EP3788186B1

EP3788186B1 - A method of melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns, and an equipment for realizing the method

Info

Publication number: EP3788186B1
Application number: EP19720539.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernd Schumacher; Ren XIANMING; Shigang Li; Xudong Yang
Original assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2018-05-04
Filing date: 2019-04-26
Publication date: 2024-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-26
Also published as: CN110438575B; EP3788186A1; JP7346452B2; CN110438575A; WO2019211181A1; JP2021522423A

Description

Technical field

Present invention relates to a method of melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns, and an equipment for realizing the method.

Background art

In melt spinning system, melt-state thermoplastics are sprayed out, under an operating pressure by spinneret capillaries of spinneret nozzle plate. Continuous long melts which are sprayed out along gravity direction are formed into continuous filaments under compulsive cooling air. Under influence of cooling air, monomers or low polymers prone to linger on surface of spinneret nozzle plate of spinneret solidify into impurities or coking materials. Therefore it is necessary to clean spinneret nozzle plate on a regular basis. Normally one spinning zone is assigned with one operator who takes responsibility of wiping spinneret nozzle plates of said spinning zone. The general workflow of wiping is, first scraping surface of spinneret nozzle plate, then spraying silicone oil onto surface of spinneret nozzle plate, afterwards second-time scraping, then second-time silicone oil spraying. Considering normal configuration that usually each spinning position has five or ten spinnerets with spinneret nozzle plates, heavy wiping task taken on by operators is inherent with deficiency of low efficiency.
Methods for producing yarns are known from EP 3 162 923 A1 , CN 206 607 340 U , WO 2013/163914 A1 and DE 10 2016 014976 A1 .

Contents of the invention

With full consideration to defects of said existing technology, present invention provides a method of melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns, and an equipment for realizing the method, to solve aforementioned problem. Technical solutions which are used to achieve the aim are listed as follows.
A method of melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns, wherein a polymer melt is conveyed through a spin pump and fed to a plurality of spinnerets which extrude the polymer melt into a plurality of yarns respectively, wherein the yarns are wound into a plurality of bobbins by a winding device and wherein the spinnerets are regularly maintained by wiping a spinneret nozzle plate, the maintenance of at least one of the spinnerets is initiated by manual pressing a wiping button which is connected to a machine control unit and the machine control unit generates a control command which is transmitted to a wiping robot.
By replacing operators with a wiping robot automatic spinneret nozzle plate wiping is achieved. By integration of wiping robot with spinning control system the operator could define a start of the wiping robot's action.
Further, after manually pressing the wiping button, the machine control unit checks whether the winding device is in winding status and sends different control commands to the wiping robot based on different check results.
Prior to start of wiping action of the wiping robot, it is necessary that the machine control unit knows status of the winding device, given that spinneret nozzle plate wiping has to be performed with no influence on bobbin formation on the winding device. Based on abovementioned reason, if the machine control unit checks that the winding device is in winding status, the machine control unit sends to the wiping robot a signal to wait wiping action until bobbin is full. Another possibility is, if the machine control unit checks that the winding device is not in winding status, the machine control unit sends to the wiping robot a signal to immediately start wiping action.
Further, the wiping robot is able to move out of a base station and stops in one of several maintenance positions and positions itself. The wiping robot is stationed at the base station which is adjacent to the spinning zone in non-wiping time. After operator presses down the wiping button of corresponding spinning position, the wiping robot moves to corresponding spinning position in a manner of self-positioning.
In order to achieve aforementioned method, present invention further provides an equipment for melt-spinning and winding a plurality of yarns, which could achieve automatic wiping of spinneret nozzle plate. It is equipped with a spinning device having at least one spinning pump and a plurality of spinnerets, with a spinning beam for receiving the detachably held spinnerets, with a winding device for winding the yarns to a plurality of bobbins and a machine control unit which is connected at least to a winding control unit of the winding device, wherein the spinning pump is controlled by a spinning pump control unit, wherein, a wiping button is connected with the machine control unit and the machine control unit is connected with a robot control unit of a wiping robot, which is moveable along a line parallel to the spinnerets.
Further, the machine control unit has a checking unit which is connected to the winding control unit of the winding device so as to check if the winding device is in winding status. Based on different check results, the machine control unit sends out different control commands to the robot control unit of the wiping robot.

