JPH0252008B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a card closing assembly.

Conventional flats for use in carding machines are covered with flexible foundation type card closures. Flexible foundation type card closings used for flats are called ``tops.''
It is called. In recent years, metal wire type card closures, in which a tooth is formed on one edge of the steel wire, have been used to provide a "top" for the flat. When metal wire type card closures are used for this purpose, the wire short strips are arranged in a so-called "lined array" with adjacent sides touching each other, and then the array is laid flat. It is necessary to fix it.
As a result, each metal wire strip extends across the flat. This typically requires installing a card closing strip in or on the holder.
The holder itself is then secured flat by a clip. This clip is similar to the clip used to hold the "top" of a flexible foundation type flat. In this way, this holder can be considered as an alternative to the "top foundation" of the flexible foundation type.

No matter what method you use to secure the metal wire strip to the flat,
There are various problems in manipulating the strip and holding it in an assembly suitable for use as a "top."

The present invention, as a very simple "top",
It also provides a card closing strip assembly suitable for use as a "top" with a card closing strip assembly that is very easily manipulated. The present invention also provides card closing and
assembly and carding machine components mounted with such card closing assembly. Although this assembly is particularly useful for flat closings, it should be understood that it is not limited to such applications as card closing assemblies.

The method of manufacturing a card closing assembly, which is the first feature of the present invention, consists of the following means.

and aligning a plurality of strips of metal wire type card closing in an array, and ``sufficient card closing strips to maintain adhesion with each of the strips in contact.''"adhesionto" and "inherent cohesion sufficient to hold the strips in the array."
A vertically extending flexible spine with
Applies to at least one of the vertically extending surfaces of the array.

This expression ``adhesiveness'' is understood in a broad sense and includes not only the adhesiveness obtained by the use of ordinary adhesives, but also the adhesion obtained by the use of, for example, the teeth of card closings that are pierced or inserted into the spine. This means that it also includes the adhesive properties obtained by

Preferably, the flexibility of the spine is such that the card closing assembly is completely straight and flexible in the longitudinal direction. That is, if the assembly were to be supported at a single point along its length, it would bend on either side of that point, such as the chain of a bracelet. This is virtually as rigid as a traditional metal card made.
It is very different from the closing "top".

Preferably, spines are used on one or both of the front and back sides of the card closing array. In this specification, the expression "surface" refers to the card closing strip constituted by the teeth of the card closing strip.
Point at the side of the array.

Also, the expression "back side" refers to the base, ie, the side defined by the underside of the ribbed portion of the wire strip (i.e., the side opposite the front side).

Preferably, the spines are peelable from the card closing strip array. The width of the spine is for cards, closings,
More preferably, it does not exceed the width of the array.

In a first method of implementing the invention, the spine consists of a tape with a self-adhesive surface. This tape consists of a self-adhesive plastic film such as that used in packaging. However, it is desirable to use a tape coated with a stronger adhesive than tapes used for household or office purposes. Since this tape is often used to adhere to a relatively flat surface formed by the base of the ribs of a card closing strip, the method is suitable for applying spines to the back side of a card closing array. Particularly useful. However, if desired, this tape can be applied to the surface of the card closing array.

Of course, the adhesive tape is very flexible, so if this method of forming the assembly is used, the assembly will be flexible in the longitudinal direction, similar to the flexibility of a wristwatch chain. In fact, cards manufactured using this method
Closing assembly sag.

In a second method of practicing the invention, a thermoplastic (hot melt) material can be applied to the surface of the card closing array to form a plastic tape over the array. If the thermoplastic material is chosen correctly, the plastic material will form a "tape" that is flexible and can be peeled off from the array when necessary. This second method is particularly applicable to the surface of the array, since the teeth of the card closing become embedded in the thermoplastic material.

In a third method of carrying out the invention, by frictional bonding between the tape and the teeth of each strip,
Poke the teeth of the card closing array into the flexible tape just enough to secure the individual wire strips to the tape. This method provides less rigid coupling of the spines of the card closing array. Since there is no adhesive as an adhesive tape, the adhesion is provided mostly or entirely by the friction bond and hooking bond between the teeth and the tape.

It is clear that various combinations of the above-described methods for carrying out the invention are possible. A preferred combination is to use self-adhesive tape on the back of the array and hot melt plastic on the front. Although this list is not necessarily exhaustive, the following methods and combinations are presented as potentially viable.

(a) self-adhesive tape on the back side; (b) self-adhesive tape on the front side; (c) hot melt plastics on the back side; (d) hot melt plastics on the front side; (e ) Self-adhesive tape on the surface, hot glue on the surface
Melt plastics (preferred method); (f) Hot melt plastics on both front and back sides.

A second feature of the invention, the card closing assembly includes a strip on at least one of its longitudinally extending surfaces that is adhesive to and in contact with the card closing strip. The plurality of strips in the array are fixed with longitudinally extending flexible spines that have an inherent bond strength sufficient to maintain adhesion to each of the strips and to hold the strips in the array. Consists of a metal wire type card closure.

