Cleaning device for a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a container for a fiber sliver, an arrangement comprising a textile machine and such a cleaning device, and a corresponding cleaning method
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2026/073035
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-02-18
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-27
Smart Images
Figure CN2026073035_27082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Cleaning device for a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a container for a fiber sliver, an arrangement comprising a textile machine and such a cleaning device, and a corresponding cleaning methodDescription
[0001] The invention relates to a cleaning device for a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a container for a fiber sliver in a spinning mill or in the spinning mill preparation stage, an arrangement comprising a textile machine and such a cleaning device, and a method for cleaning a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a container for a fiber sliver by means of a cleaning device.
[0002] In the spinning mill preparation stage, textile fibers are prepared for the spinning process, wherein the fibers are separated, parallelized and combined into fiber slivers in several steps. After individual processing steps, the fiber slivers are deposited in a cycloidal pattern in containers designed as transport cans by means of fiber sliver depositing devices in order to transport the fiber slivers from one processing station to another processing station. The transport cans are fed to the fiber sliver depositing device as empty cans before filling and, after filling, are transported from the fiber sliver depositing device to the next processing device as full cans.
[0003] Automatic vehicles are known in the state of the art for moving the transport cans to the fiber sliver depositing device or from the fiber sliver depositing device to the next processing device. For example, DE 10 2022 111 675 A1 discloses a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a transport can, which is integrated into the transport can. The vehicle has an electrical energy storage and a charging interface for charging the energy storage at an external charging station.
[0004] The task of the present invention is to provide a device that enables low-maintenance operation of the self-propelled vehicle. It is also the task of the invention to provide an arrangement of a textile machine with such a device and a method for cleaning a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a container for a fiber sliver by means of a device.
[0005] To solve this problem, a cleaning device for a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a container for a fiber sliver is proposed, comprising: a travel pathway with a surface on which the self-propelled vehicle is movable and which has a cleaning section on which the self-propelled vehicle can be positioned; wherein the cleaning section comprises an air guiding duct which opens in a duct opening direction transverse to the surface of the travel pathway into the environment of the cleaning device and which can be fluidically connected to an air conveyor system.
[0006] The opening of the air guiding duct in a duct opening direction transverse to the surface of the travel pathway allows the underside of a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a container for a fiber sliver to be vacuumed or blown clean. Since the wheels of the self-propelled vehicle are mounted on the underside, these are also freed from contamination, such as fiber accumulations.
[0007] The invention thus makes it possible to reduce vehicle downtime due to wheel blockage caused by contamination and / or to dispense with costly manual cleaning.
[0008] The air conveyor system can be designed as a suction air sink or a compressed air source. The air conveyor system can be integrated into the cleaning device. Alternatively or in combination, the air conveyor system can be an external air conveyor system that is in particular fluidically connected to several cleaning devices. For example, the air conveyor system can be designed as a central suction system for a spinning mill. The air conveyor system can be located on a floor of the spinning mill that is below the floor on which the cleaning device is located.
[0009] In one possible embodiment, the air guiding duct may have a first cleaning opening in the surface of the travel pathway. An air guiding element may be connected to the travel pathway. The first cleaning opening may be surrounded at least in sections by the air guiding element. In particular, at least part of the air guiding element may be arranged in the duct opening direction in overlap with the first cleaning opening. The air guiding element may have an extension orthogonal to the surface of the travel pathway that is less than the ground clearance of the self-propelled vehicle.
[0010] In one possible embodiment, the air guiding element may be designed as an element that is flexible at least in sections, in particular as a flexible sealing element. The extension of the air guiding element orthogonal to the surface of the travel pathway may then be equal to or greater than the ground clearance of the self-propelled vehicle. The air guiding element may in particular be designed as a brush seal.
[0011] In one possible embodiment, the air guiding duct may have a second cleaning opening in the surface of the travel pathway. The first cleaning opening and the second cleaning opening may have a maximum distance that is smaller than an average distance between a first wheel and a second wheel of the self-propelled vehicle.
[0012] In one possible embodiment, the air guiding duct may have a third cleaning opening and a fourth cleaning opening in the surface of the travel pathway. The third cleaning opening and the fourth cleaning opening may have a maximum distance that is smaller than a mean distance between a third wheel and a fourth wheel of the self-propelled vehicle. Alternatively or in combination, the air guiding duct may have a fifth cleaning opening and a sixth cleaning opening in the surface of the travel pathway. The fifth cleaning opening and the sixth cleaning opening may have a smallest distance that is greater than the average distance between the third wheel and the fourth wheel of the self-propelled vehicle.
[0013] In one possible embodiment, the travel pathway may have an access ramp and an exit ramp that are connected to each other via the cleaning section. The cleaning section may comprise a part of the surface of the travel pathway that is in particular raised above a ground surface on which the cleaning device can be set up.
[0014] In one possible embodiment, the cleaning section of the travel pathway may have a position marker that marks a cleaning position for the self-propelled vehicle. The position marker may be detectable by the self-propelled vehicle. In particular, the position marker may be designed as an RFID transponder.
[0015] In one possible embodiment, the travel pathway may have a guide track that marks a direction of travel for the self-propelled vehicle. The guide track may be detectable by the self-propelled vehicle and may in particular be formed by a magnetic tape. The guide track may cross the position marker.
