Method, system and device for automatically separating fiber bundles

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, a system and a method for automatically separating fiber bundles. An apparatus for automatic separation includes a separation unit configured to separate a fiber bundle in an automatic manner. The separation unit includes two needle bars, which are a holding needle bar having a holding needle and a moving needle bar having a central needle and two side needles. A central needle moving the needle bar has a recess for engaging the needle therein. The invention is suitable for all bast fiber industries, especially for long fibers (+ 20cm), such as linen fibers, sisal fibers, kenaf fibers and jute fibers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device, a system and a method for automatically separating fiber bundles. The invention is applicable to all bast fiber industries, in particular to long fibers (+20 cm), such as flax, sisal, kenaf and jute. Background Art

[0002] The object of the present invention is to provide a machine or apparatus for separating fibers into bundles of any desired size or weight.

[0003] An application of automatic separation is the production of weighed (or unweighed) draws which are then introduced into a carding machine or any other machine. Today, operators in these industries manually separate and / or weigh the draws or bundles and manually introduce the draws or bundles into the machine. This separation of the fibers into pieces or bundles is entirely performed manually by trained people. The separation of the fiber bundles takes a long time, the weight of the fibers varies, and the final product is irregular.

[0004] Patent EP0693582 describes a method for feeding a carding device with scutched flax, said method essentially comprising a combination of the following steps: forming a flax fiber layer 3; continuously grabbing equal lengths of this layer, thereby obtaining equal flax fiber bundles 7; clamping the flax fiber bundles in clamping devices 9; separating the flax fiber bundles 7 still entangled with each other in the continuous clamping devices 9; and inserting the separated flax fiber bundles 7 and their clamping devices 9 into the carding device 1. The large diameter of the two needles does not allow for qualitative separation of the fibers, which are tangled together.

[0005] GB515946 describes a machine consisting essentially of two parallel guides, one of which is arranged above the other at any desired distance, between which the fibres are fed at right angles to them and approximately equidistant from each end of the fibres; a movable stop or gate, located at the delivery end of the guides, controlled to hold or release the fibres required thereafter; a dividing device, located behind the movable stop or gate, penetrating into the fibres and separating the required amount between the fibres and the gate to form a block or bundle; means for moving the separated block or bundle forward to a receiving device, which takes the block or bundle away from a chute; and means for moving the fibre mass upward to the gate when the separated block or bundle is removed and the dividing device is withdrawn so that it can separate another block or bundle when the dividing device enters the fibres again. A disadvantage of the invention is that the dividing device does not have needles to hold the fibres in place and the fibres become tangled during separation.

[0006] The invention is a great advantage to the industry for the following reasons: In separating the fiber bundles, no highly experienced and qualified operator is required and the complex operation is reduced to an unskilled job. The separation is performed accurately, the fibers are not tangled and the separation is performed with equal weight splitting. Summary of the invention

[0007] The present invention relates to a device for automatically separating fiber bundles, wherein the device comprises a separation unit, which is configured to produce fiber bundles in an automatic manner. The separation unit comprises at least two needle bars, which are a holding needle bar with a holding needle and a moving needle bar with a center needle and two side needles, wherein the center needle has three grooves. The holding needle and the two side needles are engaged together in the three grooves of the center needle.

[0008] The holding needle bar and the moving needle bar are distributed with needles over the length of the needle bar, and the needles are configured to keep the fibers in place over the length of the needle bar. The purpose of both the holding needle bar and the moving needle bar is to keep the fiber fluff in the same length position and prevent the interlocking and resistance of the fibers during the separation process. The separated fiber bundles remain on the length of the needle bar. The holding needle bar has a holding needle, which is configured to engage in the longitudinal direction of the groove of the center needle of the moving needle bar. At the back of the moving needle bar is the center needle, in which a groove is pre-formed, one of which is located at the back side of the center needle and will be used to receive the holding needle of the holding needle bar, wherein the other two grooves are pre-formed at two opposite lateral sides of the center needle to receive each of the side needles. It is also possible to consider placing the center needle at the front of the holding needle and placing the holding needle on the moving needle bar. The separation effect will be the same. The side needles are installed in the opposite sides of the center needle and are configured to move in the horizontal motion and then engage with the center needle and move in the vertical motion, preferably moving in the downward direction. The side needles can be introduced in a horizontal manner from an angle of 20° to 160°, specifically at 90° and -90° on each side of the central needle, and engage in such a way that the needle tip is deeper or hidden in the groove of the central needle.

