Multiple Nozzle Connection of a Textile Machine, and Textile Machine

Abstract

A multiple nozzle connection that is connectable to a central suction duct of a textile machine includes a connecting piece configured to connect to a compaction device of the textile machine or to a suction tube device that is in communication with the central suction duct. The connecting piece includes three connections, wherein at least one of the connections is closable by one of the connected compaction device or the connected suction tube device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a multiple nozzle connection of a suction line of a textile machine, and a textile machine that is equipped with same.

BACKGROUND

Numerous designs are already known in practice, wherein for compacting of the fiber material (fiber strand) discharged by a drafting unit, a compaction device is situated downstream. Following such a compaction device, the compacted fiber material, after passing through a nip point, is fed to a twist generator. Such a twist generator in a ring spinning machine, for example, is composed of a traveler which revolves on a ring, and the yarn produced is wound onto a rotating bobbin. Suctioned revolving devices, such as, perforated suction drums or revolving aprons provided with perforations, are essentially used as compaction devices. A specialized suction area on the compaction element is thus defined by using appropriate inserts inside the suction drum or inside the revolving apron. These types of inserts may be provided, for example, with appropriately shaped suction slits to which a negative pressure is applied, thus generating a corresponding air flow at the periphery of the particular compaction element. In particular, protruding fibers are incorporated as a result of this air flow, which is oriented essentially transversely with respect to the direction of transport.

In the known approaches, the fiber material delivered by the drafting unit is guided above or also below the compaction devices. In particular, for use on a ring spinning machine, it is necessary to provide an additional nip point downstream from the suction zone in order to prevent twist.

These types of devices have been illustrated and described in the publications EP 947614 B1, DE 102005010903 A1, DE 19846268 C2, EP 1612309 B1, DE 10018480 A1, or CN 1712588 A, for example. These cited publications essentially involve compaction units which are installed following the particular drafting system. The drive of these compaction units is sometimes achieved via specialized drive shafts which are situated over the length of the spinning machine and which are in drive connection with either a suction roller or a revolving apron, or via a fixedly installed drive connection to appropriately situated pressure rollers of the compaction device.

In practice, it is necessary to retrofit existing spinning machines with a conventional drafting unit having such a compaction device in order to also ensure the possibility of producing high-quality yarns. Therefore, devices have been proposed by means of which conventional drafting systems may be retrofitted with such a compaction device. One such example is found in DE 10227463 C1, for example, in which the punch of the drafting unit is extended in order to support an additional drive roller. The drive roller, which extends over the entire length of the spinning machine, is provided for the drive of the retrofitted compaction device. The mounting and installation of such a retrofit unit is very time-consuming and inflexible. That is, a desired dismantling to a standard drafting system without a compaction device is in turn very time-consuming.

Published DE 10050089 A1 discloses an embodiment having a compaction device that is provided for retrofitting on a conventional drafting unit.

A device is known from CN 2 851 298 Y in which a compaction roller together with a rotational blocking roller are accommodated in a bearing element which is connected by means of a plate to a pivotable loading arm of a drafting system device via screws. In the installed and locked position, the drive is transmitted via friction from a delivery roller connected directly to a drive and its associated pressure roller to the compaction roller and the rotational blocking roller. The compaction device disclosed here is likewise provided for retrofitting on existing drafting units of spinning machines without compaction. The mounting of the compaction unit disclosed here on an existing drafting unit via a screw connection, as well as the threading for the axle of the pressure roller, is relatively time-consuming, and requires additional adjustment of the distances. Likewise, the connection to a negative pressure source must also be established separately.

In the designs described above, the suction elements associated with a defined compaction area for compressing the fiber material are acted on by negative pressure via additionally mounted lines that are connected to a negative pressure source.

In order to simplify such compaction devices by making it possible to easily and quickly install conventional drafting units without having to install additional drive elements, WO 2012068692 A1 proposes a design in which the compaction element in the form of a suction drum and the nip roller are rotationally supported on a carrier element. The carrier element is removably fastened to the spinning machine via fastening means. To establish a drive connection between the drafting system rollers and the removably mounted compaction device, the compaction device is swiveled about a swivel axis in the direction of the pair of delivery rollers of the drafting system via the carrier element, wherein in each case a friction wheel that is coaxially fastened to the particular suction drum is frictionally connected (via friction) to the bottom roller of the pair of delivery rollers of the drafting system. The compaction device is held in this drive connection via appropriately arranged spring elements (for example, on the loading arm of the drafting system). For a more flexible design for the drive of the compaction device, WO 2012068692 A1 further proposes to provide a second gearing stage between the drive element of the compaction element of the first gearing stage and the compaction element.

