Title of Invention

YARN CLEANER

Abstract

The yarn cleaner (5) is designed for cleaning out defects from an effect yarn (1), which is formed from an alternating stringing together of webs and of effects comprised of given thickenings. The yarn cleaner has a measuring head (6) in which at least one yarn parameter is measured, whereby cleaning limits are determined for the yarn parameter, and the presence of a defect in the yarn is signaled when these limits are surpassed. The measured values of the yarn parameter are compared with the cleaning limits and intolerable defects are cut out from the yarn. The cleaning limits are each dependent on whether the values are measured in the web or in the effect. The yarn cleaner (5) is suited for keeping the desired diameter quality of effect yarn on winding and spinning winding machines.

Full Text

FORM 2 THE PATENT ACT 1970 (39 of 1970) The Patents Rules, 2003 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See Section 10, and rule 13) 1. TITLE OF INVENTION YARN CLEANER APPLICANT(S) a) Name b) Nationality c) Address SAURER GMBH & CO., KG. GERMAN Company LANDGRAFENSTRASSE 45, D-41069, MONCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed : - ORIGINAL 209-MUMNP-2006 Description Yarn clearer The invention relates to a yarn clearer. In the production of yarn, as high a uniformity as possible of the yarn is generally aimed for within narrow tolerances as well as a yarn without visible defects, such as intolerable thick or thin locations in the yarn. In order to achieve this, so-called yarn clearers are used, which, for example, monitor the diameter of the yarn continuously with a measuring head which operates contactlessly. If, owing to the exceeding of limit values called cleaning limits, an intolerable defect is detected, the defect is cut out of the yarn, the yarn ends are connected again and the production process is continued, as known, for example from DE10062479 Al. In conventional yarn monitoring, a single reference diameter is determined and cleaning limits selected for this. For example it is known from the literature reference "Elektronisches Garnuberwachungssystem Corolab fur Rotor-Spinnspulautomaten Autocoro", Chemiefasern/Textilindustrie, 40th/92nd Volume, April 1990, in order to determine a reference diameter, to determine an average diameter value of the yarn at the beginning of the measurement at a spinning station over the first yarn metres. This so-called reference diameter is the reference diameter for all further evaluations. Measured actual diameters of the yarn are generally given as a percentage based on the reference diameter. The object of the invention is to propose a clearer with an enlarged area of application. This object is achieved with a yarn clearer. Advantageous configurations of the invention are the subject of the sub-claims. 2 The yarn clearer according to the invention makes it possible to recognise diameter-related yarn defects even in effect yarn. The fluctuations in the yarn parameter, which are caused solely by the change between the webs and effects, do not result in unnecessary cutting processes, which would reduce the productivity and create undesired connection locations. If different cleaning limits are specified for the web and effect, the determination of effects can take place virtually as precisely as in a yarn free of effects. The clearer functions known per se, can therefore be extensively used so a satisfactory evaluation of the effect yarn produced is possible. If, in an effect yarn, defects can be either tolerated in the web regions or defects can be tolerated in the effect regions, the yarn clearer can be set up according to claim 4. The selection of only the effects can be justified in that satisfactory web formation is assumed, but the effect formation is not reliable enough. If, as an alternative, it can be assumed that differences in the effect formation are of no consequence, it may be sufficient if only the longer web sections are cleaned, analogously to a regular yarn. With the restriction to one alternative, the calculating outlay required for the cleaning and the number of cutting processes can be reduced. The diameter of the effect yarn is used as a priority as the yarn parameter, with the cleaning limits being different depending on the respective measuring location, in other words web or effect. The web diameter, also called the web thickness, can be determined with a yarn clearer according to claim 8, largely uninfluenced by the effects and therefore close to reality. This also has a positive effect with regard to the accuracy of detecting the effect. 3 With a yarn clearer according to claim 9 a relatively simple but adequately precise determination of the effect limits is possible. In the development of the yarn clearer according to claim 10, an average value for the effects, which is set too low, is counteracted. On the one hand, an average value, which is set low, could lead to undesired cuts when the effect is strongly pronounced, partially deliberately. On the other hand, an inadequate differentiation of the cleaning limits between the effect and web would exist. With a yarn clearer according to claim 9 and 11, the limit between the web and effect can be determined with adequate accuracy for cleaning the effect yarn. If lower demands are placed on the cleaning of an effect yarn with regard to maintaining the diameter, a yarn clearer set up according to claim 12 may be adequate. With a yarn clearer of this type, the outlay required for cleaning the effect yarn can be reduced. On the other hand, it is nevertheless ensured that unnecessary steps, which are brought about by effect-caused diameter fluctuations, are not carried out. A clearer of this type is adequate particularly when the effects are not particularly strongly pronounced. The invention will be described in more detail with the aid of an embodiment. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a simplified schematic view of a workstation of a spinning winding machine, Fig. 2 shows an effect yarn, which is shown by the arrangement side by side of measured values of the yarn diameter, Fig. 3 shows a basic view of an effect region with adjacent web parts. 