Abstract:
A method for operating a workstation ( 1 ) of a yarn balloon forming textile machine, wherein a yarn balloon (B) formed by a continuous yarn ( 5 ) circling a spindle ( 2 ) of the workstation ( 1 ) is scanned with a sensor means ( 33 ) at said workstation. Data (D) recorded by the sensor means ( 33 ), providing information about the current diameter of the yarn balloon (B) to be monitored, is transmitted to a control circuit ( 18 ), in that the control circuit ( 18 ) calculates the current actual diameter of the yarn balloon (B) by means of this data (D) and further known data, compares this with a stipulated target diameter of the yarn balloon (B), and in that the control circuit ( 18 ) ensures that the yarn balloon (B) has the stipulated target diameter with the aid of a means ( 6 ) switched into the yarn path of the yarn ( 5 ), for influencing the yarn tension.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from German National Patent Application No. DE 10 2016 001 164.5, filed Feb. 2, 2016, entitled “Verfahren and Vorrichtung zum Betreiben einer Arbeitsstelle einer fadenballonbildenden Textilmaschine”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention concerns a method or a device for operating a workstation of a yarn balloon forming textile machine, wherein a yarn balloon formed by a continuous yarn circling a spindle of the workstation is scanned with a sensor means at said workstation. 
         [0003]    The method or the device according to the invention in particular serve for maintaining a stipulated diameter of a yarn balloon formed by a continuous yarn at a workstation of a yarn balloon forming textile machine. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Various embodiments of production machines, where a yarn balloon is formed in the area of their often numerous workstations or at associated operating means during operation, have been known for a long time within the textile machine industry. 
         [0005]    Such production machines therefore often comprise monitoring means for detecting and limiting the size of these yarn balloons, which can work very differently. Known monitoring means for example often include sensor means with which the circulating yarn, which forms the yarn balloon, is monitored. 
         [0006]    A method and a device with which the yarn extraction speed from feed packages at the creel of a warping machine are optimised are for example described in German Patent Publication DE 101 03 892 A1. 
         [0007]    A yarn balloon, the diameter of which will depend on the yarn extraction speed and the yarn pulling force amongst other things, is known to occur when a yarn is extracted overhead and at a relatively high extraction speed from a feed package positioned in an associated creel during the working process. 
         [0008]    The size of the yarn balloon will grow with increasing yarn extraction speed. 
         [0009]    With the method known from German Patent Publication DE 101 03 892 A1 the size of at least some of the yarn balloons created during yarn extraction is recorded and transmitted to a controller by measuring equipment arranged at the creel, will ensure that the regulation of the yarn extraction speed is acted upon when the limit values for the yarn balloons are reached. 
         [0010]    Measuring equipment for recording the yarn balloon size can be various optically working measuring units, for example a camera, one or more light barriers or similar equipment. 
         [0011]    As indicated above, the known method is used only for scanning the limit values for the balloon size, but provides no information about the balloon size at any time during the process. This means that a regulator not described in detail will be activated only when a stipulated limit value is exceeded or not reached, and is also deactivated when the stipulated values for the maximum extraction speed or the maximum yarn pulling force are reached. 
         [0012]    Optically working measuring means working in connection with ring spinning machines are also known from German Patent Publication DE 22 55 663 A1 and European Patent Publication EP 0 282 745 A1, with which a yarn balloon shape and/or a yarn balloon size can be recorded. 
         [0013]    German Patent Publication DE 22 55 663 A1 for example describes a workstation of a ring spinning machine equipped with an air or magnet mounted spinning ring, on which a spinning reel driven by the continuous yarn circulates. 
         [0014]    As a specific difference between the speed of the spinning ring and the speed of the spinning reel is known to be necessary during operation of such workstations in order to guarantee a problem-free spinning process, the speed of the air or magnet mounted spinning ring as well as the speed of the spinning reel are checked during the spinning operation. 
         [0015]    It is also continuously checked with this method whether a stipulated maximum yarn tension is maintained, and any yarn balloon created when spinning in the area of the spinning bobbin is checked and stabilised if necessary. This means that the expansion of the yarn curve of the yarn balloon is stabilised by measuring the yarn curve deviation of the yarn balloon from its meridian level and corresponding regulation of the yarn tension by means of variable braking of the spinning ring. The means for recording the yarn curve deviation of the yarn balloon here substantially consists of an encoder comprising a series of small photo elements as well as a trigger means that ensures that the yarn balloon is periodically illuminated. 
