ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CARDING GAP AND METHOD FOR SAID ADJUSTMENT DEVICE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an adjustment device for a carding gap for a carding machine and to the method for said adjustment device for adjusting a carding gap.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

In a carder, the revolving flats region together with the drum forms the main carding zone, and its function is to break up clusters of fibers to form individual fibers, separate out impurities and dust, eliminate very short fibers, break up neps, and parallelize the fibers. Depending on the use of a carder, fixed flats, revolving flats, or a mixture of fixed and revolving flats are used. A narrow gap, called a carding gap, may form between the clothings of the revolving flats, which may comprise needle points, and the clothing of the cylinder, which comprises at least one sawtooth. Said gap is formed when revolving flats are used by the revolving flats, guided by bend-shaped strips—so-called flexible bends, adjustment bends, flex bends or plain bends—are guided along in the circumferential direction of the cylinder at a distance determined by these strips. With a revolving flat carding machine, the size of the carding gap may typically be between 0.10 and 0.30 mm for cotton, or up to 0.40 mm for man-made fibers. However, contact with the oppositely situated elements is to be avoided since this may routinely cause damage to the revolving flats as well as to the drum. As a result, determining the actual carding gap is of great importance.

In order to achieve a carding effect that is as efficient as possible in a carding machine, it is necessary to keep the carding gap as small as possible, in particular in the main carding zone between the clothing of the revolving flat and the clothing of the cylinder. The clothing of the drum is applied on the outer surface of the drum of the carder by special tightening methods and fastening methods. In order to achieve high production quantities, the rotational speeds of the drums have been increased more and more in recent years. This means that cylinders with speeds of over 600 revolutions per minute have been used since. By increasing the speeds, the centrifugal forces on the cylinder of the carding machine are increased, which cause non-uniform elastic deformations in the diameter region of the cylinder of the carding machine caused by the non-uniform stresses that occur.

Furthermore, heat develops after a certain amount of time for various reasons. This heat development naturally leads to an increase in temperature of the components and also to the deformation of the components, in particular deformation of the revolving flat and/or of the cylinder and consequently to a change in the carding gap.

Currently, there are various solutions for adjusting the carding gap on the basis of the temperature, i.e., reduce or increase the gap on the basis of data. For example, solutions exist that propose measuring the temperature of the cylinder and/or the flat bars. Because the flat is moved out of the carding zone and the cylinder rotates, continuous measurement is not performed at the point with the highest temperature.

In addition, the cylinder and the flat bar may actually be made of different materials and have different shapes and properties. This results in different thermal inertias of components, and the carding gap set in the idle state may therefore change in the operating state.

It has also been shown that higher temperatures tend to prevail on the card side with the cylinder drive than at other locations, which is not taken into account in the current solutions. This leads to a deterioration of the carding due to a loss of carding area as well as to collisions between the clothings and thus to damage of the clothings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to propose an adjustment device for a carding gap which does not have any or partially mentioned disadvantages of the known prior art mentioned above and which takes a continuous temperature measurement at the location with the highest temperature.

The object is achieved either fully or in part by the features of the invention. To solve the problem, an adjustment device is proposed for a carding gap between the clothing of a flat bar of a revolving flat and the clothing of a cylinder. The device comprises:

• • a sensor unit; wherein the sensor unit is configured to sense a measurement signal as a measure of the temperature or temperature change in the pre-carding zone, the post-carding zone, and/or the cylinder;
  • an evaluation unit; wherein the evaluation unit is configured to calculate the deformation of the flat bar and/or of the cylinder on the basis of measurement signals corresponding to the measured temperature; and,
  • a control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the carding gap between the clothing of the revolving flat and the clothing of the cylinder.

Advantageously, owing to multiple distributed temperature sensors, the device may continuously measure the temperature or the temperature change on the card side and at other locations. On the basis of the temperatures measured in combination with a calculation model, the evaluation unit calculates the deformation of the flat bar and/or of the cylinder. The calculation model may contain, among other things, a temperature model that may take into account the ambient temperature and/or the different heat sources, such as a cylinder drive attached to one side or the ventilation motors. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the temperatures are measured statically and continuously because this may minimize measurement errors. The temperature sensors are stationary, which reduces measurement errors and measured data while increasing calculation speed.

According to one embodiment, the sensor unit comprises at least one lid infeed temperature sensor, at least one flat space sensor, at least one pre-carding zone temperature sensor, at least one post-carding zone temperature sensor, and/or at least one cylinder temperature sensor.

