Spinning preparation machine for processing fibre flocks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spinning preparation machine (1; 100; 200) for processing fibre flocks (2), said machine comprising: a machine frame (19); a flock storage element (4) which is attached to the machine frame (19) and which is fluidically connected to a fibre flock infeed (9) via an inlet (8) and can be fluidically connected to a fibre flock outfeed (18) via an outlet (17); and a weighing device (26), located below the flock storage element (4), for gravimetrically measuring a fill level of the flock storage element (4), characterised in that the spinning preparation machine (1; 100; 200) has a decoupling device (21) having at least three bearing points (24) for erection on a stationary floor (3), wherein the machine frame (19) and the decoupling device (21) are structurally separated from one another, and wherein the fibre flock infeed (9) is located on the decoupling device (21).

Description

[0001] Title: Spinning preparation machine for processing fiber flocks

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a spinning preparation machine for processing fiber flocks, comprising a machine frame, a flock storage unit fastened to the machine frame, which is fluidly connected to a fiber flock inlet via an inlet and can be fluidly connected to a fiber flock outlet via an outlet, and a weighing device arranged below the flock storage unit for gravimetrically measuring a fill level of the flock storage unit.

[0004] EP 3 587 631 A1 discloses a spinning preparation machine for processing fiber flakes, the machine frame of which is mounted on a foundation at at least four support points. Between the machine frame and the foundation, at least one load cell is provided for measuring the fill level of a fiber flake-fillable storage unit of the spinning preparation machine.

[0005] US2004255429 discloses a fiber dosing device for introducing fibers into concrete. The device comprises a frame to support the fiber dispensing device. Several load cells are mounted between the frame and a conveyor housing of the fiber dosing device.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a spinning preparation machine that enables more precise gravimetric level measurement.

[0007] The object is achieved by a spinning preparation machine of the aforementioned type in that the spinning preparation machine has a decoupling device with at least three support points for installation on a stationary floor, wherein the machine frame and the decoupling device are structurally separated from one another, and wherein the fiber flock inlet is arranged on the decoupling device.

[0008] During operation of the spinning preparation machine, the fiber tufts are pneumatically transported through the fiber tuft inlet. This generates vibrations, which, however, are not transmitted to the machine frame due to the structural separation of the decoupling device from the machine frame. This decouples the fiber tuft inlet from the machine frame. The decoupling device serves as a support structure for the fiber tuft inlet and rests on the stationary floor, or rather the foundation, on which the spinning preparation machine is installed in the spinning mill. The structural separation thus prevents the falsification of measured values ​​from the gravimetric level measurement using the weighing device and reduces vibration-related interference with the gravimetric level measurement. For reliable level measurement, it is intended that the mass can be determined by gravimetric measurement using load cells.Due to the design of the spinning preparation machine, it is advisable to measure the entire machine. If the spinning preparation machine is configured as a shaft mixer, shaft-by-shaft measurement is possible, but measurement of the entire machine with calculation of the individual shaft fillings is preferred.

[0009] According to a first embodiment, the machine frame can be supported on the decoupling device at a distance from the ground, with damping elements designed to compensate for vibrations and / or transverse forces being arranged between the machine frame and the decoupling device. In particular, the weighing device can have at least two load cells, also called weighing cells, with at least a subset of the damping elements being arranged between the load cells and the decoupling device. Thus, the decoupling device can support the machine structure, which includes, among other things, the machine frame and the flake storage device, like a subframe against the stationary ground.

[0010] According to a second embodiment, the weighing device can be installed on the stationary floor. Thus, both the decoupling device and the machine frame itself can be installed on the stationary floor. In particular, the weighing device can have at least two load cells, with at least a portion of the damping elements arranged between the load cells and the stationary floor. The decoupling device can surround the machine frame from the outside to protect it from external interference. Damping elements designed to compensate for vibrations and / or transverse forces can be arranged between the stationary floor and the load cells of the weighing device.

[0011] In principle, it is also possible for the damping elements to be arranged between the load cells and the machine frame.

