Patent Grant
7845054
This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2007 039 067.1 dated 17 Aug. 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to an apparatus on a combing machine for monitoring the noil percentage.
It is known to provide means for supplying and for combing out fibre material to be combed and means for forming at least one combed sliver, in which at least one arrangement is present for continuous automatic generation of a signal representing the noil percentage when the combing machine is running, the arrangement including at least one measuring device for the mass of supplied fibre material and at least one measuring device for the mass of combed fibre material and a calculating means for determining the noil percentage.
In the case of an apparatus according to WO 2005/001176 A, the noil percentage is determined indirectly, i.e. by measuring the quantity of fibre that runs into and out of a combing device. For that purpose, the combing device (combing head) is equipped with an arrangement device for determining the noil amount during operation, the arrangement comprising the following elements: for continuous determination of the incoming fibre amount (g/m), a thickness-measuring means and a sliver length-measuring means are associated with the intake rollers and delivery rollers respectively. The thickness-measuring means are displacement sensors, which measure the deflection of one roller of a pair of rollers and convert this deflection into electrical signals. A calibration in relation to the dependency of the amount of fibre (g/m) on the path deflection is effected. The sliver length-measuring means pick up the rotations of a roller and likewise generate electrical signals. In this apparatus the thickness of the incoming and outgoing fibre web is measured using feeler rollers. A drawback of this apparatus is the unsatisfactory measuring accuracy, since only the web thickness is measured and not the actual mass. Partial thick places in the webs falsify the measurement result. In addition, the web width is not constant, which is a prerequisite for a precise measurement. The calculated noil percentage for each of, for example, eight combing devices (combing heads), is output in the form of a table. The noil percentage (%) can also be represented in graph form over a period of time of, for example, 12 hours. Display of the noil percentages of the individual combing heads is effected in each case over relatively long periods of time. A correction of individual combs on the basis of the measurement results is possible only from time to time and only after the printouts or readouts, which reproduce a relatively long period of combing production, have been evaluated. There is no provision for a short-term fine adjustment. In practice, evaluations and, if applicable, adjustments, are regularly carried out by operational staff. It is also not possible to identify the reasons for undesirable variations from the readouts.
It is an aim of the invention to provide an apparatus of the kind described at the beginning which avoids or mitigates the mentioned disadvantages, and which in particular automatically monitors the combing device in such a way that the noil percentage can be determined and optimised even under different working conditions.
The invention provides an apparatus on a combing machine for monitoring the noil percentage, having:
a combing device for combing fibre material;
a supply device for supplying fibre material to the combing device; and
a sliver-forming device for forming a sliver from the combed fibre material;
wherein the apparatus for monitoring the noil percentage comprises at least one measuring device for measuring the amount of supplied fibre material and at least one measuring device for measuring the amount of combed fibre material, the or each measuring device for measuring the amount of combed fibre material comprising a measuring device for a comber sliver, having a feeler element or a contactless sensor.
In a first aspect of the invention, a plurality of combing heads of a rectilinear combing machine are fed with wound laps. Comber slivers are delivered at the combing heads, and are combined to form a combed sliver, which leaves the combing machine. According to the first aspect of the invention, the incoming lap mass is weighed by a weighing machine, by which the actual incoming mass is directly determined. For measurement of the outgoing fibre sliver mass, a measuring device having a feeler element is used, for example, a web funnel with loaded feeler probe. This measuring device is structurally simple; the reduction in the number of moving parts to a minimum requires only a slight expenditure as regards drive mechanisms. Moreover, the low mass inertia of the feeler probe means that even short-wave fluctuations in the sliver mass can be detected. The quantity of lap supplied and/or the quantity of fibre sliver delivered can instead advantageously be determined by a measuring device with a contactless sensor, for example, a microwave sensor. The advantages of a contactless sensor are inter alia that no influence is exerted on the fibre mass during the measurement. Likewise, the fibre material exerts no influence on the sensor. In addition, none of the oscillation problems associated with mechanically moving parts occur. The contactless sensor is less susceptible to problems with the bulking up of a textile sliver. As there is no friction, energy efficiency is increased. In addition, as there are no moving parts, ease of maintenance is increased. Finally, it is the density that is measured, not the volume. The microwave sensor is also in principle able to measure the moisture content of the material.
In a second aspect of the invention, a plurality of combing heads of a rectilinear combing machine are fed with fibre slivers, for example, from sliver cans or from a canless store. Comber slivers are delivered at each of the combing heads, and are combined to form a combed sliver. According to the second aspect of the invention, both the incoming fibre slivers and the outgoing comber slivers are measured either by a measuring device having a feeler element, or by a contactless sensor. Both measuring systems can be used as alternatives, independently, both on the input side and on the output side. The advantages of the measuring devices having a feeler element or a contactless sensor are the same as or analogous to those already explained above for the first aspect of the invention.