         [0016]    The known devices are either relatively complicated (German Patent Publication DE 22 55 663 A1) and often also quite inaccurate, or they are very sensitive with regard to air pollution due to their large measuring range (German Patent Publication DE 101 03 892 A1). 
         [0017]    In practice these known devices have thus not been able to prove themselves. 
         [0018]    European Patent Publication EP 0 282 745 A1 describes a method or a device for the production and quality monitoring of workstations of a multi-spindle textile machine, which means a method and a device with which the presence of the yarns and yarn diameters are monitored. 
         [0019]    A ring spinning machine is equipped with an optical monitoring organ for this purpose, which simultaneously checks a multitude of workstations of the textile machine arranged next to each other in series in that yarn balloons rotating in the area of the workstations are illuminated. 
         [0020]    The monitoring organ comprises a transmitter and a receiver for this purpose, which are designed and arranged in such a way that a beam bundle emitted by the transmitter travels through the numerous circulating yarn balloons on its way to the receiver and is therefore intermittently interrupted or weakened by the yarn balloons. 
         [0021]    This shading is converted into an electric signal in the receiver, which is used as the basis for further evaluation in an associated regulator. 
         [0022]    The known method is used for detecting the presence of a yarn, or for monitoring the diameter of the yarn. 
         [0023]    The method described in European Patent Publication EP 0 282 745 A1 does however occasionally work rather imprecisely, as the beam bundle is often negatively influenced by fiber and dust particles, which are almost unavoidable in the atmosphere of a spinning room, on its way from the transmitter to the receiver. The chosen arrangement of the monitoring organ also does not allow a conclusion with regard to the balloon diameters, and European Patent Publication EP 0 282 745 A1 does therefore contain no references to a regulator for maintaining a stipulated diameter of a yarn balloon either. 
         [0024]    A workstation of a double-wire twisting and cabling machine, the quilling and winding means of which is arranged that it lies within a yarn balloon ruing operation, is also known from European Patent Publication EP 2 419 554 B1. 
         [0025]    The workstation also comprises a monitoring means that can comprise various embodiments to be able to control the size of the yarn balloon. The monitoring means can for example work either indirectly or optically. 
         [0026]    The size of the yarn balloon can for example be determined indirectly via a yarn tension sensor, which is arranged either between a yarn drive means and the inlet of the yarn into a spindle, which ensures the creation of the yarn balloon, or by means of a yarn tension sensor positioned between the outlet of the yarn from the spindle and a further yarn drive means. 
         [0027]    In a further embodiment, recording the size of the yarn balloon can also be realised indirectly by measuring the performance or the torque of the drive means of the spindle. This means that the current absorbed by the spindle drive is determined with a measuring means and the size of the yarn balloon deduced from this in an evaluation means. 
         [0028]    With regard to optical measuring means that monitor the yarn balloon circling the quilling and winding means, the use of at least two light barriers, comprising a light source for emitting a light beam and a light-sensitive detector for recording the light beam, is suggested in a first embodiment. With such a means the interruption of the light beam by the passing yarn of the yarn balloon is detected during operation. However, the known embodiment is used only for scanning the limit values for the balloon size and gives no exact indication of the size of the yarn balloon at any time of the spooling process. 
         [0029]    In a further comparable embodiment a light sensor of the type CCD is used in combination with a beam-like, stroboscopic light source, for example an LED or laser. 
         [0030]    With the means that acts with a light sensor and a stroboscopic light source synchronised by turning the spindle the image, and with it the shape of the yarn forming the yarn balloon, is localised when it is illuminated by the flash. 
         [0031]    With such an embodiment different reflections are however possible, depending on the yarn thickness, yarn surface and/or yarn twists, which negatively influence the error quota and resolution of the measurement. 
         [0032]    CCD receivers also represent extremely costly equipment, as they require a complex evaluation unit for their operation. 
         [0033]    The monitoring means described in European Patent Publication EP 2 419 554 B1 in connection with a workstation of a double-wire twisting and cabling machine are all improvable, as they either do not measure precisely enough or are relatively costly. 
