PORT FOR A ROUND COMB OF A COMBING MACHINE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a carrier for a round comb of a combing machine, as well as a combing device and a combing machine with such a carrier.

[0002] These types of carriers for round combs are used in combing machines to comb out a pre-loaded fiber mass (cotton, wool, etc.), whereby the fiber mass can be supplied in the form of cotton wadding wound onto cores or as individual fiber strips. The number of comb cycles (comb cycles per minute) has increased significantly in recent years, which also leads to increased productivity.

[0003] The circular combs used in practice for combing machines consist of a circular comb carrier equipped with a clamping hub or other support surface, which secures it to a driven circular comb shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. A comb segment is attached to a portion of the circumference of the circular comb carrier, which combs out the end of the fiber mass (also called fiber beard) presented by a gripper unit.

[0004] The demands placed on such a circular comb, and consequently on the support structure, have increased, for example, when the circular comb no longer operates at a continuous rotational speed but is driven with a discontinuous rotary motion to better adapt the system to the combing process. This results in high acceleration forces due to the superposition of a base rotational speed with a sinusoidally fluctuating rotational speed. This discontinuous motion places high demands on the drive system of the circular comb and the design of the support structure, especially when the relatively large mass of the circular comb must be accelerated or decelerated within a short period of time.

[0005] EP 2 426 239 A1 proposed a design for a circular comb that improves upon known solutions and results in a lower moment of inertia. The design proposes that the support consists of a hollow profile with an outer arc-shaped section for accommodating the comb assembly and an opposing inner section with a semicircular recess extending longitudinally along the hollow profile, which supports the shaft. This allows the support to be kept low in mass and thus in low moment of inertia.

[0006] EP 3 633 084 A1 further discloses a round comb with a support which is equipped with a pair of spring ribs projecting towards the shaft. Support on the round comb shaft is achieved solely via this pair of spring ribs. It has now been shown that, due to the high acceleration values ​​of the round comb, this design results in a dynamic displacement between the support surfaces of the spring ribs relative to the surface of the round comb shaft. This leads to high wear on the support surfaces of the spring ribs and the surface of the round comb shaft.

[0007] A disadvantage of the previously known designs is that retrofitting new round combs onto round comb shafts that have been in use for some time is not possible without reworking the round comb shafts. An undamaged and perfectly concentric surface of the round comb shaft is a prerequisite for the intended mounting of the supports.

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a carrier for a round comb which enables mounting on already used round comb shafts and results in an increase in the service life of the carrier's fastening elements.

[0009] The problem is solved by the devices having the features of the independent patent claims.

[0010] A support for a round comb of a combing machine is proposed, comprising a mounting surface for receiving a comb set and at least one support surface opposite the mounting surface for supporting the support on a round comb shaft. The support surface is designed as at least one pair of spring ribs. A wear protection element is associated with the support surface. Designing the support surfaces as spring rib pairs has the advantage that the height of the comb set relative to the round comb axis can be adjusted directly via the mounting elements of the support. The spring rib pair is designed as opposing ribs with one end projecting freely into space towards the round comb axis and the other end projecting into the space below the upper edge of the round comb shaft.Support surfaces are provided at the ends of the ribs of the spring rib pair. When the assembly rests on the surface of a round comb shaft located along the shaft's axis, these surfaces are brought into contact with the ribs by a deflection determined by the tension of the fastening elements. The distance of the comb assembly from the shaft's axis is thus adjustable by varying the deflection of the spring rib pair. When the support is mounted on the round comb shaft, the ribs of the spring rib pair are deflected accordingly by the shaft's surface. The support surfaces on the spring ribs can be either straight or curved. A convex shape at the ends of the spring ribs can also be understood as a bearing surface within the meaning of the application.With a convex design at the ends of the spring ribs, contact with the round comb shaft results in a linear bearing surface of the spring rib. When the carrier is mounted on the round comb shaft, the spring ribs are deflected, and the carrier is pushed away from the round comb shaft by the bending force of the spring ribs, or, conversely, pulled towards the round comb shaft by the fastening elements. The wear protection element counteracts the stresses caused by the movement of the round comb, which directly affects the contact surface between the round comb shaft and the carrier.

