U.S. patent application number 12/666920 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-22 for device for the preparation of flock fibers to be supplied to a carder.
This patent application is currently assigned to MARZOLI S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Mario Mascheretti.
Application Number | 20100180405 12/666920 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39259635 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100180405 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mascheretti; Mario |
July 22, 2010 |
Device for the Preparation of Flock Fibers to be Supplied to a
Carder
Abstract
A device for preparing flock fibers has an inlet pipe, a pair of
silos, a pair of feeding wheels, positioned on the bottom of each
silo, an opening wheel, down-line of the respective feeding wheels,
and a single conveyor roller, fed from the two opening wheels via
converging pipes.
Inventors: |
Mascheretti; Mario;
(Brescia, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHOEMAKER AND MATTARE, LTD
10 POST OFFICE ROAD - SUITE 100
SILVER SPRING
MD
20910
US
|
Assignee: |
MARZOLI S.P.A.
Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Brescia
IT
|
Family ID: |
39259635 |
Appl. No.: |
12/666920 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
July 17, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB08/52879 |
371 Date: |
December 28, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
19/97.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D01G 9/12 20130101; D01G
9/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
19/97.5 |
International
Class: |
D01G 23/00 20060101
D01G023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 19, 2007 |
IT |
PCT/IT2007/000512 |
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A batt-forming machine for flock fiber treatment, comprising:
at least one inlet pipe for feeding fiber to be processed in a
downstream direction; a plurality of silos, each operatively
connected to the input pipe, for accumulating fiber to be
processed; a plurality of processing areas, one downstream from
each silo, each said area comprising: (a) a pair of
counter-rotating feeding wheels, disposed at the bottom of the
silo, to feed parts of the fiber downstream, (b) a rotating opening
wheel, disposed downstream of the feeding wheels, said opening
wheel comprising a plurality of elements protruding from the
opening wheel and adapted to intercept the fiber fed by the feeding
wheels, and (c) a converging pipe, downstream of the opening wheel;
a rotating conveyor roller, towards which the converging pipes
converge, said conveying roller having a surface with protruding
elements to draw the fiber into rotation; a rotating opening
roller, disposed downstream of the conveyor roller and in the
vicinity of the same so as to pick up at least part of the fiber
transported by the conveyor roller; and a single outlet pipe, fed
by each opening roller, for feeding the processed fiber towards
subsequent processing.
17. The machine according to claim 16, wherein the converging pipes
extend along intersecting axes.
18. The machine according to claim 16, wherein the section of the
fiber passage increases in the downstream direction.
19. The machine according to claim 16, wherein the opening wheels
rotate in the same direction.
20. The machine according to claim 16, further comprising cleaning
sets comprising at least one knife and aspiration opening, for
example adjustable flaps, disposed in the processing area.
21. The machine according to claim 20, wherein the conveyor roller
is coupled to at least one said cleaning set.
22. The machine according to claim 20, wherein the opening cylinder
is coupled to at least one said cleaning set.
23. The machine according to claim 16, further comprising fixed
hinging elements disposed in the processing area.
24. The machine according to claim 23, wherein the conveyor roller
is coupled to at least one said fixed hinging element, downstream
of the cleaning set.
25. The machine according to claim 23, wherein the opening cylinder
is coupled to at least said one fixed hinging element, upstream of
the cleaning set.
26. The machine according to claim 16, wherein the stretch of
outlet pipe immediately downstream of the opening cylinder extends
along an axis tangent to the opening cylinder.
27. The machine according to claim 26, wherein the stretch of
outlet pipe immediately downstream of the opening cylinder is
horizontal.
28. A batt-forming line comprising at least one machine according
to claim 16.
29. A batt-forming line comprising a machine set comprising: at
least two machines made according to claim 16, each machine having
an outlet pipe; a feeding pipe that feeds the machines together; an
aspiration machine, connected to the outlet pipes.
30. A batt-forming line comprising a plurality of machine sets
according to claim 16 in series.
