Patent Abstract:
An arrangement in a spinning preparation machine is provided. The arrangement has a clothed roll having clothing presenting free ends; flat bar slide elements; clothed flat bars having clothing presenting free ends and cooperating with the clothing of the clothed roll, the flat bars having slide guides which glide on the flat bar slide elements; and a measuring apparatus comprising at least one sensor arranged for detecting a distance between a reference surface and at least one of the free ends of the clothing of the clothed roll and the free ends of the clothing of the clothed flat bars.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102 51 574.3, filed Nov. 6, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to an apparatus provided in a spinning preparation machine, such as a carding machine, a cleaner, or the like, for measuring distances between a sensor and clothing surfaces, where a clothed roll (main carding cylinder) cooperates with clothed flat bars which glide on slide guides by means of flat bar slide elements. 
   The distances between the clothing of the main carding cylinder and clothings which face same are of substantial significance as concerns machine and fiber technology. The carding result, that is, the cleaning, nep formation and fiber shortening, is to a large measure dependent from the carding clearance, that is, from the distance between the clothing of the main carding cylinder and the clothings of the traveling flats. The guidance of air about the main carding cylinder and the removal of heat are also dependent from the distance between the clothing of the main carding cylinder and the clothed flat bars. The distances are affected by various, partly opposed influences. The wear of facing clothing leads to an increase of the carding clearance which involves an increase of the nep number and a decrease of the fiber shortening. An increase of the rpm of the main carding cylinder, for example, for intensifying the cleaning effect, causes, by virtue of centrifugal forces, an expansion of the main carding cylinder, including its clothing, and thus results in a decrease of the carding clearance. A temperature increase when processing large fiber quantities and certain fiber types, such as chemical fibers, also causes the main carding cylinder to expand, so that for this reason too, the distances decrease. The carding clearance is affected particularly by the machine settings, on the one hand, and by the condition of the clothing, on the other hand. The most important carding clearance of the traveling flats type carding machine is located in the principal carding zone, that is, between the main carding cylinder and the traveling flats assembly. In most cases both clothings which border the working distance are in motion. 
   In practice, the quality of the flat bar clothing is regularly optically examined by an attendant. A wear results in an increase of the carding clearance. In a known apparatus described in German Patent Document DE-OS 199 23 419, the distance between a sensor and the points of the flat bar clothing is determined. The stationary sensor is associated with the traveling flats and is facing the flat bars as they are guided along their return path. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to improve an apparatus of the type described above for measuring the distances at the clothing of the carding machine. 
   Embodiments of the invention include an arrangement in a spinning preparation machine. The arrangement has a clothed roll having clothing presenting free ends; flat bar slide elements; clothed flat bars having clothing presenting free ends and cooperating with the clothing of the clothed roll, the flat bars having slide guides which glide on the flat bar slide elements; and a measuring apparatus comprising at least one sensor arranged for detecting a distance between a reference surface and at least one of the free ends of the clothing of the clothed roll and the free ends of the clothing of the clothed flat bars. 
   The measures according to the invention permit a simple and direct determination of the distance between the clothing points and the slide surface of the flat bar slide elements (for example, flat bar pins). In this manner, on the one hand, a quality monitoring concerning the uniformity of the flat bars may be obtained and, on the other hand, a simpler and more accurate setting of the distance between the points of the flat bar clothing and the main carding cylinder may be effected. It is a particular advantage to determine the wear, that is, the consumption of the flat bar clothing, particularly after a long running period. Upon a change in the carding clearance, the effect of the change of the flat bar clothing is determined directly as concerns wear and also indirectly as concerns the distance change relative to the main carding cylinder, particularly due to the wear of the clothing of the main carding cylinder, the expansion of the main carding cylinder effected by centrifugal forces and temperature change. In this manner an optimal setting of the carding clearance is feasible, namely, related to a desired value. Measuring is possible during operation. 
   It is a further advantage that the geometrically tallest flat bar is found. Furthermore, an adjustment of the flat bar after the grinding of the flat bar clothing is possible. 
   Expediently, the height/distance sensor determines the distance “c” between the free ends of the flat bar clothing and the slide surfaces of the flat bar slide elements. In practice slight manufacturing tolerances of the flat bars and the clothing may appear which may be ascertained in this manner. This makes possible a determination of a mid value for the distance “c” for a plurality or for all of the flat bars, thus obtaining a uniform carding clearance. Furthermore, determining the distance “c” yields a magnitude with which the carding clearance “a” may be directly calculated. Advantageously, the height/distance sensor may determine the distance “b” between the free ends of the clothing of the main carding cylinder and the slide guide for the flat bar slide elements. As a result, a further magnitude is made available in a simple manner for directly calculating the carding clearance “a”. 
