Saurer Schlafhorst, the leading textile machinery manufacturer, presents its latest Autocoro 8 technology that is said to relieve spinning mills of the burden of organisational tasks due to its single-drive technology.

Machines with smart, autonomous spinning positions can be integrated far more easily into operating processes than conventional rotor spinning machines, the company reports.

Smart spinning positions

Every spinning position on the Autocoro 8 is an intelligently automated, independent production unit with individually controlled spinning and winding processes.

 All Autocoro 8 spinning positions can piece independently. They don't need to wait for a central unit, as on belt-driven machines. The Autocoro thus comprises 552 intelligent production units, which are productive round the clock without exception, even when piecing is required especially frequently at some spinning positions, the company reports.

On start-up the individual automation of the Autocoro also results in an unassailable leap in productivity. The QuickStarter facilitates twelve synchronous piecing processes, meaning that the Autocoro 8 runs up 6 times faster than a comparable machine with a belt drive.

Troubleeshooting

The Autocoro's smart spinning positions communicate with the operating staff. A symbol display at each spinning position shows what the position is doing at any moment.

If a malfunction occurs, the display signals what the problem is, so that the operator can quickly rectify the fault without any tedious troubleshooting process.

Flowing lot change in ongoing operation

The Autocoro 8 is the first rotor spinning machine that achieves a flowing lot change entirely automatically, according to the manufacturer. As soon as a spinning position has completed the last package of the first lot, it automatically begins with the next lot, with no manual intervention required.

The individual spinning position supports reliable lot separation even when changing cans or spinning components; there is no need to wait for all spinning positions to run out, as on conventional belt-driven machines. Once the last package in the old lot is full, the spinning position automatically adopts a waiting position, indicated by a light signal. The operator can now change the spinning can or component and acknowledge the new batch on the spinning position.

PilotSpin

The production of trial packages is an expensive business on belt-driven machines, because it always blocks the entire machine length. On the Autocoro 8, the individual spinning position is intelligent and is consequently able to rethink if required and produce trial packages automatically in parallel to production with the help of PilotSpin.

Only a fraction of the machine’s productivity is sacrificed in this process. Spinning and winding tests are easy and cost-effective thanks to the intelligent automation of the Autocoro 8 – the testing of new raw materials and the development of new or customised products can be integrated smoothly into spinning mill operation. The outlay on new yarn development is smaller too, the manufacturer reports.

www.saurer.com