YARN PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD TO OPERATE A YARN PROCESSING SYSTEM

Abstract: A yarn processing system consisting of a yarn consuming textile machine and at least one yarn feeding device, each having electric drive means and electronic control and/or monitoring means, said yarn processing system including data transmission paths for mutual transmissions between said control and/or monitoring means each containing one communication microprocessor for serial or serial and digital transmission of data representing information types in the form of a communication protocol, said information types differing in ranking with real-time transmission priority of at least the information type of the highest ranking, wherein in each control and/or monitoring device said communication microprocessor is connected with a stationary radio transmitter/receiver for carrying out said data transmission within a frequency band available for industrial applications, and wherein between said communication microprocessor and said radio transmitter/receiver a radio media access control interface means is provided.

Description: YARN PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD TO OPERATE AYARN PROCESSING SYSTEM The invention relates to a yarn processing system according to the preamble part of claim 1 and to a method of operating a yarn processing system according to the preamble of claim 18. Already known computerised yarn processing systems as a weaving machine with its associated feeding and accessory components are equipped with a complex multi-line wiring for transmitting signals between interconnected operation elements and associated to control and/or monitoring means. Said wiring extends between all components of the component group of the yarn processing system. EP-A-0 458 874 discloses a method and structural means for controlling and/or monitoring a yarn processing system with the help of a two-line field bus for the transmission of messages in the form of a quick communication protocol with information types differing in their respective priorities in order to achieve real-time transmission at least for highest priority information using the same field bus as lower priority information types. The wiring thus can be simplified by the two-line field bus and due to the communication protocol of special communication microprocessors at the interfaces with the field bus. However, in order to connect all transmission participants to the field bus the field bus has to be integrated in the crowded environment of the yarn processing system at locations where mounting space and access are severely restricted. The field bus is vulnerable to damages. The entire system has to have a complicated layout configuration. Damages to the field bus easily cause breakdowns of the communication microprocessors. It is a task of the invention to provide a more reliable and flexible computerised yarn processing system as well as a method to operate and control said yarn processing system in a more reliable and flexible fashion. Said task is achieved by the features as contained in claim 1 and the method according to the features contained in claim 18. Radio transmissions within a frequency band as available for industrial applications and via wireless transmission paths avoid the necessity of designing a complicated field bus layout configuration The transmission participants are communicating with each other by radio transmissions This leads to a comfortable modular interchangeabilty of the transmission participants In case of transmission failures or disturbances the danger of damages for other transmission participants is reduced Each component or a component group can easily be pre-fabπcated independently from others and by other manufacturers The necessary compatibility is easy to be achieved and allows an advantageous modular composition of different yarn processing systems based upon standardizable base components In one and the same yarn processing system a radio transmission system using a common frequency could be provided, or several separate systems using different frequencies Since in a radio transmission system all participants are able to listen to or output information without the restriction of a structural field bus as in prior art, particular care is necessary for the reliability of the respective information to be transmitted or received This radio specific task is fulfilled by the radio media access control interface means responsible for the organisation and conversion of the information into the radio signals as well as the evaluation of the incoming radio signals Modern radio transmitters/receivers for industrial applications as well said radio media access control interface means are available for a fair price and with reliable operational behaviour and are easy to be integrated in existing electronic control and/or monitoring means Even though said radio media access control interface means are constituting additional administrative overhead equipment in the system the most important advantage is the avoidance of a structural field bus wiring while still allowing to use the advantages of a quick and reliable communication protocol In a further embodiment even further active yarn processing accessory components are integrated in the radio transmission system for control and/or monitoring purposes A pre-requisite for said accessory components is an electronic control and/or monitoring means, a power supply, a communication microprocessor and the radio media access control interface means for its radio transmitter/receiver In one embodiment it is advantageous to use the presently available ISN-frequency band of about 2 4 GHz for reliable and disturbance-proof radio transmissions Alternatively a frequency band of about 400 MHz can be used instead in the yarn processing system It is of advantage to use radio transmitters/receivers according to TDMA-standards i e a form of radio transmissions as used by GSM-mobile telephone systems Alternatively radio transmitters/receivers can be used according to the CDMA-standards which is a more sophisticated form of radio transmissions with increased reliability and high disturbance