Method and apparatus for operating an open-end friction spinning machine

Claim 3

A method as in claim 1, wherein said monitoring includes measuring the yarn twist of the yarn running through and formed in the spinning unit without interrupting operation of the spinning unit.

Claim 4

A method as in claim 1, wherein said monitoring includes inserting the yarn of a monitored spinning unit into a movable servicing apparatus and feeding said yarn to a measuring device for measuring said yarn twist.

Claim 5

A method as in claim 3, including detecting an actual value of at least one of the parameters of spinning conditions by the servicing apparatus during the monitoring of the yarn twist and prior to adjusting at least one of the parameters of the spinning conditions of the respective spinning unit; and utilizing this actual value in the adjusting.

Claim 6

A method as in claim 4, wherein said utilizing includes comparing the detected actual value with predetermined limiting values of the parameters of the spinning conditions taking into account necessary adjustments based upon the monitored yarn twist, and further comprising discontinuing operation of the spinning unit when the limiting values are exceeded indicating an adjustment requirement.

Claim 7

A method as in claim 4, wherein said utilizing includes comparing the detected actual value with predetermined limiting values of the parameters of the spinning conditions taking into account necessary adjustments based upon the monitored yarn twist, and further comprising identifying the respective spinning unit requiring the necessary adjustments.

Claim 8

A method as in claim 4, wherein said utilizing includes comparing the detected actual value with predetermined limiting values of the parameters of the spinning conditions taking into account necessary adjustments based upon the monitored yarn twist, and wherein said adjusting includes assigning cleaning means for cleaning of the spinning unit particularly in a friction zone when the limiting values are exceeded making an adjustment necessary.

Claim 9

A method as in claim 4, wherein said utilizing includes comparing the detected actual value with predetermined limiting values of the parameters of the spinning conditions taking into account necessary adjustments based upon the detected yarn twist, and wherein said adjusting includes assigning post-treatment means for the spinning unit post-treating particularly in a friction zone when limiting values are exceeded making an adjustment necessary.

Claim 10

A method as in claim 3, including: continuing the operation of the spinning unit during measuring by the measuring device; returning yarn produced during measuring from the servicing apparatus to the spinning unit upon completion of the measurement; and winding this yarn that is returned upon a take-up spool of the spinning unit.

Claim 11

A method as in claim 9, including: detecting an actual value of at least one of the parameters of spinning conditions by the servicing apparatus during the monitoring of the yarn twist and prior to adjusting at least one of the parameters of the spinning conditions of the respective spinning units; and utilizing this actual value in the adjusting.

Claim 12

A method as in claim 10, wherein said utilizing includes comparing the detected actual value with predetermined limiting value of the parameters of the spinning conditions taking into account necessary adjustments based upon the monitored yarn twist, and further comprising discontinuing operation of the spinning unit when the limiting values are exceeded indicating an adjustment requirement.

Claim 13

A method as in claim 10, wherein said utilizing includes comparing the detected actual value with predetermined limiting value of the parameters of the spinning conditions taking into account necessary adjustments based upon the monitored yarn twist, and further comprising identifying the respective spinning unit requiring the necessary adjustments.

Claim 14

A method as in claim 10, wherein said utilizing includes comparing the detected actual value with predetermined limiting values of the parameters of the spinning conditions taking into account necessary adjustments based upon the detected yarn twist, and wherein said adjusting includes assigning cleaning means for cleaning of the spinning unit particularly in a friction zone when the limiting values are exceeded making an adjustment necessary.

Claim 15

A method as in claim 10, wherein said utilizing includes comparing the detected actual value with predetermined limiting values of the parameters of the spinning conditions taking into account necessary adjustments based upon the detected yarn twist, and wherein said adjusting includes assigning post-treatment means for the spinning unit post-treating particularly in a friction zone when the limiting values are exceeded making an adjustment necessary.

Claim 16

A method as in claim 3, including switching off the spinning unit following the insertion of the yarn into the servicing apparatus, and resuming the spinning unit operation upon removal of a yarn test sample.

Claim 17

A method as in claim 3, including gathering a yarn sample from a take-up spool of a switched off spinning unit for measuring the yarn twist.

Claim 18

A method as in claim 16, wherein said gathering of a yarn sample off the take-up spool of a spinning unit is conducted during one of the following, a piecing process and a doffing process, at the respective associated spinning unit.

Claim 19

A method as in claim 3, wherein said monitoring includes mechanically analyzing said yarn twist.

Claim 20

A method as in claim 3, wherein said monitoring includes optically analyzing said yarn twist.

Claim 21

An open-end friction spinning machine with a plurality of spinning units comprising: drivable friction surface means defining a yarn formation zone; feeding means for feeding fibers to the yarn formation zone, said fibers passing through the yarn formation zone along a predetermined path; monitoring means for monitoring yarn twist of yarn at the spinning units; comparing means for comparing the monitored yarn twist with a predetermined desired yarn twist value; and adjusting means for adjusting at least one parameter of spinning conditions in response to deviations from the predetermined desired yarn twist value without changing the predetermined path along which the fibers pass through the yarn formation zone.

Claim 22

An open-end friction spinning machine with a plurality of spinning units comprising: drivable friction surface means defining a yarn formation zone; feeding means for feeding fibers to the yarn formation zone, said fibers passing through the yarn formation zone along a predetermined path; monitoring means for monitoring yarn twist of yarn at the spinning units; comparing means for comparing the monitored yarn twist with a predetermined desired yarn twist value; and adjusting means for adjusting at least one parameter of spinning conditions in response to deviations from the predetermined desired yarn twist value without changing the predetermined path along which the fibers pass through the yarn formation zone.

Claim 23

An apparatus as in claim 20, wherein said monitoring means is provided at a movable servicing means which includes means for receiving the yarn to be monitored and which is selectively movable to respective areas of the spinning units.

Claim 26

A method as in claim 1, wherein said monitoring of the yarn twist includes monitoring a cross-section of the yarn.

Claim 27

A method as in claim 23, wherein said monitoring of the yarn twist further includes determining a value of the number of fibers in the yarn.

Claim 28

An apparatus as in claim 20, wherein said monitoring means includes means for monitoring the cross-section of the yarn.

Claim 29

An apparatus as in claim 25, wherein said monitoring means further includes means for determining a value of the number of fibers in the yarn.