In an especially preferred construction of the apparatus according to the invention, the arrangement for generating the signal representing the noil percentage is connected to a control and regulation device, which includes a device for comparison with predetermined values, and in the event of variations, electrical signals can be sent to an actuating and/or display device. In this way, the current noil percentage can successfully be determined online, and in a control unit, which may, for example, be the relevant electronic machine control, a check is carried out as a function of, for example, setpoint data, comparison and the operating situation, as to whether the noil percentage is moving within known and predetermined limits. In the event that corresponding variations are present, control signals are emitted to the combing device for correction. A particular advantage is that monitoring of the combing device is effected automatically. This monitoring is effected by means of software and can be carried out in the machine control (SPC—“Stored Program Control”). In particular, different working situations, special operating states and the like, and also defects, incorrect settings and the like can be accounted for. Using an arrangement according to the invention, it is possible inter alia to detect, for example, overloads, sluggishness and the like and to flag these up specifically or report them before more substantial damage occurs.
In one embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention, the supply device is arranged for supplying a fibre lap to the combing device and the measuring device for the amount of supplied material comprises a weighing device for determining the weight decrease of a lap roll. Advantageously, the lap mass is determinable at two consecutive points in time. Advantageously, the mass flow fed to the combing site is determinable by calculating a difference. Advantageously, the measured value for the mass flow is determinable using the diameter and the speed of rotation of the lap roll transport roller. Advantageously, the laps to be combed are drawn off the lap rolls. In some embodiments, the noil percentage is determinable using the difference in weights per unit of time (input to output). In some embodiments, the noil percentage is determinable using the difference in weights per length unit (input to output). Advantageously, the time at which the lap roll will run down to empty is determinable on the basis of the difference in the lap weight and the wood weight. In one embodiment, with different residual weights on the winding tubes and with individual drive of the combing heads, a simultaneous run-down to empty of the lap rolls can be facilitated by using different production speeds. Advantageously, the lap weight is determinable on the basis of the lap mass that enters within a specific unit of time. Advantageously, to determine the lap weight, the unwound length, for example, over the diameter, and the speed of rotation of the lap roll transport roller are used.
In accordance with the first aspect or the second aspect of the invention, there may be present, as a contactless sensor, a microwave sensor.
In certain preferred embodiments, the measuring device for a supplied fibre sliver and/or a comber sliver is a feeler element for determining the sliver thickness, for example, a spring-loaded delivery roller.
Advantageously, the measuring device for a supplied fibre sliver and/or a comber sliver is a sliver funnel with a feeler element. In one embodiment, the feeler element co-operates with a measured value transducer, for example, an inductive displacement sensor. In some embodiments, the combing machine comprises a plurality of combing heads, of which each comprises means for supplying a respective lap to be combed or a fibre sliver to be combed. In that case, the noil percentage may be determinable at each combing head. For example, a measuring device for a comber sliver may be present at the output of each combing head. In addition or instead, the noil percentage of the combing machine is determinable. For that purpose, a measuring device for a comber sliver may be present at the output of the combing machine. In one embodiment, in which the combing machine is a rectilinear combing machine having a drafting system without levelling, the combed sliver is measurable as output material. In another embodiment in which the combing machine has a drafting system with levelling, the signal is detectable upstream of the drafting system. In certain embodiments, for analysis of a single head, additional measuring devices are associated with the funnel for sliver combination. For example, for analysis of a single head, additional measuring devices may be associated with a calender roller pair downstream of the funnels for sliver combination.
Advantageously, a calibration of the measuring devices is effected. Advantageously, a system for determining the CV value is used for determining the output mass. In some embodiments, the combing machine is a rectilinear combing machine. In other embodiments, the combing machine is a rotor combing machine.
Advantageously, the monitoring is effected online. Advantageously, the unit of time is freely selectable. Advantageously, values for the difference in weights per unit of time are determinable at different time intervals. Advantageously, values for the difference in weights per unit of length are determinable at different time intervals.
Advantageously, the arrangement for generating the signal representing the noil percentage is connected to a control and regulation device, which includes a device for comparison with predetermined values, and in the event of variations electrical signals are arranged to be fed to an actuating and/or display device.
The invention further provides an apparatus on a combing machine for monitoring the noil percentage, having means for supplying and for combing out fibre material to be combed and means for forming at least one combed sliver, in which at least one arrangement is present for continuous automatic generation of a signal representing the noil percentage when the combing machine is running, the arrangement comprising at least one measuring device for the quantity of supplied fibre material and at least one measuring device for the quantity of combed fibre material and a calculating means for determining the noil percentage, characterized in that the means for measuring a supplied quantity of lap comprise weighing devices for determining the weight decrease of lap rolls, or a contactless sensor, and the means for measuring the quantity of combed fibre material contain a measuring device for a comber sliver having a feeler element or having a contactless sensor.