However, a disadvantage of this embodiment is that converting the textile machine from a compaction device to conventional thread suction is relatively cost- and time-intensive.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention is to simplify and improve the compaction devices for two adjacently situated drafting units, known from WO 2012068692 A1, in order to easily convert from a compaction device to conventional thread suction. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In particular, the objects are achieved by a multiple nozzle connection of a textile machine, in particular a ring spinning machine, comprising a connecting piece for the alternative connection of a compaction device or a suction tube device to a suction line of the textile machine, the connecting piece having three connections, and at least one connection being closed by means of a connected compaction device or a suction tube device.

The connecting piece may advantageously have three adjacently situated connections, wherein the compaction device is connectable to the middle connection with the lateral connections closed, and wherein a suction tube device is connectable to the lateral connections with the middle connection closed.

This embodiment is advantageous due to the fact that the machine may be easily converted. In addition, between the connecting piece and the compaction device or the suction device a spacer and a seal may advantageously be present which allow the compaction device or the suction device to be oriented and sealed.

The compaction device and the suction tube device are detachably held by a holder of the multiple nozzle connection so as to be pivotable about an axis. The holder may be made up of two spaced-apart elements, the compaction device having two lateral elevations and the suction tube device having a circular connecting element for connection to the spaced-apart retaining elements. This may be a clip connection. Due to two detent lugs that are connected to openings in the retaining elements, the suction device may assume two positions, in an upper position the suction tubes being oriented at a right angle to the suction duct or in alignment with the multiple nozzle connection, and in a lower position the suction tubes being downwardly inclined compared to the upper position. The retaining elements may advantageously be fastened to a retaining profile of the textile machine.

The objects are further achieved by a textile machine, which in particular is a ring spinning machine, characterized in that it has a multiple nozzle connection according to the invention.

A compaction device is connectable to the multiple nozzle connection and advantageously has the following features:

• • two suction drums, wherein in each case a suction drum may be associated with a delivery roller pair of a drafting unit of the textile machine, the delivery roller pair being made up of a bottom delivery roller pair and a top delivery roller;
  • wherein the suction drums are rotatably supported on a shaft that is fastened to a carrier element via a bearing;
  • wherein a suction duct extends within the carrier element,
  • wherein the suction drums each have a drive element which in the operating position forms a drive connection with the bottom delivery roller pair, and
  • wherein on the carrier element, two nip rollers are centrally, rotatably supported on a shared axis in a bearing; for forming a nip line, each of the nip rollers rests on the outer circumference of one of the two suction drums under the action of spring loading,
  • wherein in each case a suction drum is associated with the delivery roller pair of a drafting unit,
  • wherein on the carrier element, two nip rollers are centrally, rotatably supported on a shared axis, and
  • wherein for forming a nip line, each of the nip rollers rests on the outer circumference of one of the two suction drums under the action of spring loading.

Advantageously, alternatively a suction device is connectable to the multiple nozzle connection and includes the following features: two spaced-apart suction tubes that are connected to one another via at least one connecting element; and a central plate with which a middle connection of the connecting piece is closable. The compaction device and the suction tube device are advantageously also detachably held by the holder of the multiple nozzle connection so as to be pivotable about an axis, the holder being made up of two spaced-apart elements and being fastenable to a retaining profile, wherein the suction tube device may assume two different positions.

The invention further relates to a method for detachably fastening the compaction device or the suction tube device to the multiple nozzle connection of a ring spinning machine.

Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from one exemplary embodiment, which is described and illustrated below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is explained in greater detail based on the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a spinning station of a ring spinning machine;

FIG. 2 shows a multiple nozzle connection according to the invention with a connected suction tube device;

FIG. 3 shows a multiple nozzle connection according to the invention with a connected compaction device; and

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the multiple nozzle connection with a connected suction device according to the line A-A in FIG. 2.

