US1416339A - Condenser for textile fibers - Google Patents

Description

J. DEXTER.' CONDENSER FOR TEXTILE FIBERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1920.

Patented May 16; k1922.

CONDENSER FOR TEXTILE FIBER/S.A

intense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 19122.

Application led March 30, 1920. Serial No. 369,833.

Io (JZ whom t may concern:

Ee it known that l, Jol-1N DEXTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Bedford, county of Bristol, andl State of Massachusetts, (whose post-oiiice address is 115 Orchard Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts,) have invented an Improvement in Condensers for Textile Fibers, of which the following' description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to rub aprons used in connection with carding machines for imparting to a ribbon of lfibers a rounded or cylindrical form.

In machines of this general type, the ribbons of ,fibers are subjected to a rolling or rubbing action between aprons usually formed of leather or the like. The aprons are given an advancing movement in unison to advance the ribbons rof fibers, and simultaneously therewith the aprons have imparted thereto a reciprocating` transverse movement in short paths so that as the ribbons of fiber passv between the aprons they are caught and formed into a cylindrical shape.

During treatment, the fibers will absorb to a more or less degree, the oily or lubricant matter contained in the aprons, the surface of which soon become dry and smootiL or glazed, with the result that they 'fail to perform their condenser functions. Under these conditions, it is necessary from time to time to stop the machine and apply an oily or lubricating` substance to the surface of the aprons. This results in loss, and the character of the slivers or rovings producedvaries progressively from the time when the aprons are first lubricated until the next lubrication takes place. if the aprons are run for a time without properly forming the slivers or rovings, a loss due to the improper formation of the slivers or rovings results, causing waste and inferior work, A feature of the present invention, therefore, consists of means for automatically supplying proper lubricant to the surface of the aprons and regulating` that supply of lubricant to maintain the desired condition of the surface of the apron that they may perform their condensing functions uniformly throughout the entire length of the slivers or rovings being produced.

Other features of the invention and novel combination of parts will be hereinafter described in addition to the above, and in connection with the accompanying drawings which show one good, iractical form of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a leather apron condenser with the present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of certain features of the invention shown detached from the condenser;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the'con'- denser apron lubricating means, some` of the parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a cross section ofthe lubricating device on `the line 4 4- of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detail of a modified form of trough support.

The invention may be advantageously applied to any of the rub aprons employed in connection with carding'machines for forming ribbons of fiber into cylindrical form or into what is technically known as slivers7 or rovings. in the present instance7 it is shown as applied to the rub aprons connected with a condenser and it will be convenient to describe it in that connection, with the understanding that it may be advantageously employed in connection with any of the rub aprons usedto form ribbons of fibers into cylindrical form.

The condenser frame may be of 'any suitable character for supporting the operating parts, and in the present instance of the invention, comprises the side frames 1 which are connected by the cross tie 2, one or more of which may be employed, as they circumstances` dictate. Supported by the condenser frame, in the present instance, are yshown two rub aprons which are mounted upon suitable rolls driven as usual, to impart to the aprons an advancing or feeding movenient. At one end of the rub apron supporting and operating rolls', means are provided for giving the aprons a reciprocating movement transversely to their feeding movement, the construction being such that the fibers delivered to the aprons from the carding machine may be properly rolled into cylindrical form. Referring more particularly to the construction as herein illustrated, the upper pair of a yrons 8 and 4t, are mounted upon rolls 5 anc 6 which extend transversely of the frame and are journalled in suitable bearings 7, so that the contiguous surface of the upper and lower aprons may be sufficiently close to impart to the fibers the feeding and rolling movements. On the ends of the rolls 5 and 6 are the tooth wheels or gears 8 which may be driven from a suitable source of power to impart to the aprons 3 and 4 their feeding movements, as usual.

ln addition to the support of the rolls 5 and 6, the aprons 3 and 4 pass around the rolls 9 and 10 which are carried in bearing blocks 11 mounted for adjustment toward and from the bearings 7 to properly adjust the tension of the aprons. The construction thus far described may be of the usual char acter in this class ot machines, or may bc varied to suit conditions of use.

Below the upper pair ot' aprons 3 and 4 are the lower condenser aprons 12 and 13, which areJ mounted upon the rolls 14 and 15 in a manner similar to the upper pair of aprons, and the lower pair of aprons may be driven as usual, through the gears or pin` ions 16. The construction and arrangement of the upper and lower pairs of aprons are similar, or may be, and the description oit the upper pair of aprons as herein recited, may be applied with equal force to the lower pair of aprons.

yThe several rub apron supporting rolls have their other ends supported in a frame 17 which is given a reciprocating movement transversely of the machine by any suitable means. In the present instance, the frame 17 is given its reciprocating movements from the eccentrics 18 and 19 mounted on the operating shaft 20, the construction being such that the aprons will be given their i'ecding movements through their respective rolls 5, 6, 14 and 15 and their lateral reciprocating movements by the reciprocating trame 1'4". The parts thus far described may be of usual construction, and need no further elucidation. rlhe ribbons oi ber 21 enter between the associated pairs of aprons and, owing to the feeding and lateral reciprocating movements ol the aprons, the ribbons of liber emerge from the aprons in the :term ot sliv` ers or rovings 22.

As hereinbefore pointed out, where the rub apron system is employed for treating fibers, the surfaces of the apron soon become dry and smoothed or glazed. The progressive drying and smoothing or glazing of the sur face of the aprons from the commencement toward the end of their operation necessarily cause a variation in the character of the slivers or rovings produced, because, when the aprons are properly conditioned by the lubricant, their grip upon the cotton fibers is more emphasized than when the surface of the aprons become more or less devoid of lubricant, or approach the dry or glazed condition. The result o1 this is that the slivers produced by the aprons are not uni form in character from the start to finish, and toward the end of the operation, when the surface of the aprons approach the dried, smoothed or glazed condition, the slivers or rovings fail to be properly produced, and such end portions of the slivers become waste, and must be retreated by passing through the carding machine and being incorporated with other iibers.

rThe present invention therefore contemplates the provision of means for obviating this progressively-defective condition of the slivers or rovings' by supplying to the apron automatically and continuouslyv during the rubbing operation, a suitable amount of lubricant, and one good form of means to this end consists ot a'trough-like receptacle eX- tending transversely of the rub aprons and having a lubricating device which normally contacts with the surface ot' the associated apron of each pair.

)In