Fiber conveyor and fiber blending unit

Abstract

A fiber conveyor for a fiber blending unit includes a blending belt, wherein fiber material dropped onto the blending belt from a bale opener is transportable away by the blending belt. Opposite guide walls are arranged laterally to the blending belt to guide the fiber material on both sides of the blending belt. A rotary distributor is arranged above the blending belt so that the fiber material dropped onto the blending belt is distributable in a transverse direction of the blending belt between the two guide walls by rotational movement of the rotary distributor.

Claims

1. A fiber conveyor for a fiber blending unit, comprising: a blending belt, wherein fiber material dropped onto the blending belt from a bale opener is transportable away by the blending belt; opposite guide walls arranged laterally to the blending belt to guide the fiber material on both sides of the blending belt; a rotary distributor arranged above the blending belt so that the fiber material dropped onto the blending belt is distributable in a transverse direction of the blending belt between the two guide walls by rotational movement of the rotary distributor; wherein the rotary distributor comprises at least one distributor element radially spaced from and rotatable about an axis of rotation; and wherein the distributor element comprises an L-shape with a first section extending in a vertical direction, a second section extending in a horizontal direction corresponding to a circumferential direction of rotation of the rotary distributor, and a first bend between the first and second sections.

2. The fiber conveyor as in claim 1, wherein, as seen in a top view, the second section extends from the first bend radially outwardly or radially inwardly and counter to the direction of rotation of the rotary distributor.

3. The fiber conveyor as in claim 1, wherein, as seen in a top view, the first section comprises a second bend, wherein a lower sub-area of the first section is bent counter to the direction of rotation of the rotary distributor.

4. The fiber conveyor as in claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft configured with the rotary distributor coaxial to an axis of rotation of the rotary distributor, and a support element extending radially away from said drive shaft, the distributor element arranged on a radially outer area of the support element.

5. The fiber conveyor as in claim 1, further comprising a holder extending across the blending belt between the two guide walls, the rotary distributor supported by the holder above the blending belt.

6. The fiber conveyor as in claim 5, wherein the rotary distributor is displaceable with respect to the holder in one or more of a transverse direction relative to the blending belt, a longitudinal direction of the blending belt, or a vertical direction relative to the blending belt.

7. The fiber conveyor as in claim 1, wherein the rotary distributor comprises a plurality of distributor elements spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the rotary distributor.

8. A fiber conveyor for a fiber blending unit, comprising: a blending belt, wherein fiber material dropped onto the blending belt from a bale opener is transportable away by the blending belt; opposite guide walls arranged laterally to the blending belt to guide the fiber material on both sides of the blending belt; a rotary distributor arranged above the blending belt so that the fiber material dropped onto the blending belt is distributable in a transverse direction of the blending belt between the two guide walls by rotational movement of the rotary distributor; and further comprising a plurality of the rotary distributors arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the blending belt.

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 fiber blending unit comprising a fiber conveyor represented in a front view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the fiber conveyor in a side view; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a top view of a rotary distributor of the fiber conveyor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) 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.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a fiber blending unit 1 for opening, weighing, and/or blending fiber material 2. The fiber blending unit 1 comprises a bale opener 3 for pre-opening fiber bales 4. The bale opener 3 comprises a conveyor table 5 which is equipped with a continuous conveyor belt 6, which can be driven in a conveying direction, for fiber bales 4. At a deflecting edge 7 of the continuous conveyor belt 6, the fiber bales 4 break off and are transported obliquely upward by a fiber material milling belt 8. The fiber material milling belt 8 is preferably a needle slat belt which is driven in the usual way and runs over a lower and an upper deflecting roller 9, 10. The fiber material milling belt 8 mills fiber material 2 off of the fiber bale 4, wherein excess fiber material 2 is conveyed back downward by means of a re-stripping roller 11. The fiber material 2 is stripped off in the area of the upper deflection roller 10 by a doffing roller 12. The fiber material 2 is dropped from the doffing roller 12 through a material chute 13 into a pan scale 14. When a target amount has been registered in the pan scale 14 by means of an appropriate weighing of the material weight, the pan scale 14 is opened and the pre-opened fiber material 2 located therein is dropped onto an underlying blending belt 15. The fiber blending unit 1 can comprise multiple bale openers 3 arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the blending belt 15.