Only those features that are essential to the invention are illustrated. Identical features are denoted by the same reference numerals in the various figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a spinning station 1 of a spinning machine (ring spinning machine), having a drafting unit 2 which is provided with a pair of feed rollers 3, 4, a pair of middle rollers 5, 6, and a pair of delivery rollers 7, 8. An apron 12, 13 is guided around the middle rollers 5, 6, respectively, each of which is held in its illustrated position around a cage, not shown in greater detail. The upper rollers 4, 6, 8 of the mentioned roller pairs are designed as pressure rollers which are rotatably supported on a pivotably supported pressure arm 10 via the axles 4a, 6a, 8a, respectively. Two adjacent drafting units 2 (twin drafting system) are associated with a pressure arm 10. The pressure arm 10 is supported so as to be pivotable about an axle 15, and, as schematically illustrated, is acted on by a spring element 9. This spring element may also be an air hose, for example. The rollers 4, 6, 8 are pressed against the bottom rollers 3, 5, and 7, respectively, of the roller pairs via the schematically shown spring loading. The roller pairs 3, 5, 7 are connected via a drive A, not shown. Individual drives as well as other forms of drives (gearwheels, toothed belts, etc.) may be used. The pressure rollers 4, 6, 8 are driven via the driven bottom rollers 3, 5, 7, respectively, and the apron 13 is driven via the apron 12, by friction. The peripheral speed of the driven roller 5 is slightly greater than the peripheral speed of the driven roller 3, so that the fiber material 11 in the form of a sliver fed to the drafting unit 2 is subjected to a break draft between the pair of feed rollers 3, 4 and the pair of middle rollers 5, 6. The main draft of the fiber material 11 results between the middle roller pair 5, 6 and the pair of delivery rollers 7, 8, the delivery roller 7 having a significantly higher peripheral speed than the middle roller 5.

The drafted fiber material 11 delivered by the particular pair of delivery rollers 7, 8 is deflected downwardly and passes into the area of a suction zone 16 of a subsequent suction drum 17, which is part of the compaction device 46b according to the invention. The particular suction drum 17 is provided with perforations or openings extending on its periphery. Following the suction zone 16, for each of the suction drums 17, a nip roller 18 is provided which rests on the respective suction drum 17 via a pressure load and which with this suction drum forms a nip line. The particular nip roller 18 is rotatably supported on an axle 19 which is held in a guide slot 20 of a U-shaped receptacle in a pressure arm 21. The axle 19 is displaceably supported within the guide slot 20, transversely with respect to its longitudinal axis. A tappet that rests on the outer circumference of the axle 19 and is acted on by a schematically indicated compression spring 22 protrudes into the guide slot 20 through an opening in the pressure arm 21. The opening is provided approximately centrally at the end of the guide slot 20, and opens into an essentially closed cavity in the pressure arm 21 in which the compression spring 22 is situated. The compression spring is supported on the closed end of the cavity, and with its opposite end rests on a head of the tappet.

The pressure arm 21 is supported so as to be pivotable about an axis in a bearing element that is mounted on the end of the pressure arm. In this pivot position, the axes are held at the end of particular guide via a stop edge, schematically shown in FIG. 1, transverse to their swivel axis. The nip rollers 18 rotatably supported on the pressure arm 21 are then loaded against the particular suction drum 17 via the force of the compression spring 22, thus forming the nip line. The pressure arm 21 is pivoted past top dead center until it rests on a stop. In this position, the axle 19 of the nip rollers 18 is situated below the plane that extends through the swivel axis and the center axis of the suction drums 17; i.e., the nip roller 18 is held in this position past top dead center. Further details with regard to the mounting and design of the nip rollers 18 may be found in CH 705308.

The pressure lever 10 is subsequently pivoted about its swivel axis 15 from an upper position, indicated by dashed lines, into a lower position in which a pressure force is exerted on the compaction device 46b in the direction of the roller 7 via a leaf spring 24, fastened to the pressure lever 10 by means of screws 23, and the web 25 that is fastened to the leaf spring. The suction drum 17 thus connected is driven by the roller 7 by means of friction via a drive element 40, described below.

In this “operating position,” the warped fiber material 11 that is delivered by the drafting system 2 is supplied to the subsequent suction zone 16 of the particular suction drum 17, and compacted in a known manner under the influence of the generated suction air flow. A deflection shield situated at a distance, as illustrated and described in DE 4426249, for example, may be mounted above the suction zone 16. The cited publication also describes the process for compacting the fiber material.

For generating the required negative pressure in the area of the suction zone 16, a negative pressure source 26 is provided which is connected to a central suction duct 27. The suction duct 27 is connected via a line 28 and a flexible multiple nozzle connection 29 to the respective end of the suction duct 31 of the compaction device 46b that protrudes in the direction of the suction duct 27. The pivotability of the compaction device 46b about an axis is facilitated by the flexibility of the multiple nozzle connection 29. For this purpose, the compaction device 46b has two lateral elevations 30 that engage with a holder, explained with reference to FIG. 2. The schematically shown multiple nozzle connection 29 may be designed in such a way that when two half-shells are joined together, the coupling element is connected in a form-fit manner to a formed suction duct 31, with tight sealing with respect to the outside. The design and composition of the half-shells in such a carrier element are known from WO 2012/068692 A1. The spinning machine may be advantageously retrofitted with the compaction device 46b. The design, operating principle, and advantages of the multiple nozzle connection 29 according to the invention are explained in greater detail with reference to FIG. 2.

