JP2009242029A - Textile machine system and textile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a textile machine system easy in rearrangement of a frame, without requiring to communicate via a host computer. <P>SOLUTION: An automatic winder system 70 includes a plurality of automatic winders 60. Each of the automatic winders 60 includes a plurality of yarn winding units 16, and a frame control device 11, and a ZigBee terminal 12. The frame control device 11 manages winding information on the yarn winding units 16, and controls the yarn winding units 16. The ZigBee terminal 12 can carry out radiocommunication directly with the ZigBee terminal 12 provided in another automatic winder 60. The frame control device 11 transmits and receives the winding information by the radiocommunication by the ZigBee terminal 12 with the frame control device 11 provided in another automatic winder 60. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a textile machine system for communicating information between a plurality of textile machines.

  Conventionally, a textile machine including a plurality of fiber processing units and a control device that controls the operation of the fiber processing units is known. Examples of such a textile machine include a yarn winding machine including a plurality of yarn winding units. The control device of this yarn winding machine can monitor the current operating state of each yarn winding unit and set various yarn processing conditions.

  Usually, in a factory, a plurality of yarn winding machines (machine stands) configured as described above are installed and operated. In this case, if you want to operate multiple yarn winding machines under the same yarn processing conditions, or if you want to change the yarn processing conditions in a batch, the operator goes to each yarn winding machine and sets one by one. If it is necessary to make this change, the efficiency is reduced, which is a burden on the operator.

In this regard, Patent Document 1 discloses a yarn processing condition setting system for a textile machine that can transfer the set value via a LAN (local area network).
JP 2006-143338 A

  The configuration of Patent Document 1 is constructed so that each machine communicates with a host computer through a LAN connection. For this reason, when transferring the yarn processing condition setting set on a certain machine to another machine, it is necessary to transmit it via the host computer. Therefore, the yarn processing conditions cannot be directly transferred from a certain machine base to a certain machine base, resulting in an increase in network traffic. Further, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, there is still room for improvement in that if the host computer fails, all communication between the machines becomes impossible and the influence becomes large.

  Furthermore, when each machine base and the host computer are connected by a wired LAN as in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to rearrange the machine bases required in a textile factory. As a result, it took a long time to rearrange, causing the productivity of the entire factory to be lowered.

  On the other hand, it is also conceivable to change the wired LAN of Patent Document 1 to a known wireless LAN so that each machine base and the host computer communicate wirelessly. However, in this case, since other machines in the textile factory become obstacles, it is difficult to design a layout that allows all machines to communicate well with the wireless LAN access point. It was. For this reason, the same problem as in the case of the wired LAN has occurred.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its main object is a textile machine system in which each textile machine can communicate directly without going through a host computer, and the rearrangement of the machine base is easy. Is to provide.

Means and effects for solving the problems

  The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems and the effects thereof will be described.

  According to the viewpoint of this invention, the textile machine system provided with the several textile machine of the following structures is provided. That is, each of the textile machines includes at least one fiber processing unit, a control device, and a wireless communication unit. The control device manages information on the fiber processing unit and controls the fiber processing unit. The wireless communication unit is configured to be capable of wireless communication according to a predetermined wireless communication standard. The wireless communication unit can directly wirelessly communicate with a wireless communication unit included in another textile machine. The control device of the textile machine transmits / receives the information to / from a control device provided in another textile machine by wireless communication using the wireless communication unit.

  With this configuration, it is possible to easily construct a daisy chain-like communication system between textile machines in a facility where a plurality of textile machines are installed. Thus, the control devices can communicate directly with each other without using a host computer. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the entire system from being affected by the malfunction of one host computer, as in the case of going through the host computer. In addition, since it is wireless, the textile machine can be easily rearranged. In addition, since textile machines can communicate with each other, it is possible to prevent radio waves from being blocked by a specific machine base as in the case of using a predetermined access point, thereby preventing communication from becoming impossible, and improving the degree of freedom of layout of the machine base Can be made.

  In the textile machine system, the fiber processing unit can be a yarn winding unit that winds a yarn, and the information can be winding information of the yarn winding unit.

