EP3170778A1

EP3170778A1 - Textile-machine management system

Info

Publication number: EP3170778A1
Application number: EP16197561.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shigeru Hayashi; Yoshinori Uchida; Satoshi Enami; Hikaru Kishi; Tomoyuki Ikkai; Masato Nakai
Original assignee: Murata Machinery Ltd
Current assignee: Murata Machinery Ltd
Priority date: 2015-11-10
Filing date: 2016-11-07
Publication date: 2017-05-24
Also published as: CN106672704A; CN106672704B; JP2017092707A

Abstract

A textile-machine management system (1) comprising: a plurality of textile machines (6) each of which includes a plurality of fiber processing units (61), one control device (63) configured to control the fiber processing units (61), and one or more shared devices (70) provided on all or some of the fiber processing units (61) in a shared manner; and a management apparatus (3) configured to manage the textile machines (6). The management apparatus (3) includes a communication unit (31A) configured to mutually communicate with a terminal device (8) including a display unit (81) configured to display information and a function providing unit (32A) configured to provide the terminal device (8) with a plurality of functions for managing one or more of the fiber processing units (61) and/or one or more of the shared devices (70). The management apparatus (3) or the terminal device (8) includes a display controller (85A) configured to cause the display unit (81) to display a screen that corresponds to each function provided from the function providing unit (32A).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a textile-machine management system.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, management apparatuses each configured to collect information from textile machines and analyze the information have been provided. Such management apparatuses facilitate comprehension of the condition of a plurality of textile machines, and help with early detection of abnormality, for example. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. H6-127828 , No. 2002-137867 , and No. H8-269825 disclose management apparatuses of this type.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H6-127828 discloses a system configured to diagnose a failure of a textile machine having a plurality of units. The machine includes a control device, and the control device is connected to a higher-level management apparatus via a transmission line. Information on the operating status of each winding unit of the machine is input from the control device to the management apparatus. A diagnostic device is connected to the management apparatus, and the diagnostic device receives this operating status information from the management apparatus. If an abnormality is found, the diagnostic device diagnoses the abnormality and displays the diagnosis on a screen. The system described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H6-127828 can easily diagnose the cause of a failure with the above-described configuration.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-137867 discloses a management system in a spinning winding machine having an induction motor that drives a bobbin holder, in which the management system collects slippage information on slippage of the induction motor in the winding machine that is provided in plurality, and performs statistical processing. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-137867 also discloses a configuration in which a setting computer installed in each factory is connected to the Internet. The setting computer in each factory is configured to transmit the slippage information of the induction motor to a server computer similarly connected to the Internet. The server computer is configured to perform statistical processing on the slippage information so as to be able to return the result to the setting computer. Thus, the management system described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-137867 makes it possible to perform maintenance and management of each winding machine on a large scale.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H8-269825 discloses spinning machines each of which has 200 spinning units and includes a spinning-machine calculator, and a method for monitoring a spinning machine part in which each spinning machine calculator transfers a signal of a sensor in each spinning machine to a process control calculator via a signal transmission network. Accordingly, the process control calculator makes it possible to monitor the condition of a spinning room. Thus, the spinning machine or the method for monitoring a spinning machine part in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H8-269025 makes it possible to clarify a source of a problem to prevent the risk of the problem from increasing.

SUMMARY

In order to more effectively assist management of textile machines, it is preferable to link with a terminal device easily carried by an operator and mutually communicate information at a work site where the textile machines are installed.
In view of this, the present disclosure aims to provide a textile-machine management system, that can more effectively assist management of a textile machine.
A textile-machine management system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of textile machines each of which includes a plurality of fiber processing units, one control device configured to control the fiber processing units, and one or more shared devices provided on all or some of the fiber processing units in a shared manner; and a management apparatus configured to manage the textile machines. The management apparatus includes a communication unit configured to mutually communicate with a terminal device including a display unit configured to display information, and a function providing unit configured to provide the terminal device with a plurality of functions for managing one or more of the fiber processing units and/or one or more of the shared devices. The management apparatus or the terminal device includes a display controller configured to cause the display unit to display a screen that corresponds to each function provided from the function providing unit.
In the textile-machine management systems described above, the functions for managing one more of the fiber processing units and/or one or more of the shared devices are provided to the terminal device that an operator can easily carry at a work site where the textile machines are installed. The terminal device is operated via the screen displayed on the display unit, whereby information is communicated between the terminal device and the management apparatus. Consequently, management of the textile machines can be more effectively assisted.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, the textile-machine management system may further include a terminal device (8) capable of mutually communicating with the management apparatus, the terminal device including a display unit (81) configured to display information.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, the display controller may be capable of causing the display unit to display a function selection screen that allows respective screens corresponding to the functions to be brought up on the display unit.
In the textile-machine management system thus configured, with the terminal device, the functions for managing at one or more of the fiber processing units and/or one or more of the shared devices can be easily used.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, each textile machine may include a first condition acquiring unit configured to acquire information on a condition of one or more of the fiber processing units and/or one or more of the shared devices . The function providing unit may have a function of analyzing the condition of the one or more of the fiber processing units and/or the one or more of the shared devices, based on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit.
With the textile-machine management system thus configured, information on the condition of at one or more of the fiber processing units and/or one or more of the shared devices can be automatically and efficiently acquired.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, the terminal device may be connectable to a second condition acquiring unit configured to acquire information on a condition that is different in type from the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit. The function providing unit may analyze the condition of the one or more of the fiber processing units and/or the one or more of the shared devices, based on the information on the condition acquired by each of the first condition acquiring unit and the second condition acquiring unit. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the terminal device may incorporate a third condition acquiring unit configured to acquire information on a condition that is different in type from the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit. The function providing unit may analyze the condition of the one or more of the fiber processing units and/or the one or more of the shared devices, based on the information on the condition acquired by each of the first condition acquiring unit and the third condition acquiring unit. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the terminal device may be connectable to a second condition acquiring unit configured to acquire information on a condition that is different in type from the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit, and may incorporate a third condition acquiring unit configured to acquire information on a condition that is different in type from both of the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit and the information on the condition acquired by the second condition acquiring unit. The function providing unit may analyze the condition of the one or more of the fiber processing units and/or the one or more of the shared devices, based on the information on the condition acquired by each of the first condition acquiring unit, the second condition acquiring unit, and the third condition acquiring unit.