Description of figures

Figure 1 schematically shows, when the wiping robot is stationed at base station, front view diagram of an equipment for melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns according to present invention;
Figure 2 schematically shows, when the wiping robot is at wiping position, front view diagram of an equipment for melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns according to present invention;
Figure 3 schematically shows, when the wiping robot is at wiping position before start of wiping action, partial side view diagram of an equipment for melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns according to present invention;
Figure 4 schematically shows, when the wiping robot is at wiping position after start of wiping action, partial side view diagram of an equipment for melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns according to present invention.

Mode for carrying out the invention

Figure 1 schematically presents front view of an equipment for melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns according to present invention, and exemplarily shows two spinning devices 1.1 and 1.2 which are side by side. Due to that a winding device below the spinning device 1.1 has the same configuration with a winding device 14 below the spinning device 1.2, only the winding device 14 below the spinning device 1.2 is shown for the sake of simplicity.
Due to the same configuration of spinning device 1.1 and 1.2, the following description is made by example of the spinning device 1.2. The spinning device 1.2 includes a spinning beam 23 with a heating function. Downside of the spinning beam 23 is maintained with multiple spinnerets 6.1-6.5. In present embodiment, five spinnerets are maintained at downside of the spinning beam 23. A spinning pump 2.1 which is designed as a multi-pump is disposed above the spinning beam 23. The spinning pump 2.1 is connected with the spinnerets 6.1-6.5 via separate melt pipelines. The melt pipelines and the dismountable spinnerets 6.1 - 6.5 are disposed within the spinning beam 23 to ensure the melts are kept in melting state before being sprayed out. The polymer melt in melting state is transported to the spinnerets 6.1-6.5 via the pipeline under a pressure generated by the spinning pump 2.1. The spinning pump 2.1 is controlled by a spinning pump driver 3.1. The spinning pump driver 3.1 is controlled by a spinning pump control unit 4.1. The spinnerets 6.1-6.5 has multiple spinneret capillaries within a spinneret nozzle plate, from which the melts are sprayed out. Under cooling influence of a cooling device not shown the melt turns into continuous filament bundles after being spun out.
In order to impose drawing onto the filament bundles, two godets 7 are disposed above the spinning device 12. The filament bundles partially wrap around the two godets 7 which are respectively driven by a godet driver 8.
In order to receive filament bundles which are drawn, a winding device 14 is used to wind the filament bundles. The winding device 14 is designed to have two bobbin shafts 11 and 12. The bobbin shafts 11 and 12 are maintained on a rotatable rotation frame 13, so that the bobbin shafts 11 and 12 are alternately under winding status, whereby continuity of yarn winding is guaranteed. The bobbin shaft 11 is driven by a bobbin shaft driver 11.1. The bobbin shaft 12 is driven by a bobbin shaft driver 12.1. The rotation frame 13 is driven by a rotation frame driver 13.1. In order to obtain cross-wound bobbins, the inlet area of the winding device 14 is distributed with a traverse device 9 which provides a traverse yarn guider for each yarn. The traverse device 14 is driven by a traverse device driver 9.1. The bobbin shaft driver 11.1, the bobbin shaft driver 12.1, the rotation frame driver 13.1 and the traverse device driver 9.1 are controlled by a winding control unit 15.
In order to control and detect drivers of the spinning pump 2.1 and the winding device 14, the equipment is further equipped with a machine control unit 16 which is preferably configured by a micro-processor in the form of PC. The machine control unit 16 is connected with the spinning pump control unit 4.1 and the winding control unit 15.
In order to accomplish the aim of present invention, the equipment is further provided with a wiping robot 19 which is able to move along a direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the spinnerets 6.1-6.5. The wiping robot 19 is moveably disposed on a guide rail 20 which is parallel to the arrangement direction of the spinnerets 6.1-6.5. Under non-working status, the wiping robot 19 is stationed at a base station outside spinning area. The base station is the place wherein the wiping robot 19 will return to eventually after finish of each wiping task. Length of the guide rail 20 is chosen to be covering spinnerets of all spinning devices. From the front view perspective of figure 1, height of the guide rail 20 is lower than the spinnerets 6.1-6.5.
