Method for carrying out an automatic can changing process at a spinning station of a spinning machine, and spinning machine and movable can changer

Abstract

A method carries out an automatic can change process at a spinning station of a spinning machine where a sliver is delivered to a spinning device from a sliver can positioned underneath the spinning station using a movable can changer that includes a can gripper. A length of a sliver residue is predefined and stored. Once the predefined length of the sliver residue length has been reached, the sliver is separated while production of a yarn from the sliver is underway at the spinning station. The sliver is clamped at the sliver can with a fixed clamp on the can changer, wherein separation of the sliver is performed by, with the can changer, removing the sliver can with the clamped sliver from the spinning station, or additionally clamping the sliver with a movable clamp on the can changer and moving the movable clamp relative to the fixed clamp.

1 - 11 : (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for carrying out an automatic can changing process at a spinning station of a spinning machine where a sliver is delivered to a spinning device at the spinning station from a sliver can positioned underneath the spinning station, the method using a movable can changer that includes a can gripper, the method comprising:
 predefining and storing a value for a length of a sliver residue;   once the predefined value for the length of the sliver residue length has been reached, separating the sliver while production of a yarn from the sliver is underway at the spinning station;   clamping the sliver at the sliver can with a fixed clamp on the can changer;   wherein separation of the sliver is performed by one of:
 with the can changer, removing the sliver can with the clamped sliver from the spinning station; or 
 additionally clamping the sliver with a movable clamp on the can changer and moving the movable clamp relative to the fixed clamp. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising initially pulling the sliver can out from under the spinning station into a position in front of the spinning station before clamping the sliver before clamping the sliver at a front edge of the sliver can facing the spinning station. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising continuing to spin the sliver residue left at the spinning station after separation of the sliver. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising removing the sliver residue left at the spinning station after separation of the sliver. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the sliver residue is removed by a suction device of the spinning machine. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein once the sliver has been separated, the spinning device is stopped, and the sliver residue is fed to the stopped spinning device and sucked off of the spinning device. 
     
     
         18 . A spinning machine, comprising:
 a plurality of adjacently arranged spinning stations, each of the spinning stations comprising a spinning device;   each of the spinning stations comprising a supply device configured to supply a sliver to the spinning device;   each of the spinning stations comprising a measuring device configured to determine a length of sliver residue to be spun;   a control unit, a value for the length of sliver residue predefined and stored in the control unit; and   wherein the control unit is configured to carry out the method according to  claim 12  to initiate the automatic can changing process at the spinning station when the value for the length of the sliver residue is reached at the spinning station.   
     
     
         19 . The spinning machine according to  claim 18 , further comprising a suction device configured to remove the sliver residue remaining at the spinning station after the sliver has been separated. 
     
     
         20 . A movable can changer, comprising:
 a can gripper;   a fixed clamp configured on the can gripper; and   wherein the movable can changer is configured to perform the method according to  claim 12  for carrying out the automatic can changing process at the spinning station of the spinning machine.   
     
     
         21 . The movable can changer according to  claim 20 , further comprising a movable clamp configured on the can gripper. 
     
     
         22 . The movable can changer according to  claim 20 , further comprising a suction device configured to remove the sliver residue remaining at the spinning station after the sliver has been separated.