Advantageously, a static measurement of the temperature or the temperature change may be taken at different points on the carding machine. It is also advantageous if the temperatures are measured statically and continuously because this creates a better temperature image.

According to one embodiment, the at least one lid infeed temperature sensor is arranged between the clothing of the revolving flat, the clothing of the cylinder and the post-carding zone, or between the clothing of the revolving flat, the clothing of the cylinder and in the region of the post-carding zone.

Advantageously, the lid infeed temperature sensor may record the temperature of the cylinder and/or measure the temperature of the carding gap between the clothing of a revolving flat and the clothing of a cylinder. The lid infeed is a guide element or a fibrous web guide that serves as a transition from the carding surface lid to the carding surface post-carding zone. Due to its spatial proximity to the carding gap, the lid infeed temperature sensor may take a continuous measurement of the temperature of the rotating cylinder and/or the moving flat bars.

According to one embodiment, the evaluation unit is configured to transmit the adjustment value between the clothing of the revolving flat and the clothing of the cylinder to the control unit.

Owing to the adjustment value calculated by the evaluation unit, the carding gap may advantageously be adjusted by the control unit. Due to the static and continuous temperature measurement, measurement errors may be minimized and the evaluation unit may thus quickly calculate the adjustment value.

The object is achieved either fully or in part by the features of the invention. To solve the problem, a carding machine is proposed, among other things. The carding machine comprises a revolving flat, a cylinder, a pre-carding zone, a main carding zone, a post-carding zone and an adjustment device according to one embodiment of the invention.

Advantageously, the carding machine may continuously measure the temperature or the temperature change owing to multiple distributed temperature sensors. On the basis of the temperature measured in combination with a calculation model, the carding machine may keep the carding gap small or adjust it to achieve the most efficient carding effect possible. The calculation model may include, among other things, a temperature model that may take into account the ambient temperature and/or the different heat sources. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the temperatures are measured statically and continuously since this may minimize measurement errors. The temperature sensors are stationary, which reduces measurement errors and measurement data while increasing the calculation speed of the evaluation unit or control unit.

The object is achieved either fully or in part by the features of the invention. To solve the problem, a carding machine and a sensor unit for a carding gap are proposed, among other things. The sensor unit for a carding gap is configured to sense a measurement signal as a measure of the temperature or temperature change of the carding gap and is configured for use in a carding machine. Preferably, the sensor unit may comprise a lid infeed temperature sensor, at least one flat space sensor, at least one pre-carding zone temperature sensor, at least one post-carding zone temperature sensor, and/or at least one cylinder temperature sensor. In particular, the sensor unit for a carding gap is the at least one lid infeed temperature sensor, which is arranged between the clothing of the revolving flat, the clothing of the cylinder and the post-carding zone.

The carding machine comprises a revolving flat, a cylinder, a pre-carding zone, a main carding zone, a post-carding zone and an adjustment device. The adjustment device comprises:

• • an evaluation unit; wherein the evaluation unit is configured to receive the measurement signal from the sensor unit and thereby calculate the deformation of the flat bar and/or of the cylinder; and,
  • a control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the carding gap between the clothing of the revolving flat and the clothing of the cylinder.

Advantageously, owing to the insertable sensor unit, the device may continuously measure the temperature or the temperature change on the card side and at other locations. On the basis of the temperatures measured in combination with a calculation model, the evaluation unit calculates the deformation of the flat bar and/or the cylinder. The calculation model may comprise, among other things, a temperature model that may take into account the ambient temperature and/or the different heat sources, such as a cylinder drive attached on one side or the ventilation motors. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the temperatures are measured statically and continuously because this may minimize measurement errors. The temperature sensors are stationary, which reduces measurement errors and measured data while increasing calculation speed. Owing to one aspect of the invention, the sensor unit is replaceable and/or changeable.

The object is achieved either fully or in part by the features of the invention. To solve the problem, a method is proposed for adjusting a carding gap, in particular in the main carding zone, between the clothing of the revolving flat and the clothing of the cylinder. The method comprises:

• • sensing the temperature or the temperature change at the carding gap, at the pre-carding zone, at the post-carding zone, and/or at the cylinder by means of a sensor unit comprising at least one temperature sensor;
  • generating corresponding measurement signals corresponding to the temperature or temperature change of the carding gap, the pre-carding zone, the post-carding zone and/or the cylinder and transmitting the measurement signals to an evaluation unit;
  • calculating the deformation of the flat bar and/or the cylinder by means of a calculation model of the evaluation unit; and,
  • adjusting the carding gap by means of a control unit on the basis of the calculation.

