Testing device and testing method carried out thereby

Abstract

The present invention relates to a testing device (100) for testing the characteristic values of fiber material (990). The testing device (100) comprises a collecting face (110) on which the fiber materials (990) coming out of an opening are collected, a pressing face (120), and at least one servomotor (131, 132) which moves (551, 552) at least one of the faces (110, 120) in order to compress the collected fiber material (990) and record (530) the properties of the collected fiber material (990).

Description

[0001] Testing equipment and its testing procedures

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to a device and a method for analyzing components of a fiber mass, wherein the components of the fiber mass may include fibers, parts of fibers, trash, dust, plant residues and other contaminants.

[0004] Technological background

[0005] Natural fibers such as cotton can be contaminated by non-primary fiber material, often referred to as waste. Such contaminants can include, for example, shells, seeds, twigs, bark, leaves, dirt, or stones. In the prior art, the non-fiber content of a fiber sample is measured by separating the fibers in the sample or mass from as much of the non-fiber content as possible and by weighing or otherwise quantifying the fibers and waste separated from the original fiber sample. With the separators used, varying amounts of fiber remain mixed with the separated waste, making it difficult to determine the properties of the collected fiber material.

[0006] A separation device is known from the prior art for improving the separation of waste from fibers. The fiber sample is applied to the surface of a separation cylinder, which rotates in one direction and has a cylindrical surface with pins. Fibers from the sample are brought into contact with the separation cylinder and retained on its surface. The fibers retained on the collection surface can be visually detected.

[0007] The disadvantage here is that a more precise quantitative analysis or even a qualitative analysis of the fibers contained in the fiber mass is not possible because the fibers are not protected from external influences and the properties of the fiber material, such as the structure of the fiber, cannot be analyzed.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages known from the prior art and in particular to be able to carry out a quantitative and a qualitative analysis of the components of the fiber mass presented.

[0009] Summary of the invention

[0010] The problem is solved wholly or partially by the features of the invention. To solve this problem, a testing device for testing fiber material for its characteristic properties is proposed. Fiber materials can comprise fibers, fiber fragments, and impurities such as trash, dust, plant residues, and other contaminants, and can be fed, for example, to a so-called drawing belt, carding belt, or parts thereof, by means of a rotating feed roller and a rotating dissolving roller. The testing device comprises:

[0011] - a collection area; the collection area is designed to collect fibrous material;

[0012] - a pressure surface; the pressure surface is designed so that the collected fiber material is pressed in order to capture the properties of the collected fiber material;

[0013] - at least one actuator; the at least one actuator is designed to move at least one surface, consisting of a collection surface and a pressure surface, between at least one first position, wherein the collected fiber material is pressed between the pressure surface and the collection surface, and at least one second position, wherein the collected fiber material is released and partially or completely removed from the testing device.

[0014] Thanks to the present invention, at least the fibers pressed between the collection surface and the pressure surface can be detected and analyzed with regard to their type and properties. Pressing the fibers between the collection and pressure surfaces protects the collected fiber material from external influences and prevents contamination by airborne fibers or other contaminants not originating from the sample. The individual, spread fibers on the collection surface allow for their identification, enabling, for example, a better analysis of fiber structure and / or length. This is because the fibers are pressed between the collection and pressure surfaces. Thus, it is possible to determine, for instance, whether, which, and how many fibers are present on the collection surface or in a specific section of the collection surface, and to analyze their structure.The fibers are preferably spaced apart from each other or with only slight overlap.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the at least one actuator includes at least one first actuator configured to move the collecting surface, and / or at least one second actuator configured to move the pressure surface.