[0012] The load cells can be mounted at the support points of the spinning preparation machine, the connecting line of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine.

[0013] In principle, it is also possible to have one of the load cells at each support point of the machine.

[0014] The flake storage system can have several filling chutes arranged next to each other, which can be arranged one behind the other along the longitudinal axis. The adjacent filling chutes can be spatially separated from each other in a conventional manner by perforated partition walls. In a shaft mixer with, for example, six filling chutes, two of the load cells can be provided. In a shaft mixer with, for example, ten filling chutes, three load cells can be provided due to the greater length of the machine. Due to a long-term symmetrical weight distribution across the clear frame width, these are sufficient to determine the fill level of the mixer. The different weight distribution between the load cells and other information from the machine can be used to determine the distribution of the filling in the chutes.

[0015] The decoupling device may comprise support feet which rest on the stationary floor when the spinning preparation machine is in its installed state and which may be height-adjustable, for example, for levelling purposes.

[0016] Furthermore, the decoupling device can comprise or be designed as an intermediate frame, which can in particular have a rectangular basic shape. The intermediate frame can have a coherent support structure that carries the machine structure, comprising the machine frame and the flake storage unit, and supports it against the stationary floor. The support feet can be arranged on the intermediate frame. The intermediate frame can have a rectangular basic shape, although it can also generally have internal transverse and / or longitudinal struts.

[0017] As an alternative to being designed as an intermediate frame, the decoupling device can have a plurality of spaced-apart intermediate beams. The machine structure can thus be erected on the intermediate beams to carry the machine structure and brace it against the stationary floor. The intermediate beams can, for example, be arranged spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame and can be aligned transversely, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The support feet can be arranged on the intermediate beams. The intermediate beams can be supported by struts. In particular, the intermediate beams can each be supported at their beam ends. The load cells can, as with the intermediate frame, be mounted between the intermediate beams and the machine frame (for example, on all supports of the spinning preparation machine on the intermediate beams).

[0018] In a further development, the intermediate beams can be supported at a first beam end in an articulated manner relative to the stationary floor. For this purpose, for example, the support elements supporting the respective first beam end can be designed to be articulated, in particular to provide an articulated connection aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis. The respective second beam end can be supported on a load cell, which can be arranged between the respective second beam end and the stationary floor. In particular, the respective load cell is mounted directly on the floor.

[0019] Furthermore, a flexible hose element for vibration dampening can be arranged between the fiber flake inlet and the inlet and / or at the outlet to the fiber flake outlet. The fiber flake inlet and / or the fiber flake outlet are preferably tubular or channel-shaped in order to guide the fiber air flow from pneumatically transported fiber flakes. The flexible hose elements thus easily provide a flow-guiding connection with vibration-damping properties, which connects the flake storage unit to the fiber flake inlet on the inlet side and to which the fiber flake outlet can be connected on the outlet side. The hose elements can be made, for example, from a flexible plastic, rubber, or the like. The flexible hose elements are thus vibration-damping and themselves have no influence on the measured values ​​of the weighing device.

[0020] Additional vibration-generating components can also be arranged on the decoupling device to enable more precise gravimetric level measurements or to prevent the gravimetric level measurement values ​​from being distorted by vibrations introduced into the machine frame. To eliminate the influence of individual machine parts or components on the level measurement values, these can be decoupled from the machine frame to prevent possible incorrect measurements, incorrect weight values, and incorrect level readings.

[0021] In particular, the fiber tuft outlet, which can be tubular in design to connect the filling reservoir to a downstream spinning preparation machine, can be arranged or supported on the decoupling device. Thus, the suction system can also be decoupled from the part of the spinning preparation machine to be weighed, or rather, from the machine frame. The connection between the suction system, or rather the fiber tuft outlet, and the machine frame can also be made with a flexible element, or rather, the flexible hose element.

