FOOD TRAY AND FOOD DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a feed trough for a feed device for feeding fiber flocks into a spinning preparation machine, with a base body and with at least one elastic lip extending along a working width of the feed trough, as well as a feed device for feeding fiber flocks into a spinning preparation machine with a feed roller and a feed trough.

[0002] EP 0 926 274 A2 discloses a feed trough for a feeding device. The feed trough has a gap-forming element attached to a support element, which is designed to be elastically deformable. Preferably, at least larger foreign bodies do not penetrate to the elastic zone. Such bodies are clamped between the gap-forming element and the feed roller before reaching the elastic edge zone. The feed trough then rotates as a whole around an axis against the pretension of a spring. This fact is recorded by a sensor, and the foreign body is thus detected. The foreign body detection can then, for example, lead to the shutdown of the drive for the feed roller and / or the triggering of an alarm. The foreign body therefore does not penetrate to the elastic zone.

[0003] A disadvantage of this feed trough is that the entire feed trough must be designed to rotate around an axis. Since the gap created by the gap-forming element must have a precise width to clamp the fiber material at the desired thickness, the feed trough must also be precisely positioned. In conjunction with a feed trough designed to rotate around an axis, this requires considerable design effort.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a feeding trough which enables a gap with a precise width and at the same time requires less construction effort.

[0005] The problem is solved by a feeding trough and a feeding device having the features of the independent patent claims.

[0006] A feed trough is proposed for a feed device for feeding fiber flocks into a spinning preparation machine. The spinning preparation machine can be a carding machine, a carding machine, or a cleaner. The feed trough has a base body and at least one elastic lip extending along a working width of the feed trough. The elastic lip forms a gap between itself and a feed roller of the feed device.

[0007] According to the invention, a support strip extending along the working width is arranged on the base body. The support strip is arranged at a distance from the elastic lip, and the distance is such that it can be closed by elastic deformation of the lip. If there were no support strip, a very large foreign body could deform the elastic lip so severely that it leaves the elastic range and subsequently does not return to its previous shape. The support strip prevents this and thus enables a longer service life of the elastic lip. Moving elements are therefore not necessary for the overexpansion protection, which keeps the design effort low and simplifies the installation and replacement of the elastic lip.

[0008] It is advantageous if the elastic lip is made of steel, especially chrome steel, as these materials combine good elasticity with good spring strength. Chrome steel is also corrosion-resistant. The wall thickness of the elastic lip at its front end is preferably between 1.0 mm and 4.0 mm, and particularly preferably between 1.5 mm and 2 mm, as this provides the necessary spring strength.

[0009] Advantageously, the support bar is made of aluminum, as it has great dimensional stability despite its low weight.

[0010] The elastic lip and the support strip enclose a cavity that, among other things, allows the elastic lip to move. To prevent this cavity from becoming contaminated, a seal is advantageously arranged between the elastic lip and the support strip. This seal can be deformable to such an extent that it can be compressed when the elastic lip deforms.

[0011] It is advantageous to have a spacer bar between the base body of the feed trough and the elastic lip. This allows for an optimal distance between the base body and the elastic lip for clamping the fiber material. To ensure this distance can be adjusted for different fiber lengths, the spacer bar is preferably replaceable and / or adjustable. For particularly long fiber lengths, above approximately 28 mm, the spacer bar can be omitted entirely.

[0012] It is also advantageous if the support strip is assigned a contact surface and the feed trough has electrical and / or electronic connections for detecting contact between the elastic lip and the contact surface. Such contact between the elastic lip and the contact surface occurs when there is a hard foreign body in the fiber material, which deforms the elastic lip to the point where it just touches the contact surface. The contact thus indicates a hard foreign body in the fiber material.

[0013] If such contact, and thus a hard foreign body, is detected, an acoustic and / or visual alarm can be triggered to alert the operating personnel to the foreign body. Preferably, a feed roller of the feed device is also automatically stopped to prevent the foreign body from moving further under the elastic lip and potentially causing damage to the feed device. Furthermore, the feed roller can then be rotated back by a predefined or predetermined angle, which pushes the foreign body back and simplifies its removal by the operating personnel.

[0014] It is advantageous if the elastic lip is electrically insulated from the contact surface. Then, the elastic lip and the contact surface can be arranged as two ends of an open circuit with a voltage source and a current measuring device. When the elastic lip then comes into contact with the contact surface, the circuit is closed, and the flowing current is measured by the current measuring device.

[0015] Alternatively, a piezoelectric element can be provided, which is attached to the elastic lip and / or the contact surface. Piezoelectric elements are also inexpensive, reliable, and largely maintenance-free. Upon contact between the elastic lip and the contact surface, pressure is exerted on the piezoelectric element, which in turn results in an electrical voltage that is detected by a sensor.

[0016] In an advantageous refinement of the feed trough, it has at least two segments along its working width, with each segment assigned an elastic lip. This simplifies the adjustment of the gap created by the elastic lip, as a constant gap width no longer needs to be set across the entire working width.