         [0034]    A controller and regulator, with which it is monitored during operation at what angle an outer yarn enters into a torsion element of the workstation during the yarning operation, is also known from International PCT Patent Publication WO 2015/012773 A1 in connection with a workstation of a yarn machine. The torsion element then twists the outer yarn into a cord yarn with the inner yarn. 
         [0035]    A method where the quality of a twisted yarn is monitored by an optoelectric measured value transducer comprising a light source and a light receiver is also known from European Patent Publication EP 0 638 674 B1. 
         [0036]    With this known method a yarn circling in a relatively wide yarn guide means of optoelectric measured value transcoder with a circular movement, as is known in itself, generates signals by shading a light receiver, which are divided into a respective first and second signal by filtering. 
         [0037]    The relevant degree of yearn twisted per time unit can then be determined for the respective yarn with an evaluation means from the first signal, whilst conclusions regarding the quality features of the yarn cab be drawn from the second signal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]    Based on the above mentioned prior art the invention is based on the task of developing a method or a device with which the diameter of a yarn balloon formed by a continuous yarn can be determined, maintained, and possibly corrected at a workstation of a yarn balloon forming textile machine. 
         [0039]    The method or the associated device should also be realised as simply and cost effectively as possible. 
         [0040]    This tasks is solved according to the invention in that data recorded by the sensor means, which provides information about the current diameter of the tarn balloon to be monitored, is transmitted to a control circuit, in that the control circuit calculates the current actual diameter of the yarn balloon by means of this data and further known data, such as the speed of the spindle, compares this with a stipulated target diameter of the yarn balloon, and in that the control circuit ensures that the yarn balloon has the stipulated target diameter with the aid of a means switched into the yarn path of the yarn, for influencing the yarn tension. 
         [0041]    Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention as well as device for implementing the method are more fully described hereinafter. 
         [0042]    The method according to the invention in particular has the advantage that the diameter of the yarn balloon is monitored continuously from an adjustable minimum balloon size with a sensor means at every workstation of the yarn balloon forming textile machine, and corrected immediately when required by a control circuit that is connected to a means for influencing the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension of the yarn forming the yarn balloon in such a way that the yarn balloon always has a predeterminable, optimal diameter. 
         [0043]    The construction elements necessary for implementing the method according to the invention are not only relatively cost effective, but also enable a compact construction of the workstation. This means that the space requirement of the yarn balloon forming textile machines working that comprise the workstations that work and are designed according to the invention is clearly less than the space requirement of yarn balloon forming textile machines in use to date. 
         [0044]    The working method of the sensor means that monitors the yarn balloon is of no relevance in connection with the method according to the invention. This means that the sensor means used in connection with the method according to the invention can consist of various embodiments. 
         [0045]    The sensor means can for example be designed as an optically working light barrier, comprising a light source as well as a light receiver, and equipped with a measuring beam designed as a light beam that monitors the circulating yarn balloon. 
         [0046]    However, the sensor means does not need to work optically, as it is also possible to use a sensor means with a measuring beam that works on another base of the electromagnetic spectrum. The measuring beam can for example also be initiated by an ultrasound, induction, heat source etc. or its interferences, wherein a corresponding associated receiver is then also used. 
         [0047]    In an advantageous embodiment it is envisaged that the control circuit controls the means for influencing the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension in such a way that the production speed of the workstation of the yarn balloon forming textile machine always remains high and constant outside of the start and stop phases of the workstation. This means the control circuit guarantees that the workstations of the yarn balloon forming textile machine will work at the highest possible production speed at all operating times when this is possible, which leads to a very good overall degree of effectiveness of the textile machine. 
         [0048]    The control circuit preferably controls the means for influencing the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension in such a way that the yarn balloon already has the desired diameter during the start and stop phases of the workstation. 
         [0049]    In this way it is ensured that the yarn balloon cannot hit components of its own workstation or components of a neighboring workstation at any time during the operation, which would certainly lead to the yarn breaking and thus to an interruption of the twisting process at the affected workstation. 
         [0050]    In an advantageous embodiment it is envisaged in this regard that the control circuit controls the means for influencing the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension in such a way that the diameter of the yarn balloon is limited during the start and stop phases of the workstation in such a way that a yarn balloon that already has a minimum diameter is created. 
