CA1319804C - Method of blending textile fibers - Google Patents

Abstract

A b s t r a c t The invention relates to blending of individual fibre components in accordance with the properties of a required intermediate product such as a card silver, or a required end product such as a yarn.

The blending process is as follows: fibre bales (2) are combined Into component groups and the fibre components in the groups are accurately supplied by metering devices (11) to a blender, in which the components are homogeneously mixed.

The product from the blender is then cleaned in a cleaning station (60) and delivered for processing to a card (63).

After leaving the card, the sliver is tested in a colour-testing device (65) and the corresponding signal 18 delivered to a control system (7; 7.1; 7.2; 44) which primarily controls the component blend and secondarily is also corrected by a colour system so that the primary blend control is altered until the colour at the outlet of the card again coincides with the colour in the card silver.

The card silver is also tested for fibre fineness (MICRONAIR) using the fibre-fineness testing device (66), and a corresponding signal is delivered to the aforementioned control system. The aforementioned component blend is also adjusted by means of this signal, if the fineness deviates from a preset value.

A third signal (81) comes from the card control system (64). This signal indicates the output (kg/h) to the aforementioned control system, in order to control the amount delivered by the extraction devices (20, 23).

Description

1 3 ~

METHOD OF BLENDING TEXTILE FIBRES
The invention relates to a method of blending textile fibres.
In conventional methods of blending, bales of varying origin are arranged in a row and are opened by an extraction device moving in reciprocation over them and extracting fibre flocks from the surface and transferring them to a conveying means. Alternatively, parts of bales are extracted manually or by machine and conveyed successively to a conveyor belt of an opening machine, in which the parts are opened to form fibre flocks and delivered to a conveying means.
The conveying means can be mechanical or pneumatic and convey the flocks to "blending boxes", into which the fibres are poured and constitute a flock mixture.
The fibre flock mixture from the blending boxes is conveyed at varying speeds to a collective conveyor in order to obtain a folding effect, the aim being to homogenize the fibre flock mixture.
Homogenizing devices of this kind are shown and described e.g. in German patent specifications 196 821 dated March 27, 1908 and 31 51 063 dated May 24, 1984.
However, the aforementioned extraction and blending process has a disadvantage in that, since the rows of bales are stationary, the blend is unchangeable until the row has been finally extracted, so that the blending ratio remains the same during the whole time, and the second extraction and blending process also increases the inaccuracy of the amount which has been extracted. The problem therefore is to produce accurate, - 2 _ 1 3 ~

homogeneous fibre blends which can also be quickly altered when required.
To this end, according to the invention, fibre-blend components are formed each with predetermined different fibre properties, controllably variable proportions of components are mixed to form a component blend, and the compondent blend is determined or corrected in dependence on preset, respectively ascertained and altered properties of a subsequent intermediate product, e.g. a card sliver, or an end product, e.g. a yarn.
By this method, fibre properties determined in advance by sample-taking from the bales, can be exactly blended in desired proportions to obtain the required properties of an intermediate product such as a card sliver or an end product such as a yarn.
It is also possible, e.g. by measuring the properties of fibres in the sliver or yarn, to detect deviations so as immediately to correct the blend so that the sliver or yarn retains the desired properties.
advantageous embodimens of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of extracting a fiber flock component from each of a plurality of fiber bales of varying origin in a predetermined variably controlled metered amount corresponding to a predetermined percentage of said fiber flock component in a predetermined blend of said components; and blending the fiber flock components from the fiber bales in controlled variable proportions to form a uniform blend; and automatically correcting 'i~

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the amount of a fiber flock component extracted from a respective bale in response to a deviation of the blend from a present value of a characteristic thereof to eliminate said deviation.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of extracting fibers from each of a plurality of fiber bales of varying origin to form a plurality of fiber flock components; delivering each fiber flock component to a selected cell of a plurality of cells; discharging fiber flock from each cell at a metered amount to a blender; blending the fiber flock in the blender with a uniform blend; and automatically correcting the amount of fiber flock discharged from a respective cell in response to a deviation of the blend from a present value of a characteristic thereof to eliminate said deviation.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of forming a plurality of rows of fiber bales of different origin; extracting fiber flocks from a foremost fiber bale in each row to form a fiber flock component; blending the fiber flock components into a uniform blend; carding fiber flocks from said blend into at least one sliver; measuring at least one characteristic of a sliver to obtain a measured value thereof;
comparing the measured value with a preset value to determine a deviation of the measured value from said preset value; and extracting a greater or lesser amount of fiber flock from a respective fiber bale in response to a determined deviation to ,~ ``