[0009] At the base of the holding needle bar and the moving needle bar there is an elastic material (eg foam) configured to generate pressure in the separation zone to avoid sliding of the fibers in the transverse direction.

[0010] According to another embodiment, a system for automatically separating fiber bundles is provided with: a U-shaped profile configured to block the fibers beneath the fiber fluff during penetration of a center needle through the fiber fluff; an interruption bridge for passage of two side needles; and a blocking arm configured to apply pressure to the fibers against the transmission interruption bridge, thereby generating tension on both sides of the fibers.

[0011] The system also includes a weighing balance unit configured to achieve a set weight of the fiber bundle to be separated. The weighing balance unit has two side belts located at two sides of the conveying rod for conveying the fiber fluff on the weighing balance unit and a stopper for preventing the starting point of the fluff from being conveyed further than the weighing balance unit.

[0012] According to another inventive embodiment, the present invention also relates to a method for separating fiber bundles, which method includes: feeding fiber fluff on a conveyor; engaging the needles and side needles of the holding needle bar into the grooves of the center needle of the moving needle bar; penetrating the center needle through the fiber fluff; separating the fiber bundles from the fiber fluff; and returning the moving needle bar (16) to the starting position.

[0013] The method further comprises the step of weighing the fiber on a weighing balance unit, wherein when a preset weight of the fiber is on the weighing balance, the feeding of the fiber is stopped.

[0014] The reverse U-shaped profile creates a reverse pressure underneath the fiber pile during penetration of the center needle with the engaged holding needle and two side needles at the upper side of the fiber pile.

[0015] When the center needle with three engaging needles is in the downward position, the side needles move laterally to prepare for the separation action. At this moment, at the same time as the separation action begins, the interruption bridge and the U-shaped profile are lowered, and the side needles move laterally to pass through the two rods of the conveying rod to avoid picking up fibers from the two tail ends of the conveying rod during the separation action.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the invention, the method is used for long fibers, in particular fibers longer than 20 cm. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 A side view showing an apparatus for automatically separating fiber bundles.

[0018] Figure 2 A top view showing an apparatus for automatically separating fiber bundles.

[0019] Figure 3 Indicates detailed separation area.

[0020] Figure 4 A U-shaped profile representing vertical movement.

[0021] Figure 5a A top view of a needle system is shown in which a central needle is mounted on a moving needle bar and a holding needle is mounted on a holding needle bar.

[0022] Figure 5b A top view of a needle system is shown in which a central needle is mounted on a holding needle bar and a holding needle is mounted on a moving needle bar.

[0023] Figure 6a It shows a holding needle mounted on a holding needle bar and a center needle with three grooves on a moving needle bar in horizontal and vertical motion.

[0024] Figure 6b Represents a center needle with three grooves mounted on a holding needle bar and a holding needle on a moving needle bar in horizontal and vertical motion.

[0025] Figure 7a A top view of the needle bar after the separating action of the fiber bundle is shown, wherein a center needle with three grooves is mounted on the moving needle bar and a holding needle is mounted on the holding needle bar.

[0026] Figure 7b A top view of the needle bar after the separating action of the fiber bundle is shown, wherein the holding needle is mounted on the moving needle bar and the center needle with three grooves is located on the holding needle bar.

