finally, it is advantageous when, after the operator has
confirmed that the first service action and/or the at least one
further manual service action have/has been carried out, the new
lot is started at the workstation, preferably being automatically
started by the workstation. Due to the manual confirmation, by the
operator, that the necessary service actions have been carried out,
it can be ensured that all necessary steps have been carried out
correctly. Erroneous detections of the type that can occur in the
case of automatic queries by a control software are avoided as a
result.
[0029] Moreover, a cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning
machine, in particular an open-end rotor spinning machine,
comprising a plurality of identical, adjacently arranged
workstations is claimed. Each of the workstations comprises a
spinning device for manufacturing a thread as well as a winding
device comprising a package holder for winding the thread onto a
cross-wound package. Moreover, the spinning machine comprises a
control device and a display element for implementing the
above-described method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] Further advantages of the invention are described in the
following exemplary embodiments. Wherein:
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a cross-wound
package-manufacturing spinning machine in the form of an overview
representation,
[0032] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a workstation of a
cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine,
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a face representation of an optical display
element comprising a first display,
[0034] FIGS. 4 through 8 show a face representation of an optical
display element comprising various further displays,
[0035] FIG. 9 shows a schematic side view of a workstation of a
cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine comprising a
package holder having a first occupancy condition,
[0036] FIG. 10 shows a schematic side view of a workstation of a
cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine comprising a
package holder having a second occupancy condition, and
[0037] FIG. 11 shows a schematic side view of a workstation of a
cross-wound package-manufacturing spinning machine comprising a
storage position for empty tubes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention,
one or more examples of which are shown in the drawings. Each
embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and
not as a limitation of the invention. For example features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be combined
with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. It is
intended that the present invention include these and other
modifications and variations to the embodiments described
herein.
[0039] In the following description of the figures, the same
reference numbers are utilized for features that are identical or
at least comparable in each of the individual embodiments or the
individual figures. Some of the features are therefore explained
only upon the first mention thereof or only once with reference to
a suitable figure. Provided these features are not explained once
more separately in connection with the further features, their
design and/or mode of operation correspond(s) to the design and
mode of operation of the identical or comparable, described
features. For the sake of clarity, in the case of multiple
identical features or components in a figure, only one feature or
only a few of these identical features is/are labeled.
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a cross-wound
package-manufacturing spinning machine 1 in an overview
representation. The spinning machine 1 is designed as an automatic
or at least semi-automatic spinning machine 1 and comprises a
plurality of identical, adjacently arranged workstations 2, which
are arranged between two end stocks (not described in greater
detail here). Each of the workstations 2 comprises a feed device
for a fiber material 7, which, in the case of an open-end rotor
spinning machine, is designed as an opening roller 8 (see FIG. 1).
Moreover, each of the workstations 2 comprises a spinning device 3
for manufacturing a thread 6, a take-off device 9 for withdrawing
the produced thread 6, and a winding device 4 for winding the
produced thread 6 onto a cross-wound package 10. The workstations 2
are designed as at least partially autonomous workstations. This
means, the individual workstations 2 comprise a plurality of single
drives for driving their thread-producing units, so that the
individual workstations can also be operated independently of the
other workstations 2 of the spinning machine 1. Moreover, the
workstations 2 can automatically eliminate at least a portion of
the interferences arising during operation, without the need for a
service robot or the intervention by an operator. Therefore,
further components (not represented here), such as handling units
and maintenance units, are arranged at the workstations 2.
Moreover, a display element 12 is provided at each of the
workstations 2, which can display, for example, various operating
conditions of the workstations 2 or the particular yarn lot being
produced. As an alternative to the representation shown, it is also
conceivable that one display element 12 is jointly associated with
two workstations 2.
[0041] FIG. 2 shows a workstation 2 of such a spinning machine 1 in
a schematic side view. The spinning machine 1 is designed as an
open-end rotor spinning machine in the present case and therefore
comprises an opening roller 8 as a feed device and a spinning rotor
13 as a spinning element of the spinning device 3. The thread 6
produced in the spinning rotor 13 is drawn off via a take-off
nozzle 14 and is fed to the winding device 4. The winding device 4
comprises a package holder 5, in which an empty tube 11 (see FIGS.
9 and 10) is accommodated, which can then be wrapped in order to
form a cross-wound package 10. A winding roller 19 is provided in
the present case for driving the winding device 4. The single
drives of the at least partially autonomous workstations 2 as well
as further handling units and maintenance units of the workstations
2 are also not represented in FIG. 2.
