Patent Application
20090000071
This application claims priority from German Utility Model Application No. 20 2007 010 686.6 dated 29 Jun. 2007, German Patent Application No. 10 2007 038 667.4 dated 15 Aug. 2007 and German Patent Application No. 10 2008 006 239.1 dated 25 Jan. 2008, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein.
The invention relates to an apparatus for the fibre-sorting or selection of a fibre bundle comprising textile fibres, especially for combing, in which clamping devices are provided, which clamp the fibre bundle at a distance from its free end and mechanical devices are present which generate a combing action from the clamping site to the free end of the fibre bundle in order to loosen and remove non-clamped constituents, such as, for example, short fibres, neps, dust and the like from the free end, wherein for removal of the combed fibre material a take-off device is present.
In practice, combing machines are used to free cotton fibres or woollen fibres of natural impurities contained therein and to parallelise the fibres of the fibre sliver. For that purpose, a previously prepared fibre bundle is clamped between the jaws of the nipper arrangement so that a certain sub-length of the fibres, known as the “fibre tuft”, projects at the front of the jaws. By means of the combing segments of the rotating combing roller, which segments are filled with needle clothing or toothed clothing, this fibre tuft is combed and thus cleaned. The take-off device usually consists of two counter-rotating rollers, which grip the combed fibre tuft and carry it onwards. The known cotton-combing process is a discontinuous process. During a nipping operation, all assemblies and their drive means and gears are accelerated, decelerated and in some cases reversed again. High nip rates result in high acceleration. Particularly as a result of the kinematics of the nippers, the gear for the nipper movement and the gear for the pilgrim-step movement of the detaching rollers, high acceleration forces come into effect. The forces and stresses that arise increase as the nip rates increase. The known flat combing machine has reached a performance limit with its nip rates, which prevents productivity from being increased. Furthermore, the discontinuous mode of operation causes vibration in the entire machine, which generates dynamic alternating stresses.
EP 1 586 682 A discloses a combing machine in which, for example, eight combing heads operate simultaneously one next to the other. The drive of those combing heads is effected by means of a lateral drive means arranged next to the combing heads having a gear unit which is in driving connection by way of longitudinal shafts with the individual elements of the combing heads. The fibre slivers formed at the individual combing heads are transferred, one next to the other on a conveyor table, to a subsequent drafting system in which they are drafted and then combined to form a common combing machine sliver. The fibre sliver produced in the drafting system is then deposited in a can by means of a funnel wheel (coiler plate). The plurality of combing heads of the combing machine each have a feed device, a pivotally mounted, fixed-position nipper assembly, a rotatably mounted circular comb having a comb segment for combing out the fibre bundle supplied by the nipper assembly, a top comb and a fixed-position detaching device for detaching the combed-out fibre bundle from the nipper assembly. The lap ribbon supplied to the nipper assembly is here fed via a feed cylinder to a detaching roller pair. The fibre bundle protruding from the opened nipper passes onto the rearward end of a combed sliver web or fibre web, whereby it enters the clamping nip of the detaching rollers owing to the forward movement of the detaching rollers. The fibres that are not retained by the retaining force of the lap ribbon, or by the nipper, are detached from the composite of the lap ribbon. During this detaching operation, the fibre bundle is additionally pulled by the needles of a top comb. The top comb combs out the rear part of the detached fibre bundle and also holds back neps, impurities and the like. Owing to the differences in speed between the lap ribbon and the detaching speed of the detaching rollers, the detached fibre bundle is drawn out to a specific length. Following the detaching roller pair is a guide roller pair. During this detaching operation, the leading end of the detached or pulled off fibre bundle is overlapped or doubled with the trailing end of the fibre web. As soon as the detaching operation and the piecing operation have ended, the nippers return to a rear position in which they are closed and present the fibre bundle protruding from the nipper to a comb segment of a circular comb for combing out. Before the nipper assembly now returns to its front position