US3884028A

US3884028A - Apparatus for removing impurities from fibers

Info

Publication number: US3884028A
Application number: US368908A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fritz Stahlecker; Hans Stahlecker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-06-28
Filing date: 1973-06-11
Publication date: 1975-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-20
Also published as: FR2190953B1; IT988849B; JPS4941645A; BR7304754D0; DE2231578A1; FR2190953A1; GB1429559A; DE2231578B2

Abstract

A spinning unit for an open-end spinning machine with an apparatus for feeding and disentangling a sliver. The sliver is seized and disentangled by a high-speed disentangling roll and advanced to the spinning rotor through a special transport path, which begins in the area of the disentangling roll, by means of a flow of air. A removal opening for impurities is provided in this transport path. The impurities are picked up by conveying means located directly next to the removal opening and transported to a further apparatus, from which they are removed, preferably pneumatically.

Description

United States Patent Stahlecker et a1.

[451 May 20, 1975 Appl. No.: 368,908

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 28, 1972 Germany 2231578 [52] US. Cl. 57/56; 15/40; 15/308; 57/58.95 [51] Int. Cl. D0lh 11/00; D0lh H12 [58] Field of Search 57/58.95, 56; 15/40, 89, 15/308, 306 A; 302/49 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 555,789 3/1896 Munger.... 302/49 X 988,101 3/1911 James 302/49 3,455,097 7/1969 Rajnoha et al 57/58.95 3,728,853 4/1973 Schiltknecht 57/58.95 3,763,641 10/1973 Doudlebsky et al. 57/58.95 X

3,777,466 12/1973 Kabele et al 57/56 X 3,792,575 2/1974 Doudlebsky et a1. 57/56 3,797,218 3/1974 Landwehrkamp et al. 3,800,521 4/1974 Doudlebsky et a1. 57/58.95

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 239,085 12/1969 U.S.S.R 57/58.95 2,018,579 10/1971 Germany 57/58.95

Primary Examiner lohn W. Huckert Assistant ExaminerCharles Gorenstein Attorney, Agent, or FirmCraig & Antonelli [5 7] ABSTRACT A spinning unit for an open-end spinning machine with an apparatus for feeding and disentangling a sliver. The sliver is seized and disentangled by a highspeed disentangling roll and advanced to the spinning rotor through a special transport path, which begins in the area of the disentangling roll, by means of a flow of air. A removal opening for impurities is provided in this transport path. The impurities are picked up by conveying means located directly next to the removal opening and transported to a further apparatus, from which they are removed, preferably pneumatically.

23 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR REMOVING IMPURITIES FROM FIBERS The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing impurities from fibres fed to a spinning turbine of an open-end spinning unit, having a removal opening located in the transport path and followed by removal means.

In order to remove impurities from the disentangled fibres in open-end spinning units, the principle of carding, which is known in every cotton spinning mill, is employed, according to which a centrifugal force throws the impurities through gaps in the cover of the licker-in or the carding cylinder. Extraction means, which are located directly next to the removal opening of a spinning unit, are generally employed as removing means. This results in the problem that the relatively high air vacuum required for extraction can affect and interfere with the fibre transport to the spinning turbine, which is also performed by means of a vacuum.

In order to eliminate this problem, it has become known to provide a closing member for the removal opening, while the extraction means are only subjected to a vacuum periodically. The extraction means only operate when the closing member closes the removal opening, preventing the vacuum required for removing the impurities from affecting the fibre transport.

As a result of this intermittent operation of the known cleaning means, impurities can reach the spinning turbine during the extraction operation. In addition, the constructional sophistication with respect to the fabrication of the individual components and, especially, with respect to the actuating means and their control is quite high. On the one hand, it must be ensured that all closing elements operate uniformly while, on the other hand, the closing and opening movements must be matched as precisely as possible to the generation of the vacuum in the extraction means.

The object of the invention is to create an apparatus of the type set forth at the outset which, on the one hand, permits continuous operation and, on the other, requires only extremely simple drive and control means. According to the invention, the removal means include mechanical conveying means directly following the removal opening. These mechanical conveying means can operate continuously, without affecting fibre transport to the spinning turbines. The advantage therein is that these conveying means must only be switched on and off, which can be accomplished at the same time the spinning machine or the respective spinning unit is switched on and off, and can thus be readily realized.

