Bale plucker

Abstract

The invention relates to a bale plucker (1; 40) for stripping a fiber bundle from a fiber package (3, 4) placed on a stationary substrate (2), comprising a frame (5) which can move on a substrate (2), a gripping unit (6) which is fixed on the frame (5) in a height-adjustable manner and is used for stripping a fiber bundle, a suction pipeline unit (7) which is connected to the gripping unit (6) and is fixed on the frame (5), and a channel device (8) which can be fixedly arranged relative to the substrate (2), a channel device (8) for receiving fiber bundles in the fiber material flow (F) and optionally transporting the fiber bundles to the first processing line or the second processing line, characterized in that a material flow divider (22) which is arranged in a stationary manner on the machine frame (5) is connected between the suction line unit (7) and the channel device (8), the material flow divider (22) being controllable, and the material flow divider (22) being arranged in a stationary manner on the machine frame (5). The channel device (8) can be connected to the first processing line in such a way that the fiber material flow (F) can be selectively guided through a first channel section (33) of the channel device (8) that can be connected to the first processing line or a second channel section (34) of the channel device (8) that can be connected to the second processing line.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a bag grabbing machine for stripping fiber bundles from a fiber bag placed on a fixed base, comprising a frame that can move on the base, a grabbing unit that is height-adjustably fixed on the frame and is used to strip the fiber bundles, a suction pipe unit that is connected to the grabbing unit and fixed on the frame, and a channel device that can be arranged in a fixed position relative to the base, the channel device is used to receive the fiber bundles in a fiber material flow and optionally transport them to a first processing line or a second processing line. Background Art

[0002] DE 3335763 A1 discloses a bale grabber which is connected to a suction channel arranged in a fixed position relative to a base via a suction pipe unit. The suction channel is connected to a cleaning line which is split into two lines via a line splitter. The first line is connected to a first processing line and the second line is connected to a second processing line. In this way, the bales to be processed by the bale grabber can grab fiber bales with at least two different fiber types, wherein specific portions of the individual fiber types can be grabbed one after another and conveyed to the associated processing line by means of the line splitter. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a bale opening machine which supplies separately controlled processing lines with as little mixing as possible and thus ensures batch processing which is as free of contamination as possible.

[0004] This object is achieved by a bale grabbing machine of the aforementioned type in that a material diverter fixedly arranged on a machine frame is connected between the suction pipe unit and the channel device, wherein the material diverter can be controlled in such a way that the fiber material flow can be guided optionally through a first channel section of the channel device that can be connected to a first processing line or a second channel section of the channel device that can be connected to a second processing line.

[0005] The material diverter forms a transition between the suction pipe unit fixed on the frame and the fixed channel device. The advantage is that the fiber material can be introduced into the desired channel section of the corresponding processing line when entering the channel device. In this way, fibers of a specific material of one of the fiber types for the first processing line will not reach the channel section of the second processing line, and vice versa. Therefore, the material diverter realizes a bidirectional function and can also be called a bidirectional diverter. In addition, by arranging the material diverter upstream of the channel device, the switching time between the processing lines is shortened, thereby increasing the output in the corresponding processing line. The bales to be processed by the bale grabber include multiple bale groups of different fiber types, which can be processed as required. For example, one bale group can include fiber bales consisting of cotton and another bale group can include fiber bales consisting of polyester.

[0006] A first embodiment is characterized in that the channel arrangement has a continuous channel, wherein the material diverter divides the channel into a first channel section and a second channel section. This is a particularly space-saving solution, since the channel arrangement requires only a single channel. The material diverter can be inserted into the channel or placed from above, so that the two material outlets of the material diverter are arranged in the channel. Depending on the diversion position, the material diverter redirects the fiber material flow into the first or second channel section.

[0007] In addition, the channel can have a continuous basic shape with a constant length and an elongated structure. The channel can extend along the moving path of the frame or beside the carriageway of the frame. The channel can be an air suction channel, which is covered on the top side with a cover belt, and the cover belt can be partially lifted by a belt lifting device arranged on the frame. By partially lifting the cover belt, a receiving opening is formed, which moves together with the movement of the frame. The fiber bundle can be introduced into the channel through the movable receiving opening, wherein the material diverter redirects the fiber material flow either to the first channel section or to the second channel section. Since the material diverter is arranged in a fixed position on the frame, when the bag grabbing machine is running, the material diverter moves with the movable frame, so that the length ratio of the two channel sections changes continuously when the frame moves.

