Apparatus on a drafting system of a spinning machine, especially a draw frame, carding machine, combing machine or the like, for weighting the drafting system rollers

• US 20060242798A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trã¼Tzschler GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Trã¼Tzschler GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Minter, Franz-Josef
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 19/236
• CPC Class Codes: D01H 5/46 Loading arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D01H 5/52 using fluid pressure

Abstract

An apparatus on a drafting system of a spinning machine, especially a draw frame, carding machine, combing machine or the like, for weighting the drafting system rollers, has at least one pressure fluid cylinder with a piston which is acted upon by pressure fluid and is arranged so as to be axially movable inside a cylinder housing and from which a piston rod extends. The piston rod passes through at least one cylinder cover that forms the end boundary of the cylinder housing. For determining the position of the piston with the piston rod, an optical distance sensor scans the distances with respect to a counter-element and the distance sensor is connected to an evaluation device.

Claims

1. An apparatus on a drafting system of a spinning machine for weighting a drafting system roller, comprising:

a cylinder;

a piston axially movable within the cylinder;

a piston rod extending from the piston for applying weighting to the roller;

a sensor; and

an evaluation device;

wherein the sensor is an optical sensor arranged to determine a distance between the sensor and a counter-element and the sensor is connected to the evaluation device for determining the position of the piston and piston rod.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the distance sensor is in a fixed position and the counter-element is movable relative to the distance sensor.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the distance sensor is movable and the counter-element is in a fixed position relative to the distance sensor.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the counter-element has a flat, light-reflective scanning surface.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the counter-element has a horizontal base surface and the distance sensor for location determination is mounted at an angle of 90°

to the horizontal surface base.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the counter-element has a sloping surface and the optical distance sensor scans the distances with respect to the sloping surface.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the sensor is so arranged relative to the counter-element that it is able to detect the movements of the piston in two directions.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the distance sensor and the counter-element are arranged in a closed housing.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the distance sensor has a transmitter and a receiver.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the distance sensor is selected from laser sensors, distance sensors that use visible light, and distance sensors that use infra-red light.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the distance sensor is an analog sensor.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the distance sensor is connected to an electrical evaluation device, to which there is further connected an electronic control and regulation device, which is able to ascertain the path changes of the piston.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, in which the electronic control and regulation device comprises a 4 channel evaluation device.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the sensor is calibratable on each operation of closing the draft system.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the drafting system comprises three or more presser arms.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drafting system comprises at least three presser arms, and wherein two or more of the presser arms each comprise a distance sensor and counter-element as defined in claim 1.

17. An apparatus according to claim 12, in which measured values relating to lap formation and/or to the wear behaviour of the upper rollers are storable.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the apparatus can be used to display information regarding lap formation and/or information regarding wear to the rollers.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the or each cylinder is a pressure fluid cylinder.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, in which the or each pressure fluid cylinder is a pneumatic cylinder.