- 3a _ adjust said blend to eliminate said deviation in subsequently carded sliver.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of forming at least two groups of fiber bales of different origin; extracting fiber flocks from an upper surface of selected bales in each group to form a plurality of fiber components; delivering each fiber component to a selected cell of a plurality of cells for accumulation therein; blending the fiber flock components into a uniform blend; carding fiber flocks from said blend into at least one sliver; measuring at least one characteristic of a sliver to obtain a measured value thereof;
comparing the measured value with a preset value to determine a deviation of the measured value from said preset value; and extracting a greater or lesser amount of fiber flock from a respective fiber bale in response to a determined deviation to adjust said blend to eliminate said deviation in subsequently carded sliver.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of forming a plurality of parallel rows of fiber bales of different origin; simultaneously extracting fiber flocks from said rows and from an inclined surface of a plurality of fiber bales in each row; blending the extracted fiber flocks to form a uniform blend; carding the fiber flock from said blend into at least one sliver; measuring at least one characteristic of the sliver to obtain a measured value thereof; and controlling the rate of extraction of fiber flocks from the bales in response to ~ ''~
V 'lt a deviation of a measured value from a preset value.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of providing a plurality of fiber bales of different origin with each said bale having a predetermined fiber characteristic; extracting a fiber flock component from each said bale in a predetermined variably controlled metered amount corresponding to a predetermined percentage of said fiber flock component in a predetermined blend of said fiber flock components;
automatically optimizing the percentage of each fiber flock component extracted to obtain a predetermined characteristic in said blend in dependence on said characteristics of said bales;
and blending the extracted fiber flock components to form a homogeneous blend.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of providing a plurality of fiber bales of different origin with each said bale having a predetermined fiber characteristic; extracting a fiber flock component from each said bale; blending the extracted fiber flock components together into a uniform blend; measuring a value of characteristic of the blend, said characteristic being dependent on the combined characteristics of the fiber of the fiber bales; and automatically correcting the amount of at least one fiber flock component thereafter blended into the blend in response to a deviation of said measured value from a present value to eliminate said deviation.

The invention will be explained in detail with reference to drawings, given by way of example only. In the drawings:
Figs. 1 to 5 are diagrams of a blending process accord-ing to the invention;
Figs. 6 and 7 show a variant of the embodiment of the blending process in Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 diagrammatically shows an extension of the method according to the invention in Figs. 1 to 7;
Fig. 9 diagrammatically shows a variant of the extended blending process according to the invention in Figs. 1 to 8, e.g. with fibre extraction as shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 10 shows a variant of the method in Fig. 9.
Fig. 1 shows a number of conveyor belts 1 for receiving bales 2 which are opened by extraction means 3.
Each extraction means moves on stationary rails disposed, e.g. diagonally across the~bales 2 on the conveyor belt.
A device of this kind is known in principle from the applicant's Swiss patent specification No. 503809 dated April 15, 1971. As a variant, use can be made of the device shown and described in the applicant's European patent application No. 327885 published August 16, 1989 where the extraction means 3 is movable up and down on an extraction device (not shown) movable in reciprocation on horizontal rails along the bales 2 and is obliquely adjustable for diagonal extraction.
The extraction output of the two extraction devices can be controlled by varying the speed of the extraction means 3 along the diagonal path, or by varying the speed of advance of '~

~ 3 ~
- 3d -bales 2 by varying the speed of the individual conveyor belt 1.
The fibre flocks extracted by a drum 4 are removed in known manner through a pneumatic conveying line 5 (not described here).
The flocks are conveyed through the pneumatic line 5 to a blender 6, where they are mixed to form a uniform blend.
The quantities conveyed to mixer 6 through the individual pneumatic conveying lines 5 will hereinafter be called "fibre flock components" or simply "components".

_ 4 _ 131~

The blender6 can be batch or continuou6, dependln~ on whether the aforementioned quantitles are the welghts of lndlvldual batches (kg) or the quantlty travelllng per unlt tlme (kg/h).

For slmpllclty, the conveyln~ llnes 5 ln Flg. 1 are shown dlagrammatically as openlng dlrectly lnto the llkewlse dlagrammatlc blender 6, but thls can be dlfferent ln practlce, depending ~n the nature of the blender. For example, air-fibre separators can be u6ed in order to separate each flbre and alr mlxture, so that the flbre flocks can fall freely lnto the blender whereas the alr 18 dischar$ed lnto an out~olng alr duct. Separators of thls klnd are well-known in practlce and are therefore not shown here separately.

