EP0141691B1 - Sliver guide and formation device at a carding machine exit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for guiding the web leaving the two output delivery cylinders of a card and for forming a card tape which is then stuffed in the pot of the card.

Carding sail guiding devices are already known, for example from French patent 2 384 041 filed on March 16, 1978 in the name of Trutzschler, which comprise several guiding elements, such as flaps, articulated arranged in the immediate vicinity of the cylinders issuers and having a hollow guide surface arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web, said guide surface almost entirely enveloping the output delivery cylinders of the card. At least one of the guide elements has an outlet opening for the carding strip formed by the pickup of the web.

However, in these known devices, the concave enveloping surface of the guide flaps has the drawback of an obstruction to the exhaust of air driven dynamically by the veil, at the outlet of the delivery cylinders, which can cause swelling. veil and difficulties in forming the carding tape. On the other hand, after a rupture of the web, the re-initiation of the formation of the tape requires manual intervention.

The main object of the present invention is to remedy these two drawbacks.

The Applicant's research had already shown that the web of fibers emerging from a drawing machine could advantageously be collected and formed into a wick by means of a transverse guide member constituted by a substantially flat metal plate, pierced in its center of a wick outlet, as opposed to known guiding and wicking devices that are generally analogous to funnels or have concave surfaces. Such a guide device, with a flat transverse plate, had been described in the application for. French patent number FR-A-2 466 527 filed by the applicant on September 28, 1979.

To remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, the Applicant has found that a very wide carding veil could be collected and formed into a ribbon by guide elements, or hinged flaps, having an essentially flat surface, and not concave, oriented perpendicularly. in terms of the veil, and not embracing the delivery cylinders. The escape of the air entrained by the veil is thus favored. In addition, an additional retractable flap, which is retracted when the machine is in normal operation, forms, at the time of priming, a floor which receives the web and thus allows automatic re-priming of the formation of the tape, without manual intervention.

The subject of the invention is a device for guiding the web coming out of the two output delivery cylinders of a card and for forming a card strip, composed of several articulated flaps the surface of which is directed substantially perpendicular to the plane. card web and one of which has an outlet guide hole for the card tape, characterized: in that the flap guide surfaces are substantially flat and do not embrace the delivery cylinders; in that said device comprises a substantially flat additional movable flap, forming a temporary floor for the carding web when the ribbon formation is re-started, said floor flap being articulated around a horizontal axis parallel to the axes of the delivery cylinders; and in that the articulated flaps comprise two lateral flaps and a central flap which are all articulated around vertical axes.

According to a preferred embodiment, the two lateral flaps are articulated, each by their end close to the edges of the delivery cylinders on a fixed vertical axis integral with the frame of the card, and the central flap is articulated on each of the central ends of the flaps lateral, said third flap carrying an orifice for guiding the carding strip.

The additional shutter, or shutter-floor, is articulated, by means of a horizontal axis, to the lower part of the central shutter, the mechanical connection between these two members being such that the orifice for guiding the carding tape, carried by the third flap moves away from the delivery cylinders at the same time as the floor shutter is raised to support the web at the time of priming, while said guide orifice approaches the delivery cylinders, in the carding production position , at the same time as the floor shutter is retracted by lowering to allow free passage to the exhaust of the air entrained by the veil and stirred by the delivery cylinders.

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows and on examining the appended drawings which represent, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device according to the invention, the different members being shown in solid lines in the position they occupy during normal operation of the card and being shown in broken lines in the position they occupy for starting the formation of the ribbon from the card web.

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views of the device along the vertical plane Y of Figure 1, respectively in the normal operating position of the card and in the priming position.

Figure 4 is a detailed view of the articulation of the side flaps on the central flap.

There is shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 the known essential elements of a card, between which is interposed the device according to the invention. These elements conventionally include the delivery cylinders 2, 2 'of the card which deliver a card web 4. After formation of the card tape 6, this tape passes through a condenser 8 at the outlet of which the calendar tape 6' is gripped by the calendar rollers 10, 10 'and directed into the card pot (not shown).

The device comprises a first and a second lateral flap 12, 14 which are each articulated on a vertical fixed axis 16, 18, integral with the frame 19 of the card, so as to be able to pivot downstream of the machine to the positions 12 ', 14' shown in broken lines in Figure 1.

The ends 20, 22 of the flaps 12, 14, opposite the axes 16, 18, are interconnected by a third flap or central flap 24, to which they are articulated by articulations with vertical axis 26 which will be described in more detail with regard to Figure 4.

