GB2494028A

GB2494028A - Device operable with one hand for unlocking and opening the pressing devices of the drafting mechanism on a spinning room preparation machine in one operative

Info

Publication number: GB2494028A
Application number: GB1213541.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Meier Dirk
Original assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Truetzschler GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2011-08-23
Filing date: 2012-07-30
Publication date: 2013-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2032-07-30
Also published as: CN102953168A; CN102953168B; CH705408B1; JP2013044083A; GB2494028B; BR102012020948A2; CH705408A2; BR102012020948B1; BR102012020948B8; DE102011110844A1; GB201213541D0

Abstract

In a device on a spinning room preparation machine, especially a draw frame, carding machine, combing machine or the like, having a drafting mechanism, there is present a drafting mechanism lower part, in which lower rolls are mounted, and a drafting mechanism upper part 11a, in which upper rolls 4 are mounted, the upper part being movable from an open position (unweighted) to a closed position (weighted) and back through rotation (H, G) about a pivot bearing 10. An unlocking and locking device 15 is provided for the pressing devices of the upper rolls 4, also an opening and closing device 29 is provided to allow the upper gantry arm 14a2 to be moved into the open position. To enable the operations of unlocking/opening and closing/locking to be carried out using only one hand, a handle 33 may be moved in a pivoting motion I, K operating opening 20 and closing 21 catches, which may have a tension spring (25, figure 3c) acting between them. The opening catch may act upon a projection which moves into and out of a recess in the closing hatch (21 , figure 3b). A spring force between the opening and closing catches may pivot both simultaneously when one is pressed.

Description

Device on a spinning room preparation machine having a drafting mechanism The invention relates to a device on a spinning room preparation machine, especially a draw frame, carding machine, combing machine or the like, having a drafting mechanism.

It is known for a drafting mechanism to comprise a drafting mechanism lower part, in which lower rolls are mounued, and a drafting mechanism upper part, in which upper rolls are mounted, the upper part being movable from an open position (unweighted) to a closed position (weighted) and back, and an unlocking and locking device being provided for the pressing devices of the upper rolls.

In a known device (DE 195 48 840 A), the drafting mechanism is weighted during operation, that is to say tho upper and lower rolls and the sliver located therebetween contact one another under pressure. For that purpose, pressure means are mounted on the upper rolls, which pressure means are in turn attached to the presser arms, the presser arms being pulled in the direction towards the drafting mechanism by means of a locking device, so that the upper rolls are pressed onto their associated lower rolls. The locking device has two weighting hooks, one weighting hook being assigned to each presser arm. The weighting hooks engage one bolt per presser arm, with the result that a tensile force exerted on the weighting hooks is transmitted to the associated presser arm. When the presser arms are released by the locking device, the weighting hook, since it no longer exerts a tensile force on the presser arm, pivots away from the bolt, so that the presser arms can then be pivoted away. The presser arms no longer exert any force on the drafting mechanism rolls.

The weighting of the rolls is then still effected by their own weight. The locking device, which allows the presser arms, by means of the upper rolls, to exert pressure on and lock the lower rolls, consists of a locking element acted upon by a control element whioh effects the movement of the weighting hook from its opened position to its closed position, the bolt always being positioned in the same location in the closed state of the drafting mechanism. This has the effect that by means of a possible adjustment the pressure means exert a predetermined force on the drafting mechanism cylinders. The magnitude of the force applied by the control element has no effect on the force with which the upper rolls are pressed against the lower rolls. The position of the weighting hook and accordingly the position of the pressor arms is always thc same in the closed position. The control element consists of a pneumatic cylinder which is connected to a control valve. The control valve in turn is controlled by means of a controller. In such a device, a rod is arranged trans-versely with respect to the direction of flow of the fibre material (sliver running direction) in order to engage the spring-operated and at the same time pneumatically operated weighting hooks. The known device is expensive in terms of equipment. The weighting hooks on the one hand and the presser arms on the other hand, which each have their own pivot point, are rotated in opposite directions.

A disadvantage of that arrangement is that the drafting mechanism is in the first instance unlocked using a separate locking device, the weighting hooks in a first operating step being rotated anti-olockwise -seen in the running direction of the fibres. After unlocking, the presser arms are then, in a second operating step, individually and separately pivoted away by hand in the clockwise direction.

