Autoconer 338

Winding Technology.
M ulti-Optionality,
Know-how, Internationality.
Yarn package winding
Key Technology in the textile production process.
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Yarn package winding isthe completion of the
yarn forming processand the starting point for
varioussubsequent processes, from weaving or
knitting to textile finishing. Thisinterface function
of winding iswhat makesthe winding processso
important. In winding, the course isset for high
cost-effectivenessin the following stagesof the
textile production chain. At the same time, care is
taken that the quality of the yarn wound will meet
the demandsplaced on it by the finished articles.
Schlafhorst specialist of yarn winding machines
in the world market for over 50 years concerns
itself intensely with these manifold requirements
and developsinnovative winding technology to
meet them. Decisive for the universal acceptance
of the Autoconer isthe fact, that Schlafhorst in its
work placesthe focusnot narrowly on winding,
but, considering winding asan important part and
integral stage of the entire textile production
chain, consistently developsand advanceswinding
technology with the requirementsof, and benefits
for, the entire textile production in mind. Textile-
technological know-how crucial in thiscontext is
elaborated in cooperation with world-leading
partnersin textile machine engineering.
Typical featuresof the Schlafhorst performance
are: extensive textile- technological expertise,
consequent market and customer orientation, early
recognition of changesin market conditionsand
requirements, and excellent customer advice and
training service all over the world. These have
contributed to the world-wide successof the
Autoconer, from the first to the present generation.
Translating thisknow-how into intelligent winding
machine technology hasmade Schlafhorst for
decadesthe innovation leader in the international
arena. Thisistrue of the Autoconer yarn splicing
technology with the modular-design splicer system
and of the quality of the Autoconer yarn packages
due to the innovative FX- serieswith itsefficient
modulesAutotense FX, Propack FX, Variopack FX
and Ecopack FX. Thanksto itsingeniousmodular
concept, the Autoconer offersa convincing uni-
versality which enablesthe machine to produce
yarn packagesoptimally suited for any of the tex-
tile production processesdownstream of winding.
Materials wound on the Autoconer 338.
Cotton
Wool
Polyester
Viscose
PAN
Linen
Blends
Kevlar
Special fibres
Natural fibre yarns
Manmade fibre yarns
Short-staple yarns
Long-staple yarns
Ring yarns
Compact yarns
SiroSpun yarns
Hard and soft Core yarns
High-twist yarns
Plied yarns
Fancy (Effect) yarns
OE-Rotor yarns
Mule yarns
Repco yarns
Autoconer yarn packages f or the
downstream production processes.
Dyeing
Assembly winding /Twisting
Beam warping
Sectional warping
Weaving
Warp Knitting
Weft Knitting
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Autoconer yarn packages for dyeing.
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In yarn package dyeing, it isimportant that dye
penetration isuniform and level dyeing isensured
throughout the package. Successin package dyeing
dependson many factorsincluding material of the
yarn, dyesused, method of dyeing, dyeing apparatus
or dyeing liquor pump. What determinesthe result,
however, isthe even build and structure of the cross-
wound package to be dyed. Thanksto the intelligent
control and regulation systemsand winding compo-
nentsof the Autoconer 338, yarn packagescan
made to suit the requirementsof package dyeing
exactly. The known dyer' sadage saying " Well wound
ishalf dyed" isa measure of the importance of well-
structured yarn packagesfor dyeing, and of the
enormousworth of the Schlafhorst winding techno-
logy and contribution in thisfield.
The required yarn density of dye-packagesvaries
according to dyeing machine, method of dyeing and
material. Package density in winding isdirectly influ-
enced by the parameter yarn tension . Thanksto
Autotense FX, the desired package density can be
obtained with precision, asthe yarn tension isset at
the Informator asan absolute value. The constant
level of yarn tension ensured by Autotense FX and
the elimination of critical pattern windson the pack-
age through Propack FX are a guarantee for the
production of Autoconer packageswith an extremely
uniform yarn structure and yarn density. Reproducible
uniformity of the package density from package to
package isensured bycentralised setting of the wind-
ing parametersat the Informator. A further factor
contributing to the optimisation of the structure of
dye packagesisthe lateral yarn layer displacement
on the package, achieved by traverse motion of the
yarn-guide drum. The regulation of the yarn tension
by Autotense FX hasthe additional advantage of
increasing the average winding speed, which means
higher productivity in the winding of dye packages
on the Autoconer 338.