safety level The radio transmitters/receivers used should each have a reach in the range of 5 - 25 meters, preferably about 10 meters, which is normally sufficient for such yarn processing systems where the communicating participants are located within distances shorter than 10 meters For easy manufacturing and assembly the radio media access control interface means could be in the form of at least one hardware component integrated in the respective control and/or monitoring means Alternatively said radio media access control interface means could be constituted by software only in said communication microprocessor or in an associated to microprocessor The communication microprocessor may be customised and apt to configure said different information types each with a frame having frame fields containing data Said frame configuration is an ideal measure for quick and fail-safe serial or serial and digital transmission By configuring said frames with at least one data frame field containing general prioritising data and/or individual addressing data a real-time transmission for important information can be achieved when necessary for a real-time control and/or monitoring of a yarn processing system, or to transmit or receive information between particular selected participants in the transmission system only The high reliability and disturbance free radio transmission level in a yarn processing system could advantageously be further extended by using a hand-held controller for transmission and/or receipt of information in a wireless fashion to or from selected or not selected participants in the transmission system. Expediently said hand-held controller is used to set operation parameters or readout stored information. It can easily be equipped such that it is compatible with several yarn processing systems of similar or different kinds. Participants in the transmission system are not only the yarn feeding devices and the textile machine itself but advantageously yarn sensor elements, drive means, drive operating means, tensiometers, yarn brakes, threading equipment, parameter setting and storing elements, etc., all of which are prepared to output or respond to data transmitted by the respective radio transmitters/receivers. Also in said accessory components of the yarn processing system sensors, yarn brakes, yarn clamps, tensiometers, yarn cutters, yarn selectors, yarn conveyers, etc. will receive or output radio transmitted data. In the yarn processing system all participants or their transmission may have the same ranking. Alternatively it might be advantageous to configure one of the participants as a master for other participants. Trig signals, stop signals, yarn breakage signals and sync signals, etc. necessary to quickly run the system may beiong to a highest priority real-time information type, because such information is needed for a real-time control and/or monitoring of the yarn processing system or the co-operation between its components. Advantageously operation parameters, continuous operation signals, preparatory acceleration or deceleration commands, and similar information belong to lower priority information types which have to wait in the transmission whenever higher ranking information is to be transmitted. The invention is explained with the help of the drawing. In the drawing is: Fig. 1 A schematic diagrammatic view of a yarn processing system, and Fig. 2 A schematic view of an essential part of a control and/or monitoring means as used in the yam processing system of Fig. 1. A yarn processing system S is constituted by a yarn consuming textile machine T, like a weaving machine (as shown) or a knitting machine (not shown), by at least one feeding device F, and, if needed, by several yarn processing accessory components A, altogether forming a component group G designed and structured for mutual communication for controlling and/or monitoring the co-operation during operation of the components in the component group. Said communication is carried out by radio transmission on a wireless basis, preferably bi-directionally, and by using a quick communication protocol with information types differing in their relative ranking. This means that the information as transmitted has differing priorities with highest priority for information intended for real-time transmission, while lower ranking information types will have to wait to be transmitted when any higher ranking information is to be transmitted simultaneously. Highest priority information type are trig signals, stop signals, yarn breakage signals, sync signals, necessary for the correct co-operation of the components of the component group G. Operation parameters, continuous operation signals, preparatory acceleration or deceleration commands belong to lower priority information types. Even though only one feeding device F is shown in the drawing, said yarn processing system S might contain a plurality of such feeding devices F of similar or different design- each prepared for processing a yarn Y intended for the yarn consuming textile machine T. Feeding device F has a drive means 2 in a housing 1 supporting a yarn storage drum 2' and comprising yarn processing or monitoring components like yarn sensors 3 or a yarn brake 4, e.g. at the outlet region of said feeding device F. Further not shown yarn processing accessory components could be provided at the inlet side (left-side) of feeding device F, as well. Said accessory components 3, 4 are connected to the power supply of the feeding device or to an own power supply and are also connected to a control and/or monitoring means C of said feeding device F Said control and/or monitoring means C (an electronic control circuit having a microprocessor controlling the drive motor 2, e g on the basis of signals generated by components 3, 4 and independent from the yarn consumption as well as depending on information received from the textile machine T) contains a communication microprocessor B and at least one radio transmitter/receiver R (having a not shown antenna assembly) Said communication microprocessor B is designed for a quick communication protocol and serial or serial and digital transmission of information types differing from