[0016] Thanks to at least one first actuator and at least one second actuator, the collecting surface and / or the pressure surface can be moved individually, moved together, moved towards each other and / or moved in a coordinated manner.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the testing device comprises at least one cleaning device, which is designed to clean at least one surface, consisting of a collecting surface and a pressure surface, preferably when the at least one surface, consisting of a collecting surface and a pressure surface, is moved between the at least one first position and the at least one second position.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the at least one cleaning device comprises at least one first cleaning device and / or at least one second cleaning device, wherein the at least one first cleaning device is configured to clean the collection surface, and wherein the at least one second cleaning device is configured to clean the pressure surface. Thanks to the cleaning device, the at least one surface, consisting of the collection surface and the pressure surface, can be freed from fibers, preferably when the at least one surface is moving.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the collecting surface is a plate or a belt, and / or the pressure surface is a belt or a plate.

[0020] Advantageously, the belt can move the fibers to be captured between at least one first position and at least one second position, and / or the collecting surface and / or the pressure surface can press the fibers to be captured more effectively.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the collecting surface and / or the pressure surface partially or completely comprises a layer of low coefficient of friction, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the collecting surface and / or the pressure surface consists partly or entirely of steel, preferably stainless steel.

[0023] Thanks to one of the embodiments, the collecting surface and / or the pressure surface can be partially or completely freed from the fibers by means of a layer of low coefficient of friction, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene, and / or steel, preferably stainless steel.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the collection area comprises wholly or partially a transparent area for recording the properties of the collected fiber material.

[0025] The properties of the collected fiber material can be advantageously recorded.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the testing device comprises an analysis device configured to detect the properties of the collected fiber material, preferably in at least one first position. Advantageously, the properties of the collected fiber material can be detected automatically.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the analysis device comprises a transmitter and / or a receiver, wherein the transmitter is designed to emit the collected fiber material, and / or the receiver is designed to receive some or all of the reflected electromagnetic waves and / or the transmitted electromagnetic waves.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the analysis device includes a camera, an ultrasound device or an X-ray device.

[0029] Thanks to this configuration, the analysis device has a wide frequency range for analysis.

[0030] The problem is solved wholly or partially by the features of the invention. To solve the problem, a test method for testing fiber material for its characteristic properties is proposed. The test method comprises:

[0031] - a collection of fibrous materials on a collection surface;

[0032] - a pressure of the collected fiber material between a pressure surface and the collection surface;

[0033] - a recording of the properties of the collected fiber material; and,

[0034] - a removal of fiber material from the collection surface and the pressure surface.

[0035] Thanks to the present method, at least some of the fibers pressed between the collection surface and the pressure surface can be captured and analyzed with regard to their type and properties. Pressing the fibers between the collection and pressure surfaces protects the collected fiber material from external influences and prevents contamination by airborne fibers or other contaminants not originating from the sample. The individual, spread fibers on the collection surface allow for their identification, enabling a better analysis of fiber structure and / or length. This is because the fibers are pressed between the collection and pressure surfaces, unlike when they are on a suction surface, where they only make point contact with the surface, rather than line or area contact.This allows, for example, the determination of whether, which, and how many fibers are present on the collection surface or in a specific section of the collection surface, and their structure. The fibers are preferably spaced apart from each other or with only slight overlap.

[0036] Thanks to one embodiment, the test method comprises a movement of the at least one surface, consisting of the collection surface and the pressure surface, between at least a first position, wherein the collected fiber material is pressed between the pressure surface and the collection surface, and at least a second position, wherein the collection surface and the pressure surface are cleared of the collected fiber material.

[0037] Thanks to the movement of the collection surface and / or the pressure surface, the collected fiber material can be pressed in one position and released from the testing device in the other position.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the detection takes place while at least one surface is in at least a first position.

[0039] It is advantageous to analyze the type and quality of the collected fiber material.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the release takes place while at least one surface is in at least a second position.

