Title of Invention

APPARATUS AT A SPINNING PREPARATION MACHINE FOR DETECTING WASTE SEPARATED OUT FROM FIBRE MATERIAL

Abstract In an apparatus at a spinning preparation machine, for example a cleaner, opener, carding machine or the like, for detecting waste which is separated out from fibre material, for example cotton, and consists of foreign matter and good fibres and which is collected in a collecting device, there is provided an optical measuring device having a brightness sensor, which measuring device examines the waste. In order to make it possible, by simple means, for the content of good fibres in the waste to be detected and to allow optimum adjustment of the composition of the waste, especially with a high content of trash and a low content of good fibres, the waste material is moved past at least one sensor arrangement responding to good fibres, and the sensor arrangement comprises a light source, the light reflected by the moving good fibres being detected by the brightness sensor and being converted into electrical signals, from which the good fibre content can be determined.
Full Text Apparatus at a spinning preparation machine, for example a
cleaner, opener, carding machine or the like, for detecting
waste separated out from fibre material, for example cotton
The invention relates to an apparatus at a spinning
preparation machine, for example a cleaner, opener, carding
machine or the like, for detecting waste which is separated
out from fibre material, for example cotton, and consists
of foreign matter and good fibres and which is collected in
a collecting device, wherein there is provided an optical
measuring device having a brightness sensor, which
measuring device examines the waste.
In a known apparatus (EP-A-0 399 315), the beater pins
of a cleaning roller convey the fibre flocks over cleaning
bars which are adjustable so that the intensity of cleaning
can be varied. Below the cleaning bars, a brightness sensor
measures the brightness as a measure of the contaminant
content of the offtake (waste), which has been separated
out by the cleaning bars and is collected in a funnel-like
collecting device. At prespecified time intervals, the
offtake is drawn off under suction by way of a suction
conveyor arranged at the lower end of the collecting
device. The brightness - measured by the brightness
sensor - of the separated-out waste, in the form of a
signal, is input into a control system and displayed on a
display. One disadvantage is that the sensor serves only
for detecting the contaminant content; the content of good
fibres is not detected. It is furthermore disadvantageous
that the determined degree of cleaning is investigated, by
sensors, in the offtake chamber of the cleaning machine.
Finally, the brightness, that is to say the degree of
brightness - measured by the sensor - of the offtake is
merely input into the control system without, however, any
optimum operating point of the cleaning machine being
derived therefrom.
The invention is accordingly based on the problem of
providing an apparatus of the kind described at the
beginning which avoids the mentioned disadvantages and
which especially makes it possible for the content of good
fibres in the offtake to be detected by simple means and
allows optimum adjustment of the composition of the
offtake, especially with a high content of foreign matter
(trash) and a low content of good fibres.
The problem is solved by the characterising features of
claim 1.
The measures according to the invention make it possible
for the content of good fibres in the offtake to be
detected automatically and allow optimum adjustment of the
composition of the offtake (trash/good fibres) by simple
means. The brightness sensor and the subsequent evaluation
provide precise information relating to the content of good
fibres in the offtake, that information being used for
adjustment of the separating elements. In the process, a
continuous, objective and, accordingly, person-independent
assessment of the separated-out waste is carried out. It
is, especially, possible to determine, and if necessary to
influence, the amount of good fibres that are, undesirably,
also separated out. Existing machine elements can be so
adjusted in dependence upon the results obtained that a
predetermined, desired waste composition is obtained
automatically. It is especially advantageous that the
variation in the brightness signal (coefficient of
variation/standard deviation of light reflection)
corresponds to the quantitative distribution curve of the
waste (trash/good fibres), from which an optimum operating
point is derived for adjustment of the separating elements
for the cleaning of the fibre material. The function
between the coefficient of variation and, for example, the
position of the adjustable guide vanes of the cleaning
machine exhibits a characteristic change in the gradient
(gradient endpoint or range) which corresponds to the
optimum operating point for cleaning. Determining the
optimum operating point is carried out by means of an
arrangement that is very simple in terms of apparatus,
which constitutes a further advantage.
Claims 2 to 63 contain advantageous developments of the
invention.
The invention will be described hereinafter in greater
detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1a shows, in a diagrammatic cross-sectional
side view, a cleaning machine having
several suction hoods for waste;
Fig. 1b shows, in a side view, the cleaner of
Fig. 1a having apparatuses according to
the invention;
Fig. 2 shows, in a cross-sectional front view,
the apparatus according to Fig. 1b
having an apparatus according to the
invention arranged at a suction offtake
channel;
Fig. 2a shows an apparatus according to the
invention arranged at a connection
piece;
Figs. 3a, 3b show a waste-separating location having
