TEXTILE MACHINE, TEXTILE MACHINE SYSTEM AND UPDATING METHOD
OF SETTING VALUES IN TEXTILE MACHINE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field 5 of the Invention
The present invention relates to a textile machine,
a textile machine system and an updating method of setting
values in the textile machine.
10 2. Description of the Related Art
There is known a textile machine including a
plurality of fiber processing units, and a management
device adapted to control operations of the fiber
processing units. The management device of the textile
15 machine enables monitoring of current operational status
of each of the fiber processing units. Furthermore, the
management device of the textile machine is capable of
setting various processing conditions (yarn processing
conditions). Typically, a large number of the textile
20 machines having such a configuration are installed in a
factory. For example, when operating a plurality of the
textile machines under a same processing condition or when
collectively changing processing conditions, an operator
goes to each of the textile machines to set a processing
25 condition or change a setting on a unit-by-unit basis.
However, such an operation is not efficient and is a burden
to the operator.
An art to solve such a problem thus has been disclosed.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
30 2009-242029 discloses a textile machine system in which
control devices provided to a textile machine are arranged
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to be communicable with one another by wireless
communication, and a processing condition set in the
control device of one textile machine can be transmitted
from the control device of the one textile machine to the
control devices of a plurality of the textile 5 machines.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-67884
discloses a textile machine system in which control devices
provided to a textile machine are arranged to be
communicable with one another, and processing conditions
10 of fiber processing units of a plurality of the textile
machines can be simultaneously displayed. With the
textile machine system, when copying a processing condition
in one textile machine to other textile machines, the
processing condition can be transmitted to chosen textile
15 machines by choosing some or all of the textile machines
and pressing a copy button.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2004-345840 discloses a yarn processing condition setting
system in which control devices provided to a textile
20 machine are arranged to be communicable with one another,
and when a processing condition is input in a control system
of one textile machine, the processing condition is
transmitted to the control devices of other textile
machines, and the control devices of the other textile
25 machines that have received the processing condition
perform change processing based on the processing
condition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
30 However, in the textile machine system described in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-242029,
4 / 48
some of the textile machines may be set to be an unintended
processing condition if designation of a transmission
destination is omitted when transmitting the processing
condition from the control device of the one textile machine
to the control devices of the plurality of the t5 extile
machines. In the textile machine system described in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-67884,
omission of designation of the transmission destination can
be prevented by choosing all the textile machines as the
10 transmission destination of the processing condition, but
operations for choosing all the textile machines as the
transmission destination of the processing condition and
actually transmitting the processing condition require
time and effort. In the yarn processing condition setting
15 system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open
No. 2004-345840, a conflict may occur among a plurality of
the textile machines when the processing condition is
simultaneously or substantially simultaneously changed in
the control systems of a plurality of the textile machines.
20 That is, some or all of the textile machines may be set to
a processing condition not intended by the operator.
Objects of the present invention are thus to reduce
trouble in operations of the operator when setting a
processing condition in a plurality of the textile machines,
25 and to provide a textile machine, a textile machine system
and an updating method of setting values in the textile
machine that can prevent the textile machine from being set
to a processing condition not intended by the operator.
A textile machine of the present invention includes
30 at least one fiber processing unit, and a management device
adapted to control an operation of a device including the
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fiber processing unit. The management device includes an
input section, a storage section, an inter-machine
communicating section, and a machine control section. The
input section is adapted to accept an input of various types
of information. The storage section is adapted 5 to store
setting values, which are accepted via the input section,
as various processing conditions. The inter-machine
communicating section is adapted to enable communication
with other textile machine. The machine control section
10 is adapted to control the inter-machine communicating
section to transmit the setting values to the other textile
machine. The machine control section is further adapted
to control the inter-machine communicating section to
transmit input start information, which is information
15 notifying that an input of the setting values is enabled,
to the other textile machine when the input of the setting
values is enabled.
An updating method of the present invention is
updating setting values in a textile machine including at
20 least one fiber processing unit and a management device.
The management device includes an input section, a storage
section, and an inter-machine communicating section. The
input section is adapted to accept an input of various types
of information. The storage section is adapted to store
25 the setting values, which are accepted via the input section,
as various processing conditions. The inter-machine
communicating section is adapted to enable communication
with other textile machine. The updating method of the
present invention includes a first step and a second step.
30 In the first step, the management device controls the
inter-machine communicating section to transmit input
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start information, which is information notifying that an
input of the setting values is enabled, to the other textile
machine when the input of the setting values is enabled.
In the second step, the management device controls the
inter-machine communicating section to transmit 5 the
setting values to the other textile machine.
“Storing the setting values” includes a case of
storing new setting values (new registration) and a case
of storing input setting values by changing already stored
10 setting values (update).
In the textile machine having this configuration,
setting values are updated based on the setting values
accepted via the input section, and the setting values are
transmitted to the other textile machine automatically
15 (without designating a transmission destination).
Furthermore, in the textile machine having this
configuration, since the input of the setting values via
the input section can be prohibited or login to the
management device can be prevented in the other textile
20 machine that has received the input start information, for
example, a conflict can be prevented from occurring among
a plurality of the textile machines. The “conflict” in the
description means that some or all of the textile machines
are set to setting values not intended by an operator since
25 the setting values are simultaneously or substantially
simultaneously transmitted from a plurality of the textile
machines. Consequently, trouble in operations of the
operator when setting a processing condition to a plurality
of the textile machines can be reduced, and the textile
30 machine can be prevented from being set to a processing
condition not intended by the operator.
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The machine control section may determine that the
input of the setting values is enabled when an
authentication section authenticates a specified user.
The authentication section is adapted to authenticate the
specified user based on authentication information 5 input
to the input section.
In the updating method of the present invention, the
management device may determine that the input of the
setting values is enabled when an authentication section
10 authenticates a specified user. The authentication
section is adapted to authenticate the specified user based
on authentication information input to the input section.
In the textile machine having this configuration,
when the authentication section authenticates the
15 specified user, that is, when login to the management device
is permitted, the input of the setting values in the other
textile machine can be prohibited. Accordingly, the input
of the setting values in the other textile machine can be
prohibited at an early stage before the setting values are
20 input.
The machine control section may prohibit the input
of the setting values when the input start information is
received.
The updating method of the present invention may
25 further include a third step in which the management device
prohibits the input of the setting values when the input
start information is received via the inter-machine
communicating section.
In the textile machine having this configuration, a
30 conflict can be prevented from occurring among a plurality
of the textile machines. Accordingly, the setting values
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can be input to an arbitrary one textile machine, and the
input setting values can be synchronized in the other
textile machine.
