GB2062038A - A charging and discharging system for a textile-fibre chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

A charging and discharging system for a textile-fibre chamber 1 has a rotary distributor 6 movable in a direction longitudinally of the chamber and connected via telescopic tube 7 to switch 13. Charging takes place with switch 13 set to connect tube 7 to a charging blower, and discharging takes place with distributor 6 connected via coupling piece 5 to a movable fibre mixing and removing device 3 and with switch 13 set to connect tube 7 to a suction or extraction fan. The arrangement enables the same telescopic tube to be used both when charging and when discharging. In another embodiment there is, in place of rotary distributor 6, a charging cyclone, and a valve-controlled branch tube by- passing the cyclone, said branch tube being, for use during discharging of the chamber, connectable via a coupling piece to device 3. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A charging and discharging system for a textilefibre chamber The invention relates to a charging and discharging system for a textile-fibre chamber.

There is described herein a charging and discharging system for a textile-fibre chamber, with a rotary distributor device which is movable, in a direction longitudinally of the chamber, inside the chamber and can be connected to a charging or pressure blower through a length-variable telescopic tube comprising pieces of tubing which are progressively larger in diameter in a direction towards the distributor and are suspended from a track, and with a fibre mixing and removing device which can be run into the chamber.

The rotary distributor used may consist of a tubular elbow which is connected to the telescopic tube and can be driven in a circular motion in order to attain a regular distribution of the material in the fibre chamber.

It is also known to connect to the telescopic tube a cyclone device, in place of a rotary discharger or distributor, as charging means, said cyclone device distributing the fibre material in the chamber in an even manner.

This kind of plant has been previously disclosed for instance in German Offenlegungsschrift 26 26 634 and in "Sonderdruck aus Melliand Textilberichte" 53 (1972)1216---1221. The charging cyclone device, which can be replaced by a rotary discharger, is a so-called travelling or telescopic cyclone device which is employed for building up fibre material in layers in the chamber.

The chamber is emptied by a fibre mixing and removing device in the form of a discharge mill which is connected by means of a second telescopic tube to a suction or extraction fan. The telescopic tube travels together with the fibre mixing and removing device into the chamber requiring to be emptied, the discharge mill milling off in a vertical direction the material stock within the chamber.

Known charging and discharging means of this kind, therefore, require separate telescopic tubes for charging and discharging of the chamber. This feature renders the complete plant relatively expensive both from a manufacturing and a maintenance point of view.

The invention has as an object providing a charging and discharging system which is simplified in comparison with this and which can comprise fewer elements than the prior system.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a charging and discharging system for a textile-fibre chamber with a rotary or swivelling discharger or separator or rotary or swivelling distributor which is movable, in a direction longitudinally of the chamber, inside the chamber and can be connected to a charging or pressure blower through a length-variable telescopic tube comprising pieces of tubing which are progressively larger in diameter in a direction towards the rotary or swivelling discharger or separator or distributor, and with a fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device which can be run into the chamber, characterised in that the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device can be connected via a tube coupling device to a discharge opening of the rotary or swivelling or separator or distributor and in that the fixed or stationary end of the telescopic tube can be connected via a switching device to a suction or extraction fan. It has emerged surprisingly that the telescopic tube for the rotory or swivelling discharger or separator or distributor can be employed, without impairment of conveying capacity, also as a suction pipe connected to the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device whereby air and material flow in the telescopic tube occurs against the original charging direction therein, i.e. in the direction of the progressively smaller pieces of tubing.As a result of the partial vacuum prevailing in the telescopic tube during emptying of the chamber, air is drawn in the zones of the transitions between the various pieces of tubing as a result of which the deposition of fibre material at the tube joints is avoided.

Charging and discharging systems of the kind described in the above-mentioned "Sonderdruck... " with a travelling or telescopic cyclone device as the charging means can employ jets incorporated within the cyclone in order to moisten the fibre material during charging.

Starting from a charging and discharging system of the kind described above with a charging cyclone containing moisturising jets, a second aspect of the invention includes providing a means whereby the use of one and the same telescopic tube for both the charging and the emptying of the chamber prevents the blocking and obstructing of the jet apertures during the emptying of the chamber.

According to said second aspect of the invention, there is provided a charging and discharging system for a textile-fibre chamber with a charging cyclone device which is movable, in a direction longitudinally of the chamber, inside the chamber and can be connected to a charging or pressure blower through a length-variable telescopic tube comprising pieces of tubing which are progressively larger in diameter in a direction towards the cyclone device, and with a fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device, which can be run into the chamber, characterised in that the telescopic tube has a piece which is proximate to, or has a mouth at, the cyclone device and has associated therewith a branch connection, and a change-over switch in the form of a flap or valve by means of which the connection between the telescopic tube and the cyclone device or the branch connection can be interrupted, and in that the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device can be connected via a tube coupling piece to a free end of the branch connection and in that the smallerdiameter end of the telescopic tube can be connected via a switching device to the suction or extraction fan. This system provides the possibility of by-passing the charging cyclone during the emptying process by allowing the air current which carries the fibre material to flow alongside the internal cyclone chamber.

