Hackling machine with isolated weighing stations for calculating the yield of long fibres

Abstract

The present invention provides a hackling machine designed for processing long bast fibres of fibre types exceeding 20 cm in length. It features isolated weighing stations (2, 3, 6) for real-time yield calculation which are an entry weighing station (2), an output weighing station (3) and, optionally, an intermediate weighing station (6), wherein a control system is used for calculating the yield and to make dynamic adjustments to the parameters of the hackling machine.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to hackling machines, the details, the construction, the operating features of hackling devices, more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for calculating the yield of the fibres during hackling on a hackling machine.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The hackling machines are used to process bast fibres, such as flax, hemp and sisal. The fibres are passed through a series of pins that remove impurities and short fibres. The yield of the hackling process is the proportion of long fibre output against the respective input of the same long fibre before the processing.

[0003] The yield of the hackling process can vary depending on a few factors, including the quality of the fibre, the settings of the machine and the operator's skill. It is difficult to measure the yield of the hackling process in real time, which makes it difficult to identify and correct problems that may be occurring.

[0004] The closest prior art document to the present invention is EP0693582A1, which describes a method for supplying scutched flax to a hackling device. This method involves forming a layer of fibres, grasping equal lengths to create fibre bundles, clamping them, separating entangled bundles, and inserting them into the hackling device.

[0005] The present invention differs from EP0693582A1 in several ways. First, the present invention incorporates isolated weighing stations in the hackling machine for accurate weight measurement of the fibre holders. This allows for improved quality control, process optimization, and yield calculations in the bast fibre industry. Second, the present invention can be used to weigh fibre holders at multiple points in the hackling process, such as before hackling, after hackling, after the first hackling section or a combination of both. This provides more detailed information about the hackling process and can be used to identify and correct problems more quickly.

[0006] The present invention finds broad applicability within the bast fibre industry, particularly in the processing of long fibres exceeding 20 cm in length, such as flax fibres, hemp fibres, sisal fibres, kenaf fibres, jute fibres, among others. It pertains to the utilization of hackling machines or combing machines employing the holder principle for securing and managing these long fibres throughout the processing stages.

[0007] The main purpose of this invention is the integration of online yield calculation system within the hackling machine aimed at continuously assessing the yield of long fibres held by each individual holder during the hackling process. It is essential to note that the yield of long fibres can exhibit substantial variations based on the specific settings of the hackling machine and the quality of the long fibre lot being processed, even within the confines of a single batch.

[0008] This innovation serves a multifaceted purpose. Firstly, it facilitates real-time monitoring of the yield of long fibres for each holder enabling the concurrent computation of the average yield of long fibres over a defined time frame. Additionally, it empowers operators to make dynamic adjustments to the hackling machine parameters, such as hackling field speed, pinning intersection, vary the entry weight per holder and more, thereby enabling immediate control over the long fibre yield. The capacity to monitor yields in real-time is particularly advantageous in identifying and promptly addressing anomalies occurring within the hackling machine, thereby minimizing operational disruptions.

[0009] Moreover, the online yield calculation system provides the unique capability to tailor machine settings on a per-batch basis during the hackling process. This contrasts strongly with the conventional methods where yield assessments were only possible once an entire lot of long fibres had been processed rendering any corrective actions ineffective due to their tardiness. Therefore, this invention offers a transformative shift from post-process yield determination to real-time, online yield monitoring, aligning it as an invaluable asset within the bast fibre industry.SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0010] A hackling machine is configured to process long fibres exceeding 20 cm in length, including flax fibres, hemp fibres, sisal fibres, kenaf fibres, jute fibres and other similar fibres. The hackling machine comprises isolated weighing stations for continuous and real-time yield calculation and is designed for processing bast long fibres. The said machine comprises: a first hackling section; a second hackling section; a holder placed in a line on a sleigh (transport bar where the holders are pushed from one position to the following position in the hackling machine), where the number of the holders depends on the length of the hackling line and a weighing station. The weighing station is installed before the entry of the holder (with clamped in it a not hackled fibre portion), into the first hackling section of the hackling machine. The entry weighing station is being isolated from the entry sleigh and outlet sleigh to ensure accurate weight measurement. An output weighing station is placed at a predetermined location at the end of the second hackling section or additionally with an intermediate weighing station, situated after the first hackling section. For the respective holder to be weighed, the said weighing stations are isolated from the entry sleigh and outlet sleigh to prevent interference with weight measurement. The yield of the hackling process is calculated by the determined weight of the corresponding holder with a portion of not hackled long fibres clamped in it at the entry of weighing station, by the determined weight of the same corresponding holder with a hackled portion of the fibres clamped in it at the outlet of weighing station, and by the control system comprising a server or PLC (programmable logic controller) for storing weights of the entry holder and the output holder and an identification registration of every holder with its respective weight. The net weight of the long fibre in the respective holder is calculated by subtracting the weight of the two plates of the holder from the brute weight of the holder with clamped fibre portion. In one way, the net weight of the long fibre can be obtained by calibrating the weight of the two plates of the holder. All upper plates have the same calibrated weight, and all lower plates have the same calibrated weight. Another way is when the weight of the two plates of respective holder is determined by identifying the holder plates using RFID tags or similar technologies and employing sensors to identify the tags on both parts of the respective holder to retrieve the weight of each identified plate from a database.

