GB2200147A

GB2200147A - Blade assembly for a textile machine

Info

Publication number: GB2200147A
Application number: GB08804139A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ferdinand Leifeld
Original assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1986-04-22
Filing date: 1987-03-24
Publication date: 1988-07-27
Also published as: GB8804139D0; GB2200147B

Description

Ajustable separator blade assembly for a textile machine The invention relates to an adjustable separator blade assembly for a textile machine, for example a~ carding machine or cleaning machine for cotton fibres.

Such a separator blade assembly has a blade with an edge opposing the direction of rotation of the cylinder or roller with which it cooperates.

Separator blades for separating out trash, short fibres or dust are used on carding machines and cleaners.

On cleaners, these blades are used in conjunction with saw-tooth cylinders. On carding machines, the blades are used on lickers-in and also on the drum (main cylinder) and also in conjunction with suction hoods or tubes. The function of the suction hoods is to remove in an air current the trash, short fibres and dust particles separated by the blade. These blades are fixedly mounted, that is to say, the location of the blade, the distance of the blade tip from the roller or cylinder and the angular position of the blade cutting edge to the tangent of the cylinder are constant throughout operation of the machines. The disadvantage of this is that changing these set parameters is often very difficult and can therefore only be done when the machinery is at a standstill. The desired spacing of the blade edge (tip) from the saw-tooth fitting on the licker-in may vary, for example between 0.2 and 0.6 mm, depending on the fibre material to be processed. Adjustment of the spacing is carried out manually while the machine is at a standstill using a so-called spacer template. It is frequently desirable to adjust the blade in order to adapt to different materials, especially different contents and types of contaminant.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved form of separator blade which mitigates the disadvantages mentioned and which enables the degree of separation of foreign bodies (degree of cleaning) to be improved.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a device on a carding machine, cleaning machine or similar machine for cotton fibres having at least one separator blade assigned to a cylinder, which separator blade has a blade edge opposing the direction of rotation of the cylinder, in which device the separator blade is adjustable as regards its spacing from the cylinder circumference, characterised in that the spacing of the separator blade is adjustable by an adjusting device and can be fixed in a specific position, and the adjusting device has a drive means.

By means of the adjusting device, which changes the position of the blade, for example the spacing of the blade from the cylinder, by way of a drive arrangement, for example a motor, it is possible in a simple manner on changing the fibre material to be processed to achieve an optimum separation before and during operation. A precision change in position-is possible as a result of the drive arrangement. The adjusting device enables the blade to be fixed in a specific desired position, for example by stopping the motor. In this way an optimum separation is achieved. Adjustment during operation of the machine is advantageous ;-an accurate and reproducible separation becomes possible when the separation can be observed or by measuring the discharge flow.

Preferably, the separator blade is fastened to an adjustable intermediate support. Intermediate fixing means, for example intermediate stop members or positioning devices, are assigned to the separator blade or intermediate support. The separator blade or intermediate support is assigned an end fixing arrangement, for example an end stop member or end positioning means. The adjusting means preferably allows an infinite adjustment. The adjusting means is advantageously designed for a translational movement (displacement towards the cylinder) of the separator blade or intermediate support. An adjusting means, for example a swivel drive, for adjusting the angle of the separator blade with respect to the cylinder, (parallel to the cylinder surface) is preferably provided. A displacement detector is preferably assigned to the separator blade or intermediate support which is connected by way of a control means to the adjusting means (positioning drive). According to a further preferred embodiment, a device for measuring the amount of separated contaminants, for example trash, short fibres, dust and so on, which is connected to the control means, is assigned to the separator blade.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a device on a carding machine, cleaning machine or similar machine for cotton fibres having at least one separator blade assigned to a cylinder, which separator blade has a blade edge opposing the direction of rotation of the cylinder, in which device there is positioned in front of the blade a guide element which is spaced from the cylinder circumference, in particular, but not exclusively, as defined above, characterised in that the spacing of the guide element is adjustable by an adjusting device and can be fixed in a specific position, and the adjusting device has a drive means.

