Title of Invention

AN APPARATUS ON A CARDING MACHINE, CLEANING MACHINE OR SIMILAR MACHINES FOR COTTON

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus on a carding machine, cleaning machine or similar machine for cotton, having at least two clothed rollers, for example, saw-tooth or spiked rollers, arranged downstream of a feeding arrangement, in which apparatus a separation edge for impuriies, for example, a separating blade, directed against the direction of rotation and with an accompanying separating opening is associated with atleast one clothed roller, to draw out the fibre material the circumferential speed of the downstream clothed roller is greater than the circumferential speed of the upstream clothed roller, the clothed rollers are arranged in series and each downstream clothed roller co-operates with the upstream clothed roller as doffing and opening roller. The separating edge (22,27,27a;48,49;56) is arranged in a roller nip (wedge-shaped area) between two co-operating rollers (3a,3b,3c;31,32,33,34). FIGURE 2

Full Text

The invention relates to an apparatus on a carding machine, cleaning machine or the like for fibre material, especially cotton. In a known apparatus, associated with each roller of a multi-roller cleaning machine is a separating edge (separating blade), which co-operates with a covering element that covers part of the same roller. The fibre material removed by the clothing of the upstream roller and picked up by the clothing of the downstream roller moves through this covering in the direction of rotation in an enclosed space. The covering element extends against the direction of rotation right into the upstream roller nip and fills this completely. Between the separating edge and the free end of the covering element there is a separating opening for trash and so on. The separating edge co-operates with a suction hood. It is an aim of the invention even further to improve such an apparatus on a carding machine, cleaning machine or similar machine for fibre material, especially cotton. The invention provides an apparatus on a spinning preparation machine having at least two clothed rollers arranged in series, each downstream clothed roller co- operating with an adjacent upstream clothed roller to receive fibre material therefrom, the apparatus further comprising a separating edge associated with a said clothed roller, said separating edge further being associated with a separating opening and being arranged in a roller nip between two co-operating rollers. The arrangement in accordance with the invention of the separating edge enables trash and so on to be removed from the fibre material in the zone where opening of the fibre material takes place. Because the circumferential speed of the rollers increases in the working direction, the fibre material is subjected to a drawing out process during the transition from an upstream to a downstream roller. In that situation, all the fibres are moving relative to one another, and in the course of this the fibre material is opened up. The impurities present in the fibre material also move and become re-orientated in the drawn-out and thus loosened fibre lap. Additionally, during the transition to the following roller the fibre material changes into an oppositely curved configuration. At that point, especially between the point where it becomes detached from the upstream roller and the point where it is transferred onto the downstream roller, where, in order to bring about drawing out, the fibre material lies freely between the clothings, the impurities can be effectively separated from the fibre material by the separating edge and discharged. The arrangement is preferably such that in use the downstream roller of said two co-operating rollers has a greater circumferential speed than that of the upstream roller of said two co-operating rollers. The separating edge, for example, a separating blade, on the one roller expediently co-operates with a covering element that at least partly covers the respective other clothed roller. The covering element is preferably curved. The covering element is advantageously displaceable parallel to the roller surface. A suction hood for trash or similar is preferably associated with the separating blade. The separating blade is expediently arranged at an angle in relation to the clothed roller. The direction of rotation of the respective downstream clothed roller is advantageously opposed to the direction of rotation of the respective upstream clothed roller. The direction of rotation of the respective downstream clothed rollers and the rotation of the respective upstream clothed rollers are preferably the same. There is expediently a spacing between the separating edge and the clothing of the roller. The separating edge is preferably associated with the respective downstream roller of two co-operating rollers. The covering element is advantageously associated with the respective upstream roller of two co-operating rollers. The fibre material preferably undergoes a diversion during the transition between the co-operating rollers. The trash or similar expediently passes through between the separating edge and the covering element. The separating edge is preferably arranged in the widening roller nip. The opening dimension (0) is advantageously adjustable, for example, in dependence on the fibre length and/or the quantity of waste. The separating opening is preferably located in the roller nip. The suction hood is expediently associated with the roller nip. The covering element is preferably arranged in the roller nip. The spacing between the open end of the covering element and the point at which the fibre material is detached from the roller is advantageously adjustable. The apparatus is preferably provided between every two rollers of a multi-roller cleaning machine. The apparatus is expediently provided between every two licker-ins of a carding machine. Advantageously there are at least three clothed rollers arranged in series and there is a separating edge arranged in a roller nip between each adjacent two of said at least three rollers. The spinning preparation machine may be a carding machine cleaning machine or the like. The invention also provides an apparatus on a carding machine, cleaning