CONVEYING UNIT OF A TEXTILE MACHINE FOR CONVEYING TEXTILE MATERIAL

Abstract

A conveying unit of a textile machine has an endless circulating and drivable conveying element, the conveying element having a conveying area on an outer side thereof to receive and convey textile material. Opposite side walls are disposed to hold the textile material in the conveying area in a transverse direction of the conveying element. A sealing device is arranged between each of the side walls and the conveying element such that an interior space enclosed by the conveying element is at least partially sealed with respect to the textile material. The sealing device includes a sealing element connected to the conveying element so as to extend transversely away from and above the outer side of the conveying element.

Claims

1-23: (canceled)

24. A conveying unit of a textile machine for conveying textile material, comprising: an endless circulating and drivable conveying element, the conveying element comprising a conveying area on an outer side thereof configured to receive and convey the textile material, the conveying element enclosing an interior space; opposite side walls disposed to hold the textile material in the conveying area of the conveying element in a transverse direction of the conveying element; a sealing device arranged between each of the side wall and the conveying element such that the interior space enclosed by the conveying element is at least partially sealed with respect to the textile material; and the sealing devices comprising a sealing element connected to the conveying element so as to extend transversely away from and above the outer side of the conveying element.

25. The conveying unit of claim 24, wherein the sealing element extends circumferentially around the conveying element.

26. The conveying unit of claim 24, further comprising at least two deflecting elements arranged in the interior space that support and deflect the conveying element in a conveying direction thereof.

27. The conveying unit of claim 24, wherein the sealing devices further comprise a roof element configured with the respective adjacent side wall, the roof element extending over a free end of the sealing element.

28. The conveying unit of claim 27, wherein the roof element extends from the side wall in the transverse direction of the conveying element.

29. The conveying unit of claim 28, wherein the roof element protrudes over and beyond the sealing element towards the conveying area.

30. The conveying unit of claim 27, wherein the roof element is configured on the side wall.

31. The conveying unit of claim 27, wherein the roof element comprises a free end spaced from the sealing element in the transverse direction.

32. The conveying unit of claim 31, wherein a shortest distance (A1) between the free end of the roof element and the conveying element is less than a shortest distance (A2) between the free end of the sealing element and the conveying element.

33. The conveying unit of claim 27, wherein the roof element comprises a slanted roof surface such that the textile material dropped onto the roof element slides down the roof surface to the conveying area.

34. The conveying unit of claim 27, wherein the roof element comprises a sealing surface facing and cooperating with the free end of the sealing element to seal the conveying area with respect to the interior space.

35. The conveying unit of claim 27, wherein the roof element comprises an inner mating surface opposite and facing a lateral face of the sealing element that faces the conveying area.

36. The conveying unit of claim 35, where the roof element further comprises an outer mating surface opposite and facing a lateral face of the sealing element that faces away from the conveying area.

37. The conveying unit of claim 36, wherein the sealing element extends into a recess of the roof element defined by the inner and outer mating surfaces.

38. The conveying unit of claim 27, wherein the roof element and the sealing element define a labyrinth seal therebetween.

39. The conveying unit of claim 27, further comprising a gap between the sealing element and the roof element.

40. The conveying unit of claim 24, wherein the sealing element is at least partially slotted from a free end thereof towards the conveying area.

41. The conveying unit of claim 24, wherein sealing element is elastic.

42. The conveying unit of claim 24, wherein the sealing element is connected to the conveying element or is formed integral with the conveying element.

43. The conveying unit of claim 42, wherein the sealing element if formed as a raised rib of the conveying element.

44. The conveying unit of claim 24, wherein the conveying element is one of a conveyor belt, a conveyor chain, or a link conveyor belt.