[0016] The cleaning device may comprise a control system for controlling the cleaning device. The cleaning device may comprise a position sensor system for detecting the position of the self-propelled vehicle on the cleaning section. The air conveyor system can be controlled by the control system of the cleaning device and / or by a central vehicle control system depending on the position of the self-propelled vehicle on the cleaning section. The central vehicle control system is designed to control or coordinate one or more of the self-propelled vehicles.
[0017] To solve the problem, an arrangement comprising a textile machine and a cleaning device in a previously described embodiment is also proposed, wherein the cleaning section is integrated into the floor of the textile machine.
[0018] According to the invention a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a container for a fiber sliver and a cleaning device or an arrangement in an embodiment explained before can form a set.
[0019] To solve the problem, a method for cleaning a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a container for a fiber sliver by means of a cleaning device is also proposed, comprising the steps of: moving the self-propelled vehicle to a cleaning position of the cleaning device; cleaning an underside of the self-propelled vehicle by means of an air conveyor system of the cleaning device; moving the self-propelled vehicle from the cleaning position out of the cleaning device.
[0020] The cleaning of the underside of the self-propelled vehicle can be performed by means of the air conveyor system for a time interval. The time interval can, in particular, begin at a cleaning start time and end at a cleaning end time.
[0021] The movement of the self-propelled vehicle can be controlled by the central vehicle control system. The cleaning start time and the cleaning end time can be determined by the central vehicle control system and / or the control system of the cleaning device.
[0022] The cleaning start time can be defined depending on a signal from a position sensor system for detecting the position of the self-propelled vehicle on the cleaning device. Alternatively or in combination, the cleaning end time can be defined depending on the signal or a further signal from the position sensor system.
[0023] The figures below describe a possible embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention, an arrangement consisting of a textile machine and such a cleaning device, and a method for cleaning a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a container for a fiber sliver by means of a cleaning device. Herein,
[0024] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a cleaning device according to the invention in a first embodiment with a transport can on the cleaning position;
[0025] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the cleaning device from Figure 1 without the transport can in the cleaning position;
[0026] Figure 3 shows a top view of the cleaning device from Figure 1 without the transport can in the cleaning position;
[0027] Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the cleaning device from Figure 1 along section IV-IV in Figure 3;
[0028] Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the cleaning device from Figure 1 along section V-V in Figure 3;
[0029] Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the cleaning device from Figure 1 along section VI-VI in Figure 3;
[0030] Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the cleaning device from Figure 1 along section VII-VII in Figure 3;
[0031] Figure 8 shows the self-propelled vehicle from Figure 1 in a view from below;
[0032] Figure 9a shows a detailed view of an air guiding element with air baffle;
[0033] Figure 9b shows a detailed view of an air guiding element with brush arrangement;
[0034] Figure 9c shows a detailed view of an air guiding element with a flexible lip;
[0035] Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a cleaning device according to the invention in a second embodiment with a transport can in the cleaning position;
[0036] Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a cleaning device according to the invention in a third embodiment with a transport can in the cleaning position;
[0037] Figure 12 shows a front view of the cleaning device from Figure 11.
[0038] Figure13 shows a textile machine with an integrated cleaning device according to the invention; and
[0039] Figure 14 shows a method for cleaning a self-propelled vehicle for transporting a container for a fiber sliver by means of a cleaning device in a flow chart.
[0040] Figures 1 to 9, which are described together below, show a cleaning device 1 according to the invention for a self-propelled vehicle 28 for transporting a container 35 for a fiber sliver (not shown) in a first embodiment. The cleaning device 1 can also be referred to as a suction device or underbody suction device. The cleaning device 1 is set up on an installation surface 2 of a spinning mill. The container 35 can also be referred to as a transport can.
[0041] The transport can 35 is designed as a round can and comprises, in a known manner, a cylindrical container wall 36 which delimits a receiving space 38. The receiving space 38 is open vertically upwards and variably delimited vertically downwards by a spring-mounted base plate. As the transport can 35 is filled with fiber sliver, the base plate of the transport can 35 is moved vertically downwards by the weight of the fiber sliver against the spring force. In this case, the self-propelled vehicle 28 is integrated into a lower end section of the transport can 35. However, it is also conceivable that the transport can 35 is placed on or connected to a corresponding self-propelled vehicle.
[0042] The self-propelled vehicle 28 has two drive wheels 29, 29' and four support wheels 30, 30'. In the figures, the wheels arranged on the left side of the self-propelled vehicle 28 in the direction of travel are marked with an additional apostrophe. The drive wheels 29, 29' and the support wheels 30, 30' each have a tyre in a known manner, which can be designed in particular as a rubber tyre, a hard plastic tyre, a solid tyre and the like.
[0043] The two drive wheels 29, 29' can be driven independently of each other by a drive unit 31 designed as a motor. The drive axle of the drive wheels 29 runs essentially horizontally in each case. The two drive wheels 29, 29' have a centre distance B29 between them. The average distance B29 corresponds to the distance between the contact points of the drive wheels 29, 29'. If the drive wheels 29, 29' each have a contact surface, the average distance B29 corresponds to the distance between the contact surfaces of the drive wheels 29, 29'. The drive unit 31 comprises a vehicle control system.
[0044] Of the four support wheels 30, 30', two are arranged in the area of the front of the vehicle and two in the area of the rear of the vehicle. The support wheels 30, 30' are each mounted so as to rotate about an axis of rotation which is arranged in a plane that is essentially parallel to the drive axes of the drive wheels 29, 29'. The support wheels 30, 30' are also each mounted on a chassis of the self-propelled vehicle 28 so that they can pivot about a pivot axis S30, S30', wherein the pivot axis S30, S30' is aligned orthogonally to the drive axes of the drive wheels 29. The pivot axes S30, S30' of the support wheels 30, 30' in the front area run parallel and have a distance B30 between them. The pivot axes S30, S30' of the support wheels 30, 30' in the rear area also run parallel and have a distance B30 between them. This ensures that the support wheels 30, 30' in the front area and the support wheels 30, 30' in the rear area can run in a common track when driving straight ahead.
[0045] In this case, the drive wheels 29, 29' are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis L_28 of the vehicle 28 centrally between the support wheels 30, 30' in the front area and the support wheels 30, 30' in the rear area. Thus, the distance BR_V between the front wheel plane, in which the pivot axes S30, S30' of the support wheels 30, 30' in the front area are located, and the drive wheel plane, in which the drive axles of the drive wheels 29 are located, is equal to the distance BR_H between the rear wheel plane, in which the pivot axes S30, S30' of the support wheels 30, 30' are located in the rear area, from the drive wheel plane. The front wheel plane, the drive wheel plane and the rear wheel plane run parallel to each other and are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L_28. It is also conceivable that the drive wheels 29, 29' are arranged off-centre between the support wheels 30, 30' in the front area and the support wheels 30, 30' in the rear area in the direction of the longitudinal axis L_28 of the vehicle 28, and that the distance BR_V and the distance BR_H differ.
[0046] The self-propelled vehicle 28 is thus designed to perform a translational movement along the longitudinal axis L_28, a rotational movement about a vertical axis and a combined translational-rotational movement. At least some of the support wheels 30, 30' may be mounted elastically in the direction of the pivot axis S30, S30'.
[0047] The self-propelled vehicle 28 also comprises an energy storage 32 which can supply the drive unit 31 with energy. The energy storage 32 is designed as a battery and is connected to a charging interface 33 via an on-board charger. The charging interface 33 is designed on an outer circumference of the self-propelled vehicle 28 in the rear area.
[0048] The cleaning device 1 comprises a travel pathway 3 on which the self-propelled vehicle 28 can move to transport the transport cans 35. The travel pathway 3 has an access ramp 5 and an exit ramp 13, which are connected to each other via a cleaning section 6. The surface 4 of the cleaning section 6, together with the surface 4 of the access ramp 5 and the exit ramp 13, forms a carriageway of the travel pathway 3. The route along which the vehicle 28 is to move is marked with a guide track 14, which can be detected by a guide track sensor system 34 of the self-propelled vehicle 28. The guide track sensor system 34 is located in the front area of the self-propelled vehicle 28. The guide track sensor system 34 and the charging interface 33 are thus formed at opposite end sections of the vehicle 28 with respect to the longitudinal axis L_28.
[0049] The guide track 14 consists of one or more straight sections. In the present case, the guide track 14 is straight. The guide track 14 can, for example, be a graphic marking on the carriageway of the travel pathway 3 or, as in the present case, a magnetic tape 15. Markings are provided at defined waypoints on the guide track 14. In the present case, a cleaning position marker 24 is provided at the cleaning position 23 where the vehicle 28 is cleaned. The cleaning position 23 is located on the cleaning section 6.
[0050] The cleaning position marker 24 can also be detected by the guide track sensor system 34 of the self-propelled vehicle 28. In the present example, the cleaning position marker 24 is designed as an RFID transponder. The guide track sensor system 34 comprises a corresponding RFID reader.
[0051] The self-propelled vehicle 28 is moved along the guide track 14 until an RFID transponder at the cleaning position 23 is passed by the RFID reader. The self-propelled vehicle 28 continues to perform the previous movement until the self-propelled vehicle 28 is positioned centrally above the cleaning position marker 24. The self-propelled vehicle 28 establishes a wireless connection to a central vehicle control system 43 and communicates an identification code read from the RFID transponder to it. Based on this identification code, the central vehicle control system 43 sends a movement command or a sequence of movement commands to the self-propelled vehicle 28, which are then processed by the latter. The movement commands may include instructions for rotational movement by a certain angle, translational movement to the next marker and waiting times in a sequence of movement commands.
[0052] Specifically, in the present example, the self-propelled vehicle 28 first travels along the guide track 14 up the access ramp 5 on the travel pathway 3 and onto the cleaning section 6. The guide track sensor system 34 detects the magnetic tape 15 and can independently counteract any deviations from the guide track 14. The self-propelled vehicle 28 then drives over the cleaning position marker 24 with the guide track sensor system 34, reads the identification code of the cleaning position marker 24 with the RFID reader and sends the identification code to the central vehicle control system 43.
[0053] The central vehicle control system 43 then informs the self-propelled vehicle 28 at the cleaning position marker 24 that it should wait at the cleaning position 23 for a time interval T and, after the time interval T has elapsed, continue to follow the guide track 14 in forward motion. The time interval T is defined by a cleaning start time t_sand a cleaning end time t_e, which can be specified, for example, as the time interval from reaching the cleaning position 23. The cleaning start time t_s can be 0 seconds, for example. The time interval T would thus begin immediately upon the self-propelled vehicle 28 reaching the cleaning position 23. During the time interval T, the underside of the self-propelled vehicle 28 is vacuumed or blown cleaned.
