Method for automatically setting and maintaining a defined distance between a rotatably mounted drum and another component

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for automatically setting and maintaining a defined distance between a rotatably mounted drum and at least one further component of a carding machine or card, wherein the drum and the at least one further component have a clothing or a separating knife, wherein the drum and the at least one further component are connected to an electrical energy source but are electrically insulated from one another.

[0002] According to current practice, the first calibration of the carding gap is carried out manually on a cold, stationary card or roller. For this purpose, a feeler gauge is pushed by hand between the clothing tips of the flat and the drum on individual flat bars in order to determine the existing carding gap. This process is carried out for the fixed flats, which are then set to a predetermined distance, as well as for the rotating revolving flats. The determined carding gap then depends on a variety of factors, including the experience of the person making the adjustment. This results in a high degree of measurement uncertainty, which is perpetuated by the continuous determination of the carding gap by the machine control system. If the first calibration is inaccurate, the subsequent automatic adjustment by the machine control system cannot be more precise because the measurement inaccuracies continue.This means that a small carding gap, which is responsible for high carding quality, cannot be reliably adjusted. If the adjustment is too inaccurate and the carding gap is too small, a temperature change during operation can lead to a collision between the drum and the carding elements. If the carding gap is set too large, for example, the cleaning and carding of cotton fibers will be inadequate, which has a direct impact on the yarn quality. The same situation arises when calibrating the distance between the drum of a carding or carding machine and the components that interact with it, such as the fixed carding element, the doffer, the worker and turner rollers, the licker-in, and the suction hoods.

[0003] In the event of a collision between the drum and at least one component, such as the rotating flat bars of a carding machine, the T-CON contact and temperature control system (DE 102006002812 A1) provides automatic shutdown. Opposing components that could collide with each other are electrically insulated, and a voltage is applied to both components. If contact occurs between the components, a short circuit occurs. A digital filter in the machine control system selects and evaluates the number of contacts to prevent immediate shutdown of the carding machine. This system has previously been used to prevent clothing and machine damage, allowing the carding gap between the carding drum and the revolving flats to be adjusted during operation, particularly in the event of temperature changes on the carding machine.

[0004] EP 2743385 B1 varies the present method in that the intensity or contact duration of each short circuit is determined and evaluated along with the number of contacts determined.

[0005] Both documents disclose the adjustment or modification of the existing carding gap as soon as contact is established between the cylinder clothing and a flat clothing. However, the initial zero point adjustment or calibration is not possible with these systems.

[0006] DE 10053139 A1 describes an adjustment of the carding gap on a card with an electrical contact measurement, in which a contact between the tips of the clothing of at least one flat bar and the tips of the drum clothing can be established and released again by moving the flat bars and the contact can be detected by a device.

[0007] EP 3354774 A1 discloses a device in which the carding gap is adjusted during operation, wherein the carding gap is adjustable segmentally at least over a part of the drum circumference on the flexible sheet and / or the carding gap is adjustable over the working width on at least one flat bar.

[0008] WO 2006 / 119658 A1 discloses a carding gap measurement using a capacitive measuring method.

[0009] The object of the invention is the further development of a carding machine or carding machine with automatic calibration and adjustment of a defined distance between a component and the drum.

[0010] This object is achieved by a method for operating a carding machine or carding machine according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with the characterizing features. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0011] The method for automatically adjusting and maintaining a defined distance between a rotatably mounted drum and at least one other component of a carding or carding machine, wherein the drum and the at least one other component have a clothing or a separating knife, requires that the drum and the at least one other component are connected to an electrical power source but electrically insulated from each other. Furthermore, it is assumed that the distance of the at least one component from the drum is adjustable and automatically movable.

[0012] First with the drum stationary and then with the drum rotating, at least one component is moved with its clothing or separating knife until it comes into contact with the clothing of the drum and at least one electrical contact is made. This requires that at least a small voltage is applied to the electrically insulated drum, with contact then being equivalent to a short circuit, the number, duration and intensity of which are determined. Contact does not necessarily have to be caused by two components touching, but can also be caused by conductive particles in the fiber material or by flashover through the air at a very short distance. If contact is caused by an electrically conductive particle or by flashover through the air, the distance is well below the setting values ​​for the carding gap.

[0013] This distance between at least one component and the drum is stored as the first reference value in the machine control system.