The central flap 24 is pierced with an outlet orifice for the carding ribbon to which is connected a ribbon guide of substantially conical shape 28 situated opposite the condenser 8. In the retracted position 12 ′, 14 ′ of the flaps 12, 14, the central flap 24 and the tape guide 28 take the position 24 ′, 28 ′ indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 1.

The three flaps 12, 14 and 24 are elongated rectangular flaps which have a substantially flat surface 30 oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the web 4. We can see the shape of this surface, for the flap 24, in FIG. 2, the other two flaps 12,14 having substantially the same shape. The three flaps may have short curved flanges 32 (FIG. 3), but these flanges above all have a function of stiffening the flaps, since these flaps have only a small height (less than the diameter of the cylinders 2, 2 ') and do not in any way embrace these cylinders.

The device according to the invention also comprises an additional flat flap 34, or floor flap, which is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis 36 parallel to the axes XX of the delivery cylinders 2, 2 '. The pin 36 is carried by the lower part of the central flap 24, as can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The floor shutter 34 has, in plan, substantially an elongated trapezoid shape, as can be seen in FIG. 1, corresponding to the configuration in the retracted position 12 ′, 14 ′, 24 ′ of the first three flaps.

On each of its edges located on the sides of the machine, the flap 34 carries a rod 38, or a similar sliding member such as a roller, which engages in a substantially vertical slide 40 secured to the frame 19 of the card (see figures 1 and 3).

The shutter-floor 34 can pivot, about the axis 36, from a retracted position, substantially vertical (Figure 2), to a raised position 34 '(Figure 3) in which it collects and supports the veil 4 at the time of priming.

The pivoting of the floor flap 34, from one to the other of its positions, can be controlled manually, or, preferably, by two pressurized fluid cylinders 42 coupled to the ends of said flap and whose fixed point is articulated on frame 19 of the card.

The device according to the invention also includes air blowing nozzles (not shown) which blow air according to the arrows 44 (FIG. 1), substantially parallel to the flaps 12, 14, as well as possibly blowing nozzles to inside the conical tape guide 28. Conventionally, the condenser 8 is provided with a pneumatic suction system so that the tape presented by the tape guide 28 is sucked by the condenser.

We will now describe the operation of the device. During the normal operation of the carding machine, at production speed, the members are in the position shown in FIG. 2 and in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1.

The central flap 24 is located at a distance d from the delivery cylinders, while the floor flap 34 is folded down. The veil 4 meets the flat surfaces 30 of the flaps 12, 14, 24 and it is guided, by the blows 44, towards the orifice of the tape guide 28.

Thanks to the fact that the flaps 12, 14, 24 are essentially flat, that they are not disposed against the cylinders 2, 2 'and that they do not embrace these cylinders, and thanks to the fact that the floor shutter 34 is retracted downwards, the escape of the air contained in, and driven by, the veil can be done without any obstruction, by wide passages upwards and downwards. Thus, the pickup of the veil is not disturbed by local turbulence or overpressures and the frequency of ruptures of the veil is thereby reduced, which makes it possible to produce the veil at higher speed.

Furthermore, it can be noted in FIG. 2 that, in this position, there is a notable interval E between the outlet of the tape guide 28 and the inlet of the condenser 8. This makes it possible to promote the escape of the entrained air dynamically by the veil and by the formation of the ribbon, which reduces the swelling of the latter and facilitates introduction into the condenser for production operation.

When the card starts, or after an accidental tearing of the web or the ribbon, the jack 40 is actuated, manually or automatically upon detection of the break, and elongates to the position shown in FIG. 3.

The floor shutter 34 thus rises to the position 34 'where it can receive and support the web 4. At this time the card feed members, combers and delivery cylinders rotate slowly.

During the raising of the flap 34, because the sliding members 38 carried by the flap 34 are forced to follow the rectilinear slide 40, the flap 24, which carries the pivot axis 36 of the flap 34, is driven to the right (Figures 2 and 3) which moves it away from the cylinders 2, 2 'up to a distance D, greater than the distance d. This retraction of the flap 24 causes the lateral flaps 12, 14 to pivot to the oblique position 12 ′, 14 ′ (FIG. 1) which facilitates the sliding of the veil along the side flaps, at the time of priming. Due to the retraction of the flap 24 to position 24 ', the tape guide 28 approaches (to position 28' in Figure 3) the inlet of the condenser 8, the interval between these two members n ' being more than e <E. This facilitates the priming and aspiration of the ribbon 6 in the condenser 8. The production speed being low at this time, there is no need to have a large air evacuation between the guide 28 and the condenser 8, as is the case during operation at normal speed.

