OPENING ROLLER HOUSING FOR AN OPENING ROLLER OF AN OPEN-END SPINNING DEVICE AND OPEN-END SPINNING DEVICE WITH AN OPENING ROLLER HOUSING

Abstract

An opening roller housing (1) for an opening roller (2) of an open-end spinning machine (3) has a feed opening (4) for feeding a fiber material (5) into the opening roller housing (1), a delivery opening (6) for drawing opened individual fibers (7) out of the opening roller housing (1), a trash removal opening (8) for extracting trash (9) out of the fiber material (5), and an inner circumferential wall (10), which surrounds the opening roller (2) during operation and has a fiber-guiding area (11), which extends from the feed opening (4), over the trash removal opening (8), and up to the delivery opening (6). The opening roller housing (1) includes a hollow cylindrical ring (12). The hollow cylindrical ring (12) is designed as a self-supporting component, which is directly fastenable on a carrier part (13) of the open-end spinning machine (3) and includes the inner circumferential wall (10) having the fiber-guiding area (11) as well as the feed opening (4), the delivery opening (6), and the trash removal opening (8). An open-end spinning machine (3) includes an opening roller housing (1) of this type.

Description

The present invention relates to an opening roller housing for an opening roller of an open-end spinning machine, having a feed opening for feeding a fiber material into the opening roller housing, having a delivery opening for drawing opened individual fibers out of the opening roller housing, having a trash removal opening for extracting trash out of the fiber material, and having an inner circumferential wall, which surrounds the opening roller during operation and has a fiber-guiding area, which extends from the feed opening, over the trash removal opening, and up to the delivery opening, wherein the opening roller housing includes a hollow cylindrical ring.

Opening roller housings have become known in various embodiments from the prior art and are utilized on open-end spinning machines in order to open a strip-shaped fiber material fed to the opening device into individual fibers and to then feed the opened individual fibers to the spinning device.

For example, an opening roller housing is known from DE 32 07 575 C2, which is manufactured as a cast part, for example, in an injection molding process or a die casting process. The housing is therefore made of a relatively soft material. An insert is therefore provided in the interior space of the housing in order to protect the housing wall surfaces and improve the extraction of trash. The insert is composed of thin metal sheet and is designed in the shape of a cup such that it also forms a back wall of the opening roller housing. As a result, the insert has nearly no edges at which fibers could cling, and so the risk of fiber fly being generated in the opening roller housing is reduced. The insert is also easily replaceable.

EP 1 462 550 A1 describes another embodiment of an opening roller housing having a replaceable insert. There, the insert is arranged in the area after the feed opening and extends up to the area of the trash removal opening. The insert forms the peripheral wall of the opening roller housing at least partially, although at least in the area of the trash removal opening. As a result, the opening roller housing can be easily adapted to various fiber materials and spinning conditions. The size as well as the position of the trash removal opening can be modified as a result. There is a risk, however, at the transition of the insert to the rest of the opening roller housing that fibers can cling and accumulate there. In addition, various inserts must be kept on hand and installed.

EP 3 620 558 A1 also describes an opening roller housing having a replaceable insert. The insert is designed as a hollow cylindrical ring, which has a trough-shaped fiber infeed into the delivery opening and a wall area having an opening for adjusting the trash removal opening. Moreover, with respect to this insert, due to the thickness of its cylindrical wall, it is to be possible to adjust the annular gap between the opening roller housing and the opening roller. The adjustment of these parameters is carried out by replacing the insert, and so various inserts must be kept on hand and installed in this case as well.

The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore that of providing an opening roller housing, which is easily manufacturable and installable and, in addition, avoids the generation of fiber fly in the opening roller housing.

The problem is solved by an opening roller housing and an open-end spinning machine having the features of the independent patent claims.

An opening roller housing for an opening roller of an open-end spinning machine has a feed opening for feeding a fiber material into the opening roller housing, a delivery opening for drawing opened individual fibers out of the opening roller housing, a trash removal opening for extracting trash out of the fiber material, and an inner circumferential wall, which surrounds the opening roller during operation and has a fiber-guiding area, which extends from the feed opening, over the trash removal opening, and up to the delivery opening. The opening roller housing includes a hollow cylindrical ring.