With the textile-machine management system thus configured, failures that cannot be analyzed only based on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit can be identified.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, the function providing unit, when determining that analysis is unable to be conducted based only on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit, may cause the display unit of the terminal device to display a screen that prompts connection of the second condition acquiring unit to acquire the information on a different type of condition. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the function providing unit, when determining that analysis is unable to be conducted based only on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit, may cause the display unit of the terminal device to display a screen that prompts acquisition of the information on a different type of condition from the third condition acquiring unit. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the function providing unit, when determining that analysis is unable to be conducted based only on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit, may cause the display unit of the terminal device to display a screen that prompts acquisition of the information on a different type of condition from at least one of the second condition acquiring unit and the third condition acquiring unit.
With the textile-machine management system thus configured, because an operator is instructed by the screen displayed on the terminal device, even if a failure has occurred that cannot be analyzed only based on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit, this failure can be easily identified.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, the function providing unit may transmit information on a failure of one or more of the fiber processing units and/or one or more of the shared devices in which it is analyzed that a failure has occurred to the terminal device via the communication unit. The terminal device may include an action- information receiving unit configured to receive information on whether or not there is an action for the failure corresponding to the information on the failure. The function providing unit may update the information on the failure, based on the information on whether or not there is an action received by the action-information receiving unit.
With the textile-machine management system thus configured, the information on the failure can be transmitted to the terminal device that the operator can easily carry at the work site where the textile machines are installed. In the textile-machine management system thus configured, the information on the whether or not there is an action for the failure can be input with the terminal device. Thus, the information on the whether or not there is an action for the failure that is difficult to collect can be easily compiled, and the function providing unit can update the information on the failure on the basis of the information on the whether or not there is an action for the failure. Consequently, management of the textile machines can be more effectively supported.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, the function providing unit may have a function of managing a periodic maintenance schedule of one or more of the fiber processing units and/or one or more of the shared devices and being capable of communicating information on the maintenance schedule with the terminal device via the communication unit. The terminal device may include a maintenance status information receiving unit configured to receive information on whether or not maintenance has been conducted based on the information on the maintenance schedule transmitted from the function providing unit. The function providing unit may update the maintenance schedule, based on the information on whether or not maintenance has been conducted received by the maintenance status information receiving unit.
With the textile-machine management system thus configured, the information on the schedule can be transmitted to the terminal device that the operator can easily carry at the work site where the textile machines are installed. In the textile-machine management system thus configured, the information on whether or not maintenance has been conducted can be input with the terminal device. Consequently, management of the textile machines can be more effectively supported.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, management of the textile machines can be more effectively supported.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a textile-machine management system according to one embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the textile-machine management system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 illustrates one example of a function selection screen;
FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a schedule screen;
FIG. 5 illustrates one example of the schedule screen;
FIG. 6 illustrates one example of the schedule screen;
FIG. 7 illustrates one example of the schedule screen;
FIG. 8 illustrates one example of a maintenance information screen;
FIG. 9 illustrates one example of the maintenance information screen;
FIG. 10 illustrates one example of the maintenance information screen; and
FIG. 11 illustrates one example of the maintenance information screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, like elements are designated by like numerals, and duplicated description is omitted.
The following describes a textile-machine management system 1 according to one embodiment. The textile-machine management system 1 is a system configured to manage a plurality of textile machines 6 in an integrated manner. As depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the textile-machine management system 1 includes the textile machines 6, a management apparatus 3, and a terminal device 8.
The textile machines 6 that are to be managed by the textile-machine management system 1 of the present embodiment will now be described. Examples of each textile machine 6 include an automatic winder. The automatic winder is a machine configured to unwind a yarn from a yarn feed bobbin around which a yarn spun by a spinning machine and wind the yarn around a winding bobbin to form a package in which the yarn of a predetermined length is wound. Each textile machine 6 includes a machine control device (control device) 63, a plurality of fiber processing units 61 disposed in parallel, a first condition acquiring unit 62, and a shared device 70. Examples of the textile machine 6 also include a pneumatic spinning machine, a roving frame, a spinning frame, a loom, a knitting machine, a spinning winding machine, and a draw-texturing machine.
When the textile machine 6 is an automatic winder, for example, each fiber processing unit 61 is a device for producing a package by winding a yarn unwound from a yarn feed bobbin around the winding bobbin while traversing the yarn.
The shared device 70 is a device provided to the fiber processing units 61 in a shared manner. Examples of the shared device 70 include a doffing carriage and a yarn joining carriage. The doffing carriage is a device that, when a package has been fully wound in one of the fiber processing units 61, travels to the corresponding fiber processing unit 61 and doffs a package to feed a new bobbin. The yarn joining carriage is a device that, when a yarn is cut or a yarn breaks for some reason in one of the fiber processing units 61, travels to the corresponding fiber processing unit 61 and joins the yarn. Examples of the shared device 70 also include a transport conveyor configured to convey a doffed package and a bobbin processing device configured to perform predetermined processing on a yarn feed bobbin before being fed to each fiber processing unit 61 or an empty bobbin discharged from each fiber processing unit 61.