To prevent improper air from penetrating in the area of the removal opening, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the conveying means are divided into chambers or pockets or similar compartments in its direction of travel, which pass by the removal opening successively. In this connection, it is favourable if at least the walls of the conveying means defining the chambers or similar compartments are of elastic material. Thus, it is possible for these walls to contact and seal the housing containing the removal opening.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the cross section of the removal opening can be altered by adjusting or interchanging one or more inserts. This permits the performance of the removal effect to be controlled, which should depend on the degree of impurity and the fibre to be spun.

In order to be able to affect the degree of cleaning in a further embodiment of the invention, a supply air channel, whose cross section is preferably adjustable, ends in the area of the removal opening. The cross section of this supply air channel affects the magnitude of the setting of the flow of air, directed toward the spinning turbine, whereby the cleaning effect is reduced as the magnitude increases.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, each spinning unit of a spinning machine is equipped with its own conveying means, followed by a conveying apparatus extending through the spinning machine and being preferably pneumatic. In this connection, the mechanical conveying means provide a separation between the removal opening and the pneumatic conveying apparatus, so that this conveying apparatus cannot act upon the spinning turbine, thus preventing the spinning quality from being affected. I

In another embodiment of the invention, conveying means passing by the removal openings of a plurality of, or all, spinning units are provided and which are followed by a conveying and/or cleaning apparatus, which is preferably pneumatic, at one or more points. It will generally be practical for pneumatic extraction means to be associated to each spinning point. However, it is also possible to provide, at one or more points, only brush-like cleaning means, for example, which wipe off the impurities from the conveying means and pass them on to one or more interchangeable containers, for example.

The above discussed and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description thereof, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a schematically illustrated spinning unit equipped according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section in the direction of the axis of a disentangling roll of a spinning unit through an embodiment similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through a detail of a spinning point equipped according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through a further embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a partial cross section along Line V-V in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 shows a cross section through a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the generally common design of a feed and disentangling apparatus, with whose help a sliver l is disentangled and fed to a spinning turbine 2 in the form of individual fibres. The sliver 1 is fed by means of a feed roll 4, operating conjointly with a feed lever 3, of a disentangling roll 5 rotating in the opposite direction. The disentangling roll 5, which runs significantly faster than the feed roll 4, has a needle or comb-like clothing 6 on its circumference. A channel 8 leads from the disentangling roll 5, rotating in a housing 7, to the spinning turbine 2; the disentangled fibres are sucked in through the channel 8 by means of a vacuum prevailing or generated in the spinning turbine 2. I

Located on the bottom of disentangling roll 5 is a removal opening 9, from which impurities in the fibre material, which are heavier than the fibres, can be thrown out by means of the centrifugal force. Next to this removal opening 9 are conveying means 10, which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprise a bucket wheel 11, whose circumference is divided into individual chambers or similar compartments. The bucket wheel 11 rotates in an enclosed housing and advances the impurities to the mouth of an extraction pipe 12, which belongs to a central conveying apparatus for all spinning units for removing the impurities. The extraction pipe 12 is connected with a vacuum channel 13, which is provided with appropriate connections for all spinning units.

The bucket wheel 11 is designed in such a manner that at least the width of one chamber is located between the mouth of the extraction pipe 12 and the removal opening 9, preventing a direct connection between the two. An especially good seal can be achieved if the bucket wheel 11 is fabricated of elastic material, so that its radial webs can contact the surrounding housing 7 relatively tightly.

To produce an increased air flow in the chamber passing by the extraction pipe 12, there is a hole 14 in the housing. This hole 14 further increases the security that the vacuum from extraction pipe 12 cannot act at removal opening 9.

In the illustrated embodiment, bucket wheel 11 is arranged on a shaft 15. This shaft 15, which serves as a drive shaft, is preferably comprised of a plurality of members and extends the entire length of the machine. Bucket wheel 11 is positively connected therewith. In order to be able to replace one complete bucket wheel 1 l of a spinning point without having to remove the entire shaft 15, bucket wheel 11 is fabricated of two plastic members which are clipped together.

