Flat Clothing for a Revolving Flat of a Carding Machine

Abstract

A flat clothing for a revolving flat of a carding machine includes a foundation and a plurality of clothing tips formed from U-shaped wire hooks penetrating through the foundation and situated in adjacent rows with a row spacing between successive rows. A row offset in the direction of the length of the foundation is defined between the clothing tips in the adjacent rows such that the clothing tips are not situated one behind the other in successive rows. At least two successive zones are defined, wherein each zone has at least three rows of hooks and the row offset of the first zone differs from the row offset of the second zone. A row spacing between each row in the second zone and a following adjacent row, viewed in the fiber running direction, is different from the row spacing between the row and a preceding adjacent row.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A flat clothing (14) for a revolving flat (9) of a carding machine (1), comprising: a foundation (27) with a length (F) that corresponds to a working width of the carding machine and a width (G) viewed in a fiber running direction (C) of fibers through the carding machine; a plurality of clothing tips (23) formed from U-shaped wire hooks (28) that penetrate through the foundation (27), the wire hooks formed from a wire having a cross-sectional width (D) with two legs (29) that define the clothing tips (23), the wire hooks comprising a back (30) with a back length (E) that connects the two legs (29), the legs (29) each having a tip axis (31) and the backs (30) situated with a back axis (32) connecting the tip axes (31) in the direction of the length (F); the wire hooks (28) situated in adjacent rows (33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40) with a row spacing (L, L1, L2) between each of two successive rows (33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40) in the fiber running direction (C), wherein a row offset (K, K1, K2) in the direction of the length (F) is defined between the clothing tips (23) in the adjacent rows (33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40) such that the clothing tips are not situated one behind the other in successive rows in the fiber running direction (C); at least two successive zones (34, 35) of the rows of fiber hooks in the fiber running direction (C), wherein each zone has at least three rows of the fiber hooks (33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40), the row offset (K1) of the first zone (34) differing from the row offset (K2) of the second zone (35); and the row spacing (L3) between each respective row (39) in the second zone (35) and a following adjacent row (40) in the second zone (35), viewed in the fiber running direction (C), is different from the row spacing (L2) between the respective row (39) and a preceding adjacent row (38) in the second zone (35).

17. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 16, wherein the row offset (K1) of the first zone (34) and the row offset (K2) of the second zone (35) are greater than a cross-sectional width (b) of the wire.

18. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 16, wherein the row offset (K1) of the first zone (34) and the row offset (K2) of the second zone (35) are less than or equal to the cross-sectional width (b) of the wire.

19. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 16, wherein the row offset (K1) of the first zone (34) is greater than a cross-sectional width (b) of the wire, and the row offset (K2) of the second zone (35) is less than or equal to the cross-sectional width (b) of the wire.

20. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 16, wherein in the first zone (34), the row offset (K1) from one row (36) to a following row (37) for all rows in the first zone.

21. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 16, wherein in the second zone (34), the row offset (K2) from one row (36) to a following row (37) is the same for all rows in the second zone.

22. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 16, wherein in the first zone (34), the row spacing (L1) from one row (36) to a following row (37) is the same for all rows in the first zone.

23. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 16, wherein the row spacing (L3) between each respective row (39) in the second zone (35) and a following further row in the second zone, viewed in the fiber running direction (C), is smaller than the row spacing (L2) between the respective row (39) and the preceding row (38) in the second zone (35).

24. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 16, wherein an extension (M) of the first zone (34) in the fiber running direction (C) is 30% to 70% of an extension (N) of the second zone (35) in the fiber running direction (C).

25. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 24, wherein the second zone comprises at least seven rows.

26. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 25, wherein the second zone comprises at least two subgroups (42, 43) of the rows, each subgroup comprising two to four rows (38, 39, 40) arranged in succession, the row spacing (L2) between successive rows (38, 39, 40) within each subgroup (42, 43) increasing or decreasing, wherein one of the subgroups (42) with increasing row spacing (L2) is followed by one of the subgroups (43) with decreasing row spacing (L2), or one of the subgroups (43) with decreasing row spacing (L2) is followed by one of the subgroups (42) with increasing row spacing (L2).

27. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 25, wherein the second zone comprises at least two subgroups (42, 43) of the rows, each subgroup comprising two to four rows (38, 39, 40) arranged in succession, the row spacing (L2) between successive rows (38, 39, 40) within each subgroup (42, 43) being the same.

28. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 25, comprising 30 to 48 rows, wherein the first zone (34) comprises 3 to 45 rows.