The first condition acquiring unit 62 is provided to at least one of the fiber processing units 61, the shared device 70, and a machine frame. The first condition acquiring unit 62 acquires at least one of information on the condition of the fiber processing units 61, information on the condition of the shared device 70 such as a doffing carriage or a yarn joining carriage provided to the fiber processing units 61 in a shared manner, and information on conditions (e.g., temperature and humidity at installed locations) that are common in the textile machine 6. Examples of the first condition acquiring unit 62 include a yarn monitoring device provided to each fiber processing unit 61 and having a head (not depicted) in which a sensor (not depicted) for detecting yarn thickness is disposed and an analyzer (not depicted) configured to process a yarn thickness signal output from this sensor. The yarn monitoring device detects a yarn defect such as a slub by monitoring the yarn thickness signal from the sensor. Examples of the first condition acquiring unit 62 further include a vibration sensor for detecting vibration that occurs in a section such as a winding section, a noise sensor for detecting noise that occurs in a yarn joining section, and a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor for detecting temperature and humidity in a factory.
Each fiber processing unit 61 includes a unit controller 61A. The unit controller 61A includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and an input/output port, which are not depicted. The ROM stores therein a program for controlling the respective components of the fiber processing unit 61. The CPU can perform processing for controlling the respective components of the fiber processing unit 61 by reading a program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executing the program. The input/output port included in each unit controller 61A is connected to the machine control device 63, and is capable of transmitting and receiving information therethrough. Thus, the fiber processing units 61 included in the textile machine 6 can be managed by the machine control device 63 in an integrated manner.
The machine control device 63 is disposed inside an end frame 6A disposed at one end of the fiber processing units 61 that are arranged in one direction. The machine control device 63 is configured as a microcomputer, and includes a touch panel display 66 having a display function and an input function and a local area network (LAN) interface 64A. The LAN interface 64A of each machine control device 63 is connected to a LAN 2 that is a network constructed in the factory. The textile machine 6 also includes an antenna 64B configured to enable communication with the terminal device 8 described later. The machine control device 63 may include a display having no input function and an input key 65 having an input function, instead of the touch panel display 66.
The machine control device 63 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an input/output port. The ROM stores therein a control program for controlling the fiber processing units 61. The CPU can control at least one of each component of the fiber processing units 61 and the shared device 70 by reading the control program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executing the control program.
The input/output port of the machine control device 63 is connected to the input/output port of the unit controller 61A included in each fiber processing unit 61 via an appropriate communication line. By this configuration, the machine control device 63 is capable of receiving information on the current condition of each of the fiber processing units 61 from the unit controller 61A of the corresponding fiber processing unit 61. The "information on the condition" of the automatic winder contains various types of yarn-winding status information such as a current package diameter, a current winding speed, yarn-breakage occurrence status, and detection status of a yarn defect. In the case of a spinning machine, the "information on the condition" contains operation data such as production efficiency and quality data of a spun yarn such as the number of defects.
The following describes the management apparatus 3. The management apparatus 3 centrally manages the textile machines 6. The management apparatus 3 is mainly operated by a manager who manages maintenance operations and production efficiency. The management apparatus 3 is connected to the machine control devices 63 included by the respective textile machines 6 via the LAN 2 constructed in the factory. This enables various types of information to be exchanged between each machine control device 63 and the management apparatus 3. In the present embodiment, the management apparatus 3 is installed in the factory where the textile machines 6 are disposed.
The management apparatus 3 is operated with general-purpose personal computers 5 connected to the management apparatus 3. Each personal computer 5 is a desktop personal computer and includes a display 51, a keyboard 52, a mouse 53, and a LAN interface 54. The LAN interface 54 is connected to a LAN interface 31B described later via the LAN 2. Not only the personal computers 5, but also a notebook personal computer, a tablet, a smart phone, and the like may be connected to the management apparatus 3.
The management apparatus 3 is configured as a control unit, and includes: a management controller 32 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an auxiliary storage (e.g., solid state drive (SSD) based on the mSATA standard); a LAN interface (communication unit) 31A; and the LAN interface 31B, which are housed in a casing. The ROM stores therein a management program for centrally managing the machine control devices 63 of the textile machines 6. The CPU can control the fiber processing units 61 and the terminal device 8 described later in detail by reading a control program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executing the control program. The LAN interface 31A is connected to the machine control devices 63 via the LAN 2, and the LAN interface 31B is connected to the personal computers 5 via the LAN 2. In the present embodiment, the network (LAN 2) to which the LAN interface 31A is connected and the network (LAN 2) to which the LAN interface 31B is connected are different from each other. The personal computers 5 or the like that operates the management apparatus 3 may be connected to the same network as the LAN 2 connecting between the management apparatus 3 and the machine control devices 63.
The management controller 32 can cause the function providing unit 32A to function by cooperative operation of the hardware and the software described above. The function providing unit 32A provides a plurality of functions for managing one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 to the terminal device 8 described later in detail. The management controller 32 is a circuit configured to provide a plurality of functions for managing one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 to the terminal device 8.
The function providing unit 32A has a function (hereinafter simply called "scheduling function") of managing a periodic maintenance schedule for one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 and transmitting information on the maintenance schedule to the terminal device 8. Specifically, the function providing unit 32A sets (plans) a maintenance day for one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70, and checks whether planned maintenance has been actually conducted on the maintenance day. With the terminal device 8 to which the information on the maintenance schedule is transmitted from the function providing unit 32A, detailed information on the maintenance schedule can be browsed, and information on whether or not maintenance has been conducted can be input. The function providing unit 32A updates the maintenance schedule on the basis of the information on whether or not maintenance has been conducted input from the terminal device 8.
The function providing unit 32A also has a function (hereinafter simply called "analytical function") of analyzing on the condition of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 on the basis of information on condition acquired by at least one of the first condition acquiring unit 62 and a second condition acquiring unit 91 described later in detail and, for example, identifying a failure in the one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or each shared devices 70.