As mentioned above, the disentangled fibres are conveyed to the spinning turbine through fibre channel 8 by means of a vacuum. To accomplish this, an air supply must be provided for ensuring a given volume of air. In the illustrated embodiment, this is accomplished by means of removal opening 9 in which a supply air channel 16 ends. Associated to this supply air channel 16 is a shaft 17, having a recess and being rotatable with the aid of a hand lever 18, which alters the cross section of the supply air channel 16.

The spinning turbine 2 sucks in air through fibre channel 8 and air supply channel 16 via removal opening 9. The intensity of this flow of air can be altered by rotating shaft 17, whereby with a stronger air flow fewer impurities can be removed through removal opening 9 than with a weaker air flow. With a strong flow of air, only those impurities can be thrown out through removal opening 9 which are heavy enough to overcome the force of the air flow through their centrifugal force.

Housing 7 has

inserts

19 and 20 in the area of the removal opening 9 which are designed interchangeably and/or adjustably. These two inserts l9 and 20 define the removal opening, so that its cross section can be matched to the desired spinning conditions by replacement or adjustment of inserts l9 and 20. It is possible to alter both the distance of the guide surfaces formed by them to clothing 6 of disentangling roll and the angle of inclination of a cleaning edge 21 of insert 20. A correspondingly designed one-piece insert can also be provided instead of two

inserts

19 and 20. Moreover, the employment of interchangeable inserts also permits removal opening 9 to be closed completely if, for example, it is desired to spin synthetic fibres.

The feed and disentangling means are generally designed in such a manner that, by swivelling or similar means, they can be moved far enough away from spinning turbine 2 to provide access thereto and, if desired, to the accompanying drive means as well. However in the embodiment according to FIG. 1, shaft 15, and thus bucket wheel 11, is arranged fixedly at each spinning point. If the conveying means 10 are to be swivelled with the other feed and disentangling means, it is practical to provide individual drive means for each conveying means, which can preferably be taken off from the existing drives of the feed and disentangling means. In this connection, feed roll 4 can readily be provided with a wharve, around which a toothed belt or similar belt is laid which drives a wharve of the bucket wheel 11 which can then be designed in one piece. The relatively slow drive motion of disentangling roll 5 is sufficient, which provides the advantage of long service life of the necessary bearings.

A design of this type is shown by the embodiment according to FIG. 2, whose basic principle corresponds to the embodiment according to FIG. 1. In this embodiment, also, there is a removal opening beneath the disentangling roll 5, rotating in a housing 7 and followed by conveying means 10, which are also designed in the form of a bucket wheel 22. This bucket wheel is a onepart plastic component, enclosed with end walls on both sides. It is inserted on an axle 23, which is mounted in housing 7 by means of a bearing 24. Attached to axle 23 outside housing 7 is a wharve 25, which can be driven by means of toothed belt, for example, which is laid around a wharve of the driven feed roller 4 in a manner which is not illustrated in more detail. Provided beneath bucket wheel 22 is a small collection area 26 which has a connection piece 27 for an extraction pipe 12, which is designed as an elastic hose in this embodiment. An air supply hole 14 is provided in the opposite wall of the housing in order to provide a sufficiently high air flow in collection area 26.

The principle of the embodiment according to FIG. 3 corresponds to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 with the exception that the removal opening 9 is located in a bend of extraction channel 8. It can be seen that removal of impurities according to the principle upon which the invention is based can be performed with spinning units operating in accordance with any desired disentangling principle and which must not necessarily contain a disentangling roll. In this embodiment, the removal opening 9 is also defined by an interchangeable or adjustable insert 28. The conveying means 10, comprising a two-section, clipped together bucket wheel 11, are located in a shoulder 29 of fibre channel 8, through which a shaft 15 passes, which has its own drive in the headstock of the machine. The vacuum pipe inserted in shoulder 29 is approximately diametrically opposite the removal opening 9 with respect to shaft 15. In this area, shoulder 29 has a lateral hole 30, so that air can be supplied to the respective chambers of bucket wheel 11 located opposite extraction pipe 12, permitting a flow of air to be generated which is sufficient for extracting impurities and which does not act in the area of the removal opening. If the portion of the housing containing fibre channel 8 is to be swivelled away, it is practical to provide drive means for conveying means 10 similar to those in the embodiment according to FIG. 2. In this case, an elastic sleeve 32 of rubber or a similar material can be provided between extraction pipe 12 and a further portion of a vacuum pipe 31 following it, whereby sleeve 32 connects both pipes sufficiently tightly.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5, a

