SPINNING POSITION WITH A CLEANING NOZZLE AND METHOD OF CLEANING A YARN FORMING ELEMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a spinning position of an air-spinning machine, and to a method of cleaning a yarn forming element of an air spinning nozzle. To provide a spinning position of an air-spinning machine and a method for cleaning a yarn forming element of an air spinning nozzle of the air-spinning machine, which enable long and trouble-free operation while maintaining the quality and strength of the yarn produced, the spinning position has an air spinning nozzle with a yarn forming element arranged within a vortex chamber for producing a yarn from a fibre band supplied to the air spinning nozzle, in which case the air spinning nozzle can be transferred from a closed state for yarn formation to an open state in which the yarn forming element can be cleaned. In addition, at least one cleaning nozzle for cleaning the yarn forming element in the open state of the air spinning nozzle is arranged at the spinning position, the cleaning nozzle being designed, in particular positioned and/or aligned or positionable and/or alignable, in such a way that, at least in the open state of the air spinning nozzle, the yarn forming element can have a cleaning medium applied to it through the cleaning nozzle.

Claims

1. A spinning position of an air-spinning machine comprising: an air spinning nozzle having a yarn forming element disposed within a vortex chamber for producing a yarn from a fibre band supplied to the air spinning nozzle, in which case the air spinning nozzle can be transferred from a closed state for yarn formation to an open state in which the yarn forming element can be cleaned, a cleaning nozzle for cleaning the yarn forming element in the opened state of the air spinning nozzle, in which case the cleaning nozzle is designed in such a way that at least in the opened state of the air spinning nozzle, the yarn forming element can have a cleaning medium applied to it.

2. The spinning position of an air-spinning machine according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one cleaning nozzle is arranged outside the vortex chamber and/or is in a stationary arrangement.

3. The spinning position of an air-spinning machine according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one cleaning nozzle can be moved outside the vortex chamber and/or by a swivelling device at least between a rest position and a cleaning position for cleaning the yarn forming element.

4. The spinning position of an air-spinning machine according to claim 3, characterised in that the cleaning nozzle can be positioned and aligned by the swivelling device in such a way that the yarn forming element can have the cleaning medium applied to it frontally and/or laterally in the cleaning position, at least over part of its surface.

5. The spinning position of an air-spinning machine according to claim 3, characterised in that the cleaning nozzle can be rotated at least partially circumferentially around the yarn forming element by the swivelling device.

6. The spinning position according to claim 3, characterised in that the cleaning nozzle can be moved by the swivelling device in at least two mutually different directions relative to the yarn forming element.

7. A method for cleaning a yarn forming element of an air spinning nozzle with the yarn forming element arranged inside a vortex chamber for manufacturing a yarn from a fibre band supplied to the air spinning nozzle, the air spinning nozzle being transferrable from a closed state for yarn formation to an open state in which the yarn forming element can be cleaned, the method comprising: opening of the air spinning nozzle to render the yarn forming element located in the vortex chamber accessible, movement of the yarn forming element and/or a cleaning nozzle to a cleaning position, and application of at least one cleaning medium to the yarn forming element.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterised in that the cleaning nozzle for cleaning the yarn forming element is moved by a swivelling device from a rest position to a cleaning position for cleaning the yarn forming element.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterised in that the movement of the yarn forming element and/or of the cleaning nozzle into the cleaning position occurs with an initiation of the opening process of the air spinning nozzle, during the opening of the air spinning nozzle and/or after the opening of the air spinning nozzle.

10. The method according to claim 7, characterised in that the movement of the yarn forming element takes place in such a way that the cleaning nozzle is in the cleaning position at the end of the opening process.

11. The method according to claim 7, characterised in that a cleaning of the yarn forming element takes place in the course of a spinning interruption, for example after at least one thread break, after at least one cut of the yarn, during a removal of a take-up package wound by the air-spun yarn and/or during a change of a spinning can.

