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

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.