GB2287964A

GB2287964A - Apparatus and method for filling sliver cans

Info

Publication number: GB2287964A
Application number: GB9506607A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ferdinand Leifeld
Original assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1994-04-02
Filing date: 1995-03-31
Publication date: 1995-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2015-03-31
Also published as: GB2287964B; GB9506607D0

Abstract

In an apparatus for filling cans (8) of elongate cross-section, with fibre sliver, e.g. at a drawing frame (1), the sliver (5) is delivered in coils from a rotating head (7) and the can (8) performs a backward and forward movement (A, B) in its longitudinal direction during the filling process under the action of a displacement arrangement (9, 10) having a drive means in the form of a speed-controlled electric motor (11). A control means, such as a microcomputer, for the motor responds to both a can displacement sensor and a filling-level sensor. The motor is controlled to give acceleration/deceleration at the ends of the can displacement path. <IMAGE>

Description

Apparatus and method for filling cans The invention relates to an apparatus and method for filling cans of elongate cross-section (rectangular cans) on a spinning works machine, for example, a drawing frame, with fibre sliver, for example, of cotton or synthetic fibres. The invention is concerned particularly with cans of oblong cross-section (flat cans). The reference to an oblong cross-section is to be understood as including not only cans of rectangular cross-section (when viewed in plan) but also cans of oval and other elongate rounded cross-sections.

In a known apparatus fibre sliver is delivered from a rotating head and deposited in coils and the can performs a backward and forward movement in its longitudinal direction during the filling operation. A displacement arrangement having a drive means is provided, which displacement arrangement is capable of displacing the can backward and forward on the filling path.

In a known method, (WO 91/18135), a store for empty cans and a store for full cans are arranged one behind the other. Each of the two can stores has a can transporter in the form of belt conveyors or chains which are guided by means of pulleys immediately adjacent to a further belt conveyor or a further chain conveyor. The belt conveyor or chain conveyor extends from the can store right up to the area around the filling head of the drawing frame, and is guided around pulleys. The chain conveyor drives a driver member which acts on the rectangular can and transports this right up to the filling head where two arms of a can shifting means in the form of a traversing device take hold of the rectangular can. The arms can be swivelled backwards away from the vicinity of the rectangular can, so that the rectangular can can be brought by the belt conveyor into the traversing region of the drawing frame; they can also be moved relative to one another and form a gripping means so that they are able to clamp the rectangular can firmly between them. A traversing device is required because, compared to depositing fibre sliver in round cans, the fibre sliver cannot be uniformly distributed in the rectangular can solely by virtue of the movement of the delivery head of the drawing frame. So that the traversing movement, which is necessary for filling a rectangular can, is not impaired, the chain conveyor is taken back out of the traversing region of the drawing frame into the basic position in which the driver member is located on the side of the can store remote from the drawing frame. A further chain conveyor with a driver member is provided, which is guided by pulleys. The pulleys are arranged so that the driver member can be brought from the side of the can store remote from the drawing frame into the immediate vicinity of the filling head to receive a rectangular can, so that the arms can then take hold of the rectangular can. The pulleys of the chain conveyor are arranged so that the rectangular can can be brought by the driver member, which is initially located on the side remote from the can store, right back into the can store. In that case, the chain conveyors are arranged parallel to one another over a certain longitudinal distance so that their operating ranges overlap. The two chain conveyors together form a can shifting means for delivering and removing a rectangular can. The chain conveyors act merely as pulling elements. For that reason on each side of the chain conveyors there are arranged roller conveyors having a plurality of rollers on which a rectangular can slides easily. Alternatively, driven rollers can be provided in place of belt or chain conveyors. This device is complex as regards its layout and construction.

In particular, it is a disadvantage that the movement sequences during each reversal of the traversing movement are controllable only for low speeds of rotation. These low speeds cause reversal time to be relatively long.

In terms of production time, reversal time is lost time.

Furthermore, it is impossible to adapt quickly to changing operating conditions when using chain conveyors as pulling elements or driven rollers of a roller table.

