U.S. patent application number 10/032274 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-29 for device for cleaning the guides of travelling flats in a flat carding machine.
Invention is credited to Facchinetti, Marco, Pasini, Giovanni Battista, Patelli, Silvano.
Application Number | 20030097733 10/032274 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11446340 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030097733 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Patelli, Silvano ; et
al. |
May 29, 2003 |
DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE GUIDES OF TRAVELLING FLATS IN A FLAT
CARDING MACHINE
Abstract
Device for cleaning the guides of travelling flats in a flat
carding machine, to eliminate from these deposits of foreign
material found in the carded fibrous material, consisting in
fitting the travelling flats assembly with flats provided with
scraping or cleaning elements which come into contact with the
surfaces of the guides on which the elements on which the flats
rest are pulled.
Inventors: |
Patelli, Silvano; (Palazzolo
Sull ' Oglio, IT) ; Facchinetti, Marco; (Palazzolo
Sull ' Oglio, IT) ; Pasini, Giovanni Battista;
(Palazzolo Sull ' Oglio, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James V. Costigan, Esq.
HEDMAN & COSTIGAN, P.C.
Suite 2003
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036-2646
US
|
Family ID: |
11446340 |
Appl. No.: |
10/032274 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
19/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D01G 15/78 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
19/108 |
International
Class: |
D01G 015/76 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2000 |
IT |
MI2000A 002843 |
Claims
1. Device for cleaning the guides (10) of travelling flats (7) in a
flat carding machine, to eliminate deposits of foreign material on
said guides (10), characterized in that the travelling flats
assembly (7) is fitted with travelling flats provided with scraping
and/or cleaning elements (35, 38, 41) positioned in contact with
the surfaces on which the guides (10) rest, on which the elements
(31) on which the flats (7) rest are pulled.
2. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
scraping and/or cleaning elements (35, 38, 41) are prepared
separately and fitted to a support (36, 39, 42, 53), and can be
replaced after a set period of use.
3. Cleaning device as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 and 2,
characterized in that the scraping and/or cleaning elements are
composed of blades (35) flexible and essentially protruding below
the level on which the pins (31) rest, to come into contact on the
surface of the guide (10) opposite them with continual grazing
motion on the surface on which the pins (31) rest through the
effect of the relative pulling motion of the flats.
4. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the
scraping blades (35) are carried by prismatic elements (36) to fix
the blades, integral with the body of the flat (7), preferably in
an intermediate position between the two pins (31) on which the
flat rests.
5. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
scraping/cleaning element is composed of one or more bristle
brushes (38) fitted to an fixing element (39) of the brush(es)
integral with the body of the flat (7).
6. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
scraping/cleaning element is composed of a removing element (41)
composed of one or more rows of slim cylinders (43) in elastomeric
or plastic material, positioned radially to exercise through
friction a removing action of the impurities stratified on the
guides (10).
7. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
scraping/cleaning elements (35, 38, 41) are fitted to the pin (32)
to connect the flat (7) to the drive belt (23), said pin (32) being
shaped with a section comprising a part (51), intended for
insertion into the cavity (28) of the drive belt (23), and an
extension (52) having an end (53) and facing towards the face (21)
of the flat (7) and shaped to support the scraping/cleaning element
(35, 38, 41).
8. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
scraping and/or cleaning elements (35, 38, 41) of different types
are used in conjunction with the travelling flats assembly (7) by
inserting in the assembly travelling flats provided with scraping
or cleaning elements of two or more of these types (35, 38,
41).
9. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the
scraping and/or cleaning elements (35, 38, 41) of different types
comprise in the sequence scraping elements of different
inclination, material and orientation.
10. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that
the scraping and/or cleaning elements (35, 38, 41) are fitted to an
element in the form of a flat inserted in the travelling flats
assembly (7) and circulating with these, said element in the form
of a flat being devoid of clothing and essentially performing the
function of carrier of the scraping/cleaning elements (35, 38, 41)
of the guides 10, spaced between the flats (7) provided with
clothing.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to flat carding machines in
which a thin layer of fibrous material is processed in a plurality
of stages passing between the surfaces moved by relative motion and
provided with clothings of points or needles--moved by relative
motion--encountering cleaning blades and suction outlets. In these
stages the fibrous material in flock is opened out and purified,
the smallest particles of dirt are eliminated, as are waste and
tangles. During carding the fibres are homogenized to form a blend
with one other; the carded product is composed of a sliver of
fibres essentially paralleled, to be sent to the subsequent stages
to produce yarns.
[0002] To illustrate the problems and difficulties of the carding
operation, confronted in the present invention, the work of a flat
carding machine is schematically described with reference to FIG.
1.
[0003] The raw material 1, composed of fibres in a layer of flock,
is fed to the carding machine by a feeder roller 2 that, with the
opposite board 3, supplies a wide tuft 4 to the taker-in cylinder
5, currently named "briseur". Said briseur is provided with a
clothing of points, generally less dense than those of the carding
cylinder, and rotates at considerable speed; the fibres of the tuft
4 are distributed on the clothing of the briseur and are roughly
combed and disentangled. Along their path on the briseur, the
fibres encounter fixed segments with point clothing and blades to
remove impurities and then pass on to the subsequent carding
cylinder 6. This carding cylinder is, in fact, operated at a higher
peripheral speed than the briseur speed and its points remove the
layer of fibres, at their nearest generatrices. In general, the
carding cylinder 6 is provided with a denser and more minute
clothing than the briseur.
[0004] The travelling flats 7 are positioned in line with the upper
part of the cylinder 6. These travelling flats are bars with a
useful length corresponding to the width of the cylindrical surface
of the carding cylinder 6 and a few centimetres in width. The part
of them that faces the clothed surface of the cylinder 6 is also
provided with a clothing of points. Generally, the travelling flats
move at low speed in the same or in the opposite direction to the
cylinder motion, which instead moves at noteworthy speed. The
respective clothings opposite one another perform the typical
carding action of distending and cleaning the fibres. The
peripheral speed of the cylinder generally ranges from 15 to 40
metres per second, while the speed of the flats is in the order of
a few centimetres per minute.
[0005] The flats 7 thus circulate around an arc of the periphery of
the cylinder 6 operated by a drive element 8, for example chains or
toothed belts, which circulate in a closed circuit between a series
of actuating and guiding toothed wheels 9. Along the carding path
between the cylinder and the flats, the flats are guided by guides
10 that are regulated with extreme precision, to determine the
reciprocal distances to between the clothing of points of the
cylinder and of the flats, which are essential for the efficacy and
quality of processing. The guides 10 are positioned in line with
the edge of the flat faces of the cylinder and are grazed by the
end parts of the flats 7, not fitted with points. The distended and
cleaned fibres on the carding cylinder 6 are then removed by a
doffer 11 and removed from this with detaching cylinders not shown
in the figure.
[0006] In the traditional art, the bodies of flats are generally
made of cast ferrous material, typically cast iron, subsequently
fitted with the clothing of points for carding. These traditional
flats are generally driven by articulated pulling chains to which
the flats, are fixed, both in the articulations and plates of the
chain, with elements known to the state of the art.
[0007] In order to simplify and lighten the device, more recently
designed carding machines use travelling flats produced by a
section bar, subsequently fitted with carding clothings. These
flats, generally made from T-bars with lightening cavities, while
satisfying the requirements for stability and flexural and
torsional rigidity, are lighter and altogether less expensive.
Generally, lighter materials, such as light aluminium alloys, are
used to make these lighter flats and drive is provided with toothed
belts in place of traditional metal chains.