The cald quantltles of the aforementloned indlvldual flbre flock components dellvered to the blender 6 are controlled by a control system 7 ln accordance wlth a control program.

The control program can be a computer program comprlsing a component-blending program whlch can be adapted or altered for adaptatlon to alteratlons in the blend.

Another variant would be a digltal control system for each component, ln which the output of lndlvldual components can be chosen or altered by hand.

The functlons determlnlng the extractlon output of the components, e.g. the speed of advance of the re6pectlve conveyor belt l or the motlon of the extractlon means 3, are controlled by one or the other control system.

Of cour~e, the pneumatlc conveylng lines need not convey the extracted product dlrectly to the blender; mechanlcal conveylng elements such as conveyor belt6 can be Inserted ln between. In such _ 5 _ 13~8~-~

cases the flbre ~nd alr separatorg dellver the flbre product to the mechanlcal conveylng elements.

Each extractlon means 3 ls connected by a control llne 8 and each conveyor belt l ls connected by a control llne 19 to the control system 7.

The three control lines enterlnE~ the control system 7 wlll be described herelnafter.

Flg. 2 shows a varlant of Flg. 1, ln whlch llke components are glven llke reference numbers. In Flg. 2, the pneumatlc conveying llnes 5 convey the extracted flbres or flbre flocks (also called the product) not dlrectly to the blender 6 but to component cell6 9, from whlch the product ls dlscharE~ed by a dischar~e devlce 10 followed by a meterlng devlce ll whlch dellvers the product to the mlxer 6.

The dlschar~e device lO, dependlng on lts nsture, may alternatlvely also be used for meterlng.

The amount dlscharged from the lndlvidual component cells 9 ls controlled by n control system 7.1 whlch sctuates the lndlvldual metQrlng devices ll or, ln a varlant, the dlschar~e devlces lO vla control llnes l2.

In the flrst-mentloned arran~ement, the meterlng devlces ll can each be actuated by a control llne l3 vla the dlsch~lrge devlces lO, in order to co-ordlnate the discharge wlth the meterlng. Alternatlvely the dlscharge devices can be dlrectly actuated by the control means 7.1.

The component cells 9 are filled by elements I to 5 already mentloned ln connectlon wlth Fl~S. 1. The use of two rows of b2~1es, - 6 _ 1 31~8~3~

each wlth elements I to 4, has been chosen by way of example only.
In practlce, a number of rows of bales or alternatlvely ~ust a slngle row could be chosen per component cell 9. The declslon depends on the number or blend of orlglns per row of bales whlch are to form a blend component to be supplled to a corresponding cell 9.

The fllling of the component cells 9 ls controlled e.g. by a full-level lndicator 14 and an empty-level indlcator 15 provlded in each cell, vla a control system 16. To thls end the control system 16 for reclprocatlng the extraction means 3 18 connected by control llnes 17 to each extractlon means 3 and by control llnes 18 to each motor drlvlng the conveyor belts 1.

Flg. 3 show6 another embodlment ln whlch elements already shown and descrlbed ln- Flg. 2 sre glven the same reference numbers, l.e. bales 2, component cells 9, discharge devlce6 10, meterint devlces 11, blender 6, control system 7.1 and control llnes 12 and 13.

The bales 2 are ln thls case placed dlrectly on the ground. As before, for the purpose of extractlon they are dlvlded lnto group6 correspondlng to the respectlve orlgln of the bales. Extractlon ls by means of a travYlllng extractlon devlce 20 whlch moves along the group6 of bales and extracts flbres or flbre flocks from the surface thereof. A devlce of thls klnd 18 known under the name "Unlfloc" ln the technlcal 6plnnlng sector and ls sold throughout the world by the appllcants.

The extractlon devlce 20 conveys the extracted flbres ln known manner through a pneumatlc conveylng llne 21 to the correspondlng component cells 9.

As already descrlbed ln the case of Flg. 2, the component cells 9 comprl6e full-level lndlcators 14 and empty-level lndicators 15, whlch ~3 ~ ~8~ ~

dellver 61gnals to 8 control system 22. The control ~ystem ls connected by a llne 24 to the extraction devlce 20 and controls the extractlon of flbre flocks from the correspondlng ~roups of bales ln order to flll the correspondlng component cells 9.

