Spinning Preparation Machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a spinning preparation machine having at least one consolidating means for producing a roving (3) that has a protective twist and that is made of a fiber bundle (4) supplied to the consolidating means, having a drafting system (5) for drafting the fiber bundle (4) before the latter enters the consolidating means, wherein the drafting system (5) is arranged upstream of the consolidating means in a transport direction (T) of the drafting system (5), having a guide (6) arranged upstream of the drafting system (5) in the aforesaid transport direction (T) for guiding the fiber bundle (4) between a container (7) providing the fiber bundle (4) and the drafting system (5), wherein the guide (6) has a feed segment (8) facing away from the drafting system (5) for the fiber bundle (4) originating from the container (7) when the spinning preparation machine (1) is in operation, and has a delivery segment (9) facing the drafting system (5) for the fiber bundle (4), wherein the spinning preparation machine (1) has a winding device (10) for winding the roving (3) onto a tube (11), and wherein the spinning preparation machine (1) has a tube transport device (12) for providing empty tubes (11) and/or for removing tubes (11) loaded with roving (3) by means of the winding device (10). In accordance with the invention it is suggested that the tube transport device (12) comprises at least one conveyor (13) for transporting empty tubes (11) and/or tubes (11) loaded with roving (3), wherein the conveyor(s) (13), in a top view of the spinning preparation machine (1), are arranged at least in part between the feed segment (8) of the guide (6) and the drafting system (5).

Claims

1. A spinning preparation machine, having at least one consolidating means for producing a roving (3) that has a protective twist and that is made of a fiber bundle (4) supplied to the consolidating means, having a drafting system (5) for drafting the fiber bundle (4) before the latter enters the consolidating means, wherein the drafting system (5) is arranged upstream of the consolidating means in a transport direction (T) of the drafting system (5), having a guide (6) arranged upstream of the drafting system (5) in the aforesaid transport direction (T) for guiding the fiber bundle (4) between a container (7) providing the fiber bundle (4) and the drafting system (5), wherein the guide (6) has a feed segment (8) facing away from the drafting system (5) for the fiber bundle (4) originating from the container (7) when the spinning preparation machine (1) is in operation, and has a delivery segment (9) facing the drafting system (5) for the fiber bundle (4), wherein the spinning preparation machine (1) has a winding device (10) for winding the roving (3) onto a tube (11), and, wherein the spinning preparation machine (1) has a tube transport device (12) for providing empty tubes (11) and/or for removing tubes (11) loaded with roving (3) by means of the winding device (10), characterized in that the tube transport device (12) includes at least one conveyor (13) for transporting empty tubes (11) and/or tubes (11) loaded with roving (3), wherein the conveyor(s) (13), in a top view of the spinning preparation machine (1) are arranged at least in part between the feed segment (8) of the guide (6) and the drafting system (5).

2-12. (canceled)

Description

[0029] Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a side view of a spinning preparation machine according to the invention, and,

[0031] FIG. 2 is a top view of a spinning preparation machine according to the invention.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a spinning preparation machine 1 according to the invention in the form of an air-jet spinning machine that stands on a shop floor 20 and produces roving 3. The spinning preparation machine 1 preferably comprises a drafting system 5 with a plurality of corresponding drafting system rollers (only one of the two feed rollers 15 arranged in the input area of the drafting system 5 is provided with a reference number) that is supplied with a fiber bundle 4, for instance in the form of a doubled drafter sliver.

[0033] The fiber bundle 4 generally originates from a container 7 (e.g. a sliver can) and is fed to the drafting system 5, preferably after passing over a guide roller 21, via a guide 6, wherein the guide 6 may be embodied for instance as a longitudinal profile. In principle the guide 6 comprises a feed segment 8 adjacent to the container 7, a delivery segment 9 adjacent to the drafting system 5, and a guide segment 14 disposed therebetween for supporting the fiber bundle 4 at least from below.

[0034] The illustrated spinning preparation machine 1 also comprises a consolidating means, spaced apart from the drafting system 5, in the form of an air spinning nozzle 2 having an internal vortex chamber (known from prior art and therefore not shown) and a yarn-forming element (likewise known from the prior art and therefore likewise not shown) in the form of a hollow spindle that projects into the vortex chamber. In the vortex chamber, the fiber bundle 4 or at least a portion of the fibers in the fiber bundle 4 are provided with a protective twist by means of a swirled air flow generated by air nozzles in the vortex chamber.

[0035] The spinning preparation machine 1 may furthermore comprise a draw-off unit for the roving 3, with preferably two draw-off rollers, downstream of the drafting system 5 in the transport direction T (the draw-off unit is not absolutely necessary and is therefore not shown in the drawings). Moreover, a winding device 10 is present that preferably receives at least two tubes 11 and with which it is possible to wind the roving 3 onto a tube 11, the roving 3 being guided by means of a traversing unit 18 that can be moved back and forth in the direction of the double arrow shown in FIG. 1. The winding device 10 may in particular comprise a platform 17 that can be rotated by means of a drive and on which the tubes 11 may be fixed using corresponding holding devices (not shown), wherein the holding devices and thus also the respective tubes 11 may be caused to rotate, preferably via separate drives.