The function providing unit 32A performs predetermined analyzing operation (calculation) based on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62, and provides the identification result to the terminal device 8. When the textile machines 6 are automatic winders, the function providing unit 32A analyzes the winding efficiency of the fiber processing units 61 and the frequency of defects caused by a clearer, for example, in an advanced manner using a standard deviation, and can provide the identification result to the terminal device 8. When the textile machines 6 are spinning machines, the function providing unit 32A analyzes, for example, operation data, quality data, and the frequencies of various types of alarm activation of each unit, and can provide the identification result to the terminal device 8.
When determining that an event has occurred that cannot be identified only based on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62, the function providing unit 32A causes a display unit 81 of the terminal device 8 to display a screen that prompts connection of the second condition acquiring unit 91 to the terminal device 8 to acquire information on a different type of condition. At this time, the function providing unit 32A can cause the display unit 81 to display what device needs to be attached, and where this device needs to be attached, for example. The function providing unit 32A then performs predetermined analyzing operation (calculation, etc.) based on the condition acquired by at least one of the first condition acquiring unit 62 and the second condition acquiring unit 91, and provides the identification result to the terminal device 8.
The function providing unit 32A also has a function (hereinafter simply called "maintenance function") of transmitting, as maintenance information, information on a failure of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 in which a failure is determined to have occurred by the analytical function to the terminal device 8. The maintenance information herein means information for managing details of the failure in one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 identified by the above-described analysis and the whether or not there is an action for the failure. With the terminal device 8 to which the maintenance information is transmitted from the function providing unit 32A, detailed information on the failure can be browsed, and information on the whether or not there is an action for the failure can be input. The function providing unit 32A updates the maintenance information (information on the failure) on the basis of the information on the whether or not there is an action input from the terminal device 8.
More specifically, the terminal device 8 includes an action- information receiving unit 85B configured to provide a function of receiving input to the maintenance information transmitted from the function providing unit 32A about information indicating that, for example, an action such as repair has been made, or a failure has been found in a specific one of the fiber processing units 61 but no countermeasures have been taken (the failure has been disregarded). When the action-information receiving unit 85B has received the above-described information, the function providing unit 32A identifies a location where a failure has newly occurred (hereinafter called "initial-occurrence location"), a location where a failure has recurred after an action was implemented (hereinafter called "recurrence location"), and a location where no measures have been taken. Furthermore, the function providing unit 32A determines whether the location where no measures have been taken is a location where no measures have been intentionally made (hereinafter called "disregarded location") or is a location where no measures have been taken because the maintenance information was not browsed (hereinafter called "unhandled location").
The following describes the terminal device 8. The terminal device 8 is mainly operated by an operator or another person who actually performs maintenance operations. The terminal device 8 can mutually communicate with the textile machines 6 and includes the display unit 81 configured to display information. The terminal device 8 of the present embodiment includes an operation portion 82 configured to enable operation of a screen displayed on the display unit 81 and a controller 85 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an auxiliary storage (e.g., SSD compliant with the mSATA standard). The ROM stores therein an execution program for executing a function provided from the management apparatus 3 on the terminal device 8. The CPU can control the terminal device 8 by reading the execution program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executing the control program. The LAN interface 83 can communicate with the antenna 64B of each textile machine 6.
In FIG. 1, a diagram is illustrated in which one terminal device 8 is connected to one machine control device 63. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and a plurality of terminal devices 8 may be connected to one machine control device 63.
The terminal device 8 is connectable to the second condition acquiring unit 91 configured to acquire information on condition that is different in type from the information on the condition of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62. Examples of the second condition acquiring unit 91 include a camera 91A configured to capture video of a predetermined portion of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70, a microphone 91B configured to pick up a noise (information on the condition) produced by one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70, and a compound sensor 91C for detecting vibration or temperature, for example, (information on the condition) produced by one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70. The terminal device 8 can provide information acquired by the second condition acquiring unit 91 to the function providing unit 32A of the management apparatus 3.
In the analytical function provided by the function providing unit 32A of the management apparatus 3, there is a case in which the function providing unit 32A cannot identify a failure only by the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62. In this case, the function providing unit 32A causes the display unit 81 of the terminal device 8 to display a screen that prompts connection of the second condition acquiring unit 91 to acquire information on condition that is different in type from the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62.
The controller 85 can cause a display controller 85A to function by cooperative operation of the hardware and the software described above. The display controller 85A causes the display unit 81 of the terminal device 8 to display a screen corresponding to a function provided from the function providing unit 32A. The controller 85 is a circuit configured to cause the display unit 81 of the terminal device 8 to display a screen corresponding to a function provided from the management controller 32. The controller 85 is also a circuit configured to receive information input in a checkbox to transmit the information to the management apparatus 3, and update the maintenance schedule on the basis of the information input in the checkbox (information on the whether or not there is input, i.e., the whether or not there is conduct). As depicted in FIG. 3, the display controller 85A can display a function selection screen SC1 that allows the respective screens corresponding to the functions described above to be brought up on the display unit 81.
Examples of the functions provided from the function providing unit 32A include, in addition to the analytical function, the maintenance function, and the scheduling function described above, an operating-status display function of displaying the operating status of the textile machines 6, a troubleshooting function of providing a method for solving a trouble, an alarm-code description function of providing description of alarm codes displayed on the touch panel display 66 of the machine control device 63, a notification section (not depicted) (e.g., a seven-segment display, a lamp, or a display) provided to each fiber processing unit 61, or a notification section (not depicted) of the shared device 70 (e. g. , a doffing carriage or a yarn joining carriage) provided to the fiber processing units 61 in a shared manner, a manual function of providing manual information (instruction manual) for each component in the textile machines 6, and a parts ordering function of ordering parts used in the textile machines 6. The parts ordering function is a function that allows provision of parts information (parts catalog), estimation of parts cost, and order of parts from the terminal device 8. In the operating-status display function, in addition to the numerical rate of operation during a specific period (selectable), for example, graphical display such as a line graph can be provided.