As dlagrammatlcally indlcated ln Flg. 3, the extractlon devlce 20 comprises an extractlon means 23 known from Unlfloc and comprlslng o rotatlng drum (not shown) whlch extracts flbres from the surface of the bales.

In known manner also, the extractlon means 22 can be rotated through 180- as marked by arrow M 60 that the extractlon means can open the group of bales 2 on the opposlte slde. In thls manner, elther one of the faclng groups of bales can be used as a reserve troup or, lf the extractlon devlce 20 rotates automstically as lndlcated herelnbefore, the two faclng rows of bales can be alternately opened ln preset manner.

Fl~. 4 shows a varlant of Flt. 3, where components already descrlbed and shown ln Flt. 3 are glven the same reference numbers.

The dlfference between Flgs. 3 and 4 ls that lnstead of a sln~le extractlon means 20 for the entlre devlce, one extractlon devlce ls provlded for each of two faclng ~roups of bales.

Accordlngly the control system ls denoted 22.1 lnstead of 22, slnce four lndlvldual extractlon devlces 20 are each separately controlled vla a corresponding control llne 24. Also, a pneumatlc conveylng line ls provlded for ebch extraction devlce 20; the line, whlch correspondlngly is marked 21.1 lnstead of 21, opens lnto a respectlve component cell 9.

- 8 - 1 31~

Flg. 5 shows an arrangement slmllar to Flg. 1, but lnstesd of the lndivldual conveyor belt I per group of bales ln Flg. 1, each group of bales has a conveyor belt 30 used for conveylng only and a conveyor belt 3l used for conveylng and welghlng.

The last-mentioned conveyor belt can be used for wel~hing e.g. as follows: the shafts of the guide rollers of conveyor belt 31 are mounted on known pressure cells 32 whlch each deliver a slgnal 33 correspondlng to the welght, the slgnal belng transmltted by a respectlve control line 33 to a 61gnal-processln6 control 6ystem 7.2.
The aforementloned 61gnals are processed as follows: the control sy6tem 7.2 uses them to elaborate control slxnals whlch actuate the motors of the aforementloned conveyor belts 30, 31 vla control llnes 35 and also actuate the extractlon means 3 via control llnes 34.

Of course, other welghln~ machlnes can be used and comblned wlth conveyor belts.

The components already descrlbed and shown in Flg. I are glven the same references.

Durlng operatlon, the control system 7.2 actuate6 the extractlon mesn6 3 and the conveyor belt~ 30 and 3l at pre6et speed6 ln order to extract flbres from bales 2 and convey them through pneumatlc llnes 5 to the blender 6.

Eoch extractlon means 3 for the lndlvldual groups of bales conveys a preset amount, controlled by the control system 7.2, to the blender 6.
The preset extracted amount (kp/h) for each group of balec ls monltored by the respectlve welghlng conveyor belt 31 or by the pressure-cell welghln~ devlce 3l and ls converted into slgnal6 and transmltted through lines 33 to the control 6ystem. If the amount (kp/h) extracted per group of bales does not colnclde wlth the preset .~ ?

g l~l~g~

amount, the control sy6tem adJust6 the amount for extractlon untll lt colnclde6 wlth the preset amount.

The measurlng devlce 32 ls alway6 used when the extractlon mean6 ls stQtlonary for a brlef moment at the turnlng-point ln lts reclprocating travel.

In thls method of extractlon, the extractlon means 3 always travels ln reclprocatlon along the same path, substantlally dla~onally across the bale to be opened. The amount ~kp~h) of flbre6 extracted from the bale6 ls determined by means of the 6peed of advance of the conveyor belts 30, 31 and the extractlon mean6 3.

The control system 7.2 can be electronlc and analog-based or can be a mlcroproces60r by means of whlch the lndlvldual quantltles extracted per group of bales can be set and adJusted by the signal6 from the control llnes 33 and by input slgnals (explained herelnafter~.

Figs. 6 and 7 show 8 wel~hlng system slmllar to Flg. 5, Fl~. 7 belng a plan vlew of Flg. 6 ln the dlrectlon of arrow A.

As can be 6een, Flg. 7 show6 a number of rows or groups of bales disposed slde by 61de and each formlng a blend component. A6 shown ln Flg. 6, each bale 2 rest6 on a conveyor belt 40 and an ad~acent welghln~ conveyor belt 41. Each welghlng conveyor belt 41, llke the welghlng conveyor belt 31 ln Fl~. 5, can be mounted on pressure cells 42, from whlch a slgnal correspondlng to the welght ls dellvered by a control llne 43 to a control system 44.