[0054] For this purpose, an air guiding duct 7 is formed in the cleaning section 6, which is fluidically connected to an air conveyor system 21. The air guiding duct 7 opens on a side facing away from the air conveyor system 21 in a duct opening direction K transverse to the surface 4 of the travel pathway 3 into the vicinity of the cleaning device 1 (see Figure 2) . For this purpose, several openings are formed in the surface 4 of the cleaning section 6, which are part of the air guiding duct 7. It is understood that the channel opening direction K may vary for the several openings.
[0055] Specifically, the cleaning section 6 has two inner front cleaning openings 8, 8'. The cleaning section 6 also has two outer front cleaning openings 9, 9'. The two inner front cleaning openings 8, 8' and the two outer front cleaning openings 9, 9' are axially aligned with respect to the guide track 14. The inner front cleaning openings 8, 8' and the outer front cleaning openings 9, 9' lie in a common front opening plane V-V, in particular with their centres of the longitudinal extension. The two inner front cleaning openings 8, 8' have a maximum distance B8_max between the outer opening edges in a direction parallel to the front opening plane V-V. The maximum distance B8_max is smaller than the distance B30 between the pivot axes S30, S30'. The distance between the pivot axes S30, S30' can be described as the average distance between the support wheels 30, 30' in the front area.
[0056] The two outer front cleaning openings 9, 9' have a minimum distance B9_min between the inner opening edges in a direction parallel to the front opening plane V-V. The minimum distance B9_min is greater than the distance B30 between the pivot axes S30, S30'.
[0057] One of the inner front cleaning openings 8, 8' and one of the outer front cleaning openings 9, 9' form a front opening pair. The two front opening pairs are symmetrical to each other with respect to a longitudinal axis L_1 of the cleaning section 6 and the guide track 14, respectively, and are arranged in a front area of the cleaning section 6 in the direction of travel. Between each front pair of openings, a web section is formed between the inner front cleaning opening 8, 8' and the outer front cleaning opening 9, 9', over which both the support wheels 30, 30' in the front area and the support wheels 30, 30' in the rear area can move. The width of the webs corresponds to half the difference between distance B9_min and distance B8_max. The width of the web corresponds at least to the width of the tyre of a support wheel 30, 30' and at most to four times the width of the tyre of a support wheel 30, 30', in particular at most to twice the width of the tyre of a support wheel 30, 30'. The average distance between the webs of the two pairs of openings corresponds to the distance between the pivot axes B30.
[0058] Furthermore, the cleaning section 6 has two inner rear cleaning openings 11, 11'. The cleaning section 6 also has two outer rear cleaning openings 12, 12'. The two inner rear cleaning openings 11, 11' and the two outer rear cleaning openings 12, 12' are axially aligned with respect to the guide track 14. The inner rear cleaning openings 11, 11' and the outer rear cleaning openings 12, 12' lie in a common rear opening plane VI-VI, in particular with their centres of longitudinal extension.
[0059] The two inner front cleaning openings 8, 8' and the two inner rear cleaning openings 11, 11' are arranged symmetrically with respect to a transverse plane IV-IV, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L_1 and the guide track 14, respectively, and in which the cleaning position 23 is located. The two outer front cleaning openings 9, 9' and the two outer rear cleaning openings 12, 12' are arranged symmetrically with respect to the transverse plane IV-IV.
[0060] The two inner rear cleaning openings 11, 11' have a maximum distance B11_max between the outer opening edges in a direction parallel to the rear opening plane VI-VI. The maximum distance B11_max is smaller than the distance B30 between the pivot axes S30, S30'. The distance between the pivot axes S30, S30' can be described as the average distance between the support wheels 30, 30' in the rear area. The two outer rear cleaning openings 12, 12' have a minimum distance B12_min between the inner opening edges in a direction parallel to the rear opening plane VI-VI. The minimum distance B12_min is greater than the distance B30 between the pivot axes S30, S30'.
[0061] One of the inner rear cleaning openings 11, 11' and one of the outer rear cleaning openings 12, 12' form a rear opening pair. The two rear opening pairs are symmetrical to each other with respect to the longitudinal axis L_1 of the cleaning section 6 and the guide track 14, respectively, and are arranged in a rear area of the cleaning section 6 in the direction of travel. For each rear opening pair, a web is formed between the inner rear cleaning opening 11, 11' and the outer rear cleaning opening 12, 12', over which both the support wheels 30, 30' in the front area and the support wheels 30, 30' in the rear area can move. The width of the webs corresponds to half the difference between distance B12_min and distance B11_max. The width of the web corresponds at least to the width of the tyre of a support wheel 30, 30' and at most to four times the width of the tyre of the support wheel 30, 30', in particular at most to twice the width of the tyre of the support wheel 30, 30'. The average distance between the webs of the two pairs of openings corresponds to the distance between the pivot axes B30.
[0062] The cleaning section 6 also has two central cleaning openings 10, 10'. The two central cleaning openings 10, 10' are arranged symmetrically to each other with respect to a longitudinal axis L_1 of the cleaning section 6 and with respect to the guide track 14, respectively. The two central cleaning openings 10, 10' lie in the transverse plane IV-IV, in particular with their centres of the longitudinal extension.