Examples of the screens corresponding to the functions provided from the function providing unit 32A include, in addition to the function selection screen SC1 depicted in FIG. 3, a schedule screen SC2 depicted in FIG. 4 and a maintenance information screen SC3 depicted in FIG. 8.
The following describes the schedule screen SC2. The schedule screen SC2 is structured with multiple levels. As depicted in FIG. 4, in the schedule screen SC2 that is a top screen of the scheduling function, numbers are displayed over a calendar view. For example, in the cell of March 5th, 2015, the number "6" is displayed. This number indicates the number of things requiring periodic maintenance on March 5th, 2015. In the schedule screen SC2, when a date cell has been clicked (tapped), the number of detailed items requiringperiodicmaintenance on the corresponding date is displayed. For example, in the schedule screen SC2, when the cell of March 5th, 2015 has been clicked (tapped), the number of detailed items requiring periodic maintenance on March 5th, 2015 is displayed. In other words, in a lower level of the schedule screen SC2, a schedule screen SC21 is prepared that displays the number of things requiring periodic maintenance for each of the fiber processing units 61. For example, as depicted in FIG. 5, a schedule screen SC21 is displayed in which the number of things requiring periodic maintenance for each of the textile machines 6 (MC1, MC2, MC5) is displayed. MC1, MC2, and MC5 in FIG. 5 are machine numbers of the textile machines 6. MC5 means the fifth textile machine 6.
In the schedule screen SC21, when a cell of one textile machine 6 has been clicked (tapped), detailed items requiring periodic maintenance for this textile machine 6 are displayed. For example, in the schedule screen SC21 depicted in FIG. 5, when a cell of a textile machine 6 (e.g., MC1) has been clicked (tapped), detailed items requiring periodic maintenance for the textile machine 6 of MC1 as depicted in FIG. 6 are displayed. In other words, in a lower level of the schedule screen SC21, a schedule screen SC22 is prepared that displays detailed items of things requiring periodic maintenance for each textile machine 6.
In the schedule screen SC22, when one of the detailed items requiring periodic maintenance has been clicked (tapped), details of a method for conducting the periodic maintenance are displayed. For example, in the schedule screen SC22, when the cell of Lubricate BRG (lubrication of bearings) has been clicked (tapped), the details of the method for conducting Lubricate BRG are displayed as in the schedule screen SC23 depicted in FIG. 7. In other words, in a lower level of the schedule screen SC22, the schedule screen SC23 is prepared that displays the details of the method for conducting periodic maintenance for each of the items thereof.
In the schedule screens SC22 and SC23 depicted in FIG. 6 and 7, checkboxes corresponding to the detailed items of things requiring periodic maintenance are displayed. When the operator has put a checkmark in a checkbox via the operation portion 82, information thereof is transmitted to the management apparatus 3. Specifically, a conduct-information receiving unit 85C receives information input in the checkbox and transmits the information to the management apparatus 3.
The function providing unit 32A of the management apparatus 3 updates the maintenance schedule on the basis of the information (information on the whether or not there is input, i.e., the whether or not there is conduct) input in the checkbox received by the conduct-information receiving unit 85C. Specifically, the function providing unit 32A resets the next periodic maintenance day (e. g. , three months later) when a checkmark has been put in a checkbox, and sets the next day, for example, as a maintenance day when a checkmark has not been put in the checkbox. In other words, the textile machine 6 in the checkbox of which a checkmark has not been put is handled as a textile machine 6 to be inspected on the currently selected day until a checkmark is put in the checkbox.
The following describes the maintenance information screen SC3. The maintenance information screen SC3 is structured with multiple levels. As depicted in FIG. 8, in the maintenance information screen SC3 that is a top screen of the maintenance function, an overview of maintenance information for each textile machine 6. Specifically, in the maintenance information screen SC3, what types of failures (initial-occurrence location, recurrence location, disregarded location, or unhandled location) the failures occurring in each textile machine 6 are displayed. The definitions of the initial-occurrence location, the recurrence location, the disregarded location, and the unhandled location have been described above.
In the maintenance information screen SC3 depicted in FIG. 8, for each textile machine 6, the numbers of initial-occurrence locations, recurrence locations, disregarded locations, and unhandled locations are displayed. FIG. 8 illustrates that, for example, the textile machine 6 the management number of which is 001 (the machine number is the first) has two initial-occurrence locations, two recurrence locations, ten disregarded locations, and one unhandled location. The circles illustrated in the cell of the textile machine 6 the management number of which is 001 in FIG. 8 are displayed in a form representing legends (in a visually identifiable manner) so as to be discriminated from each other in the order from the left, and each indicate the initial-occurrence location, the recurrence location, the disregarded location, and the unhandled location. Herein, discrimination among the initial-occurrence location, the recurrence location, the disregarded location, and the unhandled location may be made by, not limited to the above-described method, a method of displaying these locations in colors such as blue, green, red, and gray in the order from the left, or a method of using symbols such as ○, Δ, □, and ×.
In the maintenance information screen SC3, when a cell of one textile machine 6 has been clicked (tapped), details of maintenance information for each textile machine 6 are displayed. For example, when the cell of the textile machine 6 the management number of which is 001 in FIG. 8 has been clicked, as depicted in FIG. 9, the maintenance information screen SC31 is displayed that indicates detailed maintenance information for the textile machine 6 the management number of which is 001. In other words, in a lower level of the maintenance information screen SC3, for each textile machine 6, a maintenance information screen SC31 is prepared that displays details of failures occurring therein (e.g., failures such as High MUP (the ratio of failed yarn end finding from a package is high), High MIS (the ratio of failed splicing is high), and High RTI (the yarn breakage ratio for a bobbin is high)).
