SETTING COMPARING DEVICE, SETTING COMPARING METHOD, AND DISPLAY
DEVICE OF TEXTILE MACHINE, AS WELL AS AUTOMATIC YARN WINDING MACHINE
AND SPINNING MACHINE
5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a configuration for managing
a setting associated with yarn processing in a textile machine.
10 2. Description of the Related Art
A textile machine such as a spinning machine, an automatic
winder, and the like normally includes a machine in which a great
number of yarn processing units is arranged next to each other. Each
yarn processing unit is configured to wind a yarn around a winding
15 bobbin to form a package (in a state the yarn is wound around the
bobbin). The machine includes a machine control device for
intensively managing/controlling the yarn processing units. An
operator ofthe textile machine can appropriately operate the machine
control device to set various types of setting items when winding
20 the yarn in the yarn processing unit. A desired package can be
produced by appropriately setting each setting item. Such textile
machine is described in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent
Publication No. 2006-143338.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-143338
25 discloses a configuration that enable st he transfer of a setting file
between different machines. The operator may want to check the
difference in the setting contents of a plurality of setting files.
In such a case, the operator conventionally has displayed next to
each other the setting contents of setting item in the plurality of
30 setting files tocompareonadisplay screen (display) andhasvisually
checked the difference.
The configuration of displaying the setting contents in a list
is described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
NO. 2002-87703.
35 However, the setting item is prepared in great numbers (e.g.,
100 or more), and the method of having the operator visually compare
the setting contents displayed next to each other on the screen to
check the difference is not only troublesome, and may cause the
operator to miss the difference.
5
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a setting comparing device, a setting comparing
method, and a display device of a textile machine, as well as, an
10 automatic yarn winding machine, and a spinning machine, which are
capable of easily comparing the setting contents.
The problems to be solved by the present invention are as
described above. Next, a description will be made on the means for
solving the problems.
15 According to a first aspect of the invention of the present
application, a setting comparing device of a textile machine is
provided as follows. In other words, the setting comparing device
includes an acquiring section, a comparing section, andan announcing
section. The acquiring section is adapted to acquire a setting set
20 in which setting contents of a plurality of setting items associated
witha yarnprocessing are collectivelynamed. The comparing section
is adaptedto compare the setting contents ofthe pluralityof setting
sets acquired by the acquiring section for each setting item. The
announcing section is adapted to announce a result of the comparison
25 by the comparing section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an overall configuration of an
automaticwinderaccordingtooneembodimentofthepresentinvention;
30 FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a machine of an automatic winder;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating functions of a machine
control device;
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a setting set comparing screen;
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an annunciation example in the
35 case where all the setting items are matched;
FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an annunciation example in the
case where a non-matching setting item exists; and
FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a configuration of an automatic
winder according to a fourth embodiment.
5
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Next, a description will be made on suitable embodiments of the
present invention with reference tothe drawings. FIG. lillustrates
a schematic configuration of an automatic winder (automatic yarn
10 winding machine) 10 serving as a textile machine (a system of textile
machines) according to one embodiment of the present invention.
As illustratedin FIG. 1, the automatic winder 10 of the present
embodiment includes aplurality of machines 60. Each ofthemachines
60 has substantially the same structure, and thus the structure of
15 one machine will be illustrated in FIG. 2 as a representative. As
illustratedin FIG. 2, themachine 60includes amachinecontroldevice
11, a plurality of yarn winding units (yarn processing units) 16,
16, ... arranged next to each other, a yarn supplying bobbin supplying
device 52, and an automatic doffing device 51.
2 0 Each of the yarn winding units 16 is configured to wind a yarn
20 unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin 21 around a winding bobbin
while traversing in a winding section 41 to form a package 30. The
yarn winding unit 16 includes a yarn monitoring device 42 for
monitoring thickness and the like of the travelling yarn 20, and is
25 configured to remove the defect of the yarn 20 when the defect is
detected by the yarn monitoring device 42.
The yarn supplying bobbin supplying device 52 is configured to
transport and supply the yarn supplying bobbin 21 along a supply path
(not illustrated) to each of the yarn winding units 16, 16, .... The
30 automatic doffing device 51 is configured such that when the package
30 is fully wound (state in which the yarn of a defined length is
wound) in the yarn winding unit 16, the automatic doffing device 51
travels up to the position of the relevant yarn winding unit 16 to
collect the fully wound package and to supply a new empty winding
35 bobbin.
The machine control device 11 is arranged at the end (left side
end in FIG. 2) of the yarn winding units 16 arranged next to each
other. As illustrated in the block diagram of FIG. 3, the machine
control device 11 includes a touch screen 13, a control section 14,
5 an external connecting section 19, and a storage section 18.
The control section 14 includes a computer configured by a
hardware such as CPU, ROM, RAM, and software such as a program, stored
in the ROM and the like, and is configured to manage and control the
operations of components (the yarn winding units 16, the automatic
10 doffing device 51, the yarn supplying bobbin supplying device 52,
etc.) of the machine 60 by cooperatively operating the hardware and
the software.
The touch screen 13 has a known configuration that enables the
input operation by touching the display screen. The operator can
15 carry out various types of operations by touching the screen of the
touch screen 13. The touch screen 13 thus has a function of an
operation input section. The control section 14 can display various
types of information on the screen of the touch screen 13. Thus, the
touch screen13 also has a function of adisplay section. Themachine
20 control device 11 can display various types of information on the
touch screen 13, and hence the machine control device 11 itself can
also be referred to as the "display device".
The operator can carry out various operations by operating the
(touch screen 13 of the) machine control device 11. However, if all
25 the operations are permitted to the operator without any conditions,
this is not preferable from the standpoint of security. An access
authority is thus set with respect to each operator in the automatic
winder 10 of the present embodiment, so that the operation that can
be carried out by the operator at the machine control device 11 can
30 be differed in accordance with the access authority. In the present
embodiment, any one of the access authority of three levels, the
management personnel, the maintenance personnel, and the general
worker is given to each operator.