[0008] In addition, the first channel end of the channel can have a first fixed connection port for connecting to the suction side of the first air conveying device in order to transport the stripped fiber bundle to the first processing line. The second channel end of the channel, which is remote from the first channel end, can have a second fixed connection port for connecting to the suction side of the second air conveying device in order to transport the stripped fiber bundle to the second processing line. The transport direction through the two channel sections can therefore point to two mutually opposite directions. In the flow direction between the material diverter and the corresponding air conveying device, adjustable air supply holes can be respectively constructed in order to supply air to the temporarily unused branches according to the diversion position.

[0009] According to a second embodiment alternative to the first embodiment, the channel device may include a first channel forming a first channel section and a second channel which is structurally separated from the first channel and forms a second channel section. In particular, the two channels may each have a continuous basic shape of a constant length and elongated structure. The two channels may extend along the moving path of the frame or beside the carriageway of the frame. In particular, the first channel and the second channel may be arranged parallel to each other and in particular side by side. The two channels may be suction channels, which are covered with a common cover belt on the top side or covered with respective cover belts. A belt lifting device may be arranged on the frame for partially lifting at least one cover belt. By locally lifting the cover belt, a receiving port is formed in the corresponding channel, which moves together when the frame moves. The fiber bundle is introduced into the corresponding channel by the movable receiving port, wherein the material diverter redirects the fiber material flow to either the first channel or the second channel.

[0010] In addition, the first channel end of each channel can be closed and the remote second channel end of each channel can be connected to the corresponding associated processing line. For this purpose, the second channel end of each channel can have a fixed connection port for connecting to the suction side of the corresponding air conveying device so that the stripped fiber bundle can be transported to the first or second processing line. The transport direction through the channel can point to two opposite directions or to the same direction. An adjustable air supply hole can be configured at the closed end of each channel to supply air to the temporarily unused channel according to the diversion position.

[0011] It also applies to both embodiments that the material diverter can be arranged on the belt lifting device. As a result, the material diverter can be connected to the one or each channel via a movable receiving opening. In addition, the belt lifting device can have a frame arranged on the frame, through which the cover belt is guided. For this purpose, rollers can be rotatably arranged on the frame so that the cover belt can be guided through the frame without wear. The material diverter can be arranged in a space surrounded by the frame. In this way, the material diverter is compactly mounted and can also be inserted into the one or each channel from above.

[0012] The material flow divider may include a housing through which the fiber material flow is guided. The housing may have a material inlet on the inlet side connected to the suction duct unit and two material outlets on the outlet side connected to the channel device. An adjustable flow divider device may be configured in the flow channel of the material flow divider that is limited by the housing for selectively opening and closing the material outlets so that the fiber material flow can be selectively redirected to the first channel section or the second channel section.

[0013] The flow diverter device has at least one pivotable flow diverter element, which connects the material inlet of the material diverter to the first channel section in a first diverter position and to the second channel section in a second diverter position. The at least one flow diverter element can be a movable baffle, a diverter plate or the like. According to one embodiment, the flow diverter device can have two such flow diverter elements for each channel. The at least one flow diverter element can be manually or motor-driven adjustable. In particular, the flow diverter device has at least one servo drive. The at least one servo drive can be, for example, a pneumatic servo drive, an electric servo drive or a manual servo drive.

[0014] Furthermore, a control unit may be provided and configured to control the material diverter, in particular the at least one servo drive, in such a way that the fiber material flow can be guided selectively through the first channel section of the channel device or the second channel section of the channel device. In this way, it is possible to switch automatically between the two processing lines. The bale grabber may include a display device in order to visually display the diverting position of the material diverter to the device operator. In addition to the display directly on the bale grabber, the display device may also include a display screen of a mobile terminal or a display of a fixed dispatch center. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred embodiments.

[0016] In the figure:

[0017] Figure 1 A perspective view of a bale grabbing machine according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown, wherein the channel device comprises a channel for conveying the fiber bundles stripped from the grabbing unit to a first processing line;

[0018] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 a bag grabber in which a channel carries the stripped fiber bundle out to a second processing line;

[0019] Figure 3 A perspective sectional view of a bale grabber in the region of a material diverter is shown, wherein the material diverter is shown in a first diverting position, wherein a suction line unit of the bale grabber is connected to a first channel section leading to a first processing line;

[0020] Figure 4 Shows the bag grabber in Figure 3 A perspective sectional view in the region of the material diverter is shown, wherein the material diverter is shown in a second diverting position, wherein the suction line unit of the bag grabber is connected to a second channel section leading to a second processing line;

[0021] Figure 5A perspective sectional view of a bag grabber in the region of an alternative material diverter is shown, wherein the material diverter is shown in a first diverting position, wherein the suction line unit of the bag grabber is connected to a second channel section leading to a first processing line, and Figure 3 similar;