[0017] Advantageously, each segment is assigned a piezoelectric element, or the elastic lips assigned to the individual segments are electrically isolated from each other and assigned to separate circuits. This makes it possible to detect a foreign body separately for each segment. If this is indicated to the operating personnel, the search for the foreign body is simplified, allowing the foreign body to be removed more quickly, and production to resume more quickly.

[0018] The food trough is designed according to the previous description, whereby the features mentioned can be present individually or in any combination.

[0019] Furthermore, a feeding device for feeding fiber flakes into a spinning preparation machine, in particular a carding machine, a carding machine, or a cleaner, is proposed. The feeding device comprises a feed roller and a feed trough as described above. In particular, the feed trough comprises a base body, at least one elastic lip extending along a working width of the feed trough, and a support strip extending along the working width. This reduces the design effort and allows for easier adjustment of the elastic lip.

[0020] The above-mentioned advantageous developments of the feeding trough also prove to be advantageous for the feeding device with the feeding trough.

[0021] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. It shows: figure 1a schematic side view of a carding machine, figure 2a schematic side view of a feeding device, figure 3a schematic side view of another feeding device, figure 4 a schematic side view of another feeding device, figure 5a schematic side view of another feeding device and figure 6a schematic front view of a food trough.

[0022] Figure 1shows a schematic side view of a carding machine 1. The fibers are transported from left to right in the carding machine 1. A fiber mat 2 first runs over a feed plate 3 and then enters a feed device 4. The feed device 4 has a feed trough 5, which interacts with a feed roller 6. The fiber mat 2, clamped between the feed trough 5 and the feed roller 6, is then fed to a licker-in roller 7.

[0023] From the licker-in roller 7, the nonwoven fabric passes onto a drum 8 and is further processed between the drum 8 and a flat 9, shown very schematically here. The nonwoven fabric is then removed by a doffer roller 10 and forwarded to a compacting unit 11, where it is compacted into a carded sliver 12.

[0024] Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a feeding device 4 according to the invention. This feeding device 4 can be a part of the Figure 1The feed device 4 can be the card 1 shown, but it can also be part of a carding machine or a cleaner. The feed device 4 has a feed trough 5 and a feed roller 6. A part of the licker-in roller 7 is also shown.

[0025] The feed trough 5 has a base body 13, which is partially protected from wear by a protective plate 14. An elastic lip 15 is arranged so that fibers can be clamped between it and the feed roller 6. A support strip 16 is arranged on the side of the elastic lip 15 facing away from the feed roller 6. The elastic lip 15 can be elastically deformed at least until it touches the support strip 16. The support strip 16 prevents further deformation of the elastic lip 15, for example due to a hard foreign body in the fiber material. The elastic lip 15 is therefore not deformed into an area where permanent deformation occurs. A return of the elastic lip 15 to its original shape and position is thus always guaranteed.

[0026] In the following description of alternative embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for features that are identical and / or at least comparable in their design and / or mode of operation compared to other embodiments. Unless explained again in detail, their design and / or mode of operation corresponds to the design and mode of operation of the features already described above.

[0027] In the Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, a spacer bar 17 is arranged between the base body 13 of the feed trough 5 and the elastic lip 15. This spacer bar 17 is designed as an adjustable rod 18, so that the distance between the base body 13 and the elastic lip 15 is easily adjustable. By varying the distance between the base body 13 and the elastic lip 15, the feed trough 5 can be optimized for different fiber lengths.

[0028] In addition, the food tray 5 has the Figure 3 A slightly deformable seal 19 is arranged between the elastic lip 15 and the support strip 16. This seal 19 closes the gap 20 located between the elastic lip 15 and the support strip 16 and thus protects it from contamination, in particular from flying fibers.

[0029] Figure 4 shows another feed device 4. In this embodiment, the spacer bar 17 is not adjustable, but it is designed to be interchangeable, so that a different distance between the base body 13 and the elastic lip 15 can be achieved with different spacer bars 17. This distance is adapted to the respective fiber length, and for very long fibers, the spacer bar 17 can even be omitted entirely.

[0030] Furthermore, the feed device 4 of the Figure 4designed in such a way that a hard foreign body located in the fiber material can be detected via contact between the elastic lip 15 and a contact surface 21 of the support strip 16. For this purpose, an electrical insulation 22 insulates the elastic lip 15 from the support strip 16. In an electrical circuit, the elastic lip 15 is connected to the support strip 16 via a voltage source 23 and a current measuring device 24. Since the elastic lip 15 is electrically insulated from the support strip 16, the circuit is normally open and the current measuring device 24 does not measure any current. If, on the other hand, the elastic lip 15 is deformed, for example by a hard foreign body, to the extent that it touches the contact surface 21 of the support strip 16, the circuit is closed and current flows, which current is measured by the current measuring device 24. The seal 19 is designed to be so flexible that it can be overpressed and does not impair the contact.