The control section 14 of the machine control device 11 has a
35 function of an access authority discrimination section 17. The
access authority discrimination section 17 is configured to
discriminate the access authorityofthe operator operating the touch
screen 13 of the machine control device 11. The method of
discriminating the access authority of the operator is not
5 particularly limited, and, for example, the access authority
discrimination section 17 of the present embodiment is configured
to display a password input screen (not illustrated), which requests
for input of a password by the operator, on the touch screen 13. When
the password input screen is displayed, the operator inputs the
10 password by operating the touch screen 13. The access authority
discrimination section 17 discriminates to which one of the three
levels (management personnel, maintenance personnel, and general
worker) the access authority of the operator belongs to based on the
input password.
15 The control section 14 of the machine control device 11 differs
the operation permitted to the operator according to the access
authority of the operator discriminated by the access authority
discrimination section 17. For example, if the access authority of
the operator is discriminated as the "management personnel", the
20 authoritytocarryoutalltheoperations at themachine controldevice
11 is given to the operator. If the access authority of the operator
is discriminated as the "maintenance personnel", the authority to
change the important setting at the machine control device 11 is not
given but the authority to carry out other operations is given to
25 the operator. If the access authority of the operator is
discriminated as the "general worker", the authority to change the
setting at themachine control device 11is not given tothe operator.
That is, the "general worker" only has the authority to browse the
already set setting contents at the machine control device 11.
30 Unless particularly stated, the following description will be
made on the premise that the operator is the "management personnel"
(i.e., assumingthatthe operator is able to carryoutalloperations)
to simplify the description.
As described earlier, the machine control device 11 includes
35 the storage section18. The storage section 18 is configuredto store
the setting contents of the setting item associated with the yarn
processing. The setting item associated with the yarn processing
means a setting item set with respect to the machine control device
11to forma desiredpackage 30. Examples ofthe setting itemrelated
5 to the automatic winder include a travelling speed of the yarn (yarn
speed), a diameter of the package 30, and the like. The operator can
set each setting item by appropriately operating the touch screen
13 of the machine control device 11.
The storage section 18 is configured to collectively name and
10 store the setting contents of each setting item that has been set.
When the setting contents of a plurality of setting items are
collectively stored, this is referred to as a "setting set" in the
present specification. The name given tothe setting set is referred
to as a "lot name".
15 The control section 14 controls components (the yarn winding
units 16, automaticdoffingdevice 51, yarn supplyingbobbin supplying
device 52, etc.) of the machine 60 based on the setting contents of
the setting set stored in the storage section 18. The machine 60 is
thereby able to form the package 30 based on the setting contents
20 set by the operator.
The storage section 18 is configured to store a plurality of
setting sets. The operator appropriately operates the machine
control device 11 to specify to the machine control device 11 which
one of the plurality of setting sets stored in the storage section
25 18 to be used to form the package 30. The control section 14 of the
machine control device 11 controls components of the machine 60 based
on the setting contents of the specified setting set.
The machine control device 11 provides a means for
changing/browsing the setting contents of each setting item of the
30 setting set to the operator. For example, the operator can
appropriately operate the touch screen 13 of the machine control
device 11 to display the setting contents of each setting item of
the setting set stored in the storage section 18 on the screen of
the touch screen 13. The operator can check the setting contents of
35 each setting set. The operator can also change the setting contents
of each setting item of the setting set by appropriately operating
the touch screen 13. The operator can also appropriately operate the
touch screen 13 of the machine control device 11 to copy the existing
setting set stored in the storage section 18 and create a new setting
5 set.
The external connecting section 19 is configured to be
connectable to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) 22. As
illustratedin FIG. 1, themachine controldevices11ofthe respective
machines 60 can be mutually connected with the LAN 22. The control
10 section 14 can transmit and receive data through the external
connecting section 19 with the machine control device 11 of another
machine 60 connected to the LAN 22. For example, the machine control
device 11 can copy the setting set stored in the storage section 18
of the machine control device 11 of another machine 60 to the own
15 (local) storage section 18 by the communication through the LAN 22
and the external connecting section 19. The LAN 22 configured in the
automatic winder 10 of the present embodiment is a so-called
peer-to-peer network, and has a configuration in which an overall
control device (host computer) is not arranged. The LAN 22 may be
20 either a wired LAN or a wireless LAN.
Next, a description will be made on the characteristic
configuration of the present embodiment.
As described above, in the machine control device 11 of the
present embodiment, the setting set stored in the storage section
25 18 of another machine 60 canbe copiedtothe own local storage section
18. The machine control device 11 can also copy the existing setting
set stored in the own local storage section 18 to create a new setting
set. The setting contents of the setting set can be appropriately
changed by the operator. Thus, the operator may desire to compare
30 the setting contents of the setting set to which change is made, and
the setting contents of the setting set to be copied (in the original
state), and check the difference between the setting contents.
In this case, the operator can visually check the difference
between the setting sets. Specifically, the setting contents of the
35 two setting sets to be compared are displayed on the screen of the
touch screen13, andwhether or not the setting contentsmatchbetween
the two setting sets is visually checked for each setting item.
However, the burden is large on the operator to visually check the
setting contents for each setting item, and there is a possibility
5 the operator misses the setting item in which the setting contents
do not match.
Thus, in the automatic winder 10 of the present embodiment, the
machine control device 11is configuredto automatically compare the
setting sets. A specific description will be made below.
In the automatic winder 10 of the present embodiment, the
operator operates the machine control device 11 to specify the
plurality of setting sets to be compared. Specifically, the control
section 14 of the machine control device 11 displays the "setting
set comparing screen" as illustrated in F I G . 4 on the screen of the
15 touch screen 13. The operator appropriately operates the touch
screen 13 on which the setting set comparing screen is displayed to
specify the plurality of setting sets to be compared.