[0008] More information on the state of the art of carding machines
and travelling flats is found in the European patent application
EP-A-361.219 by Truetzschler GmbH, and in the European patent
application EP-A-567.747 which describes the insertion, into the
ends of the carding flats, of cylindrical pins more resistant to
wear to rest these on the guides 10. European patent application
EP-A-627.507 by Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG describes a coupling
between the carding machine flats and the toothed drive belt using
the same pins to rest on the guides 10. European patent
applications EP 794.271 and 794.272 in the name of the applicant,
describe further systems for connecting the card to the toothed
belt, envisaging the use of coupling pins between the toothed belt
and the flats and separate from the pins with which the flats rest
on the guides.
[0009] There is a problem with technical solutions according to
prior art in that when carding on the main cylinder, noteworthy
impurities accumulate caused by foreign materials contained in the
flock fibre fed to the carding machine, such as sand, dust, short
fibres, neps and so on. These materials produce significant
deposits that stratify on the guides 10.
[0010] These deposits adhere to give rise to noteworthy problems.
For example, the distance set between the clothings of the carding
cylinder and of the flats is modified and influences the efficacy
of processing proportional to the distance with which the flat
follows the direction of the profile of the guides 10. Another
problem is caused by the abrasive action that this layer of
material deposited on the guides 10 exerts on the pins on which the
flats rest and in particular on their generatrix in contact with
the guides. Due to this wear, systematic maintenance is required on
the majority of the flats to restore the pins and adjust the
distances between the clothings.
[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a system
to remove the deposits of foreign material on the guides 10 with
which these are essentially contrasted, if not totally
eliminated.
[0012] The device according to the invention is defined in its
essential components, in the first claim, while its variants and
preferred embodiments are specified and defined in the dependent
claims. From the exemplificative description ensuing, the
travelling flats assembly activated to slide on the guides 10 is
provided, in its overall development, with scraping or cleaning
elements that come into contact with the surface of the guides 10,
removing the deposit of foreign material from the surfaces of the
guides 10, on which the elements on which the flats rest are
pulled, in any case contrasting accumulation.
[0013] To illustrate the characteristics and advantages of the
present invention with greater clarity, it is described with
reference to some typical embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 6,
provided as non-limiting examples.
[0014] Said figures refer to the flat/guide system according to the
invention and also to various examples of embodiment of said
scraping or cleaning elements, to illustrate the characteristics
and benefits ensuing from the present invention. The
exemplificative illustrations below refer to the model of carding
machines with travelling flats driven with a toothed belt, it being
specified that the present invention is not limited to the use of
this type of drive element.
[0015] As already expounded, FIG. 1 shows the general scheme of a
flat carding machine to draw attention to the requirements and
problems of the carding operation.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a brief stretch of the
flat/guide system operated by its toothed belt along its active
path on the guide 10. FIG. 3 shows a partially sectioned side view
of the detail of the scraping element fitted to the travelling
flat.
[0017] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show examples of the different alternatives
of shape and structure of the scraping or cleaning elements fitted
to the flat.
[0018] In FIG. 2, the flat 7 is shown in its active working path,
in its typical T section overturned to provide sufficient rigidity
to the flexural stresses between the two rests of the guide 10, one
on the front in view and the other on the opposite side concealed.
The shank 20 of the T is hollow to limit the weight, although
maintaining the characteristics of rigidity. The body of the flat
is typically machined from a section of indefinite length and cut
to size to a length less than the distance between the guides 10.
Its lower face 21 carries the carding clothing 22, indicated as a
series of points.
[0019] The pulling element of the flats 7 is composed of a toothed
belt 23, generally made of flexible materials, for example
elastomeric materials, possibly reinforced longitudinally R with
textile threads and/or metal wires to limit phenomena of undesired
elongation. The upper face of the toothed belt 23 has prismatic
protrusions 24 or raised stretches. These protrusions 24 can act
both as a body for connection with the travelling flats 7, and as
toothing to engage, with their raised profile, with the toothed
wheels 9 for drive and transmission. The protrusions 24 are spaced
apart by a series of lower stretches 25 and--in the embodiment
according to FIGS. 2 and 3--are spaced at the same distance as the
pitch of the flats and also correspond to the toothing pitch of the
toothed wheels 9. A cylindrical cavity 28 is machined in the body
of the protrusions 24, generally with an open or closed circular
section, intended to house the coupling element for the flats 7.
