GB2474764A

GB2474764A - Mounting arrangement for sensing rolls of a spinning room pre paration machine.

Info

Publication number: GB2474764A
Application number: GB1017475A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Schmitz Joerg Herr
Original assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2009-10-21
Filing date: 2010-10-15
Publication date: 2011-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-15
Also published as: BRPI1003804B8; ITMI20101854A1; CN102041588B; DE102009050264A1; JP2011089246A; IT1401166B1; CH702067A2; BRPI1003804B1; GB201017475D0; CN102041588A; BRPI1003804A2; CH702067B1; GB2474764B

Abstract

Apparatus on a spinning room preparation machine, for example a carding machine, draw frame, combing machine or flyer, has a pair of sensing rolls 7, 8. The apparatus is for the creation or further processing of at least one fibre sliver which is guided between the two sensing rolls 7, 8. The sensing rolls are radially movable in respect of their spacing for measurement of the thickness of the fibre sliver and at least one of the sensing rolls is driven. At least one sensing roll is mounted for rotation on a non-rotatable shaft 15, 16. The non-rotating shaft may comprise a bolt having a sleeve (60, figure 4) mounted for rotation on it by ball bearings (62, 63). The bolt and sleeve may include the inner and outer races of the ball bearings. A threaded cap 64 may be located on the sleeve to surround the free end of the shaft and locate a sensing roll on the sleeve between the two ball bearings. Both sensing rolls 7, 8 may be driven by a double sided toothed belt (69, figure 5b) engaging pulleys (70a, 70b) on sleeves (60a, 60b). Changing loads and stresses on the shafts are avoided as they do not rotate.

Description

Apparatus on a spinning room preparation machine, for example a carding machine, draw frame, combing machine or flyer, having a pair of sensing rolls The invention relates to an apparatus on a spinning room preparation machine, for example a carding machine, draw frame, combing machine or flyer, having a pair of sensing rolls, for the creation or further processing of at least one fibre sliver, wherein the fibre sliver is guided between two sensing rolls.

A known apparatus for continuously detecting the mass of a fibre sliver (EP 0 192 835 A) comprises a pair of measuring rolls consisting of a driven roll and a roll that is entrained, that is to say frictionally driven, by the driven roll. Such rolls are referred to as stepped rolls and inter-engage in such a way as to form a space defined for measuring the cross-section or mass of the fibre sliver. The driven roll is driven by means of an axle which is connected thereto for conjoint rotation and is rotatably mounted, virtually without play, in a bearing on each side of the roll. That entrained roll is movable in the directions of arrow M in order to be able to measure the cross-section or the mass of the fibre sliver located in the said space. The shaft is a revolving (rotating) shaft which does not transfer any turning moment to the entrained roll. The axle and the shaft form two revolving (rotatable) components which involve a con-siderable circumferential load. As a result of the loadings (biasing), the rotatable components, namely the rotatable axle and the rotatable shaft, are subject to sagging which results in tensile stress in the convex region and compressive stress in the concave region. The rotational movement gives rise to disadvantageous changing loading of the rotating component, with constant alternation between tensile and compressive loading taking place.

It is an aim of the invention to provide an apparatus of the kind described at the beginning which avoids or omits the mentioned disadvantages, which is especially structurally simple and stable and which allows accurate measurement of the mass or cross-section of the fibre sliver.

The invention provides an apparatus on a spinning room preparation machine for the creation or further processing of at least one fibre sliver, in which the fibre sliver is guided between two sensing rolls, the sensing rolls are radially adjustable in respect of their spac±ng for measurement of the thickness or mass of the fibre sliver and at least one of the sensing rolls is driven, wherein at least one sensing roll is rotatably mounted on a non-rotatable shaft and the sensing roll, in operation, rotates about the non-rotatable shaft.

Because at least one sensing roll is mounted on a non-rotatable shaft, there is no circumferential load. In particular, disadvantageous changing loadings and changing bending forces are avoided. The bearing forces, that is to say the loadings, are considerably reduced, so that ball bearings can be used.

Where ball bearings are used, the ball bearing assembly is advantageously axially biased. A further advantage lies in an angular-contact ball bearing assembly. Ball bearings allow lifetime lubrication.

Furthermore, the bearing is free of axial and radial play.