The fact that the can transporter is constructed in two parts is a further disadvantage, requiring two separate displacement arrangements for the rectangular can. A further drawback is that the separate displacement arrangements have to be separately driven and the control system for that has to be additionally complex.

Finally, a time delay occurs in operation as a result of changing from one to the other displacement arrangement.

The invention is based on the problem of providing an apparatus and method for filling cans which avoids or mitigates the disadvantages mentioned, which can be simple in particular as regards its structure and layout, allows production speed to be increased and permits rapid adaptation to changing operating conditions.

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for filling cans of oblong cross-section with fibre sliver, the apparatus including a filling station at which fibre sliver is in use delivered into a can, a drive arrangement for displacing the can backwards and forwards at the filling station during filling of the can, the drive arrangement including an electric motor, and a control arrangement for adjusting the speed of the motor.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for filling cans of elongate cross-section (rectangular cans) on a spinning works machine, for example, a drawing frame, with fibre sliver, for example of cotton or synthetic fibres, in which the fibre sliver is delivered from a fixed rotating plate and is deposited in coils and the can performs a back and forward movement in its longitudinal direction during the filling process and a displacement arrangement having a drive means and capable of displacing the can back and forward on the filling path is provided, characterized in that a speedcontrolled electric motor acts as the drive means for the displacement arrangement, which electric motor is connected to a control arrangement for adjusting preset motor speeds.

The invention further provides an apparatus as defined in the paragraph immediately above for filling cans of elongate cross-section (rectangular cans) on a spinning works machine, for example, a drawing frame, with fibre sliver, for example of cotton or synthetic fibres, in which the fibre sliver is delivered from a fixed rotating plate and is deposited in coils and the can performs a back and forward movement in its longitudinal direction during the filling process and a displacement arrangement having a drive means is provided, which arrangement is capable of displacing the can back and forward on the filling path, and in which a means of conveyance or transport is present between the filling position and, for example, a store for empty and full cans, wherein the can is arranged to be displaced back and forward in the filling position and in the direction away from or towards the filling position on the conveying or transport path, characterized in that the displacement arrangement is additionally capable of displacing the can on the conveying or transport path in the direction away from or towards the filling position.

The apparatus according to the invention enables the reversal movement to proceed quickly and jerky starting and braking to be eliminated. In addition, flexible adaptation of the speed to changing operating conditions is effected in a simple manner, for example, in that the change-over between the speeds for the traversing movement and the conveying and transporting movement is effected easily and quickly. The changes in traversing movement and transporting movement can merge directly, even fluidly, into one another.

Furthermore, adaptation to different speeds during both movement sequences is facilitated. It is possible to adjust preset motor speeds in a simple manner by means of a microcomputer arrangement. In addition to the smooth reversal, further advantages include the fact that the traversing speed is infinitely adjustable, overlapping of the fibre sliver coils at the reversal points is compensated, and the travel speed from and to the can store is infinitely adjustable.

The electric motor is usefully a d.c. motor. The electric motor is advantageously an a.c. servo motor.

The electric motor is preferably a frequency- controlled rotary current squirrel cage motor. The speed of the electric motor is preferably infinitely adjustable.

Before reaching the end points I, II and V, the speed is advantageously reduced corresponding to a function.

From the time of leaving the end points, the speed is preferably increased corresponding to a function. The electric motor is preferably accelerated or decelerated constantly. The electric motor preferably runs at a constant speed between acceleration and deceleration.

An electronic control and regulating means, for example, a microcomputer, is advantageously provided, to which the drive motor for the can displacement arrangement is connected. A sensor for the filling level of the can is preferably connected to the control and regulating means.

A displacement sensor, for example, an incremental displacement sensor, for the location of the can on the filling path a and on the conveying and transporting path b is advantageously connected to the control and regulating means. The drive motor is preferably able to switch between the drive for the filling path and the drive for the conveying and transporting path.