[0041] Advantageously, the testing equipment can be cleaned of the collected fiber material and ready for the next analysis without being contaminated by previously collected fiber material. Description of the figures

[0042] The foregoing and further objectives, features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments, which are illustrated and not limiting with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

[0043] - Figures 1 and 2 show a collection 510 of fiber materials 990 and a pressure of the collected fiber material 990 between a pressure surface 120 and the collection surface 110 according to an embodiment;

[0044] - Figures 3-6 illustrate the test procedure carried out by different embodiments; and,

[0045] - Figure 7 shows an embodiment with the testing method according to the invention.

[0046] In the following description of the illustrated embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for features that are identical and / or at least comparable in their design and / or mode of operation, even if they are shown in different embodiments. Unless these are explained in detail again, their design and / or mode of operation corresponds to the design and mode of operation of the features already described above.

[0047] Description of an embodiment

[0048] Figure 1 shows a side view of a testing device 100 according to the invention for analyzing and testing fiber material 990 of a fiber mass. Components 990 or fiber materials 990 of the fiber mass can comprise fibers, parts of fibers and impurities such as trash, dust, plant residues and other contaminants.

[0049] The fiber pulp is fed into a feed roller using a suction device. The suction device is positioned near the fiber pulp, which is contained in a spinning can, and draws the pulp from the can. The pulp is guided through a suction tube and into the vicinity of the feed roller. In this embodiment, a Coanda nozzle creates a suction flow within the suction tube by blowing air into it. This suction flow draws the fiber pulp from the spinning can and conveys it to the feed roller. Once sufficient fiber pulp has been extracted, it is separated, and the suction device can be used for further extraction.

[0050] The extraction device can either be stationary on the apparatus, with the fiber mass being brought into the extraction area, for example by placing the spinning can underneath it. Alternatively, it can be mobile, meaning that the extraction device is moved as needed to the vicinity of the fiber mass at a machine in a spinning mill, where it performs an analysis of the fiber mass together with the apparatus.

[0051] To analyze and test the components 990, they can be separated and / or spread. For this purpose, the fibers of the fiber mass, for example, a so-called drawing sliver, carding sliver, or parts thereof, can be fed to a rotating disintegrating roller by means of a rotating feed roller. The disintegrating roller can be arranged in a disintegrating roller housing. The feed roller can be located at a feed opening of the disintegrating roller housing. By rotating the feed roller and the disintegrating roller, the fiber mass can be introduced into the area of ​​the disintegrating roller, and the fiber material 990 of the fiber mass can be separated or spread by teeth or needles arranged on the circumference of the disintegrating roller. Impurities present in the fiber mass can be removed at a dirt removal opening. The fibers themselves can adhere to the circumference of the rotating disintegrating roller and can be accelerated.The dissolving roller can have a sawtooth wire spirally running around its circumference. The sawtooth wire ensures that the fibers are captured and accelerated in the area of ​​the feed opening 530. Once the fibers have reached a certain speed, they can detach from the rotating dissolving roller in the area of ​​an outlet opening of the dissolving roller housing due to the centrifugal force acting upon them. The fibers can then enter a feed channel and exit through an opening of the feed channel. Subsequently, the fibers can encounter the test device 100 according to the invention, or a collection surface 110 of the test device 100. The collection surface 110 can be designed to collect the fiber material 990 exiting the opening, as shown, for example, in Figures 1 and 3.

[0052] To allow the fibers exiting the dissolving roller at the outlet opening to do so, the opening can be designed in such a way that it is not subject to suction. The opening is therefore not in the immediate vicinity of, and thus not affected by, the suction from the suction channel. The fibers in the feed channel can therefore detach from the dissolving roller without the influence of negative pressure. This ensures that the fibers can be separated from the dissolving roller to a large extent and reach the collection surface 110.