[0014] The machine control system specifies a distance between the at least one component and the drum as a reference variable to a controller. The distance can be set sufficiently large to prevent collisions between the components with a high degree of certainty, for example, to account for the imbalance of a rotating drum after start-up. However, the distance can also be a specified carding gap, which is set by a control system based on operating conditions such as fiber quality, production quantity, and ambient temperature.

[0015] The controller uses a manipulated variable to control an actuator to generate the distance.

[0016] The process is initially carried out with the drum stationary, allowing all components to be brought into contact with the drum. This allows for an inspection of the components used and their assembly.

[0017] In a further step, the drum is run up to operating speed and again at least one component with its clothing or separating knife is moved to contact with the clothing of the drum and at least one electrical contact is established so that this distance between the at least one component and the drum is stored as a second reference value in the machine control system.

[0018] The machine control then specifies a distance between the at least one component and the drum as a reference variable to a controller, whereby the controller uses a manipulated variable to control an actuator to generate a predetermined distance.

[0019] The system can be calibrated while the drum is stationary or rotating by determining a reference value or zero value between the stationary or rotating drum and the at least one component. Based on this reference value, the at least one component can be moved to a safety distance from the drum that is large enough to prevent a collision between the component and the starting drum. Alternatively, the distance to be set between the component and the drum can correspond to a current carding gap. As the drum starts up, the distance between the drum and the at least one component decreases due to imbalance, centrifugal force and play in the bearings.

[0020] The at least one component can now be moved back to the drum to make contact, creating a new electrical contact. This distance between the at least one component and the drum is then stored as a second reference value in the machine control system. The machine control system then specifies a distance between the at least one component and the drum as a reference variable to a controller, which then uses a manipulated variable to control an actuator to generate a predetermined distance. This predetermined distance can correspond to the distance at which the fiber flakes are best opened and cleaned, the fibers are carded, or the fibers are transferred to another roller.

[0021] With the method according to the invention, the distances required for operation between the at least one component and the drum can be automatically calibrated and adjusted. Collision of the components with the drum is thereby eliminated. Depending on the component, the machine control system specifies the necessary distance for different operating states, for example, depending on the fiber quality. These distances are stored in a memory of the machine control system.

[0022] Preferably, the at least one component is designed as a fixed carding element, a flat bar, a doffer, a suction hood, a worker roller, a turner roller, or a licker-in of a carding machine or card. This allows for fully automatic adjustment of all components of a carding machine or carding machine to the drum.

[0023] In the first step, all components' sets or separating knives can be brought into contact with the drum set. Contact occurs between the tooth tips of the sets or between the separating knife and the drum set, so that the reference or zero value for the calibration is established for each individual component.

[0024] In this way, professional installation and the correct selection of the fittings can be checked.

[0025] Another advantage is that fiber tufts are fed into the carding machine or roller after or when the drum is running up to operating speed. This raises the operating temperature of the textile machine, allowing the gaps between the components to be adjusted. If the fiber tufts are introduced simultaneously with the drum running up, the operating temperature is reached more quickly, allowing various factors that can offset or even add up to change the gaps between the components and the drum. The operating state can thus be reached more quickly.

[0026] If the fiber flakes are introduced into the textile machine after the drum has been accelerated to operating speed, greater safety is achieved against collision of the drum with at least one component. Furthermore, individual factors (imbalance, play in the bearing, temperature changes in the side plate, deflection, and thermal deformation of the components) can be more easily differentiated from one another, and their influences can be compensated for via the machine control system.

[0027] Preferably, the distance between the clothings is kept constant by means of a contact / temperature control, wherein the contact / temperature control is designed to determine the thermal behavior of the components of the card when the temperature changes.

[0028] Alternatively, in an advantageous embodiment, if the temperature of the carding machine or roller increases, the at least one component can be moved back into contact with the drum and at least one electrical contact can be established. For example, with a temperature increase of 5°C each time, this process can be repeated until the operating temperature of, for example, 60°C is reached. This distance between the at least one component and the drum is stored as a new reference value in the machine control system. The machine control system specifies a distance between the at least one component and the drum as a reference variable to a controller, whereby the controller uses a manipulated variable to control an actuator to generate the distance.Since the distances between the at least one component and the drum can change significantly due to a temperature change in the spinning mill or during operation of the textile machine, the distance between the at least one component and the drum can be recalibrated and adjusted for each relevant temperature change. For this purpose, an electrical contact may be sufficient for one of 84 flat bars, for example, if the machine control system has stored the small difference between all flat bars.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, at least one component can be brought into contact with the drum at regular intervals, and at least one electrical contact can be established, so that this distance between the at least one component and the drum is stored as a new reference value in the machine control system. The time interval can occur, for example, every two hours after the operating temperature of, for example, 60°C has been reached. Here, too, the machine control system specifies a constant distance between the at least one component and the drum as a reference variable to a controller, with the controller using a manipulated variable to control an actuator to generate the distance.