machine or similar machine for cotton, having at least two clothed rollers, for example, saw-tooth or spiked rollers, arranged downstream of a feeding arrangement, in which apparatus a separating edge for impurities, for example, a separating blade, directed against the direction of rotation, is associated together with an accompanying separating opening with at least one clothed roller, to draw out the fibre material the circumferential speed of the downstream clothed roller is greater than the circumferential speed of the upstream clothed roller, the clothed rollers are arranged in series and each downstream clothed roller co-operates with the upstream clothed roller as doffing and opening roller, wherein the separating edge is arranged in a roller nip (wedge- shaped area) between two co-operating rollers. Certain illustrative embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a carding machine with an apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of a detail of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a cleaning machine with an apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of an apparatus according to the invention showing the transition and drawing out of the fibre material between two co- operating rollers; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the angular and spaced arrangement of the separating blade with respect to a licker-in having a saw-tooth clothing; and Fig. 6 is a side view, partly in section of a further embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 shows a carding machine, for example, a high-performance DK 903 carding machine made by Trutzschler GmbH & Co. K.G., with feed roller 1, feed table 2, licker-ins 3a, 3b, 3c, cylinder 4, doffer 5, stripping roller 6, squeezing rollers 7, 8, web-guide element 9, web funnel 10, take-off rollers 11, 12 and revolving card top 13 with card top bars 14 that revolve slowly. The directions of rotation of the rollers of the carding machine are indicated by curved arrows. At the output of the carding machine there is a can coiler 16 with a can 15 in which sliver is deposited. The letter A denotes the working direction (direction of flow of the fibre material). As may be seen more clearly in Fig. 2, a separating blade 22 is arranged in the roller nip (wedge-shaped area) between the licker-ins 3a and 3b and a separating blade 27 is arranged in the roller nip between the licker-ins 3b and 3c. Referring again to Fig. 1, the fibre material to be carded is fed in lap-form from an apparatus not shown more specifically to the fibre-feeding arrangement, which comprises the feed table 2 and the feed roller 1. The lap is held securely between feed roller 1 and feed table 2 and conveyed by clockwise rotation of the feed roller 1 slowly towards the pin- studded roller 3a. The pins 32 of the pin-studded roller 3a catch in the advanced lap and detach fibres from the lap, which are transported onward by the pins or needles 32. The pin-studded roller 3a rotates at a substantially higher speed than the feed roller 1 and turns anti-clockwise, in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the feed roller 1. The detached fibres travel past a separating opening, where impurities are removed at a separating edge of a separating blade and are carried away by means of a suction device. The fibres subsequently travel past a fixed carding element 18 before they reach the following licker-in roller 3b, which is equipped with a saw-tooth clothing 34, rotates clockwise and turns at a higher circumferential speed than the licker-in 3a. From the rotating licker-in roller 3b, the fibres are transferred to the licker-in roller 3c rotating anti- clockwise. The licker-in roller 3c is also provided with a saw-tooth clothing 36, but in this case the saw teeth are finer than they are on the licker-in roller 3b. From the licker-in roller 3b, the fibres are transferred to the cylinder 4 of the carding machine. All licker-in rollers 3a to 3c - the pin-studded roller 3a is also a licker-in roller - are provided as far as is possible with a covering. Between the licker-ins 3a and 3b there are two rollers nips (wedge-shaped areas). As shown in Figure 2, in the converging roller nip, that is, the roller nip closing in directions of rotation 31 and 33, there is arranged a covering element 21, for example, an extruded section, which closes the roller nip. In the diverging roller nip, that is, the roller nip widening in directions of rotation 31 and 33, there is arranged a separating blade 22, the separating edge 22a of which is arranged opposing the direction of rotation 33 of the licker-in 3b with a spacing with respect to the clothing 34. The spacing a (corresponding to that between the separating edge 27a and the adjacent clothing in Fig. 5) can be adjusted by an adjusting device 25, for example, an adjusting screw. In the diverging roller nip there is also present a curved covering element 23 with an open end, which covers a part of the licker-in 3a. The covering element 23 is (in a manner not shown) concentrically displaceable with respect to the outer surface of the licker-in 3a. It can also be pivoted about a centre of rotation away from the licker-in 3a and towards the licker-in 3a. A common suction hood 24 for trash, dust, short fibres and the like is associated with the separating blade 22 and the covering element 23. Two roller nips (wedge-shaped areas) are correspondingly present between the licker-ins 3b and 3c. As shown in Figure 2, in the converging roller nip, that is, the roller nip closing in directions of rotation 33 and 35, there is arranged a covering element 26, for example, an extruded section, which closes the roller nip. In the diverging roller nip, that is in the roller nip widening in the directions of rotation 33 and 35, there is arranged a separating blade 27, the separating edge 27a of which is arranged opposing the direction of rotation 35 of the licker-in 3c with a spacing a with respect to the clothing 36. The spacing a can be adjusted by an adjusting device 30, for example, an adjusting screw. In the diverging roller nip there is also present a curved covering element 28 with an open end 28a, which covers a part of the licker-in 3b. The covering element 28 is (in a manner not shown) concentrically displaceable