Preferably, there is provided an electromagnetic coupling for the connection between the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device and the telescopic tube during the emptying process, by means of which the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device can be connected to a corresponding tube coupling piece.

Preferably, the switching flap or valve is, via spring mechanism, always set in the charging position. To arrive at an automatic switching of this switching flap or valve to the emptying position for the emptying process, the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device and the switching flap or valve may be complemented by jointly-functioning operating elements for the setting of the switching flap or valve. The said operating elements may comprise a cam plate, which is arranged on the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device and has an oblique surface, and a control cam or follower, which can act upon the switching flap or valve via setting elements.

When the cyclone is moved out of the fibre chamber in order to connect with the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device, the said cam plate, more especially the oblique surface thereof, causes the automatic switching of the switching flap or valve to the emptying position.

In the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example, embodiments of the invention Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a textile-fibre chamber whilst charging is in progress; Figure 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the said textile-fibre chamber whilst discharging is in progress; Figure 3 is a diagrammatically drawn plan view of two textile-fibre chambers of which one is being charged and the other is being discharged; Figure 4 is a diagrammatically drawn view of a charging device, in the form of a charging cyclone, which is connected to a telescopic tube and which is associated with a switching flap shown in a setting position which connects the cyclone with the telescopic tube;; Figures 5 and 6 refer to Figure 4 and show a larger-scale plan view and side elevation of the charging cyclone, with associated operating elements for the switching flap; Figure 7 refers to Figure 4 and shows a view of the switching flap in a second setting position; Figures 8 and 9 refer to Figure 7 and show a larger-scale diagrammatically drawn plan view and a side elevation of the operating elements for the switching flap; and Figures 10 and 11 are diagrammatically drawn side elevations showing two relative settings between a fibre mixing and removing device and the charging cyclone.

Referring to the drawings, a textile-fibre chamber 1 has substantially the shape of a rectangular parallel piped and the front end of the chamber 1 has a sliding wall 2 to permit the driving in of a more especially track-guided outlet device, constituted by a fibre mixing and removing device 3, into the chamber 1. The fibre mixing and removing device mainly comprises in known manner an upwards travelling needle studded belt, a detaching roll, a discharging conveyor travelling at right angles to the working direction, travelling mechanism and drive and regulating means. From the discharge conveyor belt, not shown, the material is passed over to a pneumatic conveying system. The fibre mixing and removing device 3 is equipped with a connecting tube 4 fitted at its free end with a tube coupling 5.

The chamber 1 is charged by means of a rotary discharging or separating or rotary distributing device 6 connected to a telescopic tube 7. The telescopic tube comprises lengths of tubing the diameters of which progressively increase in a direction towards the device 6 and which, with the device 6, are suspended by means of track rollers 8 from a track 9. The device 6 can be moved to and fro longitudinally of the chamber in directions of the double-ended arrow a by means of a driven hauling cable 10, in order that the fibre material can be charged in layers into the textile-fibre chamber 1 by means of a blower 11 (Figure 3) connected to Ihe telescopic tube. Switching devices 1 3 and 14 are connected to a charging pipe-line 12 interposed between the blower 11 and the telescopic tube 7.When the chamber 1 is being emptied, the switching devices 13 and 14 serve to isolate the telescopic tube 7 from the charging pipe-line 12 and the blower 11 and to make a connection to a discharging pipe 1 5 connected to a suction or extraction fan 1 6. The device 6 is, for the chamber emptying, connected, in the manner shown more especially in Figure 2, to the tube coupling piece 5 of the fibre mixing and removing device 3.

Figures 1 and 2 show diagrammatically on one hand the device 6 in two intermediate settings whilst charging of the chamber is in progress and on the other hand the fibre mixing and removing device 3 in its starting setting and in an operative setting whilst the chamber is being emptied.

Figure 3 shows diagrammatically two side-byside arranged textile-fibre chambers 1, 1', which may for example be simultaneously charged (chamber 1) and discharged (chamber 1') in parallel.

The device 6 in essence comprises a tubular elbow which by means of a drive motor 17 can be driven to carry out a rotary movement about a vertical axis, so that an even deposition of the textile fibre is ensured in the transverse direction inside the chamber 1. The tubular elbow of the device 6, and/or the tube coupling piece 5 of the connecting tube 4, are preferably fitted with electromagnetic coupling devices (not illustrated in the drawings).

In the modified embodiment of the invention which is shown substantially diagrammatically in Figures 4 to 1 the rotary distribution device is replaced by a charging cyclone device 1 8 which is connected to the telescopic tube 7'. The piece of tubing, forming part of the telescopic tube 7', which has a mouth at the cyclone device 1 8 is associated with a branch connection 1 9 which is arranged at the side of the cyclone device 1 8. A switching flap 20 can be moved between the operating setting shown in Figure 4, in which a connection is made between the telescopic tube 7' and the cyclone device, and the emptying setting shown in Figure 7, in which a connection is made between the telescopic tube 7' and the branch connection 1 9 whilst the cyclone opening is kept closed by the said switching flap. In the case of the charging position shown in Figure 4, the fibre mixing and removing device is situated outside the textile-fibre chamber whilst the cyclone device 1 8 is moved to and fro in a longitudinal direction of the textile-fibre chamber in order to feed the textile-fibre material into the textile-fibre chamber.

