GB2274659A

GB2274659A - Rotor for open end spinning

Info

Publication number: GB2274659A
Application number: GB9301800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ka King Wu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-01-29
Filing date: 1993-01-29
Publication date: 1994-08-03
Also published as: GB9301800D0

Abstract

A rotor (10) for open end spinning which enables yarns having different counts over a wide range to be produced on the same rotor has a diameter in the range 54 to 66 mm, preferably 60 mm, and a collecting groove angle x in the range 40 DEG to 50 DEG , preferably 42 DEG . The spinning speed may range from 31000 to 60000 r.p.m. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO STAPLE FIBRE YARN SPINNING The present invention relates to a method and machine of staple fibre yarn spinning utilising open end rotor spinning, and to a rotor for use in such a spinning method and machine.

For open end rotor spinning it is conventional to make the rotor diameter as large as possible as compared to the yarn count of the yarn to be produced. However, if a rotor with too large a diameter is provided, this leads to a high power consumption. Because of these factors, machines which are required to produce selectively a range of yarn counts are provided with a number of alternative rotors which are utilised in accordance with the yarn count selected. Of course, this means that whenever there is a change of spun yarn count, it is necessary to change the rotors and their accessories for the new yarn count required. A significant amount of time is wasted in changing the rotors, and substantial costs are also incurred in stocking extra sets of rotors together with their accessories.

This problem of rotor changing is such that it has led to the development of dedicated spinning machines which have only one size of rotor therein. Of course, such dedicated machines are only used to produce yarns having a preselected and single yarn count. Whilst such dedicated machines avoid the change of rotor problems, clearly they cannot be used for producing yarns having a range of yarn counts. Hence, such dedicated machines are only useful to spinners who know that they can keep the machine in production for a large proportion of the time.

It is an object of this invention to provide a staple fibre yarn spinning method and machine which does not have the problems and disadvantages discussed above.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of staple fibre yarn spinning by open end rotor spinning utilising one or more open end spinning rotors, wherein the method is arranged to produce a spun yarn having a selected one of a range of yarn counts, and wherein the same sized rotor is utilised irrespective of the yarn count selected.

A method of the invention uses a rotor or rotors which is the same size irrespective of the yarn count selected.

This means that the method does not have to be confined to a single yarn count, but neither is the interchanging of rotors with all of the consequent problems required.

The same sized rotor can be utilised irrespective of the yarn count, particularly if the rotor has a preselected diameter. Preferably, the preselected diameter is in the range 54mm to 66mm, and in a preferred embodiment the rotor has a diameter of 60mm.

Preferably, the or each rotor is spun at a speed in the range 31,000 rpm to 60,000 rpm. Preferably, the range of yarn counts is 7's Ne to 40's Ne.

In a preferred embodiment, the rotor has a collecting groove which has a preselected angle. For example, the angle of the collecting groove is in the range 40 to 50 , preferably substantially 42".

The length of the slide side of the rotor is preferably preselected. In an embodiment, the length of the slide side is in the range lOmm to 20mm, preferably 15mm to 16mm. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the slide side is 15.6mm to 15.7mm.

The angle of the slide side to the rotor axis is preferably in the range 30 to 40". In a preferred embodiment, the angle of the slide side is preferably substantially 35".

The invention also extends to a rotor for use in a method as defined above.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an open end spinning machine for spinning staple fibre yarn, the machine being arranged to produce a selected one of a range of yarn counts, wherein said spinning machine comprises one or more spinning rotors, the or each rotor being of a single size, and the or each rotor being utilised for all spinning operations of the machine irrespective of the yarn count being produced.

A machine of the invention uses a rotor or rotors of the same single size irrespective of the yarn count selected.

The same sized rotor can be utilised irrespective of the yarn count particularly if the rotor has a preselected diameter. Preferably, the preselected diameter is in the range 54mm to 66mm, and in a preferred embodiment the rotor has a diameter of 60mm.

In a preferred embodiment, the rotor has a collecting groove which has a preselected angle. For example, the angle of the collecting groove is in the range 40 to 50 , preferably substantially 420.

