US1151143A - Cotton-comber. - Google Patents

Description

G. M. WHITIN.

COTTON COMBER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, I9I4.

1,151,143. Patented 24, 1915.

- WJTNESSES: 7* L [NVE/V701?. l

ZKM

, ATTORNEY.

COLUHB A PLNDURP" C0 WASHINGTON D C G. M. WHITIN.

COTTON COMBEB.

APPLICATION FILED API1.25. I9I4.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WTNESSES:

K M WWW ATTORNEY.

-G. M. WHmN.

COTTON CDMBER.

APPLICATVION FILED APR.25|1914.

1,151,143. Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WTNESSES: /NI/ENTOR.

COLUMBIA PLANoaRAPu cq., wAnlutjaroN.. D. c.

,. ATTORNEY.

G. M. WHITIN.

COTTON COMBER.

APPLICATION F1151) AP11.25. 1914.

SHEET 4.

TTORNEY.

Patented Aug.

5 S H E E T S- [NVE/V701? G. M. WHITIN.

COTTON COMBERI APPLICATION FILED APR.25. 1914.

1,1 5 1,143. Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

5 SHEETSTSHEET 5.

A T TORNE Y.

COLUMBIA PLANouRAPvI-l COWASHINGT'ON. n. c,

GEORGE M. WHITIN, OF WHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

COTTON-Corinna.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

Application filed Apr125, 1914. Serial No. 834,308.

17 '0 ult lwlw/n, 'it ur: fly concern.

Be it known that l, GEORGE M. lVi-ri'rm, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVhitinsville, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented the following described Improvements in Cotton-Combers.

The invention is an improved construction of combing apparatus specially adapted for producing thoroughly combed sliver with a low percentage of waste production, that is to say, the object of the invention is to reduce the percentage of good fibers thrown down as waste without sacrificing the quality of the product sliver, and to attain this result with high speed and high production, but other objects are also included in the invention, and these and the principle on which the invention operates, will all become apparent t0 those skilled in this art, in the following description and drawings and also by the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a transverse section of a part of one of the combing hea ds of a comber, taken through the working parts of the comb cylinder and coperating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a top plan ofl the parts shown in Fig. l, adjacent to one of the intermediate frame uprights of the machine. F ig. 3 is a detailed section of Fig. Q on. line III-lll. Fig. Je is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. f2, broken away in places to illustrate parts in rear. Fig. 5 is an elevation of one end of the comliing cylinder and detaching roll, both ends of such parts being alike. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line Vif- VI of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a modified form, the view 'being a section adjacent the end supports of the several rolls; Fig. 8 (on Sheet 3) is a perspective view of the vbearing block for the detaching roll used in this form of the invention; and 9 a modified form.