The flbre bales 2 on the welghln~ conveyor belt 41 are opened by an extractlon devlce 48 accordlng to CH patent appllcatlon number 00399/88-8, already mentloned ln connectlon wlth Flg 1. The main dlfference ls that the extractlon devlce 49 ls long and extend~ over 1 3 ~

the preset number of rows of bales and comprlses an extractlon drum 5I whlch extracts flbres 61multAneously from 811 the predetermlned rows of bale6 as shown ln Flg. 7.

Another dlfference between thls method of extractlon and that descrlbed ln Fl~. 1 ls that the flbre extractlon means 49 operates along an obllque track substantlally correspondln~ to the dlagonal across a preset number of ad~acent flbre bsle6 2 ln a line, e.g. four bsles 2 as shown ln Flgs. 6 and 7.

Of course, a dlfferent number of bales could be obliquely opened ln the same manner, e.g. ~ust a slngle bale as shown ln Flgs. 1 and 2.

Llkewlse, the posslble length of the extractlon means 49 determlnes the number o~ bales which can be lined up 61de by slde ln order to be opened slmultaneously.

The flbre materlal extracted by mean6 49 ls conveyed along a pneumatlc llne 50 whlch, accordlng to the lnventlon, opens lnto a contlnuous blender 45. As descrlbed ln the case of Flg. ~, llne 50 c~m open lnto a prevlously-mentloned seperator (not shown) whlch dellvers the product to the blender 45.

The speed of the extractlcn devlce 48 18 also controlled by the control system 44 vla llne 46.

Another control llne 47 ls for actuatlnE5 the motors drlvlng the gulde rollers of the control belt6 40 and 41.

Of course, the gulde rollers of the conveyor belts 40 and 41, not separately marked, for each group of bales have a separete drlve ~notor, l.e. each motor has a separate control llne 47 to the control systPm 44.

- Il- 131~

Durln~ operatlon the control sy6tem 44 controls the reclprocatlngmotlon of the extractlon devlce 48 along the bales on the welghin~
and conveyor belt 4l and the up and down motlon of the extractlon means 49 on devlce 48 durlng the aforementloned reclprocatlng movement, so that the bales, as 6hown in Flg. 6, are opened ln an lncllned dlrectlon substantlally correspondln~ to the dlagonal across the four bales 2.

The extractlon motlon 18 always along the same path and at a preset speed, 60 that the amounts extracted (kp~h) from the lndlvldual groups of fibre bales can be made different by lndlvldually ad~ustlng the speeds of advance of the conveyor belts 40 and 4l. The different speeds of advance of the individual ~roups of bsles correspond to an extraction program in which the amounts (kg/h) extracted from lndlvldual ~roups of bales vary ln order to obtaln the aforementloned blend.

The motors drlvlng the conveyor belts 40 and 41 are advanta~eously axial motors lncorporated in the gulde rollers of the conveyor belts.
Axial motor6 can be drlven at varylng frequency vla frequency lnverters, l.e. at varylng speed6, thl6 belng 8 feature of the control system 44.

The control system 44, as ln all cases ln thls appllcatlon and especlally mentloned ln Flg. 5, can be analo~ or dlgltal, for controllln~ the quantltles of the indlvldual componentc. If the indlvldual quantltles of components do not correspond to the 6et values they are corrected by 61gnal6 from the pressure cells, whlch are transmltted through llne 43 to the control 6ystem 44.

Flg. 8 shows an extenslon of the prevlously-descrlbed method, where the product leavlng the blender 6 18 dellvered to a "cleanlng station"
60 ln whlch known cleanlng machlnes are used.

- 12 - ~ 3 1 ~

The cleanlng statlon 60 can contaln "coarse" cleanlng machlnes 61 and "flne" cleanlng machlne6 62. As before, the cleanlng statlon 15 shown dlagrammatlcally only.

The same applles to the card 63 whlch follows the cleanlng statlon and can be a known card, e.g. card C4 sold throughout the world by the appllcants.

Card 63 has a known control system 64 whlch controls the cardln~
operatlons and 18 qdapted lnter alla to ensure the unlformity and quantlty (kp/h) of card sllver.

After the card ~relatlve to the belt conveylng dlrectlon) and before the card sllver recelver (not shown), the card sllver ls tested by a colour sensor 65 and by a sensor 66 for measurlng the flbre flneness.