[0063] The two middle cleaning openings 10, 10' have a maximum distance B10_max between the outer edges of the openings in a direction parallel to the transverse plane IV-IV. The maximum distance B10_max between the outer edges of the openings in the transverse plane IV-IV is smaller than the distance B29 between the drive wheels 29. The difference between distance B29 and distance B10_max corresponds at least to the width of the tyres of a drive wheel 29, 29' and at most to four times the width of the tyres of a drive wheel 29, 29', in particular at most to twice the width of the tyre of a drive wheel 29, 29'.
[0064] The front opening plane V-V has a distance BV from the transverse plane IV-IV, and the rear opening plane VI-VI has a distance BH from the transverse plane IV-IV. The distance BV corresponds to the distance BR_V of the vehicle 28, and the distance BH corresponds to the distance BR_V. The distance BV and the distance BH are therefore identical in this case, without being limited to this. In other words, the transverse plane IV-IV lies centrally between the front opening plane V-V and the rear opening plane VI-VI. It is understood that the transverse plane IV-IV, the front opening plane V-V and the rear opening plane VI-VI are imaginary planes that are arranged parallel to each other and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L_1.
[0065] All of the aforementioned cleaning openings have a substantially rectangular cross-section.
[0066] The central cleaning openings 10, 10' are each surrounded on an inner side by an air guiding element 16 with respect to the longitudinal axis L_1. The air guiding element 16 comprises a fastening section 17 and an air baffle 18 protruding from the fastening section 17. The fastening section 17 is connected to the surface 4 of the cleaning section 6, for example by means of a screw connection. The air baffle 18 is U-shaped and thus surrounds the respective central cleaning opening 10, 10' on three sides. The air baffle 18 extends at a right angle from the surface 4 of the cleaning section 6 with a height H16. The height H16 is less than a minimum ground clearance H37 of the self-propelled vehicle 28. The minimum ground clearance H37 is the distance between the lowest point of the body of the self-propelled vehicle 28 and a level road surface. As can be seen from Figure 4, in the present case, the minimum ground clearance H37 is defined by a bottom end 37 of the transport can 35, whereby the transport can 35 is counted as part of the body of the self-propelled vehicle 28. However, the lowest point could also be defined by the energy storage device. This ensures that the self-propelled vehicle 28 can pass over the air guiding element 16 without collision.
[0067] The inner front cleaning openings 8, 8' and the inner rear cleaning openings 11, 11' are each surrounded on an inner side by an air guiding element 16*with respect to the longitudinal axis L_1. The outer front cleaning openings 9, 9' and the outer rear cleaning openings 12, 12' are each surrounded on an outer side by an air guiding element 16*with respect to the longitudinal axis L_1.
[0068] As can be seen in Figure 9a, the air guiding element 16*comprises a fastening section 17*and an air baffle 18*protruding from the fastening section 17*. The fastening section 17*is connected to the surface 4 of the cleaning section 6, for example by means of a screw connection. The air baffle 18*is U-shaped and thus surrounds the respective cleaning opening on three sides. The air baffle 18*extends transversely to the surface 4 of the cleaning section 6 at an angle deviating from a right angle and with a height H16*. The height H16*is less than the minimum ground clearance H37 of the self-propelled vehicle 28. The free legs of the U-shaped air baffle 18*dip into the respective cleaning opening in sections.
[0069] Figure 9b shows a further alternative design of the air guiding element 16'. The air guiding element 16' comprises a fastening section 17' and a brush arrangement 53 protruding from the fastening section 17'. The fastening section 17' is connected to the surface 4 of the cleaning section 6, for example by means of a screw connection. The brush arrangement 53 comprises a plurality of brush elements 54 which extend from the fastening section 17'transversely to the surface 4 of the cleaning section 6 at an angle deviating from a right angle and have a maximum orthogonal distance H16' between the surface 4 of the cleaning section 6 and the brush elements 54. The height H16' may be greater than or equal to the minimum ground clearance H37 of the self-propelled vehicle 28, so that the brush assembly 53 is in contact with an underside of the vehicle 28 when the vehicle 28 is positioned at the cleaning position. When the vehicle 28 drives over the brush assembly 53, the brushes 54 are pressed downwards. This improves the flow effect in the area of the wheels and reduces the risk of damage due to collision between the vehicle and the air guiding element. The air guiding element 16' can also be referred to as a brush seal.
[0070] Figure 9c shows a further alternative design of the air guiding element 16” . The air guiding element 16” comprises a fastening section 17” and a flexible lip 55, for example a rubber lip, projecting from the fastening section 17” . The fastening section 17' is connected to the surface 4 of the cleaning section 6, for example by means of a screw connection. The flexible lip 55 is U-shaped and thus surrounds the respective cleaning opening on three sides. The flexible lip 55 extends transversely to the surface 4 of the cleaning section 6 at an angle deviating from a right angle and with a height H16” . The height H16” may be greater than the minimum ground clearance H37 of the self-propelled vehicle 28, so that the flexible lip 55 is in contact with an underside of the vehicle 28 when the vehicle 28 is positioned in the cleaning position. When the vehicle 28 drives over the flexible lip 55, it is pressed downwards. This improves the flow effect in the area of the wheels and reduces the risk of damage due to collision between the vehicle and the air guiding element.