another in ranking such that an information type having highest priority can be transmitted in realtime and has priority over other information types having lower priority Said communication microprocessor B is apt to provide said information on the basis of signals or data present in the control and/or monitoring means C for said radio transmitter/receiver R, but simultaneously is apt to derive data or signals from any information as received via its associated radio transmitter/receiver R for the components connected to said control and/or monitoring means C Downstream yarn feeding device F as an accessory component A, e g a yarn tensioner, yarn brake, or tensiometer 5 is provided having e g an own power supply 6 and having an own control and/or monitoring means C, again equipped with a communication microprocessor B and a radio transmitter/receiver R Close to the inlet of a shed 10 of said textile machine T a further accessory component A is situated, namely a yarn cutting means, a yarn selector or an auxiliary insertion conveyor 7 having an own power supply or being connected to the power supply of the textile machine, and having an own control and/or monitoring means C containing a communication microprocessor B and a radio transmitter/receiver R In the entrance region of shed 10 of textile machine T a further component 8, e g a insertion means, is provided, preferably connected to the power supply of a control and/or monitoring means C of the textile machine T, equipped with communication microprocessor B and radio transmitter/receiver R At the rear end of shed 10 a further accessory component 12 is situated, e.g. an arrival sensor, having an own power supply 6 and a control and/or monitoring means C, again equipped with a communication microprocessor B and a radio transmitter/receiver R. Power supply for processor B or radio transmitter/receiver R could be a battery instead. Finally, in textile machine T a main control and/or monitoring means C is situated, e.g. close to the control and/or monitoring panel P of said textile machine T, to which panel P e.g. an only indicated drive means 9 of said textile machine T is connected. Also the main control and/or monitoring means C of textile machine T is equipped with at least one communication microprocessor B and an associated to, stationary radio receiver/transmitter R. Furthermore, a hand-held controller H can be used as part of the yarn processing system S. Controller H has an indicating and input section 13, is designed on an electronic basis and contains a communication microprocessor B and a radio transmitter/receiver R and an own power supply, preferably a battery. All radio transmitters/receivers R in the yarn processing system S are designed for mutual wireless transmission within a frequency band as available for industrial applications. Advantageously they are designed for ISM-standards and a frequency band of about 2.4 GHz. Instead they could be designed for a frequency band of about 400 MHz. The radio transmitters/receivers R as used could operate according to TDMA-standards like GSM mobile telephone systems or according to CDMA-standard, a somewhat more sophisticated form of radio transmission. In Fig. 2 an essential part of each of the control and/or monitoring means C is shown. Within said control and/or monitoring means C a microprocessor M P is connected to a communication microprocessor B which in turn is connected to its radio receiver/transmitter R. Between communication microprocessor B and radio/transmitter R a radio media access control interface means M is situated, either in the form of hardware components or in the form of software constituted by communication microprocessor B itself or by an associated to, not shown, microprocessor. Radio transmitter/receiver R is equipped with an in-built antenna assembly 14 All the above- mentioned components can be mounted to a common circuit board Provided that data signals received from microprocessor MP are to be transmitted by radio receiver/transmitter R, they are organised by said communication microprocessor B in order to form a computer information of one of the above-mentioned different information types of the communication protocol Since said information types cannot be transmitted by the radio transmitter/receiver R as they are, e g schematic indicated interfaces 15 and 16 are used, to first organise and handle the information as built up by communication microprocessor B for radio transmitter/receiver R and to translate via second interface 16 said organised or translated information into radio signals which then are transmitted by radio receiver/transmitter R, e g by frequency modulation (FM) Said radio media access control interface means M is an IC (integrated circuit) not only organising and handling the respective information for the radio transmitter R, but also organising and handling any radio transmitted received information back to communication microprocessor B which is then inputting the resulting signals or data into microprocessor MP Radio media access control interface means M is an administrative overhead equipment of each control and/or monitoring means C and is necessary because all participants of the wireless radio transmission via transmission paths D simultaneously can be transmitting and/or receiving and thus need an administrative organisation within the transmission system, namely said radio media access control interface means M in each of the communicating control and/or monitoring means C