[0022] Figure 6 Shows the bag grabber in Figure 5 A perspective sectional view in the region of an alternative material diverter is shown, wherein the material diverter is shown in a second diverting position, wherein the suction line unit of the bag grabber is connected to a second channel section leading to a second processing line, and Figure 4 similar;

[0023] Figure 7 A perspective view showing a bag grabber according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the channel arrangement comprises a first channel connected to a first processing line and a second channel connected to a second processing line, wherein a material diverter is shown in a first diverting position, wherein a suction conduit unit of the bag grabber is connected to the first channel leading to the first processing line; and

[0024] Figure 8 Show Figure 7 A bag grabber, wherein a material diverter is shown in a second diverting position, wherein a suction pipe unit of the bag grabber is connected to a second channel leading to a second processing line. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 1 shows a bale grabber 1 according to a first embodiment for removing fiber bundles from fiber bundles 3, 4 placed on a stationary substrate 2. The fiber bundles 3, 4 are placed in two bundle groups that are spatially separated from each other. Merely by way of example, the fiber bundles 3 of the first bundle group consist of a first fiber type, such as cotton, and the fiber bundles 4 of the second bundle group consist of a second fiber type, such as polyester.

[0026] The bale grabber 1 has a frame 5 that can be moved on a base 2, to which a gripper unit 6 for stripping fiber bundles is fastened in a height-adjustable manner. The gripper unit 6 comprises, in a manner known per se, a rotatably driven gripper roller (not shown) for stripping fiber bundles, which are guided in a fiber material flow consisting of air and fiber bundles from a suction line unit 7 arranged above the gripper unit 6 into a channel device 8 mounted here on the base 2. The direction of the fiber material flow is indicated by an arrow provided with the reference symbol F.

[0027] The suction pipe unit 7 is attached to the opening in the housing of the gripping unit 6, which is formed above the gripping roller, and has a flexible hose section 9, by which the suction pipe unit 7 can follow the movement of the height-adjustable gripping unit 6. In the course of the fiber material flow F, the rigid pipe section 10 of the suction pipe unit 7 adjoins the flexible hose section 9, which pipe section leads to the rear support 11 of the frame 5. The frame 5 is designed here in the form of a gantry structure and has a front support 12 next to the rear support 11, wherein the two side supports 11, 12 are connected to each other by a gantry crossbeam 13 spanning the gripping unit 6. In the rear support 11, the pipe section 10 coming from the outside extends vertically downward to the channel device 8.

[0028] The channel device 8 has an elongated, continuous channel 14 which extends along the travel path of the machine frame 5 or alongside the carriageway of the machine frame 5. The channel 14 can adjoin two processing lines (not shown) for cleaning or spinning.

[0029] The channel 14 has a first fixed connection port 15 at its first channel end for connecting to the suction side of a first air conveying device so as to transport the stripped fiber bundles through a first pipe system 50 to a first processing line, and in a similar manner, has a second fixed connection port 16 at its second channel end remote from the first channel end for connecting to the suction side of a second air conveying device so as to transport the stripped fiber bundles through a second pipe system 51 to a second processing line. The channel 14 is constructed as a suction channel, the top side of which is covered by a flexible cover belt 17. A belt lifting device 18 is arranged on the frame 5, which partially lifts the cover belt 17. Figure 3 and Figure 4 It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the partially removed top side of the channel 14 forms a receiving opening 19 which moves together with the machine frame 5 and through which the stripped fiber bundle can be introduced into the channel.

[0030] The belt lifting device 18 is arranged on the outer side of the frame 5 facing away from the gripping unit 6 and is fixed above the channel 14. Figure 3 and Figure 4 1 shows a partial area of ​​the bag grabber 1 around the belt lifting device 18. It can be seen that the belt lifting device 18 has a frame 20, which is fastened here to the rear support 11 of the frame 5. In order to guide the cover belt 17 over the frame 20, a plurality of rollers 21 are rotatably mounted on the frame 20. In the space surrounded by the frame 20, a material diverter 22 is arranged, which is fixedly arranged on the frame 5 and connected between the suction pipe unit 7 and the channel 14 in the direction of the fiber material flow F.