  Thereby, the winding information can be transmitted and received by wireless communication between the plurality of textile machines.

  In the textile machine system, it is preferable that the wireless communication unit is detachably attached to the textile machine.

  Thereby, a certain textile machine can be made into the state which can communicate with another textile machine as needed. Therefore, for example, when the number of textile machines is increased from one to a plurality of units, the machine base configuration in the facility can be easily changed. As a result, it is possible to construct the system more flexibly and to suppress a decrease in productivity due to difficulty in rearrangement.

  The textile machine system is preferably configured as follows. That is, the plurality of textile machines are arranged adjacent to each other. First, a control device included in one textile machine transmits information managed by the control device to a control device included in another textile machine adjacent to the textile machine by wireless communication. And the control apparatus which received the said information may transmit the information which the said control apparatus manages with radio | wireless communication with the received information with respect to the control apparatus with which another adjacent textile machine is equipped. Is possible.

  Thereby, when the textile machines transmit / receive information to / from each other, information on each textile machine can be added and transmitted / received, so that the information can be efficiently collected on the textile machine system.

  In the textile machine system, the following configuration is preferable. That is, the wireless communication unit is a second control device that is a control device provided in another textile machine with information managed by the first control device that is a control device provided in the textile machine provided with the wireless communication unit. When transmitting to, it is determined whether communication with the second control device is possible. When communication with the second control device is possible, the wireless communication unit transmits information managed by the first control device to the second control device. When communication with the second control device is not possible, the wireless communication unit communicates with a third control device that is a control device provided in a textile machine different from the second control device.

  Thereby, even if the textile machine which fell into the state which cannot communicate is contained in the textile machine system, the said textile machine can be skipped and it can communicate with another textile machine. As a result, the communication path can be automatically reconstructed even when the radio wave condition changes due to, for example, rearrangement of the machine base or when the communication function of a specific textile machine is broken. Therefore, the rearrangement of the machine base is further facilitated, and it is possible to prevent the communication of the entire system from being stopped due to the failure of the communication function of a specific textile machine. This further improves productivity.

  In the textile machine system, the predetermined wireless communication standard is a short-range wireless communication standard, and a plurality of textile machines can be continuously connected to be communicable by the wireless communication unit. preferable.

  That is, by enabling wireless communication continuously, even a short-distance wireless communication can pass through a plurality of textile machines, and thus can communicate with each other in a vast site. Therefore, the above-described configuration is preferable in the textile machine system.

  In the textile machine system, the predetermined wireless communication standard is preferably ZigBee.

  In other words, ZigBee is a wireless standard that enables mutual communication between terminals, has low power consumption, and is suitable for use in a vast facility in terms of transmission distance, and is therefore particularly suitable for use in a textile machine system. It is.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a textile machine having the following configuration is provided. That is, the textile machine includes at least one fiber processing unit. The textile machine includes a communication terminal capable of directly transmitting and / or receiving information to and from other textile machines.

  By installing a plurality of textile machines having this configuration and communicating with each other, communication can be performed without going through a host computer, and a communication network between textile machines can be constructed with easy rearrangement of the machine base. .

  In the textile machine, the fiber processing unit may be a yarn winding unit, and the information may be winding information of the yarn winding unit.

  As a result, a plurality of textile machines equipped with a yarn winding unit can be installed and the winding information can be communicated with each other.

  In the textile machine, the communication standard of the communication terminal is preferably ZigBee.

  In other words, ZigBee is a wireless standard that enables mutual communication between terminals, has low power consumption, and is suitable for use in a vast facility in terms of transmission distance, so it is used for a communication network between textile machines. Is particularly suitable.

  Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an automatic winder that is a textile machine (yarn winding machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic winder 60 includes a machine base control device (control device) 11, a plurality of yarn winding units (fiber processing units) 16 arranged side by side, a yarn feeding bobbin supply device 52, and an automatic ball. A lifting device 51.