45. The conveying unit of claim 24, wherein the conveying element further comprises processing elements on the outer surface thereof for opening the textile material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments, wherein:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a conveying unit;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the conveying unit 1 with two side walls 15, 16 and, arranged therebetween, a conveying element 2 and textile material 9;

[0051] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment with at least one sealing element and at least one roof element;

[0052] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment with at least one sealing element and at least one roof element;

[0053] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment with at least one sealing element and at least one roof element;

[0054] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment with at least one sealing element and at least one roof element;

[0055] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the conveying element with a slotted sealing element; and

[0056] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the conveying element as a spiked lattice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the drawings. Each embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation of the invention. For example features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be combined with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein.

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a conveying unit 1 for conveying textile material 9 (FIG. 2). The conveying unit 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment has the form of a conveyor belt. The textile material 9 can include textile fibers, which include, for example, natural, mineral, and/or synthetic fibers. The textile fibers can include, furthermore, short and/or long fibers. Moreover, dust can be carried along by the textile material 9 or dust forms during the conveyance of the textile material 9.

[0059] The conveying unit 1 includes an endlessly circulating and drivable conveying element 2, which has a conveying area 3 on an outer side 25, by means of which the textile material 9 can be conveyed. Additionally or alternatively, the conveying area 3 can also have a support area, on which the textile material 9 can rest. With the aid of the conveying element 2, the textile material 9 can be conveyed in a conveyance direction 10. The conveying element 2 is driven such that the textile material 9 is conveyed in the conveyance direction 10. Moreover, the conveying element 2 encloses an interior space 12.

[0060] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the conveying unit 1 also includes two deflection units 4, 5, by means of which the conveying element 2 is supported and deflected. Advantageously, at least one of the two deflection units 4, 5 shown here can be driven, for example, by means of a drive, in particular an electric motor, in order to drive the conveying unit 1. The deflection units 4, 5 and/or the drive (not shown here) are/is or can be arranged in the interior space 12.

[0061] Moreover, the conveying unit 1 includes two sealing devices 6a, 6b, by means of which the conveying area 3 can be sealed with respect to the interior space 12 and/or the surroundings 11. By means of the sealing devices 6a, 6b, the textile material 9 and/or the textile fibers or associated dust from the conveying area 3 can be prevented from entering the interior space 12 and/or the surroundings 11. At the least, the textile material 9 can be prevented from accumulating by means of the sealing devices 6a, 6b. The functional capability of the conveying unit 1 can be limited due to the accumulation of the textile material 9 in the area of the deflection units 4, 5 or the drive in the interior space 12. For example, increased friction can occur between moving parts or a cooling of the drive can be reduced. Moreover, the textile material 9 can wrap around the deflection units 4, 5 or the drive, which can result in damage.

[0062] At least one sealing device 6a, 6b includes at least one sealing element 7, 8, which extends away from the outer side 25 of the conveying element 2 such that it rises with respect to the conveying area 3. The at least one sealing element 7, 8 is connected to the conveying element 2 such that the at least one sealing element 7, 8 moves when the conveying element 2 moves. Moreover, the at least one sealing element 7, 8 rises from the outer side 25 above the conveying area 3.

[0063] The at least one sealing element 7, 8 is arranged in a side area 26, 27 of the conveying element 2. Moreover, the at least one sealing element 7, 8 extends away from the conveying element 2. In addition, the at least one sealing element 7, 8 extends at least partially in the circumferential direction about the conveying element 2.

[0064] According to the present exemplary embodiment, each of the sealing devices 6a, 6b includes a sealing element 7, 8, respectively, wherein one sealing element 7, 8 is arranged in one side area 26, 27, respectively.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the conveying unit 1 with two side walls 15, 16 and, arranged therebetween, a conveying element 2 and textile material 9. The textile material 9 is shown as a ball in this case and in the following figures. As described above, the textile material 9 can also include textile fibers and/or dust.

[0066] Features that have already been described with reference to the at least one preceding figure are not explained once more, for the sake of simplicity. Moreover, features can also be described first in this figure or in at least one of the following figures. Moreover, identical reference characters are utilized for identical features for the sake of simplicity. In addition, for the sake of clarity, not all the features may be shown and/or labeled with a reference character in the following figures. Features shown in one or several of the preceding figures can also be present in this figure or in one or several of the following figures, however. Moreover, for the sake of clarity, features can also be shown and/or labeled with a reference character first in this figure or in one or several of the following figures. Nevertheless, features that are first shown in one or several of the following figures can also be already present in a preceding figure.