[0036] The spinning preparation machine 1 depicted and embodied as an example as an air-jet spinning machine works according to a special air-jet spinning method. For forming the roving 3, the fiber bundle 4 is guided in the aforesaid transport direction T via an inlet opening (not shown) into the vortex chamber of the air spinning nozzle 2. There it is given a protective twist, that is to say at least a portion of the fibers of the fiber bundle 4 is grasped by the aforesaid swirled air flow, which is created by suitably placed spinning air channels. A portion of the fibers is thereby pulled at least a little way out of the fiber bundle 4 and is wound around the tip of the yarn forming element which protrudes into the vortex chamber.

[0037] Finally, the fibers of the fiber bundle 4 are drawn out of the vortex chamber via an inlet opening of the yarn forming element and a draw-off channel which is arranged inside the yarn forming element and adjoins the inlet opening. In doing so, the free fiber ends are finally also drawn on a helical trajectory in the direction of the inlet opening and wrap as wrapping fibers around the centrally running core fibers, resulting in a roving 3 which has the desired protective twist.

[0038] Due to the only partial twisting of the fibers, the roving 3 has a draftability which is essential for the further processing of the roving 3 in a downstream spinning machine, for example a ring spinning machine. Conventional air-jet spinning devices, on the other hand, give the fiber bundle 4 such a pronounced twist that the required drafting following yarn production is no longer possible. This is also desired in this case since conventional air-jet spinning machines 1 are designed to produce a finished yarn, which is generally intended to be characterized by a high strength.

[0039] As explained in the foregoing, after leaving the air spinning nozzle 2, the roving 3 is wound onto a tube 11 by means the winding device 10. If the specific tube 11 is adequately loaded with roving 3, it is exchanged for an empty tube 11, wherein the aforesaid platform 17 is rotated for this purpose about a preferably vertical rotational axis until the empty tube 11 shown in FIG. 1 is disposed in the position of the loaded tube 11 shown in FIG. 1 and vice versa.

[0040] While the empty tube 11 is being loaded with roving 3 following this tube exchange, a tube transfer device 16 is activated that transfers the loaded tube 11 to a conveyor 13 (for instance in the form of a conveyor belt) of a tube transport device 12 that finally transports the tube 11 to a removal location (not shown). This conveyor 13, a plurality of which may be present, preferably includes a plurality of tube holders 19 with which the tubes 11 may be held during their transport. Once the loaded tube 11 has been transported away, the position on the platform 17 of the winding device 10 that has been freed up by this may be occupied by a new, empty tube 11, the tube transfer device 16 preferably accomplishing this.

[0041] Alternatively, it would also naturally be possible to eliminate the tube transfer device 16. Likewise, the winding device 10 could also have only one holding device for one tube 11.

[0042] In accordance with the invention it is now suggested that, in a top view of the spinning preparation machine 1 shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor(s) 13 is or are arranged, at least in part between the feed segment 8 of the guide 6 and the drafting system 5. In particular the conveyor(s) 13 should be supported in the area of the so-called shop floor 20 so that it/they, in the side view of the spinning preparation machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, is/are disposed below the guide 6.

[0043] In addition, it is advantageous when the conveyor(s) 13 is/are arranged between the feed segment 8 of the guide 6 or the container 7 and the delivery segment 9 of the guide 6, the guide 6 spanning the conveyor(s) 13 in a bridge-like manner. The fiber bundle 4 is now guided from behind via the conveyor(s) 13 and finally travels in the front region of the spinning preparation machine 1 into the drafting system 5 and ultimately into the air spinning nozzle 2.

[0044] As FIG. 2 shows, the winding device 10, the traversing unit 18, and the tube transfer device 16 may be arranged to the side of the drafting system 5 or air spinning nozzle 2. In this case, the result is a particularly space-saving arrangement of the individual elements.

[0045] Furthermore, the drafting system 5, the air spinning nozzle 2, and also the guide 6 should be placed above the winding device 10, the traversing unit 18, the tube transfer device 16, and/or the conveyor(s) 13 to utilize the free space above the aforesaid elements.

[0046] Finally, the above description is referenced with respect to the possible mutual arrangements of the individual segments (feed segment 8, guide segment 14, delivery segment 9, drafting system 5, air spinning nozzle 2, traversing unit 18, winding device 10, tube transfer device 16, conveyor(s) 13) so that the mutual arrangement depicted in the drawings shall be construed only as an example.

[0047] The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments that have been shown and described. Modifications within the scope of the patent claims are also possible, as is any combination of the described features, even if they are shown and described in different parts of the description or the claims or in different exemplary embodiments.

REFERENCE LIST

[0048] 1 Spinning preparation machine [0049] 2 Air spinning nozzle [0050] 3 Roving [0051] 4 Fiber bundle [0052] 5 Drafting system [0053] 6 Guide [0054] 7 Container [0055] 8 Feed segment [0056] 9 Delivery segment [0057] 10 Winding device [0058] 11 Tube [0059] 12 Tube transport device [0060] 13 Conveyor [0061] 14 Guide segment [0062] 15 Input roller [0063] 16 Tube transfer device [0064] 17 Platform [0065] 18 Traversing unit [0066] 19 Tube holder [0067] 20 Shop floor [0068] 21 Guide roller [0069] T Transport direction