Carding machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a carding machine comprising an inlet side for fibre flocks, wherein the carding machine is designed to feed the fibre flocks to a rotating drum (4) by means of at least one licker-in (3a, 3b, 3c), wherein the fibre flocks are broken up to form the individual fibres, aligned and cleaned between fixed carding elements and circulating flat bars (17) and the drum (4), and the resulting fibrous web can be transferred from the drum (4) onto a doffer (5), downstream of which a device for converting the fibrous web to a sliver is arranged. The invention is characterized in that the carding machine has a framework (18) for receiving the drum (4) and the doffer (5), and in that the at least one licker-in (3a, 3b, 3c) is arranged, and mounted, on or in a separate housing (19), wherein the separate housing (19) is arranged, and fastened, on the framework (18) such that it is possible to adjust the distance between the at least one licker-in (3c) and the drum (4).

Description

[0001] Title: Teasel

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a carding machine with an inlet side for fiber flakes, wherein the carding machine is designed to feed the fiber flakes to a rotating drum by means of at least one licker-in. On the drum, the fiber flakes are opened down to the individual fibers between fixed carding elements and rotating flat bars, aligned, and cleaned. The resulting fiber web is transferred from the drum to a doffer, which is followed by a device for converting the fiber web into a fiber sliver.

[0004] State-of-the-art revolving flat cards essentially consist of a large main cylinder, the drum or tambour, on which fibers are carded by a specific number of revolving flats and fixed carding elements. The material-feeding working element is the licker-in, and the material-removing working element is the doffer. The carding length, and in particular the number of rotating flat bars of the revolving flat engaged, have a significant influence on carding quality. The carding area and the speed of the drum, in turn, are crucial for carding machine productivity. Increasing the drum speed is possible, although this results in very high centrifugal forces that lead to convex deformation of the drum. This increases the carding gap towards the drum edges if a constant carding gap is assumed for the drum center.A further disadvantage of increased drum speed is the associated heating and thermal expansion of the drum, as the speed of the fibers between the drum and the carding elements increases, leading to increased friction. For revolving flat cards, a drum diameter of less than D=1300mm is generally used. To increase the carding length around this drum, the common method is to relocate the licker-in and / or doffer further under the drum. This increases the usable circumferential length to accommodate the desired number of additional revolving flats.

[0005] This method is limited when these rollers are offset so far that their attachments almost touch each other. This method inevitably leads to two mutually interacting disadvantages:

[0006] The drum must be positioned very high in the machine, at least high enough to be above the pickup. This pickup typically has a fairly large diameter, around 700mm, so the large drum must be positioned very high. The higher the heavy, high-speed drum is positioned at approximately 600 rpm, the worse the running stability and vibration stiffness become. The supporting frame structure must be correspondingly large and strong and must not be too slim.

[0007] Increasing the carding length and drum diameter also changes the geometry of the frame on which the drum with the doffer and licker-in unit are arranged and mounted. The frame becomes taller and wider, increasing the effort required to machine the attachment surfaces with the existing machinery. The frame cannot be machined in a single setup with the existing machines; instead, it must be repositioned and clamped several times on the machine tool tables. Manufacturing costs increase significantly.

[0008] EP 2527505 discloses a revolving flat card that proposes a specific geometric arrangement of the licker-in and doffer to achieve high productivity. The entire geometry is based on a horizontal orientation of the card. The frame provides a central support surface for the cylinder, with support surfaces for the licker-in unit and doffer arranged on both sides. The length of the construction is therefore very large and requires a processing machine with a large clamping area. If the card is to be manufactured at several locations worldwide, these locations must all have processing machines with this large clamping area.

[0009] Accordingly, the invention is based on the object of developing the frame of a carding machine in such a way that it can be manufactured on processing machines of different sizes with, if possible, only one clamping.

[0010] The invention solves the stated problem by a system having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0011] The invention relates to a carding machine with an inlet side for fiber flakes, wherein the carding machine is designed to feed the fiber flakes to a rotating drum by means of at least one licker-in. On the drum, the fiber flakes are opened down to the individual fibers between fixed carding elements and rotating flat bars, aligned, and cleaned. The resulting fiber web is transferred from the drum to a doffer, which is followed by a device for converting the fiber web into a fiber sliver.

[0012] The invention includes the technical teaching that the card has a frame for receiving the drum and the doffer, and that the at least one licker-in is arranged and mounted on or in a separate housing, wherein the separate housing is arranged and fastened to the frame in such a way that the distance between the at least one licker-in and the drum is adjustable.

[0013] By separating the licker-in assembly with all attachments, drives and suction systems from the card frame, the card frame can be built shorter. This makes it possible to manufacture the frame with just one setup at different processing stations, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. By accommodating the licker-in assembly with all attachments, drives and suction systems in a separate housing, this can be completely pre-assembled. The adjustable arrangement or fastening of the housing with the licker-in assembly to the card frame has the further advantage that the distance between the drum and the adjacent licker-in can be adjusted depending on the material to be processed, the operating temperature and / or the wear condition of the clothings. The transfer of the pre-cleaned fiber flakes or fibers from the licker-in to the drum is optimized, allowing the card to operate with greater productivity.

[0014] Depending on how the housing is arranged on the frame, its position relative to the frame can be adjusted using an actuator. The actuator can be designed to move the housing relative to the card frame, for example, along a guide or to pivot it around a pivot point.

[0015] Because the housing can be pivoted on the frame, a fixed pivot point is created that serves as a fixed bearing. In the event of thermal expansion of the card or a change in the transfer gap between the drum and the adjacent licker-in, the distance between these two rollers can be adjusted by pivoting the housing around this pivot point. The transfer gap between the drum and the adjacent licker-in can be adjusted with high precision.

[0016] A support can be arranged between the frame and the housing, which is designed to pivot the housing about the pivot point. The support can be mechanical and manually adjustable, or it can be designed as an actuator, whereby the housing is pivoted, for example, by a motor, in relation to the frame. This allows the transfer gap between the drum and licker-in to be adjusted during operation, which can be varied, for example, if the operating temperature changes.

[0017] The support can interact with a vertical side part of the frame below the pivot point. This means that the weight of the housing around the pivot point always acts on the support, thus preventing any dead play or idle play, for example, in a screw thread of the support. The transfer gap is always adjusted precisely. At least one licker-in can be mounted in a bearing open at the top within the housing. The licker-in can be removed very quickly and replaced with a new set without disassembling the associated components.

[0018] The at least one licker-in interacts with a fixed carding element, each of which is also attached to the housing. Depending on the roller position and the transfer point of the fibers or fiber flakes to the rollers, the fixed carding elements can be arranged above or below the licker-in.

[0019] To adjust the distance between the fixed carding elements and the licker-in, side mounting openings can be arranged on the housing through which the distance between the fixed carding elements and the respective associated licker-in can be adjusted.

[0020] A higher separation of impurities and a better dissolution of the fiber flakes can be achieved in that the housing has three licker-in devices arranged in upwardly open bearings.

[0021] Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below together with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures.

[0022] They show:

[0023] Figure 1: a side view of a schematically illustrated carding machine according to the

[0024] State of the art;

[0025] Figure 2: a frame of a carding machine according to the state of the art;

[0026] Figure 3: a card frame according to the invention with the licker-in unit;

[0027] Figure 4: another enlarged view of the licker-in unit.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a prior art carding machine in which fiber flakes are guided via a chute to a feed roller 1, a feed table 2, via several licker-in rollers 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 and rotating carding elements. The resulting fiber web is then conveyed via a doffer 5, a stripping roller 6 and several squeezing rollers 8, 9 to a web guide element 10, which forms the fiber web into a fiber sliver using a funnel 11. The sliver is then transferred to a downstream processing machine or a can 15 via take-off rollers 12, 13. The removal of the fibers from the doffer 5 is assisted by a web guide profile 7, which is arranged below the stripping roller 6.Above the stripping roller 6, a cleaning roller 6a is arranged, with which fiber residues are removed from the stripping roller 6 and fed to a suction device not further designated.

[0029] Figure 2 shows a frame 18 of a carding machine according to the prior art. The central component is the receiving area 18a for the drum, which in this illustration is followed on the left by the receiving area for the doffer 18b and on the right by the receiving area for the licker-in 18c. Increasing the carding length, either through a larger drum diameter and / or by relocating the licker-in 3a-3c and doffer 5 further below the drum 4, results in an enlarged frame 18 of the carding machine, which is taller and / or longer in its dimensions. Depending on the machine tool used, the frame 18 can then no longer be machined in a single setup on the machine tool for machining the attachment surfaces and bearings. According to Figure 3, the invention provides for shortening the frame 18 by the receiving area for the licker-in(s) and integrating the complete assembly of the licker-in(s) 3a-3c in its own separate housing 19.This housing 19 is rotatably mounted at a pivot point 20 of the frame 18 and its distance from the drum 4 is adjusted by means of a support 21 arranged between a side part of the frame 18 and the housing 19. In this exemplary embodiment, three licker-in units 3a-3c are arranged in the housing 19. Alternative assemblies provide for the embodiment with only a single licker-in unit. The housing 19 with the assembly of licker-in units 3a-3c is designed to be pivotable about the pivot point 20 due to its own weight and is held in position only by the support 21. By adjusting the support 21, the housing 19 pivots about the pivot point 20 so that the distance between the sets of licker-in unit 3c and the drum 4 can be adjusted. The support 21 can also be fully retracted so that the distance between the sets of licker-in unit 3c and the drum 4 is increased.This makes re-clothing the licker-in 3a-3c easier, as they are more easily accessible. A distance of between 200 mm and 300 mm between the support 21 and the pivot point 20 has proven advantageous. With this distance, precise adjustment of the licker-in 3c to the drum 4 is possible, while at the same time a compact design can be achieved. In the housing 19, the licker-in 3a-3c are arranged in a bearing that is open at the top, whereby all licker-in 3a-3c can be removed from the housing 19 without great assembly effort. The support 21 can be actuated mechanically or via an actuator (hydraulic, pneumatic, electric motor-driven), so that a control system can be designed to adjust the gap or distance between the clothing of the drum 4 and the clothing of the licker-in 3c during operation or when the card is at a standstill.The adjustment can be made depending on, for example, the material to be processed, the operating temperature and / or the state of wear of the fittings.

[0030] The housing 19 is designed to accommodate the entire assembly of the licker-in rollers 3a-3c, including the feed roller 1, the feed table 2, and all associated drives and suction devices 22. The transition to the fiber flake feed is made via a flexible connection (not shown) to compensate for the movement of the housing 19.

[0031] The licker-in 3c has a fixed carding element 23c, which is arranged vertically below the licker-in 3c in the housing 19. The middle licker-in 3b has a fixed carding element 23b, which is arranged above the licker-in 3b on the housing 19. When disassembling the licker-in 3b, the fixed carding element 23b must first be removed. The licker-in 3a also has a fixed carding element 23a, which is arranged diagonally below the licker-in 3a in the housing 19. Also visible are drives with drive belts and a suction device 22, all of which are part of the licker-in assembly and are arranged or integrated on or in the housing 19. Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the second and third licker-in 3b, 3c with the associated fixed carding elements 23b, 23c.By loosening the fastening elements 24b, 24c, the distance of the fixed carding elements 23b, 23c from the clothing of the licker-in 3b, 3c can be adjusted by adjusting, shifting, or pivoting the associated spacer elements 25b, 25c, thus varying the distance between the carding elements 23b, 23c and the clothing of the licker-in 3b, 3c. The distance position is then fixed again by the fastening elements 24b, 24c. In the third licker-in 3c, in which the fixed carding element 23c is arranged below the licker-in 3c, a housing cutout in the form of a window is arranged through which the fitter can loosen or tighten the fastening element 24c using a tool. In the second licker-in 3b, the fixed carding element 23b is arranged above the licker-in 3b. Here, the fastening element 24b is exposed and can be loosened or refastened after the adjustment of the fixed carding element 3b.Here, too, a spacer element 25b is arranged between the fixed carding element 23b and the licker-in 3b, so that the distance between the fixed carding element 23b and the clothing of the licker-in 3b can be adjusted by moving or pivoting the spacer element 25b. Both spacer elements 25b, 25c are accessible through windows in the housing 19. Naturally, the design described here is arranged on both sides of the card, so that the distances to be adjusted can always be achieved across the entire working width of the card.