(7) In addition to the at least one bale opener 3, the fiber blending unit according to FIG. 1 therefore also comprises a fiber conveyor 16 which includes the blending belt 15. The blending belt 15 transports away the fiber material 2 which has been dropped from the at least one bale opener 3 onto the blending belt 15. Two guide walls 17, 18 are arranged laterally to the blending belt 15 for guiding the fiber material 2 on both sides of the blending belt 15.

(8) The fiber conveyor 16 comprises at least one rotary distributor 19 arranged above the blending belt 15. By means of the rotary distributor 19, the fiber material 2 dropped onto the blending belt 15 can be homogeneously distributed in the transverse direction of the blending belt 15 by means of a rotational movement. The rotational movement is generated by a drive 20 which drives a drive shaft 21. The drive 20 can be an electric motor, for example. The drive shaft 21 rotates, being powered by a motor, about an axis of rotation 22 in a direction of rotation 23. The axis of rotation 22 is aligned perpendicularly to the blending belt 15 as seen in a front view. Due to a corresponding arrangement, the effective range of the rotary distributor 19 is essentially parallel to the blending belt 15 and perpendicular to the axis of rotation 22. The effective range of the rotary distributor 19 is defined essentially by at least one distributor element 24 when said distributor element rotates.

(9) According to the present exemplary embodiment, the rotary distributor 19 comprises multiple distributor elements 24 for distributing the fiber material 2. The distributor elements 24 rotate jointly about the axis of rotation 22 when the drive shaft 21 is driven. The distributor elements 24 are arranged on a support element 25 of the drive shaft 21 which transmits the rotational movement to the distributor elements 24. The distributor elements 24 are arranged in a radially outer area of the support element 25. The support element 25 is preferably a circular plate, on the circumference of which the distributor elements 24 are connected to said plate. The distributor elements 24 are screwed or welded to the support element 25. In the connection area with the support element 25, the individual distributor elements 24 each comprise an anchored end 26, in which said distributor elements are fixedly and/or detachably connected to the support element 25.

(10) The distributor elements 24 are each essentially constructed as a deformed rod. The individual distributor elements 24 are each subdivided, proceeding from their anchored end 26, essentially into a first and a second section 27, 28. Due to the two sections 27, 28, the distributor elements 24 are essentially L-shaped. The first section 27 extends, proceeding from the anchored end 26, essentially vertically or slightly obliquely downward in the direction of the blending belt 15.

(11) The first section 27 transitions via a first sharp bend 29 into the second section 28 (cf. FIG. 3). The second section 28 extends in the horizontal direction of the rotary distributor 19 and, therefore, essentially in parallel or slightly obliquely to the blending belt 15. The second section 28 forms, in particular, the short side of the letter L. With regard to the shape of the distributor element 24, reference is made to the further figures, since the two sections are more apparent therein. The second section 28 is preferably spaced apart from the blending belt 15 in the vertical direction via a vertical distance 30.

(12) When the rotary distributor 19 is rotated, the distributor elements 24 preferably rotate in the counterclockwise direction, whereby the direction of rotation 23 is specified. The second section 28 of the distributor element 24 takes up fiber material 2 due to its radially inwardly curved shape and homogeneously distributes said fiber material on the blending belt 15 (cf. FIG. 2).