[0030] If the new reference value deviates from a previous reference value, the machine control system can be configured to output a signal or display a message that informs the operator of wear of the at least one component and / or a changed fiber blend and / or a malfunction. The textile machine can at least partially monitor itself based on the changed distances between the at least one component and the drum and diagnose a deviation in the event of a deviation.

[0031] Preferably, the actuators are designed as drives that allow the distance between the components and the drum to be adjusted. This results in a textile machine that can self-adjust the distance between at least one component and the drum.

[0032] The carding machine or carder used in the process comprises a rotatable and garnished drum and at least one further component which is associated with the rotatable drum, wherein at least one component is adjustable in distance from the drum by means of at least one drive.

[0033] Furthermore, the carding machine comprises a system for detecting electrical contacts, wherein the drum and at least one further component are connected to an electrical energy source but are electrically insulated from each other.

[0034] In the event of electrical contact between the components and the drum, the contact detection system detects the electrical contact and communicates with a machine control system that is designed to determine a reference value and, based on this reference value, to control at least one drive by means of a controller to adjust a distance between the at least one component and the drum.

[0035] This creates an automatic self-adjusting card or roller that is capable of adjusting the distances between at least one component and the drum.

[0036] The components can be designed as a fixed carding element, a flat bar, a doffer, an exhaust hood, a worker roller, a turner roller, or a licker-in of a carding machine or card. In particular, the distances between the components and the drum, which are important for fiber processing, can be automatically adjusted.

[0037] The components have a set or a separating knife.

[0038] Because the distance between the extraction hood separator blades and / or the fixed carding element clothing and / or the flat bar clothing and the drum clothing can be adjusted using adjustable slide rails, the carding gaps can be automatically calibrated and adjusted according to production conditions. Complex adjustment during commissioning using feeler gauges is no longer necessary.

[0039] The distance between the clothing of the drum and the clothing of the doffer, the worker and turner roller or the licker-in can also be adjusted by means of a spindle.

[0040] Given the desired adjustment accuracy and the compact dimensions, a motor-gearbox combination with an integrated brake is preferred as the drive. The integrated brake allows for very precise adjustment of the components to the drum, with a precision of well under 0.1 mm.

[0041] Further measures improving the invention are presented in more detail below, together with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. Although the embodiment relates to a carding machine, the components described here can also be parts of a carding machine.

[0042] They show: Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a carding machine with the device according to the invention; Figure 2a-2f shows an enlarged view of a flat bar or carding element with the drum; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the slide bar; Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the doffer with the drum; Figure 5 shows a schematic view of the control circuit for adjusting the distance between the clothings.

[0043] Fig. 1shows a carding machine 100 according to the prior art, in which fiber flakes are guided via a shaft to a feed roller 1, a feed table 2, via several licker-in devices 3a, 3b, 3c, to the drum 4 or the reel tambour. On the drum 4, the fibers of the fiber flakes are parallelized and cleaned by means of stationary carding elements 20, suction hoods and separating knives and by means of rotating carding elements arranged on a revolving flat system 17, which are designed as flat bars 14. The resulting fiber web is then conveyed via a doffer 5, a doffer roller 6 and several squeeze rollers 7, 8 to a web guide element 9, which forms the fiber web with a funnel 10 into a fiber sliver, which is transferred via take-off rollers 11, 12 to a downstream processing machine or a can 15.The adjustment of the flat bars 14 and the fixed carding elements 20 relative to the drum 4 (carding gap) is carried out via slide rails (18) not shown here, which have wedge-shaped elements aligned relative to one another. The distance of the doffer 5 from the drum 4 is adjusted by means of an adjustment system in which the doffer 5 is pivoted about a rotatably mounted bearing.

[0044] The following description refers to the adjustment of the distance between the clothing of the drum 4 and another clothing, which can be arranged on the fixed carding elements 20 and / or on the flat bars 14 of the revolving flat system 17, and / or on the doffer 5.

