EP3788190B1 - Bale opener for opening pressed fiber bales - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a bale opener for opening compressed fiber bales that have been set up in an erection direction, with a machine frame and with a removal unit, with the removal unit being arranged on the machine frame in a height-adjustable manner and with the machine frame being movable in an installation direction and having at least one column element, so that the fiber bales can be traversed by the doffer unit and fiber material can be removed from the fiber bales, the machine frame being designed in a portal design, comprising a vertically extending first side panel, which forms the column element, and a vertically extending second side panel, the doffer unit being accommodated between the side panels and wherein a suction air channel is provided which extends in the up direction and into which the suction air with the fiber material can be fed from a suction device, wherein the suction air channel is covered with a cover band on the top side, and wherein a band lifting unit is provided with which the cover band can be removed from the Top of the suction air duct can be raised locally.

From the DE 36 37 578 A1 a bale opener for opening pressed fiber bales and set up in an up direction is known, and the bale opener has a machine frame in a portal design, wherein the machine frame can be moved in the up direction, and the doffer unit is accommodated on the machine frame so that it can be adjusted in height. If the machine frame moves in the erecting direction, fiber material can be removed from the upper side of the fiber bales, with a suction air channel extending in the erecting direction being provided, into which the suction air with the fiber material can be introduced from a suction device. The suction air duct is installed stationary, and the suction air can with the Fibrous material can be introduced into the suction air duct regardless of the position of the machine frame in the installation direction.

From the EP 0 773 312 A1 discloses a bale opener for opening pressed fiber bales arranged in an erecting direction, and the suction air duct is installed on top of a stationary receiving device, with the suction air being introduced into the suction air duct with the fiber material from the doffer unit. In order to enable the introduction of the suction air with the fiber material over the entire length of the suction air duct, a belt lifting unit is used, with which a cover belt can be lifted locally from the top of the suction air duct in order to introduce the suction air with the fiber material into the suction air duct via the belt lifting unit. The tape lifting unit moves with the pickup unit in that the tape lifting unit is directly coupled to the pickup unit.

Due to the arrangement of the suction air duct on the upper side and the constant height position of the doffer unit, a direct transfer of the suction air with the fiber material from the doffer unit into the sliver lifting unit is made possible. The height-constant, top-side guidance of the pickup unit requires a complex construction, which cannot be easily implemented for machine frames of bale openers in portal or tower construction. If a machine frame with a portal design is preferred, complex hose guides must be installed in order to guide the suction air with the fiber material from the doffing unit into the belt lifting unit. However, such air ducts are expensive and cause unnecessary flow resistance, so that the suction power has to be increased accordingly. In the tower design, the suction air is guided into the tower more or less laterally, i.e. approximately horizontally, and is then passed on in the direction of a duct running on the floor. This leads to a non-optimal suction air flow for transporting away the detached fibers.

From the RU 2 054 059 C1 Another bale opener is known for opening pressed fiber bales that have been set up in an erection direction, with a machine frame formed centrally between two removal units, with the removal units being arranged on the machine frame in a height-adjustable manner and with the machine frame being movable in the installation direction, with a suction air duct mounted on the bottom centered below runs along the machine frame. A belt lifting unit enables a cover belt to be lifted locally from the top of the suction air duct, the belt lifting unit being arranged inside the machine frame.

From the US 4,678,128A discloses a bale opener for opening pressed fiber bales arranged in an erecting direction, with a removal unit arranged laterally on a machine frame, the removal unit being accommodated on the machine frame in a height-adjustable manner and the machine frame being movable in the erecting direction of the fiber bales. On the bottom side, a suction air duct is mounted centrally under the machine frame. A belt lifting unit enables a cover belt to be lifted locally from the top of the suction air duct, the belt lifting unit being arranged inside the machine frame.

The DD 266 815 A1 discloses a further bale opener for opening pressed fiber bales and set up in an erecting direction, with the bale opener also having a stand-like machine frame according to this disclosure, within which a suction air duct running along the direction of travel of the machine frame is formed, into which the suction air coming from a suction air shaft is introduced . A belt lifting device is used for this purpose, which enables a cover belt to be lifted locally from the top of the suction air duct.

Known designs of suction air ducting are limited to air ducting on the inside of the housing in the case of stand-like machine frames, and in the case of machine frames in portal design, suction air ducts on the ceiling are used.

The object of the invention relates to the improvement of a bale opener with a machine frame, with a simple arrangement and design of a belt lifting unit being provided, with which the suction air duct can be installed on the bottom and with which a lower flow resistance of the suction air from the pickup unit into the suction air duct can be achieved can.

This object is achieved based on a bale opener according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with the characterizing features. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention includes the technical teaching that the suction air duct is mounted on the bottom and that the strap lifting unit is arranged on an outside of the column element facing away from the pickup unit and a suction air shaft of the suction device is guided into the strap lifting unit from an inside of the column element.

