Method for monitoring air flows required for handling a thread and/or fiber band and spinning machine unit

A method for monitoring air flows required for handling a thread and/or fiber band in a spinning machine having a plurality of spinning positions, at least one air flow-generating source being associated with the spinning machine and being connected to an air flow duct in an air flow-communicating manner, the air flow duct having an air flow main duct, coupled to the source in an air flow-communicating manner, and a plurality of air flow branch ducts branching off from the air flow main duct, each branching off to a spinning position for supplying the air flow to handling units of the spinning positions for handling a thread or fiber band, and the spinning machine being allocated an evaluation device for evaluating measurement data and a detection unit for detecting one or more of productive spinning positions, non-productive spinning positions, and handling units, the detection unit being connected to the evaluation device for data transmission,

• characterised in that
• an air volume flow measuring unit is provided which is arranged in the air flow main duct between the source and the air flow branch duct nearest to the source along the air flow path, the air volume flow measuring unit being connected to the evaluation device for data transmission,
• measuring the air volume flow by the air volume flow measuring unit and transmitting a measurement result to the evaluation device,
• detecting a number of the productive spinning positions, non-productive spinning positions, or both by the detection unit at a time of the air volume flow measurement and transmitting to the evaluation device,
• determining an air volume flow target value depending on the number detected at the time when the air volume flow is measured, the air volume flow target value corresponding to a total air volume flow requirement of the spinning positions which are productive at the time when the measurement is taken,
• comparing the air volume flow target value with an actual value of the measured air volume flow by the evaluation device, and
• carrying out by the evaluation device an evaluation on the basis of a comparison to assess whether there is an unacceptable deviation between the actual value of the measured air volume flow and the air volume flow target value.