[0053] To ensure that the fibers remain securely on the collection surface 110, the testing device 100 can include a pressure surface 120, as shown, for example, in Figures 2 and 4. According to the embodiment, the pressure surface 120 can be designed such that the collected fiber material 990 can be pressed down 520 to better capture 530 the properties of the collected fiber material 990. In this way, the fibers pressed between the collection surface 110 and the pressure surface 120 can be captured 530 and analyzed with regard to their type and properties. The pressure between the collection surface 110 and the pressure surface 120 protects the collected fiber material 990 from external influences, as no airborne fibers or dirt can contaminate it, preventing contamination by substances not originating from the sample.

[0054] The scattered, spread fibers on the collection surface 110 allow for individual fiber identification, enabling better analysis of fiber structure and / or length, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, because the fibers are pressed between the collection surface 110 and the pressure surface 120. This allows, for example, the determination of whether, which, and how many fibers are present on the collection surface 110 or in a specific section of it, as well as their structure. The fibers are preferably spaced apart or overlapping only slightly.

[0055] The scattered, spread fibers on the collection surface 110 allow for individual fiber identification. Furthermore, it is possible, for example, to determine whether, which, and how many fibers are present on the collection surface 110 or in a specific section of it. The fibers are preferably spaced apart or with only slight overlap.

[0056] In fact, the fibers can be separated, i.e., placed on the collection surface 110 with a distance between them or with as little overlap as possible. At the end of the acquisition 530 of the properties of the collected fiber material 990, the fibers can be removed 540 from the collection surface 110 and the pressure surface 120 and exit at a discharge point, as shown in Figs. 1, 6 & 7. As shown in Fig. 1, the fibers can detach when they have been transported to the end together with the rotating collection surface 110 and fall into a container. A similar process occurs in the embodiment of Fig. 7, where the fibers can detach when they have been transported together with the rotating collection surface 110 and after passing the pressure surface 120, and fall into a container.

[0057] The fibers discharged at the fiber discharge opening of the dissolving roller housing fall onto the collection surface 110, which can be a plate or a belt. Alternatively, the pressure surface 120 can be in the form of a belt or a plate. The belt can move the fibers to be collected between the at least one first position 111 and the at least one second position 112, and / or the at least one surface 110, 120, consisting of the collection surface 110 and the pressure surface 120, can press the fibers to be collected more effectively, so that the fibers remain on the collection surface 110 and can be analyzed there. The analysis of the collected fiber material 990 is carried out with an analysis device 150, preferably in the at least one first position 111. Depending on the embodiment, the analysis device 150 can comprise a transmitter 151 and / or a receiver 152. Transmitter 151 can transmit the collected fiber material 990, and can, for example,a light source. The receiver 152 can receive some or all of the reflected electromagnetic waves and / or the transmitted electromagnetic waves. According to one embodiment, the analysis device 150 can include a camera 156 and, in this case, the analysis device 150 can include only one receiver 152 because the ambient light may be sufficient and a light source can be omitted. According to other embodiments, the analysis device 150 can include a transmitter 151 and a receiver 152, such as with an ultrasound device 157 or an X-ray device 158.

[0058] In the case of a camera 156, the optical analysis device 150 can be located in an electronic data processing system 159, for example, a computer 159. Signals supplied by the cameras 156 can be evaluated in the computer 159. Thus, images taken by the cameras 156, preferably in the at least one first position 111, can be compared (not shown) with images in a database, for example. From this, the type of fibers can be determined. Furthermore, the length of the fibers on or lying on the collection surface 110 can be determined to ascertain whether they are complete fibers or only parts of fibers, as well as the length and / or structure of the fibers. The number of fibers detected can also be determined, since the fibers and impurities are scattered on the collection surface 110.The information that the computer 159 can extract from the recordings of the cameras 156 allows conclusions to be drawn about the composition of the fiber mass. This, in turn, enables the further processing of the fiber material 990 to be carried out in a very targeted manner. For example, it may be determined that the fiber mass requires special cleaning, a specific mixture with other fiber masses, or that it is only suitable for spinning on certain machines.