The drawings illustrate only those Darts of the comber which are directly concerned with the treatment of the cotton. The rest of the machine may be constructed in any manner suitable for operating the parts shown and according to the functions thereof as hereinafter explained; it may be, for example, as shown in Patent No. 822,479, dated June 5th, 1906, or as connnon in the art of Heilmann combers. It will be understood that the machine comprises several similar combing heads. and also a drivehead, the former being disposed in a row with certain operating shafts running through them to the drive-head at one end by which they are operated. The combing heads are supported by a series of intermediate frame uprights such as partially shown at 1. These have upper margins which are inclined and support the bearings for the feed rolls and piecing mechanism bolted to them. The said upper margin of the upright has heretofore formed a continuous inclined plane from its upper to its lower end, but in the present case the upper portion as indicated at 2, is cnt down so as to be offset or depressed with .reference to the forward portion thereof, thus providing a supporting surface for the journal block 3 of the shaft of the feed roll l, which is lower than formerly and therefore permits the shaft to operate nearer to the axis of the comb cylinder. The feed-roll shaft et may be one of the several continuous shafts above mentioned, which are common to all the heads and driven by the drive-head. The lap of cotton supplied from the lap roll on a Creel-frame, not shown, moves downwardly on the lap plate 5, into the bite which this roll a has upon an upper feed roll G, the latter being held in engagement therewith by means of arms 7, which are subjected to spring-pressure as customary in cotton combers. ln the present case the arms hold the top feed roll 6 on the forward side of the lower feed roll so that the common tangentof such rolls, at their' point of contact, inclines downwardly toward the comb cylinder. The two feed rolls are thus disposed at an inclination with respect to the combcylinder, and they are made with sharp intermeshing flutes as indicated. The forward rotation o-f these rolls, which may be intermittent as usual, advances the end of the lap into the jaws 8 and 9 of the nipper mechanism which open for the purpose. The lowernipper jaw 8, or soi-called cushion plate, is rigidly supported beneath the feed rolls and by means of parts not indicated, but which hold it in a fixed position wherein its nipping edge is close to the path of travel of' the needleand detaching half-laps of the combing cylinder. The other aw 9, or nipper-knife, is carried by nipper arms l0, operating to close the knife edgewise against the cushion plat-e so as to nip the fringe of cotton lap thereagainst and hold it projecting therefrom during the operation of the needle half-lap in the usual way. The nipper knife opens in time fo-r the detachment, moving upwardly above the said common tangent of the feed rolls.l The knife, in order to partake of these movements, is inclined in the same direction as the two feed rolls, and the usual top comb 11 immediately in front of the knife is similarly inclined,

The comb cylinder 13 comprises the needle half-lap 12 abo-ve mentioned and a detaching segment 15, both carried on the cylinder shaft let which is journaled in the frame upright 1, and driven by the drive head. Immediately following the combing of the nipped tuft, the nipper aw 9 opens and the detaching half-lap or segment 15 'thereupon engages the combed fringe or tuft, pressing it against the under side of the detaching roll 16. This roll is a leather-covered roll and cooperates with the detaching segment to draw the combed fringe from the body of the lap, held by the feed rolls 1 and 6, drawing the tail end of such tuft through the open nippers and also through the top comb 11 and forwarding or projecting it under a second roll 17, and into engagement with a third roll 1S, which latter turns the tuft upwardly between itself and the second roll. The second and third rolls, 17 and 18, are piecing rolls, rotated independently of the detaching roll and out of contact therewith. The roll 18 is relatively large in proportion to the detaching roll, being formed on a shaft common to all of combing heads and driven by gearing in the drive-head which gives it an intermittent forward rotation holding it stationary, or turning it backwardly, between forward strokes, as already known in piecing motions. The shaft is j ournaled in pillows 20, which are adjustably mounted on the frame uprights 1 and from the supporting means of the other rolls and certain of their appurtenances as will later appear. The roll 17 is leathercovered, although this is not necessary, and is individual to each head, that is to say, it is wholly contained wit-hin the head, being removable therefrom like the detaching roll. Its end gudgeons 17a (Fig. 3) are each incased in gudgeon sleeves 171D which rest by a slabbed side upon the inclined surface of a bearing block 22, the latter adjustably bolted to a bracket arm 23 projecting laterally and rearwardly from the pillow block 20 above referred to. The supporting surface of the bearing block 22 is inclined downwardly toward the front of the machine so that when the gudgeon sleeves 17b are resting thereon the working face of the roll 17 is caused to bear against the larger piecing roll 18, but does not project into the path of the segment, from which it is separated by a narrow crevice of sufficient width to allow the detached and combed tuft to pass through it. The roll 17 is urged downwardly and forwardly so as to bear firmly against third roll 1S by pressure applied to its gudgeons by a saddle member 24 which bears on the gudgeon sleeve 17b and also on the corresponding gudgeon sleeve 16b of the detaching roll 16. The said saddle .is