The present invention further provides a method of filling cans of oblong cross-section with fibre sliver delivered from a textile machine at a filling station, in which a can into which sliver is being delivered is driven backwards and forwards to the filling station by a drive arrangement including an electric motor and the speed of the motor is varied in a controlled manner.

The speed of the electric motor is advantageously controlled according to one or more of the following: in a given time (t) on the acceleration path (al) the electric motor is accelerated for as long as possible and the acceleration (b) is as small as possible; in a given time (t) on the braking path (a2) the electric motor is decelerated for as long as possible and the deceleration (-b) is as small as possible; during acceleration on the acceleration path (a1) and during deceleration on the braking path (a2), jolting (r = s/t3) is as low as possible; at the transmission points (III, IV) from the acceleration path (a1) and from the deceleration path (a2) respectively to the middle path (a3), jolting (r) is zero or virtually zero; and jolting (r) is zero or virtually zero at the reversed points (I,II). It will be appreciated that in the text immediately above the letters and numerals refer to the variables mentioned below in the examples with reference to the drawings.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. la is a diagrammatic plan view of a drawing frame for filling flat cans, with a can conveying device and a can store, Fig. lb is a front view of the drawing frame as shown in Fig. la, Fig. lc is a side view of the can store as shown in Fig la, Fig. ld is a plan view of a can loading and unloading arrangement of the apparatus, Fig. 2 is a perspective fragmentary view of a can displacement arrangement, Fig. 3 shows a sliding arrangement for a can in section, Fig. 4 is a block circuit diagram of an electronic control and regulating means for the apparatus, Figs. 5a and 5b show the variation of the speed of movement of the can on the filling path a.

Figs. 6a and 6b show variation of the acceleration of the can on the filling path a, and Figs. 7a and 7b show variation of the jolting of the can on the filling path a.

Fig. la shows a drawing frame 1, for example, a high-performance drawing frame such as that sold by Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG as the HS 900, to the sliver guide table 2 of which eight cans 3 are supplied from a carding machine (not illustrated). In the example illustrated, a drawing head 4 is supplied with eight fibre slivers 5 which are removed from the cans 3. The thickness of the delivered fibre sliver corresponds here to the thickness of the individual fibre slivers supplied. The fibre slivers are guided above a sliver guide table 2. The newly formed fibre sliver 6 (see Fig. lb) is introduced through a filling head 7, which is part of the drawing frame 1, into a can 8, which, once it has been filled, is moved away from the drawing head 7.

The can 8 is then conveyed by way of a can store 12 and a can transport car to an open-end spinning machine (not illustrated).

Fig. lb shows the filling station in which the can 8, which has an elongate cross-section, is located in a filling position. The fibre sliver 6 is conveyed to the can 8 by way of a rotating head and funnel 7. For the sake of clarity, only a short section of the fibre sliver 6 has been shown. The rotating head and funnel 7 is mounted in a frame, not shown specifically, yet is able to rotate about a fixed axis. The fibre sliver 6 is supplied to the rotating head and funnel 7 in known manner by two calender rolls, once it has been delivered from the drawing frame 1 to the calender rolls. The diameter of the rotating head and funnel corresponds approximately to the width of the narrow side of the can 8. The can stands on a sliding carriage 9. During the filling process, a traversing movement in the direction of arrows A and B is transmitted by a displacement arrangement 10 to the sliding carriage 9 carrying the can 8, with the result that the can moves across its entire length beneath the rotating head and funnel 7. The displacement arrangement 10 is provided to transmit this traversing movement. The traversing movement extends across the filling path a (see Fig. lb); in Fig. lb the can 8 is illustrated at one end of the filling path a by a solid line, and at the other end of the filling path a the can 8' is illustrated by a broken line. The displacement arrangement 10 is driven by a speed-controlled electric motor 11. Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drawing frame 1 (and transverse to the direction of the traversing movement of the carriage 9) there is a can store 12, which comprises an empty can store 12a for empty cans 8a and a full can store 12b for full cans 8b filled with fibre sliver 6.