The invention also extends to a rotor for use in a machine as defined above.

The present invention also extends to a spinning rotor for use in an open end spinning machine, the spinning rotor having a preselected diameter in the range 54mm to 66mm and a collecting groove having an angle in the range 40 to 500.

In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of said rotor is in the range 55mm to 65mm, preferably 60mm. In a preferred embodiment the angle of the collecting groove is substantially 420.

Preferably, the or each rotor is to be spun at a speed in the range 31,000 rpm to 60,000 rpm. Preferably, the range of yarn counts is 7's Ne to 40's Ne to be produced by the rotor.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows a section through a spinning rotor of the invention, and Figure 2 is a table showing parameters of existing rotors and the corresponding parameters of a rotor of the invention.

The present invention is concerned with staple fibre yarn manufacture by a rotor open end spinning process. In this respect, the process of open ended rotor spinning is well known and will not therefore be described in detail herein. Briefly, individual fibres from the supply roving or sliver are fed to the rotor. Generally, the fibres fed to the rotor are between 40 to 300 times thicker than the spun yarn count to be produced. The fibres are usually opened before being fed, usually by way of an air stream, into the rotor and are laid on a collecting surface. As the rotor spins, the fibres are collected in a collecting groove around the circumference of the rotor whereby a continuous strand of fibres is assembled. This strand is removed through a stationary yarn withdrawal tube arranged to extend axially with respect to the rotor such that spun yarn of the desired yarn count exits from the yarn withdrawal tube.

It is known that the rotor diameter should be as large as is practically possible as compared to the fibre length, but also that large diameters lead to high power consumptions. Accordingly, most open end spinning machines are provided with a variety of interchangeable rotors so that the machine can produce yarns of varying thicknesses, as required. However, this means that a significant amount of time has to be wasted in changing the rotors and substantial costs are incurred in stocking extra sets of rotors and their accessories.

Figure 1 shows a rotor 10 of the present invention.

This rotor has been specifically designed so that it can be used to produce yarns having a yarn count over a large range, for example from 7's Ne to 40's Ne. In addition, the rotor is also designed to be rotatable over a large range of speeds, for example from 31,000 rpm to 60,000 rpm.

This means that irrespective of the spun yarn count being produced at any particular time, the rotor of the invention enables good quality yarn to be produced and at a speed that the rotor's production capacity is sufficient for commercial purposes.

In this respect, and as indicated in Figure 2, a 60mm diameter rotor of the invention can be used to produce spun yarn count in the range 7's Ne to 40's Ne whilst spinning at speeds in the range 31,000 rpm to 60,000 rpm.

The rotor 10 shown in Figure 1 has a rotor shaft 12 and a slide or collecting side 14. This rotor 10 has a diameter of 60mm and it has been found that the diameter of 60mm is an optimal diameter for achieving the preferred range of spun yarn count of 7's Ne to 40's Ne.

Furthermore, the choice of the length y of the slide side or collecting surface 14 also aids in the production of high quality yarn. Whilst the length y of the slide side 14 may be in the range 10mm to 20mm, it is preferred that it be between 15mm and 16mm, preferably 15.6mm or 15.7mm as illustrated.

The angle x shown in Figure 1 on the rotor 10 is the angle of the collecting groove, and again the choice of the degree of this angle is critical in producing an optimal rotor capable of giving good quality yarns over the whole preferred range of spun yarn counts.

The angle x of the collecting groove may be within the range 40 to 50 , but is preferably substantially 42", as shown.

As is indicated, the angle of the slide side 14 to the rotor axis is 35". As is conventional, this angle may be in the range 30 to 40".

The yarn withdrawal tube for the rotor 10 is not illustrated in Figure 1. As is well known, this yarn withdrawal tube is arranged to extend substantially coaxially with respect to the shaft 12 but on the opposite side of the rotor 10 to the shaft 12.

In the embodiment of the rotor 10 illustrated in Figure 1, a number of through bores 16 are provided in the base surface of the rotor. These bores 16 provide suction to the interior of the rotor 10 to aid in the collection of the fibre combination in the collecting groove thereof.

The rotor 10 illustrated does not have to be changed when there is a change of the spun yarn count required.

The rotor 10 with its optimally chosen diameter and chosen angle of the collecting groove is able to produce the entire range of spun yarn counts which are presently produced by commercially available existing machines. As a result, a great deal of time can be saved, production capacity can be increased, and the production and inventory costs can be reduced accordingly.

It will be appreciated that modifications to and improvements in the embodiments of the invention as described and illustrated may be made within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method of staple fibre yarn spinning by open end rotor spinning utilising one or more open end spinning rotors, wherein the method is arranged to produce a spun yarn having a selected one of a range of yarn counts, and wherein the same sized rotor is utilised irrespective of the yarn count selected.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said rotor has a preselected diameter in the range 54mm to 66mm.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the preselected diameter of the rotor is 60mm.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each rotor is spun at a speed in the range 31,000 rpm to 60,000 rpm.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the range of yarn counts is 7's Ne to 40's Ne.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rotor has a collecting groove which has a preselected angle.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the angle of the collecting groove of the rotor is in the range 40 to 500.

8. A method as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the angle of the collecting groove of the rotor is substantially 420.

9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the length of the slide side of the rotor is preselected.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the length of the slide side of the rotor is in the range lOmm to 20mm.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the length of the slide side of the rotor is 15.6mm to 15.7mm.

12. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the angle of the slide side of the rotor to the rotor axis is in the range 30 to 40".

13. A method as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the angle of the slide side of the rotor is substantially 35".

14. A rotor for use in a method of staple fibre yarn spinning as claimed in any preceding claim.

15. An open end spinning machine for spinning staple fibre yarn, the machine being arranged to produce a selected one of a range of yarn counts, wherein said spinning machine comprises one or more spinning rotors, the or each rotor being of a single size, and the or each rotor being utilised for all spinning operations of the machine irrespective of the yarn count being produced.

16. An open end spinning machine as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the or each rotor has a preselected diameter.

17. An open end spinning machine as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the preselected diameter of the rotor is in the range 54mm to 66mm.

18. An open end spinning machine as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the rotor has a diameter of 60mm.

19. An open end spinning machine as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 18, wherein the or each rotor is spun at a speed in the range 31,000 rpm to 60,000 rpm.

20. An open end spinning machine as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 19, wherein the range of yarn counts is 7's Ne to 40's Ne.

21. An open end spinning machine as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 20, wherein the rotor has a collecting groove which has a preselected angle.

22. An open end spinning machine as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the angle of the collecting groove of the rotor is in the range 40 to 50".

23. An open end spinning machine as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the angle of the collecting groove of the rotor is substantially 42".

24. An open end spinning machine as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 23, wherein the length of the slide side of the rotor is preselected and is in the range lOmm to 20mm.

25. An open end spinning machine as claimed in Claim 24, wherein the length of the slide side is 15mm to 16mm.

26. An open end spinning machine as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 25, wherein the angle of the slide side to the rotor axis is in the range 30C to 40 .

27. An open end spinning machine as claimed in Claim 26, wherein the angle of the slide side of the rotor is substantially 35".

28. A rotor for use in an open end spinning machine as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 27.

29. A spinning rotor for use in an open end spinning machine, the spinning rotor having a preselected diameter in the range 54mm to 66mm and a collecting groove having an angle in the range 40 to 50".

30. A spinning rotor as claimed in Claim 29, wherein the diameter of said rotor is in the range 55mm to 65mm.

31. A spinning rotor as claimed in Claim 29 or 30, wherein the angle of the collecting groove is substantially 42".

32. A spinning rotor as claimed in any of Claims 29 to 31, wherein the length of the slide side of the rotor is preselected and is in the range 10mm to 20mm.

33. A spinning rotor as claimed in any of Claims 29 to 32, wherein the angle of the slide side to the rotor axis is in the range 30 to 40".

34. A method of staple fibre yarn spinning substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

35. An open end spinning machine for spinning staple fibre yarn substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

36. A spinning rotor for use in an open end spinning machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.