Patent Application
20200340149
This application claims priority from German National Patent Application No. DE 10 2019 110 731.8, filed Apr. 25, 2019, entitled “Saugkanalendteil, Herstellverfahren and Streckwerk umfassend ein solches Saugkanalendteil”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a suction channel end part for removing fiber flight in the region of a drafting system by applying negative pressure.
Such a suction channel end part is known from European Patent Publications EP 1 601 825 A1 and EP 3 026 152 A1, for example. The suction channel end part known from European Patent Publication EP 1 601 825 A1 comprises suction ports each associated with a roller pair and a spinning nozzle, whereby a suction channel end part to be coupled to only one negative pressure source can be provided, by means of which suction channel end part the rollers or the entire drafting system can be cleaned and at the same time the spinning air can be removed from the spinning nozzle.
European Patent Publication EP 3 026 152 A1 proposes a suction channel end part by means of which fiber remnants in the region of the drafting system can be efficiently removed regardless of the fiber type of the fiber band to be drafted by the drafting system. The suction channel end part has a single, larger suction port, which can be adjusted in a defined manner in the arrangement direction of the roller pairs and in accordance with the fiber-type-dependent distance between two adjacent roller pairs, which distance is to be changed, in order to make suitable allowance for the distance between the adjacent roller pairs and thus for the fiber type.
The aim of the present invention is to enable economical removal of fiber flight in the region of a drafting system by the application of negative pressure, said removal being adaptable to different fiber types.
For this purpose, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a suction channel end part for removing fiber flight in the region of a drafting system by the application of negative pressure is proposed, the suction channel end part comprising a first component, to which negative pressure can be applied and which has an inlet and an outlet communicating with the inlet. The inlet is provided for introducing or letting the fiber flight present in the region of the drafting system during operation into the suction channel end part by means of the suction flow produced by the application of negative pressure. The fiber flight is removed or let out via the outlet when negative pressure is applied.
The suction channel end part according to the invention is of a defined multi-part design, in contrast to the previously known suction channel end parts. In detail, the suction channel end part also has, in addition to the first component, a second component, which is designed as a cover element and to which negative pressure can likewise be applied. The second component can be exchangeably connected to the first component. Within the meaning of the present invention, exchangeably corresponds to the non-destructive or damage-free disconnecting and joining of the first and second components. The first and second components can be repeatedly disconnected from one another and joined by means of different fastening options. For example, positive, frictional or force-fitting connecting means can be selected. Positive connecting means such as snap-in connection means are particularly preferred because they can be released and closed in a simple manner by the application of a predefinable amount of force. Furthermore, such snap-in connection means have proven themselves particularly successful for plastics-containing materials, from which the first component and/or the second component can be produced.
The second component comprises an opening, which, in the joined state of the suction channel end part, forms a suction port, which communicates with the inlet and via which the fiber flight can be removed into the suction channel end part when a negative pressure is applied.
The separation of the suction port from the inlet by providing different components has proven to have the advantage that allowance can be made for different fiber types merely by exchanging the second component, which is designed as a cover element. It is thus possible to avoid the expensive replacement of a complete suction channel end part or the adjustment thereof by providing an adjustment mechanism having a correspondingly complex design.
Furthermore, the design according to the invention allows the suctioning to be adapted to different positions of the drafting system by varying the number of suction ports and/or the dimensions of the suction ports. Thus, the second component can preferably have more than one opening, the openings forming, in the joined state of the suction channel end part, suction ports that communicate with the inlet or with an associated inlet of a plurality of inlets formed together with the first component. The openings can accordingly be adapted in terms of their dimensions to the particular position of the suctioning and therefore can differ greatly from one another. The first component can also have more than one inlet or a sufficiently large inlet for communication with the openings in question.
The solution according to the invention provides for large variation in the design of the suction channel end part. Thus, alternatively, the suction channel end part can preferably have more than one second component each having at least one opening, each opening forming, in the joined state of the suction channel end part, a suction port that communicates with the inlet or with an associated inlet of a plurality of inlets formed together with the first component. It is therefore possible, if necessary, to exchange only the second component that has an opening arranged at a position at which a different opening cross-section is required for suitably removing the fiber flight when the fiber type to be processed is changed.