an adjustable guide vane;
Fig. 3c is a top view of the guide vane
according to Figs. 3a, 3b together with
an actuating motor and an angle-
measuring element;
Fig. 4 is a top view of the apparatus according
to Fig. 1b;
Fig. 5 is a generalised circuit diagram of an
electronic control and regulation device
having connected apparatuses according
to the invention, an evaluation device,
an angle-measuring device for guide vane
angles, an operating and display device
and an actuating device for guide vanes;
Fig. 6 shows, in a diagrammatic side view, a
feed device for a carding machine
together with apparatuses according to
the invention at suction waste-offtake
hoods;
Fig. 7 shows the apparatus according to the
invention comprising a photodiode, a
light source and a measuring device for
data collection at a waste pipe-line;
Fig. 8 shows the standard deviation (CV %) of
the measurement voltage and the
measurement voltage in dependence upon
the guide vane position (or the width of
the separation opening) and
Fig. 9 shows the waste composition in
dependence upon the guide vane position
(or the width of the separation
opening).
In accordance with Fig. 1a, the fibre material to be
cleaned (arrow F), especially cotton, in flock form, is fed
to the cleaning apparatus, for example a Trutzschler CVT 4,
which is arranged in an enclosed housing. That is
accomplished, for example, by means of a charging shaft
(not shown), a conveyor belt or the like. The lap is fed,
by two feed rollers 1, 2, with nipping, to a pinned
roller 3, which is rotatably mounted in the housing and
rotates in an anti-clockwise direction (arrow A).
Downstream of the pinned roller 3 there is arranged a
clothed roller 4 covered by a sawtooth clothing. The
roller 3 has a circumferential speed of about 10 to
21 m/sec. The roller 4 has a circumferential speed of about
15 to 25 m/sec. Roller 5 has a higher circumferential speed
than roller 4, and roller 6 has a higher circumferential
speed than roller 5. Downstream of rollers 3 and 4 there
are successively arranged two further sawtooth rollers 5
and 6, the directions of rotation of which are denoted by
reference letters C and D, respectively. Rollers 3 to 6
have a diameter of about from 150 to 300 mm. The pinned
roller 3 is enclosed by the housing. Associated with the
pinned roller 3 is a separation opening 7 for removing
fibre contaminants, the size of which opening is modified
or modifiable according to the degree of contamination of
the cotton. Associated with the separation opening 7 is a
separating edge 12, for example a blade. In the direction
of arrow A there are provided, at the roller 3, further
separation opening 8 and a separating edge 13. A separation
opening 9 and a separating edge 14 are associated with the
sawtooth roller 4, a separation opening 10 and a separating
edge 15 are associated with the sawtooth roller 5, and a
separation opening 11 and a separating edge 16 are
associated with the sawtooth roller 6. A suction offtake
hood 17 to 21 is associated with each separating blade 12
to 16. Reference letter E denotes the work direction of the
cleaner.
In accordance with Fig. 1b, a suction offtake line 22,
23, 24, 25 and 26 is associated with each suction offtake
hood 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21, respectively. The suction
offtake lines 22 to 26 are in communication with a common
suction offtake channel 27. The rigid suction offtake
lines 22 to 26 and the suction offtake channel 27 are of
integral construction of, for example, sheet metal or
plastics material. The lengths of the suction offtake
lines 22 to 2 6 differ according to the distance between the
suction offtake hood 17 to 21 and the suction offtake
channel 27. The cross-sections 27I to 27v of the suction
offtake channel 27 - seen in the direction of flow
(arrow K) - are located downstream of the entry of each
suction offtake line 22 to 26. The end of the suction
offtake channel 27 is connected to a suction source (not
shown). The directions of flow within the suction offtake
lines 22 to 26 are shown by arrows L to P.
The mode of operation is as follows: The lap consisting
of fibre flocks (F) is fed from the feed rollers 1, 2, with
nipping, to the pinned roller 3, which combs through the
fibre material and takes up fibre tufts on its pins. When
the roller 3 passes the separation opening 7 and the
separating edge 12, the centrifugal force, in dependence
upon the circumferential speed and curvature of that roller
and also upon the size of the separation opening 7, which
is matched to that first separation step, causes waste
(short fibres and coarse contaminants) and a certain (per
se undesirable) amount of good fibres to be flung out from
the fibre material remaining on the roller; the material
passes through the separation opening 7 into a suction
offtake hood 17 (contaminants) in the housing. The fibre
material pre-cleaned in that manner is taken off the first
roller 3 by the tips of the clothing of the clothed
roller 4 and is further opened out. When the rollers 4, 5
and 6 pass the separation openings 9, 10 and 11,
respectively, having separating edges 14, 15, and 16,
respectively, further contaminants are flung out from the
system of fibres as a result of the centrifugal force.
Arrows B, C and D denote the directions of rotation of
the clothed rollers 4, 5 and 6, respectively. Reference
numerals 17 to 21 denote suction offtake devices for the
contaminants leaving by the separation openings 7 to 11,
respectively. The directions of rotation A, B, C and D of
rollers 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively, are different at
adjacent rollers. At the end of the final roller 6 there is
provided a pneumatic suction offtake device 22 for the
cleaned fibre material (arrow H). The circumferential speed
of each downstream roller is greater than the