[0071] It is understood that, according to the invention, a free choice can be made from the air guiding elements 16, 16*, 16', 16” for all cleaning openings.
[0072] In this case, the air conveyor system 21 is designed as a blower. The blower can be operated either as a suction air sink or as a compressed air source. If the blower is operated as a suction air sink while the vehicle 28 is positioned at the cleaning position 23, a suction flow F is created in the air guiding duct 7, through which air from the area below the vehicle 28 is sucked into the air guiding duct 7 via the cleaning openings. The suction flow F is shown as a dotted line in Figures 4 to 6 and is directed via the blower into connection 22 to an exhaust air system. This suction also removes dirt from the area around the wheels of the vehicle 28. This cleans the underside of the vehicle 28 and, in particular, the wheels of the vehicle 28.
[0073] If the blower is operated as a compressed air source while the vehicle 28 is positioned at the cleaning position 23, a flow is created in the air guiding duct 7, through which air is conveyed from the air guiding duct 7 via the cleaning openings into the area below the vehicle 28. This air flow can loosen dirt in the area of the wheels of the vehicle 28. This flow is essentially directed opposite to the dotted line F shown in Figures 4 to 6.
[0074] In addition, the cleaning device 1 has a position sensor system 25 for detecting the position of the self-propelled vehicle 28 on the cleaning section 6. The position sensor system 25 comprises a first position sensor 26, which is arranged in the direction of the guide track 14 or the longitudinal axis L_1 on a first side of the cleaning section 6, and a second position sensor 27, which is arranged on a second opposite side of the cleaning section 6. The first position sensor 26 is designed to detect the entry of the self-propelled vehicle 28 onto the cleaning section 6. The second position sensor 27 is designed to detect the exit of the self-propelled vehicle 28 from the cleaning section 6. The position sensors 26, 27 may be designed, for example, as light barriers or proximity sensors.
[0075] If the first position sensor 26 detects the entry of the self-propelled vehicle 28 onto the cleaning section 6, the air conveyor system 21 is switched on. If the second position sensor 27 detects the exit of the self-propelled vehicle 28 from the cleaning section 6, the air conveyor system 21 is switched off. The air conveyor system 21 can be controlled either by the central vehicle control system 43 or by a separate control system of the cleaning device 1, which are each connected to the position sensor system 25.
[0076] Figure 10 shows a cleaning device 1 according to the invention for a self-propelled vehicle 28 for transporting a container 35 for a fiber sliver (not shown) in a second embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in that the travel pathway 6 has no access ramp 5 and no exit ramp 13. Instead, the cleaning section 6 is inserted flush into a recess in the installation surface 2 so that the surfaces of the cleaning section 6 and the installation surface 2 lie in a common plane. With regard to the similarities, reference is made here to the above description of the first embodiment.
[0077] Figures 11 and 12, which are described together below, show a cleaning device 1 according to the invention for a self-propelled vehicle 28 for transporting a container 35 for a fiber sliver (not shown) in a third embodiment. The third embodiment has all the features of the first embodiment. With regard to these common features, reference is made here to the above description of the first embodiment.
[0078] In addition to the first embodiment, the cleaning device 1 also has a can suction device 39 in addition to the cleaning section 6. The can suction device 39 is designed to suck up dirt from the transport can 35 in the area of the receiving chamber 38 or the spring-mounted base plate. The can suction device 39 comprises a support arrangement 40 on which a suction nozzle 41 is mounted so that its height can be adjusted.
[0079] The support arrangement 40 is designed in the form of a portal that spans the cleaning section 6 in such a way that the self-propelled vehicle 28 together with the transport can 35 can be moved through it on the travel pathway 3.
[0080] The suction nozzle 41 has a widening rectangular cross-section that transitions into a cylindrical connection 42. The connection 42 is connected to a central suction system of the spinning mill. A closing flap 44 may be provided which can fluidically decouple the suction nozzle 41 from the central suction system of the spinning mill.
[0081] The fluid coupling and decoupling of the suction nozzle 41 from the central suction system can be carried out depending on a signal from the position sensor system 25 for detecting the position of the self-propelled vehicle 28 on the cleaning section 6. If the first position sensor 26 detects the entry of the self-propelled vehicle 28 onto the cleaning section 6, the closing flap 44 is switched so that the suction nozzle 41 is fluidically coupled to the central suction system. If the second position sensor 27 detects the exit of the self-propelled vehicle 28 from the cleaning section 6, the closing flap 44 is switched so that the suction nozzle 41 is fluidically decoupled from the central suction system. The closing flap 44 can be switched either by the central vehicle control system 43 or by the separate control system of the cleaning device 1.
[0082] Figure 13 shows a textile machine 45 with an integrated cleaning device 1 according to the invention. The textile machine 45 is designed as a draw frame, which in a known manner comprises a drafting unit 46 and a sliver depositing device 47. The sliver depositing device 47 has a covered depositing plate and a can turntable 48, which can be rotated about their axes of rotation in such a way that the drafted sliver can be deposited in cycloids into a transport can arranged on the can turntable 48.