The textile machine of the present invention may
further include a first notifying section adapted to 5 notify
the operator of information. The machine control section
may control the first notifying section to notify input
disable information, which is information notifying that
the input of the setting values is prohibited, when the
10 input of the setting values is prohibited.
In the textile machine having this configuration, in
a case where the input of the setting values in the input
section is prohibited, the first notifying section can be
controlled to notify always or when login to the management
15 device is attempted by the operator that the input of the
setting values in the input section is prohibited.
Accordingly, the operator can know that the input of the
setting values in the input section is disabled.
The input disable information may include
20 identification information of the textile machine being
under a state in which the input of the setting values is
enabled.
With the textile machine having this configuration,
the operator can easily know to which textile machine the
25 setting values can be input. The operator can move to the
textile machine to which the setting values can be input,
if necessary.
The machine control section may store the setting
values in the storage section when the setting values are
30 received via the inter-machine communicating section.
With the textile machine having this configuration,
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since the setting values transmitted from the other textile
machine can be stored, synchronization with the setting
values stored in the other textile machine can be achieved.
The machine control section may control the
inter-machine communicating section to transmit input 5 ut end
information, which is information notifying that the state
in which the input of the setting values is enabled has ended,
to the other textile machine when the state in which the
input of the setting values is enabled ends.
10 With the textile machine having this configuration,
the operator can know that a state in which the input of
the setting values in the input section is prohibited is
cancelled in the textile machine in which the input of the
setting values via the input section is prohibited.
15 The machine control section may cancel the state in
which the input of the setting values is prohibited when
the input end information is received.
With the textile machine having this configuration,
in the textile machine being under the state in which the
20 input of the setting values is enabled, when such a state
ends, the state in which the input of the setting values
is prohibited can be immediately cancelled in the other
textile machine.
The machine control section may control the
25 inter-machine communicating section to periodically
transmit continuation information after the input start
information has been transmitted to the other textile
machine until the state in which the input of the setting
values is enabled ends. The continuation information is
30 information notifying that the state in which the input of
the setting values is enabled is continuing.
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With the textile machine having this configuration,
since the textile machine being under the state in which
the input of the setting values is enabled periodically
transmits the information notifying that the input of the
setting values is enabled to the other textile 5 machine,
accuracy of the information notifying that the input of the
setting values is enabled can be improved.
The machine control section may cancel the state in
which the input of the setting values is prohibited when
10 receipt of the periodically transmitted continuation
information is interrupted.
For example, in the textile machine configured to
transmit the input end information when the state in which
the input of the setting values is enabled is cancelled,
15 when power is unintentionally turned off, the input end
information cannot be transmitted. In this case, the state
in which the input of the setting values is prohibited
cannot be cancelled in the other textile machine
indefinitely. With the textile machine having this
20 configuration, the other textile machine can immediately
cancel the state in which the input of the setting values
is prohibited by making use of a phenomenon in which the
continuation information is not periodically transmitted.
The machine control section may determine whether or
25 not to transmit the input setting values or the setting
values received via the inter-machine communicating
section to the fiber processing unit.
With the textile machine having this configuration,
setting information stored in the fiber processing unit can
30 be updated at an appropriate timing.
The machine control section may accept from the input
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section, whether or not to transmit as confirmation
information and change the information to be transmitted
based on whether or not to transmit as the confirmation
information when transmitting the setting values to the
other textile machine. The confirmation information 5 is
information indicating that confirmation as to whether or
not to reflect the setting values in the other textile
machine is required.
With the textile machine having this configuration,
10 there is provided an opportunity in which the operator can
confirm and determine whether or not to reflect the setting
values transmitted from one textile machine in the other
textile machine.
The machine control section may change processing of
15 the setting values based on whether or not the setting
values received via the inter-machine communicating
section have been transmitted as the confirmation
information.
With the textile machine having this configuration,
20 based on whether or not the setting values have been
transmitted as the confirmation information, appropriate
processing, for example, such as immediately reflecting the
setting values in the textile machine or inquiring of the
operator whether or not to reflect the setting values in
25 the textile machine becomes possible in accordance with a
case.
The machine control section may hold storing of the
setting values in the storage section until an input whether
or not to hold reflection is made in the input section when
30 the setting values received via the inter-machine
communicating section is transmitted as the confirmation
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information, and may store the setting values in the storage
section when the setting values are not transmitted as the
confirmation information.
With the textile machine having this configuration,
appropriate processing is enabled based on 5 information
transmitted from the other textile machine.
The machine control section may hold storing of the
setting values in the storage section until an input as to
whether or not to reflect is made in the input section when
10 the setting values are received via the inter-communicating
section, and may store the setting values in the storage
section when an input to reflect is made in the input
section.
With the textile machine having this configuration,
15 storing of the setting values in the storage section is
reliably held until an input as to whether or not to reflect
is made. Accordingly, the setting values are changed upon
confirmation of status of the machine by the operator.
The textile machine of the present invention may
20 further include a second notifying section adapted to
notify the operator of information. The machine control
section may control the second notifying section to notify
hold information, which is information not to reflect, when
an input not to reflect is made in the input section.
25 With the textile machine having this configuration,
the operator can know that reflecting of the received
setting values is held without being reflected in the
textile machine. Accordingly, the operator can provide an
instruction to reflect while viewing status of the textile
30 machine.
With the present invention, trouble in operations of
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the operator when setting various processing conditions in
a plurality of the textile machines can be reduced, and the
textile machine can be prevented from being set to a
processing condition not intended by the operator.
5
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an automatic
winder according to one embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an
10 automatic winder system according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating one example of
setting values stored in a storage section;
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a relation
of one automatic winder and other automatic winder after
15 login;
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating a relation
of one automatic winder and other automatic winder after
login;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing after
20 accepting setting values;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing after
receiving setting values;
FIGS. 8A and 8B are each an explanatory diagram
illustrating an allocation lot and a memory lot;
25 FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing after
accepting setting values in the automatic winder according
to alternative embodiment 1;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing after
receiving setting values in the automatic winder according
30 to alternative embodiment 1;
FIG. 11A and 11B are each an explanatory diagram
14 / 48
illustrating a synchronization method of setting values in
alternative embodiment 3; and
FIGS. 12A and 12B are each an explanatory diagram
illustrating the synchronization method of the setting
values in alternative embodiment 35 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An automatic winder system (a textile machine system)
90 provided with an automatic winder (a textile machine)
10 1 according to one embodiment will be hereinafter described
with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same
reference numerals are denoted on the same elements
throughout the description on the drawings, and redundant
description will be omitted. The dimensional ratios in the
15 drawings do not necessarily match with the actual devices.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, six units (a plurality) of
the automatic winders 1 (see FIG. 1) are communicably
connected to one another in the automatic winder system 90.