[0022] Furthermore, a maintenance platform can be arranged on the decoupling device to enable work on the tuft storage. The maintenance platform can be a stationary maintenance platform attached to the decoupling device. In this way, the vibrations generated by an operator of the spinning preparation machine upon entering the maintenance platform reach the decoupling device, but are not transmitted to the machine frame due to the structural separation.

[0023] Furthermore, a fan located upstream of the flock storage can be mounted on the decoupling device. The fan serves, in a conventional manner, to pneumatically transport the fiber air flow through the fiber flock inlet into the flock storage. The fan can be attached directly to the decoupling device. The fan can also be attached to the maintenance platform, which in turn can be supported on the decoupling device.

[0024] Furthermore, it can be provided that at a lower end of the flock storage device, at least one dosing device with at least one rotationally drivable roller for processing the fiber flocks is arranged. In a further embodiment, the flock storage device can have several spatially separated filling chutes. It can be provided that a separate dosing device is arranged below each filling chute. The entirety of the dosing devices can also be referred to as the take-off device of the spinning preparation machine. Thus, the take-off device has rollers of the at least one dosing device on the undersides of the filling chutes in order to be able to empty the filling chute. All filling chutes can be emptied simultaneously. The take-off device can comprise feed rollers and downstream opening rollers in a manner known per se.An extraction system, for example operating with a fresh air supply, can be connected below the extraction device in order to transport the mixed fibre flakes to the next processing machine, in particular another spinning preparation machine.

[0025] The at least one metering device can be arranged on the decoupling device. In this way, the vibrations generated by the at least one roller are introduced into the decoupling device and do not reach the machine frame via the structural separation, whereby the fill level measurements are not disturbed by the operation of the at least one metering device. The at least one roller can be an opening roller or a feed roller. Preferably, the at least one metering device has several of the rollers. For example, the metering device can have two of the take-off rollers and an opening roller arranged underneath. Other combinations are also possible. Alternatively, the at least one metering device can also be arranged or mounted on the machine frame.

[0026] The spinning preparation system can be, for example, a carding machine, a carding machine, a fiber mixer with one or more hoppers, etc. For example, the spinning preparation machine can be a fiber mixer designed as a hopper mixer, such as the Trützschler MX-U mixer, to whose operating principle reference is made here. The spinning preparation machine designed as a hopper mixer can have several hoppers arranged side by side or one behind the other in a feeding direction. The fiber flakes can be fed into the individual hoppers via a feeding channel running above the hoppers. The fiber flakes can be transported pneumatically, for example, by means of a fan connected to the feeding channel.Closure elements, such as flaps or rotary valves, can be arranged in the feed channel, wherein the closure elements can be opened and closed via a control system. For this purpose, each closure element can interact with at least one actuator, which can be coupled to a control system. The decoupling device can be used to move / spread apart the at least one dosing device below the flake storage unit in order to remove any blockages and / or thick spots. In particular, a guide device for guided displacement of the at least one dosing device along a longitudinal direction of the machine frame can be arranged on the decoupling device. In this way, the dosing device can be moved in order to be able to reach into the flake storage unit or the associated filling chute from below.

[0027] Furthermore, additional elements can be attached to the decoupling device to protect the spinning preparation machine, and especially the weighing device, from external influences. For example, a collision protection device can be installed on the decoupling device to provide protection against a collision with an industrial truck, such as a forklift.

[0028] The decoupling device can thus serve as a base for the machine parts to be decoupled for weighing (maintenance platform, fan, extraction system, etc.). This allows vibration-causing components, whose vibrations could lead to measurement inaccuracies during gravimetric level measurement, to be supported on the decoupling device and no longer on the machine frame to be weighed.

[0029] Preferred embodiments are explained below with reference to the drawing figures. With regard to the description of the figures, the same reference numerals may be used in the individual figures to refer to similar or technically corresponding elements. Herein:

[0030] Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a spinning preparation machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of detail II circled in Figure 1;

[0032] Figure 3 is a side view of a spinning preparation machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0033] Figure 4 is a side view of a spinning preparation machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 1 shows a spinning preparation machine 1 for processing fiber flocks 2 according to a first embodiment, which is designed as a shaft mixer and can be integrated in a blow room line of a spinning mill in a manner known per se.