[0011] In a first embodiment, the wear protection element is designed as a rubber element applied to the support surface of each spring rib pair. Besides reducing wear, the rubber element design offers the additional advantage of galvanic isolation between the support surfaces of the carrier and the round comb shaft on which the carrier rests. This ensures protection against corrosion, which can occur due to the different materials of the carrier and the round comb shaft. To accommodate the movement of the spring ribs caused by the acceleration of the carrier during operation of the combing machine, it is advantageous for the rubber element to be bonded to the support surface of the carrier. Alternatively, the rubber element can be positively engaged with the spring rib. For this purpose, corresponding locking elements can be provided on both the spring rib and the rubber element.By appropriately shaping the spring ribs in the area of ​​the support surfaces and the rubber element, a positive connection between the rubber element and the spring rib is possible. Due to its vibration-damping properties, the rubber element absorbs micro-vibrations (relative movements of the support surfaces to the surface of the round comb shaft) generated by the movements of the round comb carrier, without causing differential movement of the surfaces, which would result in increased wear.

[0012] In a second embodiment, the wear protection element is designed as a coating or paint on the spring ribs. The coating or paint can be limited to the area of ​​the support surface. Advantageously, a paint with high sliding properties or a low coefficient of friction, combined with high compressive strength, is used, resulting in a wear-resistant coating. Preferably, a coating made of PTFE (Teflon) or with an insert of molybdenum disulfide (MOS₂) is provided. Such a coating can be applied by bonding, liquid application, or powder coating. A particularly preferred type of paint is designed such that, like the rubber element, it can absorb micro-vibrations without any sliding occurring between the support surface and the round comb shaft.

[0013] In a third embodiment, the wear protection element is designed as a spring plate, which serves as a separating element between the support surface and the round comb shaft. The design with a separating plate offers the advantage of simple manufacturing and provides a support surface for the carrier that is independent of the condition of the round comb shaft. The surface characteristics on which the spring rib pair of the carrier rests are determined by the design and material of the separating plate. The shape of the spring plate is adapted to the round comb shaft, and in its installed state, the spring plate encloses the round comb shaft by more than 180 degrees, thus holding the spring plate in place on the round comb shaft without additional fasteners.This makes it possible to retrofit older combing machines with the latest generation of round combs without having to carry out a complex refurbishment of the round comb shafts.

[0014] Preferably, the spring plate has at least four attachment points and is clamped to the spring ribs at these points by bent tabs. Tabs are formed in the spring plate by an arrangement of slots. The tabs can be bent independently of the shape of the spring plate. This allows the spring ribs of the support to be clamped between the spring plate and the tabs attached to the spring plate at the points where the tabs are formed. The spring plate is placed against the support surfaces of the spring ribs on one side facing the round comb shaft, and the tabs are bent so that they lie on the side of the support surfaces facing away from the round comb shaft. In this way, the spring plate is held securely in a predetermined position on the support, even if the support is replaced.The position of the spring plate on the support is determined by the recesses provided in the spring plate for the support's fastening elements on the round comb shaft. This fastening of the spring plate to the support eliminates the need for it to encircle the round comb shaft at an angle exceeding 180 degrees. It is sufficient for the spring plate to extend beyond the support surfaces of the spring ribs.

[0015] It is advantageous if the spring plate is made of hardened steel. Preferably, the spring plate is made of a corrosion-resistant steel, such as chrome steel. Alternatively, a brass version has also proven effective. While brass has higher ductility, it is characterized by good sliding properties.