with respect to the outer surface of the licker-in 3b and pivotable. A common suction hood 29 for trash, duct, short fibres and the like is associated with the separating blade 27 and the covering element 28. Three fixed carding elements 19a, 19b and 19c are associated with the licker-in 3b and two fixed carding elements 20a, 20b are associated with the licker-in 3c. The fixed carding elements are arranged, in the direction of rotation of the roller, downstream of the respective upstream separating blade. Figure 3 shows a cleaning machine in which four rollers 31, 32, 33 and 34 are arranged in succession, the directions of rotation of which are denoted by the letters A, B, C and D. At the end of the roller 34 there is a pneumatic suction arrangement 35 for the fibre material (arrow F). The diameter of the rollers 31 to 34 is the same. The circumferential speed of each successive roller is greater than the circumferential speed of the respective preceding roller. The fibre material to be cleaned, cotton in particular, is supplied in flock form to the cleaning device arranged in a closed housing. This is effected, for example, through a feed chute (not illustrated), by a conveyor belt or similar. The lap is conveyed by means of two feed rollers 36, 37, by being gripped by them, to a pin-studded roller 31 (diameter 150 to 300 mm, for example, 250 mm), which is rotatably mounted in the housing and rotates anti-clockwise (arrow A). Downstream of the pin-studded roller 31 is a clothed roller 32. The clothed roller 32 is covered with a saw-tooth clothing and has a diameter of about 150 to 300 mm, for example, 250 mm. The roller 31 has a circumferential speed of about 10 to 21 m/sec, for example, 15 m/sec, the roller 32 has a circumferential speed of about 15 to 25 m/sec, the roller 33 has a circumferential speed of about 30 to 35 m/sec, for example, 32 m/sec, and the roller 34 has a circumferential speed of about 40 to 50 m/sec, for example, 46 m/sec. A separating opening 38 for discharge of impurities in the fibre is associated with the pin- studded roller 31, the size of the opening being matched or capable of being matched to the degree of contamination of the cotton. A separating edge 39, for example, a blade, is associated with the separating opening 38. In the direction of arrow A, a further separating opening and a separating edge are present adjacent to the roller 31. The reference numerals 42 and 43 denote fixed carding elements. In the converging roller nips between each two adjacent co-operating rollers there is a respective covering element filling out the roller nip, that is, a covering element 44 between the rollers 31 and 32, a covering element 45 between the rollers 32 and 33 and a covering element 46 between the rollers 33 and 34. In the diverging roller nips between each two adjacent co- operating rollers there is a respective separating blade with a separating edge, that is, a separating blade 47 between the rollers 31 and 32, a separating blade 48 between the rollers 32 and 32 and a separating blade 49 between the rollers 33 and 34. A covering element 50 lying opposite the separating blade 47 is associated with the roller 31, a covering element 51 lying opposite the separating blade 48 is associated with the roller 32 and a covering element 52 lying opposite the separating blade 49 is associated with the roller 34. The separating blade 47 and the covering element 50 are connected to a common suction arrangement 53, the separating blade 48 and the covering element 51 are connected to a common suction arrangement 54 and the separating blade 4 9 and the covering element 52 are connected to a common suction arrangement 55. Between the separating edge 47a of the separating blade 47 and the open end 50a of the covering element 50 there is a gab b, through which the trash I separated from the fibre material H passes and is sucked off (in corresponding manner to that illustrated in respect of rollers 3b and 3c in Fig. 4, described below). The gap b extends far into the roller nip. There are no structural elements between the gap b and the narrow point between the rollers 31 and 32. The fibre material H transfers from the roller 31 to the roller 32 in this space. Corresponding statements apply to the downstream separating blades 47, 48, 49, covering elements 50, 51, 52, suction hoods 53, 54, 55, diverging roller nips, converging roller nips, fibre material transfers, trash separations and discharges and so on. The separating blades 47, 49 and the associated separating openings, the upper roller covering elements 50, 52 and the fixed carding elements 56a, 56b and 58a, 58b are provided on a common cover which is pivotable about a pivot as indicated by the arrows H, I in Fig. 3. Two fixed carding elements 56a, 56b are associated with the roller 32, two fixed carding elements 57a, 57b are associated with the roller 33 and two fixed carding elements 58a, 58b are associated with the roller 34. The mode of operation is as follows: the lap consisting of fibre flocks is fed from the feed rollers 36, 37, by being gripped, to the pin-studded roller 31, which combs through the fibre material and carries away tufts of fibre on its pins. As the roller 31 passes the separating opening, corresponding to the circumferential speed and curvature of this roller and the size of the separating opening adapted to this first separation stage, short fibres and coarse impurities are flung out of the fibre material by centrifugal force; after they have passed through the separating opening the short fibres and impurities enter a waste chamber in the housing. The fibre material pre-cleaned in this way is removed, undergoing further opening, from the first roller 31 by the tips of the clothing on the clothed roller 32. As the roller 32 passes the separating edge 47a, further impurities are flung out of the fibre web by the centrifugal force. With reference to Figure 4, at the transition from the relatively slowly rotating licker-in 3b to the relatively rapidly rotating licker-in 3c the fibre material H is subjected to drawing out in region 0. The letter 0 denotes a first opening dimension. It corresponds substantially to the distance between the point at which the fibre material H becomes detached from the licker-in 3b and the point