[0059] Since both the fibers and the impurities are located on the collection area 110, a single camera 156 of the optical analysis device 157 may be sufficient to capture all components 990 of the fiber material 990 and to send the corresponding data to the computer 159 for evaluation. For particularly good evaluation and analysis of the components 990 of the fiber material 990, the fibers and the impurities may need to be arranged as individually as possible on the collection area 110.

[0060] The camera 156 of the optical analysis device 150 can be directed towards the side of the collection surface 110 and can optically detect the fibers and contaminants there 530, because the collection surface 110, which can be a plate or a belt, can comprise a wholly or partially transparent area for the wavelengths used by the transmitter 151, the analysis device 150 can analyze the different components 990 contained in the presented fiber mass, thanks to a broad frequency range or a different frequency range. The same applies to the pressure surface 120, which can be in the form of a belt or a plate, and to an ultrasound device 157 or an X-ray device 158, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

[0061] The corresponding signals or images are sent to computer 159, where they are evaluated in order to analyze the components 990 contained in the presented fiber mass.

[0062] In order to drive at least one surface 110, 120, consisting of collecting surface 110 and pressure surface 120, the test device 100 can comprise at least one actuator 131, 132. More precisely, the at least one actuator 131, 132 can be at least a first actuator 131 that can move the collecting surface 110 551, and / or at least a second actuator 132 that can move the pressure surface 120 552, so that the collecting surface 110 and / or pressure surface 120 can be moved 551, 552 individually, moved 551, 552 together, moved 551, 552 relative to each other, and / or moved 551, 552 in a coordinated manner, between at least a first position 111, wherein the collected fiber material 990 can be pressed 520 between the pressure surface 120 and the collecting surface 110, and at least a second position 112, wherein the collected fiber material 990 can be released 540 and partially or completely removed from the testing device 100.In other words, preferably the collection 530 takes place while at least one surface 110, 120 is located in at least one first position 111, so that the type and quality of the collected fiber material 990 can be analyzed, and preferably the removal 540 takes place while at least one surface 110, 120 is located in at least one second position 112, so that the testing device 100 can be removed 540 from the collected fiber material 990 and is ready for the next analysis without being contaminated with already collected fiber material 990.

[0063] Regarding the removal 540 of the collecting surface 110 and the pressure surface 120 from fiber material 990, the test device 100 comprises at least one cleaning device 141, 142, such that it can clean the at least one surface 110, 120, consisting of collecting surface 110 and pressure surface 120, preferably when the at least one surface 110, 120, consisting of collecting surface 110 and pressure surface 120, can be moved 551, 552 between the at least one first position 111 and the at least one second position 112.For example, the at least one cleaning device 141, 142 can comprise at least one first cleaning device 141 and / or at least one second cleaning device 142, wherein the at least one first cleaning device 141 is configured to clean the collecting surface 110 540, and wherein the at least one second cleaning device 142 is configured to clean the pressure surface 120 540, so that the at least one surface 110, 120, consisting of the collecting surface 110 and the pressure surface 120, can be freed from fibers 540, and preferably if the at least one surface 110, 120 can be moved 551, 552, as shown in Figs. 1, 6 & 7.

[0064] To facilitate the removal of the collection surface 110 and the pressure surface 120, the collection surface 110 and / or the pressure surface 120 can partially or completely comprise a layer of low friction, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene. Alternatively, the pressure surface 120 and / or the collection surface 110 can be made partially or completely of steel, preferably stainless steel. In other words, the pressure surface 120 and / or the collection surface 110 can include an area that can contrast with the fiber material 990, such as a glossy black surface, preferably as a pressure surface, for example, and with a layer of low friction and / or made of steel.