[0016] Furthermore, a combing device is proposed with a round comb, wherein the round comb comprises a counterweight and a support with a comb mounting surface on which a comb assembly is mounted, and the support and the counterweight are arranged relative to each other on a round comb shaft and clamped together by fastening screws through the round comb shaft. The support has at least one support surface opposite the comb mounting surface, designed as at least one pair of spring ribs for supporting the support on the round comb shaft. A wear protection element designed according to one of the preceding claims is associated with the support surface.

[0017] Preferably, the wear protection element, designed as a spring plate, is clipped onto the round comb shaft. To achieve this, the spring plate is designed as a sleeve which, after being clipped on, encloses the round comb shaft by more than 180 degrees. The spring action of the spring plate holds the wear protection element, in its spring plate form, on the round comb shaft, thus enabling easy installation of the round comb carrier.

[0018] Advantageously, the spring plate extends over the entire length of the round comb, with recesses provided in the spring plate at least for the mounting screws of the support. The recesses are designed in such a way that the passage of the mounting elements for the support is not obstructed.

[0019] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the counterweight is fixed to the round comb shaft independently of the support using fastening elements to prevent rotation. This allows for the replacement of the support or the wear protection element without having to remove the counterweight from the round comb shaft.

[0020] A combing machine with at least one combing device as described above is also proposed.

[0021] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. These show: Figure 1 a schematic side view of a comb head 1 of a combing machine according to the state of the art; Figure 2 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a first embodiment of a support according to the invention; Figure 3 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a second embodiment of a support according to the invention; Figure 4a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a wear protection element; Figure 5 a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a wear protection element; Figure 6 a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a wear protection element; Figure 7 a schematic representation of a combing device with a wear protection element in cross-section; Figure 8 a schematic representation of the combing device in a view X according to the Figure 7 ; Figure 9 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a third embodiment of a support according to the invention; Figure 10a a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a wear protection element and Figure 10b a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of a wear protection element.

[0022] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a combing head 1 of a combing machine according to the prior art. In known combing machines, for example, eight such combing heads 1 are arranged side by side. The combing head 1, of which only a portion of the elements are shown, has a gripper assembly which is pivotally mounted in a frame of the combing machine about a gripper shaft 5 and a round comb axis 6 via pivot arms 3 and 4. The gripper shaft 5 is driven by a drive (not shown) to impart a reciprocating motion to the gripper assembly. A round comb shaft 8 is arranged in the round comb axis 6, on which a round comb 7 is fixedly mounted. The round comb shaft 8 with its round comb axis 6 is also driven discontinuously in the direction of rotation 23 by a drive (not shown).In the known solution shown, the round comb 7, which is mounted below the gripper assembly on the round comb shaft 8, consists of a base body 10 and a counterweight 11. The counterweight 11 is attached to the round comb shaft 8, as shown schematically, by means of the screws 12. The base body 10 is clamped to the counterweight 11 through the round comb shaft 8 by means of fastening screws 9, and is thus firmly connected to the round comb shaft 8. A comb set 13 is mounted above the base body 10, which, like the counterweight 11, extends over the entire length of the round comb 7.

[0023] The gripper assembly consists of a gripper frame 14 to which a lower gripper plate 15 and an upper gripper plate 16 are attached. In the illustrated embodiment, the gripper assembly is closed, with the fiber strand 17 protruding from the clamping point of the gripper assembly being grasped and combed out by the combing set 13. The combing is essentially determined by the distance 24 between the lower gripper plate 15 and a circumscribed circle 2 of the combing set 13. Also within the gripper frame 14, a feed roller 18 is rotatably mounted above the lower gripper plate 15 and is driven, for example, incrementally by a pawl drive (not shown). A wadding 19 (or individual fiber strands) supplied to the combing device 1 is fed to the clamping point of the gripper assembly via this feed roller 18. After the combing process of the fiber beard 17 has been completed, the gripper unit is pivoted in the direction of a subsequent tear-off roller pair 20.During this pivoting process, the gripper unit opens and the combed end of the cotton 19 or the fiber strand 17 is placed onto the end of a previously formed fiber fleece 21 and, under the influence of the clamping point of the tear-off rollers 20, is soldered to it and transported away in the conveying direction 22. During a combing process, the circular comb shaft 8, and thus also the carrier 10, is accelerated and then decelerated in the direction of rotation 23.