It is an aim of the invention to provide a device of the kind described at the beginning which avoids or mitigates the mentioned disadvantages and which, in particular, makes it possible in a structurally simple way for the operations of unlocking/opening and closing/-locking to be carried out using only one hand.

The invention provides a device on a spinning room preparation machine having a drafting mechanism, the drafting mechanism comprising a drafting mechanism lower part, in which lower rolls are mounted, and a drafting mechanism upper part, in which upper rolls are mounted and pressing devices are provided for weighting the upper rolls during operation, tho upper part boing movable from an open position to a closed position and back, wherein the device further comprises an operating device operable with one hand and comprising an unlocking and locking device for the pressing devices of the upper rolls, with which operating device the unlocking and opening of the pressing devices of the drafting mechanism are effected in one operating step and the closing and locking of the pressing devices of the drafting mechanism are effected in one operating step.

In a preferred embodiment, the unlocking and locking device comprises an actuator which is operable both to unlock and lock the pressing devices and to move the upper part from the closed position to the open position and back. The simplicity of the device according to the invention results, in particular, in the advantage that unlocking and opening can be effected with one hand by simply actuating, for example lifting, the actuator. The combinative co-operation of the opening and closing catches allows simultaneous unlocking/opening and closing/locking, in each case in only one operating step.

In some embodiments, the one-handed operation device allows unlocking and opening to take place in succession in one operating step and closing and locking to take place in succession in one operating step. In certain other embodiments, the drafting mechanism is unlocked and simultaneously opened, and closed and simultaneously locked, using one hand.

Advantageously, the one-handed operation device has a handgrip which is rotatable about a pivot axis.

Advantageously, the unlocking and locking device is in combinative co-operation with the opening and closing devico. Advantageously, the handgrip is fixable in a closed position by a closing means and operates a control arm. Advantageously, a driver arm of a locking lever projects into the path of rotation of the control arm.

Advantageously, the locking lever, when in its starting posicion, supports the closed position of a rotary latch.

In a preferred embodiment, the unlocking and locking device comprises an opening catch, a closing catch, and a bolt in fixed position. Advantageously, the unlocking and locking device has a handgrip, for example handles or the like, which are able to exert a force on the opening catch. Advantageously, the opening catch is pivotable about a pivot bearing. Advantageously, the closing catch is pivctable about a pivot bearing. Advantageously, a tension spring acts between the opening and closing catches. Preferably, one end of the tension spring engages the opening catch and the other end engages the closing catch. Advantageously, the opening catch acts on a projection (lug) which is arranged to be moved into and out of engagement with a recess in the closing catch.

Advantageously, for opening, the pivotally mounted handgrip (actuator) also moves a pivotally mounted opening catch out of interlocking engagement and/or frictional engagement with a closing catch. Advantageously, for opening, a spring force between the opening catch and the closing catch effects simultaneous pivoting open of the closing catch when pressure is applied by the drafting mechanism.

Advantageously, for closing the drafting mechanism the handgrip (actuator) is arranged to be pressed against an end stop, so that the opening catch is freely rotatable. Advantageously, immediately before the end of the closing operation, tho closing catch ongages around a fixed-position bolt and rotates the opening catch in such a way that the latter engages in the closing catch by means of interlocking and/or frictional engagement.

Advantageously, the bolt is lockable in place.

Advantageously, each upper roll is assigned a pressing device. Preferably, each pressing device has a presser arm and two pressure elements. Advantageously, the presser arm is of gantry-like construction. Preferably, each presser arm, together with the pressure elements, is pivotable or swiveliable about a pivot or swivel bearing.

Advantageously, the pivot and swivel bearing is assigned to the lower end of one gantry arm. Advantageously, the unlocking and looking device is assigned to the lower end of the other gantry arm. Advantageously, the unlocking and locking device is oriented in the direction of flow of the fibre material (working direction) . Advantageously, the unlocking and locking device is arranged in parallel with the presser arms which are arranged one after the other.

Advantageously, the unlocking and locking device is arranged alongside and outside the presser arms whiob are arranged one after the other. In some embodiments there are advantageously provided at least two unlocking and locking devices which are operable by the same handgrip.

The invention further provides a device on a spinning room preparation machine, especially a draw frame, carding machine, combing machine or the like, having a drafting mechanism, a drafting mechanism lower part, in which lower rolls are mounted, and a drafting mechanism upper part, in which upper rolls are mounted, the upper part being movable from an open position (unweighted) to a closed position (weighted) and back, and in which an unlocking and locking device is providod for tho prcssing devices of the upper rolls, wherein the unlocking and locking device provides a one-handed operation device with which the unlocking and opening of the pressing devices of the drafting mechanism are effected in one operating step and the closing and locking of the pressing.

An embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail below by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a drafting mechanism of a draw frame in which there may be included a device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a presser arm constructed in accordance with section I -I in Fig. 1, with the presser arm being shown in the unlocked and opened (pivoted open) position; Fig. 3a to 3d is a plan view of an unlocking and looking device acoording to the invention in the locked closed position (Figures 3a, 3c) and in the unlocked opened position (Figure 3b, 3d); and Fig. 4 is a front view of an upper roller and presser arm similar to that of Fig. 2, showing the unlocking and locking device in combination with an opening and closing device.

r7ith reference to Fig. 1, a draw from, for example a draw frame TD 08 made by Trutzschler GmbH & Co.KG of F4änchengladbach, Germany, includes a drafting mechanism S. The drafting mechanism S is configured as a 4-over-3 drafting mechanism, that is to say it consists of three lower rolls I, TI, III (I output lower roll, II middle lower roll, III input lower roll) and four upper rolls 1, 2, 3, 4. In the drafting mechanism 5, the drafting of the fibre bundle 5, which consists of a plurality of slivers, is carried out. The drafting operation is composed of the preliminary drafting operation and the main drafting operation. The roll pairs 4/Ill and 3/TI form the preliminary drafting zone and the roll pairs 3/IT and 1,2/I form the main drafting zone. The output lower roll I is driven by the main motor (not shown) and thus determines the delivery speed. The input and middle lower rolls III and II are driven by a regulating motor (not shown) . The upper rolls 1 to 4 are pressed against the lower rolls I, II, III by pressure elements 9 to 9 (weighting device) in presser arms lla to ild, which are pivotable about pivot bearings (see Fig. 2), and are thus driven by frictional engagement. The directions of rotation of the rolls I, II, III; 1, 2, 3, 4 are indicated by curved arrows. The fibre bundle 5, which consists of a plurality of slivers, runs in direction A. The lower rolls I, II, III are mounted in roll bearings l6a, 16b (see Fig. 3) which are arranged on the machine frame 17.

Referring to Fig. 2, the upper roll 4 is associated with the gantry-like presser arm generally indicated by reference numeral ila. The presser arm ha consists of two latoral pneumatic cylinders 9a1 and 9a2 (pressurc elements), a common supporting element 12a, two holding elements h3a and h3a2 and two intermediate elements Ha1 and 14a2. The presser arm ila is pivoted open together with the upper roll 4 about a pivot bearing 10 which is mounted on the roll bearing iSa. The cover elements l3a1 and i3a2 -seen in side view -are of angled (right-angled) construction, one angled arm of the cover element l3a1 being pivotally mounted in the region of its free end on the pivot bearing 10. The other angled arm of the cover element 13a2 has in the region of its free end a part of a locking device 15. One suitable form of locking device is described below with reference to Figs. 3a to 3d, and comprises a closing catch 21 which is arranged to be moved into and out of engagement with a bolt 22 mounted in fixed position on the machine frame 17. In Fig. 2, the presser arm ha is shown in the unlocked and opened position.

In the illustrative locking and unlocking device shown in Figures 3a to 3d, the locking mechanism 15 consists of an opening catch 20, a closing catch 21 and a bolt 22 which is in fixed position. The opening catch 20 and the closing catch 21 are essentially each in the form of a double-ended lever rotatable about a pivot joint 23, 24, respectively. Also provided is a handle 33 (see Fig. 4) which applies a force P in the direction of arrow B to one lever arm 2O of the opening catch 20. The opening catch 20 is mounted so as to pivot about the pivot bearing 23; the closing catch 21 is mounted so as to pivot about the pivot bearing 24. A tension spring 25 (see Fig. 3o, 3d) acts between the opening catch 20 and the closing catch 21. One end of the tension spring 25 engages a projection 26 on the lever arm 202 of the opening catch 20 and tho othor end engagos a projection 27 on the lever arm 212 of the closing catch 21. Reference numeral 28 denotes a stop.

The locking means is shown in the closed state in Figures 3a, 3c. The locking means is released by applying force P to the opening catch 20 in the direction B indicated in Fig. 3a. This is effected by tilting the handle 33 forwards. As a result, in accordance with Fig. 3c the opening catch 20 is rotated about the pivot joint 23 in the anti-clockwise direction in accordance with arrow C. The lug on the end region of the lever arm 202 of the opening latch 20 slides out of a recess 21' in the end region 212 of the closing catch 21 and, on opening of the drafting mechanism S (i.e. the presser arms 9-to 9), the tension spring 25 rotates the closing catch 21 in the anti-clockwise direction in accordance with arrow D and releases the bolt 22 (Fig. 3b, 3d) . At the same time, -10 -a further recess 21'' in the closing catch 21 moves away from the bolt 22. 7\fter unlocking and on opening of the drafting mechanism s, the opening catch 20 and the closing catch 21 are displaced upwards in the directions of arrows F and F, respectively (Fig. 3d) . The shape of the recess 21' has a certain pressure point effect.

For closing and locking, the operating step described with reference to Figures 3a to 3d takes place in reverse order. Starting from the unlocked and opened position shown in Figures 3b, 3d, the unlocking and locking device is moved into the locked, closed position shown in Figures 3a, 3c, the opening catch 20 and the closing catch 21 being displaced downwards in a direction opposite to the arrows F and F shown in Fig. 3d.

With reference to Fig. 4, an opening and closing devicc 29 is provided which is in combinativc co-operation with the unlocking and locking device 15. Mounted extern-ally on the gantry arm 14a2 there is a pivot bearing 30 on which there is pivotally mounted one end of each of two lever arms 31, 32 of a guidebar device similar to a double-ended lever, the lever arms being rigidly connected to one another. On the respective other ends of the lever arms 31 and 32 there are mounted a handle 33 and a bolt 34, respectively. When the handle 33 is pushed upwards in the direction of arrow I, the bolt 34 is moved in the direction of arrow I and exerts pressure on the opening catch 20 (see Fig. 3d), so that unlocking takes place. At the same time, as a result of the movement of the handle 33 in direction I, by way of the bearing 30 the whole presser arm ha is rotated about the pivot bearing 10 in the direction of arrow I-i, so that the pressing device or the drafting mechanism S is thus opened (see Fig. 2)

-U -

The pivot joints 23 and 24 are mounted (in a manner not shown) on the gantry arm 14a2. As a result of that connection, during the opening operation the movement of the handle 33 in the direction of arrow I causes the pivoting of the presser arm 14a into the open position in direotion H and the displacement of the unlocking and locking device 15 in directions F and F to take place together (mechanically coupled). In a corresponding way, during the closing operation the movement of the handle 33 in the direction of arrow K causes the pivoting of the presser arm 14a into the closed position in direction G and the displacement of the unlocking and locking device in a direction opposite to the directions of arrows E and F to take place together (mechanically coupled) Further constructions and advantages of the device according to the invention are: -it is possible to adjust the height of the drafting mechanism upper part relative to the lower part by means of bolts which can be locked in place -the mechanism can also be raised, but structurally it is equally possible for it to remain at the bottom -the opening catch can be omitted if the hook solution is used; the actuator unlocks solely a pivotally mounted hook which is, however, spring-loaded -solution with/without over-travel (interlocking and frictional / frictional connection) -emergency unlocking is possible; if the actuator fails, the opening catch can be rotated out of the closing catch using a screwdriver or the like -safety is ensured by monitoring the closing catch by means of a proximity switch.