ed at 27 beneath the cylinder 13 and weighty' ed at its forward end byv a link 2S and a weight or spring, not shown. The stirrup can be lifted against the pressure of this lever and removed, with the saddle, from pressing relation upon the rolls, whereupon both rolls may be removed. r1`he pressure applied by this single means, to the ends of both rolls, also serves to press the detaching roll in a rearward direction, or toward the rear side ofthe comb cylinder, and for this purpose the detaching roll is supported or guided in open slots in the blocks 22, which slots lie at the said inclination. The sleeves 16b on the gudgeons 161 of the detaching roll are slabbed on both sides, parallel, and inserted in the slots being supported therein in a position in which the working surface of the roll will be engaged by the kdetaching segment as above described, but will escape the needles of the half-lap. When the bracket arm 23 is a fixed part of the machine, as in thepresent case, the detaching segment is mounted m the cylinder with its surface slightly higher than the points of the needles, and the position of the detaching roll is fixed so as to clear the latter but yet to be engaged by the segment. r1`he means for determining this position of the roll according to the present invention comprise two elements or sets of elements, either one or both ef which may be used in the same machine. 1n the construction illustrated by Figs. l.-(`.,`1'hc ends of the roll are formed or otherwise provided with bosses 31, which are cylindrical or circular in cross section and no larger in diameter than the body of the roll, preferably slightly smaller' as indicated. These bosses are fixed to the body of the roll, and rest on two circular bearing surfaces 82 formed on, or rotating with the comb cylinder 13 at each end. rlhe diameters of such circular bearing surfaces 32 and bosses 31 are proportioned to support the working face of the roll in the position above referred to, except when it is vengaged and slightly lifted by the detaching segment. case support the detaching roll in a lateral sense, as guiding means, permitting the roll to yield to the impact from the segment in an upward and forward direction, which yielding is against the pressure of the saddle. IThe gudgeon sleeves 161 may not engage Kany surface or support to limit the r1`he slots in the blocks 22 in this extent of their entrance into their slo-ts when themachine is thus'constructed. The frictional engagement of the bearing surfaces 32 and bosses 31 causes the latter to drive the detaching roll in a -forward direction, and also at a slightly higher surface speed than the detaching segment so that the said roll is rotating when engagedby the segment and the latter is therefore relieved of the duty of overcoming its inertia. The tendency toward slipping or imperfect grip on the tuft is thereby reduced, particularly under high speeds.

It should be noted. that the drawings purposely exaggerate the proportions of the parts above described, for clearness of illustration, but it will be understood that the relative dimensions of the bosses 31 and the ring bearings 32, are intended to be so adjust-ed as to produce the action described with the least shock and jar, and preferably, though not necessarily, so as to rotate the detaching roll with a slightly higher surface speed than the segment. lVhen the bearing surfaces 32 extend continuously around thecylinder from back to front of the segment, as in Figs. 1 to G, the detaching roll is supported wholly thereby and by the segment, being merely guided or held in position by the supporting blocks Figs. 7-9 illustrate a construction in which the boss-driving bearings are present only immediately in front of the detaching segment and the bearing blocks 22 are provided with adjustable supports to withstand the saddle pressure on the roll. As shown in Fig. 9, the bearing members 1Q are mounted at the ends of the cylinder, extending forwardly about 90o in front of the forward side of the segment. These members are adapted to engage the roll bosses 31 in time to start the detaching roll in motion before it engages the segment. After the segment passes the roll, it rests, by its gudgeons, on bearings formed in the bottom of the slots in the blocks 22. These bearings are each formed by the fiat, enlarged end 33 of a screw 34, tapped into the block and slot, where the gudgeon sleeve 161 may rest on it, the sleeve being slabbed on a bevel for this purpose, as indicated at 35. rllhe screw thus `forms a compact and vstable bottom bearing for the detaching roll, which is accessible from the rear of the machine for adjustment. Itwill be evident that it would be equally useful for supporting the detachingl roll during the whole interval between detachments. By the adjustment of the screw, the roll canbe set so that the bearing members 12 will engage the bosses with the least jar, the forward ends of said bearing members, and also the forward edge of the detaching segment being beveled for the same purpose.

The uted clearer roll 19 is held as usual in the horsetails 29, the latter being pivoted on the horsetail supports 30, bolted to the pillow-block 20 above referred to. This clearer roll rests by its own weight and the weight of its horsetails upon the fluted piecing roll 18 and directs the combed and pieced tufts into the usual sliver pan or other means by which it is condensed and delivered from the machine.