The veil being prevented from falling by the floor flap 34, being guided by the flaps 12, 14 oriented obliquely as well as by the air blowing 44, and being vigorously sucked up to the condenser 8, the re-priming of the carding tape can be done automatically, without any manual intervention, which was not possible until now.

Once the ribbon has started in the condenser, the card is returned to its production speed, at the same time as the jack 42 is controlled to bring the floor shutter 34 back to the low position (FIG. 2) and move the shutters 12, 14 away, 24 of the cylinders 2, 2 'to allow free passage to the air entrained by the web and the delivery cylinders. By the same movement, the tape guide 28 moves away from the inlet of the condenser 8 to the distance E (FIG. 2) for running at normal speed.

It should also be noted that, in the position of FIG. 3, the large spacing D between the guide flap 24 and the cylinders 2, 2 'makes it easy to see the exit of the veil, its pick-up, its threading in the guide - tape 28 and check that the machine is properly primed. Even in the normal running position, the interval d is sufficient to monitor the production and the condition of the sail, thanks to the fact that the guide flaps do not embrace the cylinders 2,2 ′.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an embodiment of the articulation system 26 of the side flap 12 on the central flap 24.

This articulation system can comprise a first clevis 46 which is welded to the side flap 12 and which carries a pin 48, as well as a second clevis 50 which is welded to the central flap 24 and which carries a pin 52.

The axes 48 and 52 are connected by at least one link 54 which ensures the connection between the two flaps thus allowing the flap 12 to pivot according to the arrow F 'around its axis 16, when the central flap is driven in translation along the arrow F by the pivot axis of the flap 34.

Other deformable connection systems between the central flap 24 and the side flaps 12-14 can of course be used, for example a connection by means of a flexible spring leaf or any other similar deformable elastic element.

Claims (12)

1. A device for guiding the web (4) leaving the two outlet delivery rollers (2-2') of a carding machine and for forming a card sliver (6) consisting of several articulated flaps (12-14-24), the surface of which is directed substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the card web and one of which possesses an outlet guide orifice (28) for the card sliver, characterized in that: the guide surfaces (30) of the flaps (12, 14, 24) are substantially flat, and do not embrace the delivery rollers (2-2'); in that said device comprises an additional substantially flat movable flap (34) forming a temporary floor for the card web (4) at the moment of the restarting of sliver formation (6), said floor flap (34) being articulated about a horizontal axis (36) parallel to the axes (XX) of the delivery rollers (2, 2'); and in that the articulated flaps comprise two lateral flaps (12-14) and one central flap (24) which are all articulated about vertical axes (16-18-26-26).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized: in that the two lateral articulated flaps (12, 14) are pivotally mounted at their end respectively on a fixed vertical axis (16, 18) integral with the frame (19) of the machine; and in that the central flap (24) is articulated, by means of a vertical - axis articulation system (26), on the other ends (20, 22) of the lateral flaps, said central flap (24) being perforated with a sliver outlet orifice connected to an outlet sliver guide (28) aligned with the sliver condenser (8) of the carding machine.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the pivot axis (36) of the floor flap (34) is carried by the lower part of the central flap (24).

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that control means (40) are coupled to the floor flap (34), said means being adapted to bring the flap selectively into a raised position (34') for starting the gathering of the web or into a substantially vertical retracted position (34) in which the flap is moved away from the delivery roller (2').

5. A device as claimed in either one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the flap (34) is provided with a guide system (38, 40) which is such that the movement of rainsing the floor flap causes the guide flaps (12, 14, 24) to move away (D) from the delivery rollers (2, 2'), and vice versa.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the floor flap (34) carries at its ends mechanical guide members (38) sliding in substantially vertical slideways (40) integral with the frame (19) of the machine.

7. A device as claimed in either one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the movement of raising the floor flap causes the outlet sliver guide (28) to approach (e) the condenser (8), and vice versa.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that blowing means blow an air stream (44, 44) substantially parallel to the flaps (12, 14) towards the central flap (24).

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the height of the flaps (12, 14, 24) is less than the diameter of the delivery rollers (2, 2').

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that in the position of normal operation of the carding machine, the flaps (12, 14, 24) are at a distance from the delivery rollers (2, 2'), the distance (d) being such that it allows a free escape of the air carried along by the web (4) and by the delivery rollers (2, 2').

11. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the articulation system between each lateral flap (12, 14) and the central flap (24) comprises two vertical axes (48, 52) integral with the flaps (12, 14) and with the flap (24) and at least one connecting link (54) articulated on the said axes.

12. A device as claimed in one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the articulation system, between each lateral flap (12, 14) and the central flap (24), comprises a spring leaf or another elastic connection instead of the axes and links.

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