In the case of a bale opener of gantry design, an intermediate element can be a horizontally extending fastening profile which is attached to both gantry columns vertically enclosing the gantry. In the case of a tower bale opener which has a cantilevered doffer unit on one side, the doffer unit would be suspended directly on or in the tower. The machine frame can be moved in a known manner in the direction in which the fiber bales to be milled are erected, i.e. the fiber bale view, so that the fiber bales can be run over with the doffer unit and fiber material can be removed from the fiber bales. Furthermore, the bale opener according to the invention also comprises, in a known manner, a suction air duct extending in the erection direction, via which the fiber material detached from the fiber bales by the doffer unit is transported away from the bale opener by means of suction air to downstream machines such as a heavy metal separator. i.e. Suction air with the fiber material can be introduced into the suction air duct from a suction device. The suction air duct is also in a known manner with a Masking tape covered on top. The upper side is the side of the suction air duct facing away from the ground, on which the bale opener and the fiber bales are usually set up. The bale opener also has a belt lifting unit. This is set up to lift the cover band locally, ie in the area of the band lifter, from the upper side of the suction air duct. This means that the cover strip rests on the suction air duct on both sides of the strip lifter. According to the invention, the belt lifting unit is arranged on the aforementioned column element, ie on a side wall of the column element which faces the floor or which usually runs perpendicularly to the floor. A suction air duct of the suction device is guided from the column element into the belt lifting unit. i.e. the column element is part of the fiber air flow guidance from the doffer unit to the suction air duct. On the one hand, this helps to keep the dimensions of such a bale opener small. On the other hand, a very stable element of the bale opener or its machine frame is used to guide the fiber air flow. This eliminates any hose guides from the pickup unit into the belt lifting unit, and the suction air can advantageously be guided into the belt lifting unit with a section through the column element due to the configuration of the suction device according to the invention. In particular, there is a minimal amount of space required for the construction of the bale opener with a machine frame with a column element. If the machine frame moves, the column element also moves parallel to the extension of the suction air duct, and the belt lifting unit can be carried along with the movement of the column element. The structural design of the machine frame and the belt lifting unit consequently enables the suction air to be routed inside the machine without requiring additional installation space. The result is a simple construction with a minimum of space required. In addition, the suction device can be fluidically optimized in such a way that there is a very low flow resistance of the suction air from the pickup unit into the suction air duct. The core idea of the invention is therefore an advantageous arrangement of the belt lifting unit on one side of the column element in conjunction with an equally advantageous routing of the suction air directly through the column element into the belt lifting unit. The suction device introduces the suction air with the detached fiber material into the top of the column element, is guided through the column element preferably from an upper side to a lower area and exits from the side of the column element into the belt lifting unit arranged on the column element and into the suction air channel.

The machine frame of the bale opener thus has a column element on which a pickup unit of the bale opener is arranged so that its height can be directly or indirectly adjusted. Arranged indirectly means that the pickup unit is not suspended directly from the column element but from an intermediate element which in turn is attached directly or indirectly (for example via fastening flanges) to that very column element.

The tape lifting unit is arranged on an outer side of the column member opposite to the pickup unit. i.e. the belt lifting unit does not increase the vertical dimension of the column member. A minimal amount of space is required for the construction of the bale opener with a machine frame, and the suction air duct is located on the side of the traversing range of the column element in the erecting direction. Any hose guides from the pickup unit into the belt lifting unit can be omitted. Due to the configuration of the suction device according to the invention, the suction air can advantageously be guided into the belt lifting unit with a section through the column element. If the machine frame moves, the column element also moves parallel to the extension of the suction air duct, and the belt lifting unit can be carried along with the movement of the column element.

The machine frame is designed in a portal design and comprises, as the aforementioned column element, a first side cheek that extends vertically and, in addition, a second side cheek that also extends vertically. Vertical is to be understood in relation to the ground on which the bale opener is set up or the fiber bales to be milled are set up. In connection with the fiber air flow guidance according to the invention, the side panels can be made very narrow, viewed in the direction of erection.