12. The method according to claim 7, characterised in that an aqueous cleaning fluid, an aerosol, a foam, an emulsion or a gas is used as the cleaning medium.

13. The method according to claim 7, characterised in that either, following cleaning by a cleaning fluid, an aerosol, a foam or an emulsion, the yarn forming element is subsequently acted upon in a second cleaning step by a gas stream, or that, following cleaning by a gas stream, the yarn forming element is subsequently acted upon in a second cleaning step by a cleaning fluid, an aerosol, a foam or an emulsion via the cleaning nozzle.

14. The method according to claim 7, characterised in that cleaning of the yarn forming element is carried out first by a first gas stream for removing loose particles from the yarn forming element, subsequently by a cleaning fluid, an aerosol, a foam or an emulsion for loosening adhering particles, and following that by a second gas stream for final cleaning and drying of the yarn forming element.

15. The method according to claim 13, characterised in that the cleaning is performed by the cleaning fluid, aerosol, foam or emulsion and by the gas stream or the first and/or second gas stream by the same cleaning nozzle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Several embodiment examples of a spinning position according to the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The same reference signs are used for the same components. In the drawings:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a spinning position of an air-spinning machine having an air spinning nozzle in a closed state for yarn formation,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a schematic, cross-sectional view of the spinning position shown in FIG. 1 with an air spinning nozzle in an open state for cleaning,

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a schematic, cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a spinning position of an air-spinning machine having an air spinning nozzle in a closed state for yarn formation, and

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a schematic, cross-sectional view of the spinning position shown in FIG. 3 with an air spinning nozzle in an open state for cleaning.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] The following description of the embodiments of the present invention is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. The following description is provided herein solely by way of example for purposes of providing an enabling disclosure of the invention, but does not limit the scope or substance of the invention.

[0041] A first embodiment of a spinning position 1 of an air-spinning machine, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has an air spinning nozzle 2 in which a spinning cone is arranged as a yarn forming element 4 within a vortex chamber 3. In order to be able to produce a yarn by air spinning by means of the spinning position 1, a fibre band is first drafted by means of a multiple roller drafting system and the drafted fibre band thus obtained is subsequently fed to the air spinning nozzle 2 via a fibre band entrance 7. According to this preferred embodiment example, after being introduced via the fibre band entrance 7, the fibre band is guided around a needle 8 extending in the fibre band transport direction in a manner that has already been disclosed in the direction of the yarn forming element 4 approximately as far as the take-up duct opening of that yarn forming element 4. Alternatively to the needle 8, according to another preferred embodiment, it is possible to arrange a pair of tweezers which are generally known. Inside the vortex chamber 3 of the air spinning nozzle 2, the outer fibres of the fibre band are wound around an inner fibre core by means of a vortex air flow generated by air spinning nozzles 2 in the area of an inlet mouth of the air spinning nozzle 2, so that an air-spun yarn-specific structure of a parallel yarn core and wrap fibres lying at a certain angle results, the wrap fibres being decisive for the desired strength of the yarn.

[0042] If a synthetic fibre material is used for air spinning the yarn, individual detached fibres, fibre residues and possibly auxiliary materials will accumulate on the surface of the yarn forming element 4 over time, which may reduce the quality and strength of the spun yarn.

[0043] In order to prevent this, a cleaning nozzle 5 is arranged in a stationary position outside the vortex chamber 3 in the area of the spinning position 1, in which case this cleaning nozzle 5 does not influence the air spinning process in the closed air spinning nozzle 2 due to its arrangement (see FIG. 1). However, when the air spinning nozzle 2 is opened, for example after a thread break or a cut of the spun yarn, the yarn forming element 4 is moved to a cleaning position when the air spinning nozzle 2 is opened, in which cleaning position an outlet opening of the stationary cleaning nozzle 5 is aligned with a side surface of the yarn forming element 4, so that the surface of the yarn forming element 4 can be cleaned by means of the cleaning nozzle 5 (see FIG. 2).