It should be mentloned beforehand that both sensors or one or the other sensor can be used as requlred.

In the ca6e shown ln Flg. 8, the colour testln~ devlce 65 dellvers a sl(gnal fi7 correspondlng to the colour of the sllver, and the flbre-flneness testlng devlce 66 dellvers a 61gnal 68 correspondlng to flbre flneness to the control devlces 7; 7.1; 7.2; 44 mentloned ln conJunctlon wlth Flgs. 1 and 7 and re~pectlvely controllln~ the lndlvldual flbre components. Another slgnal 81 correspondlng to the quantlty of sllver (kg/h) ls lnput by the card control system 64, llkewlse to the control 6ystems 7; 7.1; 7.2; 44. These three 61gnals are compared by the aforementloned control systems wlth the set values recelved ln these control systems for, respectlvely, the ~llver colour, the flbre flneness and the output, so that any devlatlons therefrom durln~ operatlon can be ellmlnated by varylng the component mlxture and the output.

131~

The product dellvered by blender 6 is conveyed by a conveyor system 69 to the cleanlng 6tatlon 60 and thence vla a conveylng system 70 to the card 63. These conveying systems can be mechanlcal or pneumatlc, and lt ls also known to dlspose conveylng systems between flne cleanlng machlnes and coarse cleanlng machlnes.

Llkewlse, the method according to the lnventlon ls not restrlcted to a slngle cleanln~ statlon 60 and a 61ngle card 63 after the blender 6; a number of cleanln$ statlon~ 60 and a number of cards 63 behlnd the blender 6 can be 6upp~1ed wlth the product from blender 6 or, lf a single mlxlng statlon ls provlded after the blender 6, a number of cards 63 can be supplled wlth the product from the cleaning statlon 60.

If a number of cards are provlded, a colour-testlng device 65 and/or a flbre-flneness testln$ devlce 66 can optlonally be provlded after each card, or alternatlvely, lf a number of cards process the same product, the two last-mentloned test devlces can be provlded only for a "master" card.

Fl$, 9 lllustrates the posslblllty of dlsposlng the cleanlng statlon 60 between the flbre extractor and the component cells 9, so that the flbre materlal ln the component cells 9 and avallable for blendlng 18 alre~dy clean, The devlce for conveying from the extractlon devlce 20 to thecleanlng statlon 60 ls baslcally slmllar to the pneumatlc conveylng llne 2l, and ln thl~ case also the conveylng means need not be pneumatlc but can be mechanlcal.

Llkewise, the conveying mean6 between the cleanlng statlon 60 and the component cells 9 can also be a pneumatlc conveying llne, a6 marked _ 14 _ 131~

at 21, but any conveylng system csn be used The method according to the lnventlon 16 not restrlcted to any conveylng 6ystem.

Llkewlse, the cleanin~ statlon 60 15 not restrlcted to a comblnatlon wlth the devlce ln Flg. 3. Of cour6e, the flbre components ln all the arrangements shown ln the drawlngs, except for Flgs. 6 and 7, can first be cleaned before reachlng the blender 6. It ls only a questlon of expense, slnce a separate cleanlng station needs to be provlded for each of the components ln Fi3s. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Fl~. 10 shows a varlant of the method ln Flg. 9, ln whlch the cleanlng statlon ls dlvlded lnto a coarse cleanlng devlce comprlslng the cleanlng machlnes 61 and a flne cleanlng devlce comprlslng the fine cleanlng machlnes 71, each being preceded by a storage contalner 72 <for sl~pllclty only one is shown).

The flne-cleanlng machlnes 71 are started or stopped by a control system 73, l.e. are stopped vla an empty-level indlcator 74 and started vla a full-level lndicator 75 (only one of each is shown).
The full and empty-level lndlcators dellver slgnals through llnes 76 and 77 to the control 6ystem 73.

The coarse cleanlng machlnes 61 are loaded by a flbre conveyor 78, which can be 6imllar to the pneumatlc conveylng llne 21 ln Fig. 9 or any known fibre conveying means.

The 6ame applles to the means 79 conveylng flbres between the coarse cleanlng machine 61 and the storage contalners 7?

The flne cleanlng machlnes dellver thelr products to a respectlve component-blend cell 9, as already descrlbed ln connectlon wlth Fl~s.
2 - 4 and Fig. 9.

_ 15 _ 131~4 Correspondln~ly, the other prevlously-descrlbed components are glven the same reference numbers and not addltlonally descrlbed for Flg.
10.

