Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning textile fibers for use in conjunction with an opening roller to which the textile fibers are fed and around which the textile fibers are conveyed, in the form of a fiber bat, in a transport direction. The apparatus includes an arrangement for conveying the textile fibers from an inlet to a clamping point proximate the opening roller; compressing and clamping the textile fibers, in the form of a fiber bat, with a clamping force, the clamping force having a magnitude which is a function of a characteristic of the fiber bat; drawing the fiber bat from the clamping point to a takeover point on a periphery of the opening roller, the fiber bat then being subjected to centrifugal force due to rotation of the opening roller; conveying the fiber bat, under the influence of the centrifugal force, to a separating blade; and separating an area of the fiber bat having contaminants concentrated therein resulting from the centrifugal force and from the drawing of the fiber bat.

Abstract: There are provided a method of and an apparatus for guiding a self-steering or driverless vehicle along an optical guideway. The hitherto known systems, which relate to optical scanning of an optical guideway by means of a light beam and which only transmit the signals "light" and "dark" with respect to detection of the optical guideway, are liable to disturbances and result in a too coarse or non-sensitive control. Therefore, it is suggested to scan the optical guideway by means of light pulses emitted in a predetermined frequency by sensors, whereby the intensity of the reflected light generates by means of an electronic evaluation unit a signal for controlling a steering or guiding mechanism. It is suggested to scan the optical guideway as an analog value by means of individual sensors arranged in a row and further process the determined values as digital values.

Abstract: The combing machine comprises a continuously rotatable circular-comb cylinder carrying a circular-comb segment and a detaching segment. The detaching segment cooperates with a detaching pressure roll. The combing machine also contains a nipper unit comprising a lower nipper which is stationary relative to the axis of the continuously rotatable circular-comb cylinder, and an upper nipper which is movable relative to the lower nipper. The fibers detached by the detaching segment together with the detaching pressure roll are sucked as fiber clusters into a suction shaft or tube, or can be united to form a sliver at a rotatable screening or sieve drum. The combing machine is of simple construction and economical to manufacture and renders possible a high operating speed and, therefore, a higher output, particularly in the absence of a top comb between the lower nipper and the detaching pressure roll.

Abstract: For the automatic compensation of density or thickness variations of fiber material at textile machines there is measured the density of a fiber material mass fed to a fiber feed device and the density of the fiber material mass at the textile machine outlet. The resultant measurement signals are delivered to a control for regulating the rotational speed of a feed roll of the fiber feed device in accordance with both measured density signals. The fiber feed device comprises the feed roll and a coacting feed plate. The feed roll, although rotatable, is spatially stationary and is pivotal from a starting position in the absence of the fiber mass into an operative position into contact with an abutment when there is present a fiber mass whose density variations are to be detected. By positionally fixing the feed plate during the detection operation different forces arise, depending upon the thickness or density of the fiber mass, in the nipping zone between the feed roll and the feed plate.

Abstract: For draft- and trouble-free coiling of a sliver arriving from a deflection roll into a sliver can, there is provided a coiler roll which, in cooperation with a nip or pinch roll, guides the sliver through an infeed funnel and deposits the sliver directly upon sliver coils already located in the sliver can. For this purpose, the circumference of the coiler roll projects by a predetermined amount deeper into the sliver can than the underside or lower surface of a coiler plate.

Abstract: An adjustable grid for the extraction arm of a bale-opener machine for adjusting the depth of penetration of drivable fiber extraction elements extending between the grid bars which are substantially tranversely arranged relative to the longitudinal direction of the extraction arm, has the grid bars biased by the spring devices into an abutment position corresponding to a minimum depth of penetration of the extraction elements. The spring force is selected such that the moveably arranged grid bars are displaced, in accordance with the bale hardness, in the direction of increasing depth of penetration of the extraction elements into a position which at least approximately corresponds to the appropriate depth of penetration of the extraction elements.

Abstract: A mote knife arrangement is fitted to a flat of a card or carding machine in a position so as to extend substantially transversely to the carding direction and the mote knife or blade is at an inclination so as to extend in a direction substantially opposite to the carding direction. A steel profile defining the mote knife or blade is provided for the mote knife arrangement. The steel profile is positively and non-slidably retained at a support or carrier which is mountable at the associated flat. The steel profile provided for the mote knife arrangement is retained at the support or carrier by permanent plastic deformation of such support or carrier which has a predetermined profile or sectional shape. The longitudinal direction of the profiled support or carrier also extends substantially transversely to the carding direction.