It is advantageously possible to integrate the bearing into the drive pulley, that is to say belt pulley, or into the seating for the tongue and groove rolls. The arrangement of the tongue and groove rolls between the bearings results in a reduction in the lever arms and accordingly a reduction in the bearing forces and sagging.

A particular advantage lies in the compact structure which can result in a reduction in the mass. The invention also enables the use of contactless seals, which allows an advantageous reduction in the temperature as well as a reduction in the drive moments.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, each of the two sensing rolls is rotatably mounted on a respective non-rotatable shaft and the sensing rolls rotate about the non-rotatable shafts.

Advantageously, the non-rotatable shafts are bolts or the like. Advantageously, the sensing rolls, which are arranged to be pressed against one another, are tongue and groove rolls. Advantageously, the two sensing rolls are each joined to a sleeve or the like for conjoint rotation.

Advantageously, that the rotatable sleeves or the like are mounted in rolling bearings on the non-rotatable shafts.

Preferably, the rolling bearing is a ball bearing.

Advantageously, the non-rotatable shaft is used as the inner ring of the ball bearing. Advantageously, a raceway for balls is present on the outer wall of the non-rotatable shaft. Advantageously, the inner wall surface of the sleeve is used as the outer ring of the ball bearing. Preferably, at least one running surface for balls is present on the inner wall surface of the sleeve.

Advantageously, the running surface has concave shaping for substantially axial contact pressure of the balls.

Preferably, at least one rotating component joined to a sensing roll is driven. Preferably, the rotatable sleeves or the sensing rolls are driven by means of a toothed belt. Advantageously, toothed belt pulleys are associated with the outer wall of the rotatable sleeves.

Advantageously, the sensing rolls are arranged between the rolling bearings, for example ball bearings.

Advantageously, the bearing assembly is integrated into the belt pulley or into the seating for the tongue and groove rolls. Advantageously, contactless seals are provided. Advantageously, the sleeve is joined to a drive means at an end mounted in a bearing. Advantageously, the sleeve carries the sensing roll at a free end.

Advantageously, a cup-shaped closure element is associated with the sleeve and surrounds the free end of the shaft.

Advantageously, at its end mounted in a bearing the sleeve carries around its circumference a drive element for driving the sleeve or the sensing roll. Preferably, the sleeve is mounted by means of at least two ball bearings which are arranged on either side of the sensing roll.

Advantageously, the non-rotatable shafts have an end mounted in a bearing and a free end. Preferably, one of the two sensing rolls is rotatable or pivotable.

Advantageously, the movable sensing roll is arranged to be pressed against the fixed sensing roll by means of a force means. Advantageously, an electrical signal-forming device is provided for measuring the deflection.

Preferably, the spinning room preparation machine is an autoleveller carding machine, a carding machine having an autoleveller drafting mechanism, a combing machine having an autoleveller drafting mechanism, or a draw frame.

Advantageously, detection of the sliver mass of a moving fibre bundle is provided on a spinning room preparation machine having a plurality of successive drafting elements for drafting the fibre sliver. Advantageously, the spacing sensor is arranged at the intake and/or outlet of a drafting mechanism of the spinning room preparation machine.

Advantageously, the axial directions of the sensing rolls are arranged horizontally, vertically or parallel to one another. Advantageously, the biasing of the movably mounted holding element for the spacing sensor is effected by and is adjustable by mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic means, for example by means of springs, weights, inherent resilience, loading cylinders, magnets or the like. Advantageously, spinning room preparation machine, especially a carding machine, draw frame or combing machine, especially for use of the apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, having at least one spacing sensor for measuring the spacing between a pair of sensing rolls. Advantageously, spinning room preparation machine wherein at least one sensing roll is driven. Advantageously, spinning room preparation machine wherein the two sensing rolls, acting simultaneously as delivery rolls, are arranged directly downstream of the funnel-shaped sliver guide means, web guide means or the 1 i ke.

Certain illustrative embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an autoleveller draw frame having a first embodiment apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of a carding machine drafting mechanism having a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 3a is a side view of one form of apparatus according to the invention with a fixed sensing roll and a pivotable sensing roll in the production position; Fig. 3b is a plan view of the sensing rolls according to Fig. 3a; Fig. 3c is a side view of the sensing rolls according to Fig. 3a but without fibre material; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of the bearing arrangement according to the invention for the sensing rolls; Fig. 4a is an exploded view of part of a ball bearing; Fig. 4b is an exploded view of part of another ball bearing; Fig. 5a is a diagrammatic plan view of a further apparatus according to the invention with two sensing rolls mounted in bearings, and Fig. Sb is a side view in section I -I through the bearing arrangement and the drive means according to Fig. 5a.