at which fibre material H is taken up by the licker-in 3c. The distance between the point at which the fibre material H is detached from the licker-in 3b and the open end 28a of the covering element 28 denotes the second opening dimension Y. The letter I denotes the separated foreign matter such as trash and so on. In the embodiment of Figure 6, in the diverging roller nip a separating blade 56 is associated with the licker-in 3a and a covering element 57 is associated with the licker-in 3b. WE CLAIM: i. An apparatus on a carding machine, cleaning machine or similar machine for cotton having at least two clothed rollers, for example, saw-tooth or spiked rollers, arranged downstream of a feeding arrangement, in which apparatus a separating edge for impurities, for example, a separating blade, directed against the direction of rotation and with an accompanying separating opening is associated with at least one clothed roller, to draw out the fibre material the circumferential speed of the downstream clothed roller is greater than the circumferential speed of the upstream clothed roller, the clothed rollers are arranged in series and each downstream clothed roller co-operates with the upstream clothed roller as doffing and opening roller, characterized in that the separating edge (22, 27,27a; 47;48,49;56) is arranged in a roller nip (wedge-shaped area) between two co-operating rollers (3a, 3b, 3c; 31, 32, 33,34). 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separating edge (22, 27, 27a; 47, 48, 49; 56), for example, a separating blade, at the one roller (3a, 3b, 3c, 31, 32, 33 34) co-operates with a covering element (23,2B;50,51,52;57) that at least partly covers the respective other roller (3a,3b,3c;31,32,33,34). 4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the covering element (23,28;50,51,52;57) is displaceable parallel to the roller surface. 5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a suction hood (24,29;53,54,55;58> for a trash or similar is associated with the separating blade (22,27,27a;47,48,49;56). 6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the separating blade (22,27,27a;47,48,49;56) is arranged tangentially in relation to the clothed roller (3a,3b,3c531,32,33,34). 7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the separating blade (22,27,27a;47,48,49;56) is arranged at an angle in relation to the clothed roller (3a,3b,3c;31,32,33,34). 8. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the direction of rotation (33, 35, B, C, D) of the respective downstream clothed roller (3b, 3c; 32,33,34) is opposed to the direction of rotation (31 , 33, A,B,C) of the respective upstream clothd roller (3a, 3b; 31,32,33). 9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the direction of rotation (33 , 35 ; B,C,D) of the respective downstream clothed rollers (3b, 3c; 32,33,34) and the rotation of the respective upstream clothed rollers (3a, 3b; 31,32,33) are the same. 10. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein there is a spacing (a) between the separating edge (22,27,27a;47,48,49;56) and the clothing (32, 34 ; 36 ; 60 ,61,62,63 of the roller (3a,3b,3c; 31,32,33,34). 11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the separating edge is associated with the respective, downstream roller (3b,3c;32,33,34) of two co-operating rollers. 12. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the covering element (23,28;50,51,52;57) is associated with the respective upstream roller (3a,3b;31,32,33) of two co- operating rollers. 13. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the fibre material (H) undergoes a diversion during the transfer between the co-operating rollers (3a,3b,3c;31.32,33,34). 14. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the trash (1) or the like passes through (b) between the separating edge (22,27,27a;47,48,49;56) and the covering element (23,2B;50,51,52;57). 15. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the separating edge (22,27,27a;47,48,49;56) is arranged in the widening (diverging) roller nip. 16. An application as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15; wherein the opening dimension (0) is adjustable, for example, in dependence on the fibre length and/or the quentity of waste. 17. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the separating opening (b) is arranged in the roller nip. 18. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the suction hood (24,29553,54,55;5B) is associated with the roller nip. 19. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the covering element (23,2B;50,51,52;57) is arranged in the roller nip. 20. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the spacing between the free end (28a) of the covering element (23,28;50,51,52;57) and the point at which the fibre material is detached from the roller (3a,3b,3c;31,32,33,34) is adjustable. 21. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the apparatus is provided between every two rollers (31,32,33,34) of a multi-roller cleaning machine. 22. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the apparatus is provided between every two licker-ins (3a,3b,3c) of a carding machine. 23. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the fixed carding elements (8,19a,19b,20a,20b;42,43;56a,56b, 57a, 57b, 58a, 58b) are associated with the rollers, (3a,3b,3c;31,32,33,34). The invention relates to an apparatus on a carding machine, cleaning machine or similar machine for cotton, having at least two clothed rollers, for example, saw-tooth or spiked rollers, arranged downstream of a feeding arrangement, in which apparatus a separation edge for impuriies, for example, a separating blade, directed against the direction of rotation and with an accompanying separating opening is associated with atleast one clothed roller, to draw out the fibre material the circumferential speed of the downstream clothed roller is greater than the circumferential speed of the upstream clothed roller, the clothed rollers are arranged in series and each downstream clothed roller co-operates with the upstream clothed roller as doffing and opening roller. The separating edge (22,27,27a;48,49;56) is arranged in a roller nip (wedge-shaped area) between two co-operating rollers (3a,3b,3c;31,32,33,34). FIGURE 2