Description
[0001] The following invention relates to a device for the
preparation of flock fibres to be supplied to a carder, i.e. a
batt-forming machine.
[0002] The term batt-forming line refers to a set of machines for
the treatment of fibres, disposed up-line from the carding machine,
which treat the fibre accumulated in bales to supply it, in flock
and opportune conditions, to the carding machine.
[0003] Batt-forming lines are currently known primarily comprising
a machine with a pick-up trolley, for picking up fibre from the
bales, a porcupine, for opening and cleaning the fibres, a mixer,
for mixing the fibre, and auxiliary devices for moving the fibre
and feeding the carding machine.
[0004] The abovementioned machines are disposed according to a
preset sequence that assures the obtaining of optimum conditions of
the flock fibre supplied to the carding machine.
[0005] The transfer of the fibre from one machine to the next takes
places in feeding pipes, generally, in air pressurised or
depressurised currents generated by fans.
[0006] Such characteristic of known batt-forming lines however,
currently presents a number of drawbacks.
[0007] Such drawbacks include the fact that although transport
takes place in air currents, the processing performed by certain
machines is in part frustrated.
[0008] For instance, the opening action performed by the openers is
partially frustrated by a partial compacting that the fibre
undergoes as it accumulates in the mixer and opener silos. It is
known that this negatively influences the efficacy of both fibre
mixing and cleaning.
[0009] The aim of the present invention is to make a batt-forming
machine able to satisfy the aforesaid requirements and overcome the
drawbacks mention relating to the current art.
[0010] This aim is achieved by a batt-forming machine made in
accordance with claim 1 below. The claims dependent hereof describe
variants of the present invention.
[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the batt-forming
machine according to the present invention will be further evident
in view of the detailed description of a preferred, though
non-limiting example with the aid of the appended drawings,
wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a batt-forming line comprising a
batt-forming machine according to the present invention, in a
preferred embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates the batt-forming machine of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 represents an enlargement of detail III of FIG.
2;
[0015] FIG. 3a illustrates a side view of a batt-forming machine
opening wheel;
[0016] FIG. 4 represents an enlargement of detail IV of FIG. 2;
[0017] FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate further variants of the batt-forming
machine according to the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates a further variant of the batt-forming
machine according to the present invention;
[0019] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate further embodiment variants of a
zone of the batt-forming machine according to the present
invention.
[0020] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate batt-forming lines according to
the present invention.
[0021] With reference to the appended drawings, 1 is used to
indicate the whole stretch of a batt-forming line of a fibre
treatment system; the term "batt-forming line" indicates a set of
machines disposed up-line from a carding machine to supply it with
flock fibres having opportune conditions for carding.
[0022] The batt-forming line comprises a plurality of batt-forming
machines 10, at least one inlet pipe 12 for supplying the fibre to
be processed to the machine 10 and at least one outlet pipe 14 for
the supplying of the processed fibre to a subsequent batt-forming
machine 10' or to a subsequent machine for other processing.
[0023] The batt-forming machine 1 comprises at least one silo 16
for accumulating the fibre to be processed, operatively connected
to the inlet pipe 12.
[0024] Preferably, the silo 16 has a chamber 18 for accumulating
the fibre, open for example on the bottom, to allow the fibres
access to a processing area, positioned between the silo 16 and the
outlet pipe 14.
[0025] For instance, the silo 16 is formed of a ring-shaped wall
that develops around silo axis S vertical with respect to ground
level T on which the machine 10 rests, whereas the input pipe 12
develops primarily along the substantially horizontal axis of pipe
C.
[0026] In this embodiment, the fibres, by falling and/or under the
action of the airflow, pass from the silo 16 to the processing
area.
[0027] The processing area comprises at least one pair of feeding
wheels 20, 22, that rotate respectively around a first axis of
rotation Z.
[0028] The rotation of feeding wheels 20, 22 is such as to convey
the fibres that descend from the silo 16 down-line from said
wheels, for example, counter-rotating.