circumferential speed of the respective upstream roller.
Reference numerals 23' to 26' denote adjustable air-guiding
elements mounted at the air entry openings of the suction
offtake hoods 18 to 21, by means of which elements the
amount of air drawn in can be adjusted. In the walls of the
suction offtake channels 27a, 27b for the suction offtake
hoods 17 to 21 there is mounted at each end face, that is
to say coaxially with respect to the suction offtake
hood 17 to 21, a transparent pane 40a to 40e (see Fig. 2)
so that it is possible to see into the suction offtake
hood 17 to 21 from the outside. Associated with each of the
panes 40a to 40e is a sensor arrangement 42 according to
the invention, located outside the suction offtake
channels 27a, 27b, by means of which the waste flowing
through the suction offtake hood 17 to 21 and into the
suction offtake channel 27a, 27b is detected by the sensor
arrangement 42.
In accordance with Fig. 2, the suction offtake hood 17
is arranged between the two frame walls 28, 29 (housing
walls); a connection piece 30a, 30b is provided outside the
walls 28, 29 at each end 17a, 17b of the suction offtake
hood 17 so that the suction offtake hood 17 passes through
two openings in the frame walls 28, 29. A resilient annular
seal 32, for example made from foamed material, is placed
around the connection pieces 30. One end region 22a of the
suction offtake line 22 opens out into the suction offtake
channel 27a (cf. Fig. 1b); the other end region 22b of the
suction offtake line 22 opens out into the suction offtake
channel 27b. Reference numeral 34 denotes a fastening
element, for example a screw connection. The ends of the
suction offtake channels 27a, 27b are connected to a common
suction offtake channel 44 (see Fig. 4), which is connected
to a suction source (not shown). The connection of the
suction offtake line 22a to the suction offtake hood 17 and
the suction offtake channel 27a corresponds to the
connection of the suction offtake line 22b to the suction
offtake hood 17 and the suction offtake channel 27b. On
each outer face of the suction offtake channels 27a, 27b
there is mounted a transparent pane 40a and 40b,
respectively, with which there is associated a camera 41a
and 41b, respectively, outside the suction offtake channels
27a and 27b, respectively, which camera is used for
detecting the waste. Arrows Q and R denote the flow
directions of the suction offtake streams inside the
suction offtake hood 17.
The cleaning apparatus illustrated in Figures la, lb
and 2 have devices by means of which the amount and also,
to some extent, the nature of the waste being separated
(foreign matter, trash, neps, good fibres etc.) can be
adjusted or influenced. Those devices are in the form of
motor-adjustable guide vanes 37 mounted in the region of
the opener and cleaning rollers 3 to 6 upstream of the
separating blades. It is possible, by means of the angular
position a of those vanes 37 to influence the amount and
also, to a certain extent, the nature of the material
separated I {Figs. 3a, 3b), a large angle of opening a
resulting in a relatively large amount of separated
material I and a small angle resulting in a correspondingly
smaller amount. Stipulating the desired amount of separated
material I at the same time determines very especially the
cleaning action of the machine on the good material.
Because it is generally the case that, with this kind of
separation I, "good" fibre material will always be
separated out as well, it is, in practice, necessary to
find an acceptable compromise. This means that as much "bad
material" as possible is separated out whilst, at the same
time, separating out a minimum amount of good fibres. In
order to be able to assess the waste I separated out and
consequently to change the possible settings, the waste I
is separated out, collected and, finally, visually assessed
in the manner according to the invention.
In accordance with Fig. 2, a transparent pane 40a is
mounted in the wall surface of the suction offtake
channel 27b, the centre-point of which pane is aligned with
the axis of the suction offtake hood 17. Associated with
the pane 40a, on the outside of the suction offtake
channel 27b, is a sensor arrangement 42a (brightness
sensor) in the form of a photodiode (see Fig. 7). In
addition, a light source 41 (see Fig. 7) is provided
directly next to the photodiode.
In accordance with Fig. 2a, the pane 40g is arranged in
the wall surface of the connection piece 33b, which
connects the suction offtake channel 27b to the outlet from
the suction offtake hood 17. Associated with the pane 40f,
on the outside, is a brightness sensor 42f.
In accordance with Fig. 4, the waste K1 to K8 from the
individual separation locations is combined on each side of
the machine, drawn off continuously by means of a partial
vacuum and conveyed to a central filtration and separation
system 44. In this case, in accordance with the invention,
there is integrated in the waste channel 27b, at the level
of, that is to say aligned with, each suction offtake
hood 17 to 21, a brightness sensor 42a to 42d, together
with appropriate illumination 41a to 41d and evaluation
unit. The system is so arranged that fibres, foreign matter
and other matter flying past in the line 27b can be
detected. The system is furthermore so arranged that it is
possible to distinguish good fibres in the waste and to
provide information relating thereto. In dependence upon
corresponding specified requirements, the machinery
influencing the composition of the waste I (e.g. the guide
vanes 37) is then automatically adjusted until the desired
waste quality has been achieved.
In accordance with Fig. 5, there are connected to an
electronic control and regulation device 43 (machine
control), for example a microcomputer, three sensor systems