It is particularly advantageous for the tape lifting unit to have a frame on which rollers on the underside and at least one, preferably two, rollers on the top are arranged for lifting and guiding the covering tape. The cover strip is located on top of the suction air duct and covers an opening there. The suction air duct leads directly from the column element into the interior of the frame, so that the suction air with the fiber material can also be guided out of the column element through the suction air duct into the interior of the frame. In the area of the belt lifting unit, the cover strip therefore has a polygonal shape, preferably in the form of a triangle or square, in particular a trapezium or rectangle. The cover strip is guided over the frame in such a way that the cover strip is lifted from the upper side of the suction air duct only in the region of the frame of the strip lifting unit. The design of the suction air duct can be provided in such a way that there is no open flow area on the upper side of the suction air duct in connection with the frame, whereby a secondary air flow into the suction air duct is minimized or avoided, for example by using a seal. The framework can advantageously be formed from two side elements, each of which has the aforementioned polygonal shape. In the corners of which said rollers are freely rotatably mounted and extend between the side members. This shape of the frame allows the suction air duct to be guided very easily into the interior of the frame with minimal installation space. The suction air duct preferably has a corresponding curvature to end with an opening end side approximately in the plane of the opening on top of the suction air duct. The curvature can be supplemented with or replaced by corners or slopes.

With a further advantage, the suction air shaft can form a mechanical connection between the column element and the belt lifting unit, so that the suction air shaft serves as a driver for the belt lifting unit with a movement of the column element in the erection direction. It is advantageous if the suction air duct is rigidly arranged on the column element and the belt lifting unit is connected to the suction air duct but can move along the upper side of the suction air duct independently of the movement of the machine frame and thus the suction air duct. Thus, a rigid connection in all spatial directions between the suction air duct of the belt lifting unit, in particular the frame, is not necessary, but a mechanical connection is required insofar as the movement of the machine frame and thus of the suction air duct in the installation direction can be transferred to the belt lifting unit.

In order to achieve a certain decoupling of the suction air shaft from the belt lifting unit, the suction air shaft has a driver frame at the end for the transition into the belt lifting unit, which forms an open end of the suction air shaft and is connected to a receiving opening of the belt lifting unit. The connection between the driver frame and the receiving opening is not rigid. To a certain extent, this allows the column element and belt lifting unit to move relative to one another, which increases the flexibility of use.

With particular advantage, the driver frame at the end can be guided into the receiving opening from a vertical line, so that the driver frame can move vertically in the receiving opening. For example, the upper side of the suction air duct, along which the belt lifting unit is guided, can have height deviations for guiding the machine frame. These height deviations can be compensated for in the vertical mobility of the driver frame at the end of the suction air shaft in the receiving opening of the belt lifting unit. This also makes it possible to detect unevenness in the travel of the bale opener, as they do not have a negative effect on fiber airflow transport.

In the case of the two last-mentioned solutions, a snorkel is preferably connected to the receiving opening, which snorkel extends into the suction air duct. This makes it possible to design the suction air duct independently of the shape of the suction air duct. The snorkel forms a kind of adapter so that the suction air duct can have a standardized shape, which helps to reduce manufacturing costs.

Additionally or alternatively, the belt lifting unit has an adjustment device with which the snorkel can be adjusted in a vertical direction on the frame and/or the driver frame in a transverse direction along the axes of rotation of the aforementioned rollers on the frame. This makes it possible to precisely adjust the driver frame and thus the snorkel guided vertically therein, in particular with regard to the transition into the suction air duct. As a result, the suction air duct can be mounted on the floor in advance relatively independently of the position of the columnar member with respect to the suction air duct. The driver frame and snorkel can be aligned with the adjustment device in such a way that the snorkel is aligned in particular with the center of a suction air tunnel formed in the suction air duct, in particular in order to minimize a secondary air flow that can arise between the inner wall of the suction air duct in the suction air tunnel and the snorkel. Last but not least, this has a positive effect on avoiding friction between the snorkel and the suction air tunnel. After the belt lifting unit has been set up, the carrier frame can be brought into a transverse position with the adjustment device, which corresponds to the formation of the suction air tunnel in the suction air duct, so that the snorkel seals with its output side against the inner wall of the suction air tunnel as far as possible. However, a seal can also be provided.

Alternatively or additionally, the belt lifting unit has a level adjustment device with which the belt lifting unit can be adjusted in relation to the suction air duct, which preferably runs vertically, in the column element.

In order to achieve advantageous guidance of the cover strip when lifting locally from the upper side of the suction air duct, it is provided that the rollers on the underside and/or the at least one roller on the upper side have/have a width that is adapted to the width of the cover strip. In this case, the respective roller has a larger diameter in a central area in the width direction than in the edge-side areas. In particular, the rollers on the underside and/or the at least one roller on the upper side is/are crowned. In particular, the convex design leads to a self-centering of the cover strip over the width of the rollers, so that the cover strip does not run out of the guide to the side when the strip lifting unit moves in the up direction over the suction air duct.