[0029] For example, the first feeding wheel 20, shown in FIG. 3,
has a clockwise direction of rotation, whereas the second feeding
wheel 22 has an anticlockwise direction of rotation.
[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, the feeding wheel 20,
22 comprises a plurality of profiles 24 that extend primarily along
the first axis of rotation Z and comprise a bottom 26 and folded
stretches 28, slanting with respect to the bottom 26.
[0031] The wheel 20, 22 is made by bringing together the bottoms 26
of the profiles 24 along an imaginary circumference, so that each
bottom is tangent thereto, and making them mutually joined by
uniting the folded stretches 28 thereof. This makes a structure
formed of a succession of recesses 30 separated by cross members 32
formed by two folded stretches 28 joined to one another.
[0032] The two feeding wheels 20, 22, according to the variant
represented, are positioned angularly and relatively to one another
so that the imaginary radial extension of the cross member 32 of
one of the two wheels 20 crosses the corresponding recess 30 of the
other wheel 22.
[0033] Advantageously, the fibre fed by the silo 16 gathers in the
recesses 30 of the feeding wheels 20, 22 and is taken down-line
thereof undergoing a first channelling, due to the passage
restraints made by the relative disposition of the wheels 20,
22.
[0034] Additionally, the batt-forming machine 10 comprises an
opening wheel 40, disposed down-line of the feeding wheels 20, 22,
turning around a second axis of rotation W, substantially parallel
to the first axes of rotation Z.
[0035] Preferably, the second axis of rotation W is disposed
between the first axes Z, so that the opening wheel 40 intercepts
the fibre driven by the feeding wheels 20, 22.
[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the opening wheel 40
comprises: [0037] a support box 42, having a prevalent extension in
an axial direction, for example, with a transverse section
(orthogonal to axis of rotation W) polygonal, for example
hexagonal, and [0038] protruding elements 44, protruding radially
from the support box 42, disposed staggered to one another, axially
and circumferentially, on the sides of the box 42 (FIG. 3a).
[0039] Preferably, furthermore, the protruding element 44 comprises
a head 46, preferably disposed at the tip of the elongated element,
protruding from the body thereof and disposed on the side of the
direction of rotation of the opening wheel 40.
[0040] Whilst the fibre is fed by the feeding wheels 20, 22
down-line thereof, it encounters the protruding elements 44 of the
opening wheel 40 that tears it into flock and subjects it to a kind
of beating to facilitate the elimination of the polluting residues
present in the fibre.
[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, the batt-forming
machine comprises a cleaning grid 50, disposed in a position suited
to intercepting the fibred processed by the opening wheel 40.
[0042] For example, in the embodiment shown, for the right-hand
unit, the opening wheel 40 turns in an anti-clockwise direction and
the grid 50 extends, at least partially, to the left of the opening
wheel 40, to intercept the fibre processed by the same.
[0043] The grid 50 presents a processing wall provided with at
least one evacuation opening 52 and distanced from the opening
wheel 40 so as to make a gap 54, whose passage section
preferentially tends to widen towards the direction of rotation of
the opening wheel.
[0044] Preferably, the evacuation openings 52 present an adjustable
extension, according to the type of fibre being processed and in
particular according to the desired degree of cleaning.
[0045] During processing, the grid wall 60 facing the opening wheel
40 intercepts the fibre drawn without accumulation by the opening
wheel 40 in the gap 54. The fibre therefore undergoes further
beating and the residues, above all husks, separate from the fibre,
falling therein, from where they are evacuated by means of
aspiration.
[0046] According to a further embodiment, the batt-forming machine
comprises a chute 70, having a prevalent extension along a
direction parallel to the axes of rotation Z, W.
[0047] The chute 70 presents an upper surface 72, forming a gap
with the opening wheel 40, such as to extend the gap 54 formed by
the grid with the opening wheel 40.
[0048] In particular, the upper surface 72 extends in the same
direction of rotation of the opening wheel, so that the fibre
processed by the grid is driven down-line of the opening wheel.
[0049] In particular, the upper surface 72 presents an extension
beyond the second axis W, in the fibre movement direction to the
outlet from the grid 50.