[0024] Figure 2 Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a first embodiment of a support 25 according to the invention. The support 25 is shown as a profile with a mounting surface 26, which is mounted on a round comb shaft 8 by means of a pair of spring ribs 28. The pair of spring ribs 28 is pressed with their respective support surfaces 27 against a surface of the round comb shaft 8, which is arranged in the round comb axis 6. Figure 3Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further embodiment of a support 25 according to the invention. In contrast to the embodiment according to... Figure 2 An additional second pair of spring ribs 29 is shown. This allows for greater tension on the support 25 on the round comb shaft 8 or a correspondingly lower load on a single pair of spring ribs 28, 29. The design of the support surfaces 27 of all spring rib pairs 28 and 29, or the arrangement of a wear protection element between the support surfaces 27 and the round comb shaft 8, is described in the Figures 4 to 6 to be taken.

[0025] Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a first and Figure 5A second embodiment of a wear protection element. The end of a rib of the spring rib pair 28 is shown with the support surface 27 for contact with the round comb shaft 8. In the first embodiment, a coating 31 is provided between the support surface 27 and the round comb shaft 8, and in the second embodiment, a rubber element 30 is provided. The rubber element is placed around the spring rib and advantageously bonded to it.

[0026] Figure 6Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a wear protection element. The wear protection element is designed in the form of a spring plate 32. The round comb shaft 8 is shown only as an indication to show that the spring plate 32 can be simply clipped onto the round comb shaft 8. The spring plate 32 is designed with a correspondingly small sheet thickness. Recesses 35 are provided in the spring plate 32 at the locations of the fastening elements for the round comb support. For the installed state of the spring plate 32, see Figure 2. Figures 7 and 8 .

[0027] Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of a combing device with a wear protection element in a longitudinal section and Figure 8 a schematic representation of the combing device in a view X according to the Figure 7The combing device comprises a round comb and a counterweight 11, the round comb being essentially formed by a support 25 and a comb assembly (not shown) attached thereto. The support 25 has a comb assembly bearing surface 26. The counterweight 11 is attached to the round comb shaft 8 by fasteners 34. The support 25 with the counterweight 11 is clamped to the round comb shaft 8 through the round comb shaft 8 by means of through-bolts 33. The ribs of the spring rib pair 28 have support surfaces 27 at their ends. A wear protection element in the form of a spring plate 32 is provided between a surface 36 of the round comb shaft 8 and the support surfaces 27 of the spring rib pair 28. When the carrier 25 is attached to the round comb shaft 8, the support surfaces 27 of the spring rib pair 28 come into contact with the spring sheet 32 ​​and are deformed when the fastening elements 33 are tightened.

[0028] The rotational movement 23 of the combing device exerts acceleration forces on the carrier 25 and the counterweight 11. A gap 37, adjustable by the action of the spring rib pair 28 when the fastening elements 33 are not fully tensioned, between the carrier 25 and a surface 36 of the round comb shaft 8 or the surface of the spring plate 32, determines the distance between the assembly support surface 26 and the round comb shaft 8. The gap 37 can be increased or decreased by tightening or loosening the fastening elements 33.

[0029] Figure 9Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a third embodiment of a support 25 according to the invention. The support 25 is shown as a profile with a mounting surface 26, which is mounted on a round comb shaft 8 by means of a pair of spring ribs 28. The pair of spring ribs 28 is pressed with its respective support surfaces 27 against a surface of the round comb shaft 8, which is arranged in the round comb axis 6. A wear protection element in the form of a spring plate 32 is arranged between the support surfaces 27 of the pair of spring ribs 28. The spring plate 32 is formed with tabs 38 (see also Figure 2). Figures 10 and 10a ). This

[0030] Tabs 38 can be bent upwards relative to the rest of the spring sheet 32, so that in the installed state they lie on one side of the spring sheet 32 ​​facing away from the round comb shaft 8, and thus the spring sheet 32 ​​is clamped in the spring ribs 28 and thus attached to the carrier 25.