[0032] This improvement has the advantage that the distances between the fixed carding elements and the corresponding licker-in rollers can be adjusted without disassembling the suction hoods, profiles, or other components, as the fastening elements and spacers are accessible through windows located in the housing. All components remain in place during adjustment of the fixed carding elements without disassembly.

[0033] Reference symbol

[0034] 1 feed roller

[0035] 2 dining tables

[0036] 3a, b, c licker-ahead

[0037] 4 drums

[0038] 5 customers

[0039] 5a set

[0040] 6 scraper roller

[0041] 6a cleaning roller

[0042] 7 Fleece guide profile

[0043] 8 Squeeze roller

[0044] 9 Squeeze roller

[0045] 10 fleece guide element

[0046] 11 funnels

[0047] 12 Take-off roller

[0048] 13 Take-off roller

[0049] 14 Fixed carding element

[0050] 15 cans

[0051] 16 revolving lids

[0052] 17 Flat bar

[0053] 17a set

[0054] 18 frame

[0055] 18a Drum recording area

[0056] 18b Pickup area

[0057] 18c Pick-up area licker-in

[0058] 19 Housing licker-in

[0059] 20 Pivot point

[0060] 21 Support

[0061] 22 Extraction

[0062] 23a, b, c Fixed carding element

[0063] 24b, c Fastening element

[0064] 25b, c spacer element

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 17 November 2023 (17.11.2023) Patent claims 1. A carding machine with an inlet side for fiber flocks, wherein the carding machine is designed to feed the fiber flocks to a rotating drum (4) by means of at least one licker-in (3a, 3b, 3c), wherein the fiber flocks are opened up to the individual fiber, aligned, and cleaned between fixed carding elements and rotating flat bars (17) and the drum (4), and the resulting fiber web can be transferred from the drum (4) to a doffer (5), which is followed by a device for converting the fiber web into a fiber sliver, wherein the carding machine has a frame (18) for receiving the drum (4) and the doffer (5), and that the at least one licker-in (3a, 3b, 3c) is arranged and mounted on or in a separate housing (19), wherein the separate housing (19) is mounted on the frame in such a way (18) is arranged and fastened in such a way that the distance between the at least one licker-in (3c) and the drum (4) is adjustable, characterized in that the housing (20) is pivotably arranged on the frame (18).

2. Card according to claim 1, characterized in that the position of the housing (19) relative to the frame can be adjusted by means of an actuator.

3. Card according to claim 1, characterized in that between the frame (18) and the housing (19) a support (21) is arranged, which is designed to support the housing (19) around a pivot point (20).

4. Card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (21) is designed as an actuator.

5. Card according to claim 3, characterized in that the support (21) below the pivot point (20) cooperates with a vertical side part of the frame (18).

6. Card according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one licker-in (3a, 3b, 3c) is mounted in an upwardly open bearing in the housing (19).

7. Card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one licker-in (3a, 3b, 3c) cooperates with a respective fixed carding element (23a, 23b, 23c), which are also fastened to the housing (19).

8. Card according to claim 7, characterized in that lateral mounting openings are arranged on the housing (19), through which the fixed carding elements (23a, 23b, 23c) can be adjusted in distance from the respective associated licker-in (3a, 3b, 3c). 11 AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) Card according to claim 1, characterized in that in the housing (19) three licker-in rollers (3a, 3b, 3c) are arranged in upwardly open bearings. 12 AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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