  The yarn feeding bobbin supply device 52 is configured to convey and supply the yarn feeding bobbin 21 to each yarn winding unit 16 along a supply path (not shown). The automatic doffing device 51 travels to the position of the yarn winding unit 16 when the package 30 becomes full in each yarn winding unit 16, collects the full winding package, and supplies an empty bobbin. It is configured to be able to. The operations of the yarn feeding bobbin supply device 52 and the automatic doffing device 51 are controlled by the machine base control device 11.

  Each yarn winding unit 16 is configured such that the package 30 can be formed by winding the yarn 20 unwound from the yarn supplying bobbin 21 onto the bobbin while traversing the yarn 20 by the traverse drum 41. Further, the yarn winding unit 16 includes a clearer (yarn quality measuring device) 42 that monitors the thickness of the traveling yarn 20 and the like, and can be removed when the clearer 42 detects a defect in the yarn 20. ing.

  Each of the yarn winding units 16 includes a unit controller 50. The unit controller 50 includes a CPU (central processing unit), a ROM (read only memory), a RAM (random access memory), and an I / O (input / output) port (not shown). The ROM stores a control program for controlling each component of the yarn winding unit 16 (for example, the traverse drum 41). The CPU is configured such that the control program stored in the ROM is read into the RAM and executed, thereby controlling each of the components and appropriately winding the yarn.

  The I / O port included in each unit control unit 50 is connected to the machine base control device 11 and configured to be able to transmit and receive information. As a result, the plurality of yarn winding units 16 included in the automatic winder 60 can be collectively managed by the machine control device 11.

  The machine control device 11 includes a display 13, an input key 14, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port 15, and a ZigBee terminal 12 (wireless communication unit, communication terminal) connected to the USB port 15. ing. Similarly to the unit control unit 50, the machine base control device 11 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O port. The display 13 and the input key 14 are connected to the I / O port, and the USB port 15 is configured as a part of the I / O port.

  The I / O port of the machine base control device 11 is connected to the I / O port of the unit control unit 50 provided in each yarn winding unit 16 via an appropriate communication line. With this configuration, the machine base control device 11 can transmit various yarn winding conditions to the unit control unit 50 of each yarn winding unit 16 and set the yarn winding conditions. Further, the machine base control device 11 is configured to be able to receive information (yarn winding status information) regarding the current yarn winding status in the yarn winding unit 16 from the unit control unit 50 of each yarn winding unit 16.

  Examples of the yarn winding condition include items relating to winding speed, count, winding tension, winding amount of winding package, package weight, and yarn defect. The yarn winding status information includes, for example, the current package diameter, the current winding speed, the yarn breakage occurrence status, the yarn defect detection status, and the like.

  Specifically, the operator can set the yarn winding condition by causing the display 13 to display a yarn winding condition setting menu on the display 13 and performing numerical input using the input keys 14 by an appropriate operation. The set value relating to the yarn winding condition can be transmitted by individually specifying each yarn winding unit 16 or can be transmitted to all the yarn winding units 16 at once.

  The machine base control device 11 is configured to display the yarn winding status information that changes every moment on the display 13 in real time. Further, the machine base control device 11 is configured to be able to store the past history of the yarn winding status information, and for example, can display on the display 13 a graph in which the occurrence frequency of the yarn defect is plotted along the time axis. Further, the machine base control device 11 is configured to calculate the statistical information by analyzing the history of the yarn winding status information. For example, the winding efficiency of each yarn winding unit 16 and the number of occurrences of yarn breakage within a certain period. Etc. can be calculated and displayed on the display 13.

  In the following description, the above-described yarn winding conditions, yarn winding status information, past history, and statistical information may be collectively referred to as “winding information”. In this way, the operator can set or view the winding information of the plurality of yarn winding units 16 at once by the machine base control device 11, so that the automatic winder 60 can be managed efficiently.

  The ZigBee terminal 12 includes a known USB connector (not shown). The USB connector 15 is attached to the ZigBee terminal 12 so that the ZigBee terminal 12 is connected to the machine control device 11. With this ZigBee terminal 12, the machine control device 11 can transmit and receive the winding information to and from the machine control device 11 provided in another automatic winder 60. The ZigBee terminal 12 is configured to be removable from the machine base control device 11 by removing the USB connector from the USB port 15.