Whirling the yarn endsfor fibre entangling in the
splicing processto achieve spliced jointsthat are simi-
lar to the yarn isalso beneficial for ensuring that in
yarn dyeing the short spliced jointshave the same
dyeing property asthe yarn, so that visible off-shade
spotsin the fabric are avoided.
Specially for package dyeing of elastic Core yarns
and other elastic yarns, where homogeneousdyeing
iscritical because of bulging-out package flanksor
uncontrollable breakdown of the package structure,
Schlafhorst offersasa practicable solution the
closed-loop control system Variopack FX. Thissystem
coordinatesthe parametersyarn tension and package
contact pressure throughout the build-up of the
package, so that well-structured packageswith good
dimensional stability are produced.
Yarn packagesproduced on the Autoconer 338 are
dyed with excellent results, colouring throughout the
package and from package to package isabsolutely
even and the resultsare reproducible. Thanks
to the optimal package structure achieved with Pro-
pack FX an essential factor for cost-effective pro-
cessing in the production stagesdownstream of
winding rewinding of the packagesafter dyeing for
use in subsequent production processescan be dis-
pensed with and, depending on the material of the
yarn, the Autoconer packagescan be used directly
for the warp or the weft.
Dye package density as a f unction of yarn tension.
Package density [g/cm
3
] 0.30 0.33 0.36 0.38 0.40
Package contact pressure S S S S S
Autotense FX [cN] 8 14 21 25 30
Autospeed 75% 60% 60% 60% without
Winding speed [m/min] 1, 200 1, 400 1, 400 1, 400 1, 400
Average winding speed [m/min] 890 1, 100 1, 220 1, 275 1, 380
M aterial 100% CO, carded
Yarn count 20 tex (Ne 30, Nm 50)
Drum type 2-pitch sym.
Package format 6, cylindrical (220 mm)
Wound with lateral yarn layer displacement
Yarn count 42 tex (Ne 14, Nm 24)
M aterial PES/CV (50/50); 892 T/m
Yarn guide drum, package format 2-pitch asym. 420
Yarn tension Autotense FX 15cN (with Autospeed 50% )
Setpoint length 45, 000 m
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Even package density.
20 winding positions.
Targeted generation of the package density by yarn tension adjustment.
Greatest evenness of package density.
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Autoconer packages for Twisting
and Assembly Winding.
The Twisting, processplacesextremely high and
quite specific demandson the unwinding pro-
pertiesof the cross-wound yarn packages. Thisis
true of the twisting processitself and of assembly
winding, a processwhich in certain casesprecedes
twisting. In both processes, 2 yarn packagesare
used for feeding the machinesand have to be
unwound with equal yarn tension.
Thanksto the Autotense FX Yarn Tension Regulat-
ing System, the Autoconer 338 producesyarn
packageswith extremely uniform structure and
density. Central setting of the winding parameters
ensuresreproducibility of the winding parameters
for all packages. There are no variationsin yarn
tension when the packagesare unwound in
twisting or assembly winding. The plied yarns
have an absolutely even structure.
The Length M easuring and Full Diameter Compu-
tation System of the Autoconer 338 ensuresthat
the length of the yarn in the packagesproduced
isexactly measured and the length isthe same in
all packagesor the packagesare all of the same
diameter. Thisisa further precondition for the
economical production of high-quality plied yarns.
High-precision yarn length measuring ispossible
with the Ecopack FX system (optional extra).
Not infrequently, plied yarnshave to be produced
of wool or elastic single yarns. Up to now, yarn
packagesof such yarnscould not be fed directly
to two-for-one twisting machines, asplacing the
packageson top of one another in the supply
creel wasimpossible because of the bulge-out of
the package flanks. Thisproblem hasbeen solved
with the integrated Variopack FX system on the
Schlafhorst Autoconer. Bulging-out of he package
flanksisreduced to a minimum. Yarn packages
produced with Variopack FX can without problem
be directly fed to two-for-one twisting machines.
The Autoconer 338 producespackageswith all
the formatsused in twisting, with a yarn-guide
traverse from 4" to 6" . Regular and orderly laying
of the yarn onto the package isensured by the
varioustypesof yarn guide drums. For winding
wool or wool blend yarnsintended for twisting,
the use of the Thermosplicer isrecommended.
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Whether for direct feeding to twisting machines
or for feeding to assembly winders, the Autoconer
yarn packagesoffer ideal conditionsfor cost
efficient processing and top-quality resultsin the
textile production chain.
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Autoconer packages for Warping and Weaving.
