Sliver can including a display element for displaying properties of the fiber material

Abstract

A sliver can for accommodating a strand-shaped fiber material includes a can base and a peripheral side wall that delimits an accommodating space for the fiber material, the peripheral side wall at least partially transparent. A display element that transmits a signal indicating one or both of a quantity or a property of the fiber material is located in the sliver can and is configured within the sliver can such that the signal is visible through the peripheral side wall from outside the accommodating space. The invention also encompasses a sliver can base configured with the display element and a spinning mill machine in combination with the sliver can.

Claims

1. A sliver can for accommodating a strand-shaped fiber material, comprising: a peripheral side wall that delimits an accommodating space for the fiber material, the peripheral side wall at least partially transparent; a can base; a display element that transmits a signal indicating one or both of a quantity or a property of the fiber material located in the sliver can; and the display element configured within the sliver can such that the signal is visible through the peripheral side wall from outside the accommodating space.

2. The sliver can as in claim 1, wherein the display element comprises an illuminant, wherein a luminous color or luminosity of the illuminant is changeable.

3. The sliver can as in claim 1, wherein the display element is arranged on one of: the can base; the side wall; or a bottom of the sliver can underneath the can base.

4. The sliver can as in claim 1, further comprising an electrical power supply for the display element.

5. The sliver can as in claim 4, wherein the electrical power supply comprises a rechargeable battery, and further comprising a charging unit for charging the rechargeable battery.

6. The sliver can as in claim 1, wherein the display element comprises an illuminant, and further comprising a control unit operatively connected to the display element for any one or combination of: switching the illuminant on an off; changing luminous color; or changing luminosity of the illuminant.

7. The sliver can as in claim 6, wherein the control unit is in communication with one or both of an external control system and a sensor, the control unit receiving information from or transmitting information to one or both of the external control system and the sensor regarding the quantity or property of the fiber material located in the sliver can.

8. A can base configured to guide a strand-shaped fiber material in an accommodating space delimited by a peripheral side wall of a sliver can, the can base comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and a peripheral wall, the can base further comprising a display element mounted to the lower surface or to the peripheral wall of the can base, the display element transmitting a signal visible from outside of the sliver can through the peripheral side wall of the sliver can when the can base is within the sliver can indicating one or both of a quantity or a propel of the fiber material located in the sliver can.

9. The can base as in claim 8, wherein the display element comprises an illuminant, wherein a luminous color or luminosity of the illuminant is changeable.

10. The can base as in claim 8, further comprising an electrical power supply for the display element.

11. The can base as in claim 10, wherein the electrical power supply comprises a rechargeable battery, and further comprising a charging unit for the rechargeable battery.

12. The can base as in claim 8, further comprising a control unit operatively connected to the display element.

13. The can base as in claim 12, wherein the control unit is in communication with one or both of an external control system and a sensor, the control unit receiving information from or transmitting information to one or both of the external control system and the sensor regarding the quantity or property of the fiber material located in the sliver can.

14. A spinning-mill machine, comprising: the sliver can as in claim 1; an electrical interface for interacting with the display element.

15. The spinning-mill machine as in claim 14, further comprising a control system operatively connected to the electrical interface to control the display element.

16. The spinning-mill machine as in claim 14, wherein the sliver can further comprises a rechargeable battery for the display element that is recharged via the electrical interface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. Wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a section of a sliver can according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a section of a further sliver can according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a section of a can base according to the invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a spinning-mill machine including a sliver can according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) 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.

(7) In the following description of the figures, the same reference signs are utilized for features which are identical and/or at least comparable in each of the various figures. The individual features, their embodiment and/or mode of operation are explained in detail usually only upon the first mention thereof. If individual features are not explained in detail once more, their embodiment and/or mode of operation correspond/corresponds to the embodiment and mode of operation of the features which act in the same way or have the same name and have already been described.

(8) FIG. 1 shows, schematically and by way of example, a sectional view of an embodiment variant, according to the invention, of a sliver can 1 for storing a strand-shaped fiber material 2. The fiber material 2 is coiled into and drawn out of such sliver cans 1 between the working steps in the spinning mill. The loop-shaped coiling takes place, for example, with the aid of a particular can plate (not shown) on the can base 5.

(9) The can plate is axially movable and is usually pressed in the direction of an upper sliver can opening with the aid of a spring system 17, which is represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the pair of springs. Due to this pressure, a frictional engagement arises between the fiber material 2 and the particular corresponding surfaces of the can base 5 and of the can plate. Due to the frictional engagement between the materials, a guidance of the fiber material 2 is ensured, whereby the fiber material 2 can be coiled in uniform loops in the sliver can 1.

(10) Due to the increasing weight of the fiber material 2 located in the sliver can 1, the can base 5 is pressed uniformly downward in the direction of the bottom 18 of the sliver can 1. In the ideal case, this causes the frictional engagement between the aforementioned materials and surfaces to remain constant.

(11) The relative distance of the movably mounted can base 5 to the bottom 18 of the sliver can 1 is therefore inversely proportional to the fiber material 2 located in the sliver can 1. In other words, the greater the distance is, the less fiber material 2 is present in the sliver can 1. Precisely, this relationship is therefore utilized as a suitable indicator for displaying the amount of fiber material.

