Textiles: spinning – twisting – and twining – Apparatus and processes – Monitor and control
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-30
2003-03-25
Lindsey, Rodney M. (Department: 3765)
Textiles: spinning, twisting, and twining
Apparatus and processes
Monitor and control
C057S284000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06536199
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a yarn false twist texturing machine of the type disclosed in WO 98/033963 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,302.
Texturing machines of this kind comprise a plurality of processing stations—normally as many as 216 or more processing stations—which are arranged side by side on one longitudinal side of the machine. Each of the processing stations comprises a plurality of processing units for respectively advancing, texturing, drawing, and winding a yarn to a package. The processing units and, thus, the process steps in the individual processing stations are monitored and controlled via a central machine control unit. For the operation, the control unit normally comprises an operator controllable visual display unit, which permits visualizing and changing control and monitoring data. However, it is also common to use two separate visual display units respectively for controlling and monitoring the process. To be able to intervene in processing steps, a plurality of process controllers are provided, which are all connected to the central machine control unit. It is possible to connect the process controllers to the processing units in two ways. As disclosed in WO 98/033963, it is possible to operate the processing units within a processing station by individual drives with associated controllers, so that a plurality of process controllers are associated to each processing station. In this instance, all process controllers connect to a central machine control unit.
In a second variant, which is disclosed, for example, in DE 33 24 243, processing units of the same function in all processing stations are operated by a central drive, so that all processing units of the same function can be controlled by one process controller. In this variant, the expenditure for the control system is considerably reduced in comparison with the foregoing variant with individual drives, however, with the disadvantage that all processing stations of the texturing machine must be operated synchronously.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method of controlling a texturing machine for false twist texturing a plurality of synthetic filament yarns in a corresponding plurality of processing stations as well as such a texturing machine, wherein a high flexibility is accomplished in the processing of the yarns with a simultaneously little expenditure for the control system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the fact that the texturing machine is divided into a plurality of sections, with each of the sections being controlled independently. Thus, a texturing machine with, for example, a total of 216 processing stations is divided, for example, into a total of 18 sections. With that, each of the sections would comprise 12 processing stations. The processing stations of a section are monitored and controlled independently of the processing stations of adjacent sections. The special advantage of the invention lies in that it is possible to produce with one texturing machine, yarns with different settings in the sections. Furthermore, it is possible to shut down each of the sections independently of the adjacent sections for maintenance and elimination of defects, thereby minimizing a production loss. A further advantage is to be seen in that all sections are jointly supplied from one feed line of supply voltage to the texturing machine. To this extent, it is especially advantageous to connect the sections jointly to a main switch or an emergency switch.
To be able to perform within the section on all processing stations substantially the same process steps, an advantageous further development of the method according to the invention provides for monitoring and controlling all process steps of the section by means of a field control unit associated to the section. To this end, all process-relevant parameters are stored in the field control unit. Likewise, the operating data from the processing stations are continuously supplied to the field control unit. Thus, the field control unit permits an individual monitoring and control of the section.
One advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention provides for individually controlling each process step of one of the processing stations independently of the other process steps of the processing station. In particular, this variant of the method permits operating the process units employed as feed systems in a simple manner at different advancing speeds. Thus, it will be advantageous, when all feed systems have the same advancing speed while threading a yarn in a processing station. Only after the yarn is threaded, will the advancing speeds be made different, which leads to a drawing of the yarn.
A particularly great flexibility in processing the individual yarns within a section of the machine is accomplished by a variant of the method wherein the process steps of a processing station are individually controlled irrespective of the process steps of adjacent processing stations.
However, there is also the possibility of controlling as a group the process steps of adjacent processing stations—in particular those of the same function—independently of the other process steps of the processing station. Thus, for example, for unwinding the yarns from a feed yarn package, it is possible to jointly activate the first feed systems of a section.
A further development of the method according to the invention is especially suited for operating the different kinds of process steps within a processing station with the least possible control resources. In this instance, the intended processing steps include, for example, advancing, heating, drawing, twisting, and winding. Thus, it would be possible to control with advantage the process steps as a group, which are performed for advancing the yarn. Contrary thereto, it is preferred to individually control the process steps for twisting a yarn.
In the case that process steps of a plurality of processing stations of a section are combined to a group, a further development of the method is especially advantageous for enabling a shutdown of the process steps independently of the control. Such a shutdown becomes necessary, for example, in the case of a yarn break within a processing station, or when a continuously monitored parameter within a processing station is exceeded.
The method of the present invention is based on a texturing machine with a very large number of processing stations, so that within a section at least six yarns, preferably at least twelve yarns are simultaneously processed in parallel, side-by-side relationship.
The texturing machine of the present invention represents the solution to the underlying object in terms of an apparatus. To this end, the plurality of processing stations are divided into a plurality of sections, each section comprising a plurality of processing stations. Associated to each section is one of several field control units for controlling and monitoring the processing stations of the section. The process controllers for controlling the processing units of the processing stations of a section connect to their associated field control unit. Each section with its associated field control unit thus forms a partial machine, which is to be operated individually. In this connection, the process parameters are predetermined by the field control unit.
To operate the texturing machine, the field control units connect independently of one another to a microprocessor, so that an operator is able to display the data of one of more field control units, or to input or change data on an operator-controllable visual display unit.
To increase the efficiency of a texturing machine, it is further proposed to adapt the microprocessor for being coupled via a line data network to a diagnosis station, thereby enabling a fast intervention by a central station upon occurrence of a defect.
To transmit data between the field control unit and the process controllers, as well as between the
Geissler Stefan
Klug Michael
Lieber Reinhard
Pyra Michael
Wortmann Thomas
Alston & Bird LLP
Barmag AG
Hurley Shaun R
Lindsey Rodney M.
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