By way of example, certain embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically in side view a carding machine having adjustable separator blades, Fig. 2 shows a separator blade for a cleaning machine, the blade being mounted on an intermediate support connected to a positioning motor, Fig. 3a shows in side view a pivotable intermediate support for the angular positioning of a blade, Fig. 3b shows the device shown in Fig. 3a in front view, Fig. 4 shows an arrangement in which a blade can be shifted in a translational manner for local displacement, Fig. 5 shows a control device for the automatic adjustment of a separator, Fig. 6a shows an adjustable separator blade associated with a licker-in in which a guide plate associated with the separator blade is adjustable, and Fig. 6b is a view of part of the arrangement of Fig. 6a in the direction of the arrow X marked in Fig. 6a.

Fig. 1 shows a carding machine, for example generally of the kind known under the trade name "TrEtzschler-Exåctacard DK 7-15"and sold by Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG. The machine has a feed roller 1, feed table 2, licker-in 3, cylinder 4, doffer 5, stripping roller 6, delivery rollers 7,8, web guide element 9, sliver funnel 10, take-off rollers 11,12 and revolving flats 13. The licker-in 3 has a saw-tooth fitting (clothing) 3a. Beneath the licker-in there are arranged two blades 14', 14'', the blade edge 14a of which is opposed the direction of rotation (arrow A) of the licker-in 3. The blades 14', 14''are arranged on a respective intermediate support 15', 15''. The intermediate supports 15', 15''are assigned a respective adjusting means 16', 16'', each having a drive motor 17', 17''and a threaded spindle 18', 18''respectively.

Referring now to Fig. 2, beneath a saw-tooth roller 19 with a fitting (clothing) 19a of a cleaner (not illustrated), there is arranged a separator blade 14.

The blade 14 is fastened, for example by screws, to an intermediate support 15, which is movable approximately radially in relation to the saw-tooth roller 19 in a translational manner within a fixed guide 20 (which is mounted on the machine frame not illustrated), see arrows B and C. In the region of the end 15a of the intermediate support 15 furthest away from the blade 14, there is fastened, for example by welding, a nut 21 with an internal thread. Furthermore, a fixed drive motor 17 is provided, the motor shaft 17a of which is rotatable in both directions of rotation (as indicated by the doubleended arrow D). The motor shaft 17a is mounted in a fixed guide 22 and is constructed at its end furthest from the motor 27 as a spindle 18 with an external thread. The spindle 18 cooperates with the nut 21.

On rotation of the motor shaft 17a, the nut 21, the intermediate support 15 and the blade 14 are moved in the direction of the arrows B or C. The drive motor 17 may be a geared motor and serves as the positioning drive, that is to say, it causes the displacement and fixing of the blade 14. In particular when the pitch of the threads of the spindle 18 and the nut 21 is shallow, it is possible to achieve a precision adjustment and fixing of the blade 14, which when using, for example, a d. c. motor, can be effected continuously. The drive motor 17 may be set in operation and stopped manually, for example by means of a switch. The direction of rotation of the saw-tooth cylinder 19 is denoted by. the arrow referenced by the letter E.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the blade 14 is mounted on the movable, adjustable intermediate support 15 which can be fixed in any position. The blade 14 is rigidly joined to the intermediate support 15. The intermediate support 15 is joined to the framework of the cleaning machine such that it can be moved and fixed in position. The join between -the support 15 and the machinery framework consists, inter alia, of a translational guide means. The intermediate support 15, which is movable in the translational guide means 20, is joined to the drive motor 17. A cylinder may also be used as the actuating drive. The blade 14 is detachably secured to the intermediate support 15 so that it can be exchanged and reground. The blade 14 and the intermediate support 15 may alternatively be constructed in one piece.

In the embodiment according to Figs. 3a and 3b, the blade 14 is rotatable about an axis coincident with the blade edge 14a. The. intermediate support 15, to which the blade 14 is fastened, is intended to be pivoted in the direction of arrows F and G through the angle c.