The connection among the six units of the automatic winders
20 1 may be wired or wireless. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the
automatic winder 1 includes a plurality of winding units
(fiber processing units) 10, a doffing device (a fiber
processing unit) 30, a yarn supplying bobbin supplying
device (a fiber processing unit) 40, and a management device
25 50.
The plurality of the winding units 10 are arranged
side by side along a longitudinal direction of a machine.
Each of the winding units 10 is adapted to form a package
P by winding a yarn Y unwound from a yarn supplying bobbin
30 11 around a bobbin while traversing the yarn Y with a
traverse drum 13. The winding unit 10 includes a yarn
15 / 48
monitoring device 15 and a yarn joining device 17. The yarn
monitoring device 15 is adapted to monitor a thickness of
the travelling yarn Y, and the like. The yarn joining
device 17 is adapted to join disconnected yarns. In the
winding unit 10, winding of the yarn Y is interrupted 5 ed and
the yarn Y is disconnected when a yarn defect of the yarn
Y is detected by the yarn monitoring device 15. After a
yarn defect portion is removed, yarn ends are joined by the
yarn joining device 17. The winding unit 10 restarts
10 winding of the yarn Y of which yarn ends have been joined.
The winding unit 10 includes a unit controller 19.
The unit controller 19 is adapted to execute various types
of control processing in the winding unit 10. The unit
controller 19 is arranged to be communicable with a setting
15 management section (a machine control section) 53A via an
intra-machine communicating section 53B included in the
management device 50. The unit controller 19 is formed of
a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a storage section. The
storage section is a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access
20 Memory (RAM), a hard disc, and the like. The unit
controller 19 may be formed as hardware such as an
electronic circuit.
The unit controller 19 stores lot setting value
information T2 (see FIG. 3) in the storage section. The
25 lot setting value information T2 is information in which
setting values relating to yarn processing conditions are
set for a plurality of items. The unit controller 19
operates the winding unit 10 based on the setting values
of each item that are stored as the lot setting value
30 information T2. The lot setting value information T2
stored by the unit controller 19 is updated by a machine
16 / 48
controller 53, which will be described later.
The doffing device 30 is arranged to be movable along
a direction in which the winding units 10 are arranged.
When the package P becomes fully-wound in each winding unit
10, the doffing device 30 travels to a position of 5 such a
winding unit 2 to collect the fully-wound package P and to
supply an empty bobbin. The doffing device 30 includes a
doffing controller 31. The doffing controller 31 is
arranged to be communicable with the setting management
10 section 53A via the intra-machine communicating section 53B
included in the management device 50. Similarly to the unit
controller 19, the doffing controller 31 is formed of a CPU
and a storage section. The storage section is an ROM, an
RAM, a hard disc, and the like.
15 The doffing controller 31 stores doffing vehicle
setting value information in the storage section. The
doffing vehicle setting value information is information
in which setting values relating to doffing processing
conditions are set for a plurality of items. The doffing
20 controller 31 operates the doffing device 30 based on the
setting values of each item that are stored as the doffing
vehicle setting value information. The doffing vehicle
setting value information stored by the doffing controller
31 is updated by the machine controller 53, which will be
25 described later.
A yarn supplying bobbin supplying device 40 is
adapted to transport the yarn supplying bobbin 11 along a
supply path (not illustrated) and to supply the yarn
supplying bobbin 11 to each winding unit 10. The yarn
30 supplying bobbin supplying device 40 includes a supply
controller 41. The supply controller 41 is arranged to be
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communicable with the setting management section 53A via
the intra-machine communicating section 53B included in the
management device 50. Similarly to the unit controller 19,
the supply controller 41 is formed of a CPU and a storage
section. The storage section is an ROM, an RAM, a hard 5 disc,
and the like.
The supply controller 41 stores supplying device
setting value information in the storage section. The
supplying device setting value information is information
10 in which setting values related to supply processing
conditions are set for a plurality of items. The supply
controller 41 operates the yarn supplying bobbin supplying
device 40 based on the setting values of each item that are
stored as the supplying device setting value information.
15 The supplying device setting value information stored by
the supply controller 41 is updated by the machine
controller 53, which will be described later.
The management device 50 is adapted to control
operations of devices (various devices provided in the
20 automatic winder 1) including the winding unit 10. The
management device 50 includes a touch panel display (an
input section, a first notifying section, a second
notifying section) 51, a storage section 57, the machine
controller 53, and a main body controller 55.
25 The touch panel display 51 is capable of providing
various types of information to an operator and accepting
various types of information from the operator. The touch
panel display 51 is used as an input section and a notifying
section in the present embodiment, but a monitor as the
30 notifying section and a key (an input button) as the input
section may be provided instead of the touch panel display
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51. When setting values are prohibited from being input
in the touch panel display 51 by a control of the setting
management section 53A, which will be described later in
detail, input disable information being information
notifying that the input of the setting values is prohi5 bited
is displayed (notified) on the touch panel display 51.
The storage section 57 is adapted to store as various
setting value information T1, various setting values for
operating and managing the automatic winder 1. As
10 illustrated in FIG. 3, the various setting value
information T1 includes, for example, the lot setting value
information T2, main body setting value information, the
doffing vehicle setting value information, setting
management section setting value information, and the like.
15 The main body setting value information includes, for
example, a setting value for setting a blower speed. The
doffing vehicle setting value information includes, for
example, a setting value for setting a travelling speed of
the doffing vehicle. The setting management section
20 setting value information includes setting values for
determining contents to be displayed on the touch panel
display 51 and contents to be output as a report.
The lot setting value information T2 includes a
plurality of setting values set to determine operational
25 contents of each winding unit 10. As illustrated in FIG.
3, the lot setting value information T2 consists of a
plurality of items. The items are, for example, a yarn
count, a yarn type, a yarn speed, a package weight, and the
like. A group consisting of the plurality of the items is
30 referred to as a “lot”. The storage section 57 stores a
plurality of the “lots” in which each of the items is set
19 / 48
to be an appropriate value in accordance with
specifications and/or an operational environment of a
product.
The storage section 57 illustrated in FIG. 1 also
stores information necessary for authentication proc5 essing
in an inter-machine communicating section (an
authentication section) 53C, which will be described later.
For example, the storage section 57 stores authentication
information in which a user name, a password, and contents
10 of authority are associated with one another.
The main body controller 55 is adapted to mainly
control devices that are provided in common to each winding
unit 10 among devices provided to the automatic winder 1.