This cylindrical cavity 28 can be closed and through or downwardly
or upwardly facing, for example as described in greater detail in
the aforesaid European patents EP 794.271 and 794.272 in the name
of the same applicant.
[0020] On the end faces at the two ends of the body of the flats 7,
and in particular on the part opposite the shank 20 and which forms
the cross-member, fixed in a position nearer the face 21 are two
pins 31 of wear-resistant material, for example alloy steel,
oriented according to the axis of the flat and intended to slide on
the guides 10 of the carding machine to support the flats 7 in
their active working path with their clothings 22 facing the
cylinder 6. According to an improved embodiment of the invention,
the surfaces on which the guides 10 rest can be fitted with strips
of coating material 10' with good sliding and wear-resistant
characteristics, to reduce friction and resistance to motion of the
flats 7.
[0021] Fixed to the end faces of the body of the flats 7, although
in a position relatively farther from the lower face 21, is a
horizontal pin 32 with a circular section intended to be inserted
into one of the cavities 28 of the drive belt 23; the pin 32 has a
shape and size coherent with said cavity. According to a preferred
embodiment of the invention the pin 32 has a circular cylindrical
section, to achieve travel of the flat 7 along its working path on
the guides 10 and to allow said pin 32 freedom to adapt its
rotation in relation to the cavity 28, and to allow the flat 7 to
follow the profile of the guides 10 with precision.
[0022] The pins 31 to support the flat 7 on the guides 10 and 32
for coupling the flat to the belt 23 can be fixed to the body of
the flat in a known manner, for example with a forced connection or
with a screw connection.
[0023] A component peculiar to the system according to the present
invention is composed of the scraping and cleaning elements that
eliminate the accumulation of foreign material from the guides 10:
these elements are fitted to the flat 7 and positioned on the
external faces of the lower traverse of the flat 7 where the pins
31 and 32 are also fixed. In the exemplificative embodiment in
FIGS. 2 and 3, these scraping elements are composed of blades 35
projecting from the opposite part of the protrusions 24. Typically,
these blades 35 are flexible, are of a height that, with the flat 7
resting on its pins 31 on the guide 10, they essentially project
below the level at which the pins 31 rest, so that they come into
contact and rest with their transversal development on the surface
of the guide 10 opposite them, to provide continuous scraping
motion on the entire surface resting on the guide 10 of the pins 31
through the effect of the relative motion of the pulling belt 23 of
the flats. According to the embodiment in FIGS. 2 and 3, these
scraping blades 35 are carried by prismatic elements 36 to fix the
blades and integral with the body of the flat 7, preferably in an
intermediate position between the two pins 31 on which the flat
rests. These elements 36 supporting the blades 35 can be fixed to
the body of the flat in a known way, analogously to the pins 31 and
32. The scraping elements, with blades 35 or of another type, can
be provided for all the travelling flats of the carding machine as
in FIGS. 2, 3 or, alternatively, only for some of these. The flats
provided with scraping or cleaning element can be distributed along
the toothed belt 23 on the part that faces its guide 10, for
example a scraping element every two, three or more flats.
[0024] The scraping elements can either be of the same or different
types, shapes or materials. The blades 35 can rest on the guide 10
at a right, acute or obtuse angle, in order to exert a prevalently
scraping action or to move the layer of impurities with its travel
on the guides 10. Some of the alternative embodiments of the
cleaning elements are illustrated hereinafter, in different forms
from the blades. In the same travelling flats assembly provided on
the flat carding machine different types of scraping/cleaning
elements can be used in combination. This possibility to combine
different scraping and cleaning elements also comprises elements of
the same type, although differing as regards number, inclination,
material and orientation, or the order in which they are
fitted.