. rack rail 33 is arranged beneath a disentangling roll 5 as conveying means 10, whereby the rack rail 33 is located beneath removal opening 9. Rack rail 33 is fixed to a traversing bar 34 by means of screws or similar elements; traversing bar 34 extends longitudinally relative to the spinning machine and is driven with reciprocating movements.

The impurities are thrown out of removal opening 9 and onto the grooves in rack rail 33 which, together with the teeth, provide subdivision in a type of chambers or pockets. They are sucked from these with the aid of two vacuum pipe connections, which are located on the side next to housing 7 of disentangling roll 5. The cross section of rack rail 33 is angular, which can be seen from FIG. 4 in particular, so that a good air supply is possible on at least one side in the area of vacuum pipe connections 35.

In the illustrated embodiment, removal opening 9 is defined by a slide 36, which is adjustable in the direction of the double arrow 37 for example. The cleaning effect can be influenced with the aid of this slide 36. The cleaning effect can additionally be influenced by means of a supply air channel 16, which ends inside housing 7 in front of removal opening 9 in this embodiment. This channel 16 is also preferably equipped with unillustrated adjusting means, which permit its cross section to be regulated. In this connection, it is practical if these adjusting means can be jointly and centrally adjusted for all spinning points of a spinning machine, so that the entire spinning machine can be uniformly set for the desired spinning conditions in one operation. The swivel, spring retained and adjustable feed roll 4 is driven by a continuous, fixed shaft 38 in this embodiment.

In order to be able to adjust the cross section of removal opening 9, it is also possible to provide a rail 36, which extends the entire length of the spinning machine and/or is comprised of partial sections and whose edge which defines removal opening 9 extends obliquely relative to the axis of disentangling roll 5, so that shifting it in the longitudinal direction of the machine causes a change in the cross section of removal opening 9. This permits central, uniform adjustment of all removal openings.

In a modification of the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5, a similarly designed conveyor belt with teeth on the outside can be provided in place of rack rail 33, whereby the conveyor belt either reciprocates or moves continuously. It is practical to provide guides, which are preferably spring-loaded in the area of the removal openings 9 of the individual spinning units, whereby the guides press the conveyor belt, which is preferably fabricated of an elastic material, against the defining walls of removal opening 9. If the conveyor belt reciprocates, two vacuum pipe connections 35 must be provided for each spinning point, in accordance with the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5. If the conveyor belt rotates in one direction, it could be sufficient if one single extraction means were provided at a selected point. Brush-like cleaning means, which free the conveyor belt of impurities and deposit them in an emptiable container, could possibly be provided instead of extraction means or in addition thereto.

In principle, the embodiment according to FIG. 6 corresponds to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, whereby a short conveyor belt 39, divided into individual chambers by lateral webs, serves as the conveying means 10. This conveyor belt 39 permits the distance between removal opening 9 and the connection of extraction pipe 12 to be significantly increased. Conveyor belt 39 is laid around a deviating roller or a bolt 40, located in the area of removal opening 9, while it is driven by a shaft 41, around which it is also laid, which is associated to the connection of extraction pipe 12. Extraction pipe 12 comprises an elastic hose which is connected to a vacuum channel 13. The free end of the hose is arranged in a swivel flap 42, which is pressed against'conveyor belt 39 in the area of shaft 41, forming a hollow area. The supply air can be introduced by means of the resulting gap. However separate openings in the side walls of flap 42 can also be provided herefor. The housing surrounding shaft 41 can be arranged at such a distance that the webs projecting from conveyor belt 39 rub against it, providing a seal in this direction.

A brush roll 43 is pressed against conveyor belt 39 from below with the aid of a leaf spring 44, providing additional cleaning.

In the illustrated embodiment, a support 46 is fixed to a channel fabricated of an extruded section or similar material, from which a vacuum channel 13 is partitioned off on the bottom; the feed and disentangling means are swivel-mounted on this support 46 and comprise generally feed roll 4 and disentangling roll 5, whose housing 7 can be swivelled around a hollow shaft 47. Hollow shaft 47 contains the drive shaft 48 for feed roll 4, with which there is an unillustrated connection. Shaft 41 and the associated bolt 40, or deviating roller, are mounted fixedly in the same support 46.

Removal opening 9 is defined by two inserts 49 and S0. The interchangeable insert 49 additionally defines a supply air channel 16, whose cross section can be set by means of a slide 51 in order to maintain a flow of air through fibre channel 8 to spinning turbine 2 in the desired intensity. Insert 50 is preferably designed as a rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the spinning machine and associated to the removal openings of all spinning points. This rail 50 can have, in a manner not illustrated in more detail, an edge which extends obliquely relative to the axis of disentangling roll 5 and defines removal opening 9, so that the cross section of removal openings 9 of all spinning points can be simultaneously altered by longitudinal shifting.

If the feed and disentangling means are swivelled around hollow shaft 47, conveyor belt 39 is freely accessible if rail 50 is then also removed. A leaf spring, in a supporting relationship against conveyor belt 39, can be arranged beneath rail 50, providing tensioning of conveyor belt 39 on the one hand and additional sealing on the other.

To realize the invention, it is readily possible to provide other conveying means between removal opening 9 and extraction means, which pick up the impurities from removal opening 9 and pass them on to extraction means at another point, so that these two do not interfere with one another. For example, a screw conveyor passing by removal opening 9 and followed by a vacuum pipe at a distance from the removal opening could be provided herefore, whereby it would then be practical to provide a supply air hole between the vacuum pipe and the removal opening. It is also possible to provide a rotating disc at right angles to the axis of disentangling roll 5, whereby the disc is provided with pocket-like recesses which are passed by the removal opening and then by a connection to the extraction means. The employment of a bucket wheel appears especially advantageous for reasons of space, as the required space is relatively small with this solution on the one hand, while the required driving means can be kept especially simple on the other.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It should therefore be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practised otherwise than as specifically described.

Having thus fully disclosed our invention, what we claim is:

1. An apparatus for removing impurities from fibres, said fibres being advanced to a spinning turbine of an open-end spinning unit in a disentangled state, the apparatus comprising: means for transporting the disentangled fibres, an opening for removing the impurities provided in said means for transporting the disentangled fibres, mechanical conveying means for removing the impurities including at least one movably mounted conveying element located directly next to said opening for receiving the impurities and conveying the same away from said opening, and a pneumatic conveying means connected to said at least one mechanical conveying element for removing and conveying the impurities away therefrom.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cross section of the removal opening is defined by adjustable insert means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removal opening is defined by interchangeable insert means.

4. The appparatus according to claim 1, wherein an air supply channel ends in the area of the opening for removing the impurities.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cross section of the air supply channel is adjustable.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pneumatic conveying means are designed as extraction means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a common drive is provided for the conveying means of all spinning units.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extraction means includes an extraction pipe means and a pneumatic channel means whereby the impurities are removed from said mechanical conveying means through said extraction pipe means to said pneumatic channel means.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said mechanical conveying means is disposed in a chamber, and wherein one end of said extraction pipe means terminates in said chamber.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said chamber includes a collection area for collecting the impurities, and wherein said extraction pipe means terminates in said collection area.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an air channel means is provided in said chamber proximate to the end of said extraction pipe means.

12. An apparatus for removing impurities from fibres, said fibres being advanced to a spinning turbine of an open-end spinning unit in a disentangled state, said apparatus containing in the means for transporting the disentangled fibres, an opening for removing the impurities whereby mechanical conveying means for removing the impurities are located directly next to said opening, the conveying means are divided into individual chambers which pass by the opening for removing the impurities successively.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the walls of the conveying means defining the chambers are of elastic material.

14. An apparatus for removing impurities from fibres, said fibres being advanced to a spinning turbine of an open-end spinning unit in a disentangled state, said apparatus containing in the means for transporting the disentangled fibres, an opening for removing the impurities, whereby mechanical conveying means for removing the impurities are located directly next to said opening, the conveying means are divided into individual chambers which pass by the opening for removing the impurities successively, and wherein each spinning unit in a spinning machine equipped with a plurality of spinning units is provided with its own conveying means, followed by common conveying means for the entire spinning machine for removing the impurities.

15. An apparatus for removing impurities from fibres, said fibres being advanced to a spinning turbine of an open-end spinning unit in a disentangled state, said apparatus containing in themeans for transporting the disentangled fibres, an opening for removing the impurities, whereby mechanical conveying means for removing the impurities are located directly next to said opening, the conveying means are divided into individual chambers which pass by the opening for removing the impurities successively, and wherein common conveying means are provided for the openings for removing impurities in a plurality of spinning units and which are followed by at least a conveying or cleaning apparatus.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a pneumatic conveying or cleaning apparatus is provided.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the pneumatic conveying or cleaning apparatus is an extraction apparatus. r

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein air supply openings leading to the chambers of the conveying means are provided in the area of the extraction means.

19. An apparatus for removing impurities from fibres, said fibres being advanced to a spinning turbine of an open-end spinning unit in a disentangled state, said apparatus containing in the means for transporting the disentangled fibers an opening for removing the impurities, whereby mechanical conveying means for removing the impurities are located directly next to said opening, the conveying means of a spinning unit is connected with a driven feed roll, located in the spinning unit, by drive means.

20. An apparatus for removing impurities from fibres, said fibres being advanced to a spinning turbine of an open-end spinning unit in a disentangled state, said apparatus containing in the means for transporting the disentangled fibres an opening for removing the imcludes a wheel means having means provided thereon for conveying the impurities away from said opening, and wherein said mounting means includes a shaft means for rotatably mounting said wheel means proximate said opening.

21. An apparatus for removing impurities from fibres, said fibres being advanced to a spinning turbine of an open-end spinning unit in a disentangled state, said apparatus containing in the means for transporting the disentangled fibres an opening for removing the impurities, whereby mechanical conveying means for removing the impurities are located directly next to said opening, said mechanical conveying means includes at least one mechanical element, and means are provided for displaceably mounting said mechanical element proximate to said opening, said mechanical element includes a rail means, and said mounting means includes means for reciprocably mounting said rail means proximate said opening.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said rail means includes chamber means for receiving the impurities.

23. An apparatus for removing impurities from fibres, said fibres being advanced to a spinning turbine of an open-end spinning unit in a disentangled state, said apparatus containing in the means for transporting the disentangled fibres an opening for removing impurities, whereby mechanical conveying means for removing the impurities are located directly next to said opening, said mechanical conveying means includes at least one mechanical element, and means are provided for displaceably mounting said mechanical element proximate to said opening, said mechanical element includes a conveyor belt means disposed proximate said opening.

Claims

15. An apparatus for removing impurities from fibres, said fibres being advanced to a spinning turbine of an open-end spinning unit in a disentangled state, said apparatus containing in the means for transporting the disentangled fibres, an opening for removing the impurities, whereby mechanical conveying means for removing the impurities are located directly next to said opening, the conveying means are divided into individual chambers which pass by the opening for removing the impurities successively, and wherein common conveying means are provided for the openings for removing impurities in a plurality of spinning units and which are followed by at least a conveying or cleaning apparatus.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the pneumatic conveying or cleaning apparatus is an extraction apparatus.

20. An apparatus for removing impurities from fibres, said fibres being advanced to a spinning turbine of an open-end spinning unit in a disentangled state, said apparatus containing in the means for transporting the disentangled fibres an opening for removing the impurities, whereby mechanical conveying means for removing the impurities are located directly next to said opening, said mechanical conveying means includes at least one mechanical element, and means are provided for displaceably mounting said mechanical element proximate to said opening, said mechanical element includes a wheel means having means provided thereon for conveying the impurities away from said opening, and wherein said mounting means includes a shaft means for rotatably mounting said wheel means proximate said opening.