The devices controlled by the main body controller 55 are
15 a blower, a conveyer device, and the like. The conveyor
device is adapted to transport the package P that has been
doffed by the doffing device 30 to a machine end portion.
The main body controller 55 is arranged to be communicable
with the setting management section 53A via the
20 intra-machine communicating section 53B. Similarly to the
unit controller 19, the main body controller 55 is formed
of a CPU and a storage section. The storage section is an
ROM, an RAM, a hard disc, and the like.
The main body controller 55 stores the main body
25 setting value information in the storage section. The main
body setting value information is information in which
setting values relating to blower processing conditions are
set for a plurality of items. The main body controller 55
operates the blower and the like based on the setting values
30 of each item that are stored as the main body setting value
information. The main body setting value information
20 / 48
stored by the main body controller 55 is updated by the
machine controller 53, which will be described later.
The machine controller 53 is adapted to set an
operational condition of the automatic winder 1 and to
monitor production status of the automatic winder 1. 5 The
monitoring of the production status includes monitoring of
machine efficiency and/or management of yarn quality. The
machine controller 53 includes the setting management
section 53A, the intra-machine communicating section 53B,
10 and the inter-machine communicating section 53C.
When an input of setting values via the touch panel
display 51 is enabled, the setting management section 53A
controls the inter-machine communicating section 53C to
transmit input start information, which is information
15 notifying that the input of the setting values is enabled,
to other automatic winders 1. The setting management
section 53A updates the setting value information T1 (see
FIG. 3) stored in the storage section 57 based on the setting
values accepted via the touch panel display 51.
20 Furthermore, the setting management section 53A controls
the inter-machine communicating section 53C to transmit the
setting values to the other automatic winders 1.
“When an/the input of (the) setting values is
enabled” in the description means a time when the
25 inter-machine communicating section 53C authenticates a
specified user based on authentication information input
to the touch panel display 51, in other words, means a time
when being authenticated by the inter-machine
communicating section 53C and entering into a state of
30 logging in to the management device 50. The authentication
processing by the inter-machine communicating section 53C
21 / 48
will be described later in detail.
When the input start information is received from
other automatic winder 1 via the inter-machine
communicating section 53C, the setting management section
53A prohibits an input of setting values in the 5 touch panel
display 51. After prohibiting the input of the setting
values in the touch panel display 51, the setting management
section 53A displays on the touch panel display 51, a
message (the input disable information) notifying that the
10 input of the setting values is disabled. The message may
include identification information of the other automatic
winder 1 being under a state in which the input of the setting
values is enabled. In other words, the message may include
the identification information of the automatic winder 1
15 in which the setting values are being input (edited) at this
point. Accordingly, the operator can easily know in which
automatic winder 1 the setting values are being input.
When the state in which the input of the setting values
is enabled ends, the setting management section 53A
20 controls the inter-machine communicating section 53C to
transmit input end information, which is information
notifying that the state in which the input of the setting
values is enabled has ended, to the other automatic winders
1. In other words, after logout of the management device
25 50 is performed, the setting management section 53A
controls the inter-machine communicating section 53C to
transmit the input end information to the other automatic
winders 1. When the input end information is received via
the inter-machine communicating section 53C, the setting
30 management section 53A cancels a state in which the input
of the setting values is prohibited.
22 / 48
In the automatic winder 1 of the present embodiment,
the setting management section 53A controls the
inter-machine communicating section 53C to periodically
transmit continuation information after the input start
information has been transmitted to the 5 other automatic
winders 1 until the state in which the input of the setting
values is enabled ends (under a state of logging into the
management device 50). The continuation information is
information notifying that the state in which the input of
10 the setting values is enabled is continuing. Description
in terms of this point will be made specifically with
reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the setting management
section 53A transmits a user name and a password to the
15 inter-machine communicating section 53C and makes a login
request to the inter-machine communicating section 53C.
The user name and the password are input via the touch panel
display 51. The inter-machine communicating section 53C
checks whether or not a combination of the user name and
20 the password is stored as the authentication information
in the storage section 57. After confirming that such a
combination is stored as the authentication information,
the inter-machine communicating section 53C brings the
management device 50 into a state in which operations are
25 permitted therein (a so-called login state). The
inter-machine communicating section 53C may limit contents
of the operation to be permitted in accordance with the
contents of authority related to the user name.
Simultaneously with this timing, the setting management
30 section 53A controls the inter-machine communicating
section 53C to transmit information (the input start
23 / 48
information) notifying that the setting values have started
to be edited to other automatic winders 1.
After login to the management device 50 has been
permitted until a logout request is made, the setting
management section 53A controls the inter-5 machine
communicating section 53C to transmit the information (the
continuation information) notifying that the setting
values are being edited to the other automatic winders 1
at a predetermined time interval (periodically). When the
10 logout request is input via the touch panel display 51, the
setting management section 53A transmits information
notifying that the logout request is input to the
inter-machine communicating section 53C and makes a logout
request to the inter-machine communicating section 53C.
15 After accepting the logout request, the inter-machine
communicating section 53C brings the management device 50
into a state in which operations are prohibited therein (a
so-called logout state). Simultaneously with this timing,
the setting management section 53A controls the
20 inter-machine communicating section 53C to transmit
information (the input end information) notifying that
editing of the setting values has ended to the other
automatic winders 1. After receiving the input end
information, the setting management sections 53A in the
25 other automatic winders 1 cancel the state in which the
input of the setting values is prohibited. In other words,
when logout is performed in one automatic winder 1, other
automatic winders 1 enter into the state in which the input
of the setting values is enabled.
30 Next, processing when login is attempted in other
automatic winder 1 under a state in which login has been
24 / 48
permitted in one automatic winder 1 will be described. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, the continuation information is
periodically transmitted to other automatic winders 1.
While the inter-machine communicating sections 53C
periodically receives the continuation information, 5 the
inter-machine communicating sections 53C do not accept a
login request even if such a request is made by the setting
management sections 53A. That is, login cannot be executed
in the other automatic winders 1. Accordingly, a state in
10 which the input of the setting values is disabled is
maintained in the other automatic winders 1.
When receipt of the continuation information
periodically transmitted via the inter-machine
communicating sections 53C is interrupted, the setting
15 management sections 53A may cancel the state in which the
input of the setting values is prohibited. That is, the
other automatic winders 1 may be brought into a state in
which a login request can be accepted. With such a
configuration, even if power is unintentionally turned off
20 in one automatic winder 1, the setting management sections
53A of other automatic winders 1 can cancel the state in
which the input of the setting values is prohibited by
making use of a phenomenon in which the continuation
information is not periodically transmitted.