In the maintenance information screen SC31, numbers (SP No.) of the fiber processing units 61 in which a failure has occurred and details of the failure are displayed. In the maintenance information screen SC31, checkboxes corresponding to detailed failure items are displayed. When the operator has clicked (tapped) a checkbox via the operation portion 82, the maintenance information screen SC32 depicted in FIG. 10 is displayed. The maintenance information screen SC32 allows input of whether an action has been implemented for a detailed failure item (Done) or whether a failure was found but no action has been implemented (disregarded) (Not yet). This action information is transmitted to the management apparatus 3. Specifically, the action-information receiving unit 85B receives action information input in the checkboxes and transmits the action information to the management apparatus 3.
In the maintenance information screen SC31 depicted in FIG. 9, failure information is collectively displayed for each type of a failure. Alternatively, for example, as in the maintenance information screen SC33 depicted in FIG. 11, failure information can be collectively displayed (in a sorted manner) for each type (cause) of a failure.
As described in the foregoing, in the textile-machine management system 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of functions for managing one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 are provided to the terminal device 8 that the operator can easily carry at the work site where the textile machines 6 are installed. The terminal device 8 is operated via the screen displayed on the display unit 81, whereby information is communicated between the terminal device 8 and the management apparatus 3. Consequently, management of the textile machines 6 can be more effectively supported.
In the above-described embodiment, the display controller 85A causes the display unit 81 to display the function selection screen SC1 that allows the respective screens corresponding to the functions provided by the management apparatus 3 to be brought up on the display unit 81. Accordingly, with the terminal device 8, the functions for managing one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 can be easily used.
In the above-described embodiment, because the function providing unit 32A has a function of analyzing and identifying the condition of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 on the basis of the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62, information on the condition of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 can be automatically and efficiently acquired.
In the above-described embodiment, the terminal device 8 is connectable to the second condition acquiring unit 91, such as the camera 91A, the microphone 91B, or the compound sensor 91C, configured to acquire information on condition that is different in type from the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62 such as the yarn monitoring device. The function providing unit 32A identifies the condition of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 on the basis of the information on the condition acquired by the at least one of each first condition acquiring unit 62 and each second condition acquiring unit 91. This enables identification of failures that cannot be identified only based on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62.
In the above-described embodiment, the function providing unit 32A, when determining that a failure cannot be identified only based on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62, causes the display unit 81 of the terminal device 8 to display a screen that prompts connection of the second condition acquiring unit 91 to acquire information on condition that is different in type from the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62. Accordingly, because the operator is appropriately instructed by the screen displayed on the terminal device 8, even if a failure has occurred that cannot be identified only based on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62, this failure can be identified.
In the above-described embodiment, information on a failure of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or each shared devices 70 in which a failure is identified to have occurred by the function providing unit 32A can be transmitted as maintenance information to the terminal device 8. With the terminal device 8 to which the maintenance information is transmitted, action information for a failure can be input, and thus action information that is difficult to collect can be easily compiled. This enables the function providing unit 32A to identify the types of failures on the basis of the action information. Consequently, management of the textile machines 6 can be more effectively supported.
In the above-described embodiment, information on a schedule of periodic maintenance of the textile machines 6 can be provided to the terminal device 8 that the operator can easily carry at the work site where the textile machines 6 are installed. With the terminal device 8 on which the information on the schedule can be browsed, information on the whether or not maintenance has been conducted can be input, and thus management of the textile machines 6 can be more effectively supported.
Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
In the textile-machine management system 1 of the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the display controller 85A configured to cause the display unit 81 of the terminal device 8 to display a screen corresponding to each function provided from the function providing unit 32A is included in the terminal device 8. However, the display controller 85A may be included also in the management apparatus 3.
In the textile-machine management system 1 of the embodiment or the modification described above, an example has been described in which the terminal device 8 is structured to be connectable to the second condition acquiring unit 91 that is separated from the terminal device 8, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the terminal device 8 may incorporate a third condition acquiring unit configured to acquire information on condition that is different in type from the information on the condition of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62. By this configuration, the information on condition that is different in type from the information on the condition of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 obtained by the first condition acquiring unit 62 can be obtained by using the functions that the terminal device 8 has. The function providing unit 32A of the management apparatus 3 can analyze the condition of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 on the basis of the information on the condition received by each of the first condition acquiring unit 62 and the third condition acquiring unit.
Furthermore, for example, the terminal device 8 may be connectable to the second condition acquiring unit 91 that is separated from the terminal device 8, and may incorporate a third acquiring unit configured to acquire information on condition that is different in type from both of the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62 and the information on the condition acquired by the second condition acquiring unit 91. By this configuration, information on condition that is different in type from the information on the condition of one or more of fiber processing units 61 and/or one or more of shared devices 70 acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62 can be acquired by the second condition acquiring unit 91 connected to the terminal device 8 and the third condition acquiring unit incorporated in the terminal device 8.
In the textile-machine management system 1 of the embodiment or the modifications described above, an example has been described in which all of the analytical function, the maintenance function, the scheduling function, the operating-status display function, the troubleshooting function, the alarm-code description function, the manual function, and the parts ordering function are included. However, the textile-machine management system may be capable of optionally providing functions including functions other than the above-described functions.
The machine control devices 63 of the textile machines 6 and the management apparatus 3 are connected via a network, which is not limited to the LAN 2 and may be another type of network. This network is not limited to a wired network, and may be a wireless network. An example has been described in which communication between the management apparatus 3 and the terminal device 8 is established via the antenna 64B mounted on each machine control device 63, but the communication may be established via an antenna installed in the factory, for example.