         [0051]    Such an approach makes enables reducing the distance to the neighboring workstations of the textile machine. 
         [0052]    A corresponding reduction of the distance of the workstations of the yarn balloon forming textile machine in turn enables a very compact construction of the textile machine, with the consequence that the space requirement of a textile machine that comprises the workstations designed and working according to the invention is clearly reduced. 
         [0053]    The workstation with which the method according to the invention can be used preferably comprises a sensor means for scanning the diameter of the yarn balloon, a control circuit connected with the sensor means, and a means for influencing the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension of the yarn forming the yarn balloon, connected with the control circuit. 
         [0054]    The circling yarn balloon causes shading at the sensor means, which is for example designed as a light barrier, during the twisting operation, from which the sensor means generates electric signals that are transmitted to the control circuit. The control circuit then calculates the current diameter of the yarn balloon from the time distance between two signals occurring during every yarn balloon circuit, and then with the aid of further known data. 
         [0055]    In a case where the current actual diameter of the yarn balloon recorded by the sensor means does not equal the stipulated target diameter the means for influencing the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension connected with the control circuit comes into use. This means that the means ensures with the aid of corresponding corrections of the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension of the yarn forming the yarn balloon that the yarn balloon has the stipulated target diameter. 
         [0056]    The yarn balloon forming textile machine with which the method according to the invention is preferably used, can consist of various kinds of textile machines or textile means. 
         [0057]    The yarn balloon forming textile machine can for example be a double-wire twisting machine or a cabling machine, which for example produces cord yarns. 
         [0058]    Use of the method according to the invention is however also of advantage with other textile machines, such as for example ring spinning machines. 
         [0059]    The method according to the invention can also be used to advantage together with a warping machine or a warp creel. 
         [0060]    In an advantageous embodiment the means connected to the control circuit for influencing the yarn supply speed and/or the yarn tension is a yarn supply means positioned before the yarn balloon in the yarn path. Such an outer yarn supply mechanism, for example switched in the yarn path of a cabling machine, enables in a precise and rapid influencing of the diameter of the yarn balloon simple way. 
         [0061]    This means that an accurate adjustment of the target diameter of the yarn balloon is guaranteed at all times with such an outer yarn supply mechanism. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0062]    The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawings, wherein: 
           [0063]      FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a workstation of a double-wire twisting or cabling machine with a sensor means according to the invention, connected to a control circuit; 
           [0064]      FIG. 2  is a control circuit for maintaining a target diameter of a yarn balloon monitored by the sensor means. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0065]    A schematic side view of a workstation  1  of a double-wire twisting or cabling machine is shown in  FIG. 1 , which comprises a creel  4 , as is usual, which is normally positioned above or behind the workstation  1 . 
         [0066]    The creel  4  here serves for receiving at least one first feed package  7 , from which a so-called outer yarn  5  is extracted. 
         [0067]    The workstation  1  further has a spindle  2 , rotatable around an axis of rotation  35 , in the present embodiment example consisting of a cabling spindle equipped with a protective cap  19 , in which a second feed package  15  is stored. 
         [0068]    A so-called inner yarn  16  is extracted overhead from this second feed package  15 , and is supplied to a balloon eye or a so-called balancing system  9  arranged above the spindle  2 . 
         [0069]    The protective cap  19 , mounted on the yarn diverting means  8  designed as a rotatable yarn plate in this embodiment example, is preferably secured against rotating by a magnetic means (not shown). 
         [0070]    The yarn diverting means of the spindle  2  is activated by a spindle drive  3 , which can either be a direct drive or an indirect drive. 
         [0071]    The outer yarn  5  extracted from the first feed package  7  is supplied to a controllable means  6  arranged in the yarn path between the creel  4  and the spindle  2  for influencing the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension, with which the yarn tension of the outer yarn  5  can be varied if necessary. 
         [0072]    The means  6  is connected with a control circuit  18  via a control line, which regulates the yarn supply speed and/or the yarn tension applied to the outer yarn  5  by the means  6 . 
         [0073]    The controllable yarn tension applied to the outer yarn  5  by the means  6  is here preferably of a magnitude that, depending on the geometry of the spindle  2 , leads to an optimisation of the free yarn balloon B, i.e. to a yarn balloon B with the smallest possible diameter. 