25 Referring back to FIG. 1, the rest of the
configuration of the automatic winder 1 will be described.
The intra-machine communicating section 53B enables
communication 1, communication 2, and communication 3.
Communication 1 is communication between the setting
30 management section 53A and the unit controller 19 provided
to each winding unit 10. Communication 2 is communication
25 / 48
between the setting management section 53A and the doffing
controller 31 provided to the doffing device 30.
Communication 3 is communication between the setting
management section 53A and the supply controller 41
provided to the yarn supplying bobbin supplying device 5 ce 40.
Furthermore, the intra-machine communicating section 53B
integrates management information transmitted from each
fiber processing unit (the winding unit 10, the doffing
device 30, the yarn supplying bobbin supplying device 40),
10 determines a destination of setting values input to the
touch panel display 51, and the like.
The inter-machine communicating section 53C enables
communication between the machine controller 53 and the
machine controllers 53 provided in the other automatic
15 winders 1. Furthermore, as described above, the
inter-machine communicating section 53C has a function as
the authentication section. That is, the inter-machine
communicating section 53C authorizes the operator to
execute operations in the management device 50. Such
20 authorization in the inter-machine communicating section
53C may be intended for all the operations in the management
device 50, or a specified operation such as an operation
to input or change setting values. In the automatic winder
1 of the present embodiment, the operator is required to
25 login to operate the management device 50.
In the automatic winder 1 of the present embodiment,
description is made with an example in which the
inter-machine communicating section 53C has the function
as the authentication section, but the present invention
30 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the
authentication section may be configured as a host
26 / 48
controller adapted to manage operational status of a
plurality of the automatic winders 1 or configured as an
external server.
Next, steps in which when setting values are updated
in one automatic winder 1, setting values of a plural5 ity
of the automatic winders 1 are also automatically updated
will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
“Automatically” in the description means that the operator
is not required to perform a special operation such as
10 designation of a copy destination, or the like. One
automatic winder 1 (an transmission side automatic winder
1) to which setting values are input will be described
first.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the setting management
15 section 53A accepts setting values via the touch panel
display 51 (step S11). The setting management section 53A
then updates the setting value information T1 stored in the
storage section 57 based on the setting values input via
the touch panel display 51 (step S12). The setting
20 management section 53A then determines whether or not the
input setting values are setting values to be transmitted
within a machine (step S13). “Transmitting within a
machine” means transmitting the setting values to the
controller (the unit controller 19, the doffing controller
25 31, the supply controller 41) provided to each fiber
processing unit (the winding unit 10, the doffing device
30, the yarn supplying bobbin supplying device 40).
The automatic winder 1 and the automatic winder
system 90 of the present embodiment have a feature in which
30 determination whether or not input setting values are
setting values to be transmitted within a machine is
27 / 48
executed. The “setting values to be transmitted within
a/the machine” include the lot setting value information
T2 that corresponds to an allocation lot, the main body
setting value information, and the doffing vehicle setting
value information. “Setting values not to be transm5 itted
within a/the machine” include the lot setting value
information T2 that corresponds to a memory lot, and the
setting management section setting value information. The
allocation lot and the memory lot will be described below.
10 The lot setting value information T2 consists of
combinations of setting values for a plurality of items,
and a name is given to every combination (lot 1, lot 2,···,
lot N). The lot setting value information T2 includes the
lot setting value information T2 that corresponds to the
15 allocation lot, and the lot setting value information T2
that corresponds to the memory lot. The allocation lot
means a lot being used in the winding unit 10. That is,
the lot setting value information T2 that corresponds to
the allocation lot is stored in the storage section of the
20 unit controller 19 of each winding unit 10. In the winding
unit 10, operations are executed in accordance with the lot
setting value information T2 that corresponds to the
allocation lot. The memory lot is a lot not currently being
used in the winding unit 10 and stored in the storage section
25 57 of the management device 50. The lot setting value
information T2 that corresponds to the memory lot is
transmitted to the unit controller 19 by the setting
management section 53A at a timing of being used.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, when the lot
30 3 of the lot setting value information T2 is used in all
of the winding units 10, the lot 3 becomes the allocation
28 / 48
lot, and lots other than the lot 3 become the memory lot.
As illustrated in FIG. 8B, when the lot 1, the lot 2, and
the lot 3 are used in the winding units 10, the lots 1 to
3 become the allocation lot, and lots other than the lots
1 to 3 becomes the memory lot. Description will 5 ll be
hereinafter made on an assumption that setting values for
updating the lot setting value information T2 have been
input.
In a case of having determined that input information
10 is setting values that update an allocation lot (step S13:
YES), the setting management section 53A controls the
intra-machine communicating section 53B to transmit such
setting values to the unit controller 19 (step S14).
Accordingly, setting value information stored in the
15 storage section of the unit controller 19 is updated (step
S15). The setting management section 53A then controls the
inter-machine communicating section 53C to transmit the
input setting values to other automatic winders 1 (step
S16).
20 In a case of having determined that the input
information is setting values that update a memory lot (step
S13: NO), the setting management section 53A controls the
inter-machine communicating section 53C to transmit the
input setting values to the other automatic winders 1
25 without transmitting such setting values to the unit
controller 19 (step S16).
Next, other automatic winder 1 (a receiving side
automatic winder 1) that receives setting values
transmitted from one automatic winder 1 will be described.
30 As illustrated in FIG. 7, the setting management section
53A first receives setting values via the inter-machine
29 / 48
communicating section 53C (step S21). The setting
management section 53A then updates setting value
information stored in the storage section 57 based on the
received setting values (step S22). The setting
management section 53A then determines whether or not 5 the
received setting values are setting values to be
transmitted within the machine (step S23).
In a case of having determined that the received
information is setting values that update an allocation lot
10 (step S23: YES), the setting management section 53A
controls the intra-machine communicating section 53B to
transmit such setting values to the unit controller 19 (step
S24). Accordingly, setting value information stored in
the storage section of the unit controller 19 is updated
15 (step S25). Consequently, a series of update processing
ends.
In a case of having determined that the received
information is setting values that update a memory lot (step
S23: NO), the setting management section 53A ends the series
20 of processing without transmitting such setting values to
the unit controller 19.
Effects of the automatic winder 1 and the automatic
winder system 90 provided with the automatic winder 1 of
the above-described embodiment will be described.
