EP2304084B1 - Combing device for combing a fibrous material - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a combing device for combing a fiber material, which is supplied to a, stored in a machine frame nipper unit having a lower and upper nipper plate, wherein the upper nipper plate is movably mounted with respect to the lower nipper plate, to form a nip and for generating a clamping force of a loading device is acted upon and with a feed means for the intermittent supply of the fiber material to the nip of the nipper unit, which is assigned below a rotatably mounted in the machine frame Kämmzylinder which is provided on its circumference with at least one Kämmsegment and associated with a nipper unit tear-off.

In today's combers a reciprocating nipper unit is used, which is above a rotating combing cylinder (also called "round comb") and which passes the combed end of a tuft on a subsequent Abreisswalzenpaar. The nipper unit consists of a back and forth swinging lower pliers plate on which pivot arms an upper pliers plate is pivotally mounted. The pivoting movement of the upper pliers plate results from the swinging movement of the lower pliers plate, with closed pliers, the clamping force is generated in the region of the pliers lips of upper and lower pliers plate by spring-loaded arms, which are hinged on one side to pivot arms of the upper pliers plate and on the other hand on an eccentric shaft, which is stored in the machine frame. For the transfer of the upper tong plate in an inoperative position, the use of a special tool is necessary to pivot the tong plate against the permanently acting spring force. Such an embodiment is z. In the published DE-4216485 A1 or EP-A-0336210 shown.

With today's combing machines, combing numbers of up to 500 KS / min are achieved on the basis of the optimizations that have been carried out in the meantime.

Due to this high Kammspielzahlen very high loads on the moving parts, as well as for the load devices for generating the clamp clamping force. This also causes very high vibrations of the load device and the noise increases. The existing solutions are also limited in terms of the adjustability of the pressure load.

The invention is therefore based on the object to propose a loading device for the upper tong plate, which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and wherein the vibrations and the noise in the range of the nipper unit can be kept constant even at higher Kammspielzahlen or even reduced.

This object is achieved by proposing that the loading device consists of a compressed air source with compressed air acted upon bellows cylinder, which are supported in each case with its one end directly or indirectly on the machine frame and with its other end connected to the upper tong plate elements.

The term "bellows cylinder" is understood to mean a compressed air actuated pneumatic lifting device, which is usually provided with a rotationally symmetrical bellows. The bellows can be designed as Einfaltbalg or Mehrfaltenbalg, which z. B. consists of an elastomer reinforced with a high-strength textile insert.

By using bellows cylinders for the load of the upper tong plate, as already described, the noise level and the vibrations can be reduced, while at the same time only a small space requirement for these bellows cylinder is necessary. In addition, such bellows cylinder can compensate for certain angular deviations from their loading direction, making them ideal for this purpose, as will be described in more detail in subsequent embodiments. The use of bellows cylinders in this application allows a stepless adjustment of the clamping force, as well as a central monitoring of the loading means. Likewise, no special tools are necessary to pivot the upper tong plate into an inoperative position.

The connected to the upper pliers plate elements have laterally attached to the pliers plate pivot arms, via which the upper pliers plate is mounted about a rotation axis pivotally mounted in the machine frame or on a pliers frame of the lower pliers plate.

In order to obtain a uniform over the width of the nipper unit clamping force is proposed that in each case a bellows cylinder is supported on the pivot arms of the upper pliers plate.

For lateral stabilization and fixation of the bellows cylinder is proposed that in the region of the support of the bellows cylinder on the upper pliers plate each have a support surface is provided which has an opening into which a, the end face of the other end of the respective bellows cylinder protruding extension, if this resting on the support surface.

Advantageously, the extension of the respective bellows cylinder and the opening in the support surface may be dimensioned such that together they exert a clamping action on each other. This makes it possible that the upper clamp knife is lifted by the pivot arms for certain applications when moving the bellows cylinder by a certain amount.

In order to obtain a free access to the nipper unit, or to allow easy pivoting of the upper tong plate in a non-operating position, it is proposed that the bellows cylinder are fixed with its one end to the machine frame pivotally mounted arms. That after swinging the bellows cylinder over the arms, the upper pliers plate can also be swung out. Of course, the claimed arms can also be directly connected to each other and form a total of a pivotable frame which is pivotable as an integral element.

