TRAVELLING FLATS"

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a carding machine for a spinning preparation line.

[0002] In a spinning preparation line, the fibre, for example in flakes, is first picked up from the bales, subjected to cleaning and opening operations and sent to carding .

[0003] Carding, as is known, is an operation of primary importance, since the fibre fed in flakes is further cleaned and parallelized, coming out in the form of a web to be sent for subsequent processing.

[0004] The core of the carding machine is the rotating drum, provided with a surface clothing, which brings the fibre in rotation between an introduction cylinder (briseur) , and an extraction cylinder (doffer) .

[0005] Along the path between the briseur and the doffer, the fibre is subjected to the processing of numerous members, such as fixed flats, knives, bits, suction vents, variously combined to optimize the cleaning of the fibre .

[0006] In particular, the machine is provided with a travelling flat device, consisting of a plurality of flats travelling along a closed path, having a working portion parallel to the surface of the rotating drum.

[0007] The travelling flats are provided with a plurality of tips which operate on the fibres dragged by the drum to clean and parallelize them.

[0008] It is usual for dirt, small fibres, shells and the like to accumulate on the travelling flats and therefore these need to be properly cleaned.

[0009] For this purpose, solutions are known in which the carding machine is provided with a brush cleaning unit permanently cooperating with the travelling flats, typically in a return portion of the closed path.

[0010] Usually, such cleaning units are provided with a brush provided with metal points, which also carry out a slight grinding action on the tips of the clothing of the travelling flats.

[0011] The action carried out by these cleaning units is continuous but slow and limited to the tips of the flat clothing .

[0012] However, it often happens that a carding machine, used for a first type of fibre, must subsequently be used for a different type, for example different in color (so- called "batch change") .

[0013] When this occurs, there is no doubt that the travelling flat device must be cleaned thoroughly, effectively, in the shortest possible time, to prevent the next batch from being polluted by the previous batch.

[0014] The object of the present invention is to provide a carding machine which meets the requirements of the field and which at the same time overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the prior art.

[0015] Such an object is achieved by a carding machine according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe further advantageous embodiment variants.

[0016] The features and the advantages of the carding machine according to the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description, made by way of an indicative and non-limiting example with reference to the following figures, in which:

figure 1 schematically shows a sectional view of a carding machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- figure 2 shows a sectional view of a travelling flat; figure 3 shows a sectional view of an auxiliary cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a non-operative configuration;

- figure 4 shows the auxiliary cleaning device of figure 3, in an operative configuration;

- figure 5 shows a further view of the auxiliary cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a non-operative configuration; - figure 6 shows the auxiliary cleaning device of figure 5, in an operative configuration;

figure 7 shows some components of the auxiliary cleaning device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- figure 8 shows a further view of the auxiliary cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention .

[0017] The present invention relates to a carding machine of a spinning preparation line, for processing fibre in flakes and obtaining a fibre web.

[0018] The carding machine comprises a drum 1 rotatable about a drum axis Z, provided on the surface thereof with a clothing for dragging the fibre in flakes.

[0019] Moreover, the carding machine comprises an introduction cylinder 2 or briseur, with surface clothing, rotating and operatively engaged upstream with a conduit for feeding a silos for feeding the fibre in flakes and downstream with the drum 1, to which the fibre is transferred.

[0020] Moreover, the carding machine comprises an extraction cylinder 4 or doffer, downstream of the drum 1. The doffer 4 has surface clothing, rotating and operatively engaged with the surface thereof, to pick up the fibre. [0021] Moreover, the carding machine comprises a travelling flat device 6, comprising a plurality of flats 8, translating along a closed path comprising a working portion parallel to the working surface of the drum 1.

[0022] With respect to the drum 1, the working portion of the travelling flat device extends between a principle line 10, defined as a straight line passing through the centre of the drum and by the point of the working circumference of the drum in which the travelling flats 8 are disengaging from the drum, and an end line 12, defined as a straight line passing through the centre of the drum and for the point of the working circumference of the drum in which the travelling flats 8 engage with the drum. The area of the side surface of the drum between the principle line and the end line is called the main carding area.

[0023] The stretch of the closed path made by the travelling flats, outside the working stretch, is called the return stretch.

[0024] Each travelling flat 8 consists of a section 20, having a prevalent extension in the direction of the width of the carding machine, and by a clothing 22 applied to the base of the section 20.

[0025] The clothing 22 consists of a clothing base 24 and a plurality of tips 26, usually made of metallic material, protruding from the clothing base 24 starting from a clothing surface 28 thereof.

[0026] Each flat is also provided with pins 31 for dragging in movement, usually protruding from the section 20.

[0027] Preferably, the carding machine comprises at least one permanent cleaning device 29, operating on the return portion of the travelling flats 8.

[0028] The permanent cleaning device 29 comprises a permanent cleaning unit 30, comprising a permanent brush 32 which operates permanently on the flats 8 of the travelling flat device 6, i.e. with temporal continuity when the travelling flat device 6 is operative.

[0029] The permanent brush 32, having a prevalent extension in the direction of the width of the carding machine, i.e. along the extension of the travelling flats, is preferably rotary, for example in the same direction of movement of the travelling flats.

[0030] Preferably, the permanent brush 32 is provided with bristles of metallic material.

[0031] The permanent brush 32 is configured so as to operate on the tips 26 of the clothing 22 of the travelling flat 8, without there being any contact with the surface of the clothing 28 of the travelling flat 8.

[0032] Preferably, moreover, the permanent cleaning unit 30 comprises a secondary brush 36 cooperating with the permanent brush 32 to clean it.

[0033] The secondary brush 36 is preferably rotating, in the same direction as that of the permanent brush 32, and is provided with bristles of metallic material.

[0034] Preferably, moreover, the permanent cleaning device

29 comprises a permanent suction mouth 34, which cooperates with the permanent brush 32 to suck up the residues therein.

[0035] The permanent suction mouth 34 is permanently connected to a suction system of the carding machine, that is to say, it impinges the permanent cleaning unit

30 with a suction current with temporal continuity when the carding machine is operative.

[0036] The carding machine also comprises an auxiliary cleaning device 39, operating along the return portion of the travelling flats 8, for example in the front area of the machine, i.e. the doffer side.

[0037] The auxiliary cleaning device 39 comprises an auxiliary cleaning unit 40, which can be activated on command to operate on the travelling flats 8 when there is a need, for example due to an imminent change of batch, and remain inactive when there is no need, despite the travelling flat device 6 being operative.

[0038] The auxiliary cleaning unit 40 comprises an auxiliary brush 42 having a prevalent extension in the direction of the width of the machine, preferably provided with soft bristles.

[0039] Preferably, moreover, the auxiliary brush 42 is rotating, for example in the same direction with respect to the motion direction of the travelling flats 8.

[0040] The auxiliary brush 42 can be moved on command between a non-operative configuration, in which the bristles are not in contact with the clothing 22 of the travelling flats 8 (figure 3), and an operative configuration, in which the bristles are in contact with the clothing 22 of the travelling flats 8 (figure 4) .

[0041] In particular, the auxiliary brush 42 is configured so that in the operative configuration, the bristles also come into contact with the surface of the clothing 28 of the travelling flats 8, to ensure a deep cleaning of the brush .

[0042] Furthermore, preferably, the auxiliary cleaning device 39 comprises an auxiliary suction mouth 44 suitable for delivering a suction air flow which impinges the auxiliary cleaning unit 40, operatively connectable to an air suction system, for example of the machine.

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment, said suction system comprises a fixed conduit 50 operatively connectable with the auxiliary suction mouth 44.

[0044] Said auxiliary suction mouth 44 can be moved between the non-operative configuration, in which it is detached from the fixed conduit 50 (figure 5), and an operative configuration, in which it is connected with the fixed conduit 50 (figure 6) .

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary cleaning unit 40 can be manually operated between the operating configuration and the non-operating configuration and vice versa.

[0046] For example, the auxiliary cleaning device 39 comprises an operating frame 60, rotatably supported by the frame of the machine, preferably provided with a handle 62, which supports the auxiliary cleaning unit 40, and in particular the auxiliary brush 42 and, when provided, the auxiliary nozzle 44, to move them between an operative position assumed in the operative configuration and a non-operative position assumed in the non-operative configuration.

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary cleaning device 39 further comprises an electric motor 70 and a reducer 72 for electrically actuating the auxiliary brush 44 (figure 7) .

[0048] Advantageously, the electric motor 70 and the reducer 72 are placed on the operating frame 60, which can be moved together with the auxiliary brush 42.

[0049] Preferably, moreover, the electric motor is arranged so that the motor axis is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the auxiliary brush 42 and the reducer 72 is of the type with orthogonal axes.

[0050] According to a preferred embodiment, moreover, the auxiliary cleaning device 39 comprises secondary cleaning means configured to blow a stream of air, especially towards the clothing 22 of the travelling flats and/or towards the auxiliary brush 42.

[0051] For example, said secondary cleaning means comprise at least one nozzle 80 configured to blow air, when activated, towards the clothing 22 of the travelling flats and/or towards the auxiliary brush 42.

[0052] Preferably, said secondary cleaning means are fed through a compressed air line, for example present in the plant .

[0053] Preferably, said nozzle 80 can be translated in the direction of the width of the machine, in order to blow the air stream along the entire width of the auxiliary brush 42 and/or the clothing 22 of the travelling flats

8.

[0054] Furthermore, preferably, said nozzle 80 can be moved together with the auxiliary brush 42, between a non operative position and an operative position.

[0055] For example, said secondary cleaning means comprise an actuator 90, for example pneumatic or electric, for moving the nozzle 80 along the width of the machine. Said actuator 90 is mounted on the movement frame 60.

[0056] According to an exemplary embodiment (figure 8), two nozzles 80 are provided, supported by a support 82 connected to the actuator 90, spaced apart from each other, so as to reach the entire width of the machine and limit the size of the actuator.

[0057] According to an embodiment variant, in the non ^¬ operative configuration, the nozzle of the suction system is connected to the auxiliary suction mouth, but there is no air flow, for example because the transit is blocked upstream by a diverter.

[0058] According to a further embodiment, the movement between the operative position and the non-operative position of the auxiliary brush and/or of the auxiliary suction mouth and/or of the movement frame is obtained by electric or pneumatic means.

[0059] Innovatively, the carding machine according to the present invention, provided with the auxiliary cleaning device, meets the requirements of the sector and overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks, since, when necessary, it allows a deep cleaning of the travelling flats .

[0060] Moreover, advantageously, when deep cleaning of the travelling flats is not required, the auxiliary brush is not in contact with these and therefore does not undergo wear .

[0061] It is clear that a man skilled in the art may make changes to the carding machine described above in order to meet incidental needs, all falling within the scope of protection defined in the following claims.