EP0693582A1

EP0693582A1 - Method and device for supplying scutched flax to a hackling device

Info

Publication number: EP0693582A1
Application number: EP95201827A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Didier Douchy; Marcel Denoo
Original assignee: JACQUES EN ERIC DOUCHY NV
Current assignee: JACQUES EN ERIC DOUCHY NV
Priority date: 1994-07-19
Filing date: 1995-07-05
Publication date: 1996-01-24
Also published as: BE1008507A3

Abstract

Method for supplying scutched flax to a hackling device (1), characterized in that it mainly consists in the combination of the formation of a layer of flax fibres (3); the successive grasping of equal lengths of this layer, such that equal flax fibre bundles (7) are obtained; the clamping of the flax fibre bundles in clamping devices (9); the separation of the flax fibre bundles (7) which are still entangled among themselves in successive clamping devices (9) and the insertion of the separated flax fibre bundles (7) with their clamping devices (9) in the hackling device (1).

Description

The present invention concerns a method for supplying scutched flax to a hackling device, as well as a device applying said method.
One of the treatments to which the flax is subjected consists in what is called the scutching, whereby the hard core of the separate flax fibres is broken off and removed, so that only the actual flax fibres remain.
Subsequently, this scutched flax goes to a hackling device where it is clamped by a clamping device and led along combs so as to disentangle the flax fibres.
Until now, the flax fibres are manually provided in the clamping device by a trained person.
Hereby, the person must each time take a flax fibre bundle of a more or less constant weight, whereby the weight of this flax fibre bundle is estimated by this person.
As a result, the flax fibre bundles will vary in weight, so that the clamping of the flax fibre bundles in the clamping device of the hackling machine is not always optimal, and especially the end product which leaves the hackling machine is not regular.
Another disadvantage is that the supply of the above-mentioned flax fibres in the clamping device is in itself a labour-intensive task and requires some craftsmanship.
The invention aims a method for supplying flax to a hackling device whereby the above-mentioned and other disadvantages are excluded.
To this aim, a method for supplying scutched flax to a hackling device mainly consists in the combination of the formation of a layer of flax fibres; the successive grasping of equal lengths of this layer, such that equal flax fibre bundles are obtained; the clamping of the flax fibre bundles in clamping devices; the separation of the flax fibre bundles which are still entangled among themselves in successive clamping devices and the insertion of the separated flax fibre bundles with their clamping devices in the hackling device.
The invention also concerns a device which is particularly suited for applying the above-mentioned method and which mainly consists of transport means for a layer of flax fibres, a gripper to grip successive equal parts from this layer and thus form equal flax fibre bundles, means to clamp the flax fibre bundles in clamping devices and separation means to separate the clamped, successive flax fibre bundles which are still entangled among themselves.
In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiment of a device for automatically supplying flax is described, as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a side view of a device for automatically supplying flax;
figure 2 shows a top view of the device from figure 1;
figure 3 shows a view to a larger scale of the part which is indicated in figure 1 by F3;
figure 4 shows a top view according to arrow F4 in figure 3;
figures 5 and 6 show views similar to that in figure 3, but for other positions;
figure 7 shows a section according to line VII-VII in figure 6;
figure 8 shows a view analogous to that in figures 3, 5 and 6, but for yet another position;
figure 9 shows a top view analogous to that in figure 4, but with reference to another embodiment;
figure 10 shows a view according to F3 in figure 9.