With reference to Figure 1, a draw frame 1, for example a draw frame ID 03 (trademark) made by Irdtzschler GmbH & Co. KG, has a drafting mechanism 2 upstream of which there is arranged a drafting mechanism intake 3 and downstream of which there is arranged a drafting mechanism outlet 4. The fibre slivers 5, coming from cans (not shown), enter the sliver guide means 6 and, drawn by the delivery rolls 15, 16, are transported past the measuring device (spacing sensor 9) . The drafting mechanism 2 is configured as a 4-over-3 drafting mechanism, that is to say it consists of three lower rolls I, II, III (I output lower roll, II middle lower roll, III input lower roll) and four upper rolls 11, 12, 13, 14. In the drafting mechanism 2, the drafting of the fibre bundle 51V which consists of a plurality of fibre slivers 5, is carried out. The drafting operation is composed of the preliminary drafting operation and the main drafting operation. The roll pairs 14/111 and 13/11 form the preliminary drafting zone and the roll pairs 13/Il and 11, 12/I form the main drafting zone. The fibre bundle 5' is drafted in the preliminary drafting zone and the fibre bundle 5'' is drafted in the main drafting zone. In the drafting mechanism outlet 4, the drafted fibre slivers 5''' arrive at a web guide means 10 and are drawn by means of the delivery rolls 32, 33 through a sliver funnel 17 in which they are combined to form a fibre sliver 18, which is then deposited in cans. Reference letter A denotes the working direction.

The delivery rolls 15, 16, the input lower roll III and the middle lower roll II, which are mechanically coupled together, for example by means of toothed belts, are driven by the regulating motor 19, it being possible to specify a desired value. (The associated upper rolls 14 and 13, respectively, rotate therewith.) The output lower roll I and the delivery rolls 32, 33 are driven by the main motor 20. The regulating motor 19 and the main motor each have their own regulator 21 and 22, respectively.

The regulation (rotational speed regulation) is effected in each case by means of a closed regulating circuit, with a tachogenerator 23 being associated with the regulator 19 and a tachogenerator 24 being associated with the main motor 20. At the drafting mechanism intake 3, a variable proportional to the mass, for example the cross-section or the thickness of the incoming fibre slivers 5, is measured by an intake measuring element 9. At the drafting mechanism outlet 4, the cross-section (thickness) of the outgoing fibre sliver 18 is obtained by an outlet measuring element (spacing sensor 25) associated with the delivery rolls 32, 33. A central computer unit 26 (control and regulation device), for example a microcomputer having a microprocessor, transmits a setting for the desired value for the regulating motor 19 to the regulator 21. The measured variables from the two measuring elements 9 and 25 are transmitted to the central computer unit 26 during the drafting operation. The measured variables from the intake measuring element 9 and the desired value for the cross-section of the outgoing fibre sliver 18 are used in the central computer unit 26 to determine the desired value for the regulating motor 19. The measured variables from the outlet measuring element 25 are used for the monitoring of the outgoing fibre sliver 18 (output sliver monitoring) and the online determination of the optimum preliminary drafting operation. Using that closed-loop control system it is possible to compensate for variations in the cross-section of the incoming fibre slivers 5, or to render the fibre sliver uniform, by appropriate closed-loop control of the drafting operation. Reference numeral 27 denotes a display screen, reference numeral 28 denotes an interface, reference numeral 29 denotes an input device and reference numeral 30 denotes a presser bar. The measured values from the measuring device 25, for example variations in the thickness of the fibre sliver 18, are fed to a memory 31 in the computer 26.