In sectional and beam warping aswell asweaving,
good unwinding performance of the packagesfor
smooth unwinding of the yarn isdecisive for the
achievement of high quality and cost-efficiency.
Packagesmust allow highest weft insertion speeds
and cope with the enormousalternating stresses
due to changing acceleration on the weaving
machine. Processing a multitude of packages
simultaneously in sectional and beam warping
requiresextreme uniformity of the yarn lengthsin
the packagesfrom which the yarn istaken. Stop-
pagesdue to yarn breaksor entangled yarnsor
yarn layers, or other faultsdisturbing the warping
or weaving process, cause enormousproduction
losses. Thisiswhy the packagesfor use in the pro-
duction phasesdownstream of winding are required
to satisfy the following criteria: absolutely uniform
structure and density with large package diameters,
orderly laying of the yarn, safe yarn-like spliced
jointsand precisely measured equal length of the
yarn on all packagesused in a process.
Thanksto the expertise in winding technology of
Schlafhorst, the Autoconer 338 isoptimally
equipped for the production of packagessatisfy-
ing all these requirements. The Autotense FX Yarn
Tension Regulating System ensuresa constant
level of yarn tension, and hence, uniform package
structure and density. The Propack FX Package
Cradle Anti-patterning System improvesthe pack-
age structure still further by eliminating critical
patterning zones.
Even at the highest weft insertion speeds, ason
air-jet weaving machines, there isno sloughing-off
of yarn layers. Thanksto Propack FX, the package
diametersare not limited by critical patterning zones
on the package. The yarn issafely and orderly laid
onto the package, even when yarnswith critical,
smooth structuresare wound, due to the smooth
start-up and acceleration of the package and
precise guiding of the yarn through the yarn-guide
drum grooves.
The modular splicer system of the Autoconer 338
offerssplicing optionsfor efficiently splicing all types
of materialsand producing spliced jointsthat
safely withstand the alternating stressesto which
the yarn issubjected on the weaving machine.
In the doffing process, the doffer placesthe yarn
bottom reserve onto the package tube and lays
the tip tail onto the package, so that the transfer
of the yarn from one package to the next in weav-
ing presentsno problem. The operatorscan fasten
the yarn endsof the packagestogether easily and
safely. Highest-precision yarn length measuring
with the Ecopack system guaranteesthat in
warping all the packageson the warping creel run
out at the same time, thusreducing the amount
of waste yarn significantly.
In warping and in weaving, these performance
characteristicsof the Autoconer 338 are a guaran-
tee for highest levelsof cost-efficiency and pro-
ductivity.
Autoconer packages for Knitting.
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In the knitting process, due to the heavy deflec-
tion of the yarn by the needleswithin a narrow
space, the yarn issubjected to exceptionally high
stresses. Optimal waxing of the yarn in winding
minimisesfriction of the yarn on the needlesand
deflecting elements. The stresson yarn and nee-
dlesin loop formation issignificantly reduced.
The profound textile-technological know-how of
Schlafhorst isalso evident in the field of yarn wax-
ing. Extensive testsprove that there isa close in-
terrelation between yarn tension and the amount
of wax rubbed off the wax roll. The intensity of
waxing must be optimised for every type of yarn
material. Each material hasitsspecific optimal low
friction value only within a narrow zone of the
waxing curve.
Asit ispossible on the Autoconer 338 with its
automatic yarn tension regulating system to enter
the yarn tension centrally at the Informator asan
absolute value, the optimal yarn tension can be
specified for whatever yarn iswound. The amount
of yarn taken off the wax roll and applied to the
yarn issmall. Underwaxing and overwaxing isthus
avoided.
Yet another important advantage of Autotense FX
is, that the amount of wax applied to the yarn is
even throughout the formation of the yarn package,
due to the fact that Autotense FX holdsthe yarn
tension constant within the spinning bobbin
unwound and from spinning bobbin to spinning
bobbin.
The wax roll monitoring feature integrated into
the waxing device ensuresthat no unwaxed yarn
can be placed on the cross-wound package. A
signal callsthe attention of the operator well in
time before the wax roll runsout.
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For knitters, Autoconer yarn packagesoffer the
added advantage of excellent unwinding perfor-
mance on the knitting machines: tapered packages
with up to 557 taper, if required with increasing
taper to 11, and with large diameters. The bottom
yarn reserve and the tip tail of the package, formed
by the package doffer, are essential for easy hand-
ling and safe yarn transfer at the package change
on the knitting machine. The yarn-like spliced
jointsproduced by the Autoconer are resistant to
fibre shifting at the deflection pointsin the knit-
ting machine.