[0035] To clarify the spatial orientation of the spinning preparation machine 1, Figure 1 shows a longitudinal direction X, a transverse direction Y, and a vertical direction Z, which are defined in terms of a Cartesian coordinate system assigned to the spinning preparation machine 1 and indicated by corresponding arrows. Terms such as "below," "below," "above," or "above" represent spatial information with reference to the vertical direction Z. The spinning preparation machine 1 can be installed on a stationary base 3 that lies in a horizontal plane spanned by the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0036] The spinning preparation machine 1 has a flock storage 4, which is divided into several, here by way of example, six filling chutes 5 arranged next to one another or one behind the other in a feeding direction A. The feeding or transport direction of the fiber air flow is indicated in Figure 1 by the arrow A. The filling chutes 5 are spatially separated from one another by perforated partition walls 33. The filling chutes 5 are connected to a feeding channel 6 running above the filling chutes 5, which has a bottom opening 7 for each filling chute 5 for filling the filling chutes 5 with the fiber flocks 2. An inlet 8 is connected to a central fiber flock inlet 9, wherein the fiber flock inlet 9 can be tubular and in turn can be connected on the inlet side to an upstream spinning preparation machine (not shown).The fiber flakes 2 are transported through the fiber flake inlet 9 pneumatically by means of a fan 10 through the inlet 8 into the feed channel 6. Controllable closure elements 11 are arranged in the feed channel 6 in order to be able to fill the filling chutes 2 individually in a controlled manner. In the feed direction A, between the inlet 8 and the bottom openings 7, a recirculation flap 41 is arranged in the feed channel 6, which, in its open position, releases a flow-conducting connection between the inlet 8 and a recirculation duct 40. In the open position, the recirculation flap 41 is pivoted into the feed channel 6 and blocks it downstream of the recirculation flap 41. Figure 1 shows the recirculation flap 41 in its closed position, in which the recirculation flap 41 blocks the recirculation duct 40 and releases the feed channel 6. The recirculation flap 41 can be moved from the open position to the closed position, and vice versa, by means of an actuator.When material is requested, the recirculation flap 41 is in its closed position to enable the filling chutes 5 to be fed with the fiber flakes 2. When there is no material request, the recirculation flap 41 is moved to its open position, in which the transport air, which then accordingly does not transport any fiber flakes, is guided past the filling chutes 5 via the recirculation duct 40.

[0037] At a lower end of the flock storage 4, a withdrawal device 34 is provided, which has a dosing device 12 for each filling chute 5 in order to enable the controlled emptying of the respective filling chute 5. The respective dosing device 12 has a pair of feed rollers 35 comprising two feed rollers 13, 14 and an opening roller 15 arranged below the pair of feed rollers 35. Furthermore, an extraction system, operating, for example, with a fresh air supply L, can be connected below the withdrawal device 34 in order to transport the mixed fiber flocks to the next processing machine, in particular another spinning preparation machine (not shown).For this purpose, a mixing channel 16 can be connected below the dosing devices 12, which extends in the longitudinal direction X over the filling shafts 5 in order to be able to transport the removed flock material 2 via an outlet 17 pneumatically through a connected flock outlet 18 to a subsequent spinning preparation machine (not shown).

[0038] Furthermore, the spinning preparation machine 1 has a machine frame 19, to which the tuft storage 4 with the filling chutes 5, the feeding channel 6 arranged thereon, the take-off device 34, and the mixing channel 16 are attached. Furthermore, a machine housing 20 can be attached to the machine frame 19. A decoupling device 21 is arranged below the machine frame 19 and functions as a base frame for a machine structure 22 comprising the machine frame 19, the tuft storage 4 with the filling chutes 5, the feeding channel 6, and the machine housing 20. The machine frame 19 and, in a further embodiment, the entire machine structure 22 is / are supported or mounted on the decoupling device 21 at a distance from the stationary floor 3.The decoupling device 21 can, for example, be designed as a self-contained intermediate frame 23, which, here as an example, has four support points 24 for installation on the stationary floor 3. It goes without saying that with a larger or heavier spinning preparation machine, additional support points 24 can be added, or with a smaller spinning preparation machine, three support points 24 generally ensure secure support. A support foot 25, in particular a height-adjustable one, is provided at each of the support points 24 in order to be able to align the decoupling device 21 relative to the floor 3.

[0039] A weighing device 26 for gravimetrically measuring the fill level of the flake storage 4 is arranged between the intermediate frame 23 and the machine frame 19. Specifically, the weighing device 26 comprises several load cells 27 on which the weight of the machine structure 22 rests. Figure 2 shows a possible design of the load cell 27 in detail. Damping elements 28 are arranged between the load cells 27 and the decoupling device 21, here, for example, the intermediate frame 23.

[0040] During operation of the spinning preparation machine 1, the individual filling chutes 5 are filled with fiber flakes 2, and fiber flakes 2 are removed via the dosing devices 12, so that the fill level of the flake storage 4 or the filling chutes 5 constantly changes. The flake storage 4 is weighed by measuring the weight force acting on the weighing cells 27. In order to prevent vibrations from distorting the measurement results using the weighing device 26 and to minimize the introduction of vibration-related interference factors for the gravimetric fill level measurement, the fiber flake inlet 9 arranged upstream of the flake storage 4 is attached to the decoupling device 20 rather than to the machine structure 22.A flexible hose element 29 for vibration damping is arranged between the tubular fiber flake inlet 9 and the inlet 8, which provides a flow-conducting connection between the fiber flake inlet 9 and the inlet 8 into the feed channel 6. Furthermore, the fan 10 is mounted on a platform 30 supported or attached to the decoupling device 21.

[0041] Downstream of the flake storage 4, the fiber flake outlet 18 is also arranged on the decoupling device 21, as an example here. For this purpose, a pipe holder 32 is connected to the intermediate frame 23, to which the fiber flake outlet 18 is attached. Between the fiber flake outlet 18 and the outlet 17, a further flexible hose element 31 is arranged for vibration damping, providing a flow-conducting connection between the mixing channel 16 and the fiber flake outlet 18.

[0042] Figure 3 shows a spinning preparation machine 100 according to a second embodiment, which largely corresponds to the previously described embodiment, so that reference is made to the above description regarding the similarities. The difference lies in the design of the metering devices 12, which are not attached to the machine frame 19, but rather to the decoupling device 21. In this way, the rotatably driven rollers 13, 14, 15 of the respective metering device 12 are mounted on the decoupling device 21. Furthermore, the mixing channel 16 is attached to the decoupling device 21.

[0043] In the embodiment of the spinning preparation machine 100 shown here, an optional guide device 101 is arranged on the decoupling device 21, which extends in the longitudinal direction X. Here, merely as an example, two of the adjacently arranged dosing devices 12 are combined to form a module 113. The modules 113 are guided, for example, on rails in order to be able to move the dosing devices 12 in a guided manner along the longitudinal direction X. In this way, the dosing devices 12 can be moved module by module in order to feed from below into the flock storage

[0044] 4 or the filling shaft released by moving the respective module 113

[0045] 5 and / or to reach the rollers 13, 14, 15 or between the modules 113 from the side. Vibration-damping elements (not shown) can be arranged between the modules 113 and the decoupling device 21. The metering devices 12 can also be fixed in place, i.e. without the guide device 101, on the decoupling device 21 or on the intermediate frame 23. Figure 4 shows a spinning preparation machine 200 according to a third embodiment, which largely corresponds to the previously described embodiment, so that with regard to the similarities, reference is made to the above description. The only difference is that a fixed maintenance platform 201 is provided, which is set up on the decoupling device 21 and fastened to it.The maintenance platform 201 can be accessed in a conventional manner, for example, via a ladder 202, in order to perform maintenance work on the spinning preparation machine 200. The dosing device 12, as shown in Figure 1, or the dosing device 12 can be integrated into the spinning preparation machine 200 in a modular design, as shown in Figure 3.