The delivery rolls 15, 16 at the intake and the delivery rolls 32, 33 at the outlet of the draw frame each have a double function; they serve for delivering the respective fibre bundle S and 18 and at the same time scan the respective fibre bundle 51V and 18. The cross-section or the mass of the fibre sliver 18 passing through the roll nip a between the delivery rolls 32, 33 during operation are detected using an apparatus according to the invention, for example, the arrangement shown in Figures 3a, 3b. Additionally or instead, it is possible to use an apparatus shown in Figures 3a, 3b for detecting the cross-section or the mass of the fibre bundle 51V (consisting of a plurality of fibre slivers) passing through the roll nip a between the delivery rolls 15, 16.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment in which, between a carding machine, for example a TC 07 card made by Trdtzschler GmbH & Co. KG, and the coiler plate 35, above the coiler plate 35 there is arranged a carding machine drafting mechanism 36. The carding machine drafting mechanism 36 is configured as a 3-over-3 drafting mechanism, that is to say it consists of three lower rolls I, II and II and three upper rolls 37, 38, 39. At the intake of the drafting mechanism 36 there is arranged an intake funnel 40 and at the outlet of the drafting mechanism there is arranged an outlet funnel 41.

-10 -Downstream of the outlet funnel 41 there are arranged two delivery rolls 42, 43, which rotate in the direction of the curved arrows and withdraw the drafted fibre sliver 44 from the outlet funnel 41. The output lower roll I, the delivery rolls 42, 43 and the coiler plate 35 are driven by a main motor 45, while the input and middle lower rolls III and II, respectively, are driven by a regulating motor 46. The motors 45 and 46 are connected to an electronic control and regulation device (not shown) . The cross-section or the mass of the fibre sliver 44 passing through the roll nip between the delivery rolls 42, 43 -which are in accordance with the apparatus shown in Figures 3a, 3b -are detected by the spacing sensor 47. The spacing sensor 47 is connected to the electronic control and regulation device (not shown) which can correspond to the central computer unit 26 (see Fig. 1) . Reference letter B denotes the working direction. Reference numeral 48 denotes a can.

Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment in which the fixed sensing roll 15, 32, 42 (or the bearing housing for the fixed sensing roll) is associated with an electrical signal-forming device 9, 25, 47, respectively, in the form of a spacing sensor.

Figures 3a, 3b show a sensing arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention. A fixed sensing roll 7 and a pivotable sensing roll 8 are provided, which as shown in Fig. 3b are in the form of groove (sensing roll 7) and tongue (sensing roll 8) rolls. The sensing roll 7 has two outer roll discs 7, 73 and an internal roll disc 72. The sensing roll 8 has one roll disc. Between the circumferential surface 7' in the base of the groove of the sensing roll 7 and the circumferential surface 8' on -11 -the periphery of the sensing roll 8 there is a spacing a through which the fibre material passes during operation.

A pivotable holding element 50 is provided in the form of a single-armed lever 50 which is mounted by one end on a fixed pivot bearing 61 so as to be rotatable or pivotable in the direction of arrows C, D. The non-rotating shaft 16 of the sensing roll 8 is mounted on the lever arm 50. A compression spring 52 is supported by one end on the portion 50a of the lever arm 50, the other end of which is supported against a fixed bearing 53. The other portion SOb of the lever arm 50 is associated with, as displacement sensor, an inductive displacement transducer 54 which is electrically connected to an electronics system. On the side of the lever arm 50a facing the fixed sensing roll 7 there is a stop element 55 which provides for a spacing a between the sensing rolls 7 and 8 during operation. Reference numeral 15 denotes the non-rotatable shaft of the sensing roll 7. The sensing roll 7 is rotatably mounted on the non-rotatable shaft 15 (see Fig. 5a) and rotates about the non-rotatable shaft 15 in the direction of arrow 7a. The sensing roll 8 is rotatably mounted on the non-rotatable shaft 16 (see Fig. 5a) and rotates about the non-rotatable shaft 16 in the direction of arrow 8a.

Fig. 3c shows the sensing rolls of Figs. 3a & 3b when no fibre material is present between the rolls. In the position in accordance with Fig. 3c, detection of a concentricity error of the sensing rolls 7 and 8 can be effected (after removal of the stop 55) In an embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the bearing arrangement has a non-rotatable shaft 15 which has a shaft end 151 mounted in a bearing and a projecting free shaft -12 -end 152. The shaft 15 is, for example, in the form of a bolt. In order to accommodate the sensing roll 7 a rotatable sleeve 60 is associated with the projecting shaft end 15 (see Fig. 5a) . The sleeve 60, together with a projecting collar, forms a stop 60 which is used for lateral fixing of the position of the sensing roll 7.