Trouble-free work with the Autoconer packagesin
the textile production processestranslatesinto
high efficiency ratesof the equipment and superior
quality of the knitted fabrics.
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Targeted yarn waxing through yarn tension variation.
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Interrelation of Yarn Tension [ cN] and Yarn Friction Coef f icient .

0.25
0.20
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15 cN 20 cN 25 cN 30 cN 35 cN 40 cN 45 cN
M inimum quantityof wax
rubbed off the wax roll
0.96g wax/kg yarn.
Yarn material 20tex (Nm 50/1; Ne 30/1) 100% CO, carded
Winding speed 1, 200 m/min
Type of wax Reseda Binder green
Yarn tension see diagram
Yarn tension [cN]
7
Up-to-date yarn structures
Optimal winding on the Autoconer 338.
Compact yarns.
In the winding of Compact Yarns, the main require-
mentsplaced on the winding processare main-
taining the specific propertiesand quality of the
yarn, also in yarn splicing, and the production of
optimally-structured cross-wound packagesfor
trouble-free unwinding and careful handling of
the yarn in the production processessubsequent
to winding. The focusof the adapted winding
technology isalso on maximised resource utilisa-
tion and online processand quality monitoring.
The unique upper-yarn sensor and the suction
system with controlled operating vacuum of the
Autoconer 338 ensure gentle treatment of the
yarn in package winding. Careful handling of the
package surfacesand a minimum amount of yarn
waste are ensured by the low vacuum level, which
can be set to suit the specific characteristicsof the
yarn wound, and the short upper-yarn search and
suck-up times. There isno roughening-up of the
yarn by excessive intensity of the sucking action.
Autotense FX and Propack FX ensure uniform
structure of the packageswith the least possible
stresson the yarn. Their action issupported by
the package lift-off motion at a yarn break or
clearer cut, yarn guide drum and package being
braked to a standstill separately from one another,
and by the direct, sensor-monitored yarn path
with only slight deviations.
Asrequired for the application, the Autoconer can
splice Compact Yarnseither with the Standard-
splicer or the Injectionsplicer. The Thermosplicer is
available for the splicing of Compact Yarnsof
wool. With these options, the highest demands
on strength and appearance of the spliced joints
can be efficiently met.
The Ring Spindle Identification System in Auto-
coner-RSM linked installationsextendsonline
quality control on the Autoconer right back to the
ring spinning machine. Yarn faultsoriginating in
the ring spindlescan be pinpointed and eliminated
at a very early stage. Constant and consistently
high yarn quality isthusensured. The optional
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central Conerpilot data acquisition system supports
online quality monitoring.
The modular architecture of the Autoconer wind-
ing technology for adaptation to any application
allowsefficient, cost-effective winding of all short-
staple and long-staple Compact Yarnsspun in the
market.
Elastic Core yarns.
The specific structure and great diversity of the
material of which elastic Core yarnsare made
placesvery high demandson yarn winding, in
particular on the splicing technology, structure
and build of the yarn packagesand process
reliability. For the winding of elastic Core yarns,
Schlafhorst offersan optimised winding process
specially adapted to the requirementsof elastic
Core yarn winding.
The package format isoptimized by Autotense FX,
Propack FX and, in particular measure, by Vario-
pack FX. To reduce bulging-out of the package
flanksto a minimum, Variopack FX coordinates
yarn tension and package contact pressure
throughout the build-up of the package in such a
way that dimensional stability of the package is
ensured.
For the splicing of elastic Core yarns, Schlafhorst
offersthe Elastosplicer, which, through itsspecially
adapted yarn geometry, additional braking ele-
mentsand precisely timed operating cycles, pro-
ducesCore-yarn spliced jointsof convincing quali-
ty. The splicesstand out by their excellent visual
appearance, great strength and high resistance to
alternating stresses.
Software and sensor technology in the Autoconer
338 guarantee reliable, well-coordinated control
sequences. The winding processcan be optimised
in such a way that the very best conditionsare
created, whatever the specific propertiesof the
yarn wound are. Thisisone of the strong points
of the Autoconer 338 in the continuation of the
Autoconer successstory.
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Schlafhorst
Zweigniederlassung der
Saurer GmbH & Co. KG
Blumenberger Str. 143-145
D-41061 M nchengladbach
Phone +49 2161280
Fax +49 2161282645
info@ schlafhorst.de
www.schlafhorst.de
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