Figures 1 and 2 represent a device for automatically supplying scutched flax to a hackling device 1, whereby this device mainly consists of transport means 2 which provide for the supply of flax fibres 3 situated parallel to one another, a weighing device 4, supply adjusting means 5 which are controlled by the above-mentioned weighing device 4, a gripper 6 to grip successive equal parts from the layer of flax fibres 3 and to form equal flax fibre bundles 7, means 8 to clamp the flax fibre bundles 7 in clamping devices 9 and separation means 10 to separate the clamped flax fibre bundles 7 which are still entangled among themselves.
As represented in figure 1, the transport means 2 consist, as seen from the direction of movement indicated by arrow A, of a number of transport mechanisms, namely in successive order a horizontal endless driven conveyor belt 11 followed by an inclined plane 12 which is erected with its top end under the above-mentioned conveyor belt 11 on the one hand, and opens into a lower horizontal conveyor belt 13 on the other hand and an extra horizontal endless driven conveyor belt 14.
The above-mentioned conveyor belts are composed of several rubber belts situated parallel in relation to one other, but in another embodiment they can also consist of one wide belt, of chains or such.
Above the inclined plane 12 is erected an adjustable pre-regulating unit 15 which provides for a rough levelling of the layer of flax fibres 3 to a certain thickness. The pre-adjustment unit 15 consists, as indicated in figure 2, of a number of bent arms 16 situated next to one another which are hinge-mounted around a shaft 17 above the inclined plane 12. Under the influence of a spring with adjustable strength, the arms 16 push against the flax fibres 3 on the inclined surface 12. Means are provided to make the shaft 17 carry out an adjustable swinging motion in the direction of transport A.
The supply adjusting means 5 contain two horizontal rollers 18 above bottommost end of the inclined plane 12.
Both rollers 18 are driven intermittently in the opposite sense, whereby these rollers are controlled by the weighing device 4 in a manner described hereafter.
As represented in figure 4, the transport mechanism formed by the conveyor belt 13 consists of a number of belts 19 placed parallel and at some distance in relation to one another. This conveyor belt 13 can be moved up and down by means 20, for example cylinders.
The weighing device 4 contains a weighing cell whose weighing platform 21 consists of several strips in between which or next to which the belts 19 of the above-mentioned horizontal conveyor belt 13 can be moved up and down.
The weighing cell is connected to a processing unit 22 which records the weight present on the weighing platform 21 and compares it to a preset value.
The processing unit 22 is connected via the line 23 to an engine 24 for driving the rollers 18.
The above-mentioned gripper 6 contains two gripping elements 25 which can be moved up and down and which each have a pointed head 26 carried by a standing support 27.
The gripper 6 can be moved up and down by means which consist of a frame 28, upon which the supports 27 are hinge-mounted, and a pressure cylinder 29, so that this frame can be moved up and down between a bottommost position in which the gripping elements 25 are situated under the above-mentioned conveyor belt 14, and a topmost position in which the gripping elements 25 extend with their heads 26 above the conveyor belt 14.
The gripping elements 25 can not only grasp a part from the layer of flax fibres 3 so as to form a flax fibre bundle 7, but they also serve to supply the basic part 30 of the clamping device 9 which have a thrust part 31 fitting on this basic part 30.
The head 26 of each gripping element 25 to this end extends outside the support 27, so that a seat 32 is formed between the two standing gripping elements 25 as represented in the figures 1 to 3, 5 and 6.
To this end, the two gripping elements 25 can be moved away from one another, for example rotated away from one another, with means to take them apart which consist of a pressure cylinder 33 placed on the frame 28 and a bar transmission 34.
According to another embodiment, which is not represented in the drawings, the gripping elements 25 can be taken apart in a parallel manner by means of a parallelogram construction.
When the gripping elements 25 move away from one another, the basic part 30 is collected by two guides 35. As represented in figure 7, these guides 35 are hinge-mounted on either side of the frame 28, as seen across the conveyor belt 14, around a horizontal shaft 36 and they are pulled by a spring 37 against a stop 38. During the upward movement of the basic part 30, the guides 35 are pushed away from one another in a springy way. As soon as this basic part 30 has reached its topmost position, the guides 35 go back to their initial position as represented in figure 7, and they support this basic part 30 which can be shifted over the guides 35 in the direction of movement A.
These guides 35 are connected to a horizontal fixed support 39 provided with a U-section 40 in the direction of movement A. The basic parts 30 can be moved further over this support 39 by means of a finger 41 which can be moved back and forth under the support 39, by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 42, and which works in conjunction with protrusions 43 which stand on the bottom side of the basic parts 30 and extend through the U-section 40.
On both sides of the gripper 6 are possibly provided, above the conveyor belt 14, two longitudinal press-on elements 44 which can press on the layer of flax fibres 3 by means of a pressure cylinder 45.
Above the fixed support 39 is erected a hydraulic pressure cylinder 46 which can press the thrust part 31 by means of a basic part 30 carried by the above-mentioned support.
The separation of the successive flax fibre bundles 7 held in clamping devices 9 partly takes place by making the clamping device 9 on the fixed support 39 carry out a relative movement in relation to the following clamping device 9 by means of the cylinder 42 and the finger 41, so that this cylinder 42 with finger 41 is part of the separation means 10. Preferably, however, extra separation means are provided above the support 39 and past the hydraulic pressure cylinder 46, which disentangle the still entangled top and root ends of the flax fibres 3 in successive clamping devices 9.
These extra separation means consist of two vertical rods 47 which can be moved up and down and across the direction of movement A. These rods 47 are led with their top ends in cross guides 48 which can be moved up and down by means of cylinder/piston mechanisms 49. Means 50 are provided to move the rods crosswise over the guides 48. These means consist for example of cable mechanisms 50.
At the end of the fixed support 39 are provided means 51 which grip the clamping devices 9 and lead them in the right position in the hackling device 1.
The working of a device according to the invention is very simple and as follows.
The scutched flax fibres 3 are provided by a person parallel in relation to one another and across the direction of the conveyor belt 11.
It should be noted hereby that the person does not need to split up the flax fibres 3 in separate flax fibre bundles 7.
The conveyor belts 11, 13 and 14 are driven simultaneously but intermittently, for example in the ratio 2/3 movement and 1/3 standstill.
During the movement, the flax fibres 3 are brought on the inclined plane 12 by the conveyor belt 11, where they move further under the bent arms 16 of the pre-adjustment unit 15 moving back and forth and pressing with an adjustable force, so that a first levelling of the layer of flax fibres 3 is obtained.
The fine adjustment of the layer of flax fibres 3 takes place at the end of the inclined plane 12, where the flax fibres 3 are led through the two rollers 18 of the supply adjusting means 5.
As the conveyor belts 11, 13 and 14 stand still, the conveyor belt 13 is put in its bottommost position by the means 20, so that the flax fibres 3 which are situated on this conveyor belt 13 end up on the weighing platform 21 and are weighed. The weight of these flax fibres 3 is compared by the processing unit 22 to the desired weight which was put in.
The feeding over the inclined plane 12 is regulated such that normally, the weighted weight is smaller than the desired weight. As the rollers 18 are driven further when the conveyor belts stop, they provide for the supply of an extra amount of flax fibres 3 on the weighing platform 21. When the processing unit 22 detects that the desired weight is reached on the weighing platform 21, it orders the engine 24 which drives the rollers 18 to stop via the line 23.
These rollers 18 are only driven again as soon as the conveyor belts 11, 13 and 14 are started again. The conveyor belt 13 hereby goes into its topmost position first, so that the above-described supply cycle can start anew.
The flax fibres 3 which were situated on the weighing platform 21 are carried along by the conveyor belt 13 and removed to the extra conveyor belt 14, whereas the weighing cell is reset to zero.
When the conveyor belts 11, 13 and 14 come to a standstill the next time or some time thereafter, the part of the layer of flax fibres 3 weighed in the above-described manner will be situated on the conveyor belt 14, above the gripper 6 which is in the bottommost position at the time of the standstill.
While a new amount of flax fibres 3 is weighed on the weighing device 4, the press-on elements 44 are pressed by the pressure cylinder 45 on the layer of flax fibres 3.
In the meantime, a basic part 30 of a clamping device 9 has been provided in the seat 32 between the two gripping elements 25 under the conveyor belt 14.
As represented in figure 5, the frame 28 with the gripping elements 25 and the basic part 30 placed in between by the pressure cylinder 29 is moved up in its highest position. The heads 26 hereby penetrate through the layer of flax fibres 3 and, due to their pointed shape and consequently bevelled sides, press the gripped part of the layer slightly together. The part of the layer which is contained between the gripping elements 25 has a specific length corresponding to the amount of fibres which are weighed on the weighing device per standstill. Thanks to the weighing device 4, the gripped parts always have the same weight.
During the upward movement of the gripping elements 25, the flax fibres 3 gripped in between end up in the basic part 30 of a clamping device 9, whereby the flax fibres 3 are arrested by the press-on elements 44.
The gripping elements 25 are opened by means of the pressure cylinder 33. The filled basic part 30 rests on the guides 35.
Subsequently, the pressure cylinder 45 brings the press-on elements 44 in their highest position again, so that the flax fibres 3 are released.
When the conveyor belts 11, 13 and 14 are started again, the flax fibre bundle 7 is moved further with the basic part 7 by the conveyor belt 14 and put on the fixed support 39, under the pressure cylinder 46.
During a following standstill of the conveyor belts 11, 13 and 14, this pressure cylinder 46 places a thrust part 31 on the basic part 30. This thrust part 31 is thereby automatically locked on the basic part 30 in a known manner.
The working of the pressure cylinder 42 is synchronized with the working of the conveyor belts 11, 13 and 14 so that, when these conveyor belts start moving again, this pressure cylinder 42, as a result of the cooperation between the finger 41 and the protrusions 43 of the clamping devices 9, moves the filled clamping devices 9, so that the mutual distance between two successive clamping devices 9 is enlarged and the flax fibres of both clamping devices 9 are merely still entangled with their top and root ends.
The entangled flax fibres 3 of the flax fibre bundles 7 in the two successive clamping devices 9 are, for example during a subsequent standstill of the conveyor belts 11, 13 and 14, separated entirely by the rods 47. The two rods 47 are lowered between the successive clamping devices 9 up to the fixed support 39 and subsequently moved from the inside to the outside.
Finally, the filled and closed clamping devices 9 are rotated in the exact position by the means 51 and provided in the hackling device 1.
It is clear that a method according to the invention and a device applying the above-mentioned method totally excludes the known above-mentioned and other disadvantages.
Thus, because the weight of successive parts with the same specific length for the layer of flax fibres 3 is regulated, each flax fibre bundle 7 clamped in a clamping device 9 will automatically have the desired weight, irrespective of the length of the flax fibres 3. Naturally, the weight can be selected for example as a function of this length. With longer fibres can be obtained a larger weight in the clamping devices.
The gripper, the means for clamping the flax fibre bundles in the clamping devices and the separation means do not necessarily need to be activated during a standstill of the transport means. Possibly, said gripper and/or the above-mentioned means can be mounted such that they can be moved together with the flax fibres and perform their action during this movement.
Besides, the weighing could be carried out continuously with a suited weighing device, so that the supply means move the flax fibres continuously.
Neither should the transport means 2 be necessarily formed of conveyor belts. In particular, the transport mechanism formed by the conveyor belt 13 can be replaced at the height of the weighing device 4 by another transport mechanism, for example by a transport mechanism 52 as represented in the figures 9 and 10.
This transport mechanism 52 contains a series of saw-toothed laths 53 which can be shifted back and forth together by a cylinder/piston mechanism 54 according to their longitudinal direction over a carriage 55 which can be moved up and down itself because one end of it is hinge-mounted around a horizontal shaft on a fixed frame 56 and the other end of it can be moved up and down in relation to this fixed frame 56 by a cylinder/piston mechanism 57.
In the upward rotated position of the carriage 55, the toothed laths 53 are situated with one part between the strips of the weighing platform 21 of the weighing device 4, with the teeth right above these strips, as is represented by the dashed line in figure 10.
In the lowest position, represented by the full line in figure 10, the teeth are situated under the strips of the weighing plate 21.
In their highest position, the toothed laths 53 are moved forward, i.e. in the normal direction of movement of the flax fibres 3 until an amount of flax fibres 3 which is supplied via the inclined surface 12 and the rollers 18 on these laths are provided above the weighing device 4.
Subsequently, the toothed laths 53 are put in their bottommost position, so that the above-mentioned flax fibres 3 end up on the weighing device and are weighed. More flax fibres 3 can possibly be provided via the rollers until the required weight is reached.
Afterwards, the toothed laths 53 are again put in their highest position and moved further forward, so that the weighed flax fibres 3 end up above an end of the conveyor belt 14 and are carried along by this conveyor belt 14, which is possible thanks to the shape of the teeth of the laths 53.
After the toothed laths 53 have been moved backwards again, a new amount of flax fibres 3 can be supplied via the rollers 18.
It is not necessary for the rods 47 of the separation means 10 to be able to move up and down crosswise. The rods can extend through an interruption in the fixed support or can be suspended in a swinging manner instead of in a sideward slidable manner. The separation means do not necessarily need to contain rods. Other separation means such as moving fingers and such could be used.