A further advantage is achieved if a band carriage roller is arranged on the end sides of the underside rollers, with which the band lifting unit is guided on the suction air duct. The band carriage rollers are only arranged on the end sides of the underside rollers for guiding the cover strip. However, the band carriage rollers are also freely rotatable with respect to the underside rollers and are therefore not rotatably connected to the underside rollers for guiding the cover strip. The belt carriage rollers are designed to roll on the upper side of the suction air duct and are accommodated on the frame of the belt lifting unit. With two rollers on the underside, each with two belt carriage rollers arranged at the ends, there are four belt carriage rollers which are arranged on the frame of the belt lifting unit and with which the belt lifting unit can move on the upper side of the suction air duct. The band wagon rollers enable the realization of a horizontal gap between the rollers on the underside and the suction air duct. According to the invention, this gap allows the cover strip to be guided through without jamming, which benefits the service life of the cover strip in particular comes. The fact that the band wagon rollers are freely rotatable in relation to the underside rollers is due to the larger diameter in relation to the underside rollers and the resulting different speeds of the band wagon rollers and the underside rollers. As a result, the belt carriage roller and the associated roller on the underside can be mounted very easily and inexpensively on one and the same axis, which only has to be attached to the aforementioned frame if it is present. This arrangement reduces the risk of rubbing with the cover tape which could affect its life.

It is particularly advantageous for the rollers on the underside to have first bearings and the belt carriage rollers to have second bearings. The bearings are designed in particular as roller bearings. The respective bearings are designed separately from one another and are accommodated on a common axis. Alternatively, there is also the possibility of mounting the band wagon rollers on an outer side of the underside rollers with second bearings, with the underside rollers thus extending under the band wagon rollers and the second bearing. This promotes easy assembly, in particular on the rest of the belt lifting unit.

Provision can be made for the at least one upper roller to have limiting rings on its end faces. The limiting rings are arranged on the at least one roller on the upper side such that they can be displaced axially at most to such an extent that excessive slipping of the cover belt from a running surface of the rollers of the belt lifting unit is prevented. The limiting rings thus ensure that the belt lifting unit is guided along the cover belt. In the context of the invention, slipping occurs essentially along the axes of rotation of the rollers of the belt lifting unit. In the context of the invention, excessively means that the cover strip is prevented in particular from rubbing, for example at its longitudinal edges, on components of the strip lifting unit that are stationary in relation to the strip lifting unit, such as on the aforementioned frame, and thus being exposed to increased wear. This solution therefore also serves to ensure the longevity of the cover strip in particular during operation.

In this case, the at least one roller on the upper side and the associated delimiting rings are also rotatably mounted on an axis, preferably by means of common bearings. This also promotes ease of assembly. In addition, the respective roller with axle can be manufactured as a standard component, which has a favorable effect on the manufacturing costs.

The axes for the at least one upper-side roller and the axes for the lower-side rollers each run parallel to one another and have a polygonal arrangement with respect to one another. In the case of preferably two rollers on the upper side, these are preferably at a smaller distance from one another than the rollers on the lower side from one another. The axles for the upper-side rollers and the axles for the lower-side rollers preferably connect two side elements of the frame with one another, as a result of which the frame is advantageously formed as a rigid structure. The limiting rings perform the task of guiding the cover strip centrally over the upper rollers, with the guidance of the cover strip being supported by the crowning of the upper rollers and the lower rollers.

The limiting rings are preferably arranged in a torsionally rigid manner on the respective, at least one, upper roller. This promotes the possibility of manufacturing the entire part as a standard part which can be fitted as a whole in a modular manner to the rest of the belt lifting unit.

The receiving opening, which is structurally connected to the framework, is located in a horizontal extension in a lower region of the framework approximately between the underside rollers. The above-mentioned snorkel is preferably connected to the receiving opening, which snorkel extends downward, ie in the direction of the floor, and in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the suction air duct and is thus guided into the suction air duct. The receiving opening forms with the snorkel a common component or a common unit.

The suction air duct, which extends between the section of the suction device inside the column element and the snorkel with the receiving opening on the upper side, can be dismantled with particular advantage. This also allows the belt lifting unit to be detached from the machine frame.

With further advantage, the framework is clad by means of sheet metal elements on the outside, with the cladding being able to be provided in particular on the front side.

Yet another advantage is achieved if a position switch with a contact roller is arranged on the sliver lifting unit, with which a travel position of the machine frame and thus of the doffer unit can be detected in the erection direction over the fiber bale. Switching elements arranged on the suction air duct, against which the contact roller can move in order to trigger the position switch, can serve as the switching element for activating the position switch. For example, during a reference run, the machine frame can be moved in one direction until the position switch is triggered in order to reference the position of the machine frame in the installation direction.

With still further advantage, located on the belt lifting unit is an electrical connector which is connected to a cable chain unit of power and signal connection. This results in a simple manner in an electrical power and signal connection from a stationary junction box to the machine frame that can be moved in the erecting direction, with the electrical power and signal connection being arranged on the side of the suction air duct.

