GB2421295A

GB2421295A - Sectioned nose roller assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2421295A
Application number: GB0427284A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lakshminaickenpalay Ramamurthi; Cherian Iype
Original assignee: Super Spinning Mills Ltd
Current assignee: Super Spinning Mills Ltd
Priority date: 2004-12-14
Filing date: 2004-12-14
Publication date: 2006-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-14
Also published as: GB2421295B; CN101072904B; CN101072904A; WO2006064177A1; GB0427284D0; EP1825040A1

Abstract

A nose roller assembly for a drafting machine is made in sections with supports between each roller section 17, 23 to resist bending of the roller assembly. The supports 21, 27 have an outer shell portion 25 with a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the rollers 17, 23, and arranged so that the rollers and supports present a substantially continuous surface to an apron (not shown) passing over them. Each roller 17, 23 may be supported on its own shaft 16, 22, and the shafts may be retained by a threaded rod 20 received within an aperture in the support 21. This arrangement allows an increased roller length and/or smaller roller diameter.

Description

2421295

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A NOSE ROLLER ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a nose roller assembly.

More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a nose roller assembly having a roller free to rotate about a shaft and an outer shell which covers the fixing which fixes the shaft to a support.

Drafting assemblies for drafting rovings, slivers or strands are known. Such assemblies comprise at least one pair of nose bars which together provide a nip point. Assemblies including such nose bars are suitable only for slow speeds and cannot be used for higher speeds. In other assemblies the nose bars are replaced by nose rollers. These can run at higher speeds but as the width of the nose roller increases its diameter must increase to avoid roller bending, limiting the width of the drafting assembly. In addition, as the width of the drafting assembly increases it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain even pressure between the top and bottom nose rollers without increasing the diameter of the rollers.

Accordingly in a first aspect the present invention provides a nose roller assembly comprising an inner non-rotating shaft;

at least one roller co-axial with the shaft and free to rotate about said shaft by means of at least one bearing disposed between the shaft and roller;

a portion of the shaft extending beyond the roller and being fixedly connected to a fixing support by a fixing means;

characterised in that the support comprises an outer shell portion having a radius of curvature substantially

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equal to that of the roller and arranged such that the outer shell portion and roller present a substantially continuous surface to an apron passing over the outer shell portion and roller.

5 The nose roller assembly according to the invention has the advantage that the outer shell and roller provide a substantially continuous surface reducing drag on the apron. A plurality of such nose roller assemblies can be chained together to provide a wide roller assembly without roller 10 bending.

Preferably the fixing means comprises a rod received within an aperture in the fixing support, one end of the rod abutting the shaft to prevent rotation of the shaft.

The rod can be threaded and can be threaded into engagement 15 with the aperture.

Preferably the assembly comprises a plurality of rollers on the shaft and at least one stiffening support arranged between the roller and the adjacent roller on the shaft.

The stiffening support can comprise an outer shell portion 20 having a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the roller on either side and extending therebetween.

The stiffening support can comprise an aperture through which the shaft passes.

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Alternatively, the nose roller assembly can comprise a plurality of rollers each roller being arranged on an individual shaft.

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The nose roller assembly can comprise at least one fixing support arranged between one shaft and the adjacent shaft and fixedly connected to one end of the shaft and the opposite end of the adjacent shaft.

5 The nose roller assembly can comprise a fixing support between each roller and the adjacent roller.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a carding assembly comprising a nose roller assembly, the nose roller assembly comprising 10 an inner non-rotating shaft;

a portion of the shaft extending beyond the roller and 15 being fixedly connected to a fixing support by a fixing means;

characterised in that the fixing support comprises an outer shell portion having a radius of curvature equal to that of the roller and arranged such that the shell and 20 roller present a substantially continuous surface to an apron passing over the shell and roller.

The carding assembly can comprise a plurality of such nose rollers, the nose rollers arranged to provide a nip point.

The present invention will now be described by way of example 25 only, and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 shows a known drafting assembly in cross section;

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Figure 2 shows a known nose roller in cross section;

Figures 3 and 4 show a nose roller according to the invention in cross sectioned and perspective views.

Shown in figure 1 is a known drafting assembly 1 in cross 5 section. The drafting assembly 1 comprises a pair of rear rollers 2,3, and a pair of front rollers 4,5. Upper and lower aprons 6,7 pass around the rear rollers 2,3. Nose bars 8,9 bring the aprons 6,7 together to define a nip point 10. In use a sliver 11 is drawn between the rear rollers 2,3 and 10 is carried by the aprons 6, 7 the nip point 10. As it exits the nip point 10 the sliver is gripped by the front rollers 4,5. The front rollers 4,5 rotate more rapidly than the rear rollers 2,3 so drafting the sliver. Such an apparatus can also be used for rovings or strands.

15 Assemblies using such nose bars are only suitable for low speeds. Shown in figure 2 is a known nose roller 12. The nose roller 12 comprises a non-rotating shaft 13 fixed to a support 14. A roller 15 is free to rotate about the shaft 15 by means of a bearing. Assemblies including such nose 20 rollers 12 rather than nose bars can run at higher speeds. Such rollers 12 must however be relatively narrow to avoid bending.

Shown in figure 3 is a nose roller according to the present invention. The nose roller comprises an inner non-rotating 25 shaft 16. Surrounding and co-axial with the shaft 16 is a roller 17. The roller 17 is free to rotate about the shaft 16 by means of a bearing 18.

A portion 19 of the shaft 16 extends beyond the roller 17. Abutting this portion 19 is a fixing means 20 comprising a 30 threaded rod 20. The threaded rod 20 is threaded into

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engagement with a fixing support 21. The threaded rod 20 abuts the shaft 16 preventing its rotation. A further fixing means (not shown) fixes the opposite end of the shaft 16 in place.

5 The nose roller assembly comprises a second inner non-

rotating shaft 22 and a second roller 23 which rotates about the second inner shaft 22. The opposite ends of the first and second inner shafts 16,22 abut together. The same fixing means 20 abuts both shafts 16,22 preventing their rotation. 10 A further fixing means (not shown) holds the opposite end of the shaft in place.

A portion of the fixing support 21 comprises an outer shell portion 24. The outer face 25 of this portion 24 has the same radius of curvature as the rollers 17,23 and extends 15 between them. The outer shell portion 24 is arranged such that the rollers 17,23 and outer shell portion 24 provide a substantially continuous surface. The shell portion 24 is a relatively small portion of the total length of the nose roller and as such offers relatively little frictional 20 resistance to the apron as it passes over the nose roller assembly. The fixing support is in turn held in a rigid body.

Figure 4 shows a portion of a further embodiment of the invention in perspective view. The nose roller assembly of this embodiment comprises a plurality of rollers, only three 25 of which are shown. Each roller is on a different shaft. A fixing support is disposed between each of the shafts. A fixing means within the support abuts against the ends of the adjacent shafts preventing their rotation. The fixing supports each have an outer shell portion. The outer shell 30 portion has substantially the same radius of curvature as the adjacent rollers and extends therebetween. The fixing supports are in turn held in a longer rigid body.

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In a further embodiment of the invention (not shown) the supports are an integral portion of the longer rigid body.

In a further embodiment of the invention (not shown) a plurality of rollers are disposed on each shaft. The shaft 5 is fixed to a support at each end. Disposed between each of the rollers is a stiffening support. Each stiffening support has an aperture through which the shaft passes. Each of the stiffening supports comprises further outer shell portions having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the 10 rollers. The further outer shell portions extend between adjacent rollers so producing a substantially continuous surface.

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Claims

1. A nose roller assembly comprising an inner non-rotating shaft;

at least one roller co-axial with the shaft and free to 5 rotate about said shaft by means of at least one bearing disposed between the shaft and roller;

characterised in that the fixing support comprises an outer shell portion having a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the roller and arranged such that the outer shell portion and roller present a substantially continuous surface to an apron passing over the outer shell portion and roller.

2. A nose roller assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixing means comprises a rod received within an aperture in the fixing support, one end of the rod abutting the shaft to prevent rotation of the shaft.

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3. A nose roller assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rod is threaded and is threaded into engagement with the aperture.

4. A nose roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of rollers on the shaft and at 25 least one stiffening support arranged between a roller and the adjacent roller on the shaft.

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15

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5. A nose roller assembly as claimed in claim 4,

comprising a stiffening support between each roller and the adjacent roller on the shaft.

6. A nose roller assembly as claimed in either of claims 4 5 or 5, wherein the stiffening support comprises an outer shell portion having a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the roller on either side and extending therebetween.

7. A nose roller assembly as claimed in any of claim 4 to 6 wherein the stiffening support comprises an aperture

10 through which the shaft passes.

8. A nose roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of rollers each roller being arranged on an individual shaft.

9. A nose roller assembly as claimed in claim 8 comprising 15 at least one fixing support arranged between one shaft and the adjacent shaft and fixedly connected to one end of the shaft and the opposite end of the adjacent shaft.

10. A nose roller assembly as claimed in claim 9 comprising a fixing support between each roller and the adjacent roller.

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11. A carding assembly comprising a nose roller as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A carding assembly as claimed in claim 9, comprising a pair of nose rollers as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, the nose rollers arranged to provide a nip point.

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13. A nose roller assembly substantially as hereinbefore described.

14. A nose roller assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.