GB1571494A

GB1571494A - Faller bars

Info

Publication number: GB1571494A
Application number: GB1665976A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: James Mackie and Sons Ltd
Current assignee: James Mackie and Sons Ltd
Priority date: 1976-04-23
Filing date: 1976-04-23
Publication date: 1980-07-16
Also published as: DE2717718A1; FR2348987A1; JPS60455B2; BE853857A; JPS52132124A; FR2348987B1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO FALLER BARS (71) We. JAMES MACKIE & SONS LIMITED a British Company, of Albert Foundry Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 7eel), do whereby declare the invention, for which we privy that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:: Filler bars for textile machines fall broadly into two categories, namely those for use with screw gill boxes which are rectangular in section, being several times deeper than they are thick and formed with extensions shaped to co-operate with driving screws, and those for use with chain drives or of the push-bar type which are generally cylindrical in shape and are formed at one end with a cranked extension for co-operation with a cam track controlling the angular position of each bar and at the other end with a plain extension which merely fits into one of the chains or runs on a guide track. Both types of bar were traditionally pinned merely by drilling holes in the body of the bar and fitting the pins in position. Replacement of bent or broken pins was a time-consuming job and the bars could withstand only a limited number of repinnings.

For many vears now it has also been common practice for the pins to be housed in inserts held in position in an appropriately shaped groove or recess in the body of the faller bar. Originally, the inserts were of metal and were soldered in position, but latterly the inserts have been formed of plastics material moulded in situ around the bases of the pins and held in position in the recess in the faller bar by means of a glue, usually based on some form of synthetic resin.

To replace a bent or broken pin, it is then merely a question of removing a complete pin-bearing insert and replacing it by a fresh one. The discarded insert can then either be repaired or thrown away, depending on the damage. The replacement of a complete pin-bearing insert does, nevertheless, take a measurable amount of time in that, in order to remove the insert and replace it with a new one, it is necessary firstly to break the glue bond, e.g. by heating, then to clean out the surplus glue and finally to fit the new insert and glue it in position again, most usually by means of a heat-activated adhesive which requires specific repair equipment separate from the machine.In order to cut down on loss of production from the machine, this necessitates the user carrying an additional stock faller bars to serve as replacements during the period when a damaged insert in a faller bar is being replaced.

According to the present invention, a faller bar has a main body portion with a hollow interior which is open at one end and a longitudinal slit through the wall portion surrounding the hollow interior, the faller bar also including a pin bearing member, at least part of which, having a maximum width greater than that of the slit, is releasably located within the hollow interior with the pins projecting through the slit, in such a way as to be held against transverse displacement, but, when released, to be capable of longitudinal withdrawal from the body. With such a construction, no glue is required to hold the pin bearing member in position, although a small quantity can be used as an added precaution if desired.In the event of one or more bent or damaged pins, the complete pin bearing member is replaced as previously but with a faller bar in accordance with the invention, the pin bearing member is merely released, withdrawn longitudinally from the body of the faller bar and replaced by a fresh member.

It is, of course, necessary to stop the machine for the removal and replacement of the damaged pin bearing member but it is possible to effect the repair directly at the frame without the necessity of substituting a complete faller bar for that to be repaired.

Once the damaged pin bearing member has been replaced and the machine restarted, the operator will have adequate time to take whatever action may be necessary with the pin bearing member itself. If badly damaged, it can be thrown away completely as with previous types of insert, but if only a relatively small number of pins are bent or damaged, these can be knocked out and replaced. The member itself may, for example, be of nylon which is moulded around the bases of the pins during its initial production and it is found with material of this nature that it is relatively simple to knock out a few damaged pins and to replace them with new ones. The feasibility of doing this is enhanced by the additional spare time available to the operator which in its turn results from the much shorter time spent in replacing a damaged pin bearing member.

The hollow interior of the bar must, of course, be open at one end to permit the withdrawal of the pin bearing member, but the extent of the hollow portion depends on a number of factors. If, for example, only the central part of the faller is pinned, the hollow interior need not extend further than the end of the pinned length. If the faller bar is pinned along substantially the whole of its length, the hollow interior needs to extend for the same distance, but even if the length of pinning is shorter than the length of the faller bar, it is found convenient for the bar to be hollow for substantially the whole of its length. In particular, the faller bar is preferably of hollow tubular construction, with lengths at the ends closed by plugs which thus render the two ends effectively solid.

As an alternative, the hollow interior may be interrupted by a solid portion in the middle of the bar, formed, for example, by an inserted plug. This provides two separate hollow compartments each with its own slit and its own pin bearing member inserted from the respective end of the bar and capable of individual replacement independently of that at the other end. Such a construction is particularly suited to a faller bar having a number of pin fields for combing a number of spaced slivers.

The pin bearing member is preferably held against longitudinal displacement by abutment with end pieces, at least one of which is releasable to allow for the longitudinal withdrawal of the pin bearing member from the body of the bar. As an alternative to the inclusion of such end pieces for holding the pin bearing member in position, however, the pin bearing member may be held by a transverse clamping action, e.g. by screws or rivets passing through the wall of the bar and into the member or by distortion of the wall of the bar itself so as to grip the pin bearing member. It is even possible for the pin bearing member to be releasably held against longitudinal displacement by means of a small quantity of glue. Thus a small hole or holes may be drilled through the wall of the faller body and into the pin bearing member and glue inserted to lock it in place.When removing the member, a sharp tap will be sufficient to break the glue bond, or if the glue is thermoplastic, the insertion of a small diameter heated pin sufficient to soften the glue and enable the removal of the pin bearing member.

When end pieces are fitted, these may conveniently form part of the extensions which, as described originally, need to be fitted to either form of faller bar for cooperation with a respective cam track. If the bar is of hollow tubular construction closed at the ends by plugs, these plugs may constitute the respective end pieces.

One of the end pieces is preferably held more or less permanently in position, e.g.

by welding or adhesive, while the other needs to be held in a manner such as to permit its ready release. For this purpose this end piece may be formed with a longitudinal rib extending into the slit and having a lateral projection engaging a notch in side of the slit. The body of the faller bar will inevitably have a degree of resilience and when this end piece is pushed into position, the presence of the lateral projection tends to force aside the walls of the slit until it reaches the notch and snaps into position to hold the end piece against the end of the pin bearing member. Releasing the projection from the notch allows the end piece to be removed without difficulty. The combination of the projection and the notch acts as a snap catch and other forms of such catch may be used as alternatives.For example, a spring loaded ball may be trapped in a recess in the plug and may then locate in a hole in the wall of the body. Yet again, this end piece may be held in position by means of screws of rivets passing through the wall of the body.

The various constructional features described so far are applicable to both general types of faller bar, irrespective of their cross sectional shape. For a bar of generally circular cross section, this may be fabricated from a length of metal, e.g. steel tubing formed with a slit or by milling a narrow slit from one end to a point close to the other end. The end to which the slit extends exhibits a degree of resilience for insertion of the releasable end piece, but if one end piece is to be fixed it is preferably at the other end which is relatively rigid. For a faller bar of rectangular cross section, this may be fabricated by bending a length of metal, e.g. steel strip to the appropriate shape, leaving a narrow slit at the top, as required.When fitting the fixed end piece in position, the welding operation can be arranged to close the slit at that end so as to make a solid joint.

Preferably the cross section of the hollow interior is substantially completely filled by the pin bearing member. This positively precludes transverse displacement and also increases the rigidity of the bar as a whole.

In addition to completely filling the hollow interior of the bar, the pin bearing member may be formed along at least a substantial part of its length with a longitudinal rib which extends through the slit and shrouds part of the length of the pins. Not only does this give the pins additional support, but it gives effective control over the depth of penetration of the pins into the fibrous material being worked.

Constructions of faller bar in accordance with the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is an exploded perspective view of one construction of faller bar; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the assembled faller.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line III-III in Figure 1; and Figures 5 to 8 are cross sectional views corresponding to Figure 2 of modified forms of construction.

In the example shown in Figures 1 to 3 the faller bar has a body 2 in the form of a steel tube having a narrow slit 4 through the wall and extending along almost its full length from the right hand end as seen in Figure 1.

In one particular example, the tube 2 is 355 mm long, 9.5 mm in diameter and of 6.35 mm bore and the slit is 2.4 mm wide and extends to within 17.5 mm from the left hand end. An end piece 6, shown exploded but in practice welded in position in the tube 2 is formed with a cranked end 7 constituting a control extension which co-operates with a guide track and the end piece also has a collar 8 and spigot or plug portion 10 fitting into the bore of the tube 2. The spigot portion 10 extends almost up to the end of the slit 4 and the collar 8 abuts against the end of the tube 2.

At the other end, a releasable end piece 12 which may be of a plastics material, e.g.

nylon, also serves as a control extension and has a plain end 16 which runs on a guide in the machine. The end piece 12 has a collar 14 and the part 18 to the left of the collar 14 serves as a spigot portion fitting into the end of the tube 2, being formed with a key-like ridge 20 which when the spigot portion is inserted in the end of the tube, locates in the slit 4 and closes it. The ridge 20 is bulged to form a projection 22 which co-operates with a similarly shaped notch 24 in the wall of the slit 4 so as to act as a snap catch. There is sufficient resilience in the slit end of the tube 2 to allow the projection 22 to pass along the slit 4 until it reaches the notch 24.

A pin bearing member 26 is in the form of a nylon rod with a longitudinal rib 28 extending practically along its full length.

The pins 30 which are located in position when the member 26 is first moulded, extend through the rib 28 so as to be enclosed by the material of the rib. The rib 28 extends beyond the outside of the faller body constituted by the tube 2 and thus controls the depth of penetration of the pins 30 into the fibrous material so that the latter is held clear of the body of the faller. As seen in Figure 2 both the rib 28 on the body 26 and the slit 4 of the faller body 2 are formed eccentrically of the faller body so as to give a close nip between the pins 30 and the front rollers of the drawing head as the fallers enter and leave their working path.

During initial assembly of the faller bar, the cranked end piece 6 is first fixed in position at the left hand end and the member 26 is slid into the hollow interior of the tube from the right hand end. This is a simple operation since the diameter of the member 26 is only a fraction of a millimetre less than the bore of the tube. The member 26 is pushed home until its left hand end abuts against the right hand end of the spigot portion 10 of the end piece 6 and the end piece 12 is then snapped into position so that its spigot portion 20 bears against the right hand end of the member 26 which is thus positively located in a longitudinal direction.

The combination of the rib 20 on the end piece 12 and the rib 28 on the member 26 will close up the gap formed by the slit 4 in the faller body 2 so as not to leave any dirt traps. The co-operation between the rib 28 and the slit 4 controls the radial position of the pins relative to the faller bar as a whole.

As shown, the member 26 is formed as a single length, but the pins 30 may be carried in a number of shorter members which may vary in length so as to give a number of combinations of pin field widths or spaced pin fields depending on the combination of members used, the total length of the combination in each case amounting to the length of the single member illustrated. The same result can be achieved by the use of a range of different members all of the same overall length but of varying pinned lengths.

In each case the overall length of the rib 28 will remain constant so as to ensure that, whatever the pinned length, the gap formed by the slit 4 will always be sealed.

When assembled in a machine, adjacent fallers will preferably be in engagement with one another. Although desirable from an operational point of view, this leads to the minor disadvantage that although any dirt may be readily cleared from the pins themselves, it may tend to be trapped along the line of contact between adjacent fallers. In order to allow the dirt to drop clear, each faller may be under-cut cylindrically along the main length of its body from a short length from either end so that this length of reduced diameter (not shown in the drawings) gives a small gap between adjacent fallers. A further minor modification, (not shown in the drawings) is to make the end piece 12 integral with the pin bearing member 26, so that the end piece is automatically replaced at the same time as the pin bearing member.

The remaining Figures of the drawings are views similar to that of Figure 2 showing modified constructions, in which the main components are indicated by the same reference numerals. The construction of Figure 4 is similar to that of Figures 1 to 3 in that the pin bearing member 26 completely fills the hollow interior of the body 2 and is formed with a rib 28 which co-operates with the slit 4 in controlling the position of the pins 30. In this construction, however, the pins are somewhat more eccentric than shown in Figure 2 and the wall of the tube is extended to form a lip 40 on each side of the rib 28. the left hand lip 40 being tangential to the tubular surface 2. The faller bar is designed so as to move to the left as indicated by the arrow as are all the constructions shown in the remaining Figures of the drawings.

In the construction of Figure 5, the main difference is that the member 26 does not completely fill the interior of the tube 2, but extends diametrically across the hollow interior so as to engage the further side of the tube opposite the slit 4. A rib 28 extends through the slit 4 and is formed with transverse extensions 42 which fit against the outer surface of the bar so as to provide an even more positive seal for the slit 4 and to assist in holding the body against any possible transverse displacement.

The construction of Figure 6 resembles that of Figure 2 rather more closely than that of either Figures 4 or 5, but does not include a rib 28. An equivalent effect is obtained by the fact that the slit 4 is rather narrower and forms a close fit with the pins 30.

The construction of Figure 7 is similar to that of Figure 4 except that there is only a single lip 40 at the right hand side of the rib 28 and the latter is tapered at the left hand side. Finally. the construction of Figure 8 represents a further modification of that of Figure 4. As in Figure 7, there is a single lip 40 to the right hand side of the row of pins which is engaged on the left hand side by a metal plate 44 which is moulded into the pin bearing member 26 and increases the wear resistance of the pins to the fibrous material being processed.

WHAT WE (falter bar CLAIM a IS:- 1. A textile faller bar having a main body portion with a hollow interior which is open at one end and a longitudinal slit :hrough the wall portion surrounding the hollow interior, the faller bar also including a pin bearing member, at least part of which, having a maximum width greater than that of the slit, is releasably located within the hollow interior with the pins projecting through the slit, in such a way as to be held against transverse displacement, but, when released, to be capable of longitudinal withdrawal from the body.

2. A textile faller bar according to claim 1 in which the hollow interior extends over the full length of the body.

3. A textile faller bar according to claim 1 or claim 2 which is of hollow tubular construction, with lengths at the ends closed by plugs.