  Next, an automatic winder system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of an automatic winder system (textile machine system) 70 configured by including a plurality of the automatic winders 60 described above.

  As shown by a two-dot chain line arrow in FIG. 2, in the automatic winder system 70, a network capable of transmitting and receiving winding information is formed by a plurality of automatic winders 60. The transmission / reception of the winding information is realized by wireless communication by the ZigBee terminal 12 included in each automatic winder 60. Note that reference numerals 61, 62, and 63 are assigned to the plurality of automatic winders 60 shown in FIG. 2 in order to identify and indicate the respective automatic winders. There are things to do.

  Since the ZigBee terminals 12 are based on the ZigBee communication standard, they can communicate with each other. Therefore, it is not necessary to install a specific host computer or access point, and it is possible to construct a network that can directly communicate with each other (so-called ad hoc). Therefore, each automatic winder 60 of this embodiment provided with the ZigBee terminal 12 can directly transmit and receive the winding information by wireless communication.

  On the other hand, in an actual textile factory, a plurality of automatic winders 60 (machine stands) are usually arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. Further, in a factory having a scale of several tens of machines, for example, when the distance between the machines is set to about 2 m, the distance of the machine installation space in the vertical direction in FIG. 2 may exceed 100 m. Therefore, for example, if the automatic winders 60 installed at the end opposite to the end of the machine base installation space directly communicate with each other, it is difficult for radio waves to reach within a vast factory site, and it is arranged in the middle. Since the machine base becomes an obstacle, communication may be difficult in terms of radio wave conditions.

  In the present embodiment, in consideration of this point, the ZigBee terminal 12 included in each automatic winder 60 is provided with an information relay function so that information can be transmitted and received via a plurality of automatic winders 60. Specifically, the ZigBee terminal 12 included in each automatic winder 60 functions as a so-called router (ZigBee Router) having a data relay function. In the following description, the automatic winder 60 including the ZigBee terminal 12 as a router may be simply referred to as a “router terminal”.

  As a result, even the automatic winders 60 (machines) that cannot communicate directly due to radio wave conditions or the like can transmit / receive winding information by relaying other automatic winders 60. In addition, by relaying a plurality of machines as described above and enabling mutual communication, it is possible to easily join all the machines to the wireless communication network regardless of the arrangement method and position of the machines. . Thereby, rearrangement of a machine stand etc. can be performed easily. Further, since communication is performed without interposing a host computer, it is advantageous in that it is possible to prevent the entire network from being down due to a failure of the host computer.

  Next, an operation when starting up the network of the automatic winder system 70 will be described.

  In the ZigBee network, a terminal called a coordinator (ZigBee Coordinator) starts up the network. Only one coordinator exists in the network and is a terminal that controls the network. The coordinator also has a function as the router. In the present embodiment, a specific automatic winder 60 (strictly speaking, the ZigBee terminal 12 included in the automatic winder 60) is set in advance as a coordinator, and the automatic winder 60 performs a network startup process. .

  The coordinator designates an identification value called a PAN (Personal Area Network) ID and starts a network. This PAN ID makes it possible to identify the network, and each router terminal can participate in a desired network by specifying the PAN ID and connecting to the network.

  By the way, if the specific automatic winder 60 that should play the role of the coordinator is in an incommunicable state because the device is not turned on or the ZigBee terminal 12 is out of order, the automatic winder system 70 networks cannot be set up. In consideration of this point, in the automatic winder system 70 of the present embodiment, when the automatic winder 60 that should be a coordinator cannot communicate, the automatic winder 60 that is a coordinator is provided separately.

  Specifically, it is as follows. For example, assume that the automatic winder 61 is designated as a coordinator and the automatic winder 62 is designated as a spare coordinator. The automatic winder 61 is assigned a first identification value, and the automatic winder 62 is assigned a second identification value. Then, in all the automatic winders 60 included in the automatic winder system 70, the first identification value is stored in advance as the first priority PAN ID, and the second identification value is stored in advance as the second priority PAN ID. Has been.

