DE29822460U1 - Fleece layer - Google Patents

Description

Applicant:

AUTEFA

Maschinenfabrik GmbH Röntgenstr. 1-5 86316 Friedberg

Representative:

Patent attorneys
Dipl.-Ing. H.-D. Ernicke Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Ernicke Schwibbogenplatz 2b D-8 6153 Augsburg

Date:

File:

18.12.1998
727-106 he/ha

OJ DE-G-298 22 460.7

DESCRIPTION

Fleece layer
5

The invention relates to a fleece layer which is particularly suitable for large laying widths, with the features in the preamble of the main claim.

Such a fleece layer is known from practice. It has two main carriages with two endlessly rotating conveyor belts that are guided over the main carriages, as well as a discharge belt. A support carriage with at least one roller is provided for the conveyor belts to support a horizontal conveyor belt strand. In the previously known fleece layer, the support carriage is independently movable and is driven by the upper main carriage via a cable drive. This arrangement is complex to construct.

WO 97/19209, FR 2,739 873, DE 692 05 377 T2 or EP-A-O 530 100, DE 692 05 335 T2 or EP-A-O 517 563, US-A-4,357,739 and DE-A-195 43 623 show fleece layers for smaller laying widths, which only require the main carriages and do not have any additional support carriages for the conveyor belts. Some of these previously known fleece layers have auxiliary carriages which do not have a support function for the horizontal conveyor belt strand, but are intended to compensate for the length differences in the conveyor belts when the two main carriages move unevenly relative to each other. EP-A-O 786 545 shows another variant with three conveyor belts and an additional inserted belt carriage. Here, too, there are no support carriages for a horizontal conveyor belt.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fleece layer.

The invention solves this problem with the features in the main claim.

In the fleece layer according to the invention, at least one support carriage is rigidly connected to the upper main carriage or superstructure. This has the advantage that the complex cable drive can be omitted. In addition, the

&iacgr;&ogr; Drive transmission more direct, more precise and less susceptible to wear.

In an optimized design, the support carriage is integrated into the upper main carriage. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the upper carriage has a projection on the underside to accommodate the support carriage components. This design is particularly compact and saves space and construction costs. In addition, this carriage arrangement can be stored, guided and driven particularly conveniently in the frame of the fleece layer.

The support carriage has several, preferably three, deflection rollers arranged in a triangle, with which the lower conveyor belt strand can be guided so that the belt inlet and the belt outlet are essentially at the same height. This has the advantage that the lower conveyor belt strand can extend completely parallel to the discharge belt. This offers optimal coverage and reliable protection against wind and other influences for the multi-layer fleece deposited on the discharge belt.

The fleece layer according to the invention can have one or more additional support carriages, which are provided on the one hand for the other lower conveyor belt strand and optionally also for an upper conveyor belt strand in connection with a tensioning carriage there. All support carriages can be connected by drive to the upper carriage.

- 2a -

Further advantageous embodiments are specified within the claims.

The invention is illustrated by way of example and schematically in the drawings. In detail:

Figure 1:

a perspective
Overview of a fleece layer with two support carriages,

10

Figures 2 and 3: two side views of the fleece layer in

two operating positions,

Figure 4:

a side view of the fleece layer with a representation of the guidance of the two conveyor belts,

Figure 5:

a side view of the fleece layer of Figure 4 with a representation of the drive connections of the support and tension carriages to the two main carriages,

20

Figure 6:

an enlarged side view of the lower main carriage or laying carriage,

25

Figure 7:

an enlarged side view of the upper main carriage or superstructure with an integrated support carriage,

Figure 8:

an enlarged side view of another support carriage,

30

Figure 9:

an enlarged side view of an upper tension carriage,

35

Figure 10:

an enlarged side view of an upper support carriage and

Figure 11: an enlarged side view of a

upper clamping carriage.

Figure 1 shows a fleece layer (1) in the form of a so-called fleece belt layer, which takes up the single-layer web (3) fed from a carding machine via a feed belt (4) with two circulating endless conveyor belts (7, 8) and panels it on a discharge belt (5) running transversely to it to form a multi-layer fleece and lays it down in the form of scales. The arrows (33) indicate the direction of conveyance of the web (3).

The fleece layer (1) shown corresponds in its basic design and kinematics to known fleece layers according to EP 0 517 563 or WO 97/19209.

The fleece layer (1) has two main carriages (10, 11) that move back and forth in reversing fashion over the discharge belt (5). The embodiment shown is a co-rotating fleece layer (1) in which the main carriages (10, 11) always move in the same direction. The upper carriage (10) moves at half the speed of the lower laying carriage (11) and also covers half the distance between the reversal points.