The setting set comparing screen illustrated in F I G . 4 is one
example, and is not limited thereto. However, description will be
20 made below with reference to F I G . 4. In other words, the setting set
comparing screen of F I G . 4 includes, as main elements, a first list
display portion 31, a second list display portion 32, and a compare
button (compare instructing portion) 33.
The first list display portion 31 and the second list display
25 portion 32 each are configured to display, in a list, the lot name
of one or a plurality of setting sets stored in the storage section
18 of the machine 60. The operator can specify the lot name of the
setting set to be compared from the lot names of the setting sets
displayed in a list.
3 0 Inthe present embodiment, the lot name ofthe setting setstored
in the (local) storage section 18 of the machine control device 11
is displayed in the first list display portion 31.
The secondlist displayportion 32 includes amachine specifying
portion 34. The machine specifying portion 34 is configured to
35 specify one of the plurality of machines 60 (see F I G . 1) constituting
the automatic winder 10. The operator appropriately operates the
machine control device 11 to specify any one of the machines 60 by
themachine specifyingportion34. FIG. 4illustrates a stateinwhich
the machine 60 having a machine number "123" is specified by the
5 machine specifying portion 34. The control section 14 carries out
communication with the machine 60 (machine number 123 in the case
of FIG. 4) specified by the machine specifying portion 34 through
the external connecting section 19 to acquire the lot name of the
setting set stored in the storage section 18 of the relevant machine
10 60, and displays the lot name in a list in the second list display
portion 32.
Therefore, the lot name ofthe setting set storedinthe (local)
storage section 18 of the machine 60 is displayed in a list in the
first list display portion 31, and the lot name of the setting set
15 stored in the storage section 18 of an arbitrary machine 60 specified
by the operator is displayed in a list in the second list display
portion 32. The operator can carry out the appropriate operation to
select any one setting set from the setting sets displayed in a list
in the first list display portion 31. FIG. 4 illustrates a state in
20 which the setting set having the lot name "Lotl" is selected in the
first list display portion 31. The operator can carry out the
appropriate operation to select any one setting set from the setting
sets displayed in a list in the second list display portion 32. FIG.
4 illustrates a state in which the setting set having the lot name
25 "Lot2" is selected in the second list display portion 32. In FIG.
4, the setting set of different lot names is selected in the first
list display portion 31 and the second list display portion 32, but
the setting set of the same lot name may, of course, be selected.
In other words, specification may be made such that the setting sets
30 having the same lot name are compared, or specification may be made
such that the setting sets having different lot names are compared
between the different machines 60.
The comparebutton 33is abutton forinstructingthe comparison
of the setting sets selected in the first list display portion 31
35 and the second list display portion 32. In a state that the setting
set is selected in each of the first list display portion 31 and the
second list display portion 32, the operator can operate the compare
button 33 to instruct the machine control device 11 to compare the
selected setting sets.
5 Next, a descriptionwill bemade on the operationofthe control
section 14 in the case where the compare button 33 is operated. The
control section 14 of the present embodiment has functions of an
acquiring section 35 and a comparing section 36.
The acquiring section 35 is configured to acquire the setting
10 sets to be compared by the comparing section 36. For example, in the
case of the present embodiment, the setting sets to be compared are
selected by the operator in the setting set comparing screen (FIG.
4). Therefore, the acquiring section 35 of the present embodiment
acquires the setting sets selected by the operator in the setting
15 set comparing screen.
For example, in the case of FIG. 4, the setting set having the
lot name "Lotl" is selected in the first list display portion 31,
and thus the acquiring section 35 acquires the setting set having
the lot name "Lotl" from the own (local) storage section 18 (first
20 acquiring step). Furthermore, for example, in the case of FIG. 4,
themachine 60withnumber"123"is specifiedinthemachinespecifying
portion 34, and the setting set having the lot name "Lot2" is selected
in the second list display portion 32, and thus the acquiring section
35 acquires the setting set having the lot name "Lot2" stored in the
25 storage section 18 of the relevant machine 60 by communicating with
the machine 60 with number "123" (second acquiring step).
The comparing section 36 compares the setting contents of the
two setting sets acquiredbythe acquiring section 35 for each setting
item (comparing step).
30 Therefore, according to the configuration of the present
embodiment, the arbitrary setting set stored in the (local) storage
section 18 of the machine 60 and the arbitrary setting set stored
in the storage section 18 of another arbitrary machine 60 can be
compared by the comparing section 36. Thus, the comparing section
35 36 of the present embodiment compares the setting contents of the
setting sets for each setting item between the different machines
60.
The control section 14 of the machine control device 11 is
configured to announce the result of the comparison (hereinafter
5 simply referred to as comparison result) obtained by the comparing
section 36 (announcing step) to the operator. The method of
announcing the comparison result is not particularly limited, but
in the present embodiment, the comparison result is displayed on the
screen of the touch screen 13. Therefore, the touch screen 13 of the
10 present embodiment canbe referredtoas anannouncingsection. Thus,
by displaying the comparison result on the touch screen 13, the
operator can visually check the comparison result.
Next, a specific description will be made on the annunciation
of the comparison result.
15 Ifthesettingcontentsofallthesettingitemsmatchasaresult
of the comparison by the comparing section 36, the control section
14 announces to the operator that the setting contents match. For
example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a message "all setting items matchf1
is displayed on the screen of the touch screen 13. Thus, the operator
20 can confirm that the compared setting contents of the setting sets
match.
If the setting contents of one ormore setting items donotmatch
as a result ofthe comparisonby the comparing section 36, the control
section 14 announces to the operator that a non-matching setting
25 content exists. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a message
"non-matching setting item is found" is displayed on the screen of
the touch screen13. Thus, the operator can confirmthat the compared
setting contents of the setting sets do not match.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the setting item in
30 which the setting contents do not match is announced to the operator.
