Method for determining leaks and/or blockages in a spinning unit of a spinning device of a rotor or air-jet spinning machine

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting leaks and/or blockages in a spinning unit of a spinning apparatus of a spinning machine. The method can comprise: setting the spinning machine wherein compressed air valves are set to an “open” state to release a compressed air flow feed to the spinning unit, switching on a compressed air source provided that the compressed air source is switched off, closing the compressed air valves one after the other in a defined order, wherein each time a compressed air valve is closed, the compressed air flow value is measured and transmitted to an evaluation device and assigned to the spinning unit assigned to the air valve and is compared with a specified limit value or limit value range, and identifying and assessing whether compressed air flow values of which deviate from the limit value or limit value range.

1 . A method for detecting leaks and/or blockages in a spinning unit of a spinning apparatus of a rotor or air-jet spinning machine, wherein the rotor or air-jet spinning machine-comprises:
 at least one section comprising a defined number of spinning apparatuses, each of the defined number of spinning apparatuses having a spinning unit;   at least one compressed air source;   compressed air supply lines, which are each coupled to at least one spinning unit of the defined number of spinning apparatuses, wherein compressed air flow of the at least one compressed air source is feedable via at least one of the compressed air supply lines to the at least one spinning unit assigned thereto;   switchable compressed air valves assigned to at least one spinning unit of the defined number of spinning apparatuses, wherein the switchable compressed air valves are designed to keep at least a pressure constant regardless of a pressure volume flow,   at least one compressed air flow meter for measuring a compressed air flow rate within the compressed air supply lines,   wherein the rotor or air-jet spinning machine comprises, or is coupled to, a control and regulation unit coupled to the at least one compressed air source and the switchable compressed air valves for controlling and/or regulating the at least one compressed air source and the respective compressed air valves, and an evaluation device connected to the at least one compressed air flow meter in a data-transmitting manner for evaluating measured data from the at least one compressed air flow meter;   wherein the method comprises the steps of:   setting the rotor or air-jet spinning machine to an inspection mode in which the switchable compressed air valves are set to an “open” state in order to release a compressed air flow feed to the spinning unit;   switching on the at least one compressed air source for feeding the compressed air flow, provided that the at least one compressed air source is switched off;   closing the switchable compressed air valves one after the other in a defined order, wherein each time one of the switchable compressed air valves is closed, a prevailing compressed air flow value is measured and a measurement result is transmitted to the evaluation device and assigned to the at least one spinning unit assigned to one of the switchable compressed air valves and is compared with a specified limit value or limit value range stored in the evaluation device or a memory unit connected to the evaluation device; and   identifying, by the evaluation device, at least one spinning unit the-assigned compressed air flow values of which deviate from the specified limit value or limit value range, and assessing whether the compressed air flow value falls below or exceeds the specified limit value or limit value range.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the control and regulation unit is connected to the evaluation device in a data-transmitting manner. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further including initiating an alarm signal by the evaluation device if the step of assessing shows an impermissible deviation of the compressed air flow values from the specified limit value or limit value range. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the alarm signal comprises information about a type of impermissible deviation and about the spinning apparatus, spinning unit and/or compressed air supply lines relating to the impermissible deviation. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the switchable compressed air valves assigned to the at least one spinning unit-in each case is moved to a closed position if deviations in the compressed air flow values at a relevant one of the defined number of spinning apparatuses has been assessed to be impermissible. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor or air-jet spinning machine-is an air-jet spinning machine, wherein the at least one spinning unit is formed by an air-jet spinneret, by which a thread is formed from a fed sliver via the compressed air flow fed to the air-jet spinneret, which compressed air flow generates a vortex air flow within the air-jet spinneret. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to claim  13 , wherein the spinning apparatus, spinning unit and/or compressed air supply line relating to the impermissible deviation is indicated by a display unit. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an extent of a deviation from the specified limit value or limit value range is identified and indicated in a display unit. 
     
     
         9 . A rotor or air-jet spinning machine comprising:
 at least one section comprising a defined number of spinning apparatuses, each of the defined number of spinning apparatuses having a spinning unit;   at least one compressed air source;   compressed air supply lines which are each coupled to at least one spinning unit of the defined number of spinning apparatuses, wherein compressed air flow of the at least one compressed air source is feedable via the compressed air supply lines to the at least one spinning unit assigned thereto;   switchable compressed air valves assigned to at least one spinning unit, wherein the switchable compressed air valves are designed to keep at least a pressure constant regardless of a pressure volume flow to control a fed compressed air flow; and   at least one compressed air flow meter for measuring a compressed air flow rate within the compressed air supply lines;   wherein the rotor or air-jet spinning machine comprises, or is coupled to, a control and regulation unit coupled to the at least one compressed air source and the switchable compressed air valves for controlling and/or regulating the at least one compressed air source and the switchable compressed air valves, and an evaluation device connected to the compressed air flow meter in a data-transmitting manner for evaluating measured data from the compressed air flow meter;   wherein the evaluation device is set up to:   compare, when the switchable compressed air valves are closed one after the other in a defined order, a compressed air flow value measured each time a compressed air valve is closed with a specified limit value or limit value range stored in the evaluation device or a memory unit connected to the evaluation device; and   identify the spinning unit the compressed air flow values of which deviate from the specified limit value or limit value range, and assessing whether the compressed air flow value falls below or exceeds the specified limit value or limit value range.   
     
     
         10 . The rotor or air-jet spinning machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the compressed air valve is arranged in a compressed air flow branch duct, via which the assigned spinning unit is connected to the compressed air supply lines so as to guide the compressed air flow. 
     
     
         11 . The rotor or air-jet spinning machine-according to  claim 9 , wherein the control and regulation unit is connected to the evaluation device in a data-transmitting manner. 
     
     
         12 . The rotor or air-jet spinning machine-according to  claim 9 , wherein the evaluation device is connected in a data-transmitting manner to a display unit in a wireless or wired manner and is designed to have the display unit indicate a spinning apparatus, spinning unit, pressure supply line relating to a deviation and/or an extent of the deviation from the specified limit value or limit value range.