Between the cylindrical region of the inner wall surface 604 of the sleeve 60 and the cylindrical outer wall surface 153 of the shaft 15 there is a spacing b (see Fig. 5a).

In the region of the shaft 15 located opposite the end region 603 of the sleeve 60 there is a ball bearing 62. In accordance with Fig. 4a, the shaft 15 has a raceway 154 for the balls 62. The balls 62 also run on the inner wall surface 604 of the sleeve 60. In that way, the shaft forms the inner ring and the sleeve 60 the outer ring of the ball bearing 62. Reference numeral 622 denotes the cage of the ball bearing 62. The shaft end 152 of the shaft 15 has a cylindrical internal cavity open at one end, for example a bore, in which one end 61 of a bolt-like holding element 61 is mounted, for example adhesively bonded. At the free end 612 there is a ball bearing 63.

The holding element 61 has on its outer wall 614 a raceway 613 for the balls 63. The balls 63 also run on the inner wall surface 604 of the sleeve 60. The holding element 61 thus forms the inner ring and the sleeve 60 the outer ring of the ball bearing 63. Reference numeral 632 denotes the cage of the ball bearing 63. Because the shaft 15 and the holding element 61 are used as the inner ring and the sleeve 60 as the outer ring of the ball bearings 62 and 63, the overall dimensions of the ball bearings are considerably reduced.

-13 -The inner wall surface 604 of the sleeve 60 is provided with a plurality of diameter steps. For mounting, first the shaft 15 with the ball bearing 62 is introduced into the interior of the sleeve 60 from one end. Then the holding element 61 with the ball bearing 63 is introduced into the interior of the sleeve 60 from the other end and the holding element 61 is adhesively bonded over its end region 61 in the internal cavity of the shaft 15. The inner wall 604 has, in the region of the balls 62 and 63, concavely shaped running surfaces 606 and 607, respect-ively, which are inclined towards one another. In that way, an angled bearing assembly for the balls 62 and 637 is implemented. The fact that, in the course of mounting, the balls 62i and 637 are pressed against the running surfaces 606, 607, respectively, with axial biasing, advantageously allows simultaneous and equalised loading of all balls 627 and 637 during operation.

In the opposite end region 602 of the sleeve 60 there is a cap nut 64 sO that the free shaft end 152 of the shaft 15 and the end region 602 of the sleeve 60 have a cup-shaped surround. The cap nut 64 is joined to the sleeve 60 by way of a thread 65 (consisting of an internal thread on the cap nut 64 and an external thread on the outer wall 605 of the sleeve 60) . The cap nut 64 has a stop 64 which is used for lateral fixing of the position of the sensing roll 7. The sensing roll 7 is pushed onto the outer wall 605 of the sleeve 60 by means of its circular guide opening and is fixed between the two stops and 64 by the cap nut 64. The two ball bearings 62 and 63 are arranged next to the sensing roll 7 on either side (see Fig. 5a), so that bending forces are advant-ageously avoided. Reference numeral 66 denotes a spacer -14 -disc, reference numerals 67 and 68 denote sealing rings.

Fig. 5a shows diagrammatically the apparatus according to the invention with the bearing arrangements for the two sensing rolls 7 and 8.

The sensing roll 7 (groove roll) is fixed and rotatable. The sleeve 60a is fixed and rotatable. The shaft 15 is fixed and non-rotatable.

The sensing roll 8 (tongue roll) is not fixed and is rotatable. The sleeve 60b is not fixed and is rotatable.

The shaft 16 is not fixed and is non-rotatable.