(13) The rotary distributor 19 comprises a holder 31, by means of which said rotary distributor is held above the blending belt 15. The holder 31 rests on the two guide walls 17, 18 of the blending belt 15. The vertical distance 30 between the distributor elements 24 and the blending belt 15 can be adjusted preferably via the holder 31.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the fiber conveyor 16 according to FIG. 1. The individual distributor elements 24 extend in the direction of the blending belt 15, proceeding from the support element 25, wherein said distributor elements are spaced apart from the blending belt 15 via the vertical distance 30. The first section 27 extends essentially straight or slightly obliquely with respect to the vertical axis and/or the axis of rotation 22. The second section 28 extends essentially in parallel or slightly obliquely to the transverse direction of the blending belt 15. The second section 28 is slightly curved, and therefore said section extends, proceeding from the first sharp bend 29, counter to the direction of rotation 23 which runs in the counterclockwise direction. The second section 28 is aligned essentially in the clockwise direction. When the drive shaft 21 is driven, the second sections 28 of each of the distributor elements 24 encounter the fiber material 2. The fiber material 2 is pushed essentially into the sheet plane, as represented in FIG. 2, whereby said fiber material is homogeneously distributed on the blending belt 15.

(15) As is apparent in FIG. 3, in particular, the distributor elements 24 each comprise an end section 32 on their free end 35. The end section 32 essentially tapers, and therefore the free end 35 is pointed.

(16) The rotary distributor 19 can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the blending belt 15. For this purpose, the fiber conveyor 16 according to FIG. 2 comprises a guide rail 33.

(17) The number of distributor elements 24 on the rotary distributor 19 can vary depending on the application. Preferably, the rotary distributor 19 comprises one, two, four, six, or eight distributor elements 24. The length of the first sections 27 remains the same, preferably independently of the number of distributor elements 24. In contrast, the length of the second sections 28 of the distributor elements 24 can change. The fewer distributor elements 24 the rotary distributor 19 has, the longer the second sections 28 can be. However, if multiple distributor elements 24 are formed on the rotary distributor 19, it can be helpful to slightly shorten the second sections 28, so that said sections are spaced apart from each other. The end sections 32 of the distributor elements 24 are each spaced apart from the first section 27 of the adjacent distributor element 24.

(18) FIG. 3 shows a top view of one exemplary embodiment of the rotary distributor 19. The rotary distributor 19 comprises six distributor elements 24 spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. The distributor elements 24 each extend from the anchored end 26 in the direction of the free end 35, in particular of the end section 32. The first section 27 extends slightly obliquely downward to the first sharp bend 29. Proceeding from the first sharp bend 29, the second section 28 extends essentially in the clockwise direction and/or counter to the specified direction of rotation 23. The second section 28 extends tangentially to the axis of rotation 21, as represented in the figure. Alternatively, said section could also extend, proceeding from the first sharp bend 29, radially outwardly in the direction of the free end 35 and/or could be curved radially inwardly toward the axis of rotation. The end section 32 of the second section 28 tapers in the direction of the free end 35.

(19) The first section 27 comprises a second sharp bend 34, and therefore a lower subarea of the first section 27 is rotated counter to the direction of rotation 23. The two sections 27, 28 therefore both extend essentially counter to the motor-powered direction of rotation 23 of the drive shaft 21.

(20) The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have been represented and described. 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.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(21) 1 fiber blending unit 2 fiber material 3 bale opener 4 fiber bale 5 conveyor table 6 continuous conveyor belt 7 deflecting edge 8 fiber material milling belt 9 lower deflecting roller 10 upper deflecting roller 11 re-stripping roller 12 doffing roller 13 material chute 14 pan scale 15 blending belt 16 fiber conveyor 17 first guide wall 18 second guide wall 19 rotary distributor 20 drive 21 drive shaft 22 axis of rotation 23 direction of rotation 24 distributor element 25 support element 26 anchored end 27 first section 28 second section 29 first sharp bend 30 vertical distance 31 holder 32 end section 333 guide rail 34 second sharp bend 35 free end F conveying direction