[0031] In order to indicate the contact of the elastic lip 15 with the contact surface 21, and thus the detection of the foreign body, the current measuring device 24 is connected to an acoustic and / or optical alarm 25, which indicates the foreign body to the operating personnel.

[0032] Advantageously, the current measuring device 24 is also connected to a control device 26, which stops the feed roller 6 upon detection of a foreign body, preventing the foreign body from advancing further and causing major damage. It is particularly advantageous if the control device 26 rotates the feed roller 6 backwards sufficiently after it has been stopped so that the foreign body emerges from under the elastic lip 15 and can be easily removed by the operating personnel.

[0033] In the Figure 5In the embodiment shown, the contact between the elastic lip 15 and the contact surface 21 is detected by a piezoelectric element 27. In this case, the piezoelectric element 27 is arranged on the contact surface 21 of the support strip 16, but it can also be arranged on the elastic lip 15. Upon contact between the elastic lip 15 and the contact surface 21, pressure is exerted on the piezoelectric element 27, which leads to an electrical voltage between two electrodes of the piezoelectric element 27. This electrical voltage is measured, and thus the contact is detected.

[0034] In this embodiment, the feed trough 5 is shown without a spacer bar, which is optimal for particularly long fiber lengths.

[0035] Finally, Figure 6A schematic front view of a food trough 5. The elastic lip 15 is divided into four segments: 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, and 15.4. Of course, a different number of segments is also possible. The individual segments are shorter than a single elastic lip 15 and can thus be more easily adjusted across their width.

[0036] The individual segments of the elastic lip 15 are also electrically insulated from one another. For this purpose, an insulating layer 28 is applied in the area where they adjoin one another; for the sake of clarity, only one of these has been provided with a reference symbol. The individual segments are each connected to the voltage source via a current measuring device. This makes it possible to identify the segment in which a foreign body is located in the fiber mat. This is preferably indicated to the operating personnel so that they can immediately search for the foreign body in the correct segment and then remove it.

[0037] The present invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments. Modifications within the scope of the claims are possible. List of reference symbols

[0038] 1Card 2Fiber mat 3Feed plate 4Feed device 5Feed trough 6Feed roller 7Lisher-in roller 8Reel 9Cover 10Doffer roller 11Compaction unit 12Card sliver 13Base body 14Guard plate 15Elastic lip 15.1 - 15.4Segments of the elastic lip 16Support bar 17Spacer bar 18Linkage 19Seal 20Gap 21Contact surface 22Electrical insulation 23Voltage source 24Current measuring device 25Alarm 26Control device 27Piezoelectric element 28Insulation layer

Claims

1. Feed trough (5) for a feeding device (4) for feeding flock fibers into a spinning preparation machine having a feed roller (6), the feed trough (5) having a main body (13) and at least one elastic lip (15) which extends along a working width of the feed trough (5), characterized in that a support strip (16) which extends along the working width is arranged on the main body (13), the support strip (16) being arranged at a distance from the elastic lip (15) and on the side of the elastic lip (15) facing away from the feed roller (6), and the distance being such that it can be closed by an elastic deformation of the elastic lip (15).

2. Feed trough (5) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the elastic lip (15) consists of steel, in particular of chrome steel, and a wall thickness of the elastic lip (15) at its front end is preferably between 1.0 mm and 4.0 mm.

3. Feed trough (5) according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic lip (15) consists of steel, in particular of chrome steel, and a wall thickness of the elastic lip (15) at its front end is preferably between 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm.

4. Feed trough (5) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support strip (16) consists of aluminum.

5. Feed trough (5) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a seal (19) is arranged between the elastic lip (15) and the support strip (16).

6. Feed trough (5) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a preferably exchangeable and / or adjustable spacer strip (17) is arranged between the main body (13) and the elastic lip (15).

7. Feed trough (5) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support strip (16) is associated with a contact surface (21) and the feed trough (5) has electrical and / or electronic connections for detecting contact between the elastic lip (15) and the contact surface (21).

8. Feed trough (5) according to claim 7, characterized in that the elastic lip (15) is electrically insulated from the contact surface (21).

9. Feed trough (5) according to either of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that a piezoelectric element (27) is provided, which is attached to the elastic lip (15) and / or to the contact surface (21).

10. Feed trough (5) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed trough (5) has at least two segments (15.1 - 15.4) along its working width and each segment (15.1 - 15.4) is associated with an elastic lip (15).

11. Feed trough according to claim 10, characterized in that each segment (15.1 - 15.4) is associated with a piezoelectric element (27), or the elastic lips (15) which are associated with the individual segments (15.1 - 15.4) are electrically insulated from one another and are associated with separate circuits.

12. Feeding device for feeding flock fibers into a spinning preparation machine having a feed roller (6) and a feed trough (5) according to any of the preceding claims.