Abstract:
In a coiler plate for sliver-coiling devices, especially of draw frames and carding machines, having a sliver channel with an inlet and an outlet for sliver and having a rotary plate, there is present on the underside of the rotary plate a cover which has a through opening. In order to create a coiler plate in a simple manner, a connection piece having a through opening is formed integrally with the cover by deformation.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2004 058 573.3 dated Dec. 3, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a coiler plate for sliver-coiling devices, especially of draw frames and carding machines.  
         [0003]     In general, coiler plates have a sliver channel with an inlet and an outlet for sliver and a rotary plate, there being present on the underside of the rotary plate a cover which has a through opening. In a known coiler plate (EP-A-0 670 281), a round tube, as starting material, is formed by shaping to form a three-dimensionally curved sliver channel. In the semi-finished product, the outlet bend is followed by a straight portion which is separated during completion of the sliver channel. The outlet of the sliver channel is so constructed that it terminates level with the base of the rotary plate. The base of the rotary plate has a through opening, the internal diameter of which is greater than the external diameter of the outlet of the sliver channel, so that a distancing space is created. The distancing space and the opening are introduced when the rotary plate is being cast. The panel-shaped cover of the rotary plate on its underside likewise has a through opening, the internal diameter of the cover terminating flush with the outer wall of the sliver tube outlet. During assembly, the outlet of the sliver tube outlet is inserted through the opening in the rotary plate into the opening of the cover. A casting material is then poured in so that the sliver channel is fixed at an outlet by the casting material, the pour-in site being so covered by the panel-shaped cover that only the free cross-section of the sliver channel is free. A disadvantageous aspect is the considerable effort required in terms of manufacturing and assembly. In particular, the distancing space, which is approximately elliptical in cross-section, has to be introduced into the rotary plate. In addition, care must be taken when sealing the sliver channel into the rotary plate with the casting material. The casting material is expensive. A further problem is the considerable amount of time required to close the gap space between the rotary plate and the sliver tube outlet. Sharp edges and transitions require laborious polishing.  
         [0004]     It is an aim of the invention to provide a coiler plate of the kind described at the beginning which avoids or mitigates that mentioned disadvantages, which has a particularly simple construction and which allows simple manufacture and assembly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The invention provides a coiler plate for a sliver-coiling device for a spinning preparation machine, comprising: 
        a rotary plate;     a sliver channel having an inlet and an outlet; and     a cover on an underside of the rotary plate and having a through opening for sliver, wherein the cover comprises a connection piece, including the through opening, formed with the cover.        
 
         [0009]     Because a connection piece having a through opening is formed with the cover, especially by a shaping step, the openings and the connecting element for the sliver channel outlet can be integrated into the cover. The opening, which may be, for example, approximately kidney-shaped, is advantageously produced from the sheet-form cover by non-cutting shaping, a clean transition being created between the flat cover surface and the contours of the opening, so that subsequent machining work is completely or largely unnecessary. In particular, there are no problems with adhering fibres or the like.  
         [0010]     The connection piece and the opening may be formed, for example, by non-cutting shaping, by pressing, by deep-drawing, especially including pre-drawing and final drawing, by stamping, by flow-forming, by flow-drilling, or by transfer moulding. Advantageously, the cover is pre-perforated, for example, by cutting, especially laser cutting. The pre-perforated opening may be, for example, approximately kidney-shaped, circular or approximately oval. Advantageously, the cover is heated before and/or during shaping. Advantageously, the sliver channel consists of special steel. Advantageously, the rotary plate consists of cast material, for example cast aluminium. Advantageously, the cover is formed from a wear-resistant material. Advantageously, the cover is formed from a low-friction material. Advantageously, the cover consists of metal, for example, special steel. Advantageously, the cover is in sheet-form. Instead, the cover may consist of a deformable plastics material, especially a plastics material that is wear-resistant and low-friction. Advantageously, the plastics material is wear-resistantly reinforced. Advantageously, the surface of the cover in contact with the coiled fibre material is wear resistant and low-friction. The opening in the cover may be, for example, approximately kidney-shaped, or the cover is substantially oval. Advantageously, the cross-section of the connection piece is partly kidney-shaped. Advantageously, the cross-section of the connection piece in the inlet region conforms to the outlet cross-section of the sliver channel. Advantageously, the outlet cross-section of the sliver channel is substantially oval. Advantageously, the cross-section of the connection piece in the inlet region is substantially oval. Advantageously, the cross-section of the sliver channel outlet and the cross-section of the connection piece in the inlet region are substantially circular. Advantageously, the connection piece is integrated into the cover. Advantageously, the kidney-shaped or oval opening is integrated into the cover. Advantageously, the connecting element (connection piece, passageway) for the outlet of the sliver channel is integrated into the cover. Advantageously, the outlet of the sliver channel is introducible, especially pushable, into the upper region of the connection piece. Advantageously, between the outlet of the sliver channel and the inlet region of the connection piece there is a transfer tube, guide element or the like. The inlet cross-section of the connection piece may be arranged parallel to the cover. The inlet cross-section of the connection piece and the cover may be arranged at an angle to one another. Advantageously, the sliver outlet and the inlet region of the transfer tube, guide element or the like are joined to one another. Advantageously, the outlet region of the