25 In the automatic winder 1 and the automatic winder
system 90 with this configuration, the setting value
information T1 (see FIG. 3) is updated based on setting
values accepted via the touch panel display 51, and the
setting values are automatically transmitted to other
30 automatic winders 1. Furthermore, in the automatic winder
1 and the automatic winder system 90 with this configuration,
30 / 48
since the other automatic winders 1 that have received the
input start information prohibit an input of setting values
via the touch panel display 51, conflict in updating setting
values can be prevented from occurring among a plurality
of the automatic winders 1. Consequently, trouble 5 le in
operation of the operator when setting various setting
values (processing conditions) in a plurality of the
automatic winders 1 can be reduced, and some or all of the
automatic winders 1 can be prevented from being set to
10 setting values (processing conditions) not intended by the
operator.
In the automatic winder 1 and the automatic winder
system 90 with this configuration, when the inter-machine
communicating section 53C authenticates a specified user,
15 that is, when login to the management device 50 is permitted,
an input of setting values to other automatic winders 1 is
prohibited. Accordingly, the input of the setting values
to the other automatic winders 1 can be prohibited at an
early stage before setting values are input.
20 In the automatic winder 1 and the automatic winder
system 90 with this configuration, since input setting
values or received setting values are determined whether
or not to be transmitted within the machine, the setting
value information stored in the unit controller 19 can be
25 updated at an appropriate timing.
In the automatic winder system 90 as described above,
there may be a case in which a factory management system
adapted to manage a plurality of the machine controllers
53 is provided. However, in many cases, such a factory
30 management system is arranged at a place different from a
place of a factory where the automatic winder 1 is arranged.
31 / 48
In many cases, specifications that do not allow an input
in the above-described factory management system are
intentionally made to prevent the input of the setting
values (the update operation of the setting value
information) from being executed under a state in 5 which
status of the automatic winder 1 arranged in the factory
is not known. In the automatic winder 1 and the automatic
winder system 90 of the above-described embodiment, great
effects are obtained in particular in a case where such
10 specifications are demanded.
An embodiment of the present invention has been
described above, but the present invention is not limited
to the above-described embodiment, and various
modifications can be made without departing from the scope
15 of the invention.
In the above-described
embodiment, setting values transmitted from other
automatic winder 1 are immediately stored in the storage
section 57. Alternative embodiment 1 differs from the
20 above-described embodiment in a feature in which the
setting values are not stored without a confirmation
operation by an operator. This different feature will be
hereinafter described specifically with reference to FIGS.
9 and 10.
25 First, one automatic winder 1 (a transmission side
automatic winder 1) to which setting value information is
input will be described. Since processes of steps S31 to
S34 illustrated in FIG. 9 are the same as processes of steps
S11 to S14 of the above-described embodiment, description
30 will be omitted.
When transmitting input setting values to other
32 / 48
automatic winders 1, the setting management section 53A
accepts from the touch panel display 51 whether or not to
send the setting values as confirmation information, and
changes the information to be transmitted based on whether
or not to send as the confirmation information (step S35)5 .
The confirmation information is information indicating
that confirmation as to whether or not to reflect the
setting values in a transmission destination automatic
winder 1 is required. For example, when reflecting the
10 setting values while viewing status of the automatic winder
1 is desirable, the operator may perform an input to
transmit as the confirmation information.
In a case of having determined to transmit as the
confirmation information (step S35: YES), the setting
15 management section 53A attaches control information to the
setting values and transmits to the setting management
sections 53A provided to the other automatic winders 1 (step
S36) instead of merely transmitting the setting values to
the other automatic winders 1. The attached control
20 information is information for displaying an interface,
which causes the operator to choose whether or not to
reflect the setting values in a setting of the winding unit
10, on the touch panel display 51.
On the other hand, in a case of having determined not
25 to transmit as the confirmation information (step S35: NO),
the setting management section 53A transmits only the
setting values to the other automatic winders 1. Since a
process of step S37 illustrated in FIG. 9 is the same as
a process of step S16 of the above-described embodiment,
30 description will be omitted. A method of distinguishing
between the confirmation information and non-confirmation
33 / 48
information is not limited to whether or not the control
information has been attached, and a receiving destination
setting management section 53A is merely required to be
capable of distinguishing whether the setting values have
been transmitted as the confirmation information 5 or the
non-confirmation information.
Next, processing of other automatic winder 1 (a
receiving side automatic winder 1) that receives setting
values transmitted from one automatic winder 1 will be
10 described with reference to FIG. 10. Since processes of
steps S41 to S43 illustrated in FIG. 10 are the same as
processes of steps S21 to S23 of the above-described
embodiment, description will be omitted.
In a case where the received setting values have been
15 determined to be setting values not to be transmitted within
the machine (step S43: NO), a series of processing ends.
In a case where the received setting values have been
determined to be setting values to be transmitted within
the machine (step S43: YES), the setting management section
20 53A determines whether or not the control information has
been attached to the setting values (step S44).
At this point, in a case where the control information
has been attached (step S44: YES), the setting management
section 53A displays on the touch panel display 51, the
25 interface inquiring whether or not to reflect the setting
values (step S45). At this time, a message notifying that
based on the setting values received from which automatic
winder 1, confirmation of change is being made may be
displayed. At this point, in a case where the operator
30 inputs via the interface, information to reflect, the
setting management section 53A controls the intra-machine
34 / 48
communicating section 53B to transmit the setting values
to the unit controller 19. Accordingly, setting value
information stored in the storage section of the unit
controller 19 is updated. In a case where the operator
inputs via the interface, information to hold 5 old reflection,
a series of processing ends under a state in which a message
notifying that reflecting is being held is displayed on the
touch panel display 51.
On the other hand, in a case where the control
10 information has not been attached (step S44: NO), the
setting management section 53A controls the intra-machine
communicating section 53B to transmit the setting values
to the unit controller 19. Accordingly, the setting value
information stored in the storage section of the unit
15 controller 19 is updated (step S46), and a series of update
processing ends.
With the automatic winder 1 and the automatic winder
system 90 according to alternative embodiment 1, there can
be provided an opportunity in which whether or not to
20 reflect setting values input in one automatic winder 1 in
a setting of the fiber processing unit can be confirmed and
determined.
In alternative embodiment 1, description has been
made with an example in which the operator is caused to
25 choose whether or not to reflect the transmitted setting
values in a setting of the winding unit 10, but the present
invention is not limited thereto. For example, a
configuration in which the operator is caused to choose
whether or not to reflect the transmitted setting values
30 in the storage section may be made.
In alternative embodiment 1, description has been
35 / 48
made with an example in which when transmitting input
setting values to other automatic winders 1, whether or not
to transmit the setting values as the confirmation
information is accepted via the touch panel display 51, and
the information to be transmitted is changed based 5 on
whether or not to be transmitted as the confirmation
information (step S35), but the present invention is not
limited thereto. For example, all the setting values to
be transmitted may be transmitted as the confirmation
10 information.