[0027] Figure Number:

[0028] 1. Fiber fluff;

[0029] 2. Unwinding machine;

[0030] 3. Fiber fluff conveyor;

[0031] 4. Speed-adjustable conveyor for adjusting the weight of the fluff;

[0032] 5. Pre-weighing and fluff weighing adjustment unit;

[0033] 6. Pre-open drum;

[0034] 7. Cutter (left and right);

[0035] 8. Unit of measurement of length;

[0036] 9. Conveyor belt;

[0037] 10. Side conveyor belt;

[0038] 11. U-shaped profile that moves up and down;

[0039] 12. Interrupted bridge;

[0040] 13. Separation and weighing balance unit;

[0041] 13a. Weighing balance unit;

[0042] 13b. Separation unit;

[0043] 14. Blocking arm;

[0044] 15. Hold the needle bar;

[0045] 16. Move the needle bar;

[0046] 17. Side stitch;

[0047] 18.Transmission rod;

[0048] 19. Up and down motion unit for moving and holding the needle bar;

[0049] 20. Guide for moving the needle bar;

[0050] 21. Holding needle;

[0051] 22. Center needle;

[0052] 23. Fluff stop for balance;

[0053] 24. The side straps of the scales;

[0054] 25. Horizontal motion unit that moves the needle bar. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] In order to better explain the nature and characteristics of the present invention, the detailed description of the device, system and method of automatic separation describes the fiber bundle as an example. It should be understood that many specific details are presented to provide a complete and understandable description of the embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments do not limit the application of the present invention, and the present invention can be implemented without these specific instructions.

[0056] The invention is applicable to all bast fiber industries, however, it is particularly applicable to methods for producing long fibers (+20 cm).

[0057] Transports fiber lint during circulation

[0058] The fiber fluff 1 is fed manually or automatically from the unwinder 2 onto a conveyor 3 (horizontal) or a conveyor bar (drooping) and is conveyed by the conveyors 3 and 4. Optionally, a pre-weighing balance unit 5 is used before the fiber is fed to the separation unit 13b. The fiber can be pre-opened or not by a beating drum 6 or a pin drum and / or cut to length in an automatic manner at both sides (root and top side) of the fiber end by a cutting system 7 and the length is measured by a length measuring unit 8 before being presented to the weighing balance unit 13a and the separation unit 13b. The pre-weighing balance unit 5 improves the regularity of the fluff fed to the weighing balance unit 13a, since the weight per meter of the fiber fluff from the supplier can be very irregular. To improve this, the pre-weighing balance unit 5 has a conveyor 4, which is accelerated or decelerated according to the weighed fiber fluff to improve the preset weight per meter of fluff. On the other hand, this device is not necessary for the good operation of the separation unit 13b.

[0059] The fibers are transferred from the pre-weighing scale 5 over the top of two flat parallel horizontal bars, which are part of the conveyor bar 18, with a distance between the width of the two vertical bars, to the end of the separation action. The fiber fluff slides over the needle bars with the help of conveyor belts 9, 10 and 24 or by moving the needle bars 16 to the collection point.

[0060] The weighing balance unit 13a is a device completely isolated from the feeding zone and the emptying zone to avoid disturbing the weight on the scale. The fluff stop 23 of the scale prevents the fibers from passing over the weighing balance unit 13a during the transfer of the fiber fluff on the scale. The weighing balance unit 13a is fed by the feeding zone (transfer conveyor and conveyor belts 3, 4, 9, 10 and 24) until the weighing balance unit 13a indicates the correct set weight, and then the feed transfer (transfer conveyor and conveyor belts 3, 4, 9, 10 and 24) is stopped until the transfer according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 After separation, the weighing balance unit 13a is free again and the feed zone with the transfer conveyor and the conveyor belts 3, 4, 9, 10 and 24 is fed with added fibers again until the balance weight reaches the predetermined weight again. The feed stops and a new separation action is started. This action can be done 30 times per minute and thus 30 bundles of the preset weight can be produced per minute.

[0061] The separation action can also be performed in a continuous stream without stopping the conveyor.

[0062] Separation action during cycle

[0063] The separation unit 13b including the needle bar for performing the separation action includes two needle bars, for example according to Figure 3 A holding needle bar 15 having a holding needle 21 and a moving needle bar 16 having a center needle 22 and two side needles 17.

[0064] The two holding needle bars 15 move the needle bar 16 from a length of 5 cm to 50 cm. The width of the needle bar varies between 1 mm and 20 cm, in particular 12 mm. The distribution of the needles over the needle bar length varies between 0.5 needles per centimeter and 5 needles per centimeter, in particular 1 needle per centimeter. The needles are mounted in a single row or in multiple rows. The length of the needles varies from 1 mm to 20 cm, in particular 4 cm.