transfer tube, guide element or the like and or the inlet of the connection piece are joined to one another. Advantageously, there is a space (gap) between the outlet of the transfer tube, guide element or the like and the inlet of the connection piece. Advantageously, there is a seal between the outlet of the sliver channel and the connection piece. Advantageously, the seal is formed by silicone or the like. Advantageously, the seal is formed by an adhesive or the like. Advantageously, the outlet of the sliver channel and the upper inner region of the connection piece overlap one another. Advantageously, there is a spacer element or the like between the outlet of the sliver channel and the upper inner region of the connection piece. Advantageously, sliver channels having outlets of different diameters are insertable into the connection piece. Advantageously, the sliver channel is joined, for example joined directly, to the connection piece. Advantageously, the sliver channel is joined to the connection piece by means of a connecting element, for example a connecting tube, transfer tube, guide element or the like. Advantageously, the outlet region of the sliver channel is associated with a sliver separation device. Advantageously, the connecting tube, transfer tube, guide element or the like is associated with a sliver separation device. Advantageously, there is a sliver separation device between the outlet of the sliver channel and the inlet of the connection piece.  
         [0011]     The invention also provides a coiler plate for sliver-coiling devices, especially of draw frames and carding machines, having a sliver channel with an inlet and an outlet for sliver and having a rotary plate, there being present on the underside of the rotary plate a cover which has a through opening, wherein a connection piece having a through opening is formed integrally with the cover by shaping.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic side view of a carding machine with a can coiler that comprises a coiler plate for sliver in accordance with the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic side view of the drafting system of a draw frame having a coiler plate for sliver in accordance with the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a coiler plate with a sliver can in longitudinal section, in which a connection piece is formed integrally with the cover of the rotary plate;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the connection piece formed integrally with the cover;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment in which a guide element is present between the connection piece and the sliver channel; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  shows a further embodiment in which the sliver channel is in engagement with the connection piece.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a carding machine, for example a TC 03 (trademark) carding machine made by Trützschler GmbH &amp; Co. KG of Mönchengladbach, Germany, having a feed roller  1 , feed table  2 , lickers-in  3   a,    3   b,    3   c,  cylinder  4 , doffer  5 , stripper roller  6 , nip rollers  7 ,  8 , web guide element  9 , sliver funnel  10 , delivery rollers  11 ,  12 , revolving card top  13  with card top guide rollers and card top bars, can  15  and can coiler  16 . The directions of rotation of the rollers are indicated by curved arrows. Reference letter M denotes the centre point (axis) of the cylinder  4 . Reference numeral  4   a  indicates the clothing and reference numeral  4   b  indicates the direction of rotation of the cylinder  4 . Arrow A denotes the operating direction. A flock feed device  17  is arranged upstream of the carding machine. The coiler plate  19  is rotatably mounted in the coiler plate panel  18 . The coiler plate  19  comprises a sliver channel  20  with an inlet and an outlet (see  FIG. 3 ) for sliver and a rotary plate  21  having a cover  22  on its underside (see  FIG. 3 ). A connection piece  23  is formed integrally with the cover  22  (see  FIG. 3 ). On simultaneous rotation of the can  15 , the sliver  14  is coiled cycloid ally in the can  15 , so that the can  15  can be filled uniformly with sliver.  
         [0019]     According to  FIG. 2 , a draw frame, for example a TD 03 (trademark) made by Trützschler GmbH &amp; Co. KG, has a drafting system  26  having a drafting system inlet and a drafting system outlet. The slivers  27 , coming from cans (not shown), enter a sliver guide means and, drawn by the delivery rollers, are transported past a measuring element. The drafting system  26  is configured as a  4  over  3  drafting system, that is to say it consists of three lower rollers I, II, III (I output lower roller, II middle lower roller, III input lower roller) and four upper rollers  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 . In the drafting system  26 , the drafting of the fibre bundle  27 , which consists of several slivers, is carried out. The drafting operation is composed of the preliminary drafting operation and the main drafting operation. The roller pairs  6 /III and  5 /II form the preliminary drafting zone and the roller pairs  5 /II and  3 ,  4 /I form the main drafting zone. In the drafting system outlet, the drafted slivers (fibre web  32 ) arrive at a web guide means  33  and are drawn by means of delivery rollers  34 ,  35  through a sliver funnel  36  in which they are combined to form a sliver  37 , which is then coiled, by way of a can coiler  16  and coiler plate  19 , in sliver rings  38  in a can  39 . The can  39  is in the form of a rectangular can and in the course of sliver coiling moves in the direction of arrows C and D underneath the coiler plate. The coiler plate  19  comprises a three-dimensionally curved sliver channel  20  for sliver  37  and a rotary plate  21  having a cover  22  on its underside. A connection piece  23  is formed integrally with the cover  22 . Reference letter A denotes the running direction of the sliver bundle  27  through the drafting system  26 . The coiler plate  19  is arranged in a coiler plate panel  18  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) which corresponds substantially to the coiler plate panel  18  in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]     According to  FIG. 3 , the sliver  37  (see  FIG. 2 ) enters the inlet  20   a  of the three-dimensionally curved sliver channel  20 , passes through the sliver channel  20  and then emerges from the sliver channel  20  again at outlet  20   b.  The sliver channel  20  is arranged eccentrically in the rotary plate  21 . During the coiling of the sliver, the rotary plate  21  rotates in the direction of arrow D about a rotational axis  211 . The rotation of the rotary plate  21  about the rotary can  39  brings about circular (ring-shaped) coiling of the sliver in the can  39 .  