The saddle 24 which spans the adjacent gudgeon sleeves 17 and 16b is pivotally connected to the end of the stirrup 25, and formed with a downward extension, or leg, on its front side which is concaved to fit the gudgeon sleeve of roll 17. The rear end is fiat where it rests on the gudgeon sleeve of roll 16 and the relation of its pivotaljoint and the two gudgeon bearings is such that the pressure is divided about equally bettween such gudgeons and notwithstanding that the detaching roll yields forwardly while the piecing roll 17 yields rearwardly. Obviously the said saddle could be formed otherwise to produce the same effect. The engagement of its concave bearing upon the gudgeon sleeve 17b permits it to be rocked forwardly thereon, as indicated by the dotted line position in Fig. 7. When in this position the pressure is relieved from the detaching roll and the bearing block slot is opened so that that roll can be removed without relieving all the pressure on the forward roll, or unhooking the stirrup from its stud on the weight-lever, this being a feature of convenience as a time saver, since detachin g rolls require frequent attention. By pushing on the stirrups the saddles are readily replaced in normal position.

1n order to vary the pressure applied by the common weighting means to the two rolls 16 and 17, the direction of pull on the stirrup is shifted forwardly or backwardly, as desired, and this is preferably accomplished by the means shown in the drawings (Fig. 7). rllhe pivot stud 27 on the lever 26, is carried by a slide 43, which is capable of adjustment horizontally by operating the screw 441. It will be evident that by shifting the pivot stud forwardly, a greater pressure is brought to bear on the roll 17, and by shifting it in the opposite direction, the greater proportion of pressure is transmitted to the detaching roll.

The operation of the comber will be apparent without further description. It will be noted that the detaching roll operates independently of the piecing rolls and is called upon to revolve only in a forward direction, taking its motion directly from the combr cylinder, while the piecing rolls 17 and 18 are driven from the drive-head on fixed axes. The motion they receive advances the detached tuft far enough to avoid contact of the needle half-lap with the tail end of the tuft but to present or leave a suflicient length of tail to form the overlap with the neXt detachment.

The supporting mechanism for the top comb-11 has not been shown or described because it may be made in any usual or suit- 1 which brings .it to its lowest point at the proper moment. The support for the nipper jaw or cushion plate 8, also omitted from the drawings, may likewise be provided in any suitable form. Preferably such jaw is held in about the position indicated, that is to say, somewhat in the rear of the vertical center' of the comb cylinder.

I claim :A

l. In a cotton comber, means for feeding and nipping the lap, a top comb and a combcylinder, in combination with two adjacent rolls arranged in front of the top comb and both adapted to nip the tuft beneath them, such rolls having sleeve bearings on their gudgeons and means common to adjacent sleeves for impart-ing the nipping pressure to the said rolls.

2. In a cotton comber, lap-feeding and nipping means, a top comb and a comb-cylinder' in combination with a detaching roll, and piecing means independent of such roll, said means comprising a roll in front of the detaching roll and means for weighting said two rolls comprising al saddle device spanning the end bearings thereof.

3. In a cotton comber, lap-feeding and nipping means, a top comb and acomb cylinder having a detaching segment, a detaching roll adapted to nip the tuft against the segment, a roll in front of the detaching roll between which and the detaching segment the tuft passes, saddles spanning the gudgeons of said rolls and means for weighting the said saddles.

4. In a cotton-comber having lap feeding and nipping means, and a comb cylinder with a'detaching segment thereon, the combination of a' detaching roll engaging the segment in front of the nipping means, a separate roll in front ofthe detaching roll and a third roll in front of the second, means for supporting the rst and second rolls 5.*In a cotton comber the combination with the lap-feeding and nipping means, a comb cylinder having a detaching segment, and a detaching roll adapted t0 engage the segment, of a. pair ofintermi'ttently operat-l ing, piecing rolls in front ofthe detaching roll, one of which rolls is subject to pressure against the other, means for applying such pressure comprising a saddle one end such nipping means, means forv weighting two of such rolls comprising a saddle acting on the adjacent ends thereof and a stirrup member permanently oined to the saddle.

7. In a cotton comber, means for detaching and piecing the tufts comprising two weighted rolls, a saddle acting on adjacent gudgeons of said rolls and a weighting stirrup to which the saddle is pivotally connected.

8. In a cotton comber, means for detaching and Ipiecing the tufts comprising two weighted rolls, a saddle bearing with one end on the end of one of said rolls and having a leg which bears upon the end of the other roll and a Weighting stirrup joined to the saddle.

9. In a cotton comber, the combination with the comb cylinder having a detaching segment, and lap-feeding and nipping means, of a detaching roll in front of the nipping means, a piecing roll in front of the detaching .roll and a pair of weighting stirrups having saddle means permanently connected thereto for applying the nipping pressure to both said rolls, the said stirrups being adapted to be removed from the rolls when removing the latter and having their lower ends extended below said rolls.

10. In a cotton comber, the combination with the combl cylinder having a detaching segment, of a detaching roll, a second roll in front ofthe detaching roll, both rolls having gudgeon sleeves, a weighting stirrup for both rolls having a saddle permanently connected therewith and applying nipping pressure to adjacent gudgeon sleeves thereof, the said stirrups and saddles being removable from the comber.

l1. In ai Heilmann type cotton comber, the combination with the lap-feeding and nipping means, `ofa comb cylinder having a segment, a detaching roll and piecing rolls separate therefrom, of supporting and guiding means for the detaching roll and one of the piecing rolls consisting of a block the upper surface whereof supports the said piecing roll, a slot in said block to receive the gudgeon of the detaching roll, and means for adjusting said gudgeon within the recess.

- 12. In a cotton comber having detaching and piecing rolls both having gudgeon sleeves, one of `which rolls coacts with a detaching segment and the other with another piecing roll, means for applying nipping pressure to both said rolls comprising a stirrup member, and a saddle supporting the latter and set upon adjacent gudgeon sleeves of both rolls so that it spans the gudgeons thereof, and a weight lever engaged to the stirrup and imparting pressure therethrough to the saddle.

13. In a cotton comber, lap-feeding and nipping means, a comb cylinder having a needle-half-lap, forwardly and rearwardly inclined bearing surfaces at the ends of the cylinder, a detaching roll mounted by its gudgeons on the rearwardly inclined surfaces, a second roll mounted by the gudgeons on the forwardly inclined surfaces, means for supporting the detaching roll on its said bearing surfaces so that it escapes contact with the needle-halflap and a common pressure means for both rolls including a saddle member spanning the gudgeons thereof and imparting nipping pressure to said rolls.

14;. In a cotton comber, lap-feeding and nipping means, a comb cylinder having a detaching segment, a detaching roll coperating therewith and having a boss by which it is driven, a second roll in front of the detaching roll and out of contact therewith, and a common means for weighting both said rolls, in combination with roll-driving members at the ends of said cylinder adapted to engage the said boss and rotate the detaching roll. f

15. In a cotton comber, lap-feeding and nipping means, a comb cylinder, bracket arms at the ends of such cylinder having forwardly and rearwardly inclined bearing surfaces, a detaching roll mounted by its gudgeons on the rearwardly inclined surfaces and a second roll mounted on the forwardly inclined surfaces, in combination with bosses on the ends of the detaching roll and driving bearings for such bosses at the ends of the cylinder, such bearings being adapted to support the detaching roll upon its said rearwardly inclined bearing surfaces, and weighting means for said rolls arranged to press the detaching roll upon the said surfaces and the driving bearings.

16. In a cotton comber, the combination with a comb cylinder having a detaching segment, a detaching roll engaging intermittently therewith and provided with bosses having a diameter not exceeding the working surface of the roll, and driving surfaces concentric with the cylinder adapted to engage and rotate such bosses prior to the engagement of the roll with the detaching segment.

17. In a cotton comber, the combination of lap-feeding and nipping means, a comb cylinder having a detaching surface, a detaching roll engaging intermittently therewith and means for rotating the detaching roll prior to such engagement, in the same direction and at a higher surface speed.

18. In a cotton comber, a comb cylinder having a needle half lap and a detaching segment radially higher on the cylinder th-an the points of the needles, in combination with a detaching roll having bosses iXed thereon, and bearing surfaces concentric with the cylinder adapted to engage and rotate the bosses prior to the engagement of the high segment with the working surface of the detaching roll.

19. In a cotton comber, a comb cylinder, having a detaching segment, a detaching roll engaged thereby, piecing rolls operating independently of the detaching roll and means for forwardly driving the detaching roll prior to and at the beginning of its engagement by the segment.

20. In a cotton comber, the combination with a comb cylinder having a needle-halflap and detaching segment, a detaching roll having end bosses whereby it is supported and rotated prior to its engagement with the segment, ring bearings on the cylinder adapted to support and drive said bosses, said bearings being proportioned to support the working face of the roll above the needle .half-lap and below the detaching surface of the segment.

21. In a cotton comber, the combination of a comb cylinder having a needle-half-lap, a. detaching roll, bearing members on the cylinder adapted to support and rotate the detaching roll with its working surface above the needle points, a detaching segment on the comb cylinder adapted to engage the roll ii'hile supported on said bearing members, and a beveled surface on the segment tending to raise the detaching roll by engagement therewith.

22. In a cotton comber, the combination of a comb cylinder having` a detaching segnient, an independent detaching roll engaged by the segment and means for piecing the tufts detached thereby, in combination with supporting means for the ends of the detaching roll comprising an arm having a slot therein, an adjustable bottom bearing in the slot, gudgeon sleeves on said roll confined in said slot and adapted to rest in said bottom bearings duringthe intervals between engagement of the detaching roll by the segment.

E23. In a cotton comber, a comb cylinder having a detaching segment, a detaching roll having gudg'eon sleeves and means for supporting the same comprising a bearing block slotted to receive such sleeve and provided with a screw tapped within said block and slot and forming a bottom bearing for the sleeve in the slot.

24.. In a cotton comber, a comb cylinder having a detaching segment a detaching roll provided with a gudgeon sleeve and means for supporting the roll comprising a slotted bearing block receiving the sleeve, a screw tapped into the block and slot from the rear of the comber and forming a bearing for the sleeve.

In a cotton comber, the combination with a comb cylinder having a detaching segment and a detaching roll having bosses at its ends by which it is driven, of roll driving means in the cylinder for engaging the 'bosses to start the detaching roll in motion prior to its engagement by the segment.

Q6. In a cotton comber, the combination with the detaching roll, of a stirrup member for transmitting pressure to such roll and means adapting such member to be shifted from engagement with the roll without relieving vthe pressure on the stirrups.

27. In a cotton combler, a detaching roll, a stirrup member subjected to pressure, 'a device receiving pressure from the stirrup and adapted to transmit itto the detaching roll, and a bearing for said device on which it may be turned to interrupt such transmission to the detaching roll.

2S. In a cotton comber, a detaching roll,

and a stirrup subjected to pressure and ar ranged to transmit the same to the roll, in combination with a device connected with the stirrup and having a bearing or support whereb;7 forward pull on the stirrup relieves the roll from pressure.

In a cotton comber, the combination with the comb cylinder', and two rolls adapted to cooperate to detach and piece the combed tufts, of a co-mmon means for transmitting nipping pressure to both such rolls and means for varying the proportion of pressure transmitted to each.

30. In a cotton comber, the combination with the comb cylinder and two rolls adapted for operation on the combed tufts, of a member spanning both-rolls, a stirrup applying pressure to both such rolls through the said member and means for shifting the direction of pull of said stirrup.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. VHITIN.

IVitnesses I/VILLIAM H. Hoon, OSCAR L. OWEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, hy addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, D. C. A

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