The suction channel end part can therefore be designed and arranged appropriately and positionally accurately depending on the requirements in the region of the drafting system. For example, the suction channel end part can be dimensioned suitably for applying suction air to at least two roller pairs of the drafting system, at least one suction port being associated with at least one roller of each roller pair. The suction port is preferably associated with a bottom roller of the roller pair. Alternatively or additionally, the suction port can be associated with a top roller of the roller pair by suitably positioning the suction channel end part in the region of the drafting system.
According to another preferred embodiment, the suction channel end part can be fastened in the region of the drafting system in a stationarily exchangeable manner. For this purpose, the suction channel end part can have a fastening means. Within the meaning of the present invention, the term “fastening means” refers to a means that contributes to the fastening of the suction channel end part in the region of the drafting system. Thus, the suction channel end part can preferably comprise a snap-in connection means, such as a snap-in hook or a snap-in hook receptacle, which interacts with an associated additional snap-in connection means provided in the region of the drafting system, in order to fasten the suction channel end part. Alternatively or additionally, the suction channel end part can preferably have, as a fastening means, an exterior shape around which a flexible clip can at least partially reach in order to clamp the suction channel end part and hold it stationary.
According to another preferred embodiment, the suction channel end part comprises a funnel, which is tapered towards the opening. Such a funnel advantageously enables improved application of suction air to defined drafting system regions in order to remove the fiber flight. The funnel can more preferably be designed as an insert, which can be exchangeably fastened in or at the opening. Thus, fiber flight can be removed at defined positions in the region of the drafting system for different fiber types in a further improved manner. If, for example, a funnel has a defect, only the funnel in question has to be replaced.
The funnel can likewise be fastened at or in the associated opening in a variety of ways. Thus, a snap-in connection can likewise be provided. Alternatively, the funnel can be placed in the opening, in particular by means of a press fit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, such a suction channel end part can be produced by means a method in which a 3D printing method, a laser sintering method or a plastics injection-molding method has been used to produce at least one of the parts of the suction channel end part, such as, in particular, the first or second component or the funnel. The suction channel end part can thus be produced economically and with small tolerances.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a drafting system is proposed, which comprises at least two roller pairs for the defined drafting of a fed fiber band, a suction channel end part as described above being arranged in the region of the drafting system. The fiber flight present in the region of the drafting system during operation can thus be removed efficiently in a manner adapted to the fiber type, whereby malfunctions due to fiber flight collecting on the roller pairs can be reduced.
In a side view of the drafting system, the suction channel end part is preferably arranged at least with one opening centered with respect to one roller of an associated roller pair. An arrangement centered in this way should be understood to mean positioning in such a way that, in the side view, the center of rotation of the roller spans an isosceles triangle together with the edge points of the opening which lie opposite one another, the axis of symmetry of the triangle running through the center point of the opening. The centered arrangement of the suction port enables efficient removal of fiber flight in the region of the associated roller. The suction channel end part preferably has a plurality of openings, each opening being associated with one roller of a roller pair, and each opening being centered with respect to the roller in question. This allows fiber flight to be removed efficiently across all the roller pairs of the drafting system.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of preferred embodiment examples of the invention, on the basis of the figures and drawings illustrating details essential to the invention, and from the claims. The individual features can be implemented individually or in any desired combination in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Preferred embodiment examples of the invention are explained in more detail below on the basis of the accompanying drawings.
The following description of the embodiments of the present invention is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. The following description is provided herein solely by way of example for purposes of providing an enabling disclosure of the invention, but does not limit the scope or substance of the invention.