On the blade support-15 there are mounted at each side two angular extensions 15a, 15b, the ends 15c and 15d of which are rigidly joined to pivot pins 23a and 23b respectively. The pivot pins 23a, 23b are mounted in fixed bearings 24a and 24b respectively, and are rotatable in the direction of the double-ended arrows H and J respectively. The axis of rotation (see broken line K) of the pivot pins 23a, 23b and the blade edge 14a are aligned, that is to say, they coincide. A swivel drive 25, for example a motor, gear mechanism or similar means, is assigned to one end. of the pivot pin 23a.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4, the blade 14 can be displaced locally out of the position shown by solid lines into the position shown by a broken line. In the position shown by a broken line the blade is denoted by 14'''. By this means, the site of engagement of the blade 14, or in other words the position of the blade 14 relative to the cylinder, is altered. For this purpose the intermediate support 15 is pivoted jointly with the blade 14 about the centre point 3b of the licker-in 3 through the ångle p. The blade is'thus shifted parallel to the surface of the licker-in 3. The closer the blade 14 or 14'''approaches to the site of transfer of fibre material from the intake arrangement (feed roller 1, feed table 2) to the licker-in 3, the smaller is the proportion of quality fibres separated out in addition to the foreign bodies.

In Fig. 5, a device 26a, 26b for measuring the amount of separated contaminants, such as trash, waste, dust, etc. is associated with the separator blade 14.

The contaminants pass in the direction of the arrow L in the region of the separating edge 14a into the measuring device, comprising a duct 26a for discharging trash and dust and a particle counter or dust measuring device 26b.

A displacement detector 27a, 27b, for example a slide resistor, is assigned to the intermediate support 15.

The displacement detector 27a, 27b (location sensor) is connected to a control and regulating device 28. The control and regulating device 28 has a set-point generator 29 for the position of the separator blade 14 in relation to the dust and trash content in the measuring device 26. Furthermore, the drive motor 17 is connected to the control and regulating device 28.

Finally, the measuring device 26 is also connected to the control and regulating device 28. In this manner the distance of the separator blade 14 from the saw-tooth cylinder 19 can be adjusted automatically by way of the drive motor 17 in dependence on the amount of separated contaminants determined by the measuring device 26.

According to Fig. 5, the displacement detector 27a, 27b (position sensor) is mounted between the intermediate support 15 and the guide means 20 fastened to the machine framework. The displacement detector 27a, 27b (sensor) and the drive motor 17 (actuating drive) are connected to the control and regulating device 28. The control and regulating device 28 contains a set-point generator 29 for the position of the intermediate support and for the particle content. The control and regulating device 28 is furthermore connected to the device 26 for measuring the particle content at the separation point.

The control and regulating device contains a memory (not shown) which contains the relationship between the position of the separator blade 14 and the particle. content enabling the blade 14 to be positioned to provide a desired particle content in the material removed by the blade.

The adjustable waste separating device according to the invention improves the setting of the cleaning arrangement for the fibre material.

Fig. 6a shows a licker-in 3 to which are assigned two separator blades 14,14'having a blade edge opposing the direction of rotation E. A cover plate 30 is assigned to the cylinder circumference, to the end of which there is fastened by way of a hinge 31 a guide element 32 (guide plate). The guide element 32 is pivotable in the direction of the arrows F, G. As shown in Fig. 6b, the guide element 32 can be displaced by way of a hinge 39, a connecting rod 38, a disc (crank) 36 with a bolt (crank pin) 36a, a rotating shaft 35 (arrows L, K) and a drive motor 17a. On the downstream side of the blade 14 there is fastened a holding element 33, on the end of which there is arranged a guide element 34 coordinated with the cylinder circumference. The guide element 34 (but not the blade 14) is displaceable in the direction of arrows H, I. The distances a and b, respectively, of the guide elements 32 and 34 from the circumference of the licker-in 3 are automatically adjustable (using the control device of Fig. 5) by the adjusting arrangements 17a, 35,36,36a, 38,39 and 17, 18,20,21,22 respectively. By changing the distances a and b the separating effect of the succeeding blades 14 and 14'respectively is changed and influenced.

While certain features have been described in respect of one particular embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that in many cases that feature may be incorporated in other described embodiments. For example, the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 applied to a cleaning machine may be applied to a carding machine.