Claims

Method for supplying scutched flax to a hackling device (1), characterized in that it mainly consists in the combination of the formation of a layer of flax fibres (3); the successive grasping of equal lengths of this layer, such that equal flax fibre bundles (7) are obtained; the clamping of the flax fibre bundles in clamping devices (9); the separation of the flax fibre bundles (7) which are still entangled among themselves in successive clamping devices (9) and the insertion of the separated flax fibre bundles (7) with their clamping devices (9) in the hackling device (1).
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that clamping devices (9) are used which contain a basic part (30) and a thrust part (31) and in that as a length of the layer of flax fibres (3) is gripped, this length is also provided in the basic part (30) of a clamping device (9).
Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply of the flax fibres (3) is regulated such by means of a weighing device (4) that a layer of flax fibres (3) with successive lengths of equal weights are obtained and in that these lengths with equal weights are gripped and provided in a clamping device (9).
Device applying the method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it mainly consists of transport means (2) for a layer of flax fibres (3), a gripper (6) to grip successive equal parts from this layer and thus form equal fibre bundles (7), means (8) to clamp the flax fibre bundles (7) in clamping devices (9) and separation means (10) to separate the successive clamped flax fibre bundles (7) which are still entangled among themselves.
Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the gripper (6) contains two gripping elements (25) which can be moved up and down together and means (28-29) to move these gripping elements (25) up and down between a bottommost position under a conveyor belt (14) of the transport means (2) and a topmost position whereby they grip a length of a layer of flax fibres (3) on the conveyor belt (14) so as to form a flax fibre bundle (7).
Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the gripping elements (25) can be moved away from one another and, in one position, form a seat (32) for a basic part (30) of a two-part clamping device (9) and, as they grip a length from the layer of flax fibres (3), place a basic part (30) provided in the seat (32) under this length, whereby the device contains means (33-34) to take the gripping elements (25) apart so that they release the basic part (30) and guides (35) which catch this basic part (30) with a gripped flax fibre bundle (7).
Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means (8) to clamp the flax fibre bundles (7) contain means to provide a thrust part (31) on a basic part (30) filled with a flax fibre bundle (7).
Device according to any of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the separation means (10) contain means to provide a difference in speed of movement to successive filled clamping devices (9).
Device according to any of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the separation means (10) contain at least one rod (47) and means (50) to move this rod (47) across the direction of movement (A) of the flax fibre bundles (7) contained in the clamping devices (9) between two such successive flax fibre bundles (7).
Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the separation means (10) contain two rods (47) and means (50) to move these two rods.
Device according to any of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that it contains a weighing device (4) which is connected to a processing unit (22) and supply adjusting means (5) which are controlled by this processing unit (22) as a function of the weight weighed by the weighing device (4).
Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the weighing device (4) is equipped with a weighing platform (21), whereas the transport means (2) are provided with a transport mechanism (13 or 52) which can be moved up and down by means (20), through which or next to which the weighing platform (21) can be provided, so that in one position the flax fibres (3) rest on this transport mechanism (13 or 52) and in another position these flax fibres (3) rest on the weighing platform (21).
Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the supply adjusting means (5) contain two rollers (18) in between which flax fibres (3) can be supplied, and an engine (24) for driving these rollers (18) in the opposite sense, whereby the processing unit (22) controls this engine (24) such that, after the transport mechanism (13 or 52) has been lowered in its bottommost position, the rollers (18) supply flax fibres (3) on the weighing platform (21) until the desired weight has been reached.
Device according to any of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that it contains a pre-adjustment unit (15) and in that the transport means (2) have an inclined plane (12) which is erected upstream of the weighing device (4), and in that the pre-adjustment unit (15) contains arms (16) which can press on the flax fibres (3) above this inclined plane (12).