again, the detaching rollers and the guide rollers perform a reversing movement, whereby the trailing end of the fibre web is moved backwards by a specific amount. This is required to achieve a necessary overlap for the piecing operation. In this way, a mechanical combing of the fibre material is effected. Disadvantages of that combing machine are especially the large amount of equipment required and the low hourly production rate. There are eight individual combing heads which have in total eight feed devices, eight fixed-position nipper assemblies, eight circular combs with comb segments, eight top combs and eight detaching devices. A particular problem is the discontinuous mode of operation of the combing heads. Additional disadvantages result from large mass accelerations and reversing movements, with the result that high operating speeds are not possible. Finally, the considerable amount of machine vibration results in irregularities in the deposition of the combed sliver. Moreover, the ecartement, that is to say the distance between the nipper lip of the lower nipper plate and the clamping point of the detaching cylinder, is structurally and spatially limited. The rotational speed of the detaching rollers and the guide rollers, which convey the fibre bundles away, is matched to the upstream slow combing process and is limited by this. A further drawback is that each fibre bundle is clamped and conveyed by the detaching roller pair and subsequently by the guide roller pair. The clamping point changes constantly owing to the rotation of the detaching rollers, i.e. there is a constant relative movement between the rollers effecting clamping and the fibre bundle. All fibre bundles have to pass through the one fixed-position detaching roller pair and the one fixed-position guide roller pair in succession, which represents a further considerable limitation of the production speed.
It is an aim of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the kind described at the beginning which avoids or mitigates the mentioned disadvantages and which in a simple way, in particular, enables the amount produced per hour (productivity) to be substantially increased and an improved combed sliver to be obtained.
The invention provides an apparatus for the fibre-sorting or fibre-selection of a fibre bundle comprising textile fibres having:
a fibre sorting device in which clamping devices are provided which each clamp a bundle of the textile fibres at a distance from its free end;
a supply device for supplying the fibre bundle to the fibre-sorting device; and
at least one mechanical device for generating a combing action from the clamping site to the free end of the fibre bundle in order to loosen and remove non-clamped constituents;
wherein the fibre-sorting device comprises at least first and second rotatably mounted rollers that, in use, rotate rapidly without interruption, the clamping devices for the fibre bundles being distributed spaced apart in the region of the periphery of at least one said roller, and the apparatus further comprises at least one guide device for influencing the transfer of fibre material between said first roller and said second roller.
By implementing the functions of clamping and moving the fibre bundles to be combed-out on high-speed rotating rollers, preferably a turning rotor and a combing rotor, high operating speeds (nip rates) are achievable—unlike the known apparatus—without large mass accelerations and reversing movements. In particular, the mode of operation is continuous. When high-speed rollers are used, a very substantial increase in hourly production rate (productivity) is achievable which had previously not been considered possible in technical circles. A further advantage is that the rotary rotational movement of the rollers with the plurality of clamping devices leads to an unusually rapid supply of a plurality of fibre bundles per unit of time to the first roller and to the second roller. In particular the high rotational speed of the rollers allows production to be substantially increased.
To form the fibre bundle, the fibre material pushed forward by the feed roller is clamped at one end by a clamping device and detached by the rotary movement of the turning rotor. The clamped end contains short fibres, the free region comprises the long fibres. The long fibres are pulled by separation force out of the fibre material clamped in the feed nip, short fibres remaining behind through the retaining force in the feed nip. Subsequently, as the fibre bundle is transferred from the turning rotor onto the combing rotor the ends of the fibre bundle are reversed: the clamping device on the combing rotor grips and clamps the end with the long fibres, so that the region with the short fibres projects from the clamping device and lies exposed and can thereby be combed out.
The fibre bundles are—unlike the known apparatus—held by a plurality of clamping devices and transported under rotation. The clamping point at the particular clamping devices therefore remains substantially constant on each roller until the fibre bundles are transferred to the subsequent roller or take-off roller. A relative movement between clamping device and fibre bundle does not begin until after the fibre bundle has been gripped by the first and second roller respectively and in addition clamping has been terminated. Because a plurality of clamping devices is available for the fibre bundles, in an especially advantageous manner fibre bundles can be supplied to the first and second roller respectively one after the other and in quick succession, without undesirable time delays resulting from just a single supply device. A particular advantage is that the supplied fibre bundles on the first roller (turning rotor) are continuously transported. The speed of the fibre bundle and of the co-operating clamping elements is the same. The clamping elements close and open during the movement in the direction of the transported fibre material. The second roller (combing rotor) is arranged downstream of the first roller (turning rotor). With the apparatus according to the invention, a substantially increased productivity is achievable. A further particular advantage is that suction and/or blowing devices (hoods) enable an optimised alignment of the fibre bundle and improved transfer of the fibre bundle from the turning rotor to the combing rotor to be achieved.
In certain preferred embodiments, pneumatic guide means are present. Advantageously, the guide means include at least one suction device. Advantageously, the suction device is an extractor hood. Advantageously, the extractor hood is arranged in the nip region between turning rotor and combing rotor. Advantageously, the guide means include at least one blowing device. Advantageously, the blowing device is a blowing hood. Advantageously, the blowing hood is arranged in the nip region between turning rotor and combing rotor. Advantageously, at least one hood is mounted in the upper nip region between turning rotor and combing rotor. Advantageously, at least one hood is mounted in the lower nip region between turning rotor and combing rotor. Advantageously, each extractor hood is connected to a source of reduced pressure. Advantageously, each blowing hood is connected to a source of increased pressure. Advantageously, the reduced pressure and/or increased pressure at each hood is adjustable. In some embodiments, the suction or blowing at each hood is effected continuously. In other embodiments, the suction or blowing at each hood is effected in timed mode. Advantageously, the position of the at least one hood in relation to the nip region is adjustable. Advantageously, the distance of the at least one hood from the nip region is adjustable, for example, horizontally and/or vertically. Advantageously, the suction angle or blowing angle is adjustable. Advantageously, the position of the at least one hood in relation to the turning rotor and/or combing rotor is adjustable. Advantageously, the suction angle or blowing angle of the at least one hood in relation to the turning rotor and/or the combing rotor is adjustable. Advantageously, the at least one hood comprises a transverse duct optimised in respect of flow. Advantageously, the geometry of the hood is adapted to the hood position. Advantageously, the geometry of the hood is adapted to the hood function. Advantageously, the hoods have opening slots of different sizes. Advantageously, the hoods have cross-sections of different sizes. Advantageously, the hood is provided for bundle pre-alignment. Advantageously, the number of hoods in the upper and/or lower nip region is variable. Advantageously, the positioning of the hoods relative to one another in the upper and/or lower nip region is variable. Advantageously, for tuft pre-alignment additionally at least one nozzle is present. Advantageously, additional nozzles with different nozzle geometries are present. The nozzle or nozzles may be used for jetting air. Advantageously, the pressure of the jetting is adjustable. Advantageously, the angle of the jetting is adjustable. Advantageously, the nozzles are positioned in the upper nip region. Advantageously, the nozzles are positioned in the lower nip region. In some embodiments, the at least one hood and/or the at least one nozzle is associated with the outer periphery of the turning rotor and/or combing rotor. Advantageously, the at least two rotatably mounted rollers that rotate rapidly without interruption comprise at least one turning rotor and at least one combing rotor.
Advantageously, the turning rotor and the combing rotor have different directions of rotation. For suction of the supplied fibre bundles, at least one suction device is advantageously associated with the clamping devices in the region of the transfer of the fibre bundle from the supply device to the first roller and/or in the region of the transfer of the fibre material from the first roller to the second roller.
The invention also provides an apparatus for the fibre-sorting or fibre-selection of a fibre bundle comprising textile fibres, especially for combing, which is supplied by means of supply means to a fibre-sorting device, especially a combing device, in which clamping devices are provided which clamp the fibre bundle at a distance from its free end, and mechanical means are present which generate a combing action from the clamping site to the free end of the fibre bundle in order to loosen and remove non-clamped constituents, such as, for example, short fibres, neps, dust and the like from the free end, wherein for removal of the combed fibre material a take-off means is present, characterised in that downstream of the supply means there are arranged at least two rotatably mounted rollers rotating rapidly without interruption, which are provided with clamping devices for the fibre bundle, which clamping devices are distributed spaced apart in the region of the periphery of the rollers, wherein, in the region between the rollers, means for optimum feed and/or positioning for the transfer and/or take-up of the fibre material from the first roller to the second roller are present.
Certain embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
a to 8c show in diagrammatic form the operating sequence during suction and pre-alignment of the fibre bundle transported in rotation on the first roller, and
With reference to
An autoleveller drafting system 50 (see
In accordance with a further construction, more than one rotor combing machine 2 is provided. If, for example, two rotor combing machines 2a and 2b are present, then the two delivered combed slivers 17 can pass together through the downstream autoleveller drafting system 50 and be deposited as one drafted combed sliver in the sliver-deposition device 3.
The sliver-deposition device 3 comprises a rotating coiler head 3a, by which the combed sliver can be deposited in a can 3b or (not shown) in the form of a can-less fibre sliver package.
The first roller 12 is provided in the region of its outer periphery with a plurality of first clamping devices 18 which extend across the width of the roller 12 (see
The second roller 13 is provided in the region of its outer periphery with a plurality of two-part clamping devices 21, which extend across the width of the roller 13 (see
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
Analogous to the illustration in
Transfer from the first roller to, and take-up by, the second roller with suction device.
a,
8
b and 8c illustrate diagrammatically the operating sequence during transfer of the supplied fibre material 302 from the first roller 12 to the roller 13 (combing rotor) acted upon by suction, and the take-up of the supplied fibre material 302 from the first roller 12 by the second roller 13 acted upon by suction, the Figures showing one after the other in chronological order:
according to
Using the rotor combing machine 2 according to the invention, more than 2000 nips/min, for example from 3000 to 5000 nips/min, are achieved.
In the embodiment of
Additionally, a flow of blown air, herein known as “jetting”, can be provided in the region of the supply device 8 and/or in the region of transfer between the rollers. The source of the flow of blown air (blowing nozzle 39) is arranged inside the feed roller 10 acts through the air-permeable surface of the supply device or air passage openings, towards the outside in the direction of the first roller. Also, in the region of the supply device 8, the element for producing the blown air flow can be fixedly arranged, directly under or over the supply device 8. In the region of the transfer between the rollers 12, 13 the blown air current sources can be arranged at the perimeter of the first roller 12, directly under or over each nipper device. For the blown air generation compressed air nozzles or air blades may be used.
The combed out fibre portion 303 passes from the second roller 13 onto the piecing roller 14.
Using the rotor combing machine according to the invention there is achieved a mechanical combing of the fibre material to be combed out, that is, mechanical means are used for the combing. There is no pneumatic combing of the fibre material to be combed, that is, no air currents, e.g. suction and/or blown air currents, are used for combing.
In the rotor combing machine according to the invention there are present rollers that rotate rapidly without interruption continuously and that have clamping devices. Rollers that rotate with interruptions, stepwise or alternating between a stationary and rotating state are not used.
Although the foregoing invention has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of understanding, it will be obvious that changes and modifications may be practised within the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2007 030 471.6 | Jun 2007 | DE | national |
| 20 2007 010 686.6 | Jun 2007 | DE | national |
| 10 2007 038 667.4 | Aug 2007 | DE | national |
| 10 2008 006 239.1 | Jan 2008 | DE | national |