[0045] This requires that the clothing 5a, 14a, 20a with the associated component is electrically conductive, but arranged in an electrically insulated manner within the card 100. In the case of the flat bars 14 of the revolving flat system 17, the clothing 14a is arranged in an electrically conductive foundation. The flat bars 14 are guided in an electrically insulated manner on the slide rail 18, with the electrical contact for the detection system being led via the clothing 14a into the foundation via the outer sliding elements (pins 14b - Figure 2a ) is routed to the control system and transmitted.

[0046] The clothings 20a of the fixed carding elements 20 are also electrically conductive and are connected directly or indirectly to the detection system, wherein the fixed carding elements 20 are arranged on the card 100 in an electrically insulated manner.

[0047] The pickup 5 is also mounted in an electrically insulated manner, with the fitting 5a of the pickup 5 being electrically connected to the detection system.

[0048] Furthermore, it is assumed that the distance a between the other clothings (5a, 14a, 20a) and the clothing 4a of the drum 4 is adjustable. A wedge-shaped slide rail 18 is motor-driven on the flat bars 14, so that the distance between the flat bars 14 and the drum 5, and thus the distance a between the associated clothings 4a, 14a, can be varied by moving the wedge-shaped slide rail 18 toward or away from each other.

[0049] The fixed carding elements 20 are also adjustable in distance a from the drum 20 via a wedge-shaped slide bar, so that the distance between the associated clothings 4a, 20a can also be varied. For details on the adjustability of the fixed carding elements 20 using the slide bar on the extension bow, please refer to DE 10 2018 124 878.

[0050] The pickup 5 is rotatably mounted in the machine housing, with the bearing pivotably mounted at a distance from the drum 4. A motorized spindle drive allows the distance between the pickup 5 and the drum 4 to be adjusted, and thus also the distance between the sets 4a, 5a.

[0051] The following figures show the calibration and adjustment of the distance between the clothings of the flat bar 14 and the drum 4. The same principle is also used for the calibration and adjustment of the distance between the clothings of the fixed carding elements 20 and the drum 4, as well as between the clothings of the doffer 5 and the drum 4. The individual steps can be performed independently of one another, so that calibration can be performed while the drum is stationary, for example, to check the installed clothings. However, calibration is also possible at any time while the drum is rotating, with or without ongoing production.

[0052] The following description begins with the drum at a standstill in order to better explain the system for adjusting the carding gap during commissioning or after fitting with new clothing.

[0053] In the first step ( Figures 2a - 2c) the first system test is carried out with the drum 4 at a standstill, by moving the rotating flat bars 14 and / or fixed carding elements 20 and / or the doffer 5 to contact the drum 4. For this purpose, the wedge-shaped sliding strips ( Figure 2b) are moved apart by motor, so that the distance a between the clothings 14a, 20a of the flat bars 14 and / or the fixed carding elements 20 and the clothing 4a of the drum 4 decreases. When the clothing tips touch, a short circuit is triggered, which tells the detection system and thus the control system the reference point for this distance a and for this individual carding element (fixed carding element 20, flat bar 14). This process is continued until all clothings of the flat bars 14 and / or fixed carding elements 20 have made contact with the drum 4. This system test can be used not only for the first reference measurement but also to check whether the correct flat bars 14 and fixed carding elements 20 have been selected and correctly mounted. At the doffer 5, the positioning system is actuated by the drive 27, so that the doffer 5 pivots around the pivot point (bearing 24) towards the drum 4.

[0054] Based on this first reference measurement, a large distance a1 of, for example, 50 / 1000" is set between the set 4a of the drum 4 and the other set (5a, 14a, 20a) so that any collision between the components is excluded ( Figure 2c ).

[0055] In the second step ( Figure 2d - 2f ) the card 100 is started cold and the drum 4 is accelerated to its speed of, for example, 600 rpm. Likewise, the doffer 5 can be accelerated to a speed of 150 rpm. Due to the imbalance of the drum 4 and its expansion due to centrifugal forces, the distance from a1 to a2 is reduced without actively adjusting the distance of the other clothings from the drum 4. Now ( Figure 2e), the distance a between the clothing 4a of the drum 4 and the other clothings (5a, 14a, 20a) is once again reduced to zero until electrical contact is again established. In this second step, it is sufficient if the contact or a defined number of contacts is made with a component of a group of clothings, i.e. with the clothing of a single or a few flat bars 4 of, for example, a total of 84 flat bars, or with a clothing of a fixed carding element 20 of, for example, a total of eight fixed carding elements in the pre-carding zone. Based on this contact, a new reference or zero value is defined in the control system, which is assigned to a specific position of the wedge-shaped slide bar 18 or a specific position on the spindle drive of the doffer 5. This second reference value is used to approach the carding gap for the start of the card 100 with fibers. The control system outputs a new distance a3 ( Figure 2f) between the sets 4a of the drum 4 and the other sets (5a, 14a, 20a) of, for example, 12 / 1000", which the drives 21 of the slide rails 18 and the spindle drive approach.