         [0074]    After the means  6  the outer yarn  5  runs through the spindle drive  3  in the area of the axis of rotation of the spindle drive, and exits the hollow axis of rotation of the spindle drive  3  in a radial direction below the yarn plate  8  through a so-called yarn output bore. The outer yarn  5  then runs to the outer area of the yarn plate  8 . 
         [0075]    With the present embodiment example the outer yarn  5  is diverted upwards at the edge of the yarn plate  8  and circles the protective cap  19  of the spindle  2 , in which the second feed package  15  is positioned, whilst forming a free yarn balloon B. 
         [0076]    As is clear from  FIG. 1 , a sensor means  33  is also arranged above the protective head  19  of the spindle  2 , which is designed as a light barrier in the embodiment example. This means that the sensor means  33  comprises a light source  41  and a light receiver  40 . 
         [0077]    With the embodiment example shown in  FIG. 1  the light barrier is positioned in such a way that a measuring beam  42  emitted by the light source  41  of the sensor means  33 , in this case a light beam, passes through the area of the yarn balloon B orthogonally to the axis of rotation  35  of the spindle  2 , and meets the associated light receiver  40  of the sensor means  33 , which is in turn connected with a control circuit  18  via a signal line. 
         [0078]    The sensor means  33 , with which the relevant current actual diameter of the yarn balloon B to be monitored is determined, does however not have to be designed as a light barrier, but can in principle also work according to another physical principle. 
         [0079]    The measuring beam of the sensor means  33  can for example also work with any other wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum, for example radar, ultrasound, infrared etc. 
         [0080]    As is clear from  FIG. 1 , the outer yarn  5  extracted from the first feed package  7  and the inner yarn  16  extracted from the second feed package  15  are joined in the area of a balloon eye or a balancing system  9 , wherein the position of the balloon eye or the balancing system  9  determines the height of the free yarn balloon B that is formed. 
         [0081]    The so-called cabling or also cording point is located in the balloon eye or the balancing system  9 , in which the two yarns, the outer yarn  5  and the inner yarn  16 , come together and for example form a cord yarn  17 . 
         [0082]    A yarn extraction device  10  with which the cord yarn  17  is extracted and supplied to a spooling and winding device  12  via a balancing element, such as for example a compensating means  11 , is arranged above the cabling point. 
         [0083]    The spooling and winding device  12  here comprises a drive cylinder  13 , as is usual, which drives a spool  14  by means of friction. 
         [0084]    The means  6  for influencing the yarn supply speed and/or the yarn tension described above is either designed as an electronically regulated brake or as an active supply mechanism, wherein a combination of the two above mentioned components can also be used. 
         [0085]    A galette, a serrated lock washer or a drive roll with a corresponding pressure roll are for example possible as design variations of a supply mechanism. 
         [0086]    The means  6  regulates the yarn tension and/or the yarn speed of the outer yarn  5  depending on the diameter of the free yarn balloon B, which is determined by the sensor means  33 . This means that a measuring beam  42  initiated by the light source  41  of the sensor means  33  is for example crossed twice by the running outer yarn  5  forming the rotating yarn balloon B at every rotation of the yarn balloon B during the operation of the workstation  1 , which is immediately recognised as a fault in form of a shadow by the light receiver  40  of the sensor means  33  and transmitted to the control circuit  18  as an electric signal i. 
         [0087]    The control circuit  18  then immediately calculated the current actual diameter of the yarn balloon B from the time gap between the two faults, and therefore the electric signal I generated by the light receiver  40  of the sensor means  33  at every rotation of the yarn balloon B. The control circuit  18  also immediately acts to regulate the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension of the outer yarn  5  via the means  6  if necessary when the actual detected diameter of the yarn balloon differs from the target diameter. This means that the control circuit  18  immediately initiates a correction of the diameter of the circulating yarn balloon B. 
         [0088]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment example for a control circuit  18  as used with the method according to the invention for maintaining a desired diameter of a yarn balloon B. 
         [0089]    As is clear, a regulator element  20  of the control circuit  18  is connected to an input device  22  via a line  21  as well as a sensor means  33  via line  23 . The regulator element  20  is further connected with a means  6  for influencing the yarn tension via a line  24 . 