The two conveyor belts (7, 8) are guided in movable loops via movable deflection rollers (36) on the two main carriages (10, 11) and via stationary deflection rollers (37) in the frame (2) of the fleece layer (1). The supplied single-layer pile (3) is initially transported openly on one conveyor belt (7) to a belt inlet (9) on the upper carriage (10), where the second conveyor belt (8) is added. The belt inlet (9) can be designed as an open or closed belt inlet.

The two conveyor belts (7, 8) meet at the belt inlet (9) and take the pile (3) between them. They then extend together from the upper carriage (10) to the laying carriage (11), which lays the pile (3) in a back and forth movement over the discharge belt (5) with a laying width (6).

The fleece layer (1) also has two tension carriages (14,15) which keep the loop length of the conveyor belts (7,8) essentially constant and which also ensure that the pile (3) in the edge areas of the fleece

(32) is deposited essentially without edge thickenings. For the sake of clarity, the clamping carriages (14,15) are not shown in Figure 1.

At the laying carriage (11), the conveyor belts (7, 8) separate again and extend to both sides in lower horizontal conveyor belt runs (26, 27) transversely and parallel over the laid fleece (32) and the discharge belt (5). They act as a cover and can also rest on the fleece (32).

Figures 2 and 3 show the two end positions of the carriage movements, with the laying carriage (11) in Figure 2 being located at the right edge of the discharge belt (5) or the laying width (6) and in Figure (3) at the left edge. In this design, the conveyor belts (7, 8) that come together at the upper carriage (10) are guided from the belt inlet (9) in an essentially horizontal belt section directly to the laying carriage (11).

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), it can also be a counter-rotating layer, in which the two main carriages (10, 11) always move in opposite directions. Such a design is known, for example, from EP 0 315 930. In the counter-rotating layer, the two parallel conveyor belts

(7,8) between the upper carriage (10) and the laying carriage (11) via a stationary deflection roller arrangement (37) in the frame (2).

The fleece layer shown (1) can be a so-called paper felt layer, which is designed for particularly large laying widths

(6). For this purpose, it is advantageous to support at least the lower conveyor belt strands (2 6,27). However, such support can also be used for fleece layers

&iacgr;&ogr; with a smaller laying width can be used successfully. The support consists of at least one auxiliary carriage (12,13) which is mounted so that it can move back and forth above the discharge belt (5).

In the embodiment shown, a separate auxiliary carriage or support carriage (12, 13) is provided for each lower conveyor belt strand (26, 27).

The support carriage (12) provided for (7) moves back and forth between the laying carriage (11) and the adjacent frame (2). The other support carriage (13) is rigidly connected to the upper carriage (10) and is preferably integrated into it.

The main carriages (ΓΩ, �IΩ) and the two support carriages (12, 13) are mounted on a lower carriage guide (18) so that they can move by means of rollers (34). Figure 4 shows this arrangement. One support carriage (12) is mounted so that it can move freely and is connected to the upper carriage (10) by a drive connection (28). The drive connection (28) can be seen in Figure 5. Figure 4 shows the guidance of the conveyor belts (7, 8) with the carriages in the same position.

The coupled support carriage (13) is arranged on a lower extension (25) of the upper carriage (10). Due to its structural integration, it does not have its own rollers (34). Due to the rigid coupling or the drive connection (28), which can consist, for example, of a rope drive running over rollers fixed to the frame, the

both support carriages (12,13) synchronously with the superstructure (10) with the same direction and speed.

In a construction variant not shown, the coupled support carriage (13) can be mounted on the carriage guide (18) or at another suitable location so that it can move independently. It is then rigidly connected to the upper carriage (10) by a rod or the like.

&iacgr;&ogr; Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the positions of the support carriages (12,13). When the laying carriage (11) is in close proximity to the upper carriage (10) on the right-hand edge of the laying width (6), the free support carriage (12) takes up a position approximately halfway along the laying width, in which it supports the long, spread-out conveyor belt run (26) between the laying carriage (11) and the left-hand frame (2) approximately in the middle. Figure 2 shows this arrangement. In the other extreme position according to Figure 3, the laying carriage (11) and the support carriage (12) are next to each other on the other edge of the laying width (6). The upper carriage (10) with its tension carriage (13) then takes up a position approximately in the middle of the laying width (6) and supports the lower conveyor belt run (27), which is then spread out widely to the right-hand side, between the laying carriage (11) and the right-hand frame (2).