[0056] The card then starts production. Drum 4 has reached the target speed of, for example, 600 rpm and production of fiber flakes has begun. The production rate can be increased slowly over a period of 15 minutes from, for example, 0 kg / h up to 250 kg / h. Alternatively, card 100 can be started immediately in the second step with the full production rate of 250 kg / h, and reaches this production rate in, for example, 30 seconds. During ongoing production, card 100 heats up from, for example, 24°C to 60°C, which heats up the components (side plate, drum, etc.) and reduces the preset distance a3 (reference variable) between the clothings. The machine control system is designed to predict the reduction in the distance between the clothings based on the distance a3 between the clothings (5a, 14a, 20a) at a measured card temperature of, for example, 24°C.Since the goal is a constant distance a3 as a reference variable of, for example, 3 / 1000" between the clothing 4a of the drum 4 and the clothing 14a of the flat bar 14 at an operating temperature of 60° C, a collision between the components must be prevented at the same time. The T-CON system calculates the change in the distances between the clothings due to the temperature change of the components and thus keeps the distance a3 constant.

[0057] Alternatively, the distances between the clothings can be regularly reduced and brought into contact until the detection system detects a new reference point or zero point. Starting from this reference point, the carding gap and / or doffer distance can be readjusted until the card's operating temperature reaches 100°C and, at the same time, the preset distance a3 can be maintained constant. This readjustment can be performed at specific intervals based on empirical values, for example, every 30 minutes. Alternatively, a new reference measurement can be performed, which is temperature-dependent, for example, with every temperature increase of 5°C.

[0058] Figure 3shows the principle of the slide bar 18, which consists of an upper movable wedge-shaped slide bar 18a and a lower fixed wedge-shaped slide bar 18b. In this example, the slide bar 18 for the revolving flat system 17 is shown, which is also used for the fixed carding elements using the same principle, the only difference being that the fixed carding elements 20 are stationary and can only be adjusted in terms of their distance from the drum 4. Typically, the slide bar 18 is adjustably connected to the side plate of the card 100, directly or indirectly, for example mounted on a flexible bend 29, so that each card 100 has a slide bar 18 on either side of the drum 4. The upper slide bar 18a is arranged displaceably on the lower slide bar 18b, with a gear wheel (not shown) that penetrates the lower slide bar 18b and moves the upper slide bar 18a around the circumference.The lower slide bar can be arranged in an upwardly open groove of the flexible bend 29 and is shown in the illustration of the . Figure 3 not visible. The radius of the slide bar 18 is arranged concentrically to the radius of the drum 4, since the flat bars 14 are guided on their flat travel against the direction of rotation of the drum 4 and should always have the same distance from the drum 4 (carding gap). On the upper side of the upper slide bar 18a, the revolving flats 14 slide with their pins 14b ( Figures 2a and 2b), which are guided and moved at a distance from one another via a belt drive (not shown). The pins 14b interact with one or more contact arcs 23 of a contact element 22, which can be arranged, for example, laterally on the slide bar 18 or on the flexible arc 29. The electrical contact during calibration is thus made via the tips of the clothings 14a and / or 20a and 4a, via an electrically conductive foundation of the flat bar 14 via the pins 14b, which are electrically connected to the foundation, up to the contact arc 23. This exemplary embodiment shows the arrangement of, for example, four contact elements 22 on the slide bar 18, so that the location of the contact between the clothing 14a of a flat bar 14 and the clothing 20a of the drum 20 can be located very precisely. The contact elements 22 with their contact arcs 23 are in turn electrically connected to the control of the card 100.In order to adapt the radius of the slide bar 18 concentrically to the radius of the drum 4 and / or to adjust the basic distance between the surface of the slide bar 18 and the drum 4, the slide bar 18 has a plurality of adjusting spindles 19 which can be adjusted manually or by motor. In this exemplary embodiment, six adjusting spindles 19 are provided, with which the slide bar 18 can be adjusted on each side of the card 100. As already mentioned, the adjustment of the upper slide bar 18a on the lower slide bar 18b is carried out using a gear wheel which is driven by an electric motor. The drive 21 can be designed as a motor-gear combination, for example as a stepper motor with externally arranged sensors or as a servo motor with integrated sensors. By adjusting orWhen the upper slide rail 18a is displaced along the lower slide rail 18b, the wedge shape simultaneously translates the movement by covering a large distance around the circumference of the lower slide rail 18b, resulting in only a small change in radius. Since the distance between the sets 5a, 14a, 20a and the set 4a of the drum 4 must be adjusted to an accuracy of 1 / 1000 of an inch, any play in the mechanical coupling of the components must be minimized. For this purpose, the drive 21 is equipped with a brake, which can be integrated into the drive 21. The brake prevents slight reverse travel when the drive 21 is moved, so that the reference point can be determined with the highest accuracy in the event of contact between the sets.