[0050] Additionally, the batt-forming machine 10 comprises a
driving roller 80, disposed down-line of the opening wheel 40 with
respect to the fibre flow, and in particular disposed at the end of
the chute 70, so that the fibre processed by the grid 50 falls on
the driving roller 80.
[0051] In particular, the machine comprises a transit pipe 73,
between the opening wheel 40 and the driving roller 80, delimited
by containment walls.
[0052] The transit pipe 73 is defined by an area immediately
down-line from the feeding wheels 20, 22, as far as an area
immediately up-line of the driving roller 80, and extends
completely between an upper height, defined by said area
immediately down-line of the feeding wheels, and a lower height,
defined by said area immediately up-line of the driving roller
80.
[0053] Preferably, the pipe 73 does not present a "serpentine"
course with subsequent stretches that occupy heights even greater
than that of the area immediately down-line of the feeding wheels,
to reach the devices for further processing in a position distant
from the opening wheel.
[0054] The rotation speed of the driving roller 80 is such to avoid
the accumulation of fibre in the area immediately up-line thereof,
i.e. on the bottom of the pipe 73.
[0055] The containment walls of the transit pipe 73 comprise a
strike wall 73a facing the opening wheel 40 and/or the chute 70,
distant therefrom to allow the fibre coming out of the chute,
driven by the protruding elements 44, to beat against it, and then
fall on the driving roller 80.
[0056] The driving roller 80 turns around a third axis of rotation
Y, parallel or otherwise to the other rotation axes W, Z.
[0057] The driving roller 80 is superficially covered, for example
by a stiff saw-tooth covering to engage the fibre and draw it
down-line.
[0058] Additionally, the batt-forming machine comprises an opening
roller 90, disposed down-line of the driving roller 80, turning
around a fourth axis of rotation K, parallel to the axes W and
Z.
[0059] The driving roller 80 and the opening roller 90 are
preferably rotating in the same direction. According to certain
embodiments, these are counter-rotating.
[0060] Preferably, the cover of the opening roller 90 is fitted
with a stiff covering, for example, with saw-teeth 91.
[0061] According to one variant, the cover of the opening roller 90
comprises a plurality of spikes 92, protruding from the external
surface, able to penetrate into the wads of fibre and tear open the
flocks thereof (FIG. 4, for illustration requirements, shows the
roller 90 with both the covering and the spikes).
[0062] In other words, the teeth 91 and/or the spike 92 have a
flock tearing action that reduces the compactness of the fibre,
better preparing it for the subsequent cleaning processes.
[0063] Additionally, the processing area of the batt-forming
machine 10 comprises an outlet opening 100, disposed down-line of
the cleaning roller 90, from which the open fibre is aspired, in
communication with the outlet pipe 14 of the machine 10.
[0064] On the external surface of the cleaning roller 90, a work
portion can be identified, between the area close to the conveyor
roller 80, i.e. where the fibres pass from the conveyor 80 to
cleaning 90 rollers, and the outlet opening 100.
[0065] Preferably, the batt-forming machine 10 comprises at least
one channelling flange 110, suited to pushing the fibre transported
by the opening roller 90 towards the teeth 91, to improve the
opening efficiency thereof.
[0066] Said channelling flange 110 is disposed around the opening
roller 90, for example creating a fibre passage section radially
decreasing in the direction of roller rotation, sufficiently close
to the surface thereof to create a gap into which the fibre is
channelled.
[0067] Preferably, the flange 110 cooperates also with the driving
roller 80, to prevent the cleaning roller 90 from tearing flocks
that are too large.
[0068] Preferably, additionally, the batt-forming machine 10
comprises at least one composite unit 121 comprising auxiliary
devices such as an aspiration opening, a blade, a baffle, variably
combined between them in relation to number and type, according to
the processing requirements of the fibre or fibres being
processed.
[0069] Said composite unit 121 is arranged along the work portion
of the surface of the opening roller 90.