In order to fix the arms with the bellows cylinders in a stable position in their working position, it is proposed that at least one locking device is provided on the machine frame in order to fix the frame in this position.

For short-term relief of the upper tong plate is proposed that the bellows cylinder are connected via a control valve to the compressed air source, which is reversible via a control unit for generating a Unterduckes.

The proposed use of bellows cylinders for loading the upper tong plate is particularly advantageous when, as further proposed, the upper tong plate is provided with guide elements which are guided for direct control of their movement on cams which rotatably on the axis of rotation of the combing cylinder are attached and the Position of the lower tong plate during a comb play - seen in the direction of the tear-off - remains constant.

By doing in the horizontal direction fixed in the machine frame mounted lower tong plate, the bellows cylinder can remain in their horizontal working position and do not have to be moved horizontally during comb play in addition. In addition, this combination enables the application of the required clamping force in the nipper unit and the initiation of the movement of the upper nipper plate to be separated from each other. As a result, both processes (pressure, movement) can be adjusted and adjusted separately. This allows a more universal and exact adjustment. As a result, existing tolerances in the components can be better compensated and an optimal adjustment of the nipper unit can be made.

With this embodiment, the control of the movement of the upper tong plate is taken directly from the rotational movement of the combing cylinder, while the lower tong plate in the machine frame remains stationary with respect to the tear-off. With the proposed definition of the protection area, an embodiment is also included, wherein the lower tong plate may perform a slight vertical movement of its tong lip during the tearing operation to better transfer the tuft to a subsequent tearing device. Depending on the design of the tear-off device, the lower tong plate can remain completely immobile in position during comb play.

Since essentially only the upper tong plate is driven, few moving parts are involved in the combing process, whereby an increase in Kämmspielzahlen is made possible without causing mechanical overloading of the drive elements.

It is further proposed to perform the guide elements as a rotatably mounted rollers. This gives a low-friction leadership. For damping during start-up and also for noise reduction, these rollers can be covered with a rubber-like layer.

Preferably, it is further proposed that the upper tong plate is provided with lateral pivot arms via which it is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation in the machine frame or on a tong frame of the lower tong plate, wherein the rollers are arranged on the pivot arms at a distance from the axis of rotation.

Furthermore, an embodiment is proposed, wherein the lower tong plate is mounted in the machine frame such that it occupies a substantially constant position during a comb play and the tear-off means is formed of a tear-off, which to form a nip in the direction of, on the circumference of the combing cylinder attached Abreisssegmentes is slidably mounted.

This results in a compact design with little moving parts, the combing cylinder is directly involved in the tearing in cooperation with the tear-off.

Further advantages of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following embodiments and shown.

Fig.1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäss ausgebildeten Kämmvorrichtung

Fig. 1a

eine vergrösserte Teilansicht nach Fig.1

Fig. 2

ein Ausführungsbeispiel nach Fig.1 mit geöffneter Zange

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht X nach Fig.2

Fig. 4

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel nach Fig.1

Show it:

Fig.1

a schematic side view of an inventively designed combing device

Fig. 1a

an enlarged partial view Fig.1

Fig. 2

an embodiment after Fig.1 with opened pliers

Fig. 3

a top view X after Fig.2

Fig. 4

a further embodiment according to Fig.1

In Fig.1 the schematic view of a combing head of a combing machine is shown. As a rule, a multiplicity (for example eight) of such combing heads are arranged next to one another and are connected to one another in terms of drive via continuous drive elements (longitudinal shafts). However, it is also possible to equip each of the combing heads with individual drives.

Above a combing cylinder (16) connected to a driven axle (7) there is provided a nipper unit 1 (called nipper 1 for short), which is provided with a lower nipper plate 2 and an upper nipper plate 3. The upper tong plate 3 is connected to lateral arms 4a, 4b (see also Figure 3 ), which by one Swivel axis 6 are pivotally mounted on the lower tong plate. Since in the present example, the lower tong plate 2 assumes a stationary position (ie, is immovable during a comb play), the pivot axis 6 could also be mounted directly in the machine frame MS. On the arms 4 a, 4 b is in each case a bracket 10 is fixed (schematically two screw connections are indicated), which has at its free end an axis 11 on which a respective roller 12 is rotatably mounted. The rollers 12 may be provided with an elastic layer (for example rubber) on their circumferential surface for damping purposes and, depending on the angular position of the combing cylinder 16, lie on a circumferential surface U of a cam plate 14 (FIG. Fig.2 ), which is fixed in rotation on the axis 7 of the combing cylinder. The cam plate 14 is provided with respect to the axis 7 with radically different radii R1, R2.

