GB2324101A - Fibre processing:pinned rollers - Google Patents

Abstract

In a fibre processing, e.g. cotton-cleaning, line, fibre is passed along at least three pinned rollers 14, 16, 18, 20 rotating on a body. Adjacent rollers rotate in opposite directions. From first roller 14 to third roller 18: point density on the roller surface increases; pin guage decreases; rotation speed increases; and pin length decreases. The pins may be arranged in rows, and inclined.

Description

FIBRE PROCESSING APPARATUS This invention relates to fibre processing apparatus, and in particular but not exclusively to apparatus forming part of a cotton cleaning line.

According to the present invention there is provided fibre processing apparatus comprising a body; and at least three pinned rollers mounted on the body to define a fibre processing path and being rotatable to pass fibre from the surface of a first roller to the surface of a second roller and then to the surface of a third roller, adjacent rollers rotating in opposite directions.

The invention also relates to pinned rollers for use in such apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a fibre processing method comprising the steps: feeding fibre onto the surface of a first pinned roller rotating in one direction and carrying the fibre on the surface of the rotating first roller; transferring the fibre onto the surface of a second pinned roller rotating in the other direction and carrying the fibre on the surface of the rotating second roller; transferring the fibre onto the surface of a third pinned roller rotating in said one direction and carrying the fibre on the surface of the rotating third roller; and transferring the fibre from the surface of the third roller.

Preferably, the apparatus forms part of a cotton cleaning line.

Four or more rollers may be provided.

Preferably also, the point density on the roller surface increases from the first roller to the third roller.

Preferably also, the gauge of the pins decreases from the first roller to the third roller.

Preferably also, the speed of rotation of the rollers increases from the first roller to the third roller.

Preferably also, at least some of the pins carried by the rollers are inclined relative to the respective roller surface, that is the pins lie at an acute angle relative to a tangent to the roller surface, the pins being inclined towards the direction of rotation of the respective roller.

Preferably also, the pins are arranged on the rollers in axial rows, adjacent rows being offset from one another.

The number of pins per row may be substantially similar for two or more rollers, with increasing point density being achieved in rollers by providing greater numbers of rows Preferably also, the length of pin projecting from the surface of the roller decreases from the first to the third roller. In one embodiment the pins project 12 mm from a first roller, 6 mm from a second roller and 4 mm from third and fourth rollers.

Preferably also, the rollers comprise cylindrical shells in which the pins are mounted, which shells are mounted between appropriate stub shafts. At least one of the rollers may carry pins of different lengths for location on different parts of the roller shell.

The pins may be fixed in bores in the rollers by adhesive.

These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 is a schematic view of a cotton cleaning line in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a pinned roller shell of the cleaning line of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of a roller of the cleaning line of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is an end view of the roller of Figure 3.

Reference is first made to Figure 1 of the drawings, which illustrates a cotton cleaning line in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It will be recognised by those of skill in the art that the Figure 1 is a schematic illustration and that such features as the apparatus body have been omitted in the interests of clarity. In the cleaning line, raw cotton is fed along a conveyor 10 and between feed rollers 12 onto the surface of a first pinned roller 14 rotating in an anticlockwise direction. The cotton fibres are carried by the first roller 14 through approximately 1800 before being transferred to a second pinned roller 16 rotating in a clockwise direction. The cotton is carried by the second roller 16 until it is transferred to an anticlockwise rotating third roller 18, from which the cotton is transferred to a clockwise rotating fourth roller 28. The cotton is carried from the surface from the fourth roller 20 by an airstream passing through a duct 22.

The initial raw cotton fibre fed from the conveyor 10 will normally be in clumps and as the cotton is passed between the rollers 14, 16, 18, 20 the fibres are opened and cleaned, with dust, seeds, twigs and the like being removed from the fibre by gentle suction. To accommodate the change of the character of the cotton and the more even spread of fibre over the rollers as it passes along the cleaning line, the pin configuration changes from the first roller 14 towards the fourth roller 20. In particular, the pin gauge and projection both tend to decrease towards the fourth roller 20, while the pin density will tend to increase towards the fourth roller 20.