The second feature of the invention, the card closing assembly, is the first feature of the invention.
It can be manufactured by any of the preferred methods. Its essential characteristics depend on the type of card closure used, the longitudinally spaced wire strips and the method of forming the assembly.

The present invention relates to mechanical elements such as cardings (e.g., flat or roller).

A method of manufacturing a card closing assembly according to the invention will be explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first method of forming a card closing assembly;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the completed assembly.

FIG. 3 is an end view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating another method of carrying out the invention.

FIG. 4 is an end view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating yet another method of implementing the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, one method of forming a card closing assembly for use as a "top" applied to the flat of a rotating flat type carding machine is illustrated.
Since carging machines of the rotating flat type are so well known, and the flats themselves being of conventional construction, there is no need to describe the carging machine or the flat.

"Top" is a series of short strips 10a ,
It is composed of 10 b , 10 c , 10 d , . . . Short strips are made of long metal wire.
Cut from a type of card closing,
are assembled on cutting machines in adjacent and arrays as shown in FIG. Metal wire type card closures, which are themselves well known, are characterized by the fact that the wire has the general cross-section shown in FIG. It has teeth formed thereon) and a wide rib portion 14 (ensuring spacing between rows of teeth with strips 10 a , 10 b , 10 c , . . . ). needs to be stated for this purpose. metal wire・
A collection of strips 10 of the same type are held in a jig. As a result, in addition to their adjacency, the bases of the ribs of the card closing strip come together to form a continuous flat underside 11. The strip assembly is extended until the length of the array is long enough to extend along the actual length of the flat to which the "top" is to be applied. It will be appreciated that the length of the array is the sum of the thicknesses of the rib portions 14 of the strips 10 and that the width of the "top" is equal to the length of the individual strips 10. Furthermore,
When the strips are stacked in an array, the surface indicated at 15 in FIG. 1 is constituted by the tips of all the teeth formed on the strips 10 making up the array. There is also a flat back surface 11 constituted by the base of the rib portion 14 of the array.

In assembling the strips 10 in the line-up configuration required to make the "top", each strip is cut from the stock of wire fed into the machine and is cut in the vertical direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. be moved in a direction. As a result, the arrays are stacked by moving to the right as shown in FIG. The longitudinal direction indicated by arrow A is of course perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the stock fed to the cutting station.

Although it may be possible to retain the strips 10 within an array of mechanical sigs, unless some means of holding the strips together is provided, the entire array will collapse and separate the individual strips when removed from the jig. It becomes a strip. This is conventionally done by fitting the array exactly as it was formed into a sheet metal channel, bending over the channel flange, and pinching the ends of the strips. The metal channel together with the rib portion of the strip 10 thereby provides a practical foundation for the "top". However, this requires having separate metal channel members. This also increases the cost of manufacturing the "top" as well as assembling the strip within the channel.

As shown in FIG. 1, tape 18 fed from a stock (not shown) in the direction of arrow B is applied to the back side of the card closing array. Arrays, on the other hand, are constructed by feeding wire strips in a longitudinal direction to the machine. Tape 18 is made from plastic film and is similar to self-adhesive tapes used for packaging purposes.

By pressing its adhesive side into contact with the back surface 11, the end 20 of the tape 18 is secured to the back surface of the right hand end of the array. The array is then traversed in the direction of arrow A so that tape 18 is fed from the stock and pressed by pressure roller 22 against the back side of the array. The tape 18 is approximately the same width as the card closing array as shown in FIG. 2, although this is not required. However, it is preferred that the tape be no wider than the card closing array.

As a result of the method of assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card closure is constructed by an array of strips 10 of the metal wire type card closure, lined and arranged together by spines of tape 18. A secure assembly is provided. This assembly can be removed from the machine. Of course, the individual metal wire strips are retained in the assembly. The assembly is easily manipulable and can be secured flat by clips or by the use of adhesive. Moreover, tape 1
Since the spine consisting of 8 is flexible,
The assembly itself is also flexible and can be rolled up if necessary for shipping or installation. The flexibility of the assembly is similar to that of a watch chain.

Although no metal wire type card closing strip assemblies have previously existed, the "top" assembly provided by the method illustrated in FIGS. New flexible articles can be constructed.

This is because prior art methods of forming such card closing assemblies all involve providing relatively stiff spines. The method of securing the strips together by using self-adhesive tape 18 depends on the raw materials used and the card closing wire.
It is also clear that it is extremely economical both in terms of the operations required to apply the tape to the strip. However, a distinctive feature of this assembly is the fact that the adhesive tape can be peeled off from the card closing array if necessary. In this way, even if the tape is replaced with a strip of less flexible material (resulting in a correspondingly more rigid assembly), the spines that can be peeled away from the card closing array will remain stuck. This provides an assembly with greater flexibility than an assembly with a narrow spine.