In the case of the emptying position shown in Figure 7, a tube coupling piece 5' of the fibre mixing and removing device 3', which is diagrammatically shown in Figures 7 and 11, is connected to the branch connection 1 9 whilst the cyclone device 1 8 is switched off and inoperational. The coupled unit shown in Figures 7 and 11 serves to remove the textile-fibre material from the textile-fibre chamber via the telescopic tube 7', this process being carried out substantially in the same manner as that described in Figure 2.

Spring means ensure that the switching flap on the cyclone device is, when charging, always kept in the charging position. However, when the cyclone device 1 8 is run out of the fibre chamber, the switching flap 20 is moved to the emptying position by means of a sloping cam plate 21 which is fitted to the fibre mixing and removing device 3'. The fibre mixing and removing device 3' and the switching device 20 are accordingly associated with jointly-functioning operating elements which set the switching flap 20. The said operating elements consist, on the one hand, of the cam plate 21 which is arranged on the fibre mixing and removing device 3' and, on the other hand, of the control cam or follower 22 which is regulated by the said cam plate 21 and is in the form of a roller attached to a swivel device 24 which can be moved around its axis 23.The swivel device 24 has associated therewith a spring or Bowden cable 25 which acts upon the switching flap 20 by means of a setting mechanism 26. Figure 10 shows the cam plate 21 and the control cam 22 at the commencement of the motion in which the cam plate 21 acts upon the control cam 22, whereas Figure 11 shows the end setting in which the switching flap 20 is set against the force exerted on the switching flap by the return means spring. A socket piece 27, which is provided with the tube coupling piece and is shown in Figures 10 and 11, forms part of the connecting and suction tube, leading to the fibre mixing and removing device 3', through which the fibre material which is milled-off by the fibre mixing and removing device is transported due to the influence of the suction or extraction fan connected to the telescopic tube 7'.

The cyclone device 1 8 can incorporate jets for use in moistening the fibre material during charging, the fibre material passing through the branch connection 19, when the chamber is being discharged, by-passing, and thereby not blocking or obstructing, said jets.

Claims (8)

1. A charging and discharging system for a textile-fibre chamber with a rotary or swivelling discharger or separator or rotary or swivelling distributor which is movable, in a direction longitudinally of the chamber, inside the chamber and can be connected to a charging or pressure blower through a length-variable telescopic tube comprising pieces of tubing which are progressively larger in diameter in a direction towards the rotary or swivelling discharger or separator or distributor, and with a fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device which can be run into the chamber, characterised in that the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device can be connected via a tube coupling device to a discharge opening of the rotary or swivelling discharger or separator or distributor and in that the fixed or stationary end of the telescopic tube can be connected via a switching device to a suction or extraction fan.

2. A charging and discharging system for a textile-fibre chamber with a charging cyclone device which is movable, in a direction longitudinally of the chamber, inside the chamber and can be connected to a charging or pressure blower through a length-variable telescopic tube comprising pieces of tubing which are progressively larger in diameter in a direction towards the cyclone device, and with a fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device which can be run into the chamber, characterised in that the telescopic tube has a piece which is proximate to, or has a mouth at, the cyclone device and has associated therewith a branch connection, and a change-over switch in the form of a flap or valve by means of which the connection between the telescopic tube and the cyclone device or the branch connection can be interrupted, and in that the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device can be connected via a tube coupling piece to a free end of the branch connection and in that the smaller-diameter end of the telescopic tube can be connected via a switching device to the suction or extraction fan.

3. A charging and discharging system in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the pieces of tubing of the telescopic tube are suspended from a track.

4. A charging and discharging system in accordance with claim 1,2, or 3, wherein the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device is connectable via an electromagnetic coupling device to or on the tube coupling piece.

5. A charging and discharging system in accordance with claim 2, or claim 3 or 4 insofar as dependent upon claim 2, wherein the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device on the one hand and the switching flap or valve on the other hand have associated therewith operating elements co-operative with each other to adjust the switching flap or valve.

6. A charging and discharging system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the said operating elements comprise a cam plate or abutment, which is arranged on the fibre mixing and removing device or outlet device, and a control cam or follower which can be controlled by the said cam plate or abutment and which operates the switching flap or valve via a setting mechanism.

7. A charging and discharging system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the switching flap or valve is influenced by a return spring which acts upon the switching flap or valve in a direction towards a setting which interrupts the connection between the telescopic tube and the branch connection.

8. A charging and discharging system substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 or 2, or Figures 1 to 3, or Figure 1 or 2 or 1 to 3, as modified by Figures 4 to 10, of the accompanying drawings.