[0031] Figures 10a and 10bFigure 3 shows a schematic representation of a fourth and fifth embodiment of a wear protection element. The wear protection elements are designed as spring plates 32. Each spring plate 32 has tabs 38; only one tab is shown in the illustration, but at least four tabs 38 must be provided in a spring plate 32, with the tabs 38 arranged symmetrically by way of example. However, a symmetrical arrangement of the tabs 38 is not mandatory. The tabs 38 can also be made smaller than shown relative to the spring plate 32 and thus be provided in greater numbers. The spring plate 32 is designed with a correspondingly thin sheet thickness. Recesses 35 are provided in the spring plate 32 at the locations of the fastening elements for the carrier of the round comb. For the installed state of the spring plate 32, see Figure 3. Figure 9 .

[0032] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described. Modifications within the scope of the claims are possible. Reference symbol list

[0033] 1 Comb head 2 Circumference of the comb assembly 3 Swivel arm 4 Swivel arm 5 Clamp shaft 6 Round comb axle 7 Round comb 8 Round comb shaft 9 Mounting screw 10 Base body 11 Counterweight 12 Screws 13 Comb assembly 14 Clamp frame 15 Lower clamp plate 16 Upper clamp plate 17 Fiber bead 18 Feed roller 19 Cotton 20 Tear-off roller pair 21 Conveying direction 22 Fiber fleece 23 Rotation direction of round comb 24 Spacing 25 Support 26 Assembly contact surface 27 Support surface 28 Spring rib pair 29 Second spring rib pair 30 Rubber element 31 Coating 32 Spring plate 33 Mounting elements, support 34 Mounting elements, counterweight 35 Recess 36 Surface of round comb shaft 37 Gap 38 Tab

Claims

1. A carrier (25) for a circular comb (7) of a combing machine, having a clothing contact surface (26) for accommodating a comb clothing (13), and having at least one support surface (27) opposite the clothing contact surface (26) for supporting the carrier (25) on a circular comb shaft (8), wherein the support surface (27) is designed as at least one spring rib pair (28; 29), wherein the support surface (27) is assigned a wear protection element (30; 31), characterized in that the wear protection element is designed as a rubber element (30) applied to the support surface (27) of the spring rib pair (28; 29) or the wear protection element is in the form of a coating (31) or paint finish on the support surface (27) of the spring rib pair (28; 29), wherein the coating (31) made of PTFE (Teflon) or having an insert of molybdenum sulfide (MOS2) is provided, or the wear protection element is designed as a spring sheet metal (32), wherein the spring sheet metal (32) being provided as an isolation element between the support surface (27) and the circular comb shaft (8).

2. The carrier (25) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rubber element (30) is glued onto the support surface (27).

3. The carrier (25) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rubber element (30) is attached to the spring rib (28; 29) with a positive fit.

4. The carrier (25) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring sheet metal (32) has at least four attachment points and is clamped to the spring ribs (28; 29) at the attachment points with bent tabs (39).

5. The carrier (25) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring sheet metal (32) is made of hardened steel or brass.

6. A combing device having a circular comb (7), wherein the circular comb (7) has a counterweight (11) and a carrier (24) according to one of the preceding claims.

7. A combing device according to claim 6, characterized in that the wear protection element designed as a spring sheet metal (32) is clipped onto the circular comb shaft (8).

8. The combing device according to claim 7, characterized in that the spring sheet metal (32) extends over the entire length of the circular comb (7), and recesses (34) are provided in the spring sheet metal (32) at least for the fastening elements (32) of the carrier (25).

9. A combing machine having at least one combing device according to any of claims 6 to 8.