A connection plate that protrudes beyond the side of the suction air duct advantageously creates the possibility of arranging the electrical connection on the belt lifting unit. Here, for example, the position switch on Connection plate to be attached. The power and signal connection preferably further includes a tray in which the cable chain assembly is received. The storage tray is advantageously located on the outside of the suction air duct in a lateral arrangement.

The belt lifting unit thus fulfills several functions. On the one hand, it serves to lift the cover strip from the top of the suction air duct. On the other hand, it also serves to transfer the suction air from the machine frame into the suction air duct, in that the suction air duct is arranged inside the belt lifting unit. In addition, the belt lifting unit serves to accommodate the electrical connection, via which the cable chain unit for the power and signal connection can be connected to the moving machine frame. Finally, the belt lifting unit also serves to accommodate at least one position switch for detecting the travel position of the machine frame in the erection direction.

Fig. 1

eine erste perspektivische Ansicht eines Ballenöffners mit einer erfindungsgemäß ausgeführten Bandhebeeinheit,

Fig. 2

eine zweite perspektivische Ansicht des Ballenöffners,

Fig. 3

eine Detailansicht der Bandhebeeinheit in Anordnung an einer Seitenwange des Maschinengestells,

Fig. 4

eine Detailansicht eines Rahmengestells der Bandhebeeinheit,

Fig. 5

eine Detailansicht der Führung des Abdeckbandes über eine oberseitige Rolle am Rahmengestell,

Fig. 6

eine Detailansicht der Führung des Abdeckbandes über eine unterseitige Rolle am Rahmengestell,

Fig. 7

eine Schnittansicht durch die Bandhebeeinheit und

Fig. 8

eine Detailansicht der Bandhebeeinheit mit einem Saugluftschacht im Übergang in einen Schnorchel der Bandhebeeinheit.

Further measures improving the invention are presented in more detail below together with the description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. It shows:

1

a first perspective view of a bale opener with a belt lifting unit designed according to the invention,

2

a second perspective view of the bale opener,

3

a detailed view of the belt lifting unit arranged on a side wall of the machine frame,

4

a detailed view of a frame of the belt lifting unit,

figure 5

a detailed view of the guidance of the cover strip over a roller on the upper side of the frame,

6

a detailed view of the guidance of the cover strip over a roller on the underside of the frame,

7

a sectional view through the belt lifting unit and

8

a detailed view of the belt lifting unit with a suction air duct in the transition to a snorkel of the belt lifting unit.

The figures 1 and 2 show in two different perspective views a bale opener 1, which is used for milling off the upper side of fiber bales 100, which are set up in a set-up area 41 on a floor 42 in several rows next to each other in a set-up direction 10. A doffer unit 12, which is accommodated on a machine frame 11 so that it can be moved in a vertical direction, serves to mill off the upper side of the fiber bales 100. The machine frame 11 has a first side frame 17 and a second side frame 18, and between the two side frames 17 and 18 two spaced portal profiles 43 extend.

The side walls 17 and 18 have rollers 44 and 45, and a running rail 46, on which the rollers 44 on the first side wall 17 are guided, serves to guide the machine frame 11 in the installation direction 10. The rollers 45, which are located on the underside of the second side wall 18, run over the floor 42, on which the fiber bales 100 are also placed and on which the running rail 46 is also mounted.

The stripper unit 12 has three support rollers 47 and two stripper rollers 48 on an underside, with the stripper rollers 48 being located between the support rollers 47 and with all rollers 47, 48 running parallel to one another in a transverse direction 49. There are gratings 50 in front of the doffer rollers 48. If the rollers 47, 48 are rotated, the doffer rollers 48 flake-like components from the pressed fiber bales 100 and the fiber flakes are sucked off via the suction device 14 and fed to their further use.

The suction device 14 comprises a suction hood 51, which is located on the upper side of the pickup unit 12 and to which a spiral hose 52 leading vertically upwards is connected. When the pickup unit 12 is moved vertically, the length of the spiral hose 52 can change, and the spiral hose 52 is connected at the top to a suction air duct 53 which introduces the suction air into the first side wall 17 at the top. Thus, the suction air duct 53 is self-supportingly connected to the upper side of the first side wall 17, and the spiral hose 52 is in a hanging arrangement at the end of the suction air duct 53. The suction air migrates through the first side wall 17 and arrives via a suction air duct 13 together with the fiber tufts a processing station.