Referring to the figures,
The first component 2 comprises an inlet 21 and an outlet 22 communicating with the inlet. The inlet 21 is designed as a slot running in parallel with the axial tube axis. The inlet 21 is bordered on its longitudinal sides by tongue-type guide elements 23, which can be brought into engagement with complementary groove guide elements of the second component 3 in order to join the first component 2 and the second component 3 to one another. The tongue-type guide elements 23 have an interruption 24 near the outlet 22, below which interruption a first snap-in latch 25 for latching with a first fastening means 4 is arranged, said first fastening means retaining the suction channel end part 1 in the region of a drafting system. Radial fixing can thereby be reliably achieved. In order to axially fix the suction channel end part 1 in the region of the drafting system, a snap-in lug 27 is also provided on the end of the suction channel end part 1 opposite the outlet 22, which snap-in lug runs in the direction of longitudinal extent of the suction channel end part 1 in order to latch with complementary second fastening means 5 (see
The end of the tongue-type guide elements 23 near the outlet 22 has a snap-in receptacle 26 for latching with a second snap-in latch 32, which is formed by the second component 3 and by means of which the first component 2 and the second component 3 are held stationary with respect to one another in the joined state.
The design of the first component 2 shown in
According to this embodiment example, the suction channel end part 1 is joined by bringing the tongue-type guide elements 23 into engagement with the groove-type guide elements 31 and by performing a subsequent relative motion in the direction of longitudinal extent of the suction channel end part 1 until the second snap-in latch 32 latches into the snap-in receptacle 26. Disassembly is performed in the reverse order accordingly. Therefore, different second components 3 can be combined with the first component 2 in order to easily adequately adapt the suction channel end part 1 to different designs of a drafting system or different fiber types processed by means of the same drafting system. Likewise, differently designed first components 2 can be combined with a second component 3. The suction channel end part 1 provides a high level of variability and flexibility. Furthermore, individual parts can be readily replaced in the event of a defect.
The suction channel end part 1 or at least one of the parts thereof, such as the first component 2, the second component 3 and/or the insert 36, can be produced by means of a 3D printing method, a laser sintering method or a plastics injection-molding method depending on the requirements, taking into consideration the advantages inherent to these methods. An additional degree of freedom in the design of the suction channel end part 1 can thus be provided.
The suction channel end part 1, having a number of openings that corresponds to the number of roller pairs 6, 7, 8, is arranged below the roller pairs 6, 7, 8. The openings 33 are at the same distance in the fiber band transport direction R as the centers of rotation of the associated bottom rollers 61, 71, 81. The arrangement is shown centered, according to this embodiment example. The centered arrangement is clear because, in the side view shown, in particular the center of rotation of the bottom roller 81 spans an isosceles triangle D together with the edge points of the insert 36 or of the opening 33 which lie opposite one another, the axis of symmetry S of said isosceles triangle running through the center point of the insert 36 or of the opening 33. According to this embodiment example, this center arrangement is provided in the same way for the arrangement of the openings 33 that lie opposite the middle bottom roller 71 and the input bottom roller 61.
According to this embodiment example, the suction channel end part 1 is held stationary in the region of the drafting system by means of two fastening means 4, 5. The first fastening means 4 is designed as a clip that reaches around the outer periphery of the suction channel end part 1 and with which the first snap-in latch 25 provided on the suction channel end part 1 engages. The first fastening means 4 has a fixing element 41, which is designed as a snap-in latch and can be fixed in the region of the drafting system on a support of the roller pairs, on a support of the drafting system or on a frame portion of the workstation of the textile machine by means of a complementary element. The second fastening means 5 is arranged downstream of the output roller pair 8 in the fiber band transport direction in the region of the drafting system and has a snap-in receptacle (not shown), in which the snap-in lug 27 engages in the installed state.
The arrangement of the suction channel end part 1 allows fiber flight arising in the region of the roller pairs 6, 7, 8 to be reliably and efficiently removed during operation of the drafting system. The fiber flight is sucked via the funnel-shaped opening of the insert 36 into the opening 33 in the second component 3 by means of a suction flow, as a result of a negative pressure in the suction channel end part 1, and, after first passing through the inlet 21 of the first component 2, is removed through the outlet 22. According to this embodiment example, the outlet 22 of the first component 2 is designed as a hose connection element for connecting a negative-pressure hose, by means of which a negative-pressure flow can be introduced into the suction channel end part 1 by applying a negative pressure or, if necessary, a positive-pressure flow can be introduced into the suction channel end part by applying a positive pressure. A positive-pressure flow that can be introduced has the advantage that the suction channel end part 1 and/or the associated rollers can be blown clear or freed of fiber flight as necessary.
It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102019110731.8 | Apr 2019 | DE | national |