[0070] In a preferred embodiment, the composite unit 121 is
contained in a box 121a that can be detached or tilted from the
machine cover.
[0071] For example, according to a preferred embodiment, the box
121a can be tilted towards the exterior of the machine, performing
a rotation that moves the cleaning roller 90 away, so as to make
said roller accessible to maintenance technicians.
[0072] In particular, the box 121a is hinged along a box axis C,
disposed at a lower height than the rotation axis K of the cleaning
roller 90. In accordance with a further variant, the box axis C is
disposed at a lower height of any generator of the cleaning roller
90.
[0073] Advantageously, such configurations allow easy access to the
cleaning roller and the composite units for maintenance
thereof.
[0074] According to a preferred embodiment, the batt-forming
machine 10 comprises at least two silos 16 facing the direction of
the axis of pipe 12 and in the direction of fibre movement in said
pipe 12.
[0075] Each silo 16 feeds a respective processing area, whereas the
outlet openings 100 of said processing areas convey the processed
fibre into the same joining pipe 120, connected to the outlet pipe
14 of the machine 10.
[0076] In a preferred embodiment of a batt-forming line, two
batt-forming machines 10 are fed by the same inlet pipe 12 and the
two outlet pipes 14 convey the fibre to the same fan 130, from
which a further inlet pipe 12, leads to feed two further machines
10'.
[0077] According to one aspect, the batt-forming machine 10 is
devoid of the grid 50 (FIGS. 6 and 7).
[0078] According to a further aspect, the machine 10 comprises, in
the processing area of the opening roller 90, a single composite
unit 121 (FIG. 5), comprising a single aspiration opening and a
single blade.
[0079] According to a further aspect, the machine 10 is devoid, in
the processing area of the opening roller 90, of composite units
121 (FIG. 6).
[0080] It should also be noted that these variants, in any case,
present a box 121a that can be tilted for maintenance.
[0081] In a still further variant, the batt-forming machine 10
comprises a plurality of silos 16, each one independently fed by
its own inlet pipe 12, 12', separated from the other (FIG. 7). Said
variant makes it possible to feed the batt-forming machine with
different types of fibre.
[0082] According to a still further variant, the processing area
fed by a silo is equipped differently to the processing area fed by
another silo (FIG. 7) and each silo is coupled with a respective
fan.
[0083] For example, the processing area of the first silo 16
includes a grid 50 and two composite units 121 in the work stretch
of the opening roller 90, whereas the processing area of the second
silo 16' does not include the grid 50 and does not include any
composite unit 121 in the work stretch of the opening roller
90'.
[0084] Said variants with diversified equipment are particularly
advantageous if one intends to obtain a mixture of natural
(dirtier) fibres and synthetic (substantially clean) fibres of
between natural fibres of different types or of synthetic fibres of
different types.
[0085] In such cases, the turning speed of the driving roller 80 is
adjusted according to requirements, for example being different for
each channel.
[0086] The batt-forming machine according to the present invention
overcomes the drawbacks mentioned with regard to the state of the
art and in particular with reference to the coupling between a
mixer and a porcupine in a conventional batt-forming line.
[0087] In actual fact, the fibre, clean and in any case partially
opened by the cleaning roller passes, without undergoing undesired
compacting, to the transport roller--opening roller pair, which can
process the fibre in more favourable conditions.
[0088] In conventional lines, conversely, the passage into long and
twisted joining pipes between different machines creates partial
re-compacting of the fibre, in part frustrating the processing
performed previously.
[0089] Furthermore, advantageously the adjustable grid makes it
possible to perform more or less aggressive processing on the
fibre, freeing it of the undesired residues and impurities
according to the type of fibre.
[0090] According to a still further advantageous aspect, the
batt-forming line allows very extreme mixing, even when large
volumes of fibre are being processed.
[0091] For example, a stretch of a batt-forming line envisages a
pipe feeding two machines of the kind described above, for a total
of four silos.
[0092] For large-scale production, for example at 1,200 Kg/hour
(one thousand and two hundred), each processing unit actually
processes 300 Kg of fibre/hour, for the embodiments disclosed
hereabove, which is then mixed together.