Specifically, in the case of the present embodiment, the name of the
setting item in which the setting contents do not match is displayed
on the touch screen 13. If a plurality of items in which the setting
contents do not match exists, the plurality of setting items are
35 suitably displayed in a list. For example, in FIG. 6, the plurality
of names of the setting items (package diameter, etc.) in which the
setting contents do not match are lined vertically and displayed in
a list. Thus, the operator can easily grasp the setting contents of
which setting items do not match.
5 In the present embodiment, the setting contents of the setting
item in which the setting contents do not match are also announced.
Specifically, in the case of the present embodiment, as illustrated
in FIG. 6, the names of each setting item (package diameter, etc.)
in which the setting contents do not match are lined vertically, and
10 the setting contents are displayed for compared setting sets ("Lotl"
and "Lot2"). Thus, the operator can easily grasp which setting item
is different in what way.
Furthermore, in the case of FIG. 6, only the name of the setting
iteminwhich the setting contents do not match is displayed. In other
15 words, the name of the setting item in which the setting contents
match is not displayed. Therefore, the operator can rapidly grasp
the setting items in which the setting contents do not match. The
demand to check the difference between the setting sets thus can be
appropriately responded.
20 In the description made above, two setting sets ("Lotl" and
"Lot2") are compared, but three or more setting sets may be mutually
compared. Thus, a plurality of setting sets can be compared in the
machine control device 11 of the present embodiment. Therefore, the
machine control device 11 of the present embodiment can be referred
25 to as the "setting comparing device".
As described above, the machine control device (setting
comparing device) 11ofthe present embodiment includes the acquiring
section 35, the comparing section 36, and the touch screen 13. The
acquiring section 35 acquires the setting set in which setting
30 contents of a plurality of setting items associated with yarn
processing are collectively named (lot name) . The comparing section
36 compares the setting contents of the plurality of setting sets
acquiredbythe acquiring section 35 for each setting item. The touch
screen 13 announces the result of the comparison by the comparing
35 section 36.
According to the above configuration, the comparing section 36
compares the setting contents and the touch screen 1 3 announces the
result ofthe comparison, sothat theburdenon the operator to compare
the setting contents is alleviated, and the operator can easily check
5 the match/non-match of the setting contents. Furthermore, in the
machine control device 11 described above, the result of the
comparison by the comparing section 36 is displayed on the screen
of the touch screen 13, and hence the operator can visually recognize
the comparison result.
Furthermore, as described above, if the setting item in which
the setting contents do not match exists as a result of the comparison
by the comparing section 36 in the machine control device 11 of the
present embodiment, the touch screen 13 displays the non-matching
setting item. If a plurality of setting items in which the setting
15 contentsdonotmatchexist, t h e t o u c h s c r e e n 1 3 d i s p l a y s t h e p l u r a l i t y
of non-matching setting items in a list.
Thus, the operator can easily grasp the setting item in which
the setting contents do not match.
Furthermore, as described above, in the machine control device
20 11 of the present embodiment, the setting set to be compared by the
comparing section 36 can be specified by the operation of the touch
screen 13 (setting set comparing screen of FIG. 4).
The operator thus can freely specify the setting set to be
compared by operating the touch screen 13.
25 As described above, the automatic winder 10 of the present
embodiment includes a plurality of machines 60. The comparing
section 36 compares the setting contents of the setting set for each
setting item between the different machines 60. The machines 60 are
adapted to be communicable with each other. The touch screen 1 3 is
30 arranged in each of the machines 60.
The setting sets thus can be compared between the different
machines 60. The comparison result can be checked in any machine 60
by arranging the touch screen 1 3 in each of the machines 60.
As describedabove, themachine control device (display device)
35 11 of the present embodiment includes the touch screen 1 3 and the
comparing section 36. The touch screen 13 is arranged for every
plurality of machines 60 adapted to be communicable with each other,
and the setting contents of the setting set in which setting contents
of a plurality of setting items associated with the yarn processing
5 are collected can be displayed. The comparing section 36 compares
whether or not the setting contents of an arbitrary setting set match
with each other for each setting item between the different machines
60. The touch screen 13 displays the result of the comparison by the
comparing section 36.
When the comparing section 36 compares the setting contents of
the setting set and the setting contents do not match, the result
is displayedonthetouch screen13, sothat the burden onthe operator
to compare the setting contents is alleviated and the operator can
easily check the match/non-match of the setting contents.
15 The setting comparing method in the machine control device 11
is as follows. The setting comparing method includes an acquiring
step, acomparing step, andanannouncingstep. Intheacquiringstep,
the setting set in which setting contents of a plurality of setting
items associated with the yarn processing are collectively named is
20 acquired. In the comparing step, the setting contents ofaplurality
of setting sets acquired in the acquiring step are compared for each
setting item. In the announcing step, the result of the comparison
in the comparing step is announced.
Accordingtothe abovemethod, the settingcontentsarecompared
25 in the comparing step and the result of the comparison is announced
in the announcing step, so that the burden on the operator to compare
the setting contents is alleviated and the operator can easily check
match/non-match of the setting contents.
Next, a description will be made on a second embodiment of the
30 invention of the present application. In the following description,
the same reference numerals are denoted on the element names and the
description is omitted with respect to the configurations same as
or similar to the first embodiment.
In the machine control device 11 of the second embodiment, when
35 displaying the comparison result of the comparing section 36 on the
screen of the touch screen 13, the comparison result to be displayed
is different according to the access authority of the operator
discriminated by the access authority discrimination section 17.
Specifically, the control section 14 of the present embodiment
5 is configured to display the comparison result only for the setting
item, to which the operator has the authority to change a setting
content. In other words, the control section 14 of the present
embodiment does not display the comparison result for the setting
item which has a setting content, that cannot be changed by the
10 operator.
For example, if the access authority of the operator is the
"management personnel", as previously described, the operator can
change all the setting items. Therefore, if it is discriminatedthat
the access authority of the operator is the "management personnel",
15 the touch screen 13 displays all the comparison results by the
comparing section 36.