Also a separator blade which is adjustable in more than one respect may be provided, for example by combining the embodiments of Figs. 2,3a and 3b.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An adjustable separator blade assemblyfor use on a textile machine, the assembly including a blade having an edge for cooperating with the cylinder or roller of the machine with the edge opposing the direction of rotation of the cylinder or roller, a guide element for positioning adjacent-the cylinder or roller upstream of the blade, means for mounting the guide element for movement relative to the cylinder or roller and drive means for adjusting the position of the guide element relative to the cylinder or roller.
2. An adjustable separator blade assembly for use on a textile machine, the assembly including a blade having an edge for cooperating with a cylinder or roller of the machine with the edge opposing the direction of rotation of the cylinder or roller, the assembly including means for mounting the blade for movement relative to the cylinder or roller and motor drive means for adjusting the position of the blade relative to the cylinder or roller.
3. A blade assembly according to claim 2 in which the mounting means and the motor drive means are arranged such that with the motor drivé means inactive the blade is held in a fixed position relative to the cylinder or roller.
4. A blade assembly according to claim 2 or 3 in which the motor drive means comprises a screw threaded shaft which is drivingly coupled to a motor and which is engaged by a member mounting the blade.
5. A blade assembly according to claim 2 or 3 in which the motor drive means comprises a piston and cylinder arrangement.
6. A blade assembly according to any of claims 2 to 5 in which the motor drive means is arranged to adjust the spacing of the blade edge from the cylinder or roller.
7. A blade assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 6 in which the motor drive means is arranged to adjust the angle of the blade relative to the cylinder or roller.
8. A blade assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 7 in which the motor drive means is arranged to adjust the position around the cylinder-or roller at which the blade edge cooperates with the cylinder or roller.
9. A blade assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 8 further including means for monitoring the operation of the blade, and control means for controlling the motor drive means in dependence upon a signal from the monitoring means.
10. A blade assembly according to claim 9 in which the monitoring means includes means for monitoring the position of the blade.
11. A blade assembly according to claim 9 or 10 in which the monitoring means includes means for monitoring the material separated out by the blade.
12. A blade assembly according to any of claims 2 to 11 in which the blade is fastened to an intermediate support which is mounted on the mounting means.
13. A blade assembly according to any of claims 2 to 12 further including intermediate fixing means for fixing the blade in selected intermediate positions of adjustment relative to the cylinder ro roller.
14. A blade assembly according to any of claims 2 to 13 further including end fixing means for limiting the range of adjustment of the blade position.
15. A blade assembly according to any of claims 2 to 14 further including a guide element for location adjacent the cylinder or roller upstream of the separator blade and means for adjusting the position of the guide element relative to the cylinder ro roller.
16. A blade assembly according to claim 15 in which the adjusting means for the guide element includes motor drive means.
17. A blade assembly according to claim 16 in which the guide element and adjusting means therefore are arranged such that with the motor drive means for the guide element inactive the element is held in a fixed position relative to the cylinder or roller.
18. An adjustable separator blade assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 6a and 6b of the accompanying drawings.
19. A textile machine according to claim 18 in which the machine is a carding machine or cleaning machine.

19. A textile machine including a cylinder or roller and an adjustable separator blade assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18, the blade of the blade assembly having an edge which cooperates with the cylinder or roller of the machine.

20. A textile machine according to claim 19 in which the machine is a carding machine or cleaning machine-.

21. Device on a carding machine, cleaning machine or similar machine for cotton fibres having at least one separator blade assigned to a cylinder, which separator blade has a blade edge opposing the direction of rotation of the cylinder, in which device the separator blade is adjustable as regards its position relative to the cylinder circumference, for example its spacing from the cylinder circumference, characterised in that the separator blade is adjustable by an adjusting device and can be fixed in a specific position, and the adjusting device has a drive means.

22. Device according to claim 21, characterised in that the separator blade is fastened to an adjustable intermediate support.

23. Device according to claim 21 or 22, characterised in that the separator blade or intermediate support are assigned intermediate fixing arrangements, for example intermediate stop members or positioning devices.

24. Device according to one of claims 21 to 23, characterised in that the separator blade or intermediate support is assigned an end fixing device, for example an end stop member or end positioning device.