[0065] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described. Modifications within the scope of the claims are possible, as is a combination of the features, even if these are shown and described in different embodiments.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Testing device (100) for testing fiber material (990) emerging from a nozzle of a fiber mass for its characteristic values; fiber materials (990) may comprise fibers, parts of fibers and impurities such as trash, dust, plant residues and other contaminants, and may be fed, for example, to a so-called drawing belt, carding belt or parts thereof, by means of a rotating feed roller to a rotating dissolving roller; the testing device (100) comprising: - a collection area (110); the collection area (110) is designed to collect the fiber material (990); - a pressure surface (120); the pressure surface (120) is designed such that the collected fiber material (990) is pressed (520) in order to capture the properties of the collected fiber material (990) (530); - at least one actuator (131, 132); which at least one Actuator (131, 132) is designed to move (551, 552) at least one surface (110, 120), consisting of a collection surface (110) and a pressure surface (120), between at least one first position (111), wherein the collected fiber material (990) is pressed (520) between the pressure surface (120) and the collection surface (110), and at least one second position (112), wherein the collected fiber material (990) is released (540) and partially or completely removed from the test device (100).

2. Test device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the test device comprises at least one actuator (131, 132), at least one first actuator (131) configured to move the collecting surface (110), and / or at least one second actuator (132) configured to move the pressure surface (120).

3. Testing device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least one cleaning device (141, 142); the at least one cleaning device (141, 142) is designed to clean the at least one surface (110, 120), consisting of a collecting surface (110) and a pressure surface (120), preferably when the at least one area (110, 120), consisting of collection area (110) and Pressure surface (120), between which at least one first position (111 ) and at least one second position (112) is moved (551 , 552).

4. Testing device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the at least one cleaning device (141, 142) comprises at least one first cleaning device (141 ) and / or at least one second cleaning device (142); the at least one first cleaning device (141 ) is configured to clean the collecting surface (110) (540), and the at least one second cleaning device (142) is configured to clean the pressure surface (120) (540).

5. Testing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the collecting surface (110) is a plate or a belt, and / or the pressure surface (120) is a belt or a plate.

6. Test device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the collecting surface (110) and / or the pressure surface (120) partially or completely comprises a layer of low coefficient of friction, preferably of polytetrafluoroethylene.

7. Testing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the collecting surface (110) and / or the pressure surface (120) is made partly or entirely of steel, preferably stainless steel.

8. Testing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the collection area (110) comprises wholly or partially a transparent area for detecting (530) the properties of the collected fiber material (990).

9. Testing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising an analysis device (150) configured to detect the properties of the collected fiber material (990) (530), preferably in the at least one first position (111).

10. Testing device (100) according to claim 9, wherein the analysis device (150) comprises a transmitter (151) and / or a receiver (152); the transmitter (151) is configured to emit the collected fiber material (990), and / or the receiver (152) is configured to partially or completely reflect the electromagnetic waves and / or the electromagnetic waves that have penetrated it are received.

11. Testing device (100) according to claim 10, wherein the analysis device (150) comprises a camera (156), an ultrasound device (157) or an X-ray device (158).

12. Test method (500) for testing fiber material (990) for its characteristic values, which is implemented by the test device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11; the test method (500) comprising: - a collection (510) of fiber materials (990) on a collection area (110); - a pressure (520) of the collected fiber material (990) between a pressure surface (120) and the collection surface (110); - a recording (530) of the properties of the collected fiber material (990); and, - a release (540) of the collection area (110) and the pressure area (120) from fibrous material (990).

13. Test method (500) according to claim 12, which involves a movement (551, 552) of the at least one surface (110, 120), consisting of a collecting surface (110) and The pressure surface (120) comprises, between at least a first position (111) wherein the collected fiber material (990) is pressed (520) between the pressure surface (120) and the collection surface (110), and at least a second position (112) wherein the collection surface (110) and the pressure surface (120) are cleared (540) of the collected fiber material (990).

14. Test method (500) according to claim 13, wherein the detection (530) takes place while the at least one surface (110, 120) is located in at least one first position (111).

15. Test method (500) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the release (540) takes place while the at least one surface (110, 120) is located in at least a second position (112).

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