[0031] The material diverter 22 has a diverter housing 23, in which a flow channel 24 is constructed, which has a material inlet 25 and a first and a material outlet 26, 27. The material inlet 25 is connected to the pipe section 10 of the suction pipe unit 7 or arranged in the pipe section, and the two material outlets 26, 27 are connected to the channel 14 or arranged in the channel. The diverter housing 23 has a curved shaft section 28, which compensates for the offset between the pipe section 10 guided downward in the side support 11 and the movable receiving opening 19 of the channel 14. The diverter housing 23 branches into the first and second material outlets 26, 27 in a Y shape at the end of the channel 14. The diverter housing 23 has a housing bottom 29, which has a bottom section 30 that is arched upward or inward between the two material outlets 26, 27 that are separated from each other, which helps to divert the fiber material flow F to the first or second processing line in the desired transport direction. Outside of the inwardly curved bottom section 30 , the housing bottom 29 rests on a channel bottom 31 of the channel 14 .

[0032] A diverter device 32 is arranged in the diverter housing 23, which selectively releases or blocks the first material outlet 26 or the second material outlet 27. Thus, the material diverter 22 or the diverter device 32 divides the channel 14 into a first and a second channel section 33, 34, wherein the length ratio between the two channel sections 33, 34 changes continuously during the movement of the machine frame 5. The first channel section 33 is connected to the first processing line and the second channel section 34 is connected to the second processing line.

[0033] The diverter device 32 has two pivotable diverter elements 35, 36, which can be displaced between two diverter positions about their respective pivot axes 37 by means of a servo drive (not shown), in particular a pneumatic cylinder. In order to be able to automatically adjust the material diverter 22, the servo drive can be connected to a control unit (not shown) of the bag grabber 1. The switch between the processing lines can be preset by the control console 43 or, for example, a mobile terminal or automatically in the case of a preset program. The diverter position can also be displayed by a display device 49, which can be mounted, for example, on the two gantry crossbeams 13 and can be easily seen from a distance.

[0034] exist Figure 3 In the first diversion position shown in FIG. , the first material outlet 26 is released and the second material outlet 27 is blocked. The fiber material flow F is now conveyed through the first channel section 33 to the first processing line. Figure 42 shows the material diverter in its second diverting position, wherein the first material outlet 26 is blocked and the second material outlet 27 is released. The fiber material flow F is now conveyed to the second processing line via the second channel section 34. In order to be able to continue to supply air to the temporarily blocked channel section 33 or 34 if necessary, a controllable air supply opening (not shown) can be provided, which can be arranged between the material diverter 22 and the corresponding air conveying device.

[0035] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6 An alternative embodiment of the material diverter 22 is shown in FIG. 1 , which differs from the previously described embodiment only in the design of the diverter device 38. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The illustrated flow divider 32 differs in that the alternative flow divider 38 has only one flow divider element 39 which is centrally located between the two material outlets 26 , 27 and is articulated to an upwardly or inwardly curved bottom section 30 of the housing bottom 29 of the material divider 22 .

[0036] exist Figure 7 and Figure 8 A second embodiment of a bag grabbing machine 40 is shown in FIG. Figures 1 to 6 The same or modified details are provided in the same Figures 1 to 6 The only difference is the design of the channel device 8 and the material diverter 22.

[0037] The channel device 8 also has a first channel section 33 and a second channel section 34, which are formed by separate channels 41, 42. The first channel 41 connects the first processing line. The second channel 42, which is structurally separated from the first channel 41, connects the second processing line. The two channels 41, 42 each have a constant length and are elongated and continuous basic shapes. The channels 41, 42 are arranged parallel to each other and side by side. The first channel 41 is between the moving path of the frame 5 and the second channel 42. The first channel end of each channel 41, 42 is closed and can have an adjustable air supply hole (not shown) if necessary, so as to supply air to the temporarily unused channel 41 or 42 according to the diversion position. The second channel end of each channel 41, 42, which is away from the first channel end, has a fixed connection port for connecting the corresponding processing line. Here, the transport direction through the channels 41, 42 points to two opposite directions, but in principle, it can also point to the same direction when the connection port is arranged on the same side of the pipeline.

[0038] The belt lifting device 18 arranged on the frame 5 partially lifts the two covering belts 17', 17". The diverter housing 23 of the material diverter 22 starts from the shaft section 28 led out from the side support 11 and branches into two diverter branches 44, 45 in the space surrounded by the frame 20 of the belt lifting device 18. The two diverter branches are connected to the corresponding channels 41, 42 from above through corresponding receiving ports 19', 19". The first diverter branch 44 has a first material outlet 26 inside the first channel 41, and the second diverter branch 45 has a second material outlet 27 inside the second channel 42. The diverter branches 44, 45 are constructed to be curved at the end of the channel leading to the corresponding processing line in the corresponding channels 41, 42 and contact the corresponding channel bottom 31.