42a, 42b, 42c by way of three evaluation devices 44a, 44b,
44c, an operating and display device 50, three angle-
measuring devices 46a, 46b, 46c for guide vane angles a
(Figs. 3a, 3b) and three vane-adjusting devices 45a, 45b,
45c for adjustment of the guide vanes 37a, 37b and 37c,
respectively.
In accordance with Fig. 6, in the case of a carding
machine, for example a Trützschler DK 903 high-performance
carding machine, there are provided, in the feed system of
lickers-in 47a, 47b, 47c, a suction waste-offtake hood 48a,
48b and 48c at each roller, respectively, and also a
connecting line 49 for the suction offtake hoods 48a to
48c. Associated with each of the suction offtake hoods 48a
to 48c and with the connecting line 49 is a sensor system
42a, 42b, 42c and 42d (see Fig. 7) .
In accordance with Fig. 7, there is provided in the
wall surface of the waste line 27 an opening in which there
are arranged a brightness sensor 42 in the form of a
photodiode and a light source 41 in the form of a direct-
current visible-light illuminator. The photodiode 42
(photovoltaic element) is a signal transducer. The
photodiode 42 is connected, by way of lines 421, 422, with
a measurement apparatus 44 for data collection (voltage
measurement apparatus). The system is based on the
detection and evaluation of changes in voltage or
resistance caused by reflection differences (differences in
brightness caused by a difference in reflection) in spaces
containing moving waste. For that purpose there is required
a direct-current illuminator or high-frequency alternating-
current illuminator, which is mounted at the end face or
tangentially on the pipe-line or suction offtake hood of
the spinning or cleaning room machine. Directly next to or
even inside that illuminator there is a photosensitive
element which receives the light reflected by the good
fibres, converts it into current and measures the variation
in reflection. The reflection is always detected in
reflected incident light. An image is not required so that
the detection problems caused by honeydew and other
contaminants are avoided. It is solely the variations in
the level of reflection (which are dependent upon the
content of good fibres) that are used because it is only
the variance that provides reliable information relating to
the correctness of the operating point and the associated
separation element setting. The optimum operating point is
achieved at maximum contaminant separation and, at the same
time, minimum good-fibre separation. A large amount of good
fibres produces a high variation in reflection so that the
variation in the current produced is correspondingly high
or the remaining resistance is correspondingly low. In
dependence upon that level, the separating unit can then be
appropriately adjusted in order to control the amount of
good fibres in the waste (cf. Figs. 3a, 3b).
Fig. 8 shows the dependence of the voltage at the
measurement apparatuses 44a to 44c and of the coefficient
of variation of the voltage upon the guide vane angle. The
coefficient of variation in % is defined as:
In operation, for a specific fibre material, the
angle a of the guide vane 37b is successively increased and
the corresponding voltage values are detected at the
measurement apparatus 44. A large amount of good fibres in
the waste results in a correspondingly high voltage value
because of a correspondingly high light reflection. The
voltage measurement values of the measurement apparatuses
44a to 44c and the guide vane angles a of the angle-
measuring devices 46a to 46c are input into the
computer 43, which calculates the coefficients of variation
(CV %) of the voltage and the functional dependence of the
coefficient of variation on the guide vane angle a in
accordance with the graph in Fig. 8. In the curve according
to Fig. 8, at an angle a = 13.1°, there is a characteristic
change in the gradient which corresponds to the optimum
operating point of the cleaning machine. At angle settings
a > 13.1°, the content of good fibres in the waste
increases steeply, in undesirable manner, compared to the
foreign matter and trash content (cf. Fig. 9). Then, by way
of the actuating elements 45a to 45c, for example stepper
motors, the inclination a of the guide vanes 37a to 37c is
set to a = 13.1° in accordance with the optimum operating
point. The procedure described above is carried out
automatically - during ongoing production or in a
preliminary test run. The optimum operating point can be
monitored and, in the event of departures therefrom, can be
re-set automatically.
By means of the apparatus according to the invention,
the irregularity of the stream of waste separated out is
assessed in terms of its degree of opening. The
irregularity is measured on the basis of the standard
deviation of the light reflected by the individual items
separated out. As a result of the incident light method,
the contaminant content of the items is invisible to the
sensor so that, with this measurement method, neither the
contaminant content nor the brightness of the separated-out
waste is assessed but rather only the variation in the
brightness of the good fibres.
In order to measure the quantitative waste distribution
(trash/good fibres) it is also possible, in principle, to
use infra-red light because the trash content of the waste
reflects strongly in the infra-red range. From the voltage
(resistance) difference between white-light and infra-red
illumination it is possible to calculate the contents of
trash and good fibres. The area of use encompasses all
fibre- and waste-conveying channels but not waste chambers
containing waste that is at rest.
The sensor in accordance with the invention is
advantageously used to determine a state of blockage in the
suction offtake hood, in which case the machine control
issues an error message. That may be advantageously