25. Device according to one of claims 21 to 24, characterised in that the adjusting device and the drive means permit an infinitely variable adjustment.

26. Device according to one of claims 21 to 25, characterised in that the adjusting device is designed for a translational movement (displacement towards the cylinder) of the separator blade or intermediate support.

27. Device, in particular according to one of claims 21 to 26, characterised in that an adjusting device, for example a pivoting drive is provided for the setting of the angle (d) of the separator blade relative to the cylinder.

28. Device, in particular according to one of claims 21 to 27, characterised in that a device for displacing the separator blade relative to the cylinder is provided.

29. Device according to one of claims 21 to 28, characterised in that the separator blade or intermediate support is assigned a displacement detector which is connected by way of a control and regulating device to the drive means.

30. Device according to one of claims 21 to 29, characterised in that the separator blade is assigned a device for measuring the amount of discharged contaminants, such as trash, short fibres, dust and so on, which is connected to the control and regulating device.

31. Device on a carding machine, cleaning machine or similar machine for cotton fibres having at least one separator blade assigned to a cylinder, which separator blade has a blade edge opposing the direction of rotation of the cylinder, in which device there is positioned in front of the blade a guide element which is spaced from the cylinder circumference, in particular according to one of claims 21 to 30, characterised in that the spacing of the guide element is adjustable by an adjusting device and can be fixed in a specific position, and the adjusting device has a drive means.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims: 1. An adjustable separator blade assembly for use on a-textile machine, the assembly including a blade having an edge for cooperating with the cylinder or roller of the machine with the edge opposing the direction of rotation of the cylinder or roller, a guide element for positioning adjacent the cylinder or roller upstream of the blade, means for mounting the guide element for movement relative to the cylinder or roller and drive means for adjusting the position of the guide element relative to the cylinder or roller.

2. A blade assembly according to claim 1, in which the drive means for adjusting the position of the guide element includes a motor.

3. A blade assembly according to claim 2, in which the mounting means for the guide element and the motor drive means are arranged-such that with the motor drive means inactive the guide element is held in a fixed position relative to the cylinder or roller.

4. A blade assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, including means for mounting the blade for movement relative to the cylinder or roller and motor drive means for adjusting the position of the blade relative to the cylinder or roller.

5. A blade assembly according to claim 4 in which the mounting means and the motor drive means for the blade are arranged such that with the motor drive means inactive the blade is held in a fixed position relative to the cylinder or roller.

6. A blade assembly according to claim 4 in which the motor drive means for the blade comprises a screw threaded shaft which is drivingly coupled to a motor and which is'engaged by a member mounting the blade.

7. A blade assembly according to claim 4 in which the motor drive means for the blade comprises a piston and cylinder arrangement.

8. A blade assembly according to any of claims 4 to 7 in which the motor drive means for the blade is arranged to adjust the spacing of the blade edge from the cylinder or roller.

9. A blade assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 8 in which the motor drive means for the blade is arranged to adjust the angle of the blade relative to the cylinder or roller.

10. A blade assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 9 in which the motor drive means for the blade is arranged to adjust the position around the cylinder or roller at which the blade edge cooperates with the cylinder or roller.

11. A blade assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 10 further including means for monitoring the operation of the blade, and control means for controlling the motor drive means for the blade in dependence upon a signal from the monitoring means.

12. A blade assembly according to claim 11 in which the monitoring means includes means for monitoring the position of the blade.

13. A blade assembly according to claim 11 or 12 in which the monitoring means includes means for monitoring the material separated out by the blade.

14. A blade assembly according to any of claims 4 to 13 in which the blade is fastened to an intermediate support which is mounted on the mounting means.

15. A blade assembly according to any of claims 4 to 14 further including intermediate fixing means for fixing the blade in selected intermediate positions of adjustment relative to the cylinder or roller.

16. A blade assembly according to any of claims 4 to 15 further including end fixing means for limiting the range of adjustment of the blade position.

17. An adjustable separator blade assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 6a and 6b of the accompanying drawings.

18. A textile machine cinluding a cylinder or roller and an adjustable separator blade assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17, the blade of the blade assembly having an edge which cooperates with the cylinder or roller of the machine.