   Due to the fact that the slide faces of the flat bar slide elements glide on the slide guide, the slide faces correspond to the slide guide. The distance “a” (carding clearance) between the free ends of the flat bar clothing and the free end of the clothing of the main carding cylinder is preferably determined in accordance with the relationship “a”=“b”−“c”. The determination is effected expediently by computation, for which preferably an electronic regulating and control device may be used. In this manner, at the same time, a predetermined optimal carding clearance may be automatically set by a device which is connected to the electronic control and regulating device. The computed carding clearance may, however, also be outputted to an indicating device, a monitor, a printer or the like. Thus the carding clearance may be set by a control with an inputting device or may be set manually in a mechanical manner. 
   The invention permits a determination of the important distance between the slide surface of the flat bar heads and the free ends (points) of the flat bar clothing. Further, by the measures according to the invention, an accurate adjustment of the flat bar heads with respect to the clothing points is effected and thus the correct distance between the clothing points and the clothing of the main carding cylinder (carding clearance) is obtained. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is explained below in further detail with the aid of exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic side view of a carding machine including an apparatus according to the invention; 
       FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  show a side view and section through clothed flat bars, a part of a slide guide and a flexible bend and the distance between the clothing of the flat bars and the clothing of the main carding cylinder; 
       FIG. 3  shows a front view of a returning flat bar and three apparatuses according to the invention; 
       FIG. 4  shows a side view of three returning flat bars and a stationary measuring apparatus; 
       FIG. 5  shows a laser beam of a light section sensor in the zone of a flat bar head; 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view of a measuring flat bar having two light section sensors; 
       FIG. 7  shows a laser beam of a light section sensor in the zone of a flat bar head of a measuring flat bar; and 
       FIG. 8  shows a block diagram of an electronic regulating and control device to which at least a stationary sensor, a moved sensor and a setting device for displacing the slide guides are connected. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2   a  and  2   b  show a carding machine, for example, a Trützschler high-performance carding machine DK  903 , including a feed roll  1 , a feed table  2 , licker-ins  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c , a main carding cylinder  4 , a doffer  5 , a stripping roll  6 , crushing rolls  7 ,  8 , a web guiding element  9 , a sliver trumpet  10 , calendar rolls  11 ,  12 , traveling flats  13  having clothed flat bars  14 , a coiler can  15  and a sliver coiler  16 . The rotary directions of the rolls are indicated by curved arrows. The working direction is designated at arrow A. Stationary carding elements  33  and  34  face the main carding cylinder clothing  4   a . The apparatus  24  according to the invention is arranged facing the clothing of the returning flat bars  14 ′. 
   According to  FIG. 2   a , a flexible bend  17   a , having a plurality of non-illustrated set screws, is secured to the machine stand, laterally on each side of the carding machine. The flexible bend  17   a  has a convex outer surface  17   1  and an underside  17   2 . A slide guide  20 , made, for example, of a low-friction plastic material is arranged above the flexible bend  17   a . The slide guide  20  has a convex outer surface  20   1  and a concave inner surface  20   2 . The concave inner surface  20   2  lies on the convex outer surface  17   1  and may glide thereon in the direction of arrows B, C. A slide guide  20  and a convex outer surface  17  are provided to support each end of the flat bars (shown as  20   a ,  20   b ,  17   a  and  17   b  in  FIG. 2   b ). Each flat bar  14  which may be structured, for example, in accordance with European Patent Application EP 0 567 747 A1, is formed of a back part  14   a  and a carrier body  14   b . The carrier body  14   b  has a foot surface, two side surfaces and two upper surfaces. Each flat bar  14  has, at both ends, a respective flat bar head  14   I ,  14   II  (see  FIG. 2   b ) each having two steel pins  14   1 ,  14   2  and, respectively,  14   3 ,  14   4  which are, with one part, axially affixed to the flat bar. The parts of the steel pins  14   1 ,  14   2  projecting beyond the end faces of the carrier body  14   b  glide on the convex outer surface  20   1  of the slide guide  20  in the direction of the arrow D. 