In alternative embodiment 1, when displaying a
reflection hold message in step S44, the setting management
section 53A controls the intra-machine communicating
section 53B to refrain from transmitting the setting values
15 to the unit controller 19, but transmission to the unit
controller 19 may be permitted, and control may be made by
the unit controller 19 to hold reflection of the setting
values.

20 In the above-described embodiment, description has been
made, as illustrated in FIG. 7, with an example in which
after receiving setting values via the inter-machine
communicating section 53C (step S21), the setting
management section 53A updates the setting value
25 information stored in the storage section 57 based on the
received setting values (step S22), but a modification may
be made as follows. That is, in a case where setting values
have been transmitted from other automatic winder 1, the
setting management section 53A may always display on the
30 touch panel display 51, the interface inquiring whether or
not to reflect the setting values, and the setting
36 / 48
management section 53A may store the setting values in the
storage section 57 only when an input to reflect is made
on the touch panel display 51.
Furthermore, in alternative embodiment 1,
description has been made with an example in which only 5 nly in
the case where the control information has been attached
(step S44: YES), the setting management section 53A
displays on the touch panel display 51, the interface
inquiring whether or not to reflect the setting values (step
10 S45), but a modification may be made as follows. That is,
in a case of having received setting values via the
inter-machine communicating section 53C, the setting
management section 53A may display on the touch panel
display 51, the interface inquiring whether or not to
15 reflect the setting values regardless of whether or not the
control information has been attached, and the setting
management section 53A may store the setting values in the
storage section 57 only when an input to reflect is made
on the touch panel display 51.
20 With the automatic winder 1 and the automatic winder
system 90 having the configuration according to alternative
embodiment 2, in the case of having received the setting
values from other automatic winder 1, storing of the setting
values in the storage section 57 is reliably held until the
25 input to reflect the setting values is made on the touch
panel display 51. Accordingly, the setting values are
changed upon confirmation of status of the automatic winder
1 by the operator.

30 Alternative embodiment 3 differs from the above-described
embodiment in a feature in which when transmitting setting
37 / 48
values to other textile machine, information relating to
a time when the setting time was input is attached.
The setting management section (the machine control
section) 53A controls the inter-machine communicating
section 53C to transmit input setting 5 values and
information relating to the time when the setting values
were input to other automatic winders (the textile
machines) 1. The setting management section 53A confirms
last synchronization time stored in the storage sections
10 57 of the other automatic winders (No. 1, 2, 4~6) when power
is activated (including a time of power restoration). If
there is other automatic winder 1 that stores last
synchronization time newer than the last synchronization
time stored in the storage section 57 of the automatic
15 winder (No. 3), the setting management section 53A obtains
setting values of such an automatic winder 1 and updates
setting values stored in the storage section 57. This
different feature will be hereinafter described mainly with
reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.
20 As illustrated in FIG. 11A, when setting values are
input in one automatic winder 1 (No. 1), the automatic
winder 1 transmits to other automatic winders (No. 2~6),
the time when the setting values were input together with
the setting values. After receiving the setting values and
25 the time, the other automatic winders (No. 2~6) update
setting values stored in the storage sections 57 based on
the setting values and store the time in the storage
sections 57 as the last synchronization time. Accordingly,
synchronization of the setting values is achieved in the
30 plurality of the automatic winders (No. 1~6).
However, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, when one
38 / 48
automatic winder 1 (No. 1) transmits the setting values and
the time to the other automatic winders (No. 2~6), if there
is an automatic winder 1 (No. 3 in this case) in which power
is not activated, synchronization of the setting values
cannot be achieved in the plurality of the automatic 5 winders
1 (No. 1~6).
The automatic winder 1 according to alternative
embodiment 3 confirms the last synchronization time stored
in the other automatic winders 1 when power is activated
10 (at the time of time restoration). As illustrated in FIG.
12A, for example, the automatic winder 1 (No. 3) confirms
the last synchronization time stored in the other automatic
winders (No. 1, 2, 4~6) when power is activated (at the time
of power restoration). Then, if there are the automatic
15 winders 1 that store the last synchronization time newer
than the last synchronization time stored in the storage
section 57 of the automatic winder (No. 3), the automatic
winder 1 (No. 3) obtains setting values from such automatic
winders 1 and updates setting values stored in the storage
20 section 57. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 12B,
synchronization of the setting values is achieved.
In one automatic winder 1, there may be a case in which
setting values in the storage section 57 are not updated
(are held) despite the fact that the automatic winder 1 has
25 received setting values. Even in this case, the time
transmitted with the setting values is stored as the last
synchronization time. If the automatic winder 1 being
under a state in which the received setting values are being
held without being reflected can be distinguished from
30 other automatic winders 1, a configuration in which
obtaining setting values of the automatic winder 1 under
39 / 48
such a state is avoided may be made.

In the above-described embodiment and alternative
embodiments, description has been made with an example of
the automatic winder 1 as a textile machine, but the pr5 esent
invention is not limited thereto. The present invention
may be applied to a textile machine, for example, such as
a rover, a fine spinning machine, a weaving machine, a
knitting machine, a spun-yarn winding machine, a drawing
10 and false-twisting machine, a pneumatic spinning machine,
or the like.
In the above-described embodiment and alternative
embodiments, description has been made with an example in
which one unit controller 19 is arranged for one winding
15 unit 10, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
For example, one unit controller 19 may be arranged for a
plurality of the winding units 10.
In the above-described embodiment and alternative
embodiments, a predetermined rule in which when a plurality
20 of the automatic winders 1 simultaneously login, only a
login of an automatic winder 1 having a smallest
identification number, for example, is validated may be
defined. Accordingly, a state in which an input of setting
values is simultaneously enabled in a plurality of the
25 automatic winders 1 that constitute the automatic winder
system 90 can be avoided.
In the above-described embodiment and alternative
embodiments, description has been made with an example in
which setting values stored in the storage section of the
30 unit controller 19 are updated when setting values are
transmitted from the setting management section 53A to each
40 / 48
unit controller 19, but the present invention is not limited
thereto. For example, the unit controller 19 may hold
update of the setting values stored in the storage section
of the unit controller 19. That is, the unit controller
5 19 may adjust a timing to update the setting value.
In the above-described embodiment and alternative
embodiments, a timing to transmit setting values from the
management device 50 to the unit controller 19 is not
mentioned, but for example, the setting values may be
10 transmitted at a timing in which the fiber processing unit
(the winding unit 10, the doffing device 30, the yarn
supplying bobbin supplying device 40) is not being operated.