It is provided that the hollow cylindrical ring is designed as a self-supporting component, which is directly fastenable on a carrier part of the open-end spinning machine and includes the inner circumferential wall having the fiber-guiding area as well as the feed opening, the delivery opening, and the trash removal opening.

In contrast to the prior art, the provided opening roller housing therefore no longer has an additional insert. In order to carry out an adaptation to various fiber materials or various spinning conditions, it is therefore necessary to replace the entire opening roller housing. Since, however, the ring-shaped opening roller housing forms the basic body of the opening roller housing and is directly fastenable on the carrier part, this can be easily and quickly effectuated. Since, in addition, the ring-shaped opening roller housing is reduced to the essential functions, namely the provision of the aforementioned openings as well as the fiber-guiding area, and has a highly compact shape, the opening roller housing can nevertheless be cost-effectively manufactured. Since the ring-shaped opening roller housing is designed as one piece, in addition, no gaps are present, at which fibers could cling. The tendency for fiber fly to be generated in the opening roller housing is therefore reduced.

It is particularly advantageous when the ring has fastening bores, in particular threads, for its fastening on the carrier part of the open-end spinning machine.

It is particularly advantageous when the ring has fastening bores, in particular threads, for its fastening on the carrier part of the open-end spinning machine. As a result, the opening roller housing can be easily fastened on the carrier by screwing. High drive forces can be generated due to the screwing, and so the opening roller housing can be fastened on the carrier part in a nearly gap-free manner. The tendency for fiber fly to be generated is further reduced as a result.

The fastening bores can be designed as through-bores, and so the opening roller housing can be installed from the front side of the spinning device.

According to another embodiment, it can also be advantageous, however, when the fastening bores are designed as blind bores and, in particular, as threads. In this case, the fastening can be carried out from a back side of the carrier part of the open-end spinning machine. This is advantageous, for example, for the case in which the carrier part is a pivoting housing that is foldable downward away from the open-end spinning machine.

It is also advantageous when the fastening bores are arranged on an end face of the ring. As a result, the shape of the ring can also be kept highly compact, since no additional fastening tabs are necessary. The gap-free fastening of the opening roller housing on the carrier part can be even further supported as a result.

It is advantageous when the opening roller housing also includes a plastic cover surrounding the ring. The plastic cover establishes, on the one hand, a visually attractive transition to the carrier part of the open-end spinning machine. On the other hand, the plastic cover can be utilized for the integration and/or the covering of further components such as, for example, a fiber channel insert.

It is also advantageous when the fastening bores are arranged on an end face of the ring. As a result, the shape of the ring can also be kept highly compact, since no additional fastening tabs are necessary. The gap-free fastening of the opening roller housing on the carrier part can be even further supported as a result.

It is advantageous when the opening roller housing also includes a plastic cover surrounding the ring. The plastic cover establishes, on the one hand, a visually attractive transition to the carrier part of the open-end spinning machine. On the other hand, the plastic cover can be utilized for the integration and/or the covering of further components such as, for example, a fiber channel insert.

It is also advantageous when the plastic cover is integrally joined with the ring, in particular being injected directly onto the hollow cylindrical ring. As a result, the opening roller housing is also designed as one piece when different materials are used for the hollow cylindrical ring and the plastic cover. The opening roller housing is closed in a gap-free manner by the plastic cover, and so the risk of fibers clinging to gaps is even further reduced. The integral connection can be established, in particular, by injecting the plastic cover directly onto the hollow cylindrical ring. It is also conceivable, however, to weld the two parts to each other, for example, via ultrasonic welding. A bonding is also conceivable.

It is advantageous when the ring includes one or multiple form-locking element(s) for the form-locking connection with the plastic cover, wherein preferably the form-locking element(s) is/are arranged on an outer circumferential wall of the ring. These types of form-locking elements can also be advantageous in an integral connection as described above. By means of the form-locking elements, a form-locked connection is additionally established between the hollow cylindrical ring and the plastic cover. As a result, the plastic cover is particularly well fixed to the hollow cylindrical ring. If the form-locking elements are mounted on the outer circumferential wall of the ring, these are located outside of functional surfaces or functional areas. It is also conceivable, however, to mount form-locking elements, in particular, on the front end face of the ring, i.e., the end face of the ring facing outward in the installed state of the opening roller housing.