4 In the spinning station shown in Fig. 1, the effect yarn 1 is drawn off from the spinning device 3 through the draw-off tube 2 and wound onto the cross-wound bobbin 4. The effect yarn 1 runs between the spinning device 3 and cross-wound bobbin 4, through a yarn clearer 5, which comprises a measuring head 6 and a processor 8, and subsequently a guide eyelet 9. The yarn clearer 5 is allocated a thread guard 7. The drive drum 10 drives the cross-wound bobbin 4 during the winding process by means of frictional engagement. A motor 11 provides the drive drum 10 with rotational movement. The yarn clearer 5 is used for quality monitoring of the running effect yarn 1. The yarn clearer 5 is connected to further mechanisms for control, data storage or evaluation and for the activation of further elements of the spinning station or the spinning machine, by means of the line 12. The components of the yarn clearer 5 can be integrated in a common housing. Alternatively, the effect yarn may also be drawn from a supply bobbin instead of from a spinning device. Fig. 2 shows the view of the effect yarn 1 as an arrangement side by side of measured values. The regions of the effects 13 and the webs 14 can be seen but the beginning and end of the effects 13 and the effect thickness or the effect diameter DE and the web thickness or the web diameter DST are not clear and therefore cannot be adequately recognised. The yarn clearer 5 records the yarn diameter D in each case at a spacing of 2 mm. A cycle represents a measuring length of 2 mm of effect yarn 1. To determine the web diameter DST used as a basis for the cleaning, the clearer 5 initially forms, at the beginning of the measurement, an arithmetic average value of the yarn diameter from a predetermined length of effect yarn 1 as the reference diameter, subtracts the reference diameter from the measured individual values of the yarn diameter and forms the average value of the web diameter DST as the arithmetic average value from all the negative differential values, which have been measured adjacent to other negative differential values. 5 The determination of the effect diameter DE and the limits between the effects 13 and webs 14 is explained with the aid of Fig. 3. In the view of Fig. 3, the yarn diameter D is shown as a percentage over the yarn length LG as the curve 15. The curve 15 represents, in the view of Fig. 3, beginning from the left up to the point 16, the web diameter DST. From the point 16, the curve 15 rises and, at point 17, passes the value of the limit diameter DGR. At point 18, the predetermined yarn length Lv has been covered since reaching the point 17. After a diameter increase of 15% is recorded at the point 17, and the exceeding of the limit diameter DGR lasts over the predetermined length Lv, for example for six cycles or 12 mm, the point 17 is defined as the beginning of the effect 13. The curve 15 falls below the limit diameter DGR at the point 19. The falling below lasts up to point 20 and therefore over the predetermined yarn length Lv. Therefore, the point 19 is defined as the end of the effect 13. The region between point 17 and point 19 is defined as the effect 13. The section of the effect yarn 1 following after point 19 or the end of the effect 13 is defined as web 14 until a beginning of an effect 13 is determined again. An arithmetic average value is formed from the four largest diameters 21 within the effect 13. The provision of the effect diameter DE is thus largely independent of natural diameter fluctuations in the effect region. This arithmetic average value is defined as the effect diameter DE. A predetermined tolerance range with a cleaning limit RGEO as the upper limit value and with a cleaning limit RGEU as the lower limit value, is allocated to the effect diameter DE. A predetermined tolerance range with a cleaning limit RGSTO as the upper limit value and with a cleaning limit RGSTU as the lower limit value is accordingly allocated to the web diameter DST. The yarn clearer 5 continuously determines whether the diameter values of the effect yarn 1 detected by the measuring head 6 originate from a region which is defined as a web 14 or as an effect 13. If the diameter values of the effect yarn 1 originate from a 6 region, which is defined as a web 14, these diameter values are compared with the limit values allocated to the web diameter DsT, the cleaning limit RGSTO and the cleaning limit RGSTU. If the diameter values of the effect yarn 1 originate from a region, which is defined as an effect 13, these diameter values are compared with the limit values allocated to the effect diameter DE, the cleaning limit RGEO and the cleaning limit RGEU. Alternatively, the yarn clearer 5 can be set up in such a way that, alternatively, either only defects in the web regions or only defects in the effect regions are cleaned out. Alternatively, the cleaning limits of the yarn clearer 5 can be set up in such a way that they lie outside the fluctuation width Bs identified in Fig. 3, of the effect 13 and web 14. The fluctuation width Bs designates the spacing between the diameter of the effect 13 and the diameter of the web 14. In this case, the continuously measured diameter values of the effect yarn 1 are compared, for example, only with the cleaning limit RGEO and the cleaning limit RGSTU, in order to detect exceeding. The cleaning limit RGEO designates the upper tolerable limit value of the effect diameter DE and the cleaning limit RGSTU designates the lower tolerable limit value of the web diameter DST. In a first embodiment, the yarn clearer 5 is set up in such a way that exceeding these limit values or cleaning limits is recorded as an intolerable defect and the latter is cut out. In a second embodiment, the yarn clearer 5 is alternatively set up in such a way that when these limit values or cleaning limits are exceeded, it is detected over what yarn length the exceeding lasts. A decision is made by means of a two-dimensional classifying matrix known per se, also called a clearer matrix, as to whether an intolerable defect is present and, in this manner, the defect lengths are included in the determination of the cleaning limits. A classifying matrix is divided in one dimension into length regions and, in the other dimension, into diameter regions 7 and, in each case, forms a class by the combination of one length region with one diameter region. The cleaning of yarn according to classes has been known for a long time, for example from the literature reference "VoUstandiges System zur Qualitatssicherung in der Spulerei", Melliand - offprint October 1992. Further embodiments of the yarn clearer are possible in the framework of the invention and not limited to the embodiment shown. 