[0046] Reference symbol

[0047] 1 spinning preparation machine

[0048] 2 fiber flakes

[0049] 3 Floor

[0050] 4 flake storage

[0051] 5 filling shaft

[0052] 6 Feed channel

[0053] 7 Floor opening

[0054] 8 Entrance

[0055] 9 Fiber flake inlet

[0056] 10 fan

[0057] 11 Closure element

[0058] 12 Dosing device

[0059] 13 Feed roller

[0060] 14 Feed roller

[0061] 15 Opening roller

[0062] 16 mixing channel

[0063] 17 Outlet

[0064] 18 Flake outlet

[0065] 19 Machine frame

[0066] 20 machine housings

[0067] 21 Decoupling device

[0068] 22 Machine structure

[0069] 23 intermediate frames

[0070] 24 support point

[0071] 25 Support foot

[0072] 26 Weighing device

[0073] 27 load cells

[0074] 28 Damping element

[0075] 29 Hose element

[0076] 30 Platform

[0077] 31 Hose element

[0078] 32 Pipe bracket

[0079] 33 Partition wall

[0080] 34 trigger device

[0081] 35 feed roller pair

[0082] 40 recirculation duct

[0083] 41 Recirculation flap 100 Spinning preparation machine 101 Guide device

[0084] 113 Module

[0085] 200 Spinning preparation machine 201 Maintenance platform 202 Ladder A Feeding or transport direction

[0086] L Fresh air supply

[0087] X, Y, longitudinal, transverse, vertical direction

[0088] Z

Claims

Patent claims 1. Spinning preparation machine (1; 100; 200) for processing fiber flakes (2) with a machine frame (19), a flake storage unit (4) attached to the machine frame (19), which is connected via a central inlet (8) to a fiber flake inlet (9) in a flow-conducting manner and can be connected via an outlet (17) to a fiber flake outlet (18), and a weighing device (26) arranged below the flake storage unit (4) for gravimetric measurement of a fill level of the flake storage unit (4), characterized in that the spinning preparation machine (1; 100; 200) has a decoupling device (21) with at least three support points (24) for placement on a stationary floor (3), wherein the machine frame (19) and the decoupling device (21) are structurally separated from each other, and wherein the fiber flake inlet (9) is attached to the decoupling device (21) is arranged.

2. Spinning preparation machine (1 ; 100; 200) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the machine frame (19) is supported on the decoupling device (21) at a distance from the ground (3), wherein damping elements (28) designed to compensate for vibrations and / or transverse forces are arranged between the machine frame (19) and the decoupling device (21).

3. Spinning preparation machine (1 ; 100; 200) according to claim 2, characterized in that the weighing device (26) has at least two load cells (27), wherein at least a subset of the damping elements (28) are arranged between the load cells (27) and the decoupling device (21).

4. Spinning preparation machine (1 ; 100; 200) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the decoupling device (21) has an intermediate frame (23) or several spaced-apart intermediate beams.

5. Spinning preparation machine (1 ; 100; 200) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a flexible hose element (29, 31) is arranged between the fiber flock inlet (9) and the inlet (8) and at the outlet (17) for vibration damping. Spinning preparation machine (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a maintenance platform (201) for enabling work on the flock storage unit (4) is arranged on the decoupling device (21). Spinning preparation machine (1; 100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a fan (10) connected to the fiber flock inlet (9) is arranged on the decoupling device (21). Spinning preparation machine (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one metering device (12) with at least one rotatably driven roller (13, 14, 15) for processing the fiber flocks (2) is arranged at a lower end of the flock storage unit (4), wherein the at least one metering device (12) is arranged on the decoupling device (21).Spinning preparation machine (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a guide device (101) for guided displacement of the at least one metering device (12) along a longitudinal direction (X) of the machine frame (19) is arranged on the decoupling device (21). Spinning preparation machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a collision protection device is arranged on the decoupling device (21).

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