Figure 2 of the drawings shows a shell of one of the rollers, the shell being illustrated in section in Figure 3 of the drawings and with stub shafts 26, 27 attached.

This particular shell 24 is 1200 mm long and carries 112 rows of 192 high carbon steel pins. The pins in adjacent rows are offset and all of the pins are angled at 700 towards the direction of rotation of the roller. The pins 28 are located in individual bores- which have been drilled in the shell 24 and are retained therein by adhesive. The pins 28 are mounted on the shell using filling clips, which are filled "point first" by machine; a loaded clip may be used by an operator to mount part of a row of pins on the shell 24 in a single operation.

Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings illustrate the stub shafts 26, 27 which are bolted to the ends of the shell 24 for mounting the roller in the cleaning line.

Details of the rollers of an exemplary four roller cleaning line, with 1200 mm long rollers, is set out below.

ROLLER 1 2 3 4 POINTS/SQ.CM. 0.62 1.6 2.4 3.9 PIN GAUGE (MM) 3.35 2.6 14 14 PROJECTION (MM) 12 6 4.5 4.5 PITCH (MM) 12.7 7.8 6 6 NO. OF ROWS 60 96 112 184 R.P.M. 1054 1673 2385 3432 TOTAL PINS IN 7420 14496 22400 36800 ROLLER R.P.M. 1054 1673 2385 3432 PINS/MIN THOUS 7820 24251 ~ 53424 12697 NOTES 1\ The pitch on rollers 3 and 4 is maintained at 6 mm to avoid weakening the rollers along their length and to enable use of the same filling clip for all rollers.

2\ The projection on rollers 3 and 4 is standardised to enable the same pins to be used for both rollers.

3\ Wall thickness of shell\tube is 12.5 mm to give adequate strength.

The use of pinned rollers in the cleaning line provides for longer intervals between roller replacement when compared with convention wire point rollers which are likely to require replacement three or four times more frequently. Further, as the pins are self sharpening, the quality of cotton is maintained throughout the life of the rollers.

It will be clear to those of skill in the art that the above-described embodiment is merely exemplary of the present invention, and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto.

Claims (21)

1. Fibre processing apparatus comprising a body; and at least three pinned rollers mounted on the body to define a fibre processing path and being rotatable to pass fibre from the surface of a first roller to the surface of a second roller and then to the surface of a third roller, adjacent rollers rotating in opposite directions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to form part of a cotton cleaning line.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein four or more rollers are provided.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the point density on the roller surface increases from the first roller to the third roller.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the gauge of the pins of the rollers decreases from the first roller to the third roller.

6. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein, in use, the speed of rotation of the rollers increases from the first roller to the third roller.

7. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of the pins carried by the rollers are inclined relative to the respective roller surface, the pins lying at an acute angle relative to a tangent to the roller surface, the pins being inclined towards the direction of rotation of the respective roller.

8. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the pins are arranged on the rollers in axial rows, adjacent rows being offset from one another.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the number of pins per row is substantially similar for two or more rollers.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein increasing point density is achieved between said two or more rollers by providing greater numbers of rows of pins.

11. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the length of pin projecting from the surface of the roller decreases from the first to the third roller.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pins project 12 mm from a first roller, 6 mm from a second roller and 4 mm from third and fourth rollers.

13. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the rollers comprise cylindrical shells in which the pins are mounted, which shells are mounted between appropriate stub shafts.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the rollers carries pins of different lengths located on different parts of the roller shell.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pins are fixed in bores in the rollers by adhesive.

16. A pinned rollers for use in the apparatus of any of claims 1 to 15.

17. A fibre processing method comprising the steps: feeding fibre onto the surface of a first pinned roller rotating in one direction and carrying the fibre on the surface of the rotating first roller; transferring the fibre onto the surface of a second pinned roller rotating in the other direction and carrying the fibre on the surface of the rotating second roller; transferring the fibre onto the surface of a third pinned roller rotating in said one direction and carrying the fibre on the surface of the rotating third roller; and transferring the fibre from the surface of the third roller.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method forms part of a cotton cleaning process.

19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein the speed of rotation of the rollers increases from the first roller to the third roller.

20. The fibre processing apparatus substantially as described herein and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

21. The fibre processing method substantially as described herein.