[0039] The flow dividing device 46 has two flow dividing elements 47, 48, which are arranged above the channels 41, 42 in the flow dividing housing 23. Figure 7 4 shows the flow diverter 46 in the first diverter position, wherein the material diverter 22 connects the suction pipe unit 7 to the first channel 41 leading to the first processing line. Figure 8 The flow diverter device 46 is shown in the second flow diverter position and connects the suction pipe unit 7 to the second channel 42 leading to the second processing line.

[0040] Reference numerals list

[0041] 1 Bag grabber 36 diverter element

[0042] 2 Base 37 Pivot axis

[0043] 3 Fiber Pack 38 Diverter

[0044] 4 Fiber Pack 39 Diverter Element

[0045] 5 rack 40 bag grabber

[0046] 6 gripping units 41 channels

[0047] 7 Suction pipe unit 42 channels

[0048] 8 channel device 43 console

[0049] 9 Hose section 44 Branch line

[0050] 10 Pipeline segment 45 branch line

[0051] 11 Side bracket 46 Diverter

[0052] 12 Side bracket 47 Diverter element

[0053] 13 gantry crossbeam 48 diversion element

[0054] 14 channels 49 display devices

[0055] 15 Connection port 50 Pipe system

[0056] 16 Connection port 51 Pipe system

[0057] 17 Covering belt

[0058] 18 Fiber material flow with lifting device F

[0059] 19 Receiving port

[0060] 20 Framework

[0061] 21 Roller

[0062] 22 Material Diverter

[0063] 23. Diverter housing

[0064] 24 Flow Channel

[0065] 25 material entrance

[0066] 26 Material Export

[0067] 27 Material Export

[0068] 28 Hoistway Section

[0069] 29 Shell bottom

[0070] 30 bottom segment

[0071] 31 Channel bottom

[0072] 32 Diversion device

[0073] 33 Channel Section

[0074] 34 Channel Section

[0075] 35 Shunt element

Claims

1. A bag grabbing machine (1; 40) for stripping fiber bundles from fiber bags (3, 4) placed on a fixed base (2), comprising a frame (5) movable on the base (2), a grabbing unit (6) for stripping the fiber bundles and fixed to the frame (5) in a height-adjustable manner, a suction pipe unit (7) connected to the grabbing unit (6) and fixed to the frame (5), and a channel device (8) that can be arranged in a fixed position relative to the base (2), the channel device is used to receive the fiber bundles in the fiber material flow (F) and optionally transport the fiber bundles to a first processing line or a second processing line, characterized in that A material diverter (22) is connected between the suction pipe unit (7) and the channel device (8) and is arranged in a fixed position on the frame (5), wherein the material diverter (22) is controllable so that the fiber material flow (F) can be optionally guided through a first channel section (33) of the channel device (8) that can be connected to a first processing line or a second channel section (34) of the channel device (8) that can be connected to a second processing line.

2. The bag grabbing machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The channel arrangement (8) has a continuous channel (14), wherein a material flow divider (22) divides the channel into a first channel section (33) and a second channel section (34).

3. The bag grabbing machine (40) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The channel device (8) comprises a first channel (41) forming a first channel section (33) and a second channel (42) structurally separated from the first channel (41) and forming a second channel section (34).

4. The bag grabbing machine (40) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first channel (41) and the second channel (42) are arranged parallel to each other.

5. The bag grabbing machine (1; 40) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: A belt lifting device (18) is arranged on the frame (5) for partially lifting a cover belt (17; 17', 17") covering the corresponding channel (14; 41, 42) on the top side, thereby generating a receiving opening (19; 19', 19") in the corresponding channel (14; 41, 42) below the partially lifted cover belt (17; 17', 17"), wherein a material diverter (22) is arranged on the belt lifting device (18) and is connected to the corresponding channel (14; 41, 42) through the receiving opening (19; 19', 19") 6. The bag grabbing machine (1; 40) according to claim 5, characterized in that: The belt lifting device (18) has a frame (20) arranged on the machine frame (5), whereby the cover belt (17; 17', 17") is guided via the frame (20), wherein a material diverter (22) is arranged in a space enclosed by the frame (20).

7. The bag grabbing machine (1; 40) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: At least one adjustable flow divider (32; 38; 46) is arranged in a flow channel (24) of a material divider (22) in order to guide a fiber material flow (F) selectively to a first channel section (33) or a second channel section (34).

8. The bag grabbing machine (1; 40) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The diverter device (32; 38; 46) has at least one pivotable diverter element (35, 36; 39; 47, 48), which connects a material inlet (25) of a material diverter (22) connected to a suction pipe unit (7) to a first channel section (33) in a first diverter position and to a second channel section (34) in a second diverter position.

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