[0059] The one to the Figures 2d - 2fThe second step described can be performed with or without fiber flakes. If the second step is performed without fiber flakes, the calibration accuracy is more reliable. If the second step is performed with fiber flakes in production, the operating state is reproduced more quickly, since the factors that reduce the distance between the clothings are partially compensated for by the faster attainment of the operating temperature.

[0060] Figure 4shows schematically the mounting of the drum 4 on the frame 13 of the card 100. The doffer 5 can be pivoted towards or away from the drum 4 via a pivotable support 25, which is fastened on both sides to a bearing 24 of the frame 13. A spindle 26 is arranged on each side of the card 100, which establishes a mechanical coupling of the doffer 5 to the frame 13 or to the side plate 28 of the card 100. A drive 27 is arranged on each of the spindles 26, with which the distance between the doffer 5 and the drum 4 can be adjusted. The distance between the drum 4 and the doffer 5 is shown enlarged here. The adjustment range can be adjusted between a few millimeters up to contact of the associated clothings.The described calibration procedure when the pickup 5 and the drum 4 are stationary, when the pickup 5 and the drum 4 are started up, and during ongoing production until the operating temperature is reached can be carried out identically or separately, as with the sets.

[0061] After Figure 5the machine control receives a reference variable F of the distance between two clothings from a memory, which can depend, for example, on the fiber quality (cotton, synthetic fibers), the expected carding performance and other factors. This reference variable F is set by a controller R, which controls an actuator A by means of a manipulated variable S. The actuator A, which can be designed, for example, as a drive 21, 27, generates a controlled variable RG, which is compared with the reference variable F. A further signal is generated by the T-CON system, which is processed together with the reference variable F. The T-CON system records and evaluates the number of contacts C between the clothings. The T-CON system also calculates the change in the distance between the clothings based on the current temperature T of the card.The absolute value of the distance between the clothings is stored in the machine control system, as T-CON only detects the contacts and determines the change in the distance between the clothings based on the temperature change. Alternatively, with an increase in temperature and / or an increase in the number of contacts, T-CON can generate a signal that is processed in the machine control system using the reference variable F. An increase in the card temperature of, for example, 5° or 10° C can initiate the described process for recalibration, in which T-CON determines a certain number of contacts between the clothings as a new reference value or zero point, from which a new reference variable F is approached as the new distance between the clothings.

[0062] If the temperature continues to rise or a predetermined production volume is reached, which is accompanied by wear on the carding clothing, a new calibration can be performed to check the carding gap and / or the doffer distance and adjust them to the changed conditions. To do this, the distance between the carding clothings is reduced by one or more actuators 21, 27 until the T-CON detector system determines a preset number of contacts between the components and stores this value as the new reference distance of zero in the machine control system. The controller R again controls one or more actuators A, with which the distance between the carding clothings is adjusted to a current reference variable F.

[0063] During the card's start-up and warm-up, this process can be repeated every 30 minutes, for example, until a temperature sensor has determined the current machine temperature for the current operating conditions. Once the card has reached the target temperature, this process can be repeated every two hours, for example, to monitor the current distance between the card clothings and to compensate for wear on the card clothings or quality differences in the fed fibers.

[0064] By means of the method according to the invention and the associated device, the distance between the sets can be automatically calibrated in every operating state from the start of the machine and kept constant at an optimal value.