FIG. 3 illustrates another method of securing the card closing wire strip arrays together in a row and arrangement. The card closing wire strip is itself constructed exactly as described above with respect to FIG. Strip cutting/
The assembly of strips off and into arrays is also similar. However, in this method, the hot melt plastic material tape 24 is applied to the surface 1 of the card closing array.
5 is extruded. As a result, some of the teeth 12 of each card closing strip 10 are embedded in the tape 24. When the extruded hot melt tape is sufficiently hardened, the tape will be affixed to each of the strips 10 that it contacts due to the fact that the tooth tips are embedded in the plastic material.

Hot melt plastic tape 24
may be flexible, in any case provided with spines to hold card closing wire strips in the array as required. Therefore, from the point of view of the operability of the "top", the "tape" 24 has the same effect as the tape 18 described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. Once the completed "top" has been secured to the flat on which it is intended to be used, the "tape" 24 can be peeled off the teeth of the card closing array. One of the advantages of the method shown in FIG. 3 is that the spines are not provided on the back side of the "top" and therefore do not preclude mounting the "top" on the flat in any case. Of course, the first
The plastic film tape 18 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is so thin that it has virtually no effect on attaching the "top" to the flat. Alternatively, if the tape is thinner than the "top", the tape can be adapted to fit into the groove of the flat.

In one preferred method, not shown in the drawings, both the plastic film adhesive tape 18 and the extruded hot melt "tape" 24 are made of carded closing wire.
Applies to strip arrays. Therefore, there are two spines, one provided by self-adhesive tape on the back side 11 of the card closing array and the other by hot melt adhesive tape on the front side 15 of the card closing array. Provided by "tape" 24. It is clear that when using this combination method, the metal strips 10 are more firmly tied together and that either of the two spines can be removed without disrupting the array.

FIG. 4 shows a somewhat different method of forming a card closing assembly suitable for use as a card closing "top", for example.

1 and 2, the array also includes short strips of metal wire type clothing assembled on the machine.
There is 0. However, in this configuration,
Each strip 10 is defined by a rectangular notch at each end of the rib portion 14. These notches form threading grooves along the front and rear edges of the card closing wire array.

A strip 28 of hot melt plastic material is extruded and forced into each of the grooves formed by the notches 26, the grooves being almost completely filled by the plastic strips 10. Since the plastic strip joins all strips 10 and extends the entire length of the array,
It has spines that have a similar effect to the spines provided by "tapes" 18 and 24 previously described. Although, of course, the strips 28 could be used in combination with the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or in combination with any of the other spine combinations previously mentioned, There is no need to apply spines to either. In some cases, the strip 28
It is even more preferred to use spines such as those formed by. This is because these spines are contained entirely within the contours of the card closing array.

Hot melt strips 2 if needed
8 can be peeled from the card closing array, but this peeling is not necessary given that the hot melt plastic strip 28 is included within the contour of the array. In fact, although the hot melt plastic strip 28 is normally flexible, the finished card closing
If the assemblies do not flex in the longitudinal direction, they may be made of rigid materials.

Notch 26 need not be at the front or rear end of the card closing strip. 3
As shown in dashed lines at 0, a notch can be formed in the rib 14 from the base or underside. In fact, this notch can be replaced by a hole formed through the rib 14, or a hole can be added, forming a continuous hole lined up and filled with plastic material. be able to.

It is also clear that it is not essential to have two sets of notches forming two vertical groups. In some cases it is sufficient to have one longitudinal groove, especially if this is formed at the base of the rib of the card closing strip.

In the particular example mentioned above, the invention is utilized to manufacture a "top" for use in a rotary flat type carging machine. However, it is understood that this method can be utilized to manufacture "tops" for static flats and even "tops" for static flats of the type that are bent to the curvature of the cylinder of a carging machine. It should be. In fact, this method can be used to provide machines such as carding machines with metal wire type card closing strips that can be fixed to rollers. Such strips can be applied to the comber half lap roller of the carding machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first method of forming a card closing assembly. FIG. 2 is an end view of the completed assembly. FIG. 3 is an end view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating another method of carrying out the invention. FIG. 4 is an end view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating yet another method of implementing the invention. In Figures 1 to 4, 10 a , 10 b , 10
c, 10 d , ... are short strips, 11 is the back side of the continuous flat, 12 is the top of the wire (tooth of card closing strip 10), 14
15 is the surface of the card closing array; 18 is the tape; 20 is the end of the tape 18; 22 is the pressure roller;
24 is a hot melt plastic tape, 26 is a rectangular notch, and 28 is a hot melt plastic strip.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 consisting of a plurality of strips of metal wire-type card closures arranged with adjacent sides of the strips in contact with each other to form an array and having an adhesive on at least one of the longitudinally extending surfaces of the array; A card closing assembly comprising a longitudinally extending flexible spine fixedly attached to each of said strips to maintain said strips in said array.