Advantageously, the method may adjust the carding gap in order to achieve the most efficient carding effect possible. Owing to multiple distributed temperature sensors, the temperature measurements or the temperature change may be measured continuously on the card side and/or at other locations. On the basis of the temperature measured in combination with a calculation model, the evaluation unit calculates the deformation of the flat bar and/or the cylinder. The calculation model may include, among other things, a temperature model that may take into account the interior temperature, the ambient temperature, and/or the various heat sources, such as a cylinder drive attached on one side or the ventilation motors. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the temperatures are measured statically and continuously because this may minimize measurement errors. The temperature sensors are stationary, which reduces measurement errors and measured data while increasing calculation speed.

According to one embodiment, the method involves a preparation step during which a reference distance between the clothing of the revolving flat and the clothing of the cylinder is measured or entered before operation of the spinning preparation machine and/or at room temperature.

Advantageously, the carding gap, in particular the gap between the clothing of the revolving flat and the clothing of the cylinder, may be measured or entered before operation of the spinning preparation machine and/or at room temperature. In this way, the adjustment values calculated by the evaluation unit may be classified, and the evaluation unit may thus have an orientation and/or may ensure that the change in the carding gap and/or the parameters during operation correspond to the calculation model.

According to one embodiment, the calculation involves drawing conclusions about the deformation of the flat bar and/or of the cylinder on the basis of the temperature measured by the sensor unit.

Advantageously, the evaluation unit and its calculation model may calculate the deformation of the flat bar on the basis of time, the static temperature measurements or the temperature change, and/or other parameters, without measuring the deformation of the flat bar and/or the cylinder. Owing to the static and continuous temperature measurement, measurement errors may be minimized, allowing the evaluation unit and its calculation model to calculate the deformation of the flat bar and/or the cylinder more precisely.

According to one embodiment, the calculation involves determining the deviation between the carding gap and the reference distance, preferably determining the change in the distance between the clothing of the revolving flat and the clothing of the cylinder.

Advantageously, the calculation model may use the static temperature measurements to determine the change in the distance between the clothing of the revolving flat and the clothing of the cylinder with low error tolerance.

According to one embodiment, the determination of the deviation involves evaluating the determination to decide whether to make the adjustment.

Advantageously, the evaluation unit and its calculation model may methodically store and systematically document the measured data and/or the temperature measurements in order to enable an investigation, to check the procedure, and/or to understand the decision to make the adjustment.

According to one embodiment, the calculation calculates an adjustment value from measurement signals for the distance between the clothing of the revolving flat and the clothing of the cylinder by means of the calculation model.

Advantageously, the calculation may calculate the adjustment value with low tolerance using the static and continuous temperature measurements.

According to one embodiment, the evaluation unit transmits the adjustment value between the clothing of the revolving flat and the clothing of the cylinder to the control unit.

According to one embodiment, the adjustment involves controlling the movement of the revolving flat by means of the control unit.

Owing to one of the above-mentioned configurations, the evaluation unit may be separated from the control unit to reduce measurement errors and/or increase calculation speed. This separation may also be advantageous so that the control unit may control the revolving flat and the evaluation unit may calculate the adjustment value.

According to one embodiment, the calculation involves updating the calculation model, during which the calculation model, preferably at least one formula and/or at least one rule of the calculation model, is changed.

Advantageously, the calculation model may be updated and/or enriched with the stored and systematically documented measured data and/or the temperature measurements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description of the embodiments, which are illustratively and non-restrictively described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of an adjustment device 100 according to one embodiment of the invention and a view of a carding machine 200 according to one embodiment of the invention; and,

FIG. 2 presents a schematic representation of a method 500 according to one embodiment of the invention.

In the following description of the embodiments shown, the same reference signs are used for features which are identical and/or at least similar in terms of their design and/or mode of operation, even if they are shown in different embodiments. Unless these are explained again in detail, the design and/or mode of operation thereof corresponds to the design and mode of operation of the features already described above.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The distances between the cylinder clothing and surfaces opposite it are of considerable importance from a machine and fiber point of view. The carding result, namely cleaning, nep formation and fiber shortening, substantially depends on the carding gap, i.e., the distance between the clothing of a cylinder, also called cylinder clothing, and the clothing of the revolving flat and stationary flat. The air flow around the cylinder, i.e., the cylinder, and the heat dissipation also depend on the distance between the cylinder clothing and surfaces opposite it, e.g., separating blades or casing elements, that are or are not provided with clothing. The distances are subject to various, partly opposing, influences. The wear of clothings opposite one another leads to heating and/or an enlargement of the carding gap, which is associated with an increase in the number of neps and a decrease in fiber shortening.

During carding, increasingly larger quantities of fiber material are processed per unit of time, which requires higher speeds of the working elements and higher installed capacities. Increasing production leads to increased heat generation as a result of mechanical work, even when the working area remains constant. Furthermore, the proportion of man-made fibers and/or cotton to be processed may generate more heat due to contact with the knitting surfaces of the machine through friction.

Due to the circumstances mentioned, the amount of heat entering the machine may be significantly increased. The resulting increased heating of high-performance carding machines may lead to greater thermoelastic deformations, which, due to the uneven distribution of the temperature field, affect the distances set between the operating surfaces: the distances between the cylinder and the flat, doffer, stationary flats and separation points may change. In extreme cases, the gap set between the operating surfaces may be completely occupied by thermal expansion, causing components that move relative to one another to collide. In the light of the foregoing, the generation of heat in the operating region of the carding machine in particular may lead to different thermal expansions if the temperature differences between the components are too large.

Furthermore, in order to increase production of the carding machine, attempts are made to choose the highest possible operating speed of the moving elements. Increasing the cylinder speed, e.g., to improve the cleaning effect, may lead to an increase in the temperature. In addition, the most important carding gap of the revolving flat carding machine may be located in the main carding zone, i.e., between the cylinder and the revolving flat, because the carding side comprising the cylinder drive tends to have higher temperatures than elsewhere. Therefore, it is important to take a static and continuous temperature measurement at the point with the highest temperature, as proposed by the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a carding machine 200, to which the present invention relates, which may comprise an adjustment device 100, to which the present invention also relates. The device 100 may comprise a sensor unit may 110, an evaluation unit 120, and a control unit 130. According to one embodiment, the sensor unit 110 may be a replaceable component. It is quite conceivable that the sensor unit 110 is changed to have a larger or smaller number of sensors for the sake of precision, for example.

The sensor unit 110 may have at least one lid infeed temperature sensor 111, at least one flat space sensor 115, at least one pre-carding zone temperature sensor 116, at least one post-carding zone temperature sensor 117, and/or at least one cylinder temperature sensor 112. As shown in FIG. 1, the at least one flat space sensor 115 may be arranged in the flat space between the flat bars of the flat. The at least one pre-carding zone temperature sensor 116 and/or post-carding zone temperature sensor 117 may be located on the carding rod or in the carding rod pre-carding zone and/or post-carding zone. Finally, the cylinder temperature sensor 112 may be located on the cylinder shield, on the wall, and/or on a cylinder support, as shown in FIG. 1.

Owing to the temperature sensor 111, 112, 115, 116, 117 or the temperature sensors 111, 112, 115, 116, 117, a static and continuous measurement of the temperature or the temperature change may be carried out at different points on the carding machine such that a better temperature image may be created. In fact, it is also advantageous if the temperature may be measured statically and continuously since measurement errors and measured data may be reduced. In other words, the temperature sensors are stationary and may only measure the of this location, which is not the case if the temperature sensors are arranged on a moving part or on a moving component. When the part or component moves, the temperature sensor will measure the temperature along the path of the moving part or component and consequently the amount of measured data increases. Furthermore, if only a portion of the measurements is relevant, measured data must be discarded, which may lead to increasing measurement errors.

In contrast. a static and continuous measured temperature reduces measurement errors and measured data. This is all the more important if the most important carding gap of the revolving flat carding machine may be located in the main carding zone, i.e., between a rotating cylinder and a moving revolving flat. Owing to a sensor unit 110, 111, in particular the at least one lid infeed temperature sensor 111, the temperature of the carding gap 212 between the clothing of a revolving flat 211 and the clothing of a cylinder 221 may be measured. As shown in FIG. 1, the lid infeed, also known as Deckel-Einlauf in german, is a guide element or a fibrous web guide that serves as a transition from the carding surface flat to the carding surface post-carding zone. In other words, the at least one lid infeed temperature sensor 111 may be arranged between the clothing of the revolving lid 211, the clothing of the cylinder 221 and the post-carding zone 270. Due to its spatial proximity to the carding gap 212, the lid infeed temperature sensor 111 may therefore take a continuous measurement of the temperature of the carding gap 212, despite the rotating cylinder and the moving flat bars. The same may also apply to at least one lid inlet temperature sensor 111 (not shown), which may be arranged between the set of the traveling lid 211, the set of the reel spool 221 and the precarding zone 260.

Furthermore, the sensor unit 110 is configured to sense 510 a measurement signal as a measure of the temperature or temperature change of the pre-carding zone 260, the post-carding zone 270, and/or the cylinder 220. This measurement signal may be received by the evaluation unit 120, which, i.e., the evaluation unit 120, may calculate 570 the deformation of the flat bar 213 and/or the cylinder 220 using a method 500 for adjusting 590 the carding gap 212 on the basis of measurement signals corresponding to the measured temperature.

The method 500 shown in FIG. 2 involves sensing 510 the temperature at the carding gap 212, at the pre-carding zone 260, at the post-carding zone 270, and/or at the cylinder 220 using the sensor unit 110. The corresponding measurement signals may be generated 530, which correspond to the temperature or temperature change of the carding gap 212, the pre-carding zone 260, the post-carding zone 270, and/or the cylinder 220. The measurement signals may then be transmitted 550 to the evaluation unit 120.

By means of a calculation model 572, the evaluation unit 120 may calculate 570 the deformation of the flat bar 213 and/or the cylinder 220. This calculation 570 may use the static and continuous temperature measurements to calculate 570 an adjustment value 579 from measurement signals for the distance between the clothing of the revolving flat 211 and the clothing of the cylinder 221 by means of the calculation model 572 with low tolerance. Finally, the adjustment value 579 is transmitted from the evaluation unit 120 to the control unit 130.

The calculation model 572 may be stored in the evaluation unit 120, may be stored in the control unit 130 if the control unit 130 is the evaluation unit 120 or may be stored on a remote cloud server. This calculation 570 may use the temperature measured by the sensor unit to calculate conclusions 573 about the deformation of the flat bar 213 and/or the cylinder 220. The evaluation unit 120 and its calculation model 572 may actually calculate the deformation of the flat bar 213 on the basis of time, the static temperature measurements or the temperature change, and/or other parameters, without having to measure the deformation of the flat bar 213 and/or of the cylinder 220. Furthermore, the static and continuous temperature measurement may minimize measurement errors, and at the same time the evaluation unit 120 and its calculation model 572 may calculate the deformation of the flat bar 213 more precisely.

The previously mentioned deformation may lead to a deviation between the carding gap 212 and a reference distance 501. This reference distance 501 may represent the distance between the clothing of the revolving flat 211 and the clothing of the cylinder 221 before operation of the spinning preparation machine 200 at room temperature. During a preparation step 505, the reference distance 501 may be measured or entered. This allows the adjustment values 579 calculated by the evaluation unit 120 to be classified and thus the evaluation unit 120 may have an orientation and/or ensure that the change in the carding gap 212 and/or the parameters during operation correspond to the calculation model 572.

As mentioned above, the evaluation unit 120 may transmit the adjustment value 579 to the control unit 130. The control unit 130, in turn, may adjust 590 the carding gap 212 between the clothing of the revolving flat 211 and the clothing of the cylinder 221 by controlling the movement 595 of the revolving flat.

This deviation between the carding gap 212 and the reference distance 501, preferably the change in the distance between the clothing of the revolving flat 211 and the clothing of the cylinder 221, may be determined 575 from the calculation model 572 with low error tolerance using the static temperature measurements. The evaluation unit 120 and the calculation model 572 thereof may methodically store and systematically document the measured data and/or the temperature measurements to enable an investigation, to check the procedure, and/or to understand the decision to make the adjustment 590. For this purpose, this determination 575 of the deviation may be used to evaluate 577 the determination.

After a certain amount of time and/or at a certain amount of stored and systematically documented measured data, the calculation 570 may initiate an update 574 of the calculation model 572 while the calculation model 572, preferably at least one formula and/or at least one rule of the calculation model 572, is changed and/or enriched.

As may be understood, the method may adjust the carding gap 212 to achieve the most efficient carding effect possible. Owing to multiple distributed temperature sensors, the temperature measurements or the temperature change may be measured continuously on the card side and/or at other locations. Based on the temperature measured in combination with a calculation model, the evaluation unit 120 calculates the deformation of the flat bar 213 and/or the cylinder 220. The calculation model may include, among other things, a temperature model that may take into account the interior temperature, the ambient temperature, and/or the various heat sources, such as a cylinder drive attached on one side or the ventilation motors. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the temperatures are measured statically and continuously because this may minimize measurement errors. The temperature sensors are stationary, which reduces measurement errors and measured data while increasing calculation speed.