The manual control of the bale opener 1 takes place via a control panel 54 which, for example, is set up on a head side of the suction air duct 13 . The bale opener 1 is supplied with electricity via a connection box 55 which is located at the same top end of the suction air shaft 13 . An electrical supply and a signal connection can be established with the movable machine frame 11 via a power and signal connection 38 comprising a cable chain unit 37 , the power and signal connection 38 being located on the side of the suction air duct 13 . An electrical connection 36 in the form of a driver forms the movable connection of the cable chain unit 37, and the electrical connection 36 is connected to a belt lifting unit 16, which is connected to the first side wall 17 and is consequently moved along with the movement of the machine frame 11 in the installation direction 10. The belt lifting unit 16 is used to raise a cover belt 15 which covers the suction air duct 13 on the upper side.

On the outer areas of the portal profiles 43 , bridge elements 56 are arranged which lie on top and extend in the erection direction 10 and on which the pickup unit 12 is suspended with traction means 57 .

In 3 1 is a detailed view of the arrangement of the strap lifting unit 16 on the outside of the first side panel 17, with paneling elements of the first side panel 17 being removed. The strap lifting unit 16 runs along the upper side of the suction air duct 13 in an erection direction 10, the strap lifting unit 16 having a connection to the first side cheek 17, and when the first side cheek 17 moves in the rising direction 10, the strap lifting unit 16 also moves.

The belt lifting unit 16 serves for the local lifting of a cover belt 15 which covers the upper side of the suction air duct 13 and is guided over a frame 20 of the belt lifting unit 16 . The lifting of the cover belt 15 by the belt lifting unit 16 serves to transfer the suction air from the pickup unit into the suction air duct 13 . The suction device 14, which is shown with a further suction air shaft 58, which is based on the suction air shaft 53, serves to guide the suction air 1 and 2 within the first side wall 17 connects.

The suction air duct 58 as part of the suction device 14 is also located inside the first side panel 17 and is visible due to the removed outer paneling. The suction air shaft 58 merges into a further suction air shaft 19 which extends from the first side wall 17 into the belt lifting unit 16 . For this purpose, the shape of the suction air shaft 19 has a curvature, and the suction air shaft 19 opens into a driver frame 23 at the top, which forms an open end of the suction air shaft 19 and is connected to a receiving opening 24 in or on the belt lifting unit 16. On the underside of the receiving opening 24 there is a snorkel which protrudes into the suction air duct 13 and is therefore not visible in this illustration.

Rollers 21 on the underside and rollers 22 on the upper side serve to guide the cover band 15 , and the rollers 21 and 22 are accommodated on a frame 20 which forms a basic body of the band lifting unit 16 .

On the outside of the suction air duct 13 there is a storage tray 40 in which a cable chain unit 37 lies. The cable chain assembly 37 forms part of a power and signal connection 38 and is connected to an electrical connector 36 . The electrical connection 36 is connected to a connection plate 39 of the strap lifting unit 16 . Thus, the strap lifting unit 16 is also used to connect the power and signal connection 38 to the movable part of the bale opener.

There is also a position switch 34 on the connection plate 39 of the belt lifting unit 16, which can interact with switching elements arranged on the suction air duct 13, so that a signal can be generated with the position switch 34 when driving against such a switching element. The position of the machine frame 11 with the first side wall 17 in the erection direction 10 can be detected via this signal.

4 12 is a perspective view of the framework 20 that forms the basic structure of the belt lifting unit 16. FIG. The side elements of the frame 20 are approximately trapezoidal, so that the horizontal distance between the rollers 22 on the upper side is smaller than the horizontal distance between the rollers 21 on the underside for guiding the cover belt 15 arranged on the underside rollers 21 band wagon rollers 25. On the upper side of the suction air duct there is a running surface on which the conveyor belt rollers 25 can roll. For this purpose, the band wagon rollers 25 are rotatably accommodated on the frame 20 independently of the rollers 21 on the underside.

Arranged on the end faces of the rollers 22 on the upper side are limiting rings 28 which enable the cover strip 15 to be guided and are designed to be torsionally rigid with the rollers 22 on the upper side.

Both the bottom rollers 21 and the top rollers 22 are preferably designed crowned. The rollers 21, 22 each have a width that is adapted to the width of the masking tape. Furthermore, all of the rollers 21, 22 and in a central area in both directions preferably have a larger diameter than in the peripheral areas. This means that the cover strip 15 is centered on the rollers 21, 22 by means of their crowning and is prevented from slipping off to the side to a certain extent.

figure 5 shows a sectional view through the framework 20 in the region of a top roller 22 which is accommodated on an axle 31. The axle 31 forms part of the framework 20 and connects the two trapezoidal side parts to one another. A section of the masking tape 15 is shown on the upper side of the upper side roller 22, which is guided on the upper side roller 22 shown in section. The upper roller 22 is mounted on the axle 31 by means of bearings 29 . The limiting rings 28 are located in a rigid arrangement on the bearings 29 and are connected to the associated roller 22 on the upper side in a torsionally rigid manner. The figure shows a lateral guidance of the cover strip 15 with the limiting rings 28, the crowning of the rollers 22 on the upper side not being visible due to the small diameter variation of the middle and the outer regions.