The sensing rolls 7 and 8 are rotatably mounted in ball bearings 62a, 63a and 62b, 63b, respectively, there being a spacing b between the inner wall surface 604 of the sleeves 60a and 60b and the outer wall surfaces 153, 163 of the shafts 15, 16, respectively. For drive purposes, the sensing rolls 7 and 8 are coupled to one another, for example by means of a toothed belt 69 having toothed belt pulleys 70a, 70b on the outer wall surfaces 605 of the sleeves 60a, 60b, respectively. According to Fig. Sb, the toothed belt 69 is in the form of a double toothed belt, the teeth on one side of which mesh with the teeth of the toothed belt pulley 70a and the teeth on the other side of which mesh with the teeth of the toothed belt pulley 70b. The endless toothed belt 60 runs in the direction of arrow K and is driven by a drive means (not shown), for example an electric motor 19 (see Fig. 1) . The fixed shaft 15 is mounted in a fixed housing 71. The non-fixed shaft 16 is mounted in a non-fixed housing 74 which is supported on a fixed bearing 73 by way of a compression spring 72, 50 that the entire bearing arrangement for the sensing roll 8, including the sensing roll 8, the sleeve 60b, the ball bearings 62b, 63b, the toothed belt pulley -15 - 70b and the shaft 16, is movable in the direction of arrows G and H. The changing forces acting on the groove and tongue rolls 7, 8 in the event of a change in the mass of the fibre material passing through the nip a between the groove and tongue rolls 7, 8 are transferred by way of the sleeves 60a and 60b and by way of the ball bearings 62a, 63a and 62b, 63b to the non-rotatable shafts 15 and 16, respectively. Because the shafts 15 and 16 do not rotate, undesirable circumferential loads or changing loadings on the shafts 15 and 16 are advantageously avoided. That advantage is enhanced by the fact that the sensing rolls 7, 8 are arranged between the ball bearings 62a, 63a and 62b, 63b, respectively, and the spacings c and d between the sensing rolls 7, 8 and the ball bearings 62a, 63a and 62b, 63b, respectively, are small. Using the apparatus according to the invention, a particularly compact, stable and space-saving bearing arrangement for the pair of groove and tongue rolls 7, 8 is achieved.

The invention has been illustrated in Fig. 4, 4a using the example of ball bearings 62, 63 in which the shaft 15 and the holding element 61 are used as the inner ring and the sleeve 60 as the outer ring of the ball bearings 62, 63. The invention also encompasses a construction in which ball bearings 62, 63; 62a, 62b; 63a, 63b each equipped with inner and outer rings are used, in which case the respective inner ring rests against the outer wall 153 (or 163) of the shaft 15 (or 16) and against the outer wall 614 of the holding element 61 and the outer ring rests against the inner wall 604 of the sleeve 60.

-16 -List of reference numerals 1 draw frame 2 drafting mechanism 3 drafting mechanism intake 4 drafting mechanism outlet fibre slivers 5! 5!! 5!!! 51V fibre bundle 6 sliver guide means 7 sensing roll (groove roll) 7a direction of rotation 7' circumferential surface in the groove base 73 outer roll disc 72 inner roll disc 73 outer roll disc 8 sensing roll (tongue roll) 8a direction of rotation 8' circumferential surface on the periphery 9 measuring device 10 web guide means 11 upper roll 12 upper roll 13 upper roll 14 upper roll 15 non-rotatable shaft 153 shaft end mounted in a bearing 152 free end of shaft 153 outer wall 154 raceway 16 non-rotatable shaft 163 shaft end mounted in a bearing 162 free end of shaft -17 - 163 outer wall 17 sliver funnel 18 fibre sliver 19 regulating motor 20 main motor 21 regulator 22 regulator 23 tachogenerator 24 tachogenerator 25 outlet measuring element 26 computer unit 27 display screen 28 interface 29 input device 30 presser bar 31 memory 32 sensing roll 33 sensing roll 35 coiler plate 36 carding machine drafting mechanism 37 upper roll 38 upper roll 39 upper roll 40 intake funnel 41 outlet funnel 42 sensing roll 43 sensing roll 44 fibre sliver 45 main motor 46 regulating motor 47 spacing sensor -18 -48 can pivotable holding element 50a portion of the lever arm 50b portion of the lever arm 51 pivot bearing 52 compression spring 53 fixed bearing 54 displacement transducer 55 stop element 60 sleeve 60a sleeve 60b sleeve stop 602 end region 603 end region 604 inner wall 605 outer wall 606 ball running surface 607 ball running surface 61 holding element 61 fixed end 612 free end 613 raceway 614 outer wall 62 ball bearing 62 balls 622 cage -19 - 63 ball bearing 63 balls 632 cage 64 cap nut 65 thread 66 spacer disc 67 sealing ring 68 sealing ring 69 toothed belt 70a toothed belt pulley 7Db toothed belt pulley 71 housing 72 compression spring 73 fixed bearing 74 housing