         [0090]    Operators can enter the data of the yarn balloon created at the workstation in question via the input device  22  here, i.e. the regulator element  20  is supplied with values and data for the target diameter of a yarn balloon B via the input device. 
         [0091]    The values and data of the target diameter of the yarn balloon B can of course be corrected at any time at the input device  22  if necessary. 
         [0092]    The stipulated target data of the yarn balloon B are immediately compared with the actual data of the sensor means  33  in the regulator element  20  by means of the input device  22 , i.e. with data that has been generated by the sensor means  33  whilst monitoring the circulating yarn balloon B. 
         [0093]    As already explained above the sensor means can for example be designed as a light barrier that monitors the circulating yarn forming the yarn balloon B with a light beam  42  emitted by a light source  41 . 
         [0094]    If the regulator element  20  detects a deviation from the actual values of the yarn balloon diameter recorded by the sensor means  33  from the target values of the diameter of the yarn balloon B stipulated via the input means  22 , the regulator element  20  immediately activates the means  6  via a control line  24 , with which the yarn supply speed or the yarn tension of the outer yarn  5  can be influenced. 
         [0095]    This means that the regulator element  20  ensures that the diameter of the monitored yarn balloon B is immediately corrected with the means  6  in a case of a deviation of actual values of the yarn balloon diameter from the target values in such a way that the target values for the diameter of the monitored yarn balloon B stipulated via the input means  22  once again exist precisely. 
         [0096]    This means that the control circuit  18  immediately applies a correction in the control path area  25  if a fault  26  relating to the diameter of the yarn balloon B occurs in the present system, wherein regulation of the diameter of the yarn balloon B is characterized by the constant balancing of actual and target values of the yarn balloon B, i.e. such balancing is carried out at every rotation of the yarn balloon B. 
         [0097]    This statement applies for the variable process speed of a workstation during the start and stop phases as well as during normal operation of a workstation, when a constant production speed is maintained. 
         [0098]    The referenced balloon shape, and thus also the optimally minimised diameter of the yarn balloon B, does not only lead to a minimal energy requirement of the workstations of the yarn balloon forming textile machine, but also to a minimisation of the space requirement needed for the twisting process. This means that the space requirement needed for the twisting process, which has to date been stipulated by the yarn type or the diameter of the yarn balloons of the yarn type, amongst other things, can be clearly reduced with the method according to the invention, as there is no longer an unnecessarily large formation of the yarn balloon B thanks to the constant measuring and regulation of the diameter of the yarn balloon B irrespective of the relevant yarn type. 
         [0099]    The continuous regulation of the diameter of the yarn balloon consequently leads to a smaller space requirement for individual workstations of a yarn balloon forming textile machine. This means that a yarn balloon forming textile machine, the workstations of which work with the method according to the invention, can be equipped with more workstations without changing the original machine length of the yarn balloon forming textile machine. 
         [0100]    As the devices for carrying out the method according to the invention are present at every workstation, an independent yarn balloon control is possible at every workstation of the yarn balloon forming textile machine. 
         [0101]    The values and data of the diameter of the yarn balloon of every individual workstation, or the corresponding values and data of a multitude of workstations, preferably all of the workstations of a yarn balloon forming textile machine, can also for example be evaluated in a central computer means. 
         [0102]    The evaluated data can then serve for statistical purposes as well as for the optimisation of the referenced diameter of the yarn balloon. 
         [0103]    Although the aim of the present method according to the invention is a twisting or cabling process that can be operated without use of a storage plate, the twisting or cabling process can also in principle be operated with an existing storage plate. 
         [0104]    Use of the method according to the invention is in principle also possible at workstations equipped with a twisting plate. With such workstations, where the running yarn circulating during the twisting process before it circulates as a yarn balloon is subject to guiding or a constant output from a twisting plate, the method according to the invention can be used to advantage. 
         [0105]    The method according to the invention can also be used to advantage in connection with a reference spindle. This means that the method according to the invention is used on at least one workstation of the yarn balloon forming textile machine, which works as a reference spindle. The values determined by the reference spindle by means of method according to the invention are then used for setting up the neighboring workstations of the textile machine. 
         [0106]    It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiment, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.