Documents:

547-cal-2001-abstract.pdf

547-CAL-2001-ASSIGNMENT.pdf

547-cal-2001-claims.pdf

547-CAL-2001-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

547-cal-2001-correspondence.pdf

547-cal-2001-description (complete).pdf

547-cal-2001-drawings.pdf

547-cal-2001-examination report 1.1.pdf

547-cal-2001-examination report.pdf

547-CAL-2001-FORM 1.1.1.pdf

547-cal-2001-form 1.pdf

547-cal-2001-form 18 1.1.pdf

547-cal-2001-form 19.pdf

547-cal-2001-form 2.pdf

547-cal-2001-form 26 1.1.pdf

547-cal-2001-form 26.pdf

547-cal-2001-form 3 1.1.pdf

547-cal-2001-form 3.pdf

547-cal-2001-form 5 1.1.pdf

547-cal-2001-form 5.pdf

547-cal-2001-granted-abstract.pdf

547-cal-2001-granted-claims.pdf

547-cal-2001-granted-description (complete).pdf

547-cal-2001-granted-drawings.pdf

547-cal-2001-granted-form 1.pdf

547-cal-2001-granted-form 2.pdf

547-cal-2001-granted-specification.pdf

547-CAL-2001-OTHERS.pdf

547-CAL-2001-PA.pdf

547-CAL-2001-PRIORITY DOCUMENT 1.1.pdf

547-cal-2001-priority document 1.2.pdf

547-cal-2001-priority document.pdf

547-cal-2001-reply to examination report 1.1.pdf

547-cal-2001-reply to examination report.pdf

547-cal-2001-specification.pdf