On a portion of the circumference of the combing cylinder 16, a tear-off segment 20 is attached, which for tearing off the combed fiber tuft FB (FIG. Fig.2 ) forms a clamping line KL with a displaceable tear-off roller 8.

Within the pliers 1, a feed roller 5 is rotatably mounted, which intermittently during a comb play fiber material F (tapes, fleece, cotton wool) from a source not shown in the direction of the nip K of the pliers 1 supplies. The supply is carried out in dependence on the angular position of the axis 7 of the combing cylinder 16 by a gear, not shown.

Following the tear-off roller 8, a fiber-fleece-forming device 22 is shown schematically, by means of which the fiber packets delivered by the tear-off roller 8 are brought together to form a fiber fleece or soldered. The fiber fleece-forming device 22 is in this case provided with a rotating screen drum 23, which is a Nachnehmerwalzenpaar 24 downstream. Such a device may, for. B. the illustrated embodiment of the published WO 2006/012759 A1 correspond.

As in Fig. 1 can be seen, the pliers 1 is in the closed state, in which a tuft FB protrudes from the closed pliers 1 and is combed out of the combing segment 19 of the combing cylinder 16.

The clamping force of the clamp for clamping the fiber material is produced by bellows cylinders B1, B2 (with multi-fold bellows) which are supported at one end by an end face 30 on a transverse strut 28 which is connected to the pivot arms 4a, 4b of the upper tong plate 3. This is also in the enlarged partial view of the Fig. 1 a and the top view X in the Figure 3 seen. The bellows cylinders are provided in the region of the end face 30 with an extension 31, which protrudes for lateral fixation of the respective bellows cylinder B1, B2 in an opening 33 of the transverse strut 28. The extension 31 and the opening 33 may be formed in the form or in the dimensions such that a releasable clamping connection (clamping force connection) between the extension 31 and the transverse strut 28 is formed. This makes it possible that when a negative pressure to the bellows cylinder B1, B2 and the resulting constriction of the bellows cylinder and the cross strut 28 and thus also the upper pliers plate 3 is lifted from the lower pliers plate 2.

The bellows cylinder B1, B2 are attached at their other ends via a receptacle 35 on a strut 36 via screws S. The strut 36 is fixedly connected to the pivot arms 37, 38 which are pivotally mounted about the pivot axis 40 in the machine frame MS.

In the in Fig.1 to Fig.3 shown position, the pivot arms 37, 38 are in a locked position in which they are fixed by a locking device 50. Of course, the locking in this position must be designed in such a way that it can not be released automatically during operation. The proposed solution is shown by way of example only. In this case, per Verrieglungsvorrichtung (one per swivel lever) provided on the machine frame MS bolt 51 is provided on which rests in the position shown a latch 54 under the action of a compressive force. The latch 54 has a sloping surface 52 on which the bolt 51 slides along when the pivot lever from a high tilted position (see position shown in phantom in FIG Fig.2 ) are transferred to the locking position shown. The bars are each connected to a spring 55, which are guided in a sleeve 57. The sleeve is in each case connected to a lug 58, which is attached to the pivot arm 37, and 38, respectively.

In order not to excessively load the loading device and the guide elements for the upper tong plate during the transfer to the locking position, an end stop 60 is provided, by means of which the pivoting movement in the direction of the combing cylinder 16 is restricted. That is, when pivoting the pivot lever 37, 38 in the locking position shown, the pivot lever 37, 38 on the respective stop 60 at. However, as soon as the bellows cylinder B1, B2 supplied with compressed air are lifted, the levers 37, 38 up to a distance a, wherein the further lifting is prevented by the locking device 50. In each case via a connection 42, the bellows cylinders B1, B2 are connected to a line 44 which is fastened to a valve 27. For uniform loading with compressed air, the individual lines of the respective bellows cylinder B1, B2 are combined to form a common line, which is connected to the valve 27. For reasons of clarity, however, only one line 44 is shown in the present example. The circuit of the valve 27 via an electromagnet 21, which is controlled via the line 46 by a control unit ST. A compressed air source 26 is connected via line 48 to the valve in connection.

As indicated schematically, the drive of the shaft 7 of the combing cylinder 16 via a transmission G, which is controlled via the line 47 of the control unit ST.

In order in particular to control the fiber packages drawn off by the tear-off roller 8 in cooperation with the tear-off segment 20 (Heilmann principle) and to deliver them to the following fiber fleece-forming device 22 at a specific transfer speed, it is advantageous if the combing cylinder 16 from the transmission G has a modulated speed is driven. Ie. The circumferential speed of the combing cylinder changes during a combing cycle and is adapted to the specific working cycle (combing, tearing off). For example, the peripheral speed of the combing cylinder 16 during tearing off could be lower, in order to ensure a gentle discharge of the drawn fiber packets onto a subsequent screening drum. The application of modulated speeds in a combing cylinder (circular comb) of a conventional combing machine is already common prior art, such. B. in the JP-57056525 (A ) was shown.

In the in Fig.1 shown position, the roller 12 is not on the circumference U of the cam 14 with the radius R2, so that the pressing force generated by the under pressure Balgzylindern B1, B2 at the nip K of the pliers is fully effective. Upon further rotation of the shaft 7, or the cam plate 14, the area of the cam plate 14 with the larger radius R1 reaches the area of the roller 12, as in FIG Fig.2 is shown. As a result, the roller 12 is raised with respect to the stationarily arranged lower tong plate 2 and thereby pivots the Swing arms 4a, 4b about the axis 6, whereby the forceps 1 opens. In the meantime, the tear-off roller 8 has been displaced in the direction of the axis 7 and, together with the tear-off segment 20, forms a nip line for detecting the end of the already combed fiber tuft FB. The tear-off roller 8 is pressed against the tear-off segment 20 with a loading device, not shown, in this position. The departure process is now started, wherein the torn off on the nip fiber packets are delivered to a screen drum on which the formation of a non-woven fabric takes place, which is removed via the doffer rollers for further processing. During the tear-off operation, a schematically shown fixed comb FK is engaged in the tuft FB, through which the drawn-off fiber material is pulled through. For reasons of clarity was on the representation of the FK Ridge in the Fig.1 and the 3 to 4 waived.

By pivoting the upper tong plate 3, the roller 12 is moved from the position shown in phantom to the position shown in solid lines. At the same time, the position of the support surface of the transverse strut 28 to the position of the support surface of the strut 36 with respect to the support of the bellows cylinder changed. In this case, the vertical of the support surface of the crossbar 28 shifts to the vertical of the strut 36 by the angle α, as in Fig.2 is indicated. However, this angular displacement is compensated without problems by the use of the bellows cylinder, without which it leads to functional problems. Due to the elasticity of the bellows cylinder, such a lateral displacement can be permitted without loss of function. Therefore, the use of such bellows cylinder for this application is particularly suitable and also has the already described further advantages in terms of noise reduction and vibration damping.

Upon further rotation of the axis 7 and thus the cam 14, the roller gets back into the area of the smaller radius R2, where they again the position already described in Fig.1 occupies. At the same time the tear-off roller 8 is lifted and the combing cycle begins again.

As already described, for cleaning purposes or to eliminate malfunctions, the pivot arms 37, 38 can be transferred into an upwardly pivoted position after release of the locking device 50, as shown in FIG Fig.2 indicated by dash-dotted lines. The extensions 31 of the bellows cylinder B1, B2 are pulled out of the openings 33 of the cross member and the Belgzylinder B1, B2 pivoted with the pivot arms in the upper position of inoperative position. However, before carrying out the described swiveling, make sure that the bellows cylinders are no longer loaded with compressed air. In order to fix the pivot arms in this position, a locking device, not shown, may be provided. After swiveling out the pivot arms 37, 38, the upper pliers blade 3 can also easily be pivoted about the pivot axis 6 via the pivot arms 4a, 4b. The pivoting back into the working position takes place in the corresponding reverse order.

In Fig. 4 a further embodiment is shown, wherein most elements also coincide with the elements, which in the example of the Fig. 1 have been shown. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for this example. The only difference to the previously shown embodiments is the different attachment of the upper tong plate 3. This is performed in this example in the vertical direction in side guides 70 which are fixed to the machine frame and which allow relative to the lower tong plate 2, a vertical displacement of the upper tong plate 3 , This embodiment is made possible by the lower tong plate 2 is not moved in its installed position during a comb play. The bracket 10, which carry the rollers 12 are, as indicated schematically, here in the vertical, in which moves the upper tong plate 3, or in the direction of the pressure load of the bellows cylinder B1, B2. This embodiment also includes the advantages associated with the example Fig. 1 have been described.

There are in the context of the invention still a variety of design variants possible.

Claims (12)

1. Combing device for combing a fibrous material (F) which is supplied to a nipper assembly (1) that is supported in a machine frame (MS) and has a lower and an upper nipper plate (2, 3), the upper nipper plate (3) being movably supported with respect to the lower nipper plate (2) so as to form a nlp point (KS), and being acted on by a load device (B1, B2) so as to produce a clamping force, and is provided with a feed means (5) for supplying the fibrous material (F) to the nip point (KS) of the nipper assembly, below which is associated a combing cylinder (16) which is rotatably supported in the machine frame (MS) and provided with at least one combing segment (19) on its periphery, and having a detaching means (8) which is associated with the nipper assembly (1), characterized In that the load device is composed of bellows cylinders (B1, B2) which may be acted on by compressed air via a compressed air source (26), and which at one end (35) are directly or indirectly supported on the machine frame (MS), and which at the other end (30) are supported on elements (4a, 4b, 28) connected to the upper nipper plate (3).
2. Combing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the elements (4a, 4b, 28) which are connected to the upper nipper plate (3) are provided with lateral swivel arms (4a, 4b) on the nipper plate, via which the upper nipper plate (3) is pivotably supported about a rotational axis (6) in the machine frame (MS) or on a nipper frame of the lower nipper plate (2), a bellows cylinder (B1, B2) is respectively supported on the swivel arms (4a, 4b) of the upper nipper plate (3).
3. Combing device according to one of Claims 1 through 2, characterized in that the elements which are connected to the upper nipper plate (3) are provided with support surfaces (28) which support the bellows cylinders (B1, B2) on the upper nipper plate (3), having respectively an opening (33) into which an extension (31), projecting beyond the end face (30) of the other end of the respective bellows cylinder (B1, B2), protrudes when the bellows cylinder is resting on the support surface (28).
4. Combing device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the extension (31) of the respective bellows cylinder (B1, B2) and the opening (33) in the support surface (28) are designed in such a way that they exert a clamping effect on one another.
5. Combing device according to one of Claims 1 through 4, characterized in that the bellows cylinders (B1, B2) are fastened with one of its ends (35) to arms (37, 38) which are pivotably mounted in the machine frame (MS).
6. Combing device according to Claim 5, characterized in that at least one locking device (50) is provided on the machine frame (MS) in order to fix the arms (37, 38) in their working position.
7. Combing device according to Claim 6, characterized In that the arms (37, 38) are connected to one another.
8. Combing device according to one of Claims 1 through 7, characterized in that the bellows cylinders (B1, B2) are connected via a control valve (25) to the compressed air source (26), which may be operated In reverse via a control unit (ST) In order to produce a negative pressure.
9. Combing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper nipper plate (3) is provided with guide elements (12), which for directly controlling the motion of the upper nipper plate are guided on cam disks (14) which are fastened to the rotational axis (7) of the combing cylinder (16) In a rotationally fixed manner, and the position of the lower nipper plate (2), as viewed in the direction of the detaching means (8), remains constant during a combing operation.
10. Combing device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the guide elements are rotatably supported rollers (12).
11. Combing device according to Claim2, characterized in that the upper nipper plate (3) is provided with guide elements which are designed as rotatably supported rollers (12), and which for directly controlling its motion are guided on cam disks (14) which are fastened to the rotational axis (7) of the combing cylinder (16) in a rotationally fixed manner, and the position of the lower nipper plate (2), as viewed in the direction of the detaching means (8), remains constant during a combing cycle the rollers (12) being situated on the swivel arms (4a, 4b) of the upper nipper plate (3) at a distance from the rotational axis (6).
12. Combing device according to one of Claims 9 through 11, characterized in that the lower nipper plate (2) is fastened in the machine frame (MS) in such a way that the lower nipper plate assumes a position which remains essentially constant during a combing operation, and the detaching means is formed from a detaching roller (8) which is displaceably supported so as to form a nip line (KL) in the direction of a detaching segment (20) mounted on the periphery of the combing cylinder (16).

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