The belt guide of the conveyor belt strands (26,27) on the two support carriages (12,13) is preferably of the same design. However, it can also vary in a modified embodiment. In the embodiment shown, the inlet (23) and the outlet (24) for the conveyor belt strands (26,27) are each at the same height. For this purpose, the support carriages (12,13) have an omega guide (19) for the conveyor belt strands (26,27). It consists, for example, of three deflection rollers (20,21,22) which are arranged parallel to one another and with their axes in a triangle. The conveyor belt strands (26,27) are guided under the two outer deflection rollers (20,22) and on the inside in

a raised loop over the middle pulley (21). This omega guide (19) also advantageously maintains the belt tension.

In a modified embodiment, more than three deflection rollers can be arranged. In addition, other geometric roller arrangements are possible. Depending on the space available, the two outer deflection rollers (20, 22) can be arranged very close to each other.

&iacgr;&ogr;, with the middle deflection roller (21) positioned correspondingly high up. In this design, the covering of the fleece (32) is largely retained.

If the fleece layer (1) is equipped with two tension carriages (14, 15) as in the embodiment shown, an additional support carriage (16) can be present. Figure 4 illustrates the belt guide.

The lower tensioning carriage (15) provided for the left conveyor belt (7) takes over the conveyor belt (7) coming back from the left frame (2), deflects it by 180° with its deflection roller (38) and guides it back into the left frame (2). Here it can be tightened further using a tensioning device and then reaches the belt inlet (9) via further deflections and a higher setting on the upper carriage (10).

The lower tension carriage (15) is mounted on an upper carriage guide (17) by means of rollers (34) and has a housing part that projects downwards. Its deflection roller (38) is therefore located in the area above the laying carriage (11) and support carriage (12) and below the upper edge and the belt inlet (9) of the upper carriage (10). The lower tension carriage (15) can therefore move above the laying carriage (11) and the support carriage (12) as shown in Figure 3 and its tension loop can be adjusted to

j · e

to the upper carriage (10).

The lower tension carriage (15) is connected to the upper carriage (10) by a drive (31) and moves back and forth synchronously with it. Its travel distance corresponds to half the laying width (6). Figure 5 illustrates this drive relationship. In the embodiment shown, a rotating cable drive is present. Alternatively, this can be an independent drive that is controlled by the upper carriage (10) or the machine control system.

The other upper tension carriage (14) is also mounted on the upper carriage guide (17) so that it can move via rollers (34). It is arranged at a lateral distance next to the lower tension carriage (15) and moves in the same direction as it. The upper tension carriage (14) has a drive connection (30) to the laying carriage (11) and is moved back and forth synchronously with it. Here too, the drive connection (30) can be the rotating cable drive shown or an independent drive.

The upper support carriage (16) is also mounted on the upper carriage guide (17) so that it can move by means of rollers (34).

It has a support roller (35) over which the upper run of the conveyor belt (8) is guided and supported. The support carriage (16) moves back and forth between the upper tension carriage (14) and the right frame (2) and is in a drive connection (29) with the upper carriage (10).

This drive connection (29) can be designed as in the other cases. The upper support carriage (16) and the upper tension carriage (14) can move above the other main and auxiliary carriages (10,11,12,13). The travel length of the upper tension carriage (14) corresponds to the full laying width

(6) and the travel path of the upper support carriage (16) is half the laying width (6).

The lower conveyor belt run (27) is guided from the laying carriage (11) over the lower tension carriage (13) into the right frame (2), deflected upwards and guided over the support carriage (16) to the tension carriage (14). Here the conveyor belt (8) is deflected by 180° by means of a deflection roller (38) and guided back to the right frame (2), where it is guided over another deflection roller (37) onto the upper carriage (10) and to the belt inlet (9). The upper tension carriage (14) pulls its tension loop at a distance over the upper carriage

(10) and over the other conveyor belt (7). A tensioning device for tightening the conveyor belt (8) is also arranged in the right frame (2).

Figures 2 and 3 show the positions of the tension carriages (14,15) and the support carriage (16) in the two outer laying carriage positions. When the laying carriage (11) is at the right edge of the laying width (6), the two tension carriages (14,15) are positioned in relatively close proximity on the opposite left edge of the laying width (6). The support carriage (16) is located approximately in the middle between the upper tension carriage (14) and the right frame (2). In the other edge position according to Figure 3, the lower tension carriage (15) is positioned approximately in the middle of the laying width (6), while the upper tension carriage (14) and the support carriage (16) are in relatively close proximity to one another and close to the right frame (2).