accomplished by means of the fact that the normally dynamic
signal changes to a static state as a result of the
blockage, that static signal course being interpreted as an
indication of a blockage, or by means of the fact that the
signal exceeds or falls below certain limit values as a
result of the blockage.
WE CLAIM
1. Apparatus at a spinning preparation machine, for
example a cleaner, opener, carding machine or the like, for
detecting waste which is separated out from fibre material,
for example cotton, and consists of foreign matter and good
fibres and which is collected in a collecting device,
wherein there is provided an optical measuring device
having a brightness sensor, which measuring device examines
the waste, characterised in that the waste material (I) is
moved past at least one sensor arrangement responding to
good fibres, and the sensor arrangement comprises a light
source (41), the light reflected by the moving good fibres
being detected by the brightness sensor (42a to 42g) and
being converted into electrical signals, which are measured
by a measurement element (44a to 44g).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that
the collecting device is a pneumatic pipe-line.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in
that the collecting device is a suction offtake hood.
4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
characterised in that the waste is moved through the
collecting device.
5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
characterised in that the brightness sensor is arranged in
the wall region of the pipe-line or suction offtake hood.
6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
characterised in that the brightness sensor is located in
the region of an end face of the pipe-line or suction
offtake hood.
7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
characterised in that the brightness sensor comprises at
least one photoelectric element.
8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
characterised in that the brightness sensor comprises at
least one photodiode.
9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
characterised in that the brightness sensor is capable of
detecting changes in voltage caused by differences in
brightness.
10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
characterised in that the brightness sensor is connected to
an electronic evaluation device.
11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
characterised in that the light source is a direct-current
illuminator.
12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
characterised in that the light source is an alternating-
current illuminator.
13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
characterised in that the light source is arranged in the
immediate vicinity of the brightness sensor.
14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
characterised in that the light source is arranged next to
the brightness sensor.
15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
characterised in that the sensor system operates in
incident light.
16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
characterised in that the variation in the brightness of
the good fibres is arranged to be determined.
17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
characterised in that the coefficient of variation of the
brightness of the good fibres is arranged to be determined.
18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17,
characterised in that the standard deviation of the
brightness of the good fibres is arranged to be determined.
19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18,
characterised in that detection and assessment of the waste
are carried out automatically.
20. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19,
characterised in that detection and assessment of the
waste (I) are carried out continuously.
21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20,
characterised in that the measurement results of the
evaluation device are compared with prespecified
quantities.
22. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 21,
characterised in that, in the event of a departure from
prespecified quantities, the waste separation can be
modified.
23. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 22,
characterised in that at least one opto-electronic
brightness measurer is integrated into the suction offtake
lines through which the waste is taken off under suction.
24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 23,
characterised in that more than one electronic evaluation
device is provided.
25. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 24,
characterised in that more than one opto-electronic
brightness measurer is connected to evaluation devices.
26. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 25,
characterised in that the evaluated measurement results
relating to the consistency of the waste are compared with
prespecified values and used for automatically modifying
machine elements influencing separation.
27. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 26,
characterised in that the at least one evaluation device is
in communication with the associated machine control.
28. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 27,
characterised in that the evaluated measurement results of
the separation procedures are shown on the machine
operating and display unit.
29. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 28,
characterised in that the evaluated measurement results of
the separation procedures are passed on to other, possibly
superordinate and central, systems.
30. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 29,
characterised in that at least one opto-electronic
brightness measurer is associated with each machine.
31. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 30,
characterised in that at least one opto-electronic
brightness measurer is arranged on each side of a machine.
32. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 31,
characterised in that the at least two brightness sensors
are in communication with a central evaluation device.
33. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 32,
characterised in that different light sources are provided.
34. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 33,
characterised in that light sources of different colours
are provided.
35. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 34,
characterised in that the different colours are red light
and infra-red light.
36. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 35,
characterised in that at least one source of incident light
is provided.
37. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 36,
characterised in that the evaluated measurement results are
used for adjusting at least one guide vane associated with
the roller.
38. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 37,
characterised in that the evaluated measurement results are
used for adjusting at least one separating blade associated
with the roller.
39. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 38,
characterised in that the at least one electronic
evaluation device (measuring element 44a to 44c) is in
communication with an electronic control and regulation
device, for example a microcomputer.
40. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 39,
characterised in that the machine elements such as guide
vanes, separating blades and the like are arranged to be
automatically adjusted in dependence upon the evaluated
measurement results.
41. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 40,
characterised in that the cleaning capability of the
machine is modifiable in dependence upon the evaluated
measurement results.
42. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 41,
characterised in that the nature of the waste (amount,
composition) is modifiable in dependence upon the evaluated
measurement results.
43. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 42,
characterised in that at least one separate brightness
sensor is associated with each suction offtake location or
guide vane.
44. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 43,
characterised in that the brightness sensor is associated
with a central waste-collecting line.
45. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 44,
characterised in that a window for the brightness sensor is
provided in each waste-collecting line.
46. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 45,
characterised in that a window for an illumination device
is provided in each waste-collecting line.
47. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 6,
characterised in that the evaluated measurement results are
used for determining the ratio of the good fibre content to
the contaminant content.
48. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 47,
characterised in that the evaluated measurement results are
used for assessing the quality of the fibre material being
processed.
49. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 48,
characterised in that a machine is in communication with a
central evaluation device, to which more than one
brightness sensor is connected.
50. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 49,
characterised in that the electronic control and regulation
device, for example a computer, has a memory for comparison
data.
51. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 50,
characterised in that the evaluation device is in
communication with a superordinate electronic evaluation
system, for example KIT.
52. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 51,
characterised in that the measurement values of the
brightness sensor are convertible into electrical signals.
53. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 52,
characterised in that the evaluated measurement results are
used in a control and regulation circuit for optimising the
cleaning of the fibre material.
54. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 53,
characterised in that the illumination device or light
source operates using visible light.
55. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 54,
characterised in that the content of good fibres is
arranged to be determined.
56. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 55,
characterised in that at least one angle-measuring device
(46a to 46c) is connected to the control and regulation
device.
57. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 56,
characterised in that at least one brightness sensor (42a
to 42g) is connected to the control and regulation device.
58. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 57,
characterised in that at least one actuating element (45a
to 45c) is connected to the control and regulation device.
59. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 58,
characterised in that the sensor arrangement is used for
determining a blockage of fibre material in the collecting
line.
60. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 59,
characterised in that a blockage in a suction hood is
determined.
61. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 60,
characterised in that a static state of the electrical
signal caused by the blockage is arranged to be detected.
62. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 61,
characterised in that exceeding, or falling below, a limit
value for the electrical signal caused by the blockage is
arranged to be detected.
63. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 62,
characterised in that the machine control issues an error
message on the basis of the blockage.