[0065] A center needle 22 having three grooves in the vertical direction is mounted on the back of the moving needle rod 16. The needle tip is downward and reaches upward in the form of a cone to a bottom surface having a minimum diameter of 3 mm and a maximum diameter of 30 mm (specifically 12 mm). Three grooves from the bottom to the top of the needle are milled out of the body of the center needle 22. One groove is located at the back side of the center needle 22 and will be used to receive the retaining needle 21 that retains the needle rod 15. The other two grooves are mounted at the opposite lateral sides of the center needle 22 to receive each of the side needles 17. The three needles are engaged in the three grooves of the center needle 22.

[0066] Located on the retaining needle bar 15 at the front of the needle bar (in the production direction) is a retaining needle 21 .

[0067] At the beginning of the separation process, the central needle 22 moves horizontally to the starting position and engages the holding needle 21 in the upper position. Figure 5a , Figure 6a and Figure 7a , the retaining needle 21 is deeper or hidden in the groove of the center needle 22.

[0068] according to Figure 5b , Figure 6b and Figure 7b , the holding needle 21 and the center needle 22 can be interchanged, so that the holding needle 21 is located on the moving needle rod 16, and the center needle 22 is located on the holding needle rod 21.

[0069] The side needles 17 can be introduced horizontally into an upper position from an angle of 20° to 160°, specifically at 90° and −90° on each side of the center needle 22 , and engage in a manner in which the needle tips are deeper or hidden in the side grooves of the center needle 22 .

[0070] The two needle bars are mounted on an up and down motion unit 19, which can be a piston or any other technology to move the needle bars up and down. At least the moving needle bar 16 is mounted on a guide 20, which can transmit the moving needle bar 16 horizontally through a horizontal motion unit 25.

[0071] The U-shaped profile 11 is in the upper position, below the fiber pile between the interrupted bridges 12 in the upper position. The blocking arm 14 moves downward to apply tension to the fiber ( Figure 4 ).

[0072] The holding needle bar 15 and the moving needle bar 16 and the two side needles 17 descend, and the center needle 22 with the holding needle and the two side needles 17 engaged penetrates through the fiber pile.

[0073] The blocking arm 14 now leaves the interruption bridge 12. The interruption bridge 12 and the U-shaped profile 11 are descending. The side needles 17 move laterally by about 1 to 2 cm. Then, the U-shaped profile 11 moves upward toward the holding needles 21, and then the side needles 17 continue to move laterally by 2 cm to 60 cm, specifically 10 cm, to keep the fibers outside the conveying rod 18. When the side needles 17 pass, the interruption bridge 12 is in the upper position.

[0074] The stopper 23 is lowered and the moving needle bar 16 with the central needle 22 is accelerated away from the holding needle bar 15 and in this action the weighed fiber bundle is separated from the fiber fluff 1 .

[0075] Then, the holding needle bar 15 rises to the starting position of the next cycle. The transfer conveyor and the conveyor belts 3, 4, 9, 10 and 24 are feeding the next cycle on the weighing balance unit 13a.

[0076] The moving needle bar 16 delivers the separated fiber bundle to the end of the delivery bar 18. The separation action is up to 30 times per minute.

[0077] At the end of the transfer bar 18 at the collection point, the moving needle bar 16 with the central needle 22 enters the upper position, thereby releasing the transferred separated fiber bundle, which remains on the collection point and returns to the starting position to restart the next cycle.

[0078] The separated fiber bundles are collected by a robot or further transported by a conveyor belt for manual collection while complying with safety regulations.

[0079] The present invention is a great advantage for the bast fiber industry because the complex operation is simplified to a non-technical job. The two needle bars 15 and 16 hold the fibers in place to avoid interlocking, compaction and resistance of the fibers during the separation process. The fiber bundles are separated into the desired lengths. The side needles 17 enable fast and high-quality separation of the fiber bundles, and prevent the fibers near the separation side and the fluff end side of the bundle from falling between the conveying bars 18 so that the fibers are not torn and tangled.

[0080] The separation tool does not necessarily need to include a needle. Other separation tools such as a pointed rod or pointed fingers may be used.

