Method and apparatus for adjusting the working gap between the points of the flat clothings and the points of the cylinder clothings of a carding machine

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for adjusting the working gap between the points of the flat clothings and the points of the cylinder clothings of a carding machine, with the flat rods provided with clothings being guided over a partial zone of the cylinder circumference on either side of the carding machine on respective convexly arched sliding guides, and the flat rods are provided with flat heads comprising sliding surfaces, which flat heads slide along the sliding guides, is characterized in that the adjustment of the working gap is performed by changing the radial height of the sliding surfaces of the flat heads with respect to the points of the respective flat clothing.

1 . A method for adjusting the working gap (A) between the points of the flat clothings ( 44 ) and the points ( 68 ) of the cylinder clothing of a carding machine ( 10 ), with the flat rods ( 40 ) which are provided with clothings being guided over a partial zone of the circumference of the cylinder on both sides of the carding machine on respective convexly curved sliding guides ( 52 ) and the flat rods comprise flat heads ( 146 ;  246 ,  346 ;  446 ) having sliding surfaces ( 164 ;  264 ;  364 ;  464 ) which slide along the sliding guides ( 52 ), characterized in that the adjustment of the working gap (A) is performed by changing the radial height of the sliding surfaces ( 164 ;  264 ;  364 ;  464 ) of the flat heads ( 146 ;  246 ;  346 ;  446 ) with respect to the points of the respective flat clothing ( 44 ).  
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that an adjustable device ( 196 ;  296 ;  396 ;  496 ) is provided in or on each flat head ( 146 ;  246 ;  346 ;  446 ) whose radial height is set for adjusting the working gap.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that each adjustable device concerns a piezoelectric device ( 496 ) which is electrically adjusted to define the radial height.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that each adjustable device concerns a resilient device ( 196 ;  296 ;  396 ) whose radial height is set by changing the tension of the belts ( 48 ) which are provided for moving the flat heads along the sliding guides.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for adjusting the working gap (A) between the points of the flat clothings ( 44 ) and the points ( 68 ) of the cylinder clothing of a carding machine ( 10 ), with the flat rods ( 40 ) which are provided with clothings being guided over a partial zone of the circumference of the cylinder on both sides of the carding machine on respective convexly curved sliding guides ( 52 ), with the flat rods comprising flat heads ( 146 ;  246 ;  346 ;  446 ) having sliding surfaces ( 164 ;  264 ;  364 ;  464 ) which slide along the sliding surfaces of the sliding guides, characterized in that in each flat head ( 146 ;  246 ;  346 ;  446 ) the radial height of its sliding surfaces ( 164 ;  264 ;  364 ;  464 ) is changeable with respect to the points ( 44 ) of the respective flat clothing.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that a device ( 196 ;  296 ;  396 ;  496 ) is provided in or on each flat head ( 146 ;  246 ;  346 ;  446 ), which device is adjustable in its radial height (relating to the rotational shaft of the cylinder).  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that each adjustable device ( 496 ) concerns a piezoelectric device.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the piezoelectric devices ( 496 ) in the respective flat heads ( 446 ) can be driven by a common voltage source for adjusting the working gap (A) by means of a control device.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  or  8 , characterized in that in the known manner endless belts ( 48 ) are provided for moving the flat rods ( 446 ) over the sliding guides, the endless belts are each provided with at least one conducting track ( 519 ) extending over the entire length of the endless belt in order to ensure the voltage supply of the piezoelectric device, with a contact device being provided in at least one zone of the circumferential path of each endless belt in order to ensure an electric contact between the respective conducting track and the voltage source.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , characterized in that the contact device concerns a conductive brush.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , characterized in that the endless belts ( 48 ) can be deflected via toothed disks ( 20 ,  26 ) and deflection pulleys ( 22 ,  24 ), with a toothed disk or a deflection pulley being used for each endless belt as a contact device.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  or  10 , characterized in that each endless belt comprises two conducting tracks.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that the adjustable device concerns a spring ( 196 ;  296 ;  396 ) and that the degree of compression of the respective spring can be changed by the belt tension.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that for the purpose of changing the belt tension, a controllable brake ( 25 ,  27 ,  29 ) is provided which acts at one of the deflection points of the endless belt directly or indirectly upon the toothed disks ( 26 ) provided there.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , characterized in that the drive output of the motor ( 61 ) provided for driving the toothed disks ( 20 ) causing the drive of the endless belts ( 48 ) is controllable.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , characterized in that a control device ( 63 ) is provided for controlling the output of the drive motor.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that each spring device ( 396 ) is associated with an oscillation damper ( 315 ).  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in one of the  claims 13  to  17 , characterized in that the springs ( 196 ) concern resilient, plate-like, elastic elements.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that each plate-like element ( 196 ) is held on the flat head with a spring clip ( 190 ).  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as claimed in one of the  claims 13  to  17 , characterized in that the springs ( 296 ;  396 ) concerning leaf springs which are each disposed between a fixed part ( 300 ;  400 ) of the flat head ( 346 ;  446 ) and a part ( 302 ;  402 ) of the flat head which is displaceably guided with respect to said head.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as claimed in one of the  claims 5  to  20 , characterized in that each flat head ( 146 ;  246 ;  346 ;  446 ) is provided with a multipart arrangement and is arranged as an exchangeable spacer element ( 196 ).