The number of the textile machines 6 managed by the management apparatus 3 is optional, and may be one, or may be two or more.
The management apparatus 3 is configured as a control unit, but maybe configured as a desktop personal computer, for example. The management apparatus 3 is not limited to this, and may be configured as a tablet computer that is easy to carry, for example. In this case, the management apparatus 3 can be configured so that messages are input by using a touch panel instead of a keyboard.
In the embodiment or the modifications described above, the management apparatus 3 is configured as a control unit or a computer that is provided separately from the machine control devices 63. However, the management apparatus 3 is not limited to this, and may be modified so that one machine control device 63 out of the machine control devices 63 of the textile machines 6 functions as a management apparatus.
In the embodiment or the modifications described above, the unit controller 61A is provided to each of the fiber processing units 61. However, alternatively, a configuration may be used in which one unit controller 61A is provided to a plurality of (e.g., four) fiber processing units 61 so that the one unit controller 61A can control the plurality of fiber processing units 61.
In the embodiment or the modifications described above, an example has been described in which the terminal device 8 is used mainly near the textile machines 6 (fiber processing units 61), but usage of the terminal device 8 is not limited to this. The terminal device 8 can communicate with the management apparatus 3 via the Internet or other networks even in front of each textile machine 6 (fiber processing unit 61) or even in a place distant from the factory, whereby the operating condition (information onmaintenance, quality, production, etc. ) of the textile machines 6 can be checked, for example.
In the embodiment or the modifications described above, an example has been described in which the management apparatus 3 is capable of communicating with the textile machines 6 via the LAN 2. Alternatively, the management apparatus 3 may be disposed outside the factory in a remote place being connected via the Internet. The management apparatus 3 may be connected to an analyzer or another device connected to the textile-machine management system 1 via the Internet.
In addition to the configuration of the textile-machine management system 1 of the embodiment or the modifications described above, the management apparatus 3 may be connected to, for example, an analyzer (a server or a cloud, etc.) via a communication network such as the Internet or a dedicated line. This configuration enables advanced analysis that cannot be conducted by the management apparatus 3, for example. Transmission of data to the analyzer may be performed by the operator or the manager operating any one of operation portions of the terminal device 8, the machine control device 63, and the management apparatus 3. The analyzer is preferably disposed in a base of a textile machine manufacturer in a remote place to conduct analysis with the analyzer (a server or a cloud, etc.) installed in the base. In this case, a manufacturer's service person residing in the base can monitor the status of the work site on the basis of transmitted data, and also can support maintenance performed by the operator. In this configuration, the analyzer may actively (independently) collect data to conduct analysis.
For example, an analyzer (a server or a cloud, etc.) connected to the management apparatus 3 via a communication network such as the Internet or a dedicated line, or a server disposed outside the factory in a remote place being connected to the textile machines 6 via the Internet may have at least one function out of an abnormality automatic diagnosis function, a remote assistance function, and a maintenance guide function.
The abnormality automatic diagnosis function is a function of automatically performing diagnosis on the basis of data acquired by the first condition acquiring unit 62 in addition to data of the machine control devices 63 and data of the management apparatus 3. The abnormality automatic diagnosis function may further use data acquired by the second condition acquiring unit 91 to perform diagnosis.
The remote assistance function is a function capable of remotely assisting a person (a maintenance operator, a manager, an owner, or a manufacturer service person, etc.) who manages the textile machines 6. A person who remotely assists can use automatic diagnosis results obtained by the abnormality automatic diagnosis function to make decision. The person who manages the textile machines 6 can use a head-mounted display, a tablet, or the like that can display data in a manner superimposed on the view in front of the person. The remote assistance function can display operating status data of the machines, instructions of the person who remotely assists, and the automatic diagnosis results on the head-mounted display, the tablet, or the like in a superimposed manner.
The maintenance guide function is a function capable of guiding maintenance performed by the person (a maintenance operator, a manager, an owner, or a manufacturer service person, etc.) whomanages the textile machines 6. The person who manages the textile machines 6 can use a head-mounted display, a tablet, or the like that can display data in a manner superimposed on the view in front of the person. The maintenance guide function can display a manual or the automatic diagnosis results on the head-mounted display, the tablet, or the like. The maintenance guide function enables interactive operation such as turning over the pages of the manual, for example.
At least some parts of the embodiment and the modifications described above may be optionally used in combination.
A textile-machine management system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of textile machines each of which includes a plurality of fiber processing units, one control device configured to control the fiber processing units, and one or more shared devices provided to all or some of the fiber processing units in a shared manner; and a management apparatus configured to manage the textile machines; and a terminal device capable of mutually communicating with the management apparatus, the terminal device including a display unit configured to display information. The management apparatus includes a communication unit configured to mutually communicate with the terminal device and a function providing unit configured to provide the terminal device with a plurality of functions for managing one or more of the fiber processing units and/or one or more the shared devices to the terminal device. The management apparatus or the terminal device includes a display controller configured to cause the display unit to display a screen that corresponds to each function provided from the function providing unit.
A terminal device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, in a textile-machine management system including: a plurality of textile machines each of which includes a plurality of fiber processing units, one control device configured to control the fiber processing units, and one or more shared devices provided on all or some of the fiber processing units in a shared manner; and a management apparatus including a function providing unit configured to provide a plurality of functions for managing one or more of the fiber processing units and the shared devices, is a terminal device capable of mutually communicating with the management apparatus, the terminal device including a display controller configured to cause a display unit configured to display information to display a screen that corresponds to each function provided from the function providing unit.