Claims

1. A device for automatically separating fiber bundles, comprising: A separation unit (13b) is configured to automatically separate fibers, wherein the separation unit (13b) comprises a holding needle bar (15) and a moving needle bar (16); the holding needle bar (15) comprises a holding needle (21), the moving needle bar (16) comprises a center needle (22) and two side needles (17), and a groove is pre-formed in the center needle (22); wherein the retaining needle (21) and the two side needles (17) are configured to engage in the groove of the central needle (22); Wherein, the holding needle bar (15) and the moving needle bar (16) are configured to move in horizontal and vertical directions to prevent the fibers from moving during the splitting action and to hold the fibers in place to avoid interlocking, compression and resistance of the fibers during the separation process.

2. The device for automatically separating fiber bundles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The moving needle bar (16) includes the center needle (22), in which the grooves are pre-formed, one of which is configured to receive the retaining needle (21) of the retaining needle bar (15), and the other two grooves are pre-formed at two opposite sides of the center needle (22) and are configured to receive each of the side needles (17).

3. The device for automatically separating fiber bundles according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: The retaining needle (21) of the retaining needle rod (15) is connected to the center needle (22) of the moving needle rod (16) in such a way that the needle tip is deeper or hidden in the back groove of the center needle (22).

4. The device for automatically separating fiber bundles according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: The side needle (17) can be introduced horizontally at an angle from 20° to 160°, specifically at 90° and -90° on each side of the center needle (22), and is also connected to the center needle (22) in a manner that the needle tip is deeper or hidden in the side groove of the center needle (22).

5. The device for automatically separating fiber bundles according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: The holding needle bar (15) and the moving needle bar (16) are made of elastic material, and the holding needle bar (15) and the moving needle bar (16) are configured to generate pressure in the separation zone to prevent the fiber from sliding.

6. A system for automatically separating fiber bundles, characterized in that: The system comprises: a. A device for separating the fibers according to claims 1 to 2; b. a weighing balance unit configured to determine the weight of the separated fiber bundle; a c-shaped profile (11) configured to block the fibers during penetration of the central needle (22) through the fiber pile (1); d) an interruption bridge (12) configured for the passage of two side pins (17); e) a barrier arm (14) configured to exert pressure on the fibers.

7. The system for automatically separating fiber bundles according to claim 6, characterized in that: The system further comprises the step of pre-weighing the fibers on a pre-weighing balance unit (5) before the fibers are fed to the separation unit.

8. The system for automatically separating fiber bundles according to any one of claim 6, characterized in that: The weighing balance unit (13a) comprises a separation side belt (24) and a fluff stopper of a balancer (23), wherein the separation side belt is used to convey the fiber fluff (1) on the weighing balance unit (13a), and the fluff stopper of the balancer (23) prevents the starting point of the fluff from being conveyed farther than the weighing balance unit (13a).

9. A method for automatically separating fiber bundles, wherein the method steps include: - feeding the fiber fluff (1) on a conveyor (3); - weighing the fibers on a weighing balance unit (13a), wherein the separation process starts when the weighing balance (13a) reaches a preset weight of the fibers; - Engage the retaining needle (21) and the two side needles (17) in the groove of the central needle (22); - the holding needle bar (15) and the moving needle bar (16) are engaged with the holding needle (21) and the two side needles (17) in the central needle (22) through the fiber pile (1); - separating the fiber bundle by moving the moving needle bar (16) with the central needle 22 away from the holding needle bar (15); - Returning the movable needle bar (16) to the starting position.

10. The method for automatically separating fiber bundles according to claim 10, characterized in that: The method further comprises the step of pre-weighing the fibers on a pre-weighing balance unit (5) before feeding the fibers to the separation unit.

11. The method for automatically separating fiber bundles according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that: During the penetration of the central needle (22) through the fiber pile (1), the U-shaped profile (11) generates a counterpressure underneath the fiber pile (1).

12. The method for automatically separating fiber bundles according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that: The method is used for long fibers longer than 20 cm.

13. The method for automatically separating fiber bundles according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that: The method is used to stop conveying the fluff or to continue conveying the fluff.

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