6 shows a sectional view through a roller 21 on the underside, which is mounted on the axle 30 with first bearings 26 . The axis 30 also forms a connection between the two trapezoidal side parts and thus also a structural component of the frame 20 of the belt lifting unit.

On the outside of the underside roller 21 there are belt carriage rollers 25 which are designed to roll on an upper side of the suction air duct 13 . So that the band wagon rollers 25 can rotate independently of the rotary movement of the lower-side rollers 21, these are accommodated separately with second bearings 27 on the same axle 30 so that they can rotate freely.

A position switch 34 with a contact roller 35 is arranged on the front side of the frame 20 . The position switch 34 is used to detect the position of the machine frame 11 of the bale opener 1 in the erecting direction 10 by the contact roller 35 being able to move against a contact element on the suction air duct 13 which is not shown in detail.

7 shows a sectional view through the belt lifting unit 16 arranged on the first side wall 17, with the belt lifting unit 16 rolling on the upper side of the suction air duct 13. The sectional view shows the course of the cover strip 15 from the upper side of the suction air duct 13 in deflection via the lower side rollers 21 and the upper side rollers 22, so that a trapezoidal interior space is formed with the frame 20, into which the suction air shaft 19 is inserted. The suction air duct 19 ends with a driver frame 23 which is guided into a receiving opening 24 . The receiving opening 24 forms an upper part of a snorkel 32 which is led into the suction air duct 13 . If the first side cheek 17 now moves, then the suction air duct 19 is also moved with the first side cheek 17 . The belt lifting unit 16 is also moved in the up direction 10 with the movement of the suction air shaft 19 via the form-fitting connection between the driver frame 23 and the receiving opening 24 at least in the direction of travel. In addition, the form-fitting connection between the carrier frame 23 and the receiving opening 24 that is only form-fitting in the planar plane allows a vertical movement of the suction air shaft 19 relative to the receiving opening 24 and thus relative to the belt lifting unit 16. As a result, deviations in the height profile of the upper side of the suction air channel 13 from the movement of the first side cheek 17 are compensated in the erecting direction 10.

8 Finally, FIG. A height adjustment device 33 can be used to adjust the height of the snorkel 32 and thus the receiving opening 24, so that the snorkel 32 can also be adjusted to the suction air tunnel in the suction air duct 13, so that the snorkel 33 can be guided by rolling the band wagon rollers 25 of the frame 20 . The front side shows the cover strip 15, which partially loops around the roll 21 on the underside. The suction air duct 19 is also shown in a sectional view, with the snorkel 32 also being shown in section.

The end of the snorkel 32 introduced into the suction air duct 13 is located in the direction of the transported fiber air flow or the suction air according to FIG Figures 7 and 8 to the left behind the left bottom roller 21 shown here. The snorkel 32 is in that area behind the one in the Figures 7 and 8 left roller 21 is preferably received in the suction air duct 13 by means of its end pointing in this direction. This end is advantageously accommodated in a sealed manner by means of a seal 59 preferably formed by means of brushes. The seal 59 is advantageously in sealing contact with all the insides of the suction air duct 13 facing the snorkel 32 and the inside or underside of the cover strip 15 facing it.

The seal 59 can also be omitted since the suction air to the left in Figures 7 and 8 flows and there is therefore less risk of fiber material adhering to the transition point between the snorkel 32 and the suction air duct 13 .

The snorkel 32 can also be designed in such a way that its cross-sectional area, despite the transition from the usually rectangular cross-section in relation to the inner shape of the driver frame 23 or the suction air shaft 19, is at its the end facing the snorkel 32 in the direction of the preferably and essentially octagonal cross section of the suction air duct 13 with the cover strip 15 does not change. This reduces the flow resistance of the snorkel 32 and the risk of fiber material adhering in the snorkel 32. If the surfaces of the snorkel 32 for deflecting the fiber air flow or the suction air in the direction of the suction air duct 13 are curved, this also reduces the risk of fiber material sticking.