4. A textile faller bar according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pin bearing member is held against longitudinal displacement by abutment with end pieces fitted to the bar at each end, at least one of which is releasable.

5. A textile faller bar according to claim 3 and claim 4 in which each plug constitutes the respective end piece.

6. A textile faller bar according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which each end piece forms part of an extension at each end of the bar, for cooperation with a cam track.

7. A textile faller bar according to claim 5 or claim 6 in which the releasable end piece is formed with a longitudinal rib extending into the slit and having a lateral projection engaging a notch in the side of the slit.

8. A textile faller bar according to any one of the preceding claims in which the cross section of the hollow interior of the bar is substantially completely filled by the pin bearing member.

9. A textile faller bar according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pin bearing member is formed along at least a substantial part of its length with a longitudinal rib which extends through the slit and shrouds part of the length of the pins.

10. A textile faller bar according to claim 9, of tubular construction, and in which the wall of the tube is extended to form a lip on at least one side of the rib on the pin bearing member.

11, A textile faller bar according to claim 10, including a pair of lips, one of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. When assembled in a machine, adjacent fallers will preferably be in engagement with one another. Although desirable from an operational point of view, this leads to the minor disadvantage that although any dirt may be readily cleared from the pins themselves, it may tend to be trapped along the line of contact between adjacent fallers. In order to allow the dirt to drop clear, each faller may be under-cut cylindrically along the main length of its body from a short length from either end so that this length of reduced diameter (not shown in the drawings) gives a small gap between adjacent fallers. A further minor modification, (not shown in the drawings) is to make the end piece 12 integral with the pin bearing member 26, so that the end piece is automatically replaced at the same time as the pin bearing member. The remaining Figures of the drawings are views similar to that of Figure 2 showing modified constructions, in which the main components are indicated by the same reference numerals. The construction of Figure 4 is similar to that of Figures 1 to 3 in that the pin bearing member 26 completely fills the hollow interior of the body 2 and is formed with a rib 28 which co-operates with the slit 4 in controlling the position of the pins 30. In this construction, however, the pins are somewhat more eccentric than shown in Figure 2 and the wall of the tube is extended to form a lip 40 on each side of the rib 28. the left hand lip 40 being tangential to the tubular surface 2. The faller bar is designed so as to move to the left as indicated by the arrow as are all the constructions shown in the remaining Figures of the drawings. In the construction of Figure 5, the main difference is that the member 26 does not completely fill the interior of the tube 2, but extends diametrically across the hollow interior so as to engage the further side of the tube opposite the slit 4. A rib 28 extends through the slit 4 and is formed with transverse extensions 42 which fit against the outer surface of the bar so as to provide an even more positive seal for the slit 4 and to assist in holding the body against any possible transverse displacement. The construction of Figure 6 resembles that of Figure 2 rather more closely than that of either Figures 4 or 5, but does not include a rib 28. An equivalent effect is obtained by the fact that the slit 4 is rather narrower and forms a close fit with the pins 30. The construction of Figure 7 is similar to that of Figure 4 except that there is only a single lip 40 at the right hand side of the rib 28 and the latter is tapered at the left hand side. Finally. the construction of Figure 8 represents a further modification of that of Figure 4. As in Figure 7, there is a single lip 40 to the right hand side of the row of pins which is engaged on the left hand side by a metal plate 44 which is moulded into the pin bearing member 26 and increases the wear resistance of the pins to the fibrous material being processed. WHAT WE (falter bar CLAIM a IS:-

1. A textile faller bar having a main body portion with a hollow interior which is open at one end and a longitudinal slit :hrough the wall portion surrounding the hollow interior, the faller bar also including a pin bearing member, at least part of which, having a maximum width greater than that of the slit, is releasably located within the hollow interior with the pins projecting through the slit, in such a way as to be held against transverse displacement, but, when released, to be capable of longitudinal withdrawal from the body.

which is tangential to the tubular surface.

12. A textile faller bar according to claim 9, of tubular construction, in which the wall of the tube is extended to form a lip engaging one side of the row of pins and the rib extends along the other side of the row of pins.

13. A textile faller bar according to claim 9, of tubular construction, and in which the pin bearing member extends diametrically across the hollow interior of the bar, but does not completely fill the interior. and the longitudinal rib is formed with transverse extensions fitting against the outer surface of the bar.

14. A textile faller bar according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the width of the slit is such as to form a close fit with the pins.

15. A textile faller bar according to claim 9, of tubular construction, in which one side of the row of pins is engaged by a lip forming an extension of the wall of the tube and a metal plate moulded into the pin bearing member extends along the other side of the row of pins.

16. A textile faller bar according to claim l substantially as described and having a cross-section as illustrated in any one of Figures 2 to X of the accompanying drawings.