A management apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a management apparatus used for a textile-machine management system configured to manage a plurality of textile machines each of which includes a plurality of fiber processing units, one control device configured to control the fiber processing units, and one or more shared devices provided on all or some of the fiber processing units in a shared manner. The management apparatus includes: a communication unit configured to mutually communicate with a terminal device including a display unit configured to display information; a function providing unit configured to provide a plurality of functions for managing at one or more of the fiber processing units and/or one or more of shared devices to the terminal device; and a display controller configured to cause the display unit to display a screen that corresponds to each function provided from the function providing unit.
In the management apparatus of one aspect of the present disclosure, the function providing unit may transmit information on one or more of fiber processing units and/or each shared devices in which it is analyzed that a failure has occurred, as maintenance information, to the terminal device via the communication unit. The terminal device may include an action- information receiving unit configured to receive information on the whether or not there is an action for the failure corresponding to the maintenance information. The function providing unit may update the maintenance information on the basis of the information on the whether or not there is an action received by the action-information receiving unit.

Claims

A textile-machine management system (1) comprising:
a plurality of textile machines (6) each of which includes a plurality of fiber processing units (61), one control device (63) configured to control the fiber processing units (61), and one or more shared devices (70) provided on all or some of the fiber processing units (61) in a shared manner; and

a management apparatus (3) configured to manage the textile machines (6), wherein

the management apparatus (3) includes:
a communication unit (31A) configured to mutually communicate with a terminal device (8) including a display unit (81) configured to display information; and

a function providing unit (32A) configured to provide the terminal device (8) with a plurality of functions for managing one or more of the fiber processing units (61) and/or one or more of the shared devices (70), and

the management apparatus (3) or the terminal device (8) includes a display controller (85A) configured to cause the display unit (81) to display a screen that corresponds to each function provided from the function providing unit (32A).
The textile-machine management system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising the terminal device (8) capable of mutually communicating with the management apparatus (3), the terminal device (8) including the display unit (81) configured to display information.
The textile-machine management system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display controller (85A) is capable of causing the display unit (81) to display a function selection screen that allows respective screens corresponding to the functions to be brought up on the display unit (81).
The textile-machine management system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
each textile machine (6) includes a first condition acquiring unit (62) configured to acquire information on a condition of one or more of the fiber processing units (61) and/or one or more of the shared devices (70), and
the function providing unit (32A) has a function of analyzing the condition of the one or more of the fiber processing units (61) and/or the one or more of the shared devices (70), based on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit (62).
The textile-machine management system (1) according to claim 4, wherein
the terminal device (8) is connectable to a second condition acquiring unit (91) configured to acquire information on a condition that is different in type from the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit (62), and
the function providing unit (32A) is configured to analyze the condition of the one or more of the fiber processing units (61) and/or the one or more of the shared devices (70), based on the information on the condition acquired by each of the first condition acquiring unit (62) and the second condition acquiring unit (91).
The textile-machine management system (1) according to claim 5, wherein the function providing unit (32A), when determining that analysis is unable to be conducted based only on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit (62), is configured to cause the display unit (81) of the terminal device (8) to display a screen that prompts connection of the second condition acquiring unit (91) to acquire the information on a different type of condition.
The textile-machine management system (1) according to claim 4, wherein
the terminal device (8) incorporates a third condition acquiring unit configured to acquire information on a condition that is different in type from the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit (62), and
the function providing unit (32A) is configured to analyze the condition of the one or more of the fiber processing units (61) and/or the one or more of the shared devices (70), based on the information on the condition acquired by each of the first condition acquiring unit (62) and the third condition acquiring unit.
The textile-machine management system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the function providing unit (32A), when determining that analysis is unable to be conducted based only on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit (62), is configured to cause the display unit (81) of the terminal device (8) to display a screen that prompts acquisition of the information on a different type of condition from the third condition acquiring unit.
The textile-machine management system (1) according to claim 4, wherein
the terminal device (8) is connectable to a second condition acquiring unit (91) configured to acquire information on a condition that is different in type from the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit (62), and incorporates a third condition acquiring unit configured to acquire information on a condition that is different in type from both of the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit (62) and the information on the condition acquired by the second condition acquiring unit (91), and
the function providing unit (32A) is configured to analyze the condition of the one or more of the fiber processing units (61) and/or the one or more of the shared devices (70), based on information on the condition acquired by each of the first condition acquiring unit (62), the second condition acquiring unit (91), and the third condition acquiring unit.
The textile-machine management system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the function providing unit (32A), when determining that analysis is unable to be conducted based only on the information on the condition acquired by the first condition acquiring unit (62), is configured to cause the display unit (81) of the terminal device (8) to display a screen that prompts acquisition of the information on a different type of condition from at least one of the second condition acquiring unit (91) and the third condition acquiring unit.
The textile-machine management system (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein
the function providing unit (32A) is configured to transmit information on a failure of one or more of the fiber processing units (61) and/or one or more of the shared devices (70) in which it is analyzed that a failure has occurred to the terminal device (8) via the communication unit (31A),
the terminal device (8) includes an action-information receiving unit (85B) configured to receive information on whether or not there is an action has been taken against the failure corresponding to the information on the failure, and
the function providing unit (32A) is configured to update the information on the failure, based on the information on whether or not there is an action has been taken against received by the action-information receiving unit (85B).
The textile-machine management system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein
the function providing unit (32A) has a function of managing a periodic maintenance schedule of one or more of the fiber processing units (61) and/or one or more of the shared devices (70) and being capable of communicating information on the maintenance schedule with the terminal device (8) via the communication unit (31A),
the terminal device (8) includes a maintenance status information receiving unit (85C) configured to receive information on whether or not maintenance has been conducted based on the information on the maintenance schedule transmitted from the function providing unit (32A), and
the function providing unit (32A) is configured to update the maintenance schedule, based on the information on whether or not maintenance has been conducted received by the maintenance status information receiving unit (85C).