(12) The exemplary embodiment also shows the advantageously present electronic components. For example, a charging unit 11 and a control unit 12 are provided, wherein, in the case shown, the charging unit 11 can be inductively charged. An independent power supply in the form of a rechargeable battery 10 (FIG. 3) is not represented in this figure, although it is entirely conceivable in the present configuration.

(13) The control unit 12 and the charging unit 11 are designed as a module in the embodiment variant shown. In this connection, however, a placement in separate areas of the sliver can 1, depending on the space required, would be conceivable.

(14) Moreover, a display element 6 is provided according to the invention. In FIG. 1, the display element 6 consists of a single illuminant 7, which, for example, as a unit, can be located on the aforementioned module with an angle of departure (i.e., illumination) in the direction of the can base 5.

(15) An attachment as an independent element, for example, on the side wall 3, would also be conceivable in this case, as is additionally represented in FIG. 1 (of course, it can be sufficient to implement only one of the two display elements). In the example shown, the angle of departure can point in the direction of the installation space between the can base 5, the side wall 3, and the bottom 18 of the sliver can 1, as well as in the direction of the side wall 3.

(16) With respect to an angle of departure in the direction of the installation space, it is advantageous that the entire installation space can be illuminated. This results in good visibility of the display on the entire circumference of the sliver can 1.

(17) The module shown in FIG. 1 is designed to be easily removed for maintenance or for replacement. In this way, this module can also be re-used if the sliver can 1 is destroyed.

(18) In principle, an LED (light-emitting diode 8) can be selected as the illuminant 7. In this way, a plurality of different characteristic variables of the fiber material 2, such as the length-related weight or the type of material, can be represented with the aid of the control unit 12. It would be conceivable to design the light-emitting diode 8 as a multi-colored diode, which can then represent the properties of the fiber material 2 or the attainment of a certain fill level of the sliver can 1 by changing colors.

(19) FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment variant of FIG. 1. As is suggested by the comparison of the figures, the placement and number of installed components differ.

(20) In the case of FIG. 2, the display elements are integrated into the can base 5. This variant is represented in the figure in two possible embodiments. On the one hand, it is conceivable to arrange at least one illuminant 7 on the underside of the can base 5. Therefore, the installation space underneath the can base 5 could be illuminated, as represented in FIG. 2.

(21) Alternatively, it would also be possible to mount the display element 6 on the circumference of the can base 5. In this case, it is conceivable to utilize a single illuminant 7. This illuminant 7 would be visible from the outside from only one direction. In this connection, it therefore makes more sense to arrange a plurality in, preferably regular, intervals around the can base 5. As a result, the can base 5 and, therefore, the distance of the can base 5 to the bottom 18 of the sliver can 1 becomes visible as an illuminated ring. The fill level of the sliver can 1 is represented by the height of the ring, so that the can 1 can be switched in a timely manner. A cable line, for example, can be utilized for connecting the illuminant 7 and the control unit 12.

(22) FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a can base 5, according to the invention, as an autonomous functional unit. A can base 5 is represented, comprising a control unit 12, a charging unit 11, and an electrical energy supply 9 in the form of a rechargeable battery 10. In addition, the display element in this case contains a plurality of illuminants in the form of light-emitting diodes 8, which are arranged in a recess on the circumferential surface of the can base 5, which is specifically designed therefor. The control unit 12, the charging unit 11, and the rechargeable battery 10 form a jointly replaceable unit in this exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, these electronic components can also be designed as independent elements. Additionally or alternatively to positioning the display element 6 on the circumferential surface, an arrangement on the underside of the can base 5 is also possible.

(23) FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a spinning-mill machine comprising a control system 13 and an interface 16 connected to the control system, wherein the interface 16 is designed for exchanging data with the control unit 12 of a sliver can 1. Moreover, an interface 15 for transmitting energy to the sliver can 1 is present.

(24) Additionally, a sliver can 1 according to the preceding description is represented in its set-down location provided therefor. As compared to FIGS. 1 and 2, this sliver can 1 shows a smaller amount of fiber material, which is apparent due to the greater distance of the can base to the bottom 18 of the sliver can 1. In addition, in this representation, only one display element 6 is represented on the circumferential surface of the can base 5. In this representation variant, both the communication of the control system 13 of the spinning machine with the control unit 12 of the sliver can 1, as well as the energy transmission at the set-down location of the sliver can 1 between an energy source and the sliver can 1 or its display element 6, its control unit 12, and a charging device for a rechargeable battery 10, which may be present, take place in a contactless manner. The charging of the rechargeable battery 10 can therefore take place during the utilization of the sliver can 1.

(25) The present invention is not limited to the represented and described exemplary embodiments. Modifications within the scope of the claims, as well as a combination of the features, even if they are represented and described in different exemplary embodiments, are an object of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SKINS

(26) 1 sliver can 2 fiber material 3 side wall 4 accommodating space 5 can base 6 display element 7 illuminant 8 light-emitting diode 9 electrical power supply 10 rechargeable battery 11 charging unit 12 control unit 13 external control system 14 sensor 15 electrical interface 16 interface 17 spring system 18 bottom