[0042] On these types of spinning machines 1 comprising at least
partially autonomous workstations 2, it is possible to manufacture
multiple yarn lots simultaneously at various workstations 2. A lot
change from an old, current yarn lot to a new yarn lot can
therefore also be carried out at a single workstation 2. In order
to carry out a lot change, numerous change-over operations are
generally necessary after the workstation 2 has been stopped, which
include, for example, replacing the presented fiber material 7 as
well as a portion of the spinning components, which are formed in
this case by the spinning rotor 13, the opening roller 8, as well
as the take-off nozzle 14. Moreover, it is usually also necessary
to provide other empty tubes 11 (see FIGS. 9 and 10). In order to
keep the downtimes and the associated losses of production as low
as possible for the workstations 2 intended for a lot change, it is
provided that a requirement that at least one manual service action
be carried out is displayed at a workstation 2 that has reached the
end of a lot.
[0043] Preferably, the display of the requirement for a manual
service action takes place via an optical display element 12 (FIG.
1), as explained in the following with reference to FIGS. 3 through
8. Alternatively, it is also possible, however, to indicate the
requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out
via an occupancy condition of the package holder 5, as described
with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0044] FIG. 3 shows a face of an optical display element, which is
designed as a graphic display 15 in the present case. FIG. 3 shows
the display 15 including a first display, which shows a regular
operating condition of the workstation 2. In this regular operating
condition, the particular current lot, labeled here with "A", is
indicated by a color display 20 (represented here lightly dotted).
Moreover, the regular operating condition itself is indicated by an
icon 16 that is easy to understand. Associated with the display
element 12 is an input device 17, with the aid of which the
operator can perform inputs and communicate with a control unit
(not represented here) of the workstation 2 and/or a central
control unit (also not represented here). In the present case, the
display 15 and the input device 17 are combined in one component,
so that the input device 17 is appropriately formed by various
buttons 18 of the display 15. In the display shown here, the
display 15 comprises, for example, a button 18 for retrieving
information. By actuating this button, the operator can enter the
menu of the control unit of the workstation 2 and, there, change
various settings.
[0045] By comparison, FIG. 4 shows a face of the display element 12
or the display 15, via which a requirement that at least one manual
service action be carried out is displayed once the end of a lot of
the relevant workstation 2 has been reached. The current lot is
still indicated via the color display 20. The requirement that at
least one manual service action be carried out is indicated in the
present case by a further icon 16 that is easy to understand. The
operating personnel can very quickly recognize, on the basis of
this icon, that manual actions are to be carried out at this
workstation 2 and, as a result, give preference to working through
these workstations 2 and/or better plan the maintenance of the
relevant workstations. The display of the requirement that at least
one manual service action be carried out is designed as a button 18
in the present case, which is recognizable by the frame surrounding
the button 18 as well as by the prompt for actuation in the form of
the check mark. If the operator actuates this button 18, he/she
receives, in a subsequent display, more precise information
regarding which specific maintenance actions are to be carried
out.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows one further view of the display 15, which
indicates, to the operator after actuation of the button 18 of the
previous display (FIG. 4) or, in the general case, after actuation
of the input device 17, the manual maintenance action to be carried
out. In the present case, the task "Check Spinning Components" is
indicated in the form of a display text. The operator receives, as
a result and, possibly, via subsequent displays, the alert that
he/she must check and, possibly, replace the spinning
components.
[0047] It is advantageous that the same displays can be utilized
both for interferences during the regular spinning operation that
result in a stoppage of the workstation 2, as well as in the case
of a service requirement due to an impending lot change. It is
merely necessary that the requirement that at least one manual
service action be carried out be displayed to the operator, who is
then guided through the menu and receives, step by step, specific
handling instructions. The operator therefore does not need to
differentiate between interferences of the regular operation and a
lot change and think about which manual service actions he/she must
carry out in which case, but rather only needs to follow the
sequentially retrievable handling instructions, as explained in the
following.
[0048] It would also be conceivable, of course, not to indicate the
manual service action to be carried out in the form of a display
text, as in FIG. 5, but rather via an icon in this case as well.
For example, a view of a display 15 is represented in FIG. 6, which
indicates, to the operator after actuation of the button 18 of the
previous display (FIG. 4), the task "Replace Spinning Components"
as a manual service action to be carried out.
[0049] The displays of the manual service actions to be carried out
(FIGS. 5 and 6) also contain a button 18, with the aid of which the
operator, after having completed the service action, must confirm
that the service action was carried out. After the operator has
confirmed that the service action has been carried out, one further
necessary manual service action can possibly be displayed, the
execution of which must also be confirmed by the operator,
whereupon a further necessary manual service action is possibly
displayed. Once all necessary manual service actions have been
carried out and have been confirmed by the operator, the
workstation 2 can automatically restart production and start the
new lot.
[0050] Since the replacement of spinning components in the case of
a lot change is time-consuming, it can also be advantageous to
display the necessary replacement of spinning components directly
to the operator. This is represented in the display from FIG. 7.
The necessary service action "Replace Spinning Components" is
displayed to the operator via an icon 16. The display of the
necessary service action is designed as a button 18, with the aid
of which the operator can directly confirm that the service action
has been carried out. Moreover, in the display 15, the current lot
is indicated via the color display 20 in this case as well. The
button 18 for retrieving information is also included. It is
conceivable that the operator receives this display after he/she
has actuated the button from FIG. 4.
[0051] Alternatively, it is also possible, however, that the
display "Replace Spinning Components" appears directly when the
relevant workstation 2 has reached the end of the lot. As a result,
the operating personnel can recognize, at first glance, that the
requirement that at least one manual service action be carried out
relates to a lot change including a replacement of spinning
components and can give preference to handling these workstations
2. This is also advantageous, in particular, for the case in which
specially trained personnel are necessary for such a replacement of
spinning components. The personnel can therefore immediately
recognize whether simple manual service actions are to be carried
out or whether a replacement of spinning components, for which the
specially trained personnel are necessary, is to be carried
out.
[0052] In order to further reduce the amount of time necessary for
the change-over of the workstations 2 in the case of a lot change,
it can also be advantageous to display, in advance, that a lot
change is due at the relevant workstation 2. This is represented in
the display from FIG. 8. The workstation 2 is still in regular
operation, which is apparent on the basis of the icon 16. As is the
case in FIG. 4, the button 18 for retrieving information is also
apparent. In the upper area of the display 15, however, in contrast
to the representation from FIG. 4, the color display 21 of the new
lot (darkly dotted and labeled with "B") is also apparent, in
addition to the color display 20 of the current lot (lightly dotted
and labeled with "A"). As a result, the operator can already obtain
all necessary spinning components and the like, and, once the lot
has ended, which is apparent via the display according to FIG. 4 or
7, replace the spinning components and carry out all other
necessary steps.
[0053] Finally, FIGS. 9 through 11 show one further alternative
embodiment, in which the requirement that at least one manual
service action be carried out is indicated via the occupancy
condition of the package holder 5 or the occupancy condition of a
storage position 22 for empty tubes 11.
[0054] FIG. 9 shows a situation, for example, in which the
workstation 2 has reached the end of the lot and has already been
stopped. In this case, empty tubes 11 of the new lot have already
been made available at the spinning machine 1. Moreover, with the
aid of the control unit of the workstation 2 and/or the spinning
machine 1, the lot change has already been initiated, in that an
empty tube 11 of the new lot has been placed into the package
holder 5, as is apparent on the basis of the darkly dotted color of
the empty tube. The display element 12, however, still displays the
color display 20 of the current lot, which has just ended. The
installed empty tube 11 therefore does not match the displayed lot,
and so the package holder 5 has the condition "incorrect load". The
operating personnel can therefore recognize, on the basis of the
stopped workstation 2 as well as the incorrect load of the package
holder, that a lot change is due and manual actions are to be
carried out.
[0055] Similarly, the workstation 2 is shown in FIG. 10 after the
end of the lot has been reached and the workstation 2 has been
stopped. A new empty tube 11 has not yet been installed, however.
The package holder 5 therefore has the occupancy condition "empty".
The operating personnel can recognize, on the basis of the
occupancy condition "empty" as well as the display of the current
lot, that a lot change is due and manual actions are to be carried
out.
[0056] FIG. 11 shows a workstation 2, which additionally comprises
a storage position for empty tubes 11, wherein the requirement that
at least one manual service action be carried out is indicated via
the empty tube 11 made available. The workstation 2 has reached the
end of the lot in this case and has already been stopped. As is
also the case in FIG. 9, empty tubes 11 of the new lot have already
been made available at the spinning machine 1. With the aid of the
control unit of the workstation 2 and/or the spinning machine 1,
the lot change has already been initiated, in that an empty tube 11
of the new lot (darkly dotted color) has been made available in the
storage position 22, but has not yet been placed into the package
holder 5. The package holder 5 therefore has the occupancy
condition "empty". The operating personnel can therefore recognize,
on the basis of the empty tube made available and the occupancy
condition "empty", that a lot change is due and manual actions are
to be carried out.
[0057] In the present case, the color display 20 of the current
lot, which has just ended, is additionally displayed by the display
element 12. The empty tube 11 made available in the storage
position 22 therefore does not match the displayed lot, on the
basis of which the operating personnel can also recognize that a
lot change is due and manual actions are to be carried out.
[0058] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments
which have been represented. Modifications within the scope of the
claims are also possible, as is any combination of the features,
even if they are represented and described in different exemplary
embodiments.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0059] 1 spinning machine [0060] 2 workstation [0061] 3 spinning
device [0062] 4 winding device [0063] 5 package holder [0064] 6
thread [0065] 7 fiber material [0066] 8 opening roller [0067] 9
take-off device [0068] 10 cross-wound package [0069] 11 empty tube
[0070] 12 display element [0071] 13 spinning rotor [0072] 14
take-off nozzle [0073] 15 display [0074] 16 icon [0075] 17 input
device [0076] 18 button [0077] 19 winding roller [0078] 20 color
display of the current lot [0079] 21 color display of the new lot
[0080] 22 storage position
* * * * *