[0025] According to a preferred version of the present invention,
the scraping and cleaning elements are produced and fitted so that
the can be easily and inexpensively replaced after a certain period
of use. The material of the cleaning elements is, in fact, selected
with high wear-resistance characteristics, for example with
elastomers or plastic materials with appropriate additives and
charges to give said elements high flexibility and wear-resistance
properties, although without causing damage to the surface on which
the guides 10 rest. It is convenient for essential wear through
time of the scraping and cleaning elements to be appropriately
taken into account with suitable maintenance operations.
[0026] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a plurality of variants of the scraping
and cleaning elements to be fitted to the ends of the flat 7. The
first variant in FIG. 4 gives an example of the use of a cleaning
element composed of one or more bristle brushes 38 fitted to a
fixing element 39 of the brush(es) integral with the body of the
flat 7, analogously to the supports 36. These brush cleaning
elements are efficacious with sweeping action on dusts or
incoherent particles deposited on the guides 10. Analogously to the
blades 35, the brushes 38 are made to project below the level at
which the pins 31 rest, in such a way that their bristles are in
efficacious contact on the surface of the guide 10 opposite them,
or on its coatings 10'. In the version in FIG. 3, the part of the
support 39 protruding from the end of the lower part 21 of the flat
7, on which the brush 38 is fitted, is exemplified shaped with a
U-section, that provides a cavity in which to mount the brush
elements 38.
[0027] A second variant shown in FIG. 4 shows as an example the use
of a scraping/cleaning element 41 composed of transversal rows of
slim cylinders 43 in an elastomeric or plastic material--fitted
radially analogously to the brushes--that through friction exercise
a removing action on the impurities stratified on the guides 10.
According to a further improvement of the invention this removing
element 41 is prepared separately, aligning the elastomeric
cylinders 43 on one or more transverse supporting strips, not shown
in the figure for simplicity, that are in turn fixed in the cavity
of a U-shaped or comb-shaped supporting element 45, for example
with adhesives.
[0028] FIG. 6 shows a further variant in which the cleaning or
scraping element is fitted to the flat 7, without having recourse
to additional supports, such as in the previous examples., but
using as a support the body of the coupling pin 32 between the flat
7 and the toothed belt 23, modifying its shape.
[0029] As described above, the cylindrical cavity 28 machined in
the protrusions 24 of the toothed belt 23 can be made with an open
circular section intended to house the coupling element with the
flats 7. The use of this downwardly open cylindrical cavity 28 with
one opening 50, makes it possible, as shown in FIG. 6, to shape the
horizontal pin 32 with a section comprising a larger circular part
51--and intended for insertion into the downwardly opening cavity
28--and a slimmer extension 52 passing through the opening 50. The
end 53 of this extension 52 facing towards the face 21 of the flat
7 is shaped to support the scraping/cleaning element that can be a
blade 35, as shown in FIG. 6, but also a brush 38, a removing
element 41 or of another type.
[0030] The different types cleaning elements exemplified above can
be advantageously used in conjunction, by inserting in the sequence
of the travelling flats of the carding machine, flats provided, for
example, with scraping blades 35 of different inclination, material
and orientation, with brush elements 38 or with removing elements
41 with cylinders.
[0031] According to a further variant of the invention, the
scraping/cleaning elements of the different types and combinations
of these, can be appropriately fitted to elements in the form of a
flat inserted in the travelling flats assembly 7 and circulating
with these along their working arc on the carding machine operated
by the belts 23. These elements can also be totally devoid of
clothing and essentially perform the function of carrier of the
scraping/cleaning elements of the guides 10, spaced between the
flats provided with clothing. The cleaning device according to the
present invention is extremely efficient and flexible in its use
with different batches of fibres containing impurities variable
both in type and quantity. In fact, it is extremely easy to adjust
the cleaning action of the guides 10, varying the number of flats
provided with scraping or cleaning elements, or changing the type,
material or orientation of these elements, limiting this operation
to the flats provided with them. These adaptations can be made very
rapidly and in some cases may even be performed with the machine
running, replacing the flats involved during their inactive
path.
* * * * *