[0083] The textile machine 45 comprises a machine frame 51 which supports the drafting mechanism 46 and the part of the fiber sliver depositing device 47 arranged above the can turntable 48. The machine frame 51 comprises a base forming the travel pathway 3. The cleaning section 6, which is described in detail in the first embodiment, is integrated into the base of the machine frame 51. The design and arrangement of the air guiding duct with the cleaning openings and the air guiding elements in the cleaning section 6 is identical to that of the cleaning section of the first embodiment of the cleaning device. The transport can first travels along the guide track 14 to the cleaning position 23, which is located on the cleaning section 6, and is cleaned there. The transport can is then moved to a filling position 50 on the can turntable 48 and filled there.
[0084] The air guiding duct 7 of the cleaning section 6 can be fluidically coupled to the central suction system of the spinning mill as an air conveyor system. A concealed closing flap is provided which can selectively fluidically couple or decouple the air guiding duct 7 from the central suction system of the spinning mill. The fluid coupling and decoupling of the air guiding duct 7 from the central suction system can be carried out depending on a signal from the position sensor system 25 for detecting the position of the self-propelled vehicle 28 on the cleaning section 6. This position sensor system 25 is concealed in Figure 13. If the first position sensor 26 detects the entry of the self-propelled vehicle 28 onto the cleaning section 6, the closing flap 44 is switched so that the air guiding duct 7 is fluidically coupled to the central suction system. If the second position sensor 27 detects the exit of the self-propelled vehicle 28 from the cleaning section 6, the closing flap 44 is switched so that the suction nozzle 41 is fluidically decoupled from the central suction system. The closing flap 44 can be controlled either by the central vehicle control system 43 or by a separate control system of the cleaning device 1. The coupling of the air guiding duct 7 to the central suction system of the spinning mill as an air conveyor system described here in the context of the textile machine 45 can also be implemented in the previously described embodiments of the cleaning device, so that a separate blower is not required there.
[0085] A charging station 49 is provided in the machine frame 51, which is designed to charge the energy storage 32 of the vehicle 28 when the vehicle is positioned at the cleaning position 23.
[0086] Figure 14 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for cleaning a self-propelled vehicle 28 for transporting a container 35 for a fiber sliver using a cleaning device 1. Starting from a start S of the method, the self-propelled vehicle 28 is moved to a cleaning position of the cleaning device in a process step V10.
[0087] Subsequently, in a process step V20, an underside of the self-propelled vehicle is cleaned by means of an air conveyor system 21 of the cleaning device 1. The underside of the self-propelled vehicle 28 can be cleaned by means of the air conveyor system 21 for a time interval T, which begins in particular at a cleaning start time t_sand ends at a cleaning end time t_e. The cleaning start time t_sand the cleaning end time t_e can each be specified by a central vehicle control system 43 and / or a control system of the cleaning device 1. The cleaning start time t_scan be defined as a function of a signal from a position sensor system 25 for detecting the position of the self-propelled vehicle 28 on the cleaning device 1. The cleaning end time t_e can be defined as a function of the signal or a further signal from the position sensor system 25.
[0088] Subsequently, in process step V30, the self-propelled vehicle 28 is moved out of the cleaning device 1 from the cleaning position 23, whereby the end of the process E is reached.
[0089] The movement of the self-propelled vehicle 28 in the individual process steps can be controlled by a central vehicle control system 43.
[0090] The process according to Figure 14 also comprises all procedural details and intermediate steps of process steps V10 to V30, which were described in the context of the cleaning device according to the invention in Figures 1 to 13.
[0091] Reference signs
[0092] 1 cleaning device
[0093] 2 Installation surface
[0094] 3 Travel pathway
[0095] 4 Surface
[0096] 5 Access ramp
[0097] 6 cleaning section
[0098] 7 air guiding duct
[0099] 8 Inner front cleaning opening
[0100] 9 External front cleaning opening
[0101] 10 Middle cleaning opening
[0102] 11 Inner rear cleaning opening
[0103] 12 Outer rear cleaning opening
[0104] 13 Exit ramp
[0105] 14 guide track
[0106] 15 magnetic tape
[0107] 16 air guiding element
[0108] 17 Fastening section
[0109] 18 air baffle
[0110] 21 air conveyor system
[0111] 22 Connection
[0112] 23 cleaning position
[0113] 24 cleaning position marker
[0114] 25 Position sensor system
[0115] 26 Entry position sensor
[0116] 27 Position sensor exit
[0117] 28 Vehicle
[0118] 29 Drive wheel
[0119] 30 Support wheel
[0120] 31 Drive unit
[0121] 32 energy storage
[0122] 33 charging interface
[0123] 34 guide track sensor system
[0124] 35 Container
[0125] 36 Container wall
[0126] 37 Bottom end
[0127] 38 reception room
[0128] 39 Can suction device
[0129] 40 Support arrangement
[0130] 41 Suction nozzle
[0131] 42 Connection
[0132] 43 Central vehicle control system
[0133] 44 Closing flap
[0134] 45 Textile machine
[0135] 46 Drafting unit
[0136] 47 Depositing system
[0137] 48 Can turntable
[0138] 49 Charging station
[0139] 50 Filling position
[0140] 51 Machine frame
[0141] 53 Brush arrangement
[0142] 54 Brushes
[0143] 55 Flexible lip
Claims