Claims

<claim-text>-12 -Cia ± ins 1. A device on a spinning room preparation machine having a drafting mechanism, the drafting mechanism comprising a drafting mechanism lower part, in which lower rolls are mounted, and a drafting mechanism upper part, in which upper rolls ace mounted and pressing devices are prcvided for weighting the upper rolls during operation, the upper part being movable from an open position to a closed position and back, wherein the device further comprises an operating device operable with one hand and comprising an unlocking and locking device for the pressing devices of the upper rolls, with which operating device the unlocking and opening of the pressing devices of the drafting mechanism are effected in one operating step and tho closing and locking of tho prossing devicos of the drafting mechanism are effected in one operating step.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device allows unlocking and opening to take place in succession in one operating step and closing and locking to take place in succession in one operating step.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the drafting mechanism is unlocked and simultaneously openable, and closed and simultaneously lockable, using one hand.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating device further comprises an opening and closing device which in use operates in combination with the unlocking and locking device.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the unlocking and locking device is in combinative co-operation with the opening and closing device.</claim-text> <claim-text>-13 - 6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating device has a handgrip which is rotatable about a pivot axis.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the handgrip is fixable in a closed position by a closing means and operates a control arm.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A device according to claim 7, wherein a driver arm of a locking lever projects into the path of rotation of the control arm.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the locking lever, when in its starting position, supports the closed position of a rotary latch.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein, for opening, the pivotally mounted handgrip also moves a pivotally mounted opening catch out of interlocking engagemcnt and/or frictional cngagement with a closing catch.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A device according to claim 10, wherein for closing the drafting mechanism the handgrip (actuator) is arranged to be pressed against an end stop, so that the opening catch is freely rotatable.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the unlocking and locking device comprises an opening catch, a closing catch, and a protruding member in fixed position.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the unlocking and locking device has a handgrip which is able to exert a force on an opening catch.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A device according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the opening catch is pivotable about a pivot bearing.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A device according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the closing catch is pivotable about a pivot--bearing.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A device according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein a tension spring acts between the opening and closing catches.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A device according to claim 16, wherein one end of the rension spring engages the opening catch and the other end engages the closing catch.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A device according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the opening catch acts by means of a projection which is arranged to be moved into and out of engagement with a recess in the closing catch.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A device according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein, for opening, a spring force between the opening catch and the closing catch effects simultaneous pivoting open of the closing catch during the pressing of the drafting mochanism.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. A device according to any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein, immediately before the end of the closing operation, the closing catch engages around a fixed-position bolt and rotates the opening catch in such a way that the latter engages in the closing catch by means of interlocking and/or frictional engagement.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. A device according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein the protruding member is lockable in place.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each upper roll is assigned a pressing device.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. A device according to claim 22, wherein each pressing device has a presser arm and two pressure elements.</claim-text> <claim-text>24. A device according to claim 23, wherein the presser arm is of gantry-like construction.</claim-text> <claim-text>25. A device according to claim 23 or claim 24, wherein -15 -each presser arm, together with the pressure elements, is pivotable or swivellable about a pivot or swivel bearing.</claim-text> <claim-text>26. A device according to claim 25, wherein the pivot and swivel bearing is assigned to the lower end of one gantry arm.</claim-text> <claim-text>27. A device according to claim 26, wherein the unlocking and locking device is assigned to the lower end of the other gantry arm.</claim-text> <claim-text>28. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the unlocking and locking device is oriented in the direction of flow of the fibre material.</claim-text> <claim-text>29. A device according to any one of claims 23 to 28, wherein the unlocking and locking device is arranged in parallel with the presser arms which are arranged one after the other.</claim-text> <claim-text>30. A dovice according to any one of claims 23 to 29, wherein the unlocking and locking device is arranged alongside and outside the presser arms which are arranged one after the other.</claim-text> <claim-text>31. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are provided at least two unlocking and locking devices which are operable by a common handgrip.</claim-text> <claim-text>32. A device according to claim 31, wherein the at least two unlocking and locking devices are each operable to unlock/open and close/lock a respective pressing device.</claim-text> <claim-text>33. A device for serving both to lock/unlock and to open/close a presser arm of a drawing mechanism, the device being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any of Figs. 1, 2, 3a to 3d, and 4.</claim-text>