Patent EP-0660112-B1 (EP)
Inventor: SCHNEIDER AUGUST DR
IPC: G01N33/36
Filed: 1994-12-07
Granted: 2001-09-05
Abstract: A method is described for automatically characterising mechanical and/or geometrical properties of samples of staple fibres, comprising the following measures:   a) Presenting staple fibre samples (1) in a magazine (3) which contains a plurality of clamps (4) for fastening the upper end of a respective staple fibre sample (1), which clamps (4) are fixed on a clamp rail (5) and are movable by a predetermined extent on or with the clamp rail (5), b) Connecting the filled magazine (3) to an apparatus (2) for characterising mechanical and/or geometrical properties of the staple fibre samples (1), which apparatus has at least an upper clamp jaw (6) and, optionally, a lower clamp jaw (7) for fastening the staple fibre sample (1) to be characterised, the upper clamp jaw (6) of which apparatus is movable, the magazine (3) being releasibly connected to the apparatus (2) in such a way that the clamps (4) of the magazine (3) can be moved past next to the upper clamp jaw (6) of the apparatus (2), c) Moving the clamps (4) of the magazine (3) which hold the staple fibre samples (1), by a predetermined extent by means of a conveyor device (8), d) Positioning a clamp (4) of the magazine (3) in the vicinity of the upper clamp jaw (6) of the apparatus (2) by means of an adjustment device (9), e) Moving the upper clamp jaw (6) of the apparatus (2) from a measurement position (11) into a reception position (12) by means of a conveyor device (10), the upper clamp jaw (6) being in the open position, f) Closing the upper clamp jaw (6) of the apparatus (2) after the reception position (12) has been reached, by means of an opening and closing device (13) while receiving the staple fibre sample (1) from the clamp (4) of the magazine (3), g) Moving the upper clamp jaw (6) of the apparatus (2), together with the staple fibre sample (1), from the reception position (12) into the measurement position (11) by means of the conveyor device (10), h) Performing the characterisation of the mechanical and/or geometrical properties of the staple fibre sample (1) using the apparatus (2), and i) Opening the upper clamp jaw (6) of the apparatus (2) after the characterisation, by means of the opening and closure device (13), and removing the staple fibre sample (1) from the apparatus (2).   A device for automatically characterising mechanical and/or geometrical properties of staple fibre samples (1) is furthermore described, comprising the following elements:   A) A magazine (3) for receiving staple fibre samples (1), which contains a plurality of clamps (4) for fastening the upper end of a respective staple fibre sample (1), which clamps (4) are fitted on a clamp rail (5), and which clamps (4) can be moved by a predetermined length on or with the clamp rail (5), B) An apparatus (2) for characterising mechanical and/or geometrical properties of the staple fibre samples (1), which has at least an upper clamp jaw (6) and, optionally, a lower clamp jaw (7), for fastening the staple fibre sample (1) to be characterised. The upper clamp jaw (6) of which apparatus is movable, the magazine (3) being releasibly connected to the apparatus (2) in such a way that the clamps (4) of the magazine (3) can be moved past next to the upper clamp jaw (6) of the apparatus (2), C) A conveyor device (8) which allows the clamps (4) of the magazine (3) to move by a predetermined extent, D) An adjustment device (9) which allows positioning of a clamp (4) of the magazine (3) in the vicinity of the upper clamp jaw (6) of the apparatus (2), E) A conveyor device (10) which allows the upper clamp jaw (6) of the apparatus (2) to be moved from a measurement position (11) into a reception position (12), and vice versa, and F) An opening and closing device (13), which allows opening and closure of the upper clamp jaw (6) of the apparatus (2) and reception of the staple fibre sample (1) from the magazine (3) and removal of the staple fibre sample (1) from the apparatus (2).   <IMAGE>