Abstract: The combing machine comprises a detaching roll and an oscillating nipper unit comrising bottom and top nippers. The predetermined spacing for the oscillating nipper unit with respect to the detaching roll is adjustable, such predetermined spacing being the spacing between the front edge of a bottom-nipper plate and the nip location at the detaching roll when the oscillating nipper unit is in its front end position. A top comb is held in top-comb holders. Each top-comb holder on a top-comb bed is pivotably adjustable about an axis substantially parallel to the detaching roll, the top-comb bed being secured at the bottom nipper. Subsequent to an adjustment of the predetermined spacing, the top-comb holders are reset such that pins of the top comb are again located at the same predetermined distance from the detaching roll.

Abstract: The apparatus for introducing a yarn or the like into the yarn catch slot of an empty bobbin tube during the changeover operation from a full bobbin to an empty bobbin at an automatic yarn winder, comprises a yarn deflector, formed of sheet metal for instance, which is provided with cutouts. Each cutout serves for deflecting an associated yarn out of an imaginary plane extending through a yarn ridge. In order to ensure that the yarn, which is still arriving at the yarn ridge of the full bobbin during the changeover operation can be infed within the imaginary plane through the yarn ridge and at the same time can extend in the plane through the yarn catch slot, the yarn is pulled by a displaceable yarn entrainment member over a curved portion of the associated cutout and deviated or deflected at the associated yarn entrainment hook.

Abstract: There are formed at the wall of the friction spinning element bores or holes with a predeterminate bore diameter and a coating on their side facing a fiber feed duct, the coating extending over the bore edges into the bores or holes. Each bore or hole thus formed has a diameter at the bore or hole entrance or inlet which is smaller than the bore diameter of the related bore or hole. Each bore or hole has a cross-sectional area of less than 0.283 mm.sup.2, but amounting to at least 0.07 mm.sup.2. In this way, the undesirable penetration of fibers or fiber parts into the bores or holes is prevented as far as possible when air flows through the bores or holes at the side of the coating, while retaining a hole form or configuration which is favorable from the standpoint of airflow and blockage of the bores or holes.

Abstract: A fiber infeed device supplies fiber material to a textile machine, such as a card, and comprises a driven rotatable feed roll and feed plate. This feed roll is, however, spatially fixed, whereas the feed plate is pivotable but physically immobile during detection of the thickness and thickness variations of the infed fiber material. The feed plate can be pivoted into an operating position against a stop during throughpass of the fiber material. A substantially invariable size nipping zone is thus formed between the driven rotatable feed roll and the stationary feed plate in which a property of the throughpassing fiber material representative of its instantaneous thickness and thus variations thereof can be detected. By positionally fixing the feed plate, for instance, different forces are applied thereto in the nipping zone where the fiber material is compacted. The arising variable forces enable ascertaining thickness variations of the infed fiber material.

Abstract: There are disclosed one-piece chuck structures for use in winding machines and particularly, but not exclusively, for use in high speed winding machines for the take-up of synthetic plastics filament. These one-piece chuck structures comprise a first elongated tubular portion adapted to receive one or more bobbin tubes and a second elongated tubular portion integral with the first elongated tubular portion and of reduced external diameter relative thereto. Bearings cooperate with the exterior of the second elongated tubular portion such that the first elongated tubular portion and the second elongated tubular portion are rotatable about a common longitudinal axis. Also disclosed are hollow bobbin tube-engaging elements as well as double-arm tube-positioning members which can be used with such and other chuck structures.

Abstract: The cap of a cap spinning device comprises a thread introduction attachment in the top or upper region of the cap. In this thread introduction attachment there is arranged an inlet passage which is upwardly directed at an inclination and provided for the thread coming from the drafting arrangement via a thread eye, so that a balloon is formed between the thread eye and the top or upper side of the cap.