Claims: 1. Yarn processing system (S), consisting of a functionally interrelated component group including at least a yarn consuming textile machine (L), particularly a weaving machine or a knitting machine, and at least one yarn feeding device (F), each having electric drive means (2, 9) and electronic control and/or monitoring means (C), said yarn processing system further including data transmission paths (D) for mutual data transmissions between said control and/or monitoring means of components of said component group (G), said control and/or monitoring devices each having at least one communication microprocessor (B) for providing information types in the form of a communication protocol, said information types differing in ranking with real time transmission priority for at least the information type of the highest ranking over lower ranking information types, characterised in that in each control and/or monitoring device (C) said communication microprocessor (B) is connected with a stationary radio transmitter receiver (R) for carrying out said data transmission via wireless transmission paths (D) within a frequency band available for industrial applications, and that between said communication microprocessor (B) and said radio transmitter/receiver (R) a radio media access control interface means (M) is provided. 2. Yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised in that said component group (G) additionally includes at least one active yarn processing accessory device (A) having an electronic control and/or monitoring means (C) including a communication microprocessor (B), a radio media access control interface means (M) and a radio transmitter/receiver (R). 3. Yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised by a radio transmitter/receiver (R) for the ISM-frequency band of about 2.4 GHz. Yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised by a radio transmitter/receiver (R) for a frequency band of about 400 MHz Yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised by a radio transmitter/receiver (R) according to TDMA-standards Yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised by a radio transmitter/receiver (R) according to CDMA-standards Yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised by a radio transmitter/receiver (R) with a reach in the range of five to twenty- five meters, preferably about ten meters Yarn processing system according to claim 1 , characterised in that said radio media access control interface means (M) is provided in the form of at least one hardware component Yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised in that said radio media access control interface means (M) is constituted by software in said communication microprocessor (B) or in another associated microprocessor Yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised in that each information type consists of data for wireless transmission and wireless receipt by each of said radio transmitter/receivers (R), said data being configured by said communication microprocessor (B) with a frame having data containing frame fields Yarn processing system as in claim 10, characterised in that at least one frame field contains general prioritising data and/or individual addressing data for at least one of said control and/or monitoring devices (C) 12. Processing system as in one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one hand-held controller (A) forms part of said yarn processing system (S) or a group of yarn processing systems (F) and includes communication microprocessor (B), a radio media access control interface means (M) and radio transmitter/receiver (R) for radio communication with at least one of the stationary radio transmitter/receivers (R). 13. A yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised in that in each feeding device (F) on-board data responsive and/or data generating element-like yarn sensors (3, 4), element drive means (2), yarn tensioners, yarn breaks (4), threading equipment, operation-parameter setting and storing element, etc. are connected to said control and/or monitoring means (C) of said feeding device (F). 14. Yam processing system as in claim 1 , characterised in that in said accessory component (A) data responsive and/or data generating elements like a sensor (5), a yarn break, a yarn clamp, a yarn tensiometer, a yarn cutter, a yarn selector, a yarn conveyer, etc. is connected to the control end or monitoring means (C) of said accessory component (A) or said yarn feeding device (F) or said textile machine (L). 15. Yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised in that each control and/or monitoring means (C) in said yarn processing system (S) is configurable as a master of all associated to control and/or monitoring means (C). 16. Yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised in that trig signals, stop signal, yarn breakage signals and sync signals belong to the real-time transmission highest priority information type. 17. Yarn processing system as in claim 1 , characterised in that operation parameters, continuous operation messages, preparatory acceleration or deceleration commands, etc. belong to a lower priority information type. 18. Method for operating a yarn processing system consisting of a yarn consuming textile machine (L) like a weaving machine or a knitting machine and of a functionally associated to component group (G) including at least one yarn feeding device (F), each having electric drive means (2, 9) and electric control and/or monitoring means (C), said method comprising serial or serial and digital transmission of control and/or monitoring data within information of differing priorities and in the form of a communication protocol provided by communication microprocessors (B) in each of said control and/or monitoring means (C), characterised in that each information of one of the information types as provided by the communication microprocessor (B) is converted by a radio media access control interface means (M) into a radio message which is transmitted in the form of a wireless radio transmission within a radio frequency band as available for industrial applications by a radio transmitter/receiver (R) to at least one other distant radio transmitter/receiver (R) and then is reconverted into a communication protocol information of said information type for the communication microprocessor associated to said receiving radio transmitter/receiver (R) via another radio media access control interface means (M).

Inventors: HELLSTROEM JERKER, RUNDBERG TOMAS, THOLANDER LARS HELGE GOTTFRID, HELLSTROEM, JERKER, RUNDBERG, TOMAS, THOLANDER, LARS, HELGE, GOTTFRID
Applicants: HELLSTROEM JERKER, IRO PATENT AG, RUNDBERG TOMAS, THOLANDER LARS HELGE GOTTFRID, HELLSTROEM, JERKER, RUNDBERG, TOMAS, THOLANDER, LARS, HELGE, GOTTFRID
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G05B19
IPC codes: D03D47, D04B15, H04L12