According to another embodiment, it is advantageous when the plastic cover includes one or multiple clip element(s) for connection with the ring. In this case, the plastic ring is detachably connected with the ring. The clip elements latch into a latching shoulder of the ring shaped correspondingly to the clip elements. Depending on the type of manufacturing of the ring and of the plastic cover, this embodiment can offer advantages. In this case as well, however, the hollow cylindrical ring forms the basic body of the opening roller housing, which supports the plastic cover. The advantages of the simple fastening are therefore also achieved with this embodiment.

Moreover, it is advantageous when the ring is made of a metallic material, in particular a steel or aluminum material, and is preferably designed as a cast part.

Due to the design made of a steel or aluminum material, the hollow cylindrical ring can be designed to be stable and wear-resistant and, therefore, can also directly form the fiber-guiding surfaces of the opening roller housing. Due to the design as a cast part, shapes that are not completely round, shapes having extensions, and the integration of further functions are also possible.

It is also advantageous when the hollow cylindrical ring is machined. A ring designed as a cast part can also be reworked easily and precisely via machining. In particular, the fiber-guiding surfaces as well as, if necessary, air-guiding surfaces can be manufactured with a high surface quality and a high accuracy as a result.

It is also advantageous when the inner circumferential wall of the ring is provided, at least in the fiber-guiding area, with a coating, in particular a wear-resistant coating. The service life of the opening roller housing can be improved as a result. In addition, the surface quality as well as flow properties and fiber-routing properties of the ring can be improved with a coating.

It is particularly advantageous when the ring also includes a bypass opening for feeding a supply air flow into the opening roller housing. The bypass opening is utilized for supplying additional air to the opening roller housing, and so less air needs to be drawn in via the trash removal opening. As a result, the extraction of trash can be improved in a known way.

It is advantageous when the ring has a radially outward pointing extension, which includes the bypass opening. Therefore, all functions can be integrated in a single, stable component.

It is particularly advantageous when the extension is formed as one piece with the ring. The extension can be formed as one piece with the ring, for example, as a cast part. Due to the one-piece design of the bypass opening with the hollow cylindrical ring, the bypass is also designed without seams. As a result, the tendency for fiber fly to be generated in the bypass is also reduced. Alternatively, it is also possible, however, that the extension is an additional part, which is attached to the ring.

Moreover, it is advantageous when the ring includes a receiving opening for a fiber channel insert in the area of the delivery opening. The fiber channel insert guides, in a manner known, per se, the opened individual fibers from the opening roller housing to the rotor housing of the spinning device. Due to the fact that the receiving opening is provided directly in the ring, the fiber channel insert is always accommodated geometrically precisely in the opening roller housing.

The aforementioned advantages, in particular the cost advantages, the simplified installation, and the reduced tendency for fiber fly to be generated are also achieved on an open spinning device having an opening roller housing of this type, and so protection is also claimed therefor.

Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a workstation of an open-end spinning machine in a schematic, partially cutaway side view,

FIG. 2 shows a detailed representation of an open-end spinning machine in a schematic, cutaway side view,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic, partially cutaway front view of an open-end spinning machine with an opening roller housing,

FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view of an open-end spinning machine with an opening roller housing including a plastic cover,

FIG. 5 shows a detached sectional representation through the opening roller housing from FIG. 4 with the plastic cover,

FIG. 6 shows a detached sectional representation through the opening roller housing from FIG. 4 with the plastic cover in an alternative embodiment,

FIG. 7 shows a schematic front view of an opening roller housing according to an alternative embodiment with an integrated bypass opening, and

FIG. 8 shows a schematic front view of an opening roller housing with addressed form-locking elements.

In the following description of the exemplary embodiments, features that are identical or at least comparable with respect to their design and/or mode of operation are provided with identical reference numbers. Moreover, these are explained in detail only at their first mention, while only the differences from the previously described exemplary embodiments are discussed in the subsequent exemplary embodiments. Moreover, for the sake of clarity, often only one or only a few of several identical components and/or features is/are labeled.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic, partially cutaway side view of a workstation 29 of an open-end spinning machine. The workstation 29 includes, in a way known, per se, an opening roller 2 arranged in an opening roller housing 1, to which a strip-shaped fiber material 5 is fed. In the opening roller housing 1, the fiber material 5 is opened by the opening roller 2 into individual fibers 7 and fed to an open-end spinning machine 3. The open-end spinning machine 3 includes a spinning rotor 31 arranged in a rotor housing 30 for spinning the fiber material and is acted upon by vacuum via a vacuum duct 36. The finished yarn 32 is finally drawn off with a take-off device 33 and fed to a winding device 34, where it is wound onto a bobbin 35. In the present case, the opening roller housing 1 is arranged on a carrier part 13, which is designed as a pivoting housing and simultaneously includes a cover element (not labeled) for the rotor housing 30. The carrier part 13 or the pivoting housing can be swiveled away in the direction of the arrow in order to free the access to the rotor housing 30. The carrier part 13 is mounted on a machine frame 25 of the open-end spinning machine.

FIG. 2 now shows a detailed representation of an open-end spinning machine 3 in a schematic, cutaway side view. The arrangement of the spinning rotor 31 in the rotor housing 30 as well as the mounting of the carrier part 13 on the machine frame 25 are apparent again in detail. In FIG. 2, the opening roller housing 1 as well as the opening roller 2 are again more readily apparent. As is apparent from FIG. 2, the carrier part 13 includes a bearing point 22, in which the opening roller 2 is accommodated. The opening roller housing 1 includes a hollow cylindrical ring 12, which is designed as a self-supporting component and is mounted directly on the carrier part 13 of the open-end spinning machine 3. In the present case, the ring 12 is mounted directly on its end face 15 facing the carrier part 13. For this purpose, the ring 12 is mounted on the carrier part 13 by means of fasteners 26, for example, screws, represented here merely symbolically as a dash-dotted line. The ring 12 has an inner circumferential wall 10, which surrounds the opening roller 2 arranged in the opening roller housing 1 during operation. Moreover, the ring has an outer circumferential wall 18 and another end face 15 facing away from the carrier part 13.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic, partially cutaway front view of an open-end spinning machine 3 with an opening roller housing 1. The function as well as the various functional areas of the opening roller housing 1 are readily apparent in this figure. The opening roller housing 1 includes, in a way known, per se, a feed opening 4, via which the fiber material 5 (see FIG. 1) is conveyed into the opening roller housing 1 by means of a feed roller 20 and fed to the opening roller 2. The fiber material 5 is combed by the opening roller 2 (not represented here. Only the bearing point 22 is visible here) rotating in the direction of the arrow, opened, and transported further over the trash removal opening 8 up to a delivery opening 6, at which the opened individual fibers 7 (see FIG. 1) are drawn out of the opening roller housing 1 and fed to the spinning rotor 31. As already mentioned with respect to FIG. 1, the rotor housing 30 is acted upon by vacuum such that the individual fibers 7 can be transported by means of an air flow from the delivery opening 6 up to the spinning rotor 31. The air flow assists the transport of fibers in the opening roller housing 2.

At the trash removal opening 8, trash 9 extracted from the fiber material 5 by the opening roller 2 is slung out of the opening roller housing 1 due to the centrifugal force and can be disposed of. Trash contained in the fiber material 5 can therefore no longer enter into the spinning process and adversely affect the quality of the produced yarn 32 (see FIG. 1). The trash removal opening 8 is connected to surrounding air. The inner circumferential wall 10 of the ring 12 of the opening roller housing 1 therefore forms, at least partially directly, a fiber-guiding area in the case of the present opening roller housing 1. The fiber-guiding area 11 is symbolized in the present case by a dotted line and extends from the feed opening 4 over the trash removal opening 8 up to the delivery opening 6.

The described opening roller housing 1 includes the self-supporting ring 12 as an essential component and, therefore, has a particularly simple and compact shape. The ring 12 is preferably made of a metal material, for example, of steel or aluminum. As a result, it can be cost-effectively manufactured and installed. As already described with respect to FIG. 2, the self-supporting ring 12 can be mounted directly on the carrier part 13 of the open-end spinning machine 3 and simultaneously includes all essential fiber-guiding surfaces in the fiber-guiding area 11. For the mounting on the carrier part 13, the ring 12 can include, for example, fastening bores 14, as represented in FIGS. 7 and 8. Moreover, the feed opening 4, the delivery opening 6, and the trash removal opening 8 are also arranged directly in the self-supporting ring 12. It is therefore not necessary to form the opening roller housing 1 from multiple parts or provide the opening roller housing 1 with an additional insert, as in the prior art. This also contributes to a reduction of the assembly and manufacturing effort related to the opening roller housing 1. In addition, due to the one-piece design with the self-supporting ring 12, there are no gaps between various parts of the opening roller housing 1 at which fibers could accumulate and cling.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view of an open-end spinning machine 3 with an opening roller housing 1 including a plastic cover 16. The plastic cover 16 surrounds the opening roller housing 1 and closes this toward the outside, ensures a visually attractive appearance, and can also be utilized for integrating further components or covering functional components adjacent to the opening roller housing 1. The plastic cover 16 shown here extends, for example, up to the rotor housing 30 (not represented here) and creates an appealing transition thereto. Moreover, it is apparent from FIG. 4 that the delivery opening 6 with respect to the present opening roller housing 1 is designed as a receiving opening 24 for a fiber channel insert 27. These types of fiber channel inserts 27 are known from the prior art and are typical for transporting the opened individual fibers 7 to the spinning rotor 31. Due to the fact that the fiber channel insert 27 in the embodiment shown is accommodated directly in the receiving opening 24 of the ring 12, the fiber channel insert 27 is assigned to the opening roller housing 1 and the opening roller 2 rotating therein in a geometrically particularly precise manner. The largest portion of the fiber channel insert 27 is covered by the plastic cover 16. In this embodiment as well, the ring 12 is made of a metal material such as steel or aluminum. The plastic cover 16 can be injected directly onto the ring 12 in a particularly advantageous way. In this case, the plastic cover 16 is integrally joined with the ring 12. However, the plastic cover 16 could also be connected to the ring 12, for example, via ultrasonic welding or adhesive bonding. In the case of an integral connection of this type, it is also advantageous, however, when the ring 12 additionally includes form-locking elements 17 for the form-locking connection with the plastic cover 16, as described in the following. In this case, the plastic cover 16 seals the opening roller housing 1 toward the outside without gaps.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional representation along the lines of cut indicated in FIG. 4 in a detached representation. In this sectional view, it is apparent that the ring 12 includes a form-locking element 17 in the area of its outer circumferential wall 18 in this case. Moreover, the plastic cover 16 is readily apparent in this sectional view. According to a first embodiment, it is possible that the plastic cover 16 is merely slid onto the ring 12 and is pulled over the ring 12 only in the area of the form-locking element 17. For this purpose, the plastic cover 16 must have a certain elasticity. In this case, the plastic cover 16 is fastened to the ring 12 exclusively by means of one or multiple form-locking element(s) 17. Multiple form-locking elements 17 can be provided on the circumferential wall 18 as well as on the end face 15 of the ring 12 facing away from the carrier part 13.

A form-locking connection of this type is also advantageous, however, in particular in addition to the integral connection already described with respect to FIG. 4 in order to improve the durability of the connection.

FIG. 6 also shows a sectional representation along the lines of cut indicated in FIG. 4 in a detached representation, although this includes an alternative form of the connection between the ring 12 and the plastic cover 16. The plastic cover 16 in the present example includes two clip elements 19 for connection with the ring 12. In this case, the plastic cover 16 is held on the ring 12 in a purely form-fitting manner. The clip elements 19 are arranged on the plastic cover 16 in an elastically resilient manner and, for this reason, do not obstruct the installation of the plastic cover 16 on the ring 12. In the installed state, the clip elements 19 therefore each interact with a latching shoulder 28, which is provided in the ring 12.

FIG. 7 now shows a first embodiment of a ring 12 of an opening roller housing 1 in a schematic front view. In contrast to the embodiment from FIG. 3, the presently shown opening roller housing 1 and the ring 12 additionally include a bypass opening 21 for feeding a supply air flow into the opening roller housing 1. By means of the bypass opening 21, the air supply through the trash removal opening 8 into the opening roller housing 1 is limited, and so the trash particles contained in the fiber material 5 to be opened can be better extracted. In particular, this also makes it possible to extract lighter-weight trash particles, which would otherwise be carried along with the air flow in the opening roller housing 1 and would remain in the fiber material 5.

The bypass opening 21 is arranged in an extension 23 of the ring 12. The bypass opening 21 is therefore integrated into the opening roller housing 1 in an advantageous way. As is also apparent from FIG. 7, the ring 12 includes yet another extension 23, which delimits the trash removal opening. Therefore, even more functions are combined in a single component in the present ring 12 and opening roller housing 1, which simplifies manufacturing as well as assembly. A ring 12 of this type can be easily manufactured, for example, as a cast part, in particular as an injection molded part. The surfaces in the fiber-guiding area 11 can also be additionally machined in order to achieve a high surface quality, and/or provided with a wear-resistant coating, which incidentally also applies for all embodiments of the ring 12 shown in other figures.

Moreover, in the present example, a total of four fastening bores 14 are apparent in FIG. 7 for mounting the ring 12 on the carrier part 13 (see FIG. 2). Preferably, these fastening bores 14 are designed as threads, and so the ring 12 can be screwed on directly on the carrier part 13 by means of multiple screws.

Due to the contact force of the screws, a seamless connection can also be formed here.

FIG. 8 now shows yet another schematic front view of one further embodiment of a ring 12, which includes an extension 23 having a bypass opening 21 as is also the case for the ring 12 from FIG. 7. In contrast to FIG. 7, form-locking elements 17 are shown on this ring, which are also arranged in the area of an outer circumferential wall 18. As already described with respect to FIG. 5, these can be provided in addition to an integral connection with the plastic cover 16 in order to give the plastic cover 16 greater hold, or as the only means of connection to the plastic cover 16.

The present invention is not limited to the represented and described exemplary embodiments. Modifications within the scope of the claims are also possible, as is any combination of the described features, even if they are represented and described in different parts of the description or the claims or in different exemplary embodiments, provided no contradiction to the teaching of the independent claims results.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

• • 1 opening roller housing
  • 2 opening roller
  • 3 open-end spinning machine
  • 4 feed opening
  • 5 fiber material
  • 6 delivery opening
  • 7 individual fibers
  • 8 trash removal opening
  • 9 trash
  • 10 inner circumferential wall
  • 11 fiber-guiding area
  • 12 ring
  • 13 carrier part
  • 14 fastening bore
  • 15 end face
  • 16 plastic cover
  • 17 form-locking element
  • 18 outer circumferential wall
  • 19 clip element
  • 20 feed roller
  • 21 bypass opening
  • 22 bearing point
  • 23 extension
  • 24 receiving opening
  • 25 machine frame
  • 26 fastener
  • 27 fiber channel insert
  • 28 latching shoulder
  • 29 workstation
  • 30 rotor housing
  • 31 spinning rotor
  • 32 yarn
  • 33 take-off device
  • 34 winding device
  • 35 package
  • 36 vacuum duct

Claims

1. An opening roller housing (1) for an opening roller (2) of an open-end spinning machine (3), having a feed opening (4) for feeding a fiber material (5) into the opening roller housing (1), having a delivery opening (6) for drawing opened individual fibers (7) out of the opening roller housing (1), having a trash removal opening (8) for extracting trash (9) out of the fiber material (5), and having an inner circumferential wall (10), which surrounds the opening roller (2) during operation and has a fiber-guiding area (11), which extends from the feed opening (4), over the trash removal opening (8), and up to the delivery opening (6), wherein the opening roller housing (1) includes a hollow cylindrical ring (12),

characterized in that

the hollow cylindrical ring (12) is designed as a self-supporting component, which is directly fastenable on a carrier part (13) of the open-end spinning machine (3) and includes the inner circumferential wall (10) having the fiber-guiding area (11) as well as the feed opening (4), the delivery opening (6), and the trash removal opening (8).

2-14. (canceled)