Reference List

1

bale opener

10

erection direction

11

machine frame

12

pickup unit

13

suction air duct

14

suction device

15

masking tape

16

tape lifting unit

17

first sidewall

18

second sidewall

19

suction duct

20

frame

21

bottom roll

22

top roll

23

carrier frame

24

intake opening

25

conveyor roller

26

first camp

27

second camp

28

perimeter ring

29

camp

30

axis

31

axis

32

snorkel

33

height adjustment device

34

position switch

35

contact roll

36

electrical connection

37

cable chain unit

38

Power and signal connection

39

connection plate

40

storage tray

41

installation area

42

Floor

43

portal profile

44

roller

45

roller

46

running rail

47

backup roll

48

doffer roller

49

transverse direction

50

grating

51

suction hood

52

spiral hose

53

suction duct

54

control panel

55

junction box

56

bridge element

57

traction means

58

suction duct

59

poetry

100

fiber bale

Claims (14)

1. A bale opener (1)

   • for opening pressed fiber bales (100) deployed in a deployment direction (10): and

   • comprising

   - a removal unit (12);

   - a machine frame (11) that

   · has a column element (17) at which the removal unit (12) is directly or indirectly arranged in a vertically variable manner,

   comprising

   · a first side wall (17) that extends perpendicular and that forms the column element (17); and

   · a second side wall (18) extending perpendicular,

   · wherein the removal unit (12) is received between the side walls (17, 18); and wherein

   · the machine frame(11) is travelable in the deployment direction (10) so that

   o the fiber bales (100) can be traveled over by the removal unit (12); and

   o fiber material can be removed from the fiber bales (100) in this process;

   - a suction air passage (13) extending in the deployment direction (10),

   • into which the suction air having the fiber material can be led from a suction device; and

   • that is covered by a cover strip (15) at the upper side; and

   - a belt raising unit (16) by which the cover strip (15) can be locally raised from the upper side of the suction air passage (13),

   characterized in that

   • the suction air passage (13) is mounted at the base side, with

   • the belt raising unit (16) being arranged at an outer side of the column element (17) remote from the removal unit (12); and

   • a suction air duct (19, 58) of the suction device (14) being led from the column element (17) into the belt raising unit (16).
2. A bale opener (1) in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that

   • the belt raising unit (16) has a frame rack (20) at which rollers (21) at the lower side and at least one roller (22) at the upper side are arranged for raising and guiding the cover strip (15); and

   • the suction air duct (19) is led from the column element (17) into an inner region of the frame rack (20).
3. A bale opener (1) in accordance with claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the rollers (21) at the lower side and/or the at least one roller (22) at the upper side

   • have/has a width that is adapted to the width of the cover strip (15); and

   • have/has a larger diameter in a region at the middle in the width direction than in the regions at the marginal sides.
4. A bale opener (1) in accordance with claim 3,
   characterized in that
   the rollers (21) at the lower side or the at least one roller (22) at the upper side are/is spherical.
5. A bale opener (1) in accordance with one of the claims 2 to 4,
   characterized in that
   a respective tripper car roller (25) is arranged at end sides of the rollers (21) at the lower side, designed to guide the belt raising unit (16) on the suction air passage (13).
6. A bale opener (1) in accordance with claim 5,
   characterized in that

   • the rollers (21) at the lower side have first bearings (26) and the tripper car rollers (25) have second bearings (27); and

   • the respective bearings (26, 27) are formed separately from one another and are received on a common axle (30).
7. A bale opener (1) in accordance with one of the claims 2 to 6,
   characterized in that

   • associated boundary rings (28) are arranged at end sides of the at least one roller (22) at the upper side axially displaceably by at most so much that an excessive sliding off of the cover strip (15) from a running surface of one of the rollers (21, 22) of the belt raising unit (16) is prevented.
8. A bale opener (1) in accordance with claim 7,
   characterized in that
   a roller (22) at the upper side and the associated boundary rings (28) are rotatably supported on an axle (31) by means of common bearings (29).
9. A bale opener (1) in accordance with claim 7 or claim 8,
   characterized in that
   the boundary rings (28) are rotationally rigidly arranged at the at least one roller (22) at the upper side.
10. A bale opener (1) in accordance with one of the claims 3 to 9,
    characterized in that
    the suction air duct (19) forms a mechanical connection between the column element (17) and the belt raising unit (16) such that the suction air duct (19) forms a driver of the belt raising unit (16) with a movement of the column element (17) in the deployment direction (10).
11. A bale opener (1) in accordance with claim 10,
    characterized in that
    the suction air duct (18) has a driver frame (23) at the end side for the transition into the belt raising unit (16) that

    • forms an open end of the suction air duct (19); and

    • is connected to a reception opening (24) of the belt raising unit (16).
12. A bale opener (1) in accordance with claim 11,
    characterized in that
    the driver frame (23)

    • is led from a vertical into the reception opening (24); and

    • has vertical mobility in the reception opening (24).
13. A bale opener (1) in accordance with claim 11 or claim 12,
    characterized in that
    a snorkel (32) that extends into the suction air passage (13) adjoins the reception opening (24).
14. A bale opener (1) in accordance with claim 13,
    characterized in that
    the belt raising unit (16) has an adjustment device (33) by which

    • the snorkel (32) is adjustable in a vertical direction at the frame rack (20); and/or

    • the drive frame (23) is adjustable in a transverse direction at the frame rack (20).

Images