29. The flat clothing (14) according to claim 16, wherein a distance (H) of the tip axis (31) of a first one of the wire hooks (28) from an oppositely situated tip axis (31) of a subsequent one of the wire hooks (28) in the same row (33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40) is the same as the length (E) of the backs of the wire hooks (28).

30. A revolving flat (9) for a carding machine (1), comprising the flat clothing (14) according to claim 16.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention is explained in greater detail below based on exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings, which show the following:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration in the side view of a carding machine according to the prior art;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a carding operation according to the prior art between a cylinder clothing and a flexible clothing;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a carding station in the main carding zone according to the prior art;

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a flat clothing for explaining the concepts;

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a flat clothing;

[0031] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of another embodiment of a flat clothing; and

[0032] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a view X according to FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] 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.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a side view of a known carding machine 1 in the form of a revolving flat card. Fiber flocks supplied to a feed device 2 are received as a fiber lap 3 by a licker-in 4 and transferred to a card cylinder 5. The licker-in 4 and the card cylinder 5 are each covered with clothing wires, not illustrated here. The fiber flocks are opened, cleaned, and parallelized on the card cylinder 5. This operation takes place via the cooperation of the card cylinder 5 and components situated around the card cylinder 5. After the fiber flocks are received by the card cylinder 5, they are transported through a pre-carding zone 6, a main carding zone, and a post-carding zone 7 to a doffer roller 10. Situated in the main carding zone, above the card cylinder 5, is a revolving flat unit 8 that has individual revolving flats 9 or flat bars. The revolving flats 9 are guided by the revolving flat unit 8, opposite the rotational direction of the card cylinder 5, along a portion of the circumference of the card cylinder 5. The pre-carding zone 6 and post-carding zone 7 are provided with stationary working elements. The stationary working elements are made up of carding elements, blades, and guide or cover elements, for example. The fibers form a fiber fleece on the card cylinder 5, which is removed by the doffer roller 10 and in a manner known per se is formed into a card sliver 12 in a sliver-forming unit 11 made up of various rollers and guide elements. This card sliver 12 is then deposited in a transport can by a sliver lay (not shown).

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a carding station in the main carding zone, having a revolving flat 9 that interacts with the card cylinder 5. The revolving flat 9, made up of the flat bar having a back part 24, a base part 25, and a flat clothing 14 fastened to the base part 25, extends over the entire working width of the card cylinder 5. The card cylinder 5, which together with the cylinder clothing 13 situated thereon revolves in the arrow direction, is only partially illustrated. The flat clothing 14 by way of example is fastened to the base part 25 of the revolving flat 9 via fastening clips 26, with the clothing tips 23 of the flat clothing 14 being directed toward the cylinder clothing 13. The carding distance (gap) A is formed between the clothing tips 23 of the flat clothing 14 and the cylinder clothing 13. The carding distance A in most currently used carding machines is less than 0.2 millimeters.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a flat clothing 14 for explaining concepts according to the invention. A detail of a foundation 27 having a length F and a width G is shown, through which small wire hooks 28 that form clothing tips 23 penetrate. The small wire hooks 28 are situated in rows 33 one behind the other in the direction of the length F, the rows 33 having a row offset K between a first row 33 and a following row. The longitudinal direction corresponds to a working direction of the flat clothings 14 that are inserted into a revolving flat, which is transverse to the fiber running direction C. The small wire hooks 28 are inserted within a row 33 at a distance H from one another. A row spacing L is provided between the individual rows 33.

[0037] The small wire hooks 28 are formed from a wire having a cross-sectional width b. The U-shaped small wire hooks 28 have two legs 29 and a back 30 that connects the legs 29. The two legs 29 are each formed into a clothing tip 23 at their ends situated opposite from the back 30. The clothing tips 23 are generally formed by a grinding process after the small wire hooks 28 are inserted into the foundation 27. The legs 29 have a tip axis 31, and the backs 30 have a back axis 32. A back length E is provided as the distance between the tip axes 31 of a small wire hook 28 in the direction of the back axis 32.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a flat clothing 14 in a view shown from the back side of the flat clothing 14, so that the backs 30 of the individual small wire hooks 28 protruding from the foundation 27 are visible. A clothing tip 23 is formed on each end of a back 30 on the side of the flat clothing 14 that is not visible. Two zones 34 and 35 in the fiber running direction C, across the width G of the flat clothing 14, are shown on the illustrated section of the flat clothing 14 having a length F.

[0039] Multiple rows 36 and 37 that follow one another in the fiber running direction C are situated in a first zone 34 having an extension M. The rows 36 and 37 have a row spacing L1. The small wire hooks 28 adjacently situated in the rows 36, 37 show a row offset K1, wherein the row offset K1 indicates the shift of the clothing tips that are formed by the small wire hooks 28. This is illustrated by the indication of the row offset K1 between the row 37 and the row that follows in the fiber running direction C.