1.A cleaning device for a self-propelled vehicle (28) for transporting a container (35) for a fiber sliver, comprising:a travel pathway (3) comprising a surface (4) on which the self-propelled vehicle (28) is movable and a cleaning section (6) on which the self-propelled vehicle (28) is positionable;wherein the cleaning section (6) comprises an air guiding duct (7)which opens in a duct opening direction (K) transverse to the surface (4) of the travel pathway (3) into the environment of the cleaning device (1) andwhich is fluidically connectable to an air conveyor system (21) .2.Cleaning device according to claim 1,characterized inthat the air guiding duct (7) has a first cleaning opening (10) in the surface (4) of the travel pathway (3) , andthat an air guiding element (16) is connected to the travel pathway (3) , and the first cleaning opening (10) is surrounded at least in sections by the air guiding element (16) ,wherein, in particular, at least a part of the air guiding element (16) is arranged in the channel opening direction (K) in overlap with the first cleaning opening (10) .3.Cleaning device according to claim 2,characterized inthat the air guiding element (16) has an extension (H16) orthogonal to the surface (4) of the travel pathway (3) which is smaller than a ground clearance (H36) of the self-propelled vehicle (28) .4.Cleaning device according to claim 2,Characterized inthat the air guiding element (16) is designed as a flexible sealing element and has an extension orthogonal to the surface (4) of the travel pathway (3) that is equal to or greater than the ground clearance of the self-propelled vehicle (28) ,wherein the air guiding element (16) is designed in particular as a brush seal.5.Cleaning device according to one of claims 2 to 4,characterized inthat the air guiding duct (7) has a second cleaning opening (10') in the surface (4) of the travel pathway (3) , andthe first cleaning opening (10) and the second cleaning opening (10’ ) have a maximum distance (B10_max) that is smaller than a mean distance (B29) between a first wheel (29) and a second wheel (29’ ) of the self-propelled vehicle (28) .6.Cleaning device according to claim 5,characterized inthat the air guiding duct (7) has a third cleaning opening (8) and a fourth cleaning opening (8′) in the surface (4) of the travel pathway (3) , andthat the third cleaning opening (8) and the fourth cleaning opening (8') have a maximum distance (B8_max) that is smaller than a mean distance between a third wheel (30) and a fourth wheel (30') of the self-propelled vehicle (28) and / orthat the air guiding duct (7) has a fifth cleaning opening (9) and a sixth cleaning opening (9') in the surface (4) of the travel pathway (3) , andthat the fifth cleaning opening (9) and the sixth cleaning opening (9') have a smallest distance (B9_min) that is greater than the average distance between the third wheel (30) and the fourth wheel (30') of the self-propelled vehicle (28) .7.Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 6,characterized inthat the travel pathway (3) has an access ramp (5) and an exit ramp (13) which are connected to each other via the cleaning section (6) , andthat the cleaning section (6) comprises a part of the surface (4) of the travel pathway (3) which is raised above a ground surface (2) on which the cleaning device (1) can be set up.8.Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 7,characterized inthat the cleaning section (6) of the travel pathway (3) has a position marker (24) which marks a cleaning position (23) of the self-propelled vehicle (28) ,wherein the position marker (24) can be detected by the self-propelled vehicle (28) and is designed in particular as an RFID transponder.9.Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 8,characterized inthat the travel pathway (3) has a guide track (14) which marks a direction of travel of the self-propelled vehicle (28) ,wherein the guide track (14) can be detected by the self-propelled vehicle (28) and is formed in particular by a magnetic tape (15) .10.Cleaning device according to claim 9,Characterized inthat the guide track (14) crosses the position marker (24) .11.Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 10,characterized inthat the cleaning device (1) comprises a control system for controlling the cleaning device (1) and a position sensor system (25) for detecting the position of the self-propelled vehicle (28) on the cleaning section (6) , wherein the air conveyor system (21) can be controlled by the control system depending on the position of the self-propelled vehicle (28) on the cleaning section (6) .12.Arrangement comprising a textile machine (45) and a cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11,characterized inthat the cleaning section (6) is integrated into the base of the textile machine (45) .13.A set comprising a self-propelled vehicle (28) for transporting a container (35) for a fiber sliver and a cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 11 or an arrangement according to claim 12.14.Method for cleaning a self-propelled vehicle (28) for transporting a container (35) for a fiber sliver by means of a cleaning device (1) , comprising the steps of:moving the self-propelled vehicle (28) to a cleaning position (23) of the cleaning device (1) ;cleaning an underside of the self-propelled vehicle (28) by means of an air conveyor system (21) of the cleaning device (1) ;moving the self-propelled vehicle (28) from the cleaning position (23) out of the cleaning device (1) .15.Method according to claim 14,characterized inthat the cleaning of the underside of the self-propelled vehicle (28) by means of the air conveyor system (21) is carried out for a time interval (T) which in particular begins at a cleaning start time (t_s) and ends at a cleaning end time (t_e) .16.Method according to claim 15,characterized inthat the movement of the self-propelled vehicle (28) is controlled by a central vehicle control system (43) ; andthe cleaning start time (t_s) and the cleaning end time (t_e) are specified by the central vehicle control system (43) .17.Method according to claim 15,characterized inthat the cleaning start time (t_s) is defined as a function of a signal from a position sensor system for detecting the position of the self-propelled vehicle (28) on the cleaning device (1) , andthe cleaning end time (t_e) is defined depending on the signal from the position sensor system.