   A clothing strip  18 , having clothing  19 , is mounted on the underface of the carrier body  14   b . The circle circumscribing the points of the flat bar clothing  19  is designated as  21 . The main carding cylinder  4  has on its periphery a main carding cylinder clothing  4   a , such as a saw tooth clothing. The circle circumscribing the points of the main carding cylinder clothing  4   a  is designated as  22 . The distance between the circles  21  and  22  is designated by “a” and is, for example, 3/1000″. The distance between the convex outer surface  20   1  and the circle  22  is designated by “b”. The radius of the convex outer surface  20   1  is designated as r 1 , and the radius of the circle  22  is designated as r 2 . The radii r 1  and r 2  are taken from the axis M of the main carding cylinder  4 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a flat bar  14 ′ whose steel pins  14   1 ,  14   2  and  14   3 ,  14   4  glide on stationary supports  29   a  and  29   b , respectively, during the return travel on that side of the traveling flats  13  (see  FIG. 1 ) which is opposite the slide guide  20 . Three light section sensors  24   a ,  24   b  and  24   c , for example, SICK light section sensors DMH, functioning as height/distance sensors face at a distance the clothing  19  of the flat bar  14 ′. Light sensors  24   a ,  24   b , and  24   c  produce light beams  25   3 ,  25   4  and  25   5 , respectively. The light section sensors are sensors having a large measuring range. The provision of the three sensors  24   a  through  24   c  allows conclusions to be drawn concerning the wear of the flat bar  14  as viewed over the length l (see  FIG. 2   b ). 
   According to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , three flat bars  14 ′,  14 ″,  14 ′″ have clothing  19 ′,  19 ″,  19 ″′, respectively. 
   Flat bar  14 ″ glides with surfaces  14 ** of the slide pins  14   1  through  14   4  in the direction E over the stationary support  29   a . The measuring surface  24 ′ of the stationary sensor  24  faces at a distance d the points of the clothing  19 ″ of the flat bar  14 ″. The light section sensor  24  generates, in the direction of the flat bar length (see  FIG. 5 ), a laser beam  25  which impinges on the slide surfaces  14 * of the slide pins  14   1  through  14   4  as well as on the flat bar clothing  19 ″. As the flat bars  14  pass under the sensor  24 , the height profile shown in  FIG. 5  is obtained. For an evaluation, the measured value of the two slide pins  14   3 ,  14   4  is deducted from the maximum value which is to be filtered out via the constant pin distance. The height difference c thus obtained is utilized for checking the flat bars  14  (uniformity check) and/or for setting the carding clearance “a”. The distance between the free ends of the flat bar clothing  19 ″ and the slide surfaces  14 * of the flat bars  14   1  through  14   4  is designated as “c”. The distance between the sensor  24 ′ and the slide surfaces  14 * of the flat bars  14   1  through  14   4  is designated as “f”. The distance between the sensor  24 ′ and the free ends of the flat bar clothing  19 ″ is designated as “d”. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the flat bar heads of a measuring flat bar  26  glide on the outer surfaces  20   1  of the slide guides  20   a  and  20   b , respectively (see  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ). In the regions of the two ends of the measuring flat bar  26 , respective light section sensors  24   1  and  24   2  as height/distance sensors are arranged between the two pins of the respective flat bar heads. The light section sensors  24   1  and  24   2  generate, in the length direction of the flat bars (axial direction), laser beams  25   1  and  25   2  which impinge on the outer surfaces  20   1  and  20   2  as well as on the surface of the clothing  4   a  of the main carding cylinder  4 . As the measuring flat bar  26  passes over the outer surfaces  20   1 ,  20   1  and the main carding cylinder clothing  4   a , a height profile is obtained which is evaluated and which yields a height difference “b” (see  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ). 
   According to  FIG. 7  the distance between the sensor  24   1  and the slide surface  20   1  (outer surface) of the slide guide  20  is designated as “g”. The distance between the sensor  24   1  and the points of the main carding cylinder clothing  4   a  is designated as “h”. The height difference between “h” and “g” results in “b”. It is noted in this connection that the slide surfaces  14 * of the slide pins  14   1  through  14   4  lie on the outer surfaces  20   1 ,  20   1  and glide thereon. 
   As a result, the distance “a” (carding clearance) is obtained between the free ends of the fat bar clothing  19  and the free ends of the main carding cylinder clothing  4   a  by the relationship “a”=“b”−“c”. 
   In practice at least one of the flat bars  14 ′,  14 ″,  14 ″′ is replaced by the measuring flat bar  26  for the duration of the measuring process. Thus, the measuring flat bar  26  circulates endlessly—like the flat bars  14 —by means of two (non-illustrated) toothed belts on either side of the carding machine. 
   The measuring flat bar  26  may also be advantageously installed stationarily relative to the clothing  19  of the returning flat bars  14  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   According to  FIG. 8  an electronic control and regulating device  27 , for example a microcomputer, is provided to which, for example, the stationary sensor  24 ′ and the circulating sensor  24   1  are connected. The carding clearance “a” is calculated from the measuring results yielded by the sensors  24 ′ and  24   1 . The computed carding clearance “a” is compared with a stored (pre-given) carding clearance a′. Further, to the electronic control and regulating device  27  an automatic setting device  28  for the carding clearance “a” is connected which is known, for example, from German Patent Document DE-OS 196 51 894. 
   It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention. 
   The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting. The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3