  With the above configuration, when the power of each automatic winder 60 included in the automatic winder system 70 is turned on, the automatic winder 61 as a coordinator designates the first identification value as the PAN ID and starts up the ZigBee network. That is, the first priority network is started.

  Another automatic winder 60, which is a router, monitors whether the network has been started. When a network started with the first identification value stored as the priority number 1 as the PAN ID is detected, the network joins the network.

  Next, an operation when the automatic winder 61 as a coordinator cannot start a network due to a failure or the like will be described. The automatic winder 62 as a spare coordinator monitors whether or not there is a network having the first identification value as the PAN ID at a predetermined time after the power is turned on. When the automatic winder 62 detects a network having the first identification value as the PAN ID within a predetermined time, it joins the network as a normal router.

  If the network cannot be detected within a predetermined time, the automatic winder 62, which is a spare coordinator, starts up a network that designates the second identification value as the PAN ID. That is, the second priority network is started. When the other automatic winder 60 that is a router does not detect the first priority network and detects only the second priority network, it joins the second priority network. As described above, the automatic winder 62 exists as a spare for the automatic winder 61 to be a coordinator, so that the network can be reliably started up.

  Next, the operation when the radio wave condition changes due to the rearrangement of the machine base or the removal of some automatic winders from the network will be described.

  As described above, each router terminal can communicate via a plurality of other router terminals. The network is first set up by the coordinator. For this reason, each router terminal first tries to connect to the coordinator. However, a router terminal that cannot communicate directly with the coordinator due to reasons such as the radio wave not reaching other router terminals that have already joined the network. Through the network.

  Therefore, the network of the automatic winder system 70 of the present embodiment is conceptually formed in a tree shape with the coordinator as the center. In the following description, when attention is paid to a certain router terminal, among the other router terminals with which the router terminal is directly communicating, the router terminal through which the own device communicates with the coordinator is described as “ A router terminal that communicates with the coordinator via its own device is referred to as a “slave device”.

  In a network having such a structure, when a master unit for a certain router terminal is disconnected from the network and communication becomes impossible, the router terminal and all the slave units communicating via the router terminal are connected to the network. It becomes impossible to connect. As such a case, for example, a case where the power source of the automatic winder 60 which is the parent device is turned off, and a case where the ZigBee terminal 12 included in the automatic winder 60 which is the parent device breaks down are conceivable. The above-mentioned problem may also occur when the radio wave condition changes due to rearrangement of the machine base, resulting in poor communication with the parent machine. In such a case, if it is necessary to restart the network or reset the parent-child relationship every time, it is troublesome for the operator and the productivity of the entire factory is also reduced.

  Considering this point, the automatic winder system 70 of this embodiment is configured to automatically reset the parent-child relationship. This parent-child relationship resetting process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a parent-child relationship resetting processing program executed when a router terminal belonging to the network of the automatic winder system 70 of the present embodiment transmits winding information.

  First, prior to sending the winding information, the router terminal attempts communication with the parent device (S101), and checks whether there is a response from the parent device and the content of the response to determine whether the communication is good. Is determined (S102). If communication with the parent device can be performed satisfactorily, the network may be maintained as it is, and the flow is terminated without performing any particular processing, and the winding information is transmitted to the parent device.

  If it is determined in S102 in FIG. 3 that the communication with the parent device is poor, it is checked whether or not there is a child device under its control (S103). If there is a slave unit, a process for removing the slave unit from its subordinates is performed (S104).

  When the above processing is completed, the router terminal leaves the subordinate of the parent device (S105), searches for a new parent device, and enters the subordinate (S106). Thereafter, the winding information is transmitted to the new master unit.

  If communication with the child device is possible, the process of S104 can be omitted and the child device under its own device can be joined to the subordinate of the new parent device. However, the fact that communication with the parent device until now has become impossible (S102) is highly likely that the radio wave status has changed due to rearrangement or the like. Therefore, the network can be reconfigured with a more optimal route by leaving the slaves under its control and allowing each slave unit to search for a parent again. Note that the slave unit removed in the process of S104 searches for the master unit according to the flowchart of FIG. 3 as in the above case.