If the access authority of the operator is the "maintenance
personnel", as previously described, the operator cannot change the
important setting item, and can only change the other setting items.
20 Therefore, if it is discriminated that the access authority of the
operator is the "maintenance personnel", the touch screen 13 does
not display the comparison result for the important setting item,
but displays the comparison result for only the other setting items
o f t h e c o m p a r i s o n r e s u l t s o f t h e c o m p a r i n g s e c t i o n 3 6 . Thus, thetouch
25 screen 13 of the present embodimeht selectively announces the
comparison result ofthe comparing section 36 according tothe access
authority of the operator.
If the access authorityofthe operator is the "general worker",
a s p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d , t h e o p e r a t o r c a n n o t c h a n g e a n y s e t t i n g i t e m s .
30 Thus, inthepresent embodiment, ifitisdiscriminatedthattheaccess
authorityofthe operator is the "general worker", themachine control
device 11 is configured not to permit to the operator the operation
itself of comparing the setting sets.
As described above, the machine control device 11 of the second
35 embodiment includes the access authority discrimination section 17
for discriminating the access authority of the operator who operates
the touch screen 13. The touch screen 13 selectively displays the
result of the comparison by the comparing section 36 according to
the access authority of the operator.
5 Thus, only the necessary information can be announced to the
operator according to the access authority of the operator.
The configuration in which, when the access authority of the
operator is the "general worker", the operator is prohibited from
performing the operation itself of comparing the setting sets has
10 been described, but this configuration is not the sole case, and for
example, the comparing operation may be carried out for the setting
item that can be browsed with the access authority of the "general
worker". Furthermore, the comparing operation itself may be
permitted to the "general worker" and then the comparison by the
15 comparingsection36maybe carriedoutaccordingtosuchanoperation,
and thereafter, a message such as "no authority to browse result",
and the like may be displayed instead of displaying the result.
Next, A description will be made on a third embodiment of the
invention of the present application. In the following description,
20 the same reference numerals are denoted on the element names and the
description is omitted with respect to the configurations same as
or similar to the embodiments described above.
First, a brief description will be made on the premise of the
third embodiment.
As described above, the machine control device 11 carries out
communication with the machine control device 11 of another machine
60 through the external connecting section 19, so that the setting
set stored in the storage section 18 of the other machine 60 can be
copiedand storedinthe own (local) storage section18. In this case,
30 the lot name of the setting set copied to the local storage section
18 often remains tohavethe same lot nameas thecopy source (original)
setting set. For example, if the setting set having the lot name
"Lotl" storedinthe storage section18 of anothermachine 60is copied
to the local storage section 18, the lot name of the setting set in
35 the local storage section 18 also becomes "Lotl".
Thus, the setting set copied from another machine 60 has the
same lot name as the copy source setting set, whereby it can be easily
recognized that the setting sets are originally of the same content.
Thus, if the setting set having the same lot name exists in different
5 machines 60, the operator expects that the setting content of each
setting set is the same. However, there is a possibility that the
setting content of the setting set copied from another machine 60
is changed by the operator, and hence the setting set having the same
lot name actually is not necessarily the same setting content.
10 Therefore, even if the setting content is assumed to be the same
setting content as another machine 60, the setting contents may
actually be different.
In view of the above, in the third embodiment, the plurality
of setting sets havingthe same lot name are actively comparedbetween
15 the different machines 60.
This will be specificallydescribedbelow. The control section
14 of the machine control device 11 carries out the communication
with the machine control device 11 of another machine 60 through the
external connecting section19to searchwhether the setting set given
20 the same lot name as the setting set stored in the own (local) storage
section 18 exists in the storage section 18 of another machine 60.
The search may be executed with the operation of the operator as a
trigger, or may be automatically executed regularly or irregularly.
If the setting set having the same lot name as the local setting
25 set is not found in another machine 60, the control section 14
terminates the process by displaying an appropriate message, and the
like.
If the setting set having the same lot name is found, the
acquiring section 35 acquires the setting set of the relevant lot
30 name from the own (local) storage section 18 and the storage section
18 of another machine 60. The comparing section 36 then compares the
setting contents of the setting set having the same lot name acquired
by the acquiring section 35 for each setting item, and the comparison
result is displayed on the touch screen 13.
3 5 As describedabove, inthemachine c o n t r o l d e v i c e 1 1 o f t h e t h i r d
embodiment, thecomparingsection36is configuredtoactivelycompare
the setting contents of the plurality of setting sets having the same
lot name for each setting item between the different machines 60.
In other words, in the first embodiment, the setting sets specified
5 by the operator are compared by the comparing section 36, but in the
third embodiment, the machine control device 11 (setting comparing
device) automaticallyextractsthe setting set tobe compared (without
the operation of the operator), and the comparing section 36 carries
out the comparison.
Thus, the plurality of setting sets having the same lot name
are compared between the different machines 60, so that a case in
which the setting contents are different although the same lot name
is given can be reliably detected. An unintended package thus can
be prevented from being formed without the operator noticing that
15 the setting contents are different between the machines 60.
Next, a description will be made on a fourth embodiment of the
invention of the present application. In the following description,
the same reference numerals are denoted on the element names and the
description is omitted with respect to the configurations same or
20 similar to the embodiments described above.
The LAN 22 of the first embodiment does not include the overall
control device (host computer), but in the fourth embodiment, as
illustrated in FIG. 7, the LAN 22 includes an overall control device
(host computer) 45. The overall control device 45 is configured to
25 be communicable with the machine control device 11 of each machine
60 through the LAN 22.
The overall control device 45 is a device that overall controls
the machine control device 11 of each machine 60. With this sense,
the overall control device 45 is ata higher level than all themachine
30 control devices 11. The operator cancollectivelycontrolandmanage
each machine 60 by appropriately controlling the overall control
\ device 45.