At the same time, the nip line created by the nip roller 18 forms a so-called “rotational blocking gap” from which the fiber material 11, in the form of a compressed yarn 32, is fed in the conveying direction to a schematically shown ring spinning device. The ring spinning device is provided with a ring 33 and a traveler 34, the yarn being wound onto a bobbin 35 to form a spool 36 (cop). A thread guide 37 is situated between the nip line and the traveler 34. The ring 33 is fastened to a ring frame 38 that undergoes an up-and-down motion during the spinning process.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the multiple nozzle connection 29 according to the invention. The multiple nozzle connection is used for the alternative connection of a compaction device 46b, as explained in FIG. 1 in conjunction with a ring spinning machine, or for connection of a suction tube device 46a to the suction duct 27 of the ring spinning machine.

FIG. 2 shows the multiple nozzle connection 29 according to the invention, with a suction tube device 46a that is connected to the suction duct 27 of the ring spinning machine. The suction device 46a is made up of two adjacently situated suction tubes 47 that are connected via a central, circular connecting element 50. A second connection between two suction tubes 47 is situated on the front end of the suction tube device 46a. The universal multiple nozzle connection 29 has a connecting piece 42 with three adjacently situated connections 43 that are used depending on the device that is connected. An adapter or spacer 44, which may be joined to the connections 43 of the connecting piece 42, and a seal 45 are situated between the connections 43 and the compaction device or the suction tube device 46a. The compaction device 46b is connectable to the middle connection 43, the lateral connections 43 being closed. A suction tube device 46a is connectable to the lateral connections 43, the middle connection 43 then being closed by a plate 48.

The compaction device 46b (FIGS. 1, 3) and the suction tube device 46a (FIG. 2) are detachably held by a holder of the multiple nozzle connection 29. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the holder is made up of two spaced-apart retaining elements 49. The suction tube device 46a with the circular connecting element 50 engages with the spaced-apart retaining elements 49, resulting in a detachable connection, for example a clip connection. The retaining elements 49 are fastened to a retaining profile 51 of the textile machine, and at the same time secure the adapter or spacer 44.

FIG. 3 shows the multiple nozzle connection 29 according to the invention with a connected compaction device 46b, as explained with reference to FIG. 1 in conjunction with a ring spinning machine. The universal multiple nozzle connection 29 corresponds to the design from FIG. 2, and has the three connecting pieces 42 with the three adjacently situated connections 43. Situated between the connections 43 and the compaction device or the suction tube device 46a is an adapter or spacer 44, which may be joined to the connections 43 of the connecting piece 42, and a seal 45. For fastening purposes, the compaction device 46b has two lateral elevations 30 that engage with the two elements 49 of the holder. The compaction device 46b is connectable to the middle connection 43, the lateral connections 43 then being closed by plates 48.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section A-A of the multiple nozzle connection 29 with the connected suction device according to FIG. 2. The compaction device 46b and the suction tube device 46a are pivotable around the mentioned axis, and may thus be detachably fastened to the connecting piece 42 via a rotary or tilting movement. The suction device 46a may assume two positions via two detent lugs 52, in an upper position the suction tubes 47 being oriented at a right angle to the suction duct or in alignment with the multiple nozzle connection, and in a lower position the suction tubes 47 being slightly downwardly inclined (not illustrated) compared to the upper position.

The embodiment according to the invention is advantageous due to the fact that the machine may be easily converted. The invention further relates to a method for detachably fastening the compaction device 46b or the suction tube device 46a to the multiple nozzle connection 29 of a textile machine, in particular a ring spinning machine.

Modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments illustrated or described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 1 spinning station
• 2 drafting unit
• 3 bottom feed roller
• 4 top feed roller
• 4a axle
• 5 bottom middle roller
• 6 top middle roller
• 6a axle
• 7 bottom delivery roller
• 7a axle
• 8 top delivery roller
• 8a axle
• 9 spring element
• 10 pressure arm
• 11 fiber sliver
• 12 apron
• 13 apron
• 14 suction zone
• 15 axle
• 16 suction zone
• 17 suction drum
• 18 nip roller
• 19 axle of the nip rollers 18
• 20 guide slot/bearing
• 21 pressure arm
• 22 compression spring
• 23 screws
• 24 leaf spring
• 25 web
• 26 negative pressure source
• 27 suction duct
• 28 line
• 29 coupling element
• 30 elevation
• 31 suction duct
• 32 yarn
• 33 ring
• 34 ring traveler
• 35 cop
• 36 bobbin
• 37 thread guide
• 38 ring frame
• 39 openings
• 40 friction wheel, drive wheel
• 41 carrier element
• 42 connecting piece
• 43 connection
• 44 spacer
• 45 seal
• 46a suction tube device
• 46b compaction device
• 47 suction tube
• 48 plate
• 49 retaining element
• 50 circular connecting element
• 51 retaining profile
• 52 detent lugs

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A multiple nozzle connection that is connectable to a central suction duct of a textile machine, comprising:

a connecting piece configured to connect to a compaction device of the textile machine or to a suction tube device that is in communication with the central suction duct; and

wherein the connecting piece comprises three connections, wherein at least one of the connections being closable by one of the connected compaction device or the connected suction tube device.

17. The multiple nozzle connection according to claim 16, wherein the three connections are adjacently situated and define a middle connection and opposite lateral connections, wherein the compaction device is connectable to the middle connection when the lateral connections are closed, and wherein the suction tube device comprises two suction tubes that are connectable to the lateral connections when the middle connection is closed.

18. The multiple nozzle connection according to claims 17, wherein the suction tube device assumes two different positions, wherein in a first position the suction tubes are oriented in alignment with the multiple nozzle connection, and in a second position the suction tubes are downwardly inclined compared to the upper position.

19. The multiple nozzle connection according to claim 16, further comprising a spacer and a seal between the connections and the compaction device or the suction device.

20. The multiple nozzle connection according to claim 16, further comprising a holder configured to detachably attach to the compaction device and the suction tube device, the holder comprising two spaced-apart holding elements that detachably engage with lateral elevations on the compaction device and a central connecting element on the suction tube device.

21. The multiple nozzle connection according to claim 20, wherein the holding elements are attachable to a retaining profile on the textile machine.

22. A textile machine, comprising:

a compaction device;

a central suction duct;

a suction tube device having at least one suction tube connected to the central suction duct;

a multiple nozzle connection that further comprises: a connecting piece connected to the compaction device or to the suction tube device; and wherein the connecting piece comprises three connections, wherein at least one of the connections being closable by one of the connected compaction device or the connected suction tube device.

23. The textile machine according to claim 22, wherein the three connections are adjacently situated and define a middle connection and opposite lateral connections, wherein the compaction device is connectable to the middle connection when the lateral connections are closed, and wherein the suction tube device comprises two suction tubes that are connectable to the lateral connections when the middle connection is closed.

24. The textile machine according to claim 22, wherein the compaction device comprises:

two suction drums, each suction drum configured with a delivery roller pair of a drafting unit, the delivery roller pair comprising a bottom delivery roller and a top delivery roller;

each suction drum rotatably supported via a bearing on a shaft that is fastened to a carrier element;

a suction duct extending within the carrier element;

each suction drum comprising a drive element in drive connection with the bottom delivery roller of the delivery roller pair associated with the suction drum; and

two nip rollers rotatably supported on the carrier element centrally in a bearing on a shared axle, wherein for forming a nip line, each of the nip rollers rests on an outer circumference of one of the two suction drums under action of a spring load.

25. The textile machine according to claim 23, wherein the suction tube device comprises two to the suction tubes spaced-apart and connected to one another via a connecting element, and a central plate by which the middle connection of the connecting piece is closable.

26. The textile machine according to claim 22, wherein the compaction device and the suction tube device are detachably held on the multiple nozzle connection by holding elements of a holder.

27. The textile machine according to claim 26, wherein the compaction device and the suction tube device are detachably held by the holder, the compaction device having lateral elevations and the suction tube device having a central connecting element for connection to the spaced-apart holding elements.

28. The textile machine according to claim 27, wherein the compaction device and the suction tube device are detachably held by the holder so as to be pivotable about an axis, the holding elements fastenable to a retaining profile, and wherein the suction tube device assumes two different positions.

29. The textile machine according to claim 22, comprising a spacer and a seal situated between the compaction device or the suction tube device and the connecting piece.

30. A method for operating a textile machine of claim 22, comprising fastening the compaction device or the suction tube device to the multiple nozzle connection.