Durln~ operatlon the components are lndlvldually cleaned and accordlngly the empty-level lndlcators 15 for the lndlvldusl component cellfi 9 cause flbres to be extracted from the correspondlng bale group a or b or c or d, ln order to clean the extracted flbres ln the coarse-cleanlng machine and dellver them to the correspondlng storage contalner 72, whlch dellvers the preset component to adJacent flne-cleanln~ mechlnes 71.

The product is demanded by the empty-level lndlcator 15 because the correspondlng flne-cleaning machlne does not contlnue to dellver the product, slnce the empty-level lndlcator 74 ln the storage contalner 72 has llkewl6e indlcated an empty level. Accordlngly, the correspondlng group a to d ls opened untll the correspondlng full-level lndlcator 75 lndlcates that the level of the extracted component 18 full. The corresponding flne-cleaning machlne can then be restarted, untll the full-level lndlcator 14 of the correspondlng component cell 9 agaln indlcates a full level.

The devlce 80 for conveylng flbre6 between the blender 6 and the cord 63 can be slmllar to 8 flbre-conveylng means marked 70 and de6crlbed ln Flg. 8.

In thls varlant llkewlse, a blender 6 can serve a number of cards, so that the fibre-conveyln6 means 80 conveys the product from the blender to the corresponding number of cards.

Claims (33)

1. A method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of extracting a fiber flock component from each of a plurality of fiber bales of varying origin in a predetermined variably controlled metered amount corresponding to a predetermined percentage of said fiber flock component in a predetermined blend of said components; and blending the fiber flock components from the fiber bales in controlled variable proportions to form a uniform blend; and automatically correcting the amount of a fiber flock component extracted from a respective bale in response to a deviation of the blend from a present value of a characteristic thereof to eliminate said deviation.

2. A method as set forth in Claim 1 which further comprises the steps of measuring a value of a characteristic of a product made from said blend, determining a deviation of said measured value from a preset value of said characteristic, and immediately and automatically correcting the blending of said fiber flock components in response to a deviation to eliminate said deviation.

3. A method as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the percentage of each fiber component in said blend is changed to effect the correction of said blend.

4. A method as set forth in Claim 2 wherein said characteristic is selected from the group consisting of fineness of fiber, color of fiber, strength of product and fiber length.

5. A method as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the amount of fiber flock extracted from a respective bale is variably controlled to form a fiber flock component.

6. A method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of extracting fibers from each of a plurality of fiber bales of varying origin to form a plurality of fiber flock components;
delivering each fiber flock component to a selected cell of a plurality of cells;
discharging fiber flock from each cell at a metered amount to a blender;
blending the fiber flock in the blender with a uniform blend; and automatically correcting the amount of fiber flock discharged from a respective cell in response to a deviation of the blend from a present value of a characteristic thereof to eliminate said deviation.

7. A method as set forth in Claim 6 which further comprises the steps of analyzing the properties of the fiber extracted from each bale and allocating each bale to a respective component in dependence thereon.

8. A method as set forth in Claim 6 wherein fibers extracted from at least two bales are combined to form a single fiber flock component.

9. A method as set forth in Claim 6 wherein fibers are extracted in an alternating manner from at least two bales to form a single fiber flock component for delivery to a selected cell.

10. A method as set forth in Claim 6 which further comprises the step of c leaning the extracted fiber flocks prior to forming said fiber flock component.

11. A method as set forth in Claim 6 which further comprises the step of cleaning the fiber flock components.

12. A method as set forth in Claim 6 which further comprises the steps of carding the fiber flock blend into a sliver, measuring at least one of the fiber fineness and the color of the sliver, and correcting the extraction of fibers from respective cells in response to a deviation of a measured value from a present value.

13. A method as set forth in Claim 6 which further comprises the steps of determining the percentage of fiber flock of each bale in said blend;
forming said blend into a product;
measuring a value of a characteristic of the product;
comparing the value of the measured characteristic with a preset value therefor to determine a deviation thereof; and changing the percentage of fiber flock of each bale in said blend in dependence on said deviation to eliminate said deviation.

14. A method as set forth in Claim 6 wherein the fiber flock is metered to the blender under gravity.

15. A method as set forth in Claim 6 wherein the fiber flock is metered volumetrically to the blender.

16. A method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of forming a plurality of rows of fiber bales of different origin;
extracting fiber flocks from a foremost fiber bale in each row to form a fiber flock component;
blending the fiber flock components into a uniform blend;

carding fiber flocks from said blend into at least one sliver;
measuring at least one characteristic of a sliver to obtain a measured value thereof;
comparing the measured value with a preset value to determine a deviation of the measured value from said preset value; and extracting a greater or lesser amount of fiber flock from a respective fiber bale in response to a determined deviation to adjust said blend to eliminate said deviation in subsequently carded sliver.