The overall control device 45 includes a control section (not
illustrated). The control section of the overall control device 45
35 of the present embodiment is configured to exhibit functions similar
to the acquiring section 35 and the comparing section 36 in the first
embodiment. In other words, the control section of the overall
control device 45has a functionoftheacquiringsectionthatacquires
the setting set stored in the storage section 18 of an arbitrary
5 machine 60 by communicating with the machine control device 11 of
the machine 60. The control section of the overall control device
45 has a function of the comparing section that compares the setting
contents of the acquired plurality of setting sets for each setting
item.
10 The overall control device 45 also includes a touch screen 46.
T h e t o u c h s c r e e n 4 6 o f t h e o v e r a l l c o n t r o l d e v i c e 4 5 alsohasafunction
of the operation input section and a function of the display section,
similar to the touch screen 13 of the machine control device 11. In
other words, the operator can specify the setting set to compare by
15 appropriately operating the touch screen 46 of the overall control
device 45. The result of comparing the specified setting sets is
displayed on the touch screen 46 of the overall control device 45.
Therefore, the overall control device 45 of the present
embodiment has a function of comparing the setting sets andannouncing
20 the comparison result, similar to the machine control device 11 in
the first embodiment. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the
overall control device 45 can be defined as a "setting comparing
device". The touch screen 46 of the overall control device 45 also
announces the result of comparing the setting sets in the overall
25 control device 45, andthus canbe definedas an "announcing section".
As described above, the automatic winder 10 of the fourth
embodiment includes a plurality of machines 60, and the overall
control device 45 configured to be communicable with each machine
60. The result of comparing the setting sets is announcedbythetouch
30 screen 46 provided in the overall control device 45.
Thus, the comparison result can be checked at the overall
control device 45. The overall control device 45 is not limited to
the configuration which includes the touch screen 46, and may have
a configuration (so-calledpersonalcomputer) which includes a simple
35 display (display section) and an operation input section such as a
keyboard, a mouse, in place of the touch screen 46. In this case,
the comparison result is preferably displayed on the display.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
described above, but the configuration of the present invention is
5 not limited to such embodiments, and the above configurations can
be modified as follows, for example.
In the embodiments described above, the operator selects the
lot name to compare from the lot names of the setting set displayed
in a list in the setting set comparing screen as illustrated in FIG.
10 4 , but may directly input the lot name.
In the embodiments described above, three levels of the
management personnel, the maintenance personnel, and the general
worker areprepared fortheaccess authority, butthe type, thecontent,
and the number of access authority are not limited thereto and can
15 be variously set. For example, the access authority for a
manufacturing company worker referred to as "service personnel", who
is of higher level than the management personnel, may be further
prepared.
The configuration of the automatic winder of the invention of
20 the present application is not limited to the configuration
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, the yarn supplying bobbin
supplying device is not limited to the known tray-type configuration
illustratedin FIG. 2 andmayhavea knownmagazine-type configuration.
Furthermore, the configuration of the winding section 41 may be a
25 configuration including a drum with a traverse groove, instead of
the configuration including a contact roller (groove-less roller)
that makes contact with the package 30 and is rotated accompanying
the rotation of the package 30, and a traverse mechanism (traverse
guide) independent from the contact roller, as illustrated in FIG.
30 2. The drum with traverse groove makes contact with the package 30
androtatesthe package 30withthe rotationthereof, while traversing
by the traverse groove.
The configuration of the invention of the present application
is not limited to application to the automatic winder, and can be
35 applied to other types of textile machines. One example of a textile
machine other than the automatic winder includes a spinning machine.
The configuration of the spinning machine is known and thus the
detailed description will be omitted, but the spinning machine (the
system of spinning machines) includes at least one machine in which
5 a plurality of spinning units is arranged next to each other. The
machine includes the machine control device that controls the
operation of each spinning unit. The machine control device can
collectively name (lot name) the setting contents of the plurality
of setting items associated with the yarn processing to store the
10 named setting sets. Therefore, in such a spinning machine, a
comparing setting device including the acquiring section that
acquires the setting set, the comparing section that compares the
plurality of setting sets acquired by the acquiring section, and the
announcing section that announces the comparison result can be
15 arranged. The effects similar to the embodiments described above
thus can be obtained. With respect to the spinning machine, examples
of the setting item associated with the yarn processing include
package constant length, package weight, and the like.
In the embodiments described above, only the setting item in
20 which the setting contents do not match is displayed as a result of
the comparison by the comparing section 36 (see FIG. 6). In other
words, the setting item in which the setting contents match is not
displayed. However, this is not the sole case, and for example, all
the setting items of the setting set may be displayed in a list and
25 only the non-matching setting item may be displayed in highlight.
Alternatively, the non-matching setting item may be displayed at the
top of the list displayed in a list. In other words, the setting item
inwhich the setting contents donotmatchmerelyneedstobe announced
to the operator in some form.
30 The invention of the present application has the greatest
characteristics in that the comparison of the setting sets can be
automaticallycarriedoutandthe comparison result canbe announced.
Therefore, the configuration of announcing the non-matching setting
item is not essential, and whether or not the compared setting sets
35 match merely need to be announced.
In the embodiments described above, a configuration of
displaying the comparison result on the touch screen 13, 46 as an
exampleoftheannouncingsectionthatannouncesthecomparisonresult
of the comparing section 36 and the comparing section serving as one
5 function of the control section of the overall control device 45 has
beendescribed. However, the configurationoftheannouncingsection
is not limited thereto, and the comparison result of the comparing
section merely needs to be announced to the operator through some
means. For example, the announcing section may include an audio
10 output section that announces the comparison result ofthe comparing
section by audio. In this case, the audio output sectionmay announce
the comparison result by audio such as "non-matching setting item
is found", for example. A buzzer sound may be issued when the
non-matching setting item is found, for example. Thus, the operator
15 can check the comparison result by audio. The announcing sectionmay
have a configuration of outputting the comparison result of the
comparing sectiontoa file, ora configurationoftransferring (e-g.,
e-mail transmission, etc.) the comparison result to another terminal.