Viewed in the direction of movement (arrows C, D), there is a space 12c between the last empty can 8a and the first full can 8b. The empty and full cans 8a and 8b stand on a belt conveyor 13 which runs in an endless loop around pulleys 13a, 13b and is driven by an electric motor 14.

In operation, the fibre sliver 6 is delivered from the rotating head and funnel 7 and deposited in coils, and the can 8 performs a back and forward movement during the filling process. Before the filling process, an empty can 8a moves, for example, from the empty can store 12a, into the space 12c between the empty and full can stores 12a, 12b and from there to the filling position; the can 8 is filled in the filling position with fibre sliver 6 and the full can 8 is guided after the filling process from the filling position into the space 12c between the empty and full cans 8a, 8b and from there is moved, for example, into the full can store. In that operation, the displacement arrangement 10 with the sliding carriage 9 is provided as the means of conveyance and transport between the filling position and the empty can and full can stores. The means of conveyance and transport is arranged at right angles to the can store 12. It guides the can 8 from and to the filling head 7. A loading and unloading arrangement 15 is provided to load the empty can 8a, before the filling operation, from the space 12c onto the sliding carriage 9 and to load the full can 8b after the filling process from the means of conveyance or transport into the space 12c. As shown in Fig. ib, in the filling position the can 8 is moved back and forward beneath the rotating head and funnel 7 in the direction of arrows A and B along the filling path a. The conveying or transporting path b is used, either for an empty can 8a to move from the can store 12 into the filling position, or for a full can 8b to move from the filling position into the can store 12 (see arrows L, M in Fig. lid).

As shown in Fig lc, the empty can store 12a and the full can store 12b form a common can store 12 as a structural unit. The can store 12 has a common continuous belt conveyor 13 which runs continuously around pulleys 13a, 13b in the direction of arrows E, F.

Carrier ridges 17 (Fig. la) for the cans 8a, 8b are arranged on the belt conveyor 13 transversely to the running direction C, D. The pulley 13b is driven by an electric motor 14. The overall height of the conveying means comprising the conveyor 13 is small.

Fig. ld shows the can loading and unloading arrangement 15 which has a push-and-pull arm 15b which is displaceable by a push-and-pull element 15a in the direction of the arrows I and K. The push-and-pull element 15a is driven, for example, by an electric motor 16. A pneumatic pressure piston can also be used.

The displacement arrangement 10 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2 and comprises a toothed belt 17 on which a mounting plate 18 for the sliding carriage 9 is secured. The drive motor 11, for example, a reversing motor, is connected to a stub axle 19 for driving a toothed belt pulley (not illustrated) which engages the belt 17. The reference numeral 20 denotes a slide rail and the reference numeral 21 denotes a guide on the linear unit.

According to Fig. 3, the rectangular can 8 is placed in a longitudinal direction on the sliding carriage 9; on its underside, the sliding carriage 9 has a sliding guide 22 which engages around a guide bar 23. The guide bar 23 is mounted on a pedestal 24. A further guide bar 23' is in the form of a slide track on which the sliding carriage 9 slides and is guided by means of a guide 25.

As shown in Fig. 4, an electronic control and regulating means, for example, a microcomputer 26, is provided, to which the electric motor 11 is connected by way of a motor controller 27. The electric motor 11, for example a d.c. or a.c. servo motor, is connected by way of a speed sensor 28 to the motor controller 27.

The drive motor 11 is connected by way of a displacement sensor 29, for example, an incremental displacement sensor, to the microcomputer 26; an operator terminal 30, sensors 31 and actuators 32, the drive means 16 for the can loading and unloading arrangement 15, the drive means 14 for the can store 12 and the measurement and actuating members for the control and regulation of the drawing frame 1 are additionally connected to the microcomputer.

The displacement sensor 29 gives a continual report to the microcomputer 26 on the particular location of the can 8 to be filled. The length of the path a over which the can 8 is moved during the filling process is structurally determined, and is pre-programmed into the microcomputer 26 (reversal points, e.g. I = zero and II = 100). Unless the can 8 is completely full, it is moved constantly back and forward at a predetermined speed v between the two end points (I and II) of the path a. As soon as the maximum filling level has been reached, which is detected by a level sensor which is one of the sensors 31, the can 8 is pushed over and beyond the end point II to the point V. From there it is conveyed away by the can loading and unloading arrangement 15 and a new empty can 8a is brought to the point V. This is gripped and moved into the range of the path a. There, the filling process begins again.

The speed v at which the can 8 is moved back and forward between the end points of the path a (I and II) is variable, and can be preset by the microcomputer 26 at the motor controller 27, depending on requirements.

In particular shortly before it reaches the end points, the can 8 can be decelerated corresponding to a programmable function. Once the end point has been reached, the direction of movement is reversed and speed is increased corresponding to a programmable function (compare Figs 5a, 5b). For example, the electric motor 11 can be constantly accelerated or decelerated.

The acceleration or deceleration may also be useful to compensate for overlapping of the sliver coils at the reversal points. The speed v at which the can 8 is moved along the path a during the filling process is dependent on the delivery speed of the machine (drawing frame 1) and is directly (electronically) synchronised with this.

The speed at which the can 8 is moved along the conveying or transport path b can be adapted to the speed of filling the can with fibre sliver 6.

Instead of the sliding carriage 9, the displacement arrangement 10 can also move a car or similar means.

The invention also relates to an embodiment in which the displacement arrangement 10 displaces the can 8 directly, the can being moved on a conveying means, for example, a roller conveyor.

Figs. 5a and 5b show the variation of the speed v of the can 8 with distance along the path s whilst on the filling path a during the forward movement (arrow A) and during the return movement (arrow B).

The acceleration path al and the braking path a2 amount to about 160 to 170 mm. On the middle path a3 the can 8 moves at a constant speed v. The filling path a is the sum of acceleration al, middle path a3 and braking path a2. The speed v = s/t (quotient of distance travelled along path and time).

Figs. 6a and 6b show a possible variation of acceleration b or deceleration -b on the distance along the path s. In a given time, for example, about 1 sec., the electric motor 11 (see Figs. la and lb) is accelerated on the acceleration path al for as long as possible with as little acceleration as possible (subject to avoiding jolting as described below and reaching the required speed), and on the braking path a2 is decelerated for as long as possible and with as little deceleration as possible. The deceleration b = s/t2 Figs. 7a and 7b show a possible variation of jolting r on the path s. On the acceleration path al and on the deceleration path a2 (braking path), jolting r is intended to be as gentle as possible. On the middle path a3, jolting r is zero. At the transition points III and IV from the acceleration path al and from the deceleration path a2 respectively to the middle path a3, jolting should be zero or virtually zero. Jolting should also be zero or virtually zero at the direction reversal points I and II, which are also starting points.

Jolting r = s/t3.

Smooth, virtually jolt-free start-up and braking is possible with the apparatus according to the invention.

In this manner a high filling speed combined with joltfree start-up and braking is achieved.

Claims

Claims:

1. An apparatus for filling cans of oblong crosssection with fibre sliver, the apparatus including a filling station at which fibre sliver is in use delivered into a can, a drive arrangement for displacing the can backwards and forwards at the filling station during filling of the can, the drive arrangement including an electric motor, and a control arrangement for adjusting the speed of the motor.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the filling station is part of a drawing frame.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, in which the filling station includes a rotating head for delivering fibre sliver into a can in coils.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the drive arrangement is operable in a first mode for filling a can and in a second mode to displace a can beyond the range of the backwards and forwards displacement in the first mode for facilitating changeover of cans.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which there is a can store towards and away from which the can is displaced in the second mode of operation of the displacement arrangement.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the electric motor is a d.c. motor.

7. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the electric motor is an a.c. servo motor.

8. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the electric motor is a frequencycontrolled squirrel-cage motor.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the speed of the electric motor is infinitely adjustable.

10. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the control arrangement is such that, before a can reaches the end of a displacement by the drive arrangement, the speed of the motor is reduced in a predetermined manner.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, in which at least the major part of the deceleration of the motor occurs over a small part only of the displacement.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, in which the deceleration increases towards the end of the displacement.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, in which the deceleration increases substantially uniformly with time.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, in which the initial deceleration is substantially zero.

15. An apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 14, in which the initial rate of change of deceleration is substantially zero.

16. An apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 15, in which the final rate of change of deceleration at the end of the displacement is substantially zero.

17. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the control arrangement is such that, as a can begins a displacement by the drive arrangement, the speed of the motor is increased in a predetermined manner.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, in which at least the major part of the acceleration of the motor occurs over a small part only of the displacement.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, in which the acceleration reduces as a can begins a displacement by the drive arrangement.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, in which the acceleration decreases substantially uniformly with time.

21. An apparatus according to claim 19 or 20, in which the acceleration at the end of the period of acceleration is substantially zero.

22. An apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 21, in which the final rate of change of acceleration at the end of the period of acceleration is substantially zero.

23. An apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 22, in which the initial rate of change of acceleration at the beginning of the displacement is substantially zero.

24. An apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 23 when dependent upon any one of claims 10 to 16, in which the accelerating displacement of claim 17 by the drive arrangement follows the end of the decelerating displacement of claim 10, and the rate of deceleration at the end of the decelerating displacement is substantially the same as the rate of acceleration at the beginning of the accelerating displacement.

25. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the electric motor is accelerated or decelerated continuously.

26. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 25, in which the electric motor runs at a constant speed between a period of acceleration and a period deceleration.

27. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the control arrangement comprises an electronic control means to which the electric motor is connected.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, in which a sensor for sensing the level of filling of a can is connected to the control means.

29. An apparatus according to claim 27 or 28, in which a displacement sensor for sensing the location of a can being driven by the drive arrangement is connected to the control means.

30. An apparatus according to any one of claims 27 to 29 when dependent upon claim 4, in which the control means is arranged to switch the drive arrangement between the first mode and the second mode.

31. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which the drive arrangement is arranged to displace the can beyond the range of the backwards and forwards displacement in the first mode without any sudden change in the velocity of the can.

32. An apparatus for filling cans of elongate cross-section (rectangular cans) on a spinning works machine, for example, a drawing frame, with fibre sliver, for example of cotton or synthetic fibres, in which the fibre sliver is delivered from a fixed rotating plate and is deposited in coils and the can performs a back and forward movement in its longitudinal direction during the filling process and a displacement arrangement having a drive means and capable of displacing the can back and forward on the filling path is provided, characterized in that a speed-controlled electric motor acts as the drive means for the displacement arrangement, which electric motor is connected to a control arrangement for adjusting preset motor speeds.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32 for filling cans of elongate cross-section (rectangular cans) on a spinning works machine, for example, a drawing frame, with fibre sliver, for example of cotton or synthetic fibres, in which the fibre sliver is delivered from a fixed rotating plate and is deposited in coils and the can performs a back and forward movement in its longitudinal direction during the filling process and a displacement arrangement having a drive means is provided, which arrangement is capable of displacing the can back and forward on the filling path, and in which a means of conveyance or transport is present between the filling position and, for example, a store for empty and full cans, wherein the can is arranged to be displaced back and forward in the filling position and in the direction away from or towards the filling position on the conveying or transport path, characterized in that the displacement arrangement is additionally capable of displacing the can on the conveying or transport path in the direction away from or towards the filling position.

34. A method of filling cans of oblong crosssection with fibre sliver delivered from a textile machine at a filling station, in which a can into which sliver is being delivered is driven backwards and forwards to the filling station by a drive arrangement including an electric motor and the speed of the motor is varied in a controlled manner.

35. A method according to claim 34, in which the variation of the speed of the motor is as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 26.

36. A method according to claim 34, in which the variation of the speed of the motor is substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 5a and 5b, and/or Figs. 6a and 6b and/or Figs. 7a and 7b of the accompanying drawings.