[0067] The two side walls 15, 16 are utilized for holding the textile material 9 in the conveying area 3 in the transverse direction Q of the conveying element 2. When the conveying element 2 conveys the textile material 9, the conveying element 2 moves with respect to the fixed side walls 15, 16. The two side walls 15, 16 form a boundary with respect to the surroundings 11, since the textile material 9 can tend to form fiber fly.

[0068] The two sealing devices 6a, 6b are shown here once more, wherein at least one sealing device 6a, 6b includes the at least one sealing element 7, 8. According to the present exemplary embodiment, each of the sealing devices 6a, 6b includes at least one sealing element 7, 8. In this case, each sealing device 6a, 6b includes one sealing element 7, 8. The interior space 12 can be sealed on both sides with the aid of the two sealing elements 7, 8.

[0069] According to the present exemplary embodiment, at least one sealing device 6a, 6b includes at least one roof element 13, 14. In this case, each of the sealing elements 6a, 6b includes at least one roof element 13, 14. In this case, each sealing device 6a, 6b includes one roof element 13, 14.

[0070] The at least one roof element 13, 14 is arranged at the associated side wall 15, 16. Consequently, the at least one roof element 13, 14 is fixed to the associated side wall 15, 16 or is fixed against the associated side wall 15, 16. Moreover, the conveying element 2 moves with respect to the at least one roof element 13, 14 when the conveying element 2 conveys the textile material 9.

[0071] The at least one roof element 13, 14 covers a free end 21, 22 of the at least one sealing element 7, 8. As a result, the textile material 9 that is dropped onto the conveying area 3 can be prevented from reaching the at least one sealing element 7, 8. Consequently, it is made difficult for the textile material 9 to enter the interior space 12.

[0072] As shown here, the at least one roof element 13, 14 is arranged sloping in the direction of the conveying area 3, and so the dropped textile material 9 can slide over the at least one roof element 13, 14 in the direction of the conveying area 3. The two roof elements 13, 14 shown here form a type of funnel.

[0073] The at least one roof element 13, 14 also includes at least one roof surface 19, 20, over which the textile material 9 can slide to the conveying area 3. The at least one roof surface 19, 20 can be, for example, coated, in order to reduce a friction of the textile material 9 during sliding.

[0074] Moreover, the at least one roof element 13, 14 includes a free roof end 17, 18, which is spaced apart from the free end 21, 22 of the associated sealing element 7, 8 in the transverse direction Q. The at least one free roof end 17, 18 in this case is closer to the conveying area 3 than the associated free end 21, 22 of the sealing element 7, 8. The at least one roof element 13, 14 therefore projects over the at least one sealing element 7, 8, and so the textile material 9 cannot easily enter the interior space 12. The free roof end 17, 18 of the at least one roof element 13, 14 therefore also forms a roof edge, a sealing edge, or an eave, which covers and/or projects over the at least one sealing element 7, 8. The textile material 9 therefore slides over the free roof end 17, 28 or the roof edge, the sealing edge, or the eave onto the conveying area 3.

[0075] Moreover, the at least one free roof end 17, 18 has a first shortest distance A1 to the conveying element 2 and to the outer side 25. In addition, the at least one free end 21, 22 of the at least one sealing element 7, 8, has a second shortest distance A2 to the conveying element 2 and to the outer side 25. It is advantageous when the first distance A1 is shorter than the second distance A2, since the seal is improved as a result.