[0044] For this purpose, according to this first embodiment, at least one aqueous cleaning fluid is atomized by means of the cleaning nozzle 5 and directed as a spray mist onto the yarn forming element 4 so that the deposits adhering to the surface of the yarn forming element 4 can be removed.

[0045] Preferably, however, such cleaning is carried out by means of a cleaning cycle which can be performed once or repeated several times. A first possible cleaning cycle provides that first, by means of the cleaning nozzle 5, a cleaning fluid for removing deposits is sprayed onto the surface of the yarn forming element 4 and then, also by means of the cleaning nozzle 5, a pulse of compressed air is directed onto the surface of the yarn forming element 4 to remove the mixture of the cleaning fluid and the loosened adhesions and to dry the surface of the yarn forming element 4. Alternatively, according to a further embodiment, instead of the cleaning fluid, a foam is applied to the surface of the yarn forming element 4 via the cleaning nozzle 5, the foam being mixed with a liquid that has a non-stick effect. The yarn forming element 4 with the non-stick liquid applied to it is dried by means of the subsequent compressed air pulse.

[0046] In an alternative cleaning cycle, a pulse of compressed air is first directed at the surface of the yarn forming element 4 to remove loose adhesions. Cleaning is then carried out by means of a cleaning medium such as the cleaning fluid in order to remove the adhesions that have not been loosened by means of the compressed air. Finally, a removal of the mixture of the cleaning fluid and the dissolved adhesions and a drying of the surface of the yarn forming element 4 by means of a renewed application of compressed air is preferably also carried out. Furthermore, the same cleaning nozzle 5 is preferably used for all cleaning steps.

[0047] A second embodiment of a spinning position 1 of an air-spinning machine, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, differs significantly from the first embodiment in that two movable cleaning nozzles 5a, b are provided instead of one stationary cleaning nozzle 5.

[0048] In this case, a first cleaning nozzle 5a is arranged so as to be linearly displaceable in the direction of a side surface of the yarn forming element 4, this cleaning nozzle 5a, for cleaning the surface of the yarn forming element 4 after the air-spinning nozzle 2 has been opened, during which the yarn forming element 4 is moved into a cleaning position, is also displaced linearly into a cleaning position and thus at least one cleaning medium, in particular a cleaning fluid, an aerosol, a foam, an emulsion or a gas, can be applied to the yarn forming element 4 in the immediate vicinity of the surface of the yarn forming element 4.

[0049] Furthermore, this cleaning nozzle 5a can also be arranged to swivel around the yarn forming element 4, at least in sections, so that a cleaning fluid can be applied around the circumference of the surface of the yarn forming element 4.

[0050] The second cleaning nozzle 5b is both linearly displaceable and can be swivelled towards the surface of the yarn forming element 4 by means of a swivelling device 6 (shown only schematically by an arrow in FIG. 4). The second cleaning nozzle 5b is linearly displaced even during the opening of the air spinning nozzle 2 and the accompanying positioning of the yarn forming element 4 into a cleaning position. After the yarn forming element 4 has reached the cleaning position, the cleaning nozzle 5b is then swivelled towards the surface of the yarn forming element 4 by means of the swivelling device 6 so that cleaning can be performed by means of both cleaning nozzles 5a, 5b.

[0051] In the case of cleaning by means of several cleaning nozzles 5a, 5b, cleaning can be carried out with all cleaning nozzles 5 at the same time, or the cleaning nozzles 5a, 5b can be used for cleaning one after the other. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that both cleaning nozzles do not use the same cleaning medium at the same time or immediately one after the other, but that a cleaning cycle independent of the other cleaning nozzles 5b, 5a can also be carried out by means of each cleaning nozzle 5a, 5b.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0052] 1 Spinning position

[0053] 2 Air spinning nozzle

[0054] 3 Vortex chamber

[0055] 4 Yarn forming element

[0056] 5 Cleaning nozzle

[0057] 6 Swivelling device

[0058] 7 Fibre band entrance

[0059] 8 Needle

[0060] It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements.