DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing of at least two different fibre material and more specifically a weighing and blending apparatus between two mixing bale openers in textile spinning preparatory machine line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Normally the textile spinning mills comprises a preparatory machine line and especially the blow room machines are the deciding area about the blending for getting the desired spun yarn as outcome. One of the textile spinning preparatory machine in blow room is a mixing bale opener that does the function of opening the fibres fed manually and relaxing the stress on the fiber. Furthermore, it mixes or blends the different raw materials e.g natural or chemical fibers together. Also, it is required to preliminary removal of dirt, dust, any other foreign impurities present in the fiber tuft during the process of blending.
Blending is the important process in yarn production process which combines fibers of different origins, length, thickness or color to produce a desired resultant yarn. Blending also refers to different kind of material or grade to mix together for attaining the desired property in the final yarn. Hopper feeder system being used in the production line for accurate weighing and more homogeneous mixing in spinning process. In this method, the blends are prepared by feeding different fibres in different hopper feeder wherein each feeder has their own dedicated weighing bin for weighing the materials to achieve the required blend ratio as a whole.
The known fiber feeder has at least a feed lattice to convey the material to the consecutively arranged spiked lattice which is an inclined endless belt held by end rollers. The endless belt on its outer surface comprises series of rows of metallic spikes extending over the width of the conveyor belt. The spiked lattice carries the fiber material and transfer the same to corresponding feed chamber. Below / at the outlet of feed chamber, a weighing bin is provided which is equipped with suitable load cell arrangement to measure the contained fibre flocks. An exact metering of different fiber material components during fiber preparation is frequently performed by a weighing hopper feeder. For each material component a separate weighing hopper feeder is provided as disclosed in US7614121.
Presently, there also in practice of manual mixing, the material is weighed separately then mixed and fed through mixing bale opener machine which is not accurate and requires more labor resource which is not economical.
Though there is automated solution available as described above, it requires individual bins for individual material, which adds more cost.
There has thus been a need to develop a new method of blending for the high production that would overcome the disadvantages present in the existing machines.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Primary objective of the present invention is to provide a blending cum weighing apparatus for processing at least two or more different fibre components in a textile spinning preparatory machine.
Another objective of the present invention to provide a common weighing apparatus for blending different materials with more accuracy in textile spinning preparatory machine.
One more objective of the present invention is to improve the quality of blending process at reduced cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for processing textile fibres, comprising a common weighing bin, at least two feeders, at least one flap, arranged between the feeders, and the common weighing bin, and a controller configured to operate the flap synchronously with the feeders for preparing a desired proportion of blend of fibres. According to the present invention, at least two delivery rollers can be arranged between the feeders and the weighing bin.
According to the present invention, the common weighing bin is arranged in configuration with a measuring unit. The measuring units includes sensor or load cells. The weighing bin is provided with a bin door opening arrangement in the form of at least a hinged flap like plate which can be opened or closed whenever required.
According to the present invention, the feeders are adapted to feed fibre materials to the common weighing bin for preparing a blend of the fibres. Each feeder is connected to a fibre opening machine. Each feeder comprises a feed roller driven by a servo motor for varying speed according to the predetermined weight or blend ratio of the fibres. Each feeder may comprise a feed lattice and/or a spiked lattice and/or a feed duct and/or a feed chute.
According to the present invention, the flap is arranged to supply or stop the fibre feed to the weighing bin. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a flap corresponding to each feeder. The flaps for corresponding feeders are turned or actuated to right and left direction about a hinge point, so that two different fibre materials flow to the weighing bin from respective feeder alternately.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure-1 illustrates the blending apparatus and its arrangement in textile spinning preparatory machine according to known art.
Figure-2 shows the integrated mixing bale opener with common weighing bin in the textile spinning preparatory machine according to the present invention.
Figure-3 shows the feeder B working condition of integrated mixing bale opener with common weighing according to the present invention.
Figure-4 illustrates the magnified view weighing apparatus of the textile spinning preparatory machine according to present invention.
Figure-5 & 6 illustrates the one more embodiment of the weighing apparatus according to present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Existing blending apparatus in the textile spinning preparatory machine is illustrated in Figure 1. Blending machine or feeder comprises a feed lattice, spiked lattice, feed roller, weighing bin, measuring unit with sensor and a delivery conveyor. Fibre material flows over the feed lattice (1) which is traveling in the direction of arrow (shown in drawing). Then the materials are conveyed from feed lattice (1) to spiked lattice (2) which is arranged in an inclined manner and is held by drive rollers at each end. Spiked lattice revolve in the direction of arrow (shown in figure). The fibre flocks are then carried by spiked lattice which has plurality of metallic spikes on its entire surface. The Spiked lattice (2) then delivers the fiber material (3) to the weighing bin (5) with help of feed roller (4).
Feed roller (4) rotates in anticlockwise direction (shown in fig) and the material or fibre flock is dropped into the weighing bin (5) for weighing the first feed material. Weighing bin comprises measuring unit with sensor or load cell at the top portion and a bin door opening arrangement is present beneath weighing bin (5).
After weighing the desired quantity of first fibre material, the bin door is opened and the measured quantity of fibre materials are dropped onto to conveyor (10). Adjacently a similar arrangement is provided for measuring the quantity of second fibre material and the delivered fibres getting mixed with the previously weighed first fibre material either in the next mixing chamber or on the conveyor itself. Thus, individual weighing hopper feeder is provided with dedicated weighing bin for individual mixing bale opener.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for processing textile fibres wherein at least two fibre materials are measured in a common weighing bin and measured quantities of materials are commonly delivered to next processing stage for further opening and mixing process for supplying to further preparatory machine.
The apparatus for processing fibers according to the present invention comprises at least two mixing bale openers integrated with a single/common weighing unit. The apparatus accordingly comprises feed lattice, spiked lattice, flap arrangement, common weighing bin, measuring unit with load sensor. Material flows through the feed lattice which conveys the material to spiked lattice. Spiked lattice arranged is provided in an inclined manner which is supported by the drive rollers at each end. spiked lattice comprises plurality of metallic spikes on its outer surface and spread across the width of the conveyor belt. From the spiked lattice, the fibres are transferred to common weighing bin with help of adjacently arranged feed roller.
Feed roller and flap arrangement is used to open and close the feeder with respect to corresponding feeding material. flap arrangement is provided upstream of common weighing bin for selectively feeding the material to weighing bin. In the present invention, there is at least a flap used for material feeding to the weighing bin wherein flap is opened or closed depending upon the required blending parameters. Here, one flap is closed during the time of another flap in working or opened condition, while two different materials flows in respective feeder. For example, cotton flows at feeder A and polyester or any synthetic fiber flows in feeder B. If the flap of feeder B (i.e. polyester feeder) is closed, the material is fed to the weighing bin through the opened flap of feeder A (i.e. Cotton feeder). Once the required weight of material is fed, the flap of feeder A is closed and subsequently the flap of feeder B is opened to feed the material to the weighing bin.
feed rollers of both feeders is provided with a servo drive, so that the speed of the rollers can be varied with respect to the predetermined weight or blend ratio of the fibres. Predetermined weight can be calculated with respect to the blending ratio or blending parameter and weighing bin capacity. Moreover, uniform mixing is discharged from the weighing means and is delivered to the next processing machine.
The integrated mixing bale opener or blending machine with common weighing bin according to the present invention is shown in Figure 2.
As shown in Figure 2, two mixing bale opener machine (not shown) are integrated with a single /common weighing bin (5) though feeders. Each material flocks for example First fibre material (3) and second fibre material (3A) from the respective mixing bale opener is filled alternatively in the common/single weighing bin (5) till the predetermined weight is measured. The predetermined weight is calculated in respect of the blending ratio required and weighing bin capacity. As the process is automated through a controller (not shown), the process is more accurate and less manual intervention is required.
The apparatus as shown in Figure 2 comprises two hopper feeders namely feeder A and feeder B, common weighing bin (5), measuring unit (6, 6A) with sensor or load cell, flap arrangement (7, 7A), guide roller and conveyor (not shown). Each feeder comprises feed lattice (1, 1A), spiked lattice (2, 2A), feed roller (4, 4A).
In feeder A, the first fibre material (3) flows to the feed lattice (1) which is rotated in the direction as shown in drawing. Therefrom the materials are conveyed to inclined spiked lattice (2) due to the forward action of feed lattice (1). inclined spiked lattice is provided to carry forward the first fibre material (3) upwards. Then the spiked lattice (2) delivers fiber material (3) with help of feed roller (4) to the weighing bin (5).
The feed roller (4) rotates in the anticlockwise direction (shown in fig) by means of a servo drive, so that the speed of the roller can be varied with respect to the required weight of the feeding material. During the starting or initial fibre filling process, the feed roller can run at faster rate and then slowed to rotate at slower rate while ending up the filling process. The first fibre material (3) is under filling process up to the required quantity in the weighing bin (5) whereas the filling process of second fibre material (3A) is not resumed. After filling required quantity of first fibre (3), the supply of material will be slowed down by reducing the speed of feed roller servo drive. In the same manner, the delivery rollers (9, 9A) also work at different speed while filling the fibres in weighing bin (5). delivery rollers (9, 9A) are provided optionally for different configuration of machine parameter which depends upon processing fibre material and hence the material filling process may also be achieved without providing delivery rollers (9, 9A).
Feed roller with flap arrangement as shown in Figure 3 is used to open and close the feeder corresponding to the feeding material. There are two flaps (8 and 8A) arranged above in a weighing bin (5). The two flaps (8, 8A) arrangement for corresponding feeder turned or actuated to right and left direction about a hinge point. If one flap is in closed condition, another flap will be working or in opened position, so that two different materials flow to fill position from respective feeder alternately. For example, if cotton (3) flows at feeder A and polyester or any synthetic fiber (3A) flow slowed down and blocked by flap (8A) in feeder B. i.e., at a time, one flap is closed (corresponding polyester feeder) whereas the another flap is opened to allow the feeding of material (corresponding cotton feeder) to weighing bin till the required material weight is reached. After it reaches required weight, the flap will be closed for incoming material and the another flap opens completely and starts to feed material to weighing bin (5). The weighing bin (5) comprises at least a measuring unit with sensor or load cell (6 and 6A) at the top portion and a bin door opening arrangement (7, 7A) is present beneath weighing bin (5). bin door opening arrangement comprises at least a hinged flap like plate (7, 7A) which can be operatively opened or closed whenever required. According to the invention, a wider capacity weighing bin is used for weighing and blending the fiber materials. The weighing is done in such a way that upto 70-90% of the weight free fall occurs from the feed roller. However, after a predetermined percentage, the flap is moved closer to delivery roller (9 & 9A) and a controlled delivery is given to weighing bin so that the delivery is accurate. Thus a predetermined mass of each material is alternately filled depending upon the required blend ratio.