8 We Claim: 1. Yarn clearer for cleaning out defects from a yarn, in the measuring head of which at least one yarn parameter is measured, wherein for the yarn parameter, cleaning limits are determined, the exceeding of which signals the presence of a defect in the yarn, for which purpose the measured values of the yarn parameter are compared with the cleaning limits and wherein intolerable defects are cut out from the yarn, characterized in that the yarn clearer is set up for cleaning effect yarn (1) with at least one cleaning limit, which is valid for values of the yarn parameter measured in web regions of the effect yarn (1), and additionally with at least one cleaning limit, which is valid for values of the yarn parameter measured in effect regions of the effect yarn (1), in that the at least one cleaning limit for web regions does not coincide with the predetermined value of the yarn parameter for web regions and in that the at least one cleaning limit for effect regions does not coincide with the predetermined value of the yarn parameter for effect regions, and wherein the effect yarn (1) is formed from an alternating arrangement side by side of webs (14) and of effects (13) consisting of predetermined thickenings. 2. Yarn clearer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the yarn clearer (5) is set up to implement yarn clearer functions, known per se, in such a way that at least one of the following defects is detectable: short thick location, long thick location, short thin location, long thin location, periodically recurring defects. 3. Yarn clearer as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the yarn clearer (5) is set up in such a way that, alternatively, either only defects in the web 9 regions are cleaned out or only defects in the effect regions are cleaned out. 4. Yarn clearer as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the yarn parameter is the diameter of the effect yarn (1), in that the cleaning limits of the yarn clearer (5) are matched to at least one diameter value for the effect thickness and to at least one diameter value for the web thickness. 5. Yarn clearer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the yarn clearer (5) is set up in such a way that it determines, over a predetermined yarn length, the average diameter values of the webs (14) and the average diameter values of the effects (13), and in that the determination of the average diameter values takes place at least at the beginning of the measurement. 6. Yarn clearer as claimed in either of claims 4 or 5, wherein the defect lengths are included in the determination of the cleaning limits. 7. Yarn clearer as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein, to determine the average value of the web diameter DST, it initially forms an arithmetic average value of the yarn diameter from a predetermined length of effect yarn (1) as the reference diameter, subtracts the reference diameter from the individual values of the yarn diameter and forms the average value of the web diameter DST as the arithmetic average value of all the negative differential values, which have been measured adjacent to other negative differential values. 8. Yarn clearer as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the yarn clearer (5) is set up such that it determines the effect region in that the beginning of the effect (13) is defined by fulfilling a first criterion and in 10 that the end of the effect is defined by fulfilling a second criterion, between the beginning and the end of the effect (13), a specifiable number of the largest diameters is determined, an arithmetic average value is formed from the diameters determined, which is specified as the diameter of the effect (13), and the region of the effect yarn (1) outside the effect (13) is defined as the web region. 9. Yarn clearer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the diameter DE of the effect (13) is formed as the average diameter value from the four largest diameters between the beginning and end of the effect (13). 10. Yarn clearer as claimed in either of claims 8 or 9, wherein, considered as the first criterion is the exceeding of a limit diameter DGR, which is greater by a defined amount than the average value of the web diameter DST and in that the exceeding lasts over a predetermined yarn length Lv1 and in that, considered as the second criterion is the falling below of the limit diameter DGR and the fact that the falling below lasts over the predetermined yarn length Lv2. Dated this 16th day of February, 2006 HIRAL CHANDRAKANT JOSHI AGENT FOR SAURER GMBH & CO. KG 11

Documents:

209-mumnp-2006-abstract(12-04-2007).doc

209-mumnp-2006-abstract(12-4-2007).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-claim(granted)-(12-04-2007).doc

209-mumnp-2006-claim(granted)-(12-4-2007).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-correspondence(12-4-2007).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-correspondence(ipo)-(7-7-2008).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-drawing(12-4-2007).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-form 1(20-2-2006).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-form 18(20-2-2006).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-form 2(granted)-(12-04-2007).doc

209-mumnp-2006-form 2(granted)-(12-4-2007).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-form 3(20-2-2006).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-form 5(20-2-2006).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-form-pct-ipea-409(20-2-2006).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-form-pct-isa-210(20-2-2006).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-other document(12-4-2007).pdf

209-mumnp-2006-power of attorney(12-12-20030.pdf

209-mumnp-2006-power of attorney(20-2-2006).pdf

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