# US 9,353,463 B2 · Spinning point of a spinning machine and method for the operation of the same

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- Number: US 9,353,463 B2
- Document ID: US9353463B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/218,033
- Filed: 2014-03-18
- Published: 2014-09-25
- Granted: 2016-05-31
- Earliest claimed: 2014-03-18
- Assignees: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG
- Applicants: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG
- Inventors: Gerd Stahlecker; Markus Kübler; Gernot Schäffler; Evzen Pilar; Javier-Orlando Ricaurte-Rubio
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9353463B2

## CPC

- D01H 1/115: using pneumatic means
- B65H 51/205: {by means of a fluid}
- B65H 67/081: {acting after interruption of the winding process, e.g. yarn breakage, yarn cut or package replacement}
- D01H 4/02: imparting twist by a fluid, e.g. air vortex
- D01H 4/48: Piecing arrangements; Control therefor {(stopping roving D01H13/18)}
- D01H 4/50: for rotor spinning
- D01H 15/00: Piecing arrangements (for open-end spinning machines D01H4/48){; Automatic end-finding, e.g. by suction and reverse package rotation; Devices for temporarily storing yarn during piecing (piecing of rovings in combination with replacing of completed packages or cans D01H9/005)}
- D01H 15/002: {for false-twisting spinning machines}
- B65H 2701/31: Textiles threads or artificial strands of filaments
- D01H: SPINNING OR TWISTING (twisting oakum D01G35/00; crimping or curling of fibres, filaments, or yarns D02G1/00)
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

A spinning point of a spinning machine includes a spinning unit, a drawing-off device for the yarn downstream of the spinning unit and a yarn storage downstream of the drawing-off device for the intermediate storage of a section of yarn. The yarn storage has a sensor system for monitoring the filling level of the yarn storage (7). The spinning point includes a winding device for the yarn downstream of the yarn storage, along with a return unit, with the assistance of which an end of the yarn found within the yarn storage after a yarn break is returned into the area of the spinning point. The winding device (9) is stopped in the case of a yarn break in such a manner that, after the stop, an end section of the yarn remains within the yarn storage (7). Subsequent to this, a part of the yarn is separated with the assistance of a yarn separation unit internal to the spinning point, and that the end of the yarn that newly arises in this manner is returned with the assistance of the return unit internal to the spinning point into the area of the spinning point, and that a piecing process is then carried out.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A spinning point of a spinning machine for producing a yarn from a fiber composite that is supplied to the spinning point, the spinning point comprising:
a spinning unit;
a drawing-off device downstream of the spinning unit in a direction of transport of the yarn from the spinning unit;
a yarn storage downstream of the drawing-off device;
a sensor system configured with the yarn storage that monitors a fill level of the yarn within the yarn storage;
a winding device downstream of the yarn storage; and
a return unit disposed relative to the yarn storage and activatable after a yarn break to remove an end of the yarn located within the yarn storage and direct the removed yarn end to the spinning unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The spinning point as in claim 1, wherein the return unit comprises an air jet disposed adjacent to an opening of the yarn storage to direct an air flow against the yarn entering the yarn storage and towards the spinning unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The spinning point as in claim 1, wherein the return unit comprises a mechanical lever assembly disposed adjacent to an opening of the yarn storage to contact and move the yarn end out of the yarn storage and towards the spinning unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The spinning point as in claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises two sensors spaced apart along the yarn storage, each of the sensors configured to detect the presence of a yarn adjacent the respective sensor within the yarn storage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The spinning point as in claim 1, further comprising a controller in communication with the winding device and the sensor system, wherein a winding speed of the winding device is controlled as a function of a sensed fill level of yarn within the yarn storage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The spinning point as in claim 1, further comprising a yarn brake downstream of the yarn storage.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The spinning point as in claim 1, further comprising a yarn separation unit operably configured along the yarn storage to separate the yarn within the yarn storage prior to a piecing process.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The spinning point as in claim 1, wherein the yarn storage is connected to a vacuum source.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The spinning point as in claim 1, wherein the yarn storage further comprises an air injection nozzle disposed to direct pressurized air into the yarn storage in a direction away from an open end of the yarn storage to increase tension on the yarn within the yarn storage in an unwinding direction prior to a piecing process.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The spinning point as in claim 1, further comprising a yarn end preparer configured with the yarn storage to prepare an end of the yarn within the yarn storage for subsequent piecing.

### Claim 11

A method for operating a spinning point of a spinning machine for producing a yarn in a spinning operation from a fiber composite that is supplied to the spinning point, the method comprising:
drawing off the yarn produced at a spinning unit with a drawing-off device;
monitoring the drawn-off yarn with a yarn monitor for at least one physical characteristic of the yarn;
passing the drawn-off yarn through a yarn storage;
monitoring a fill level of the yarn within the yarn storage;
winding the yarn that passes through the storage device with a winding device;
controlling the winding speed of the winding device as a function of the monitored fill level of the yarn within the yarn storage device;
in the event of a yarn break, performing the following method steps:
stopping the winding device such that an end section of the yarn is located within the yarn storage;
separating a part of the yarn to define a new yarn end for piecing;
engaging the yarn entering the yarn storage, removing the new yarn end from the storage device and returning the new yarn end from the yarn storage to the spinning unit for subsequent piecing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method as in claim 11, wherein the new yarn end is returned to the spinning unit with assistance of a directed air flow or a mechanical lever.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method as in claim 11, further comprising keeping a tension on the yarn produced in the spinning operation with a yarn brake disposed between the yarn storage and the winding device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method as in claim 11, wherein the fill level of the yarn within the yarn storage is monitored with at least one sensor disposed at a location along the yarn storage.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method as in claim 11, wherein either during or after the stopping of the winding device after a yarn break, an air flow is directed into the yarn storage in a direction away from an open yarn-intake end of the yarn storage.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method as in claim 15, wherein during the directed air flow into the yarn storage, the winding device is controlled to unwind a section of yarn from a spool, whereas a length of the unwound yarn corresponds to a length of the yarn sucked into the yarn storage prior to separating the yarn to define a new yarn end.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method as in claim 16, wherein subsequent to the unwinding of the section of yarn, the yarn within the yarn storage is separated and a separated yarn section is removed by the yarn storage.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method as in claim 17, wherein the new yarn end defined after the separating of the yarn is prepared for piecing by a yarn end preparer prior to returning the new yarn end to the spinning unit.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method as in claim 18, wherein the new yarn end is returned to the spinning unit with assistance of an air flow directed towards the spinning unit.