[0076] FIG. 3 shows one further embodiment of the at least one roof element 13, 14. The at least one roof element 13, 14 has at least one sealing surface 28, 29, which is situated opposite or facing the free end 21, 22 of the sealing element 7, 8. The at least one sealing surface 28, 29 and the free end 21, 22 of the sealing element 7, 8, together, form a seal, and so the interior space 12 is better sealed with respect to the conveying area 3. As is apparent here, furthermore, the at least one sealing surface 28, 29 or the at least one roof element 13, 14 and the free end 21, 22 of the sealing element 7, 8 are spaced apart from one another such that the at least one sealing element 7, 8 can be moved freely with respect to the at least one roof element 13, 14.

[0077] Moreover, the two distances A1, A2 are shown here. The first distance A1 is at least equal in size to the distance A2 in this case. When a gap 42, 43, which is shown in FIG. 6, is arranged between the at least one sealing element 7, 8 and the associated at least one roof element 13, 14, the first distance A1 is greater than the distance A2, namely, for example, by a size of the gap 42, 43.

[0078] FIG. 4 shows one further exemplary embodiment of the conveying unit 1. In this case, the free roof end 17, 18 of the at least one roof element 13, 14, protrudes beyond the sealing surface 28, 29 and beyond the free end 21, 22 of the sealing element 7, 8. Consequently, the seal is improved.

[0079] FIG. 5 shows one further exemplary embodiment of the conveying unit 1 with at least one roof element 13, 14, which includes at least one mating element 30, 31. The textile material 9 is no longer shown from this point forward for the sake of clarity.

[0080] The at least one sealing element 7, 8 has an inner lateral surface 34, 35. The inner lateral surface 34, 35 is arranged opposite an inner mating surface 32, 33. The seal can be improved by means of the inner lateral surface 34, 35 and the inner mating surface 32, 33. In order to enter the interior space 12 from the conveying area 3, the textile material 9 must pass between the inner lateral surface 34, 35 and the inner mating surface 32, 33 and over the at least one sealing element 7, 8.

[0081] In this case, the inner mating element 30, 31 has the inner mating surface 32, 33, wherein the inner mating element 30, 31 is arranged at the at least one roof element 13, 14 and/or is formed by means of the at least one roof element 13, 14. Moreover, the free end 21, 22 is arranged at the inner mating element 30, 31.

[0082] FIG. 6 shows one further exemplary embodiment of a conveying unit 1. The at least one roof element 13, 14 has at least one outer mating surface 36, 37 in this case, additionally or alternatively to the inner mating surface 32, 33 and/or to the inner mating element 30, 31. The inner mating surface 32, 33 and/or the inner mating element 30, 31 are no longer provided with a reference character in this case.

[0083] The at least one outer mating surface 36, 37 is arranged opposite or facing an outer lateral surface 40, 41. The at least one outer mating surface 36, 37 and the associated outer lateral surface 40, 41, together, also form a seal such that the textile material 3 cannot pass between the at least one outer mating surface 36, 37 and the associated outer lateral surface 40, 41. According to FIG. 6 and also according to at least one of the preceding figures, the at least one sealing element 7, 8 and the at least one mating element 30, 31, 38, 39, with the associated surfaces 28, 29, 32-37, 40, 41, form a labyrinth seal such that the textile material 3 can hardly enter the interior space 12.

[0084] Moreover, the at least one mating element 30, 31, 38, 39 can be formed, for example, as one piece with the at least one roof element 13, 14. For example, the at least one mating element 30, 31, 38, 39 and/or the surfaces 28, 29, 32-37, 40, 41 can be formed by means of a recess 44, 45 in the at least one roof element.

[0085] Moreover, according to this FIG. 6, the at least one outer mating element 38, 39 also has a free roof end 23, 24. The free roof end 23, 24 of the at least one outer mating element 38, 39 is also arranged closer to the conveying unit 2 than the free end 21, 22 of the sealing element 7, 8.

[0086] Moreover, a gap 42, 43 is arranged between the at least one sealing element 7, 8 and the at least one roof element 13, 14. With the aid of the gap 42, 43, the at least one sealing element 7, 8 is spaced apart from the at least one roof element 13, 14 such that the at least one sealing element 7, 8 connected to the conveying element 2 can move freely with respect to the at least one roof element 13, 14. Wear is prevented as a result.

[0087] Although the preceding figures are mostly described in such a way that at least one sealing element 7, 8 and/or at least one roof element 13, 14 are/is present, it is advantageous when at least two sealing elements 7, 8 and/or at least two roof elements 13, 14 are present, as shown in the figures. Even though this was not also discussed, the free ends 21, 22 of the two sealing elements 7, 8 are referred to as a first and a second free end 21, 22. The further features of the sealing elements 7, 8 and/or of the roof elements 13, 14 are also referred to as “first” and “second”. Moreover, the two sealing devices 6a, 6b are designed to be identical and mirror symmetrical to one another in the figures. Alternatively, however, one of the two sealing devices 6a, 6b can also be designed differently, however, when, for example, one of the two sealing devices 6a, 6b is exposed to more textile material 9.

[0088] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the conveying element 2 with a slotted sealing element 8. Advantageously, both sealing elements 7, 8 are slotted. Since the sealing element 8 must pass through a larger radius than the conveying element 2 upon deflection by the deflection units 4, 5, the sealing element 8 is stretched upon deflection. The higher the sealing element 8 extends above the conveying element 2, the greater is the stretch. In order to prevent the at least one sealing element 8 from tearing, it is at least partially slotted starting from the free end 22 such that the at least one sealing element 8 can spread apart upon deflection. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the sealing element 8 is slotted completely, i.e., up to the conveying element 2.

[0089] FIG. 8 shows one exemplary embodiment of the conveying element 2, which is designed as a spiked lattice in this case. The conveying element 2 has a plurality of teeth 46, which are arranged in the conveying area 3. The teeth 46 can also be spikes or referred to as spikes. The teeth 46 are connected to the conveying element 2. For example, the teeth 46 can be arranged directly at the conveying element 2 or the teeth 46 can be arranged at strips (not shown here), which are arranged at the conveying element 2 and/or are connected to the conveying element 2. Moreover, the teeth 46 are arranged obliquely toward the conveying direction 10. With the aid of the spiked lattice and with the aid of the teeth 46, a textile bale (not shown here), into which the textile material 9 is pressed, can be opened. The teeth 46 tear the textile material 9 apart. With the aid of the teeth 46, in addition, the textile material 9 can be transported across a height, i.e., upward or downward, since the teeth 46 fixedly hold the textile material 9 from sliding downward.

[0090] The present invention is not limited to the represented and described exemplary embodiments. Modifications within the scope of the claims are also possible, as is any combination of the features, even if they are represented and described in different exemplary embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0091] 1 conveying unit [0092] 2 conveying element [0093] 3 conveying area [0094] 4 first deflection unit [0095] 5 second deflection unit [0096] 6 sealing device [0097] 7 first sealing element [0098] 8 second sealing element [0099] 9 textile material [0100] 10 conveyance direction [0101] 11 surroundings [0102] 12 interior space [0103] 13 first roof element [0104] 14 second roof element [0105] 15 first side wall [0106] 16 second side wall [0107] 17 first free roof end [0108] 18 second free roof end [0109] 19 first roof surface [0110] 20 second roof surface [0111] 21 first free end [0112] 22 second free end [0113] 23 third free roof end [0114] 24 fourth free roof end [0115] 25 outer side [0116] 26 first side area [0117] 27 second side area [0118] 28 first sealing surface [0119] 29 second sealing surface [0120] 30 first inner mating element [0121] 31 second inner mating element [0122] 32 first inner mating surface [0123] 33 second inner mating surface [0124] 34 first inner lateral face [0125] 35 second inner lateral face [0126] 36 first outer mating surface [0127] 37 second outer mating surface [0128] 38 first outer mating element [0129] 39 second outer mating element [0130] 40 first outer lateral face [0131] 41 second outer lateral face [0132] 42 first gap [0133] 43 second gap [0134] 44 first recess [0135] 45 second recess [0136] 46 teeth [0137] Q transverse direction [0138] A1 first distance [0139] A2 second distance