Moreover, the invention provides an apparatus on a combing machine for monitoring the noil percentage, having means for supplying and for combing out fibre material to be combed and means for forming at least one combed sliver, in which at least one arrangement is present for continuous automatic generation of a signal representing the noil percentage when the combing machine is running, the arrangement comprising at least one measuring device for the quantity of supplied fibre material and at least one measuring device for the quantity of combed fibre material and a calculating means for determining the noil percentage, characterized in that the means for measuring a supplied quantity of fibre sliver comprise a measuring device for a fibre sliver having a feeler element or having a contactless sensor, and the means for measuring the quantity of combed fibre material contain a measuring device for a comber sliver having a feeler element or having a contactless sensor.
The arrangement for generating the signal representing the noil percentage contains means for measuring the quantity of lap supplied to the combing heads K1 to K8 of the combing machine per unit of time. The means for measuring the quantities of lap supplied per unit of time measure the quantities of lap per unit of time directly. The bearings of the lap roll rollers 2 and 3, which support the lap roll W in each combing head K, are supported by weighing scales 28, which emit a signal that represents the decrease in weight of the lap roll W per unit of time. The arrangement for generating the signal representing the noil percentage further contains a computer 93 (see
In the case of a weighing system having weighing scales 28 according to
In the embodiment of
A sliver funnel 27 for use as measuring device for a combed sliver, or with suitable adaptation for use as measuring device for a supply sliver, in either of the first or second aspects of the invention is shown in
In the embodiment of
The fibre slivers 521 to 5212 are combed in the combing heads K1 to K6 and guided over the sliver delivery table 23 to a drafting system 34, in which the fibre slivers F1 to F6 are drawn and subsequently collected by the sliver funnel 127 to produce a single fibre sliver. In the following sliver deposition arrangement 55, the fibre sliver 57 that has been produced is deposited in coils by a revolving plate 56 into a coiling can 58, in the form of a rectangular can, which traverses in the direction of the arrows G and H during sliver deposition. The coiling can 58 is transported from the supply can side to the filling position and after filling is removed to another machine for further processing of the fibre material. Behind the row 50 of supply cans 511 to 5112 there is a row 59 of the same number of reserve cans 601 to 6012.
The combing heads K1 to K6 are each fed by two fibre slivers 521 to 5212, each fibre sliver 521 to 5212 being allocated a respective sliver funnel 2271 to 22712 for determining the input mass. Combed fibre material leaves each combing head K1 to K6 and is collected by a respective sliver funnel 271 to 276 to form a combed fibre sliver F1 to F6. The sliver funnels 2271 to 22712 and 271 to 276 are in the form of measuring funnels (for example, as described with reference to
Settings on the combing machine that affect the noil percentage are in particular the detaching distance and the feed amount and feed point. For example, in the case of the rectilinear combing device of
According to the invention the actual incoming mass can be determined. In the case of the first aspect of the invention, this is effected by measuring the wound lap mass at two consecutive points in time. Through subsequent difference formation, the mass flow (g/min) fed to the combing point is known. The measured value can also be expressed in g/m, i.e. in ktex, using the known diameter of the lap roll transport rollers 2, 3 and their rotational speed. The mass flow of the delivered combed sliver at the output of the combing machine is likewise determined. A measuring funnel 27 with feeler probe 40 (for example, as described with reference to
The following is an illustrative example of a calculation of noil percentage in accordance with the invention:
Example Calculation:
Incoming mass flow per combing head: 150 g/min
Incoming mass flow at 8 combing heads: 8×150 g/min=1200 g/min
Delivered mass flow: 5 ktex at 200 m/min, hence 1000 g/min
Noil percentage: (1−1000/1200)×100%=16.7%.
Inter alia one or more of the following advantages may be achievable by the invention:
An online measurement enables inter alia the noil percentage p [%] to be determined, and the input weight and the combed sliver weight with respect to the combing machine as a whole and with respect to the individual combing heads to be monitored. This allows a process control and enables weak spots to be exposed, for example, enables incorrect settings and defective machine parts, such as the circular comb clothing, to be identified. The noil percentage can be adjusted in accordance with the material, and in the event of fluctuations in supply can be maintained at a constant level by varying the appropriate machine parameters. In this way, with waste amounts set at an optimum level, savings on raw material can consequently be achieved. An analysis of the combing process over a relatively long test period is rendered possible and the consistency among the individual combing heads can be determined. A statistical analysis of the data is possible. By additionally taking into account laboratory data, a correlation can be derived between supply data, combed sliver data and noil data and, for example, the noil percentage recorded on line.
One or more of the following further advantages may also be obtainable using an apparatus according to the invention:
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 practiced within the scope of the appended claims.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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