The configuration of outputting to the file includes connecting a
20 USB memory to a USB port provided in the machine control device 11
and writing the data file of the comparison result to the USB memory,
for example. The configurationof transferringthe comparisonresult
to another terminal includes, for example, adding an automatic e-mail
transmission function to the machine control device 11 and
25 automatically e-mail transmitting the comparison result to another
terminal (e.g., PC at a remote place, etc.) when the comparison is
carried out by the comparing section. Such a configuration is
convenient in checking the comparison result even at a place distant
from the scene in addition to the scene where the textile machine
30 such as the automatic winder is arranged.
In the embodiments described above, the comparison of the
setting sets is carried out between the different machines 60, but
this is not necessarily the sole case, and comparison of the setting
sets can be carried out in one machine 60. In other words, the
35 comparing section 36 of the machine control device 11 may compare
thepluralityofsettingsets storedintheown (local) storage section
18. The control section of the overall control device 45 may acquire
the plurality of setting sets stored in the storage section 18 of
one arbitrary machine 60, and compare the acquired plurality of
5 setting sets. In the textile machine of the present embodiment, the
setting set having the same lot name is prevented from existing in
various forms in one machine 60. Therefore, the setting sets having
the same lot name cannot be compared in one machine 60. Thus, when
comparing the setting sets in one machine 60, the comparing section
10 comparesthe setting contents ofthe pluralityof setting sets having
different lot names for each setting item.
In the embodiments described above, the textile machine (the
system of textile machines) is assumed to include a plurality of
machines 60, but this is not the sole case, and the invention of the
15 present application canbeimplementedaslongas at least onemachine
60 is arranged. In other words, if the textile machine includes at
least one machine 60, the comparing section can compare the setting
contents of the plurality of setting sets having different names for
each setting item in the relevant one machine 60. Thus, the setting
20 sets can be compared in the same machine 60.
According to a first aspect of the invention of the present
application, a setting comparing device of a textile machine is
provided as follows. In other words, the setting comparing device
includes an acquiring section, a comparing section, and an announcing
25 section. The acquiring section is adapted to acquire a setting set
in which setting contents of a plurality of setting items associated
witha yarnprocessingare collectivelynamed. The comparing section
is adaptedto compare the setting contents ofthepluralityof setting
sets acquired by the acquiring section for each setting item. The
30 announcing section is adapted to announce a result of the comparison
by the comparing section.
According to the configuration described above, the comparing
section compares the setting contents, and the announcing seckion
announces the result of the comparison, so that the burden on the
35 operator to compare the setting contents is alleviated, and the
o p e r a t o r c a n e a s i l y c h e c k t h e m a t c h / n o n - m a t c h o f t h e settingcontents.
The "name" of the setting set in the specification of the present
application is not limited to a character string, and may be some
kindof informationgiventothe setting set suchas symbols, numerical
5 values, other identifiers, and the like.
In the setting comparing device ofthe textilemachine described
above, the announcing section preferably includes a display section
adapted to display the result of the comparison by the comparing
section on a screen.
The operator thus canvisuallyrecognize the comparison result.
In the setting comparing device of the textile machine, if a
setting item in which the setting contents do not match exists as
the result of the comparison by the comparing section, the display
section preferably displays a non-matching setting item.
15 The operator thus can easily grasp the setting item in which
the setting contents do not match.
In the setting comparing device of the textile machine, if a
plurality of setting items in which the setting contents do not match
exists as the result of the comparison by the comparing section, the
20 display section preferably displays the plurality of non-matching
setting items in a list.
The operator thus can easily grasp the plurality of setting
items in which the setting contents do not match.
In the setting comparing device of the textile machine, the
25 announcing section may include an audio output section adapted to
announce the result of the comparison by the comparing section in
audio.
The operator thus can check the comparison result in audio.
The setting comparing device of the textile machine further
30 preferably includes an operation input section configured to enable
an operation of specifying the setting sets to be compared by the
comparing section.
The operator thus can freely set the setting sets to compare
by operating the operation input section.
35 The setting comparing device of the textile machine is
preferably configured as follows. In other words, the setting
comparing device includes an access authoritydiscrimination section
adaptedtodiscriminate an access authorityof an operatorwho carries
out the operation of the operation input section. The announcing
5 section selectively announces the result of the comparison by the
comparing section according tothe access authority ofthe operator.
Thus, only the necessary information can be announced to the
operator according to the access authority of the operator.
The setting comparing device of the textile machine can be
10 configured as follows. In other words, the textile machine includes
at least one machine. The comparing section compares the setting
contents of the plurality of setting sets given different names for
each setting item in a predetermined machine.
Thus, the setting sets can be compared in the same machine.
The setting comparing device of the textile machine may also
be configured as follows. In other words, the textile machine
includes apluralityofmachines. The comparing sectioncomparesthe
setting contents of the setting set for each setting item between
different machines.
2 0 Thus, the setting sets can be compared between different
machines.
In the setting comparing device of the textile machine, the
comparing section preferably compares the setting contents of the
plurality of setting sets given the same name for each setting item
25 between the different machines.
Since the plurality of setting sets given the same name are
compared between the different machines, a case in which the setting
contents differ although the same name is given can be reliably
detected. Thus, an unintended package can be prevented from being
30 formed without the operator noticing that the setting contents are
different between the machines.
The setting comparing device of the textile machine is
preferably configured as follows. In other words, the textile
machine includes a plurality of machines, and each of the machines
35 is configured to be communicable with each other. The announcing
section is arranged in each machine.
Thus, the comparison result can be checked in any machine by
arranging the announcing section for every machine.
The setting comparing device of the textile machine may also
5 be configured as follows. In other words, the textile machine
includes a plurality of machines and an overall control device
configured to be communicable with each machine. The announcing
section is arranged in the overall control device.
Thus, the comparison result can be checked in the overall
10 control device.