[0093] The possibility of processing large quantities of fibre for
each unit enormously favours the efficiency of processing, by
obtaining smaller flocks, which facilitate mixing, they present
less stressed, cleaner fibres.
[0094] Furthermore, advantageously, access to the internal organs
of the machine is facilitated, in order to perform maintenance
activities in a quick and simple manner.
[0095] According to a still further advantageous aspect, the box
with the composite units can be replaced, making it possible to
build machines suited to different fibres or mixtures of fibres,
according to requirements, in a modular manner.
[0096] Obviously a man skilled in the art could make modifications
to the machine described above.
[0097] According to a further embodiment variant, the batt-forming
machine 10, having two neighbouring silos 16, comprises a pair of
opening wheels 40, disposed down-line of the respective feeding
wheels 20, 22, rotating in the same direction of rotation (FIG. 8)
and a conveyor roller 80 powered by both opening wheels 40.
[0098] Preferably the conveyor roller has fixed axes of rotation
and is provided on the surface with protruding elements, for
example spikes, for engaging and drawing the fibres.
[0099] Down-line of the conveyor roller an opening cylinder 90 is
disposed.
[0100] Specifically, down-line of the first opening wheel 40 a
first converging pipe is disposed and down-line of the other
opening wheel 40 the other converging pipe 40b is disposed. The two
converging pipes 40a, 40b develop along incidental axes, directed
towards the conveyor roller 80.
[0101] Preferably the converging pipes 40a, 40b are asymmetrical;
moreover, preferably the section of the converging pipes for the
passage of the fibre increases in the direction of movement of the
fibre.
[0102] According to one embodiment, the conveyor roller 80 and the
opening cylinder 90 have different directions of rotation.
[0103] Furthermore, preferably the stretch of the output pipe 14,
immediately down-line of the opening cylinder 90, is arranged at a
tangent to said cylinder 90, for example horizontally. Preferably,
moreover, the passage section of the outlet pipe 14, at least for
an initial stretch, reduces from the opening cylinder 90 in the
direction of fibre movement.
[0104] Preferably, moreover, the speeds of rotation of the feeding
wheels 20, 22 are independently adjustable for each pair, for
example to facilitate mixing in the case of feeding the machine 10
with different fibres, by means of separate feeding pipes.
[0105] Preferably, furthermore, the conveyor roller 80, which also
performs fibre cleaning tasks, is paired to a cleaning set 80a, for
example formed by a knife with aspiration opening, for example with
adjustable opening flaps and, preferably, followed by at least one
fixed carding element 80b.
[0106] Preferably, furthermore, the opening cylinder 90, is coupled
to two cleaning sets 90a, for example formed by a knife with
aspiration opening and, for example adjustable flaps (FIG. 8) or to
a single cleaning set 90a (FIG. 9) preferably, followed by at least
one fixed carding element 90b.
[0107] For large-scale productions, for example at 1,200 Kg/hour,
for the variants described here (FIGS. 8 to 10), each processing
unit actually processes 600 Kg of fibre/hour, which is then mixed
together.
[0108] A batt-forming line comprises a machine set 200, comprising
at least two batt-forming machines 10 coupled as described
previously (FIG. 11).
[0109] The machine set 200 comprises the feeding pipe 12 connected
to both machines 10 so as to feed them together. Each machine 10
comprises the outlet pipe 14; the two outlet pipes 14 feed the
fibre to a further machine 300, for example provided with a fan for
aspiration.
[0110] According to a further embodiment, a batt-forming line
comprises two machine sets 200, disposed in series, one down-line
of the other, alternating with a machine 300 for aspiration.
[0111] In other words, the batt-forming lines according to the
invention present a modular configuration that envisages a series
of machine sets 200, the number of which is chosen according to the
average quantity estimable for the impurities to be eliminated from
the fibre being processed. Generally, the impurities increase with
the number of modules.
[0112] Such variants are also within the scope of the protection of
this invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *