EP0286769B1 - Method and apparatus for automatic container change so as to receive the fibre slivers leaving textile machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method and device for the automatic change of pots intended to receive wicks of fibers coming from textile machines and more particularly from carding machines.

Carding machines are textile machines which have been known for a very long time and which serve to produce a thin web, starting from disordered fibers, the fibers of which are oriented in the direction of their advance in the machine.

This veil is, in certain processes such as those called combed and semi-combed, gathered in a sheet in the form of a funnel to form a ribbon or a wick of much lesser width.

This wick is then generally deposited in cylindrical pots of large capacity by a potting or potting head.

This wicking procedure is classic and well known.

The wick is deposited in the almost full pot by a rotating potting head, the diameter of which is slightly less than the inside radius of the pot. The circle described by the potting head is almost tangent internally to the surface of the pot, so that a small cylindrical part in the center of the pot remains free of wicks.

The pot itself is animated by a slow movement of rotation.

The wick is therefore deposited in the pot in the form of successive loops, or turns, each of which is slightly offset from the previous one. These turns gradually cover the entire periphery of the pot, then, when the latter has completed a full turn, a second layer is deposited, and so on.

While filling the pot, another empty pot is waiting, say to the right of the pot at work. Known means, such as guide rollers are also provided for pushing the pots from the right to the left.

One of the problems encountered during this process is that the carding machine is a machine of great inertia, which cannot be started or stopped in a very short time. Any stoppage of the card therefore constitutes a waste of time, therefore a significant loss of production.

When the pot in which the wick is deposited is filled, this pot must be removed and replaced by another. For the reason mentioned above, this change of pot must take place while the walking of the card, which therefore continues to deliver the wick at working speed.

The change of pot requires the presence of the worker when the pot at work happens to be completely filled. On the other hand, this change of pot requires a certain time, during which the wick delivered by the card is deposited on the ground, between the full pot and the new empty pot.

Systems have therefore been developed in which the pot change takes place automatically, without operator intervention: the full pot is ejected from the potting machine and, simultaneously, an empty pot is replaced at the place from which it comes to be chased with the pot full.

This operation, as fast as it can be, cannot be done without a certain length of wick having fallen between the full pot and the empty pot.

In addition, due to the rotation of the new pot, it can happen that the wick coming from the full pot is caught in the process of depositing in the new pot, and it follows that part of the wick contained in the full pot unwinds from this pot to enter the empty pot.

Operator intervention is then necessary to break the wick between the two pots and thus completely dissociate the latter.

This operation of breaking the wick by the operator prevents the automatic pot change system from being fully automatic, since a manual operation remains.

On the other hand, the part of the wick that fell between the two pots can, if it is too long, get caught in the mechanisms for changing the pot or in the wheels of the pots, which causes other wastes of time for the operator.

All these troubles are compounded by the fact that modern cards deliver the wick at an increasing linear speed. Therefore the pots must be changed more and more frequently, although their capacity has been increased by an increase in their diameter.

The operator is therefore increasingly used, while a fully automatic system would allow him to be assigned to other tasks.

The present invention aims to provide modern potters with a system avoiding the drawbacks mentioned above, by allowing the automatic breaking of the wick between the full pot and the empty pot. Systems have already been imagined, but these systems are not adapted to the high potting speeds that are used today, for example in the semi-combed field, namely about 400m / min.

It should be noted that at these high production speeds as is currently practiced, namely 400m / min, a change of pot made in 3 seconds causes the fall on the ground between the two pots of about a fifth of the wick delivered meanwhile, or 4 meters of wick. In addition, if the wick is not cut immediately, potting in the new pot entails not only the wick coming from the potting head, but also the wick already deposited in the old pot, which then tends to empty.

Certain mechanisms eliminate these faults, make the cut of the wick automatic and prevent part of the wick from falling onto the ground.

Such a mechanism is described in document FR-A-2 204 562 and consists of a fixed upper part below which a carriage can move, comprising a tray intended to collect the ribbon delivered during the change of pot or box.

The ribbon is deposited on the tray when the carriage moves from right to left, then continues to be deposited on the tray when the carriage leaves to the right until the whole set of ribbon is pushed back into the new jar.

The tray covers almost the entire surface of the pot and the amount of ribbon or wick deposited is very large.

Document FR-A-2 311 739 describes a device for cutting the wick using a simultaneous action of a pinching member and means for driving the wick by rollers driven in rotation.

This device ensures at the same time the normal feeding and the guiding of the drill bit. deliver in the pot. It is therefore fixedly arranged above the pot during filling and does not undergo any translation. In addition, it occupies a very important place in height which is no longer admissible in modern machines with quantities of wicks delivered much higher than before.

The problems to be solved are on the one hand to reduce the quantity of wick deposited on the table and on the other hand to reduce the overall height of this table so as to be able to bring the pot as close as possible to the potting head .

In addition, modern machines can deliver the wick up to 450m / min and the table must therefore remain as short as possible under the potting head to avoid jams.

The present invention makes it possible to solve these problems by simple and effective means as defined in claims 1 to 6.

Between the two pots is a horizontal table, arriving at the same level as the upper edge of the pots. This table is hinged around a horizontal hinge, on the side of the card, so that it can fold down, and you can let a pot pass in front of it.

This table also includes a clamping block to trap the wick during the pot change, a freely rotating cylinder mounted on a spring with a vertical axis pushing it upwards, and a small drop sheet directed towards the empty jar.

To the left of the pot at work, there is a rotary cylinder driven by a motor and a stop valve which, when pushed upwards, electromechanically engages the cylinder motor.

The table comprising the clamping block, the idler cylinder and the drop sheet, as well as the guide rollers, can be moved from right to left and vice versa by means of horizontal slides. This movement allows the table to follow the progress of the pots when replacing a full pot with an empty pot.

The operation is then as follows.

When the working pot is full, a preset meter counter gives a signal which sets in motion both the guide rollers and the articulated table.

One of the rollers pushes the full pot to the left and ejects it from the potting pot, while the other roller pushes the empty pot also to the left, so that it replaces the full pot. This empty pot is then under the head of the potter and begins to fill.

During the translation of the pots, the wick part which was delivered by the card was deposited along the articulated table which followed this translation, in particular it passed through the clamping block and also passed over the idler cylinder and on the drop sheet.

The idler cylinder came to be positioned below the cylinder controlled by an engine and pressed against it by the force of the spring pushing it upwards.

On the other hand, the clamping block came to push the stop valve upwards, thus starting the engine.

The rotation of the controlled cylinder is such that the wick, now pinched between the two cylinders, is driven towards the empty pot.

The turns deposited on the articulated table are then unwound and gradually sent to the drop sheet from where they fall into the new pot in progress filling.

On the other hand, the wick is also pinched by the clamping block, which retains it. When the last turn deposited on the table has been unwound, the wick tightens between the two cylinders and the clamping block, then it breaks.

The tension of the drill bit before this rupture enables an electro-mechanical system which stops the engine of the upper cylinder.

In this way, the wick was broken automatically, and no length of this wick could remain between the two pots, the excess created during the change of pot having been returned to the new pot.

After the engine has stopped, the articulated table and the guide rollers are folded around their hinge and returned along the horizontal slides to their original position. A new pot is then placed on hold, and the system is ready for the next pot change.

• Les figures 1 à 9 montrent un exemple de réalisation de l'invention. Néanmoins d'autres réalisations sont possibles sans sortir du cadre de l'invention.
• Les figures 1 à 4 montrent en élévation les différentes phases du processus de changement de pot.
• La figure 5 montre en plan la situation des spires entre l'ancien et le nouveau pot.
• La figure 6 montre le renvoi de ces spires dans le nouveau pot.
• Les figures 7 et 8 montrent des détails du système. et la figure 9 est une vue latérale du dispositif conforme à l'invention.

In order to better understand the invention, a practical embodiment example will be described below with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figures 1 to 9 show an embodiment of the invention. However, other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.
• Figures 1 to 4 show in elevation the different phases of the pot change process.
• Figure 5 shows in plan the situation of the turns between the old and the new pot.
• Figure 6 shows the return of these turns in the new pot.
• Figures 7 and 8 show details of the system. and Figure 9 is a side view of the conforming device to the invention.

The operation of the system will be better understood by referring to these figures for the following explanation.

Figure 1 shows the rotating potting head 1, the principle of which is well known. Under this head is the pot 3 which receives the wick. To the left of this pot is a pot 2, which is filled with wick and has just been ejected by the system. To the right of the pot 3 is an empty pot 4, ready to replace the pot 3 when it is full.

We also see the horizontal table 5 comprising a clamping block system 6 for retaining the wick and a cylinder 7 for driving the wick. This horizontal table is articulated around a horizontal hinge, not shown, but whose pivot axis is shown at 51.

A second pivoting system is shown at 8 and comprises horizontal arms carrying guide rollers 81 and 82 pressing respectively on the pot in service 3 and on the reserve pot 4. The system 8 is articulated around a horizontal hinge not shown , whose pivot axis is shown at 83.

To the left of the potting head, there is, fixed to the frame 100 of the machine, a cylinder 9 driven by a motor 91. This cylinder is normally stopped.

The table 5 and the arms 8 can also move from left to right and from right to left on horizontal rails not shown, but whose axes are shown in 51 and 83 respectively.

Operation can then be described as follows.

When the pot 3 is full, a preset counter provides an electrical signal which starts the sequence.

Table 5 and arms 8 move from right to left on their respective rail with axis 51 and 83. The rollers 81 and 82 respectively push the pots 3 and 4 to the left.

As the potting head continues to deposit the wick, it is deposited, during the translation of the pots, in offset turns, on the table 5, as shown in Figure 5. We also see in this Figure 5 that the wick, in its spiral circuit, passes over the clamping block 6 and the cylinder 7.

Then the pot 4 arrives under the potting head, the center of which is shown at 12. The wick then begins to deposit in the empty pot 4.

In FIG. 2, it can be seen that, in the translational movement of the table 5, the clamping block 6 has come into contact with a valve 10 fixed to the frame 100 of the machine, but oscillating around an axis 101. This valve rose to let the clamping block 6 pass, then fell back on the rear face, relative to the movement, thereof.

FIG. 8 shows the operation of the valve 10. When the upper part of the clamping block 6 has passed under the valve, the latter has been pushed back to the position in dotted lines 102, then, as soon as the movement of the valve block tightening 6 from right to left continued, the valve 10 fell back into position 103. The fall of the valve 10 stops at a point where the distance 104 between the valve 10 and the clamping block 6 is equal to the thickness of the wick (not shown in this figure). The wick is then pinched between the valve 10 and the clamping block 6. This pinching of the wick is shown in FIG. 6.

It should be noted in FIGS. 6 and 8 that any tensile force on the wick, from left to right, results in an increase in the tightening of the wick, by the tendency of this wick to drive the valve 10 stronger downwards. , therefore closer to the clamping block 6. This effect causes, if the traction exceeds a certain value, the break or tear of the wick.

In Figure 2, we see that the cylinder 7 secured to the table 5 is positioned under the cylinder 9 and against it.

Table 5, in its movement to the left, also closed an electrical limit switch (not shown), which caused the engine 91 to start. The engine 91 is rotated in the direction of arrow 92. This rotation mechanically drives that of cylinder 9, and, by contact between cylinders 9 and 7, also rotation of cylinder 7.

As we have seen in Figure 5 that the wick was partially deposited on the cylinder 7, this wick is pinched between the cylinders 7 and 9. The rotation of the latter therefore causes the wick.

In FIG. 6, it can be seen that the wick is driven by the cylinders 7 and 9, slides on a drop sheet 11, then falls into the empty pot 4.

In Figure 7, we see that the cylinder 7 is applied to the cylinder 9 by means of springs 71 and that the drop sheet 11 extends to the top of the edge 41 of the pot 4, which forces the wick to fall inside this pot.

All the turns deposited on the table 5 take place and are thus sent to the empty pot 4. At the end of this process, the wick, which, as we have seen in FIG. 8, is pinched between the valve 10 and the clamping block 6, tends, then under the traction of the cylinders 7 and 9, tears. The end on the cylinder side of the wick is also sent to the pot 4, the other end remaining pinched between the valve 10 and the clamping block 6.

When all the wick turns have been sent to the pot 4, the table 5, with the clamping block 6 and the cylinder 7, pivots down around its axis 51, and the arms 8, with the rollers 81 and 82 , pivot upwards around their axis 83.

Figure 3 then shows the position of these various organs.

The table 5 and the arms 8, with their respective accessories cited above, then undergo a translation from the left to the right and will resume the position they had at the start of the sequence.

Figure 4 shows these positions.

Then the table 5 pivots upward about its axis 51, and the arms 8 pivot downward around their axis 83, to resume their position in FIG. 1.

The sequence is thus finished, and the change of pot could be carried out without part of the wick falling on the ground, between the old pot and the new pot.

Claims (6)

1. Method for automatically replacing a can (3) filled with coils of fibre sliver by an empty can (4) at the output of a textile machine such as a carding engine fitted with a can-coiling head (1) continuously supplying the fibre sliver during the translation of the cans, the fibre sliver supplied by the machine being deposited onto a movable table (5), which is located at the position of the upper edge of the two cans (3, 4) and which follows the translational movement of the latter, and then caught and pinched hold of by gripping means (6, 10) which are disposed on this table and in the vicinity of the filled can, characterised in that the sliver is deposited onto a table (5) located in the confined space between the two cans (3, 4) and in that, at the end of translational movement, the sliver is driven in the reverse direction to the translational movement of the cans by means (7, 9, 91) for driving and removing the sliver in such a manner as to send back the quantity of sliver deposited onto the table into the empty can and to break the sliver at the location of the gripping means (6, 10) by a pulling force exerted by the drive and removal means on the sliver after completion of driving of the sliver deposited onto the table.
2. Device for automatically replacing a can (3) filled with coils of fibre sliver by an empty can (4) at the output of a textile machine such as a carding engine fitted with a can-coiling head (1) continuously supplying the fibre sliver during the translation of the cans, comprising means (8, 81, 82, 83) for performing the translation of a can (3) filled with coils of fibre sliver and of an empty can (4), and a movable table (5), which is located at the position of the upper edge of the cans (3, 4) and which follows the translational movement of the cans in such a manner as to receive the sliver coils deposited by the can-coiling head (1) during this translation, this table being fitted with gripping means (6, 10) which are intended for catching and pinching hold of the sliver in the vicinity of the filled can (3), characterised in that the movable table (5) has a limited surface covering the confined space between two successive cans and comprises means (7, 9, 91) for driving and removing the sliver deposited onto the table (5) during the translation of the cans (3, 4), these drive and removal means coming into action at the travel limit of this translational movement driving the sliver in the reverse direction from the translational movement of the cans (3, 4).
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the means (7, 9, 91) for driving and removing the sliver coils deposited onto the table (5) during the translation of the cans comprise an idler roller (7) firmly attached to the movable table (5) interacting with a positively driven roller (9) firmly attached to the support frame (100).
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the idler roller (7) is thrust against the driven roller (9) through the action of springs (71) when they are superposed after completing the translational movement of the cans (3, 4) and of the movable table (5).
5. Device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the roller (9) is driven by a motor (91) whose rotation is actuated by the making of an electrical circuit at the translational travel limit of the movable table (5) and in that the roller (9) is driven in a rotation direction causing the removal of the sliver gripped between the two rollers (7, 9) in an opposite direction to the translation direction of the two cans (3, 4).
6. Device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the movable table (5), being able to follow the translation of the two cans (3, 4), can pivot about a lateral hinge axis (51) in such a manner as to be able to swing down and to come back to the rear in the waiting position between the can (4) which is in the process of being filled and a new empty can.

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