According to a second aspect of the invention of the present
application, an automatic yarn winding machine including the setting
comparing device of the textile machine, and at least one machine
including a plurality of yarn winding units installed next to each
15 other is provided.
Thus, the setting contents can be compared, and the comparison
result can be grasped in the automatic yarn winding machine.
According to a third aspect of the invention of the present
application, a spinning machine including the setting comparing
20 device of the textile machine, and at least one machine including
apluralityof spinningunitsinstallednexttoeachotherisprovided.
Thus, the setting contents can be compared, and the comparison
result can be grasped in the spinning machine.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention of the present
25 application, a setting comparing method of the textile machine is
provided as follows. In other words, the setting comparing method
includes an acquiring step, a comparing step, and an announcing step.
In the acquiring step, a setting set in which setting contents of
a plurality of setting items associated with a yarn processing are
30 collectively named is acquired. In the comparing step, the setting
contents of the plurality of setting sets acquired in the acquiring
step are compared for each setting item. In the announcing step, a
result of the comparison in the comparing step is announced.
According to the method described above, the setting contents
35 are compared in the comparing step, and the result of the comparison
is announcedinthe announcing step, sothat theburdenon the operator
to compare the setting contents is alleviated, and the operator can
easily check the match/non-match of the setting contents.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention of the present
5 application, the following configuration of a display device of a
textile machine is provided. In other words, the display device
includes a display section and a comparing section. The display
section is arranged for every plurality of machines configured to
be communicable with each other, and adapted to display the setting
10 content of a setting set in which setting contents of a plurality
of setting items associated with a yarn processing are collected.
The comparing section is adaptedto comparewhether or not the setting
contents of an arbitrary setting set match with each other for each
setting item between different machines. The display section
15 displays the result of the comparison by the comparing section.
The comparing section compares the setting contents of the
setting set, and the result is displayed on the display section if
the setting contents do not match, so that the burden on the operator
to compare the setting contents is alleviated, and the operator can
20 easily check the match/non-match of the setting contents.

WE CLAIM:
1. A setting comparing device for a system of textile machines
characterized by comprising:
5 an acquiring section adapted to acquire a setting set in which
setting contents of a plurality of setting items associated with a
yarn processing are collectively named;
a comparing section adapted to compare the setting contents of
the plurality of setting sets acquired by the acquiring section for
10 each of the setting items; and
an announcing section adapted to announce a result of the
comparison by the comparing section.
2. The setting comparing device for the system of textile
15 machines according to claim 1, characterized in that the announcing
section includes a display section adapted to display the result of
the comparison by the comparing section on a screen.
3. The setting comparing device for the system of textile
20 machines according to claim 2, characterized in that if a setting
item in which the setting contents do not match exists as the result
of the comparison by the comparing section, the display section
displays a non-matching setting item.
4. The setting comparing device for the system of textile
machines according to claim 3, characterized in that if a plurality
of setting items in which the setting contents do not match exists
as the result of the comparison by the comparing section, the display
section displays the plurality of non-matching setting items in a
30 list.
5. The setting comparing device for the system of textile
machines according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that
the announcing section includes an audio output section adapted to
35 announce the result of the comparison by the comparing section in
audio. t
6. The setting comparing device for the system of textile
machines according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by
5 comprising an operation input section configured to enable an
operation of specifying the plurality of setting sets to be compared
by the comparing section.
7. The setting comparing device for the system of textile
10 machines according to claim 6, further comprising:
an access authority discrimination section adapted to
discriminate an access authority of an operator who carries out the
operation of the operation input section, characterized in that
the announcing section selectively announces the result ofthe
15 comparisonby the comparing section according tothe access authority
of the operator.
8. The setting comparing device for the system of textile
machines according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that
20 the system of textile machines includes at least one machine,
and
the comparing section compares the setting contents of the
plurality of setting sets given different names for each setting item
in a predetermined machine.
9. The setting comparing device for the system of textile
machines according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that
the systemoftextilemachinesincludes apluralityofmachines,
and
3 0 the comparing section compares the setting contents of the
setting set for each setting item between different machines.
10. The setting comparing device for the system of textile
machines according to claim 9, characterized in that
the comparing section compares the setting contents of the
plurality of setting sets given the same name for each setting item
between the different machines.
11. The setting comparing device for the system of textile
5 machines according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in
that
the systemoftextilemachinesincludes apluralityofmachines,
thepluralityofthemachines are configuredto be communicable
with each other, and
the announcing section is arranged in each of the plurality of
machines.
12. The setting comparing device for the system of textile
machines according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in
15 that
The system oftextile machines includes a plurality of machines
and an overall control device configuredto be communicable with each
of the plurality of machines, and
the announcing section is arranged in the overall control
20 device.
13. An automatic yarn winding machine characterized by
comprising:
the setting comparing device forthe system oftextile machines
25 according to any one of claims 1 to 10; and
atleastonemachineincludingapluralityof yarnwinding units
installed next to each other.
14. A spinning machine characterized by comprising:
the setting comparing device forthe systemoftextile machines
according to any one of claims 1 to 10; and
at least one machine including a plurality of spinning units
installed next to each other.
15. A setting comparing method for a system of textile
machines characterized by comprising the steps of:
acquiring a setting set in which setting contents of a plurality
of setting items associated with a yarn processing are collectively
named;
5 comparing the setting contents ofthepluralityof setting sets
acquired in the acquiring step for each setting item; and
announcing a result ofthe comparison obtainedinthe comparing
step.
16. A display device for a system of textile machines
comprising:
a display section arranged for every plurality of machines
configuredto be communicable with each other, and adaptedto display
setting contents of a setting set in which setting contents of a
15 plurality of setting items associated with a yarn processing are
collected; and
a comparing section adapted to compare whether or not the
setting contents of an arbitrary setting set match with each other
for each setting item between different machines; characterized in
20 that
the display section displays the result of the comparison by
the comparing section.