Figure 3 schematically shows partial side view diagram of an equipment for melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns according to present invention, when the wiping robot is at wiping position before start of wiping action. The wiping robot 19 is at a position underneath the spinning beam 23 but close to outer side, such that, during non-wiping time, the wiping robot 19 will not interfere with normal spun-out filaments. Two sides of upper end of the wiping robot 19 is mounted with advancing wheels 22 which are driven by a motor not shown. The advancing wheels 22 are able to move along length direction of the guide rail 20 under motor driving. One side of the wiping robot 19 which faces the filaments is provided with a first telescopic arm 25 controllable to extend or retract. End of the first telescopic arm 25 is provided with a base 26. The base 26 has a second telescopic arm 27 inside, which is also controllable to extend or retract. Wiping element 24.1 is disposed on end of the second telescopic arm 27. The wiping robot 19 is controlled by a robot control unit 28. As shown in figure 3 the spinneret 6.1 is maintained at the downside of the spinning beam 23. The bottom of the spinneret 6.1 is provided with a spinneret nozzle plate 29.1. The spinneret nozzle plate 29.1 is outside the spinning beam 23, so that the wiping robot 19 is able to wipe the underside of the spinneret nozzle plate 29.1.
In order to enable the wiping robot 19 to move to the desired spinning device 1.1 or 1.2, each spinning position 1.1 and 1.2 is configured with a wiping button 5.1 and 5.2 shown in figure 1 which are respectively electrically connected with the machine control unit 16. The machine control unit 16 is provided with a wireless signal emitter 18 so as to send out control command signal. Correspondingly the robot control unit 28 is provided with a wireless signal receiver 21 so as to receive control command signal from the wireless signal emitter 18. The robot control unit 28 controls actions of the wiping robot 19 according to the control command signal.
Further, the machine control unit 16 has a checking unit 17. The checking unit 17 is connected with the winding control unit 15 of the winding device 14 so as to check working status of the winding device 14. Based on the check result of the checking unit 17, the machine control unit 16 sends corresponding control command signal to the robot control unit 28 of the wiping robot 19.
What is to follow is specific description of a method of melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns according to present invention. To begin with, judging which spinning position should have its spinneret nozzle plates wiped is based on experience and observation. Then operators press the wiping button of corresponding spinning position. Take wiping button 5.1 for example. The wiping button 5.1 transmits an electric signal to the checking unit 17 of the machine control unit 16. Then the checking unit 17 performs communication with the winding control unit 15 of the winding device 14, to judge whether the winding device 14 is under winding working status. If the checking unit 17 detects that the winding device 14 is not under winding working status, which means that there are no filaments being spun out from the spinnerets 6.1-6.5, then the machine control unit 16 via the wireless signal emitter 18 sends out a control command signal of immediately start wiping action to the wireless signal receiver 21 of the robot control unit 28. Meanwhile the machine control unit 16 sends a signal regarding position of the spinning position to the robot control unit 28 of the wiping robot. The wiping robot 19 under control the robot control unit 28 self-position to the position of corresponding spinning device 1.2 to perform wiping task. If the checking unit 17 detects that the winding device 14 is under winding working status, then the machine control unit 16 sends out a control command signal of waiting wiping action until bobbin is full to the wiping robot. The checking unit17 maintains communication with the winding control unit 15, until the winding control unit 15 sends a signal of finished bobbin winding. Then the machine control unit 16 initiate a process interruption and communicates with the spinning pump control unit 4.1 to stop the spinning pump 2.1. In parallel the machine control unit 16 communicates to the robot control unit 28, so that the robot control unit 28 controls the wiping robot 19 to start moving and wiping action.
Figure 4 schematically shows, when the wiping robot is at wiping position after start of wiping action, partial side view diagram of an equipment for melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns according to present invention. As shown by figure 4, when the wiping robot 19 arrives at the spinning position which needs to be wiped, the first telescopic arm 25 under action of a driver not shown extends outwardly, until the wiping element 24.1 is pushed to a position right below the spinnerets 6.1. The second telescopic arm 27 under a driver not shown extends upwardly, until the wiping element 24.1 is in contact with lower surface of the spinneret nozzle plate 29.1. The wiping element 24.1 is preferably comprised of a turnable brush and an injector which could inject silicon oil. The wiping element 24.1 is controllable to perform the following sequence: first scraping - first silicon oil injection - second scraping - second silicon oil injection.
Figure 2 schematically shows front view diagram of present invention when wiping robot self-positions itself to the spinning position which needs wiping. As a preference, the wiping robot 19 has five wiping elements 24.1-24.5 which are spaced apart. Each wiping element 24.1-24.5 could respectively align with the spinnerets 6.1-6.5, such that five spinneret nozzle plates could be simultaneously wiped, which could improve wiping efficiency and reduce wiping time for each spinning position.
After finish of wiping task, the first telescopic arm 25 and the second telescopic arm 27 retract under the action of a driver not shown, the wiping robot 19 moves back to the base station under control of the robot control unit 28.

Claims

Method of melt-spinning and winding synthetic yarns, wherein a polymer melt is conveyed through a spin pump (2.1) and fed to a plurality of spinnerets (6.1-6.5) which extrude the polymer melt into a plurality of yarns respectively, wherein the yarns are wound into a plurality of bobbins by a winding device (14) and wherein the spinnerets (6.1-6.5) are regularly maintained by wiping a spinneret nozzle plate (29.1), characterized in that, the maintenance of at least one of the spinnerets (6.1-6.5) is initiated by manually pressing a wiping button (5.1) which is connected to a machine control unit (16) and the machine control unit (16) generates a control command which is transmitted to a wiping robot (19),
and in that, after manually pressing the wiping button (5.1), the machine control unit (16) checks whether the winding device (14) is in winding status and sends different control commands to the wiping robot (19) based on different check results.
Method of claim 1, characterized in that, if the machine control unit (16) checks that the winding device (14) is in winding status, the machine control unit (16) sends to the wiping robot (19) a signal to wait wiping action until bobbin is full.
Method of claim 1, characterized in that, if the machine control unit (16) checks that the winding device (14) is not in winding status, the machine control unit (16) sends to the wiping robot (19) a signal to immediately start wiping action.
Method according to either one from claim 1 to claim 4, characterized in that, the wiping robot (19) is able to move out of a base station and stops in one of several maintenance positions and positions itself.
Equipment for melt-spinning and winding a plurality of yarns with a spinning device (1.1,1.2) having at least one spin pump (2.1) and a plurality of spinnerets (6.1-6.5), with a spinning beam (23) for receiving the detachably held spinnerets (6.1-6.5), with a winding device (14) for winding the yarns to a plurality of bobbins and a machine control unit (16) which is connected at least to a winding control unit (15) of the winding device (14), wherein the spinning pump (2.1) is controlled by a spinning pump control unit (4.1), characterized in that, a wiping button (5.1) is connected with the machine control unit (16) and the machine control unit (16) is connected with a robot control unit (28) of a wiping robot (19), which is moveable along a line parallel to the spinnerets (6.1-6.5),and in that the machine control unit (16) has a checking unit (17) which is connected to the winding control unit (15) of the winding device (14), and wherein the machine control unit (16) is configured to check, after the wiping button (5.1) has been pressed manually, whether the winding device (14) is in winding status and to send different control commands to the wiping robot (19) based on different check results.