Pneumatic Fiber Feed Line Isolation for Textile Machine Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for pneumatically feeding fiber material to textile machines are prone to clogging and malfunction when a machine fails, disrupting the entire system.
Innovation Solution
A device with closing elements controlled by actuators, such as flaps or slides, is used to isolate the malfunctioning machine, preventing blockages by closing the transport line at the nearest upstream point, ensuring other machines continue operating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common pneumatic conveying line is used to feed multiple textile machines, then the system complexity is reduced and material flow is simplified, but the risk of clogging increases when a machine malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying line is divided into multiple segments by closing elements that can isolate sections of the line. When a machine malfunctions, only the affected segment is closed off while other segments remain operational, preventing clogging from propagating through the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
Closing elements are positioned upstream of potential clogging points and can be activated preemptively when a machine malfunction is detected, preventing material from entering the blocked section before clogging occurs.
2Productivity
If the transport line remains open to allow continuous material flow, then productivity is maintained, but blockages occur when machines malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The transport line transitions from a static open state to a dynamic state where closing elements can be moved between open and closed positions based on machine status, allowing the system to adapt and prevent blockages while maintaining continuous operation of healthy machines.
Solution Approach 2:
Closing elements act as intermediaries between the pneumatic conveying system and individual textile machines, controlling material flow to machines and preventing blockages from affecting the entire system when machines malfunction.
3Reliability
If closing elements are added to isolate malfunctioning machines, then blockage prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically detects machine malfunctions and activates closing elements without human intervention, making the system self-regulating and reducing the need for complex manual control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system receives feedback from machine status sensors and automatically adjusts closing element positions accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents blockages while minimizing the need for complex manual intervention.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the entire system is shut down to clear blockages, then complete blockage is prevented, but downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system isolates blockages to specific segments rather than shutting down the entire conveying line, allowing unaffected machines to continue operating and minimizing downtime while preventing complete system blockage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents blockages and allows quick restart of machines after malfunctions, maintaining system efficiency and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
pneumatically feeding fiber material to a plurality of textile machines which are designed as carding machines or carding machines by means of filling chutes upstream of the textile machines, which are connected to a common pneumatic conveying line
Implementation Method 2
a closing element coupled to an actuator is arranged between each pair of bottom openings that are adjacent to each other, wherein the respective closing element borders an upstream bottom opening of the two adjacent bottom openings and allows flow through the transport line in an open position and prevents it in a closed position
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for pneumatically feeding fiber material to a plurality of textile machines (1), which are designed as carding machines or carding machines, by means of filling chutes (3) upstream of the textile machines (1), which are connected to a common pneumatic transport line (4) running above the filling chutes (3), wherein the transport line (4) has a bottom opening (9) for connection to the filling chutes (3) between its line inlet (5) and its line end (8) for each filling chute (3), wherein a fiber processing machine (6) can be connected to the line inlet (5) via a material transport fan (7) and the line end (8) is permanently closed, wherein in one transport direction (A) a closing element (10) coupled to an actuator (11) is arranged between each pair of the bottom openings (9) which are arranged adjacent to each other,wherein the respective closure element (10) borders an upstream bottom opening (9) of the two adjacent bottom openings (9) and allows flow through the transport line (4) in an open position and prevents it in a closed position, and wherein a control unit (13) is communicatively connected and configured with the textile machines (1) and the actuators (11) in the event of a malfunction of at least one textile machine (1, 6) last in the transport direction (A), to move the upstream nearest closure element (10.c) from the open position to the closed position by means of the associated actuator (11). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a further device and method using the respective device.