  As described above, since the network of the automatic winder system 70 according to the present embodiment has a self-improvement / self-repair function, a wireless communication network in a good state is always maintained even if the operator does not set a communication path. be able to.

  By the way, in the automatic winder system 70 of this embodiment, it is comprised so that winding information can be transmitted cumulatively between the automatic winders 60. FIG. Specifically, when a certain automatic winder 60 receives the winding information of another adjacent automatic winder 60 and then transmits the information to another adjacent automatic winder 60, the winding managed by itself. Taking information can be added to the winding information and transmitted.

  Accordingly, since the latest information is added each time transmission / reception is performed between the automatic winders 60, information is automatically collected / updated, and the latest information can be shared with each other. Thereby, for example, it is possible to efficiently share the winding information between the automatic winders 60 included in the automatic winder system 70 without providing an apparatus such as a central server to centrally manage the information. However, it is also possible to centrally manage the information of the automatic winders 60 that are communicably connected at a specific location, using at least one or more automatic winders 60 as a central management device.

  The automatic winder system 70 of this embodiment is configured as a wireless communication network as described above, and can easily manage the entire factory by enabling the winding information to be transmitted and received between the automatic winders 60. Can do.

  Specifically, for example, by transmitting the same yarn winding condition to a plurality of automatic winders 60, it is possible to set the yarn winding condition collectively. Further, the yarn winding status information and statistical information of all the machine bases can be appropriately monitored on the display 13 of any automatic winder 60 by transmitting and receiving the winding information. For this reason, for example, the operator can not display the information on the package generation efficiency of the X-th yarn winding unit 16 provided in the automatic winder 63 but the display of the nearest automatic winder 60 without going to the installation location of the automatic winder 63. 13 can be displayed and confirmed.

  As described above, the automatic winder system 70 of this embodiment includes a plurality of automatic winders 60. Each of the automatic winders 60 includes a plurality of yarn winding units 16, a machine base control device 11, and a ZigBee terminal 12. The machine control device 11 manages the winding information of the yarn winding unit 16 and controls the yarn winding unit 16. The ZigBee terminal 12 is configured to be capable of wireless communication in accordance with ZigBee, which is a predetermined wireless communication standard. Further, the ZigBee terminal 12 can directly wirelessly communicate with the ZigBee terminal 12 included in another automatic winder 60. The machine control device 11 transmits / receives winding information to / from the machine control device 11 provided in another automatic winder 60 by wireless communication using the ZigBee terminal 12.

  With this configuration, it is possible to easily construct a communication system between automatic winders connected in a daisy chain in a facility where the automatic winder 60 is installed. As a result, the machine control devices 11 can directly communicate with each other without using a host computer. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the entire system from being affected by the malfunction of one host computer, as in the case of going through the host computer. In addition, since it is wireless, the automatic winder 60 can be easily rearranged. Moreover, since the automatic winders 60 can communicate with each other, it is possible to prevent communication from being interrupted due to radio waves being blocked by a specific machine as in the case of passing through a predetermined access point. And it can be done flexibly.

  Further, in the automatic winder system 70 of this embodiment, the automatic winder 60 includes a plurality of yarn winding units 16. The machine control device 11 of the automatic winder 60 is configured to transmit / receive winding information of the yarn winding unit 16 to / from the machine control device 11 of another automatic winder 60.

  Thereby, the winding information can be transmitted and received by wireless communication between the plurality of automatic winders 60.

  Further, in the automatic winder system 70 of the present embodiment, the ZigBee terminal 12 is detachably attached to the automatic winder 60.

  Thereby, it is possible to make a certain automatic winder 60 communicable with another automatic winder 60 as necessary. Accordingly, for example, when the number of automatic winders 60 is increased from one to a plurality of units, the machine configuration in the facility can be easily changed. As a result, it is possible to construct the system more flexibly and to suppress a decrease in productivity due to difficulty in rearrangement.