[0011] The hackle machine comprises the control system, which is configurated to report yield calculations in real-time, for operators to make dynamic adjustments to hackling machine parameters, such as the hackling field speed, the pinning intersection, the entry weight per holder and more, thereby facilitating immediate control over the long fibre yield and identifying anomalies within the hackling machine. A method for calculating the yield of the fibre in the hackling machine as previously described, comprising the steps of the weighing the weight of the fibre at the weighing station before hackling and weighing the weight of the fibre at the output weighing station after the second hackle section and optionally weighing the weight of the fibre at the intermediate weighing station after the first hackling section; and calculating the yield in the control system by dividing the weight of the fibre after the hackling process by the weight of the fibre before the hackling process. In addition, the program is used to improve fibre yield by changing the machine settings or by setting the optimum weight of the fibre in the holder fibre to optimise the productivity of the machine or the yield of the fibre.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] Fig. 1 is a hackling machine comprising a weighing station before the hackling process and a weighing station after the hackling process. Fig. 2 is a hackling machine as shown in Fig. 1 which additionally comprising an intermediate weighing station. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The yield calculation of the long fibre portions is determined by dividing the output net weight of fully hackled long fibre portion in the holder (1c) by the net input weight of the not hackled long fibre portion in the same respective holder (1a). In this way, the yield of the net weight of the long fibre of each holder (1) at the output position is obtained, and data is received from the weighing station instantly, online. Obtaining accurate and detailed information about the yield in the hackling process allows identify and correct problems quickly.List of reference signs:

[0014] 1 - a holder of long fibre; 1a - a holder, with a not hackled long fibre portion; 1b - a holder, with long fibre portion after the first hackling section; 1c - a holder with fully hackled long fibre portion after the second hackling section; 2 - a weighing station before the first hackling section; 3 - a weighing station after the second hackling section; 4 - a first hackling section; 5 - a second hackling section; 6 - an intermediate weighing station.

[0015] To implement this invention, a hackling machine is used with two hackling sections (4) and (5) (Fig. 1). In the first hackling section (4) one side of the long fibres portion clamped in the holder (1) lengthwise in the middle is hackled, and in the second hackling section (5) the opposite part of the long fibres is hackled. An isolated weighing station (2) is mounted before the entry of the holders with clamped long fibre portion in the first hackling section (4) of the hackling machine. The net weight of the long fibre portion in the holder (1a) is calculated by taking and recording the brute weight of the holder (1) (two clamping plates) with clamped in a long fibre portion and deducting the known weight of the two plates of the holder (1). The weight of the whole holder (1) is a fixed calibrated weight, all the lower plates must have the same weight and all the upper plates of the holder (1) must have the same weight, but not necessarily the same weight as the lower plate. Another method to determine the weight of the holder (1) is to identify the holder plates by e.g., RFID (radio frequency identification) tags or other technologies and by mean of sensors identifying the tag on both parts of the holder (1), knowing that the weight of each identified plate is archived in a database (not shown in the drawings).

[0016] Optionally, also an intermediate isolated weighing station (6) can be installed, shown in (Fig. 2) where the respective holder (1b) is weighed after passing the first hackling section (4).

[0017] The intermediate isolated weighing station (6) is positioned after the first hackling section (the root side if root fibres are hackled first or the top side if top fibres are hackled first) just before or immediately after the pull-through process, prior to entering the second hackling section (5). This weighing station (6) is completely isolated from the inlet sleigh and the output sleigh so that there is no interference on the measured weight of the respective holder with clamped long fibre portion, hackled in the first hackling section. In this case there is an option to calculate the intermediate yield of the long fibre of this respective holder (1) after the first hackling section (4).

[0018] To obtain sufficient results it is enough to install the isolated weighing station (2) and the output isolated weighing station (3) without intermediate isolated weighing station (6). This weighing station (3) is also isolated from the inlet sleigh and the outlet sleigh so that there is no interference with the sleigh on the measured weight of the respective holder (1c) after the second hackling in the hackling section (5). Depending on the length of the hackling machine line one can track the number of holders between the input weighing station (2) and the output weighing station (3). The number of holders between two weighting stations can differ according to the length of the hackling line. According to the hackling line length, it is kept track of each holder (1) in the machine so that at the output weighing station (3) the right weight of the respective holder (1a) at entry weighing station (2) is compared with the right weight of the respective output holder (1c). All counted yields of respective holder are reported to and archived in the information storage device (not shown in the drawings) online which can be mounted locally adjacent to the hackling machine or can be transferred to another information processing device or other means. The control system (not shown in drawings), a server or a PLC (programmable logic controller) are used for the storage of the weights of the entry holder (1a) and for the weights of the output holder (1c) and, in the case of identification of the holder plates, for the identification registration of every holder (1) plates with its respective weight. The control system, the server or the PLC calculates the yields. Based on the obtained results, the control system, the server or the PLC takes measures to change / adjust the setting of the hackling machine. Actions can be taken right away to improve the yield of the fibres by changing the setting of the machine or finding the optimal input weight of the fibre in the holder to optimise the productivity of the machine or the yield of the fibre.

Claims

1. A hackling machine comprising isolated weighing stations for calculating the yield of the long fibres, wherein said machine comprises: a first hackling section (4); a second hackling section (5); a holder (1) placed in a line on a sleigh, where the number of holders 1 depends on the length of the hackling line; a weighing station (2); characterised in that, - the entry weighing station (2) is installed before the entry of the holder (1a) with clamped in it a not hackled fibre portion in the first hackling section (4) of the hackling machine, the said entry weighing station (2) being isolated from the entry sleigh and the outlet sleigh to ensure an accurate weight measurement; - the output weighing station (3) is placed at a predetermined location in the hackling machine isolated from the entry sleigh and the outlet sleigh and is configured to compare the weight of the respective holder (1a) at the entry weighing station (2) and to determine the yield of the respective output holder (1c) with a hackled portion of long fibre clamped in it; and - a control system comprises a server or PLC for storing weights of the entry holder (1a) and the output holder (1c) and an identification registration of every holder (1) with its respective weight, for the yield calculation of the long fibre.

2. The hackling machine according to claim 1, wherein the hackling machine is configured to process long fibres exceeding 20 cm in length, including flax fibres, hemp fibres, sisal fibres, kenaf fibres, jute fibres, and other similar fibres.

3. The hackling machine according to claims 1 or 2, wherein an intermediate weighing station (6) is situated after the first hackling section (4), for the respective holder (1b) to be weighed, wherein the said intermediate weighing station (6) is isolated from the entry sleigh and the outlet sleigh to prevent interference with weight measurement.

4. The hackling machine according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the net weight of the long fibre in the respective holder (1) is calculated by subtracting the weight of the two plates of the holder (1) from the brute weight of the holder (1) with long fibre portion clamped in it.

5. The hackling machine according to claim 4, wherein the weight of the two plates of the holder (1) is obtained through plate calibration, wherein the upper plates of the holder (1) and the lower plates of the holder (1) have the same weights.

6. The hackling machine according to claim 4, wherein the weight of the two plates of the respective holder (1) is determined by identifying the holder plates using RFID tags or similar technologies and employing sensors to identify the tags on both parts of the respective holder (1) to retrieve the weight of each identified plate from a database.

7. The hackling machine according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the control system is configurated to report yield calculations of long fibre in real-time, so that the operators can make dynamic adjustments to hackling machine parameters, such as the hackling field speed, the pinning intersection, the entry weight per holder, thereby facilitating immediate control over the long fibre yield and identifying anomalies within the hackling machine.

8. A method for calculating the yield of long fibres in a hackling machine according to any of claims 1-7, comprising the steps of: - weighing the weight of the fibre at the weighing station (2) before the hackling process and weighing the weight of the fibre at the weighing station (3) after the hackling process and optionally weighing the weight of the fibre at the intermediate weighing station (6) after the first hackling section; and - calculating the yield in a control system by dividing the weight of the fibre after the first hackling section or after the second hackling section by the weight of the fibre before the hackling process or the weight of the fibre after the second hackling section at the intermediate weighing station (6).

9. A method for calculating the yield of fibres in a hackling machine according to claim 8, which is performed by using the control system, which is configurated to report yield calculations of the fibre in real-time to make dynamic adjustments to hackling machine parameters, thereby facilitating immediate control over the yield of long fibre and to find the optimal input weight of the fibre in the holder to optimise the yield of the fibre.

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