Sealing head for machines for thermal treatment of filaments

• US 20070056690A1
• Filed: 09/05/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Superba
• Original Assignee: Superba
• Inventors: Liebmann, Hubert, Chochol, Antoine
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/583.100
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 23/16 with means for introducing or removing textile materials without modifying container pressure
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 23/18 Sealing arrangements

Abstract

A sealing head for machines for the thermal treatment of filaments, includes a frame (1) fixed to a pressurized chamber traversed by a conveyor belt, a pair of superposed horizontal rollers (2 and 3), which are pressed against opposite surfaces of the conveyor belt, and sealing elements (4 and 5) to form a sealed closure between the rollers (2 and 3) and the frame (1). The sealing elements (4 and 5) to form a sealed closure between the rollers (2 and 3) and the frame (1) are each provided with integrated lubricating elements (4′, 5′), under pressure or by capillarity. The invention is more particularly applicable to the field of the textile industry, in particular the treatment of filaments by thermal treatment machines presently called thermofixation meachines.

Claims

1. Sealing head for machines for thermally treating filaments, which is essentially constituted by a frame (1) fixed to a pressurized chamber traversed by a conveyor belt, by a pair of horizontal superposed rollers (2 and 3), which are pressed against opposite surfaces of the conveyor belt, and by sealing means 4 and 5 to form a sealed closure between the rollers (2 and 3) and the frame (1), at least one (2) of the horizontal rollers and the sealing means (4 and 5) being connected to actuators for corresponding movement (8 and 9) characterized in that the sealing means (4 and 5) to form a sealed closure between the rollers (2 and 3) and the frame (1) are each provided with an integrated lubricating means (4′

, 5′

), under pressure or by capillarity, each lubricating means being of the integrated type under pressure (4′

), (5′

), being present in the form of a porous body disposed between the support (4, 5) forming the sealing means and the superposed horizontal rollers (2 and 3) and being connected by its surface turned toward said support (4, 5) to a means (4″

, 5″

) for distributing a lubricant under pressure, said means (4″

, 5″

) being connected, externally of the support (4, 5), to a supply conduit for lubricant under pressure.

2. Sealing head according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (4″

, 5″

) for distributing a lubricant under pressure are provided in the supports (4, 5) forming the sealing means and extending along generatrices near those of the horizontal rollers (2 and 3), namely parallel to the longitudinal axes of said rollers in the supports (4) and along a portion of a circle concentric to the axle of the corresponding rollers, near the diameter of said axle.

3. Sealing head according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with means (6 and 7) for recovery and/or drainage of the lubricating fluid distributed respectively over the cylindrical surfaces of the rollers (2 and 3) and on the end surfaces of these rollers (2 and 3).

4. Sealing head according to claim 3, characterized in that the means (6) for recovery and/or drainage of the lubricating fluid belonging to the horizontal rollers (2 and 3) is present in the form of scraping gutters applied by one edge against a generatrix of each roller (2 and 3) and provided with a conduit (6′

) for connection to a central reservoir or to a circulation pump returning the fluid into the lubrication circuit.

5. Sealing head according to claim 3, characterized in that the means (6) for recovery and/or drainage of the lubricating fluid is disposed along one generatrix near the inlet of the sealing head and thus of the conveyor belt.

6. Sealing head according to claim 3, characterize in that the means (6) for recovery and/or drainage of the lubricating fluid is mounted directly on the support (4) forming the sealing means, parallel to the integrated lubrication means under pressure (4′

).

7. Sealing head according to claim 3, characterized in that the means (7) for recovery and/or drainage of the lubricating fluid distributed over the end surfaces of these rollers (2 and 3) is present in the form of one or several channels extending at least to the end of the sealing means (5) entering the treatment chamber of the treatment machine, these channels being connected to a recovery reservoir or to a recirculation pump.

8. Sealing head according to claim 1, characterized in that the integrated lubricating means (4′

, 5′

), are of the capillarity type and are connected, by distribution channels or the like, to one or several constant level distribution reservoirs, these reservoirs being adapted, as the case may be, to be supplied by the means (6, 7) for recovery and/or drainage of the lubricating fluid.

9. Sealing head according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with means for detecting wear (10, 11) of the sealing means (4 and 5), in particular of their surface in contact with the longitudinal sealing rollers (2 and 3) both along their generatrix and at their ends.

10. Sealing head according to claim 9, characterized in that the wear detection means (10, 11) consist of at least one movement detector (10, 11) belonging to the application means of the sealing devices against the surfaces of the horizontal rollers (2 and 3).

11. Sealing head according to claim 10, characterized in that the movement detectors (10 and 11) belonging respectively to the sealing means (4 and 5) are each present in the form of at least one end of path contact coacting with a cam (12, 13) provided on a piston rod or a transmission rod of the actuator (8, 10) for pressurizing the application of the sealing means (4, 5), this cam (12, 13) entering into contact with the detector (10, 11) after a movement corresponding to optimum wear of the sealing means (4 and 5).

12. Sealing head according to claim 10, characterized in that the end of path contacts corresponding to optimum wear are connected to a luminous and/or sonic and/or display signaling means warning the operator of the need to replace the sealing means.

13. Sealing head according to claim 1, characterized in that each actuator (8, 9) of the sealing means (4, 5) is provided with a supplemental means for detecting extreme wear (14, 15) detecting a maximum path of movement of the sealing means (4, 5) in the direction of the corresponding surfaces of the horizontal rollers (2, 3) and delivering an automatic stop signal to the machine and an alarm for detection of an ultimate level of wear.

14. Sealing head according to claim 10, characterized in that the supplemental means for detecting extreme wear (14, 15) are also in the form of end of path contacts and coact respectively with cams (16, 17) also provided on the piston rod or the transmission rod of the actuators (8, 9).

15. Sealing head according to claim 13, characterized in that the end of path contacts forming the supplemental means for detecting extreme wear (14, 15) are connected to visual and/or sonic and/or display alarm means as well as to an emergency cutoff contact of all the supplies of energy to the machine.

16. Sealing head according to claim 9, characterized in that the wear detection means (10, 11) and the supplemental means for detecting extreme wear (14, 15) are replaced by an inductive detector.

17. Sealing head according to claim 9, characterized in that the wear detection means (10, 11) and the supplemental means for detecting extreme wear (14, 15) are replaced by a ground contact mounted on a support arm or an intermediate actuating means of the sealing means (4, 5) and coacting with one or several end of path contacts.

18. Sealing head according to claim 9, characterized in that the wear detection means (10, 11) and the supplemental means for detecting extreme wear (14, 15) are replaced by a visual detector.

19. Sealing head according to claim 9, characterized in that the wear detection means (10, 11) and the supplemental means for detecting extreme wear (14, 15) are replaced by a combination of a visual detector and a ground contact.

20. Sealing head according to claim 2, characterized in that it is provided with means (6 and 7) for recovery and/or drainage of the lubricating fluid distributed respectively over the cylindrical surfaces of the rollers (2 and 3) and on the end surfaces of these rollers (2 and 3).