  Moreover, in the automatic winder system 70 of this embodiment, the several automatic winder 60 is arrange | positioned adjacent to each other in parallel, and can communicate as follows. That is, first, the machine control device 11 included in one automatic winder 60 wirelessly transmits information managed by the machine control device 11 to the machine control device 11 included in another automatic winder 60 adjacent to the automatic winder 60. Send by communication. Then, the machine control device 11 that has received the information gives the information managed by the machine control device 11 together with the received information to the machine control device 11 provided in another adjacent automatic winder 60. Cumulatively transmitted by wireless communication.

  Thereby, when information is transmitted / received between the automatic winders 60, information of each automatic winder 60 can be added and transmitted / received, so that the information can be efficiently collected on the automatic winder system.

  Further, the automatic winder system 70 of the present embodiment is configured as follows. That is, for example, when the ZigBee terminal 12 provided in the automatic winder 61 transmits the winding information managed by the machine control device 11 included in the automatic winder 61 to the machine control device 11 of another automatic winder 62, It is determined whether communication with the machine control device 11 of the automatic winder 62 is possible (S102). When the ZigBee terminal 12 of the automatic winder 61 can communicate with the machine control device 11 of the automatic winder 62, the winding information managed by the machine control device 11 of the automatic winder 61 is stored in the automatic winder 62. It transmits to the machine control device 11. Further, when the ZigBee terminal 12 of the automatic winder 61 cannot communicate with the machine control device 11 of the automatic winder 62, a machine control device (for example, a machine provided in the automatic winder 63) provided in a different automatic winder. The stand control device 11) is searched (S106), and communication with the stand control device 11 is performed.

  Thereby, even if the automatic winder 60 that cannot communicate (the automatic winder 62 in the above example) is included in the automatic winder system 70, the automatic winder 60 can be skipped to communicate with another automatic winder 60. it can. As a result, the communication path can be automatically reconstructed even when the radio wave condition changes due to, for example, rearrangement of the automatic winder 60 or when the communication function of a specific automatic winder 60 is broken. . Accordingly, the rearrangement of the automatic winder 60 can be further facilitated, and the entire system can be prevented from being stopped due to a failure of the communication function of the specific automatic winder 60. This further improves productivity.

  Further, in the automatic winder system 70 of this embodiment, each of the automatic winders 60 includes the ZigBee terminal 12 using ZigBee as a wireless communication standard. The ZigBee standard is a short-range wireless communication standard, and a plurality of automatic winders 60 can be continuously connected by the ZigBee terminal 12 so as to be communicable.

  This ZigBee terminal 12 can communicate with each other, consumes less power, is suitable for use in a vast facility in terms of transmission distance, and can be routed through a plurality of textile machines, so it can be used in a vast site. Can communicate with each other. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for use in the automatic winder system 70.

  The automatic winder 60 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of yarn winding units 16 and can directly transmit and receive yarn winding information to other automatic winders 60. A terminal 12 is provided.

  By installing a plurality of automatic winders 60 of this configuration and communicating with each other, communication can be performed without going through the host computer, and a communication network between the automatic winders 60 that can be easily rearranged can be constructed.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above configuration can be changed as follows, for example.

  The winding information described above is an example, and information other than the above may be communicated between the automatic winders. Further, it may be configured such that only a part of the winding information is communicated and other information is not communicated. For example, the configuration can be changed such that only the yarn winding conditions are communicated between the automatic winders 60.

  The yarn feeding bobbin supply device 52 and the automatic doffing device 51 can be omitted or changed. For example, instead of the configuration in which the yarn supplying bobbin 21 is supplied by the yarn supplying bobbin supplying device 52, the configuration can be changed to a configuration in which a magazine type bobbin supplying device is provided on the front surface of each yarn winding unit 16.

  The wireless communication standard is not limited to ZigBee, and can be changed to another wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth. However, in Bluetooth, a terminal called a slave can perform mutual communication with a terminal called a master that exists only in the network, but communication between slaves is impossible. Also, in Bluetooth, the number of slaves that can be connected to one master is as small as 7 and the communication distance is limited, so it is adopted for communication between many machines in a large space such as a textile factory. It may be difficult to do this. Therefore, when constructing communication between machines in a textile factory, ZigBee is particularly suitable from the viewpoint of flexibility of expansion and change, fault tolerance, and the like.