The carriage guides (17, 18) can be, for example, guide rails or tubes that extend across the discharge belt (5) between the side frame parts (2). They are arranged in pairs and to the side of the conveyor belts (7, 8). The upper and lower carriage guides (17, 18) are arranged parallel and spaced apart from one another.

· ■ ·

Modifications to the embodiment shown are possible in various ways. Firstly, the support carriages (12, 13, 16) can vary in number, arrangement and drive method. Instead of a cable drive, the auxiliary carriages (12, 13, 14, 15, 16) can also have a belt or chain drive.

Furthermore, the clamping carriages (14, 15) can be omitted. In a modified embodiment, only one

&iacgr;&ogr; tension carriages can be used. The allocation and positioning of the various main and auxiliary carriages (10,11,12,13,14,15,16) can also be modified. In the preferred embodiment shown, the two main carriages (10,11) are driven by programmable drives, which are equipped with synchronous motors, for example. Using a corresponding program or computer control, the carriage movements can be varied to produce different fleece thicknesses or drafts across the laying width (6).

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 fleece layer

2 Frame 3 Pile

4 Feed belt

5 Discharge belt

6 Laying width

7 Conveyor belt &iacgr;&ogr; 8 Conveyor belt

9 Belt inlet

10 Upper carriage, main carriage

11 laying wagon, main wagon

12 support wagons, auxiliary wagons, free

13 support wagons, auxiliary wagons, coupled

14 Tension carriage, auxiliary carriage, top

15 Tension carriage, auxiliary carriage, below

16 Support carriage, top

17 Carriage guide, top 18 Carriage guide, bottom

19 Omega Guide

20 pulley

21 pulley

22 Pulley 23 Inlet

24 Outlet

25 Approach

2 6 lower conveyor belt cover

27 lower conveyor belt cover

2 8 Drive connection support carriage, bottom

2 9 Drive connection support carriage, top

30 Drive connection clamping carriage, top

31 Drive connection clamping carriage, bottom

32 fleece

33 Conveying direction

34 roller

35 Support roller

·

- 13 -

36 Deflection pulley, main carriage

37 Pulley, frame

38 Deflection pulley, tension carriage

Claims (12)

1. Fleece layer, in particular for large laying widths, with a discharge belt, several main carriages and two endlessly rotating conveyor belts guided over the main carriages, wherein at least one support carriage with at least one roller is provided for supporting a conveyor belt strand, characterized in that a support carriage ( 13 ) is rigidly connected to the upper main carriage ( 10 ). 2. Fleece layer according to claim 1, characterized in that the support carriage ( 13 ) is integrated into the upper main carriage ( 10 ). 3. Fleece layer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support carriage ( 13 ) is arranged on a downwardly projecting extension ( 25 ) of the upper main carriage ( 10 ). 4. Fleece layer according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the two main carriages ( 10 , 11 ) are mounted next to one another on a carriage guide ( 17 ). 5. Fleece layer according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a plurality of deflection rollers ( 20 , 21 , 22 ) for the conveyor belt strand ( 26 , 27 ) are arranged on the support carriage ( 12 , 13 ), the belt inlet ( 23 ) and the belt outlet ( 24 ) being located substantially at the same height. 6. Fleece layer according to claim 5, characterized in that at least three deflection rollers ( 20 , 21 , 22 ) are arranged with their axes in a triangle or polygon and essentially form an omega guide ( 19 ) for the conveyor belt strand ( 26 , 27 ). 7. Fleece layer according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fleece layer ( 1 ) has two support carriages ( 12 , 13 ), which are each assigned to a lower belt run ( 26 , 27 ) of the two conveyor belts ( 7 , 8 ). 8. Fleece layer according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fleece layer ( 1 ) has at least one independently movable support carriage ( 12 ) which is arranged next to the lower main carriage ( 11 ) and is in drive connection ( 28 ) with the upper main carriage ( 10 ). 9. Fleece layer according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fleece layer ( 1 ) has at least one movably mounted tensioning carriage ( 14 , 15 ) for at least one conveyor belt ( 7 , 8 ). 10. Fleece layer according to claim 9, characterized in that the tensioning carriage or carriages ( 14 , 15 ) are in drive connection with at least one of the main carriages ( 10 , 11 ). 11. Fleece layer according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the fleece layer ( 1 ) has at least one further independently movable support carriage ( 16 ) which is assigned to a tensioning carriage ( 14 ). 12. Fleece layer according to claim 11, characterized in that the further support carriage ( 16 ) is in drive connection with a main carriage ( 10 , 11 ).