Figure 3 shows the filling position fibre material through feeder B according to the present invention. The feeder B works similar to feeder A as explained above. Here the flap (8A) is in open position to convey the second fibre material like Polyester or blended material (3A) to the weighing bin and whereas the another flap (8) of feeder A comes to closed condition. Material (3A) is made to flow at faster rate by increasing the feed speed of corresponding feed roller (4A) to fill the weighing bin in shorter time. Feeding of Polyester or blended material (3A) to the weighing bin continues till the required material weight is reached to meet the required blending ratio. After the bin filled with required mass of fibres, the flap (8A) closes flow of incoming material. Meanwhile, flap (8) also be in closed condition i.e feeder A is in stop/slow speed condition and hence it does not feed any material to weighing bin (5). The feed is slowed down and the corresponding flaps (8, 8A) closes the material flow to weighing bin (5). This process is Illustrated in the magnified view of weighing system, as shown in Figure 4. Initially materials are flowed at high feed rate till reaching maximum quantity of calculated or predetermined blending ratio. For example, for the required blending ratio 60/40 of polyester and cotton is considered for 100Kg blend. Feeder A consist of cotton material (3) and feeder B supplies polyester material (3A). During feeding and weighing operation, the feeder A is in running condition and corresponding flap (8) opens. Initially, feed roller (4) run at high speed to reach maximum weight up-to 35Kg and bring down to run at slow speed for filling the remaining 5Kg to achieve the accurate weight of 40Kg and hence weighing container fills at shorter time. Similarly, the feeder B works for filling the 60Kg of polyester material in the weighing bin. According to the present invention, the feed roller can be servo driven, the speed of the roller can be varied according to the required weight or blend ratio. After completion of weighing process, the blend of first material (3) and second material (3A), is dropped onto the conveyor (10) by opening of hinged flap plates (7 and 7A). Then the weighed fibres are carried forwards to further processing machine. After dropping in the delivery conveyor, either combined or in two different dosages, the material can be blended either in a different machine or using inbuilt blending chamber.
In a further embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 5 & 6, the material filling process may be achieved without using delivery rollers (9, 9A) since rollers are optional. The material flow to the weighing bin (5) is fully controlled by the flaps (8, 8A) at the outlet of feed roller (4) itself by closing or opening the corresponding flaps (8, 8A) with respect to corresponding feed roller pair (4, 4A). It is also possible to blend both material and weigh them together as a whole for pre-blended fibre components.
Advantages:
1. The apparatus of the present invention is automated, hence accurate ratio and amount of the blend can be easily prepared.
2. A blend composition can be prepared of any number different easily with less manual intervention.
3. Requires less floor space compared to currently available machines.
4. The apparatus being automatic provides a predetermined blend composition by accurate weighing of the fibers and allows to mix two or more different type of fibers by allowing to connect more feeders to the common weighing bin.
In view of the present disclosure which describes the present invention, all changes, modifications and variations within the meaning and range of equivalency are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiment of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiment may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
,CLAIMS:
1. An apparatus for processing textile fibres, comprising:
a common weighing bin (5) arranged in configuration with a measuring unit (6, 6A);
at least two feeders (A, B) adapted to feed fibre materials to the common weighing bin (5) for preparing a blend of the fibres, each feeder (A, B) is connected to a fibre opening machine;
at least one flap arranged between the feeders (A, B) and the common weighing bin (5) to supply or stop the fibre feed to the weighing bin (5); and
a controller configured to operate the flap (8, 8A) synchronously with the feeders (A, B) for preparing a desired proportion of blend of fibres.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each feeder (A, B) comprises a feed roller (4, 4A).

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each feeder (A, B) comprises a feed lattice (1, 1A) and/or a spiked lattice (2, 2A) and/or a feed duct and/or a feed chute.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the feed roller (4, 4A) is driven by a servo motor for varying speed according to the predetermined weight or blend ratio of the fibres.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring units (6, 6A) includes sensor or load cells.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two delivery rollers (9, 9A) are arranged between the feeders (A, B) and the weighing bin (5).

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weighing bin (5) is provided with a bin door opening arrangement in the form of at least a hinged flap like plate (7, 7A) which can be opened or closed whenever required.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a flap corresponding to each feeder.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the flaps (8, 8A) for corresponding feeders (A, B) are turned or actuated to right and left direction about a hinge point, so that two different fibre materials flow to the weighing bin (5) from respective feeder (A, B) alternately.