[0040] Multiple rows 38, 39, 40 that follow one another in the fiber running direction C are situated in a second zone 35 having an extension N. The rows 38 and 39 as well as the rows 39 and 40 have a row spacing L2. The small wire hooks 28 adjacently situated in the rows 38, 39, 40 show a row offset K2, wherein the row offset K2 likewise indicates the shift of the clothing tips that are formed by the small wire hooks 28. The row offset K2 in the second zone N differs from the row offset K1 in the first zone M. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the row spacing L2 between successive rows 38, 39, 40 in the fiber running direction C decreases as viewed in the fiber running direction C.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of another embodiment of a flat clothing 14 from the same perspective as in FIG. 5. Two zones 34 and 35 in the fiber running direction C, across the width G of the flat clothing 14, are likewise shown on the illustrated section of the flat clothing 14 having a length F.

[0042] Multiple rows 36 and 37 that follow one another in the fiber running direction C are situated in a first zone 34 having an extension M. The rows 36 and 37 have a row spacing L1. The small wire hooks 28 adjacently situated in the rows 36, 37 show a row offset K1, wherein the row offset K1 indicates the shift of the clothing tips that are formed by the small wire hooks 28. This is illustrated by the indication of the row offset K1 between the row 37 and the row that follows in the fiber running direction C.

[0043] Multiple rows 38, 39, 40 that follow one another in the fiber running direction C are situated in a second zone 35 having an extension N, the rows 38, 39, and 40 forming a subgroup 42. The rows 38 and 39 have a row spacing L2, and the rows 39 and 40 have a row spacing L3. The subsequent three rows form a second subgroup 43, wherein the row spacing L2 or L3, viewed in the fiber running direction C, in the second subgroup 43 is opposite the row spacing pattern in the first subgroup 42. As a result, a subgroup 43 having an increasing row spacing L2, L3 within the subgroup 43 follows a preceding subgroup 42 having a decreasing row spacing L2, L3. This pattern of the row spacings is in turn reversed in the subsequent subgroup. The small wire hooks 28 adjacently situated in the rows 38, 39, 40 show a row offset K2, wherein the row offset K2 likewise indicates the shift of the clothing tips that are formed by the small wire hooks 28. The row offset K2 in the second zone N differs from the row offset K1 in the first zone M.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a view X according to FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows a detail of the flat clothing 14 having a length F. The small wire hooks 28 that penetrate through the foundation 27 are visible on their backs 30 on the upper side of the flat clothing 14, and are visible on their legs 29, which form clothing tips 23, on the lower side of the flat clothing 14. It is clearly apparent that a clothing tip spacing D is not uniform over the length F of the flat clothing 14. This results from the different row offset K due to the various zones.

[0045] The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments that are illustrated and described. Modifications within the scope of the patent claims are also possible, as well as a combination of the features, even if these are illustrated and described in different exemplary embodiments.

LIST OR REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0046] 1 carding machine [0047] 2 feed device [0048] 3 fiber lap [0049] 4 licker-in module [0050] 5 card cylinder [0051] 6 pre-carding zone [0052] 7 post-carding zone [0053] 8 flat unit [0054] 9 revolving flat [0055] 10 doffer roller [0056] 11 sliver-forming unit [0057] 12 card sliver [0058] 13 cylinder clothing [0059] 14 flat clothing [0060] 15 fiber material [0061] 16 movement direction of the revolving flat [0062] 17 movement direction of the fiber material [0063] 18 leaf parts [0064] 19 dust particles [0065] 20 stalk parts [0066] 21 shell parts [0067] 22 fiber neps [0068] 23 clothing tip [0069] 24 back part [0070] 25 base part [0071] 26 fastening clip [0072] 27 foundation [0073] 28 small wire hook [0074] 29 leg [0075] 30 back [0076] 31 tip axis [0077] 32 back axis [0078] 33 row of small wire hooks [0079] 34 first zone [0080] 35 second zone [0081] 36, 37 row of small wire hooks in the first zone [0082] 38, 39, 40 row of small wire hooks in the second zone [0083] 42, 43 subgroups of rows [0084] A carding gap [0085] B working width [0086] C fiber running direction [0087] D clothing tip spacing [0088] E back length [0089] F length of the flat clothing [0090] G width of the flat clothing [0091] H spacing of the small wire hooks [0092] K row offset [0093] L row spacing [0094] M extension of the first zone [0095] N extension of the second zone [0096] b cross-sectional width of the wire