         [0021]     A casting material  40  joins the sliver channel  20  in the region of its inlet  20   a  to a plate holder  21   a.  The sliver channel  20  is provided at its outlet  20   b  with a connection piece  23 . It may be advantageous to fix and/or seal the outlet  20   b  in the inlet opening  23   a  of the connection piece  23 , for example by means of silicone, adhesive or the like. The underside of the rotary plate  21  is provided with a cover  22 , for example a cover sheet of special steel. Special steel is wear-resistant and low in friction with respect to the sliver  38  coiled in the can  39 . In addition, mechanical machining (sanding, polishing) of the base of the rotary plate  21 , which, preferably in the form of a cast article, consists of aluminium or an aluminium alloy, is avoided. The cover  22  is arranged to lie closely against the underside of the rotary turret  21  and is affixed, for example, by adhesive bonding. The edge  22 ′,  22 ″ of the cover  22  is bent up and rests against the rotary plate  21 . A connection piece  23  having a through opening is formed integrally with the cover  21 , the opening being configured for the passage of the sliver. The transitions  23 ′,  23 ″ at the outlet of the drafting system  23  are rounded.  
         [0022]     According to  FIG. 4 , the connection piece  23  has an inlet opening  23   a,  an outlet opening  23   b  and a wall  23   c.  The exemplary embodiment has a circular inlet opening  23   a  and an approximately kidney-shaped outlet opening  23   b  in the region of the cover  22 . The connection piece  23  is formed integrally with the sheet-form cover  22  by non-cutting shaping, for example by pressing or deep-drawing. The transition from the flat sheet-form cover  22  to the wall  23   c  is advantageously rounded, so that fibre material cannot adhere. The sliver passes through the interior of the connection piece  23 , that is to say the connection piece  23  is continuously open on the inside.  
         [0023]     In accordance with  FIG. 5 , between the outlet  20   b  of the sliver channel  20  and the inlet  23   a  of the connection piece  23  there is a guide element  24  or the like, which is approximately in the shape of a tube elbow or the like. The guide element  24  can consist, for example, of a preferably wear-resistant casting and can be affixed to the rotary plate  21  by means of a fastening  25 . The upper edge at the inlet  23   a  of the connection piece  23  and the flat cover panel at the outlet  23   b  of the connection piece  23  are arranged parallel to one another. The height h of the wall  23   c  can be small, which is advantageous from the manufacturing standpoint. Between the outlet  20   b  and the inlet  23   a  there is a small gap a, which can be associated with a separating wall (not shown) for the sliver. The construction shown in  FIG. 5  can be modified so that there is no gap a, but instead the outlet  24   a  is connected to the inlet opening  23   a.  In that case, a sliver separation means, for example mechanical, pneumatic or the like, can be associated with the guide element  24 .  
         [0024]     The embodiment according to  FIG. 6  corresponds substantially to the construction shown in  FIG. 3 . The region of the outlet  20   b  of the sliver channel  20  can be associated with a sliver separation means (not shown) for the sliver. Sliver separation can be implemented, for example, pneumatically by means of compressed air which is passed through the wall surfaces of the outlet  20   b  (or the guide element  24  according to  FIG. 5 ).  
         [0025]     The drafting system  26  shown in  FIG. 2  can be used both for a draw frame, for example TC 03, and at the outlet of a carding machine according to  FIG. 1  between delivery rollers  11 ,  12  and can coiler  19 . In a draw frame, the drafting system  26  effects drafting of a sliver  27  consisting of a plurality of slivers to form a single drafting system sliver  37  and in a carding machine the single card sliver  14  that emerges from the delivery rollers  11 ,  12  and can be coiled in the can  15 .  
         [0026]     Although the foregoing invention has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of understanding, it will be obvious that changes and modifications may be practised within the scope of the appended claims.