[0065] This can preferably be done from the start with the drum stationary. It is advantageous to do this with the drum rotating, with or without ongoing production.

[0066] Using this method, it is possible to regularly calibrate the existing calculation of the fitting spacing during operation. By applying the method according to the invention, the current fitting spacing can be determined at any time and compared with the reference variable. This allows for greater accuracy and better adaptation to changing boundary and environmental conditions. Furthermore, the wear of the fittings can be recorded and taken into account in subsequent adjustment.

[0067] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, as long as these variants fall within the scope of the claims. Reference symbol

[0068] 100 carding machines 1 Feed roller 2 Feed table 3a, 3b, 3c Licker-in 4 Drum 4a Clothing 4b Bearing 5 Doffer 5a Clothing 5b Bearing 6 Doffer roller 7 Squeeze roller 8 Squeeze roller 9 Fleece guide element 10 Funnel 11 Take-off rollers 12 Take-off rollers 13 Frame 14 Flat bar 14a Clothing 14b Pin 15 Can 17 Revolving flat system 18 Slide bars 18a Upper slide bar 18b Lower slide bar 19 Adjusting spindle 20 Fixed carding element 20a Clothing 21 Drive 22 Contact element 23 Contact bend 24 Bearing 25 Support 26 Spindle 27 Drive 28 Side plate 29 Flexible bend AActuator CContact FReference variable RController RGControlled variable SManipulated variable TTemperature T-CONContact / temperature control aDistance a1Distance a2Distance a3Distance

Claims

1. A method for automatically setting and maintaining a defined distance between a rotatably supported cylinder (4) and at least one further component of a carding machine or roller card, wherein the cylinder and the at least one further component include a clothing or a mote knife, wherein the cylinder (4) and the at least one further component are connected to an electric energy source, yet electrically insulated from each other, wherein at least one component with its clothing or mote knife approaches as far as to contact the clothing of the cylinder (4) and at least one electric contact is established so that said distance (a) between the at least one component and the cylinder (4) is stored as a reference value in the machine control, and the machine control specifies a distance (a1, a2) between the at least one component and the cylinder (4) as a reference variable (F) for a controller (R), and, by means of a manipulated variable (S), the controller (R) controls at least one actuator (A) for generating the distance (a1, a2), characterized in that the cylinder (4) runs up to operating speed and again at least one component with its clothing or mote knife approaches as far as to contact the clothing of the cylinder (4) and at least one electric contact is established, so that this distance between the at least one component and the cylinder (4) is stored as a further reference value (a) in the machine control.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one component is formed as a fixed carding element (20), as a flat bar (14), as a doffer (5), as a suction hood, as a worker roll, as a stripper roll or as a licker-in of a roller card or carding machine.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, with idling cylinder (4), all clothings or mote knives of the components approach as far as to contact the clothing of the cylinder (4).

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after or during running up the cylinder (4) to operating speed, fibre tufts are guided into the carding machine (100) or roller card.

5. The method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that by means of a contact / temperature control (T-CON) the defined distance between the clothings (a3) is kept constant, wherein the contact / temperature control (T-CON) is configured for determining the thermal behaviour of the components of the card at temperature change.

6. The method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that with a temperature increase of the carding machine (100) or roller card, the at least one component again approaches as far as to contact the cylinder (4) and at least one electric contact is established so that this distance between the at least one component and the cylinder (4) is stored as the new reference value (a) in the machine control, and the machine control specifies a distance (a3) between the at least one component and the cylinder (4) as a reference variable (F) for a controller (R), and, by means of a manipulated variable (S), the controller (R) controls at least one actuator (A) for generating the distance (a3).

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at regular time intervals at least one component again approaches as far as to contact the cylinder (4) and at least one electric contact is established so that said distance between the at least one component and the cylinder (4) is stored as the new reference value (a) in the machine control, and the machine control specifies a distance (a3) between the at least one component and the cylinder (4) as a reference variable (F) for a controller (R), and, by means of a manipulated variable (S), the controller (R) controls at least one actuator (A) for generating the distance (a3).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that in case the new reference value differs from the previous reference value, the machine control is configured for emitting a signal or display a message, which gives the operator an indication on wear of the at least one component and / or on a modified fibre blend and / or a malfunction.

9. The method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that, the actuators (A) are formed as drives (21, 27), with which the distance is settable between the components to the cylinder (4).