17. A method as set forth in Claim 16 wherein fiber flock is extracted from each foremost bale on an inclined angle relative to said respective row of bales.

18. A method as set forth in Claim 16 which further comprises the steps of delivering a respective pair of fiber components to a selected cell of a plurality of cells for accumulation therein and discharging fiber flock from each cell in a metered amount for blending into said blend.

19. A method as set forth in Claim 16 wherein metering of fiber flock is controlled in dependence on said determined deviation to eliminate said deviation in subsequently carded sliver.

20. A method as set forth in Claim 16 which further comprises the steps of weighing the amount of fiber flock extracted from each bale per unit of time and adjusting the rate of extraction in response to a deviation of the weighed fiber flock from a preset weight to maintain said preset weight.

21. A method as set forth in Claim 16 wherein said characteristic is one of sliver color, sliver quantity and fiber fineness.

22. A method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of forming at least two groups of fiber bales of different origin;

extracting fiber flocks from an upper surface of selected bales in each group to form a plurality of fiber components;
delivering each fiber component to a selected cell of a plurality of cells for accumulation therein;
blending the fiber flock components into a uniform blend;
carding fiber flocks from said blend into at least one sliver;
measuring at least one characteristic of a sliver to obtain a measured value thereof;
comparing the measured value with a preset value to determine a deviation of the measured value from said preset value; and extracting a greater or lesser amount of fiber flock from a respective fiber bale in response to a determined deviation to adjust said blend to eliminate said deviation in subsequently carded sliver.

23. A method as set forth in Claim 22 which further comprises the step of discharging fiber flock from each cell in a metered amount for blending into said blend.

24. A method as set forth in Claim 23 wherein metering of fiber flock is controlled in dependence on said determined deviation to eliminate said deviation in subsequently carded sliver.

25. A method as set forth in Claim 22 which further comprises the step of cleaning the fiber flock at least at one of an upstream position and a downstream position of the cells.

26. A method as set forth in Claim 22 wherein said characteristic i8 one of sliver color, sliver quantity and fiber fineness.

27. A method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of forming a plurality of parallel rows of fiber bales of different origin;

simultaneously extracting fiber flocks from said rows and from an inclined surface of a plurality of fiber bales in each row;
blending the extracted fiber flocks to form a uniform blend;
carding the fiber flock from said blend into at least one sliver;
measuring at least one characteristic of the sliver to obtain a measured value thereof; and controlling the rate of extraction of fiber flocks from the bales in response to a deviation of a measured value from a preset value.

28. A method as set forth in Claim 27 wherein said characteristic is one of sliver color, sliver quantity and fiber fineness.

29. A method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of providing a plurality of fiber bales of different origin with each said bale having a predetermined fiber characteristic;
extracting a fiber flock component from each said bale in a predetermined variably controlled metered amount corresponding to a predetermined percentage of said fiber flock component in a predetermined blend of said fiber flock components;
automatically optimizing the percentage of each fiber flock component extracted to obtain a predetermined characteristic in said blend in dependence on said characteristics of said bales; and blending the extracted fiber flock componsnets to form a homogeneous blend.

30. A method of blending textile fibers comprising the steps of providing a plurality of fiber bales of different origin with each said bale having a predetermined fiber characteristic;
extracting a fiber flock component from each said bale;
blending the extracted fiber flock components together into a uniform blend;
measuring a value of characteristic of the blend, said characteristic being dependent on the combined characteristics of the fiber of the fiber bales; and automatically correcting the amount of at least one fiber flock component thereafter blended into the blend in response to a deviation of said measured value from a present value to eliminate said deviation.

31. A method as set forth in claim 30 wherein the amount of fiber flock extracted from a fiber bale is corrected to eliminate said deviation.

32. A method as set forth in claim 30 wherein the extracted fiber flocks of each bale are delivered to a respective cell of a plurality of cells for accumulation therein prior to blending thereof, and wherein the amount of fiber flock extracted from a respective cell is corrected to eliminate said deviation.

33. A method as set forth in claim 30 wherein said characteristic is selected from the group consisting of fineness of fiber, color of fiber, strength of product and length of fiber.