Abstract: The combing machine comprises a nipper unit possessing a bottom nipper and a top nipper which is pivotable relative to the bottom nipper about a pivot axle. An additional nipper is pivotable relative to the bottom nipper about a shaft or journal which extends at a suitable distance from and substantially parallel to the pivot axle of the top nipper. The additional nipper is coupled to the top nipper by means of at least one link. In this manner, pivoting movements of the top nipper cause the additional nipper to be pivoted each time in the opposite direction with respect to the direction of motion of the bottom nipper. When the nipper unit is in an advanced end position, the top nipper is open and the additional nipper is closed. The additional nipper firmly holds the lap, and a tuft combed out of the latter is detached by a detaching roll. No separate pivot drive is required for the additional nipper.

Abstract: The stationary flat of a card or carding machine having mounting flanges arranged at end surfaces of a carding cylinder is mounted at these mounting flanges by means of spring clips. Each spring clip is constructed as a resilient element comprising a radially extending first limb or leg mounted at the associated mounting flange and a second limb or leg which is bent away at an angle with respect to the first limb or leg, partially extends over the associated stationary flat and bears thereupon.

Abstract: Friction spinning elements, in the form of drums or discs comprising perforated friction spinning bodies are subject to the requirement that, on the one hand, the entry section of each hole should be as small as possible, in order to prevent penetration of fibers wherever possible. On the other hand, the form of each hole in the longitudinal direction, as viewed in the airflow direction, should be as favorable as possible aerodynamically so that a hole acting as a nozzle generates the lowest possible air resistance. Further, the form of the hole viewed along its length should be selected such that dirt and dust or other contaminants which may penetrate into the hole do not remain caught therein. It has been established that in galvanically formed perforated bodies there is a tendency for each hole to become larger in section with increasing wall thickness, thus giving each hole a diffusor-like longitudinal section as viewed in the airflow direction.

Abstract: A feed chute arrangement for textile machines, such as carding machines includes a feed chute having a plurality of walls one of which is gas-permeable to let gaseous medium to escape from the interior of the feed chute into a neighboring gas output chamber that is bounded by a plurality of additional walls different from the gas permeable wall. One of these additional walls is provided with an opening at which there is pivotally mounted a plate-shaped blocking flap selectively movable between its closed position and a plurality of open positions in which it offers various amounts of resistance to the flow of the gaseous medium from the gas output chamber through the opening into a connecting conduit and eventually into a discharge passage.

Abstract: For continuously crimping thermoplastic filaments, a filament bundle is blown by a jet nozzle into a stuffing chamber of a texturing wheel to produce a crimped filament bundle in the stuffing chamber. The stuffing chamber has a receiving zone, a treatment zone and a delivery zone. The filament bundle is subjected to a texturing or crimping treatment in the receiving zone and, depending upon the fiber material to pe processed, undergoes a heating or cooling treatment in the treatment zone. The heating or cooling treatment is accomplished by a blowing agent which blows a gaseous medium into the stuffing chamber. At the delivery zone, the crimped filament bundle is taken-off or lifted-out of the stuffing chamber by fiber bundle-lifting means and moved towards a suction drum receiving the filament bundle.

Abstract: A textile machine, such as a spinning machine, is suction cleaned from spinning position to spinning position by a movable programmable robot provided with a suction device. This enables individual elements of the spinning machine prone to impurity or contaminant fouling to be maintained effectively free of such impurity depositions including fiber accumulations and the like without requiring use of the heretofore employed blowing-suction fucntion. The movable programmable robot is controlled by virtue of its being programmaged such that a suction trunk or nozzle thereof is guided in such close proximity to the individual elements to be suction cleaned that the suction cleaning operation can be effectively carried out and in a short period of time, following which the movable programmable robot is moved to the next spinning position for performance of the same or desired suction cleaning operation.

Abstract: A fiber infeed device supplies fiber material to a textile machine, such as a card, and comprises a driven rotatable feed roll and feed plate. This roll is, however, spatially fixed, whereas the feed plate is pivotable but physically immobile during detection of the thickness and thickness variations of the infed fiber material. The feed plate can be pivoted into an operating position against a stop during throughpass of the fiber material. A substantially invariable size nipping zone is thus formed between the driven rotatable feed roll and the stationary feed plate in which a property of the throughpassing fiber material representative of its instantaneous thickness and thus variations thereof can be detected. By positionally fixing the feed plate, for instance, different forces are applied thereto in the nipping zone where the fiber material is compacted. The arising variable forces enable ascertaining thickness variations of the infed fiber material.