  The ZigBee terminal 12 is not limited to the USB port 15 and can be changed to a configuration that connects to a wired LAN port, for example.

  Further, the ZigBee terminal 12 may be made detachable in place of the configuration in which the automatic winder 60 is detachable. However, from the viewpoint of expandability and flexibility, it is preferable that the ZigBee terminal 12 is detachable from the automatic winder 60.

  Further, the attachment position of the ZigBee terminal 12 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.

  The flow in FIG. 3 can be changed to a configuration that is executed periodically, for example, instead of the configuration that is executed when information is transmitted.

  In the above description, the automatic winder 60 serving as a coordinator has been described as two (one main coordinator and one spare coordinator). However, any number of spare coordinators may exist. Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the installation place of a coordinator, and any automatic winder 60 may be set as a coordinator.

  Further, instead of a configuration in which a coordinator is designated in advance, for example, an automatic winder activated first in the automatic winder system can be changed to a configuration that dynamically functions as a coordinator.

  The textile machine is not limited to an automatic winder and may be a spinning machine including at least one spinning unit, for example. In this case, spinning information related to each spinning unit is transmitted / received to / from other spinning machines.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to communication between the same type of machine bases. For example, a textile machine system including a plurality of automatic winders and a plurality of spinning machines may be constructed. With this configuration, information can be managed consistently from spinning yarn to creating a package.

1 is a schematic front view of an automatic winder according to an embodiment of the present invention. The conceptual diagram of the textile machine system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart of a parent-child relationship reset process.

Explanation of symbols

11 Machine control device (control device)
12 ZigBee terminal (wireless communication unit, communication terminal)
13 Display 14 Input Key 15 USB Port 16 Thread Winding Unit 60 Automatic Winder (Textile Machine)
70 Automatic winder system (textile machine system)

Claims (10)

With multiple textile machines
Each of the textile machines
At least one fiber processing unit;
A controller for managing information on the fiber processing unit and controlling the fiber processing unit;
A wireless communication unit capable of wireless communication according to a predetermined wireless communication standard;
With
The wireless communication unit can directly wirelessly communicate with a wireless communication unit included in another textile machine,
The textile machine control system transmits and receives the information by wireless communication by the wireless communication unit with a control device provided in another textile machine. The textile machine system according to claim 1,
The fiber processing unit is a yarn winding unit that winds a yarn,
The textile machine system according to claim 1, wherein the information is winding information of the yarn winding unit. The textile machine system according to claim 1 or 2,
The textile machine system, wherein the wireless communication unit is detachably attached to the textile machine. A textile machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The plurality of textile machines are arranged adjacent to each other;
The control device provided in one textile machine transmits information managed by the control device to a control device provided in another textile machine adjacent to the textile machine by wireless communication,
The control device that has received the information can cumulatively transmit the information managed by the control device together with the received information to a control device included in another adjacent textile machine by wireless communication. A textile machine system characterized by being. A textile machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The wireless communication unit transmits information managed by a first control device, which is a control device included in a textile machine provided with the wireless communication unit, to a second control device, which is a control device included in another textile machine. If so, determine whether communication with the second control device is possible,
When communication with the second control device is possible, information managed by the first control device is transmitted to the second control device,
When communication with the second control device is not possible, the textile machine system communicates with a third control device which is a control device provided in a textile machine different from the second control device. A textile machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The predetermined wireless communication standard is a short-range wireless communication standard, and a plurality of textile machines can be continuously connected by the wireless communication unit so as to be communicable. A textile machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The textile machine system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined wireless communication standard is ZigBee. In a textile machine comprising at least one textile processing unit,
A textile machine comprising a communication terminal capable of directly transmitting and / or receiving information to and from another textile machine. A textile machine according to claim 8,
The fiber processing unit is a yarn winding unit,
The textile machine according to claim 1, wherein the information is winding information of the yarn winding unit. A textile machine according to claim 8 or 9, wherein
The textile machine characterized in that the communication standard of the communication terminal is ZigBee.

Images