Claims

-20 -Cia iins 1. An apparatus on a spinning room preparation machine for the creation or further processing of at least one fibre sliver, in which the fibre sliver is guided between two sensing rolls, the sensing rolls are radially adjustable in respect of their spacing for measurement of the thickness or mass of the fibre sliver and at least one of the sensing rolls is driven, wherein at least one sensing roll is rotatably mounted on a non-rotatable shaft and the sensing roll, in operation, rotates about the non-rotatable shaft.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two sensing rolls are each rotatably mounted on a respective non-rotatable shaft and the sensing rolls rotate about the non-rotatable shafts.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the non-rotatable shafts are bolts.
4. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensing rolls are tongue and groove rolls.
5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the two sensing rolls are each joined to a sleeve for conjoint rotation.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rotatable sleeves are mounted in rolling bearings on the non-rotatable shafts.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the rolling bearing is a ball bearing.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the non-rotatable shaft is used as the inner ring of the ball bearing.

-21 -
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a raceway for balls is present on the outer wall of the non-rotatable shaft.
10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the inner wall surface of the sleeve is used as the outer ring of the ball bearing.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least one running surface for balls is present on the inner wall surface of the sleeve.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the running surface has concave shaping for substantially axial contact pressure of the balls.
13. An apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the sensing rolls are arranged between the rolling bearings.
14. An apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein said roller bearing comprises a bearing assembly integrated into a belt pulley for driving the rolls or into a seating for the tongue and groove rolls.
15. An apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 14, wherein the sleeve is mounted by means of at least two ball bearings which are arranged on either side of the sensing roll.
16. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein at least one rotating component joined to a said sensing roll is driven.
17. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the sensing rolls or sleeves joined thereto are driven by means of a toothed belt.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein toothed belt pulleys are associated with outer walls of rotatable sleeves joined to said sensing rolls.

-22 -
19. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein contactless seals are provided.
20. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein a sleeve associated with a said sensing roll is joined to a drive means at an end mounted in a bearing.
21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the sleeve carries the sensing roll at a free end.
22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a cup-shaped closure element is associated with the sleeve and surrounds the free end of the shaft.
23. An apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein at its end mounted in a bearing the sleeve carries around its circumference a drive element for driving the sleeve or the sensing roll.
24. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the non-rotatable shafts have an end mounted in a bearing and a free end.
25. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein one of the two sensing rolls is rotatable orpivotable.
26. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the movable sensing roll is arranged to be pressed against the fixed sensing roll by means of a biasing means.
27. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein an electrical signal-forming device is provided for measuring the deflection of the moveable sensing roll.
28. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the spinning room preparation machine is an autoleveller carding machine, a carding machine having an autoleveller drafting mechanism, a combing machine having an autoleveller drafting mechanism, or a draw frame.

-23 -
29. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the apparatus is for detection of the sliver mass of a moving fibre bundle is provided on a spinning room preparation machine having a plurality of successive drafting elements for drafting the fibre sliver.
30. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 29, further comprising a spacing sensor for sensing the spacing between the sensing rolls.
31. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the apparatus is arranged at the intake and/or outlet of a drafting mechanism of the spinning room preparation machine.
32. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein the sensing rolls are so arranged that their axes extend horizontally.
33. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein the sensing rolls so are arranged that their axes extend vertically.
34. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 33, wherein the axes of the sensing rolls are arranged parallel to one another.
35. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 34, further comprising a movably mounted holding element, the movably mounted holding element being acted upon by adjustable biasing means.
36. An apparatus on a spinning room preparation machine in which the fibre sliver is guided between two sensing rolls, the sensing rolls being radially adjustable in respect of their spacing for measurement of the thickness or mass of the fibre sliver and at least one of the sensing rolls being driven, wherein at least one said sensing roll is rotatably mounted on a non-rotatable shaft -24 -and the sensing roll rotates about the non-rotatable shaft.
37. An apparatus on a spinning preparation machine for measuring the thickness or mass of fibre sliver, the apparatus being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any of Figures 1, 2, 3a to 3c, 4, 4a and 4b, 5a and 5b.
38. A spinning room preparation machine having at least one apparatus according to any one of the proceedings claims sensor for measuring the spacing between a pair of sensing rolls.
39. A spinning room preparation machine according to claim 37 or claim 38, wherein at least one sensing roll is driven.
40. A spinning room preparation machine according to claim 37 or 38, wherein the two sensing rolls, acting simultaneously as delivery rolls, are arranged directly downstream of a funnel-shaped sliver guide means or web guide means.