In an apparatus at a spinning preparation machine, for
example a cleaner, opener, carding machine or the like, for
detecting waste which is separated out from fibre material,
for example cotton, and consists of foreign matter and good
fibres and which is collected in a collecting device, there
is provided an optical measuring device having a brightness
sensor, which measuring device examines the waste.
In order to make it possible, by simple means, for the
content of good fibres in the waste to be detected and to
allow optimum adjustment of the composition of the waste,
especially with a high content of trash and a low content
of good fibres, the waste material is moved past at least
one sensor arrangement responding to good fibres, and the
sensor arrangement comprises a light source, the light
reflected by the moving good fibres being detected by the
brightness sensor and being converted into electrical
signals, from which the good fibre content can be
determined.

Documents:

141-KOL-2004-(10-10-2011)-OTHER PATENT DOCUMENTS.pdf

141-kol-2004-abstract 1.1.pdf

141-kol-2004-abstract.pdf

141-kol-2004-amanded claims.pdf

141-kol-2004-claims.pdf

141-KOL-2004-CORRESPONDENCE.1.3.pdf

141-KOL-2004-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

141-kol-2004-description (complete) 1.1.pdf

141-kol-2004-description (complete).pdf

141-kol-2004-drawings 1.1.pdf

141-kol-2004-drawings.pdf

141-kol-2004-examination report reply recieved.pdf

141-KOL-2004-EXAMINATION REPORT.1.3.pdf

141-kol-2004-form 1-1.1.pdf

141-KOL-2004-FORM 1.1.3.pdf

141-kol-2004-form 1.pdf

141-KOL-2004-FORM 18.1.3.pdf

141-kol-2004-form 18.pdf

141-kol-2004-form 2-1.1.pdf

141-kol-2004-form 2.pdf

141-kol-2004-form 3-1.1.pdf

141-KOL-2004-FORM 3.1.3.pdf

141-kol-2004-form 3.pdf

141-KOL-2004-FORM 5.1.3.pdf

141-kol-2004-form 5.pdf

141-KOL-2004-GPA.1.3.pdf

141-KOL-2004-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

141-KOL-2004-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

141-KOL-2004-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

141-KOL-2004-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

141-KOL-2004-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

141-KOL-2004-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

141-KOL-2004-GRANTED-LETTER PATENT.pdf

141-KOL-2004-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION.pdf

141-kol-2004-others 1.1.pdf

141-KOL-2004-OTHERS.1.3.pdf

141-kol-2004-pa.pdf

141-kol-2004-petition under rule 137.pdf

141-kol-2004-priority document.pdf

141-KOL-2004-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.1.3.pdf

141-kol-2004-specification.pdf

141-kol-2004-translated copy of priority document.pdf


Patent Number 248731
Indian Patent Application Number 141/KOL/2004
PG Journal Number 33/2011
Publication Date 19-Aug-2011
Grant Date 12-Aug-2011
Date of Filing 24-Mar-2004
Name of Patentee TRUTZSCHLER GMBH & CO. KG.
Applicant Address DUVENSTRASSE 82-92, D-41199 MONCHENGLADBACH
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 PETER LOSBROCK WIESENSTRASSE 1, D-41189 MONCHENGLADBACH
2 CHRISTOPH FARBER PESCHER STRASSE 29A, D-41352 KORSCHENBROICH
PCT International Classification Number D01B 3/04
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 1034940.3 2003-10-21 Germany
2 10315136.2 2003-04-03 Germany