In this case, for example, there may be provided a
monitoring section adapted to always or periodically
15 monitor an operational state of the fiber processing unit
(the winding unit 10, the doffing device 30, the yarn
supplying bobbin supplying device 40). The setting
management section 53A may control the intra-machine
communicating section 53B to transmit the setting values
20 at a timing in which the fiber processing unit is not being
operated, based on information relating to the operational
state transmitted from the monitoring section.
Accordingly, the setting values can be controlled at an
appropriate timing in accordance with the operational state
25 of the fiber processing unit. Alternatively, the setting
management section 53A may cause the monitoring section to
obtain the operational state of the fiber processing unit
at a timing to transmit the setting values.
In the above-described embodiment and alternative
30 embodiments, description has been made with transmission
of setting values from the management device 50 to the unit
41 / 48
controller 19 as a main example, but the same applies to
transmission of the setting values from the management
device 50 to the doffing controller 31, and from the
management device 50 to the supply controller 41.

We Claim:
1. A textile machine comprising:
at least one fiber processing unit; and
a management device adapted to control an operation
of a device including the fiber processing unit, 5 wherein
the management device includes:
an input section adapted to accept an input of various
types of information;
a storage section adapted to store setting values as
10 various processing conditions, the setting values being
accepted via the input section;
an inter-machine communicating section adapted to
enable communication with other textile machine; and
a machine control section adapted to control the
15 inter-machine communicating section to transmit the
setting values to the other textile machine and to control
the inter-machine communicating section to transmit input
start information to the other textile machine when an input
of the setting values is enabled, the input start
20 information being information notifying that the input of
the setting values is enabled.
2. The textile machine according to claim 1, wherein
the machine control section is adapted to determine that
25 the input of the setting values is enabled when an
authentication section authenticates a specified user, the
authentication section being adapted to authenticate the
specified user based on authentication information input
to the input section.
30
3. The textile machine according to claim 1 or claim
43 / 48
2, wherein the machine control section is adapted to
prohibit the input of the setting values when the input
start information is received.
4. The textile machine according to claim 5 3, further
comprising a first notifying section adapted to notify an
operator of information, wherein
the machine control section is adapted to control the
first notifying section to notify input disable information
10 when the input of the setting values is prohibited, the
input disable information being information notifying that
the input of the setting values is prohibited.
5. The textile machine according to claim 4, wherein
15 the input disable information includes identification
information of the textile machine being under a state in
which the input of the setting values is enabled.
6. The textile machine according to any one of claim
20 1 through claim 5, wherein the machine control section is
adapted to store the setting values in the storage section
when the setting values are received via the inter-machine
communicating section.
25 7. The textile machine according to any one of claim
1 through claim 6, wherein the machine control section is
adapted to control the inter-machine communicating section
to transmit input end information to the other textile
machine when the state in which the input of the setting
30 values is enabled ends, the input end information being
information notifying that the state in which the input of
44 / 48
the setting values is enabled has ended.
8. The textile machine according to claim 7, wherein
the machine control section is adapted to cancel a state
in which the input of the setting values is prohibited 5 when
the input end information is received.
9. The textile machine according to any one of claim
1 through claim 8, wherein the machine control section is
10 adapted to control the inter-machine communicating section
to periodically transmit continuation information after
the input start information has been transmitted to the
other textile machine until the state in which the input
of the setting values is enabled ends, the continuation
15 information being information notifying that the state in
which the input of the setting values is enabled continuing.
10. The textile machine according to claim 9,
wherein the machine control section is adapted to cancel
20 the state in which the input of the setting values is
prohibited when receipt of the periodically transmitted
continuation information is interrupted.
11. The textile machine according to any one of claim
25 1 through claim 10, wherein the machine control section is
adapted to determine whether or not to transmit to the fiber
processing unit, the input setting values or the setting
values received via the inter-machine communicating
section.
30
12. The textile machine according to any one of claim
45 / 48
1 through claim 11, wherein the machine control section is
adapted to accept from the input section, whether or not
to transmit the setting values as confirmation information
when transmitting the setting values to the other textile
machine, and to change information to be 5 transmitted based
on whether or not to transmit as the confirmation
information, the confirmation information being
information indicating that confirmation as to whether or
not to reflect the setting values in the other textile
10 machine is required.
13. The textile machine according to claim 12,
wherein the machine control section is adapted to change
processing of the setting values based on whether or not
15 the setting values received via the inter-machine
communicating section have been transmitted as the
confirmation information.
14. The textile machine according to claim 12 or
20 claim 13, wherein the machine control section is adapted
to hold storing of the setting values in the storage section
until an input whether or not to reflect is made in the input
section when the setting values received via the
inter-machine communicating section are transmitted as the
25 confirmation information, and to store the setting values
in the storage section when the setting values are not
transmitted as the confirmation information.
15. The textile machine according to any one of claim
30 1 through claim 12, wherein the machine control section is
adapted to hold storing of the setting values in the storage
46 / 48
section until an input whether or not to reflect the setting
values is made in the input section when the setting values
are received via the inter-machine communicating section,
and to store the setting values in the storage section when
an input to 5 reflect is made in the input section.
16. The textile machine according to claim 14 or
claim 15, further comprising a second notifying section
adapted to notify an operator of information, wherein
10 the machine control section is adapted to control the
second notifying section to notify hold information when
an input not to reflect is made in the input section, the
hold information notifying that the setting values are not
to be reflected.
15
17. A textile machine system comprising a plurality
of the textile machines according to any one of claim 1
through claim 16, wherein the textile machines are arranged
to be communicable with one another.
20
18. An updating method of setting values in a textile
machine comprising at least one fiber processing unit, and
a management device including an input section adapted to
accept an input of various types of information, a storage
25 section adapted to store the setting values as various
processing conditions, and an inter-machine communicating
section adapted to enable communication with other textile
machine, the setting values being accepted via the input
section, the updating method comprising:
30 a controlling step by the management device of
controlling the inter-machine communicating section to
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transmit input start information to the other textile
machine when an input of the setting values is enabled, the
input start information notifying that the input of the
setting values is enabled; and
a controlling step by the management device 5 of
controlling the inter-machine communicating section to
transmit the setting values to the other textile machine.
19. The updating method according to claim 18,
10 wherein the management device determines that the input of
the setting values is enabled when an authentication
section authenticates a specified user, the authentication
section being adapted to authenticate the specified user
based on authentication information input to the input
15 section.
20. The updating method according to claim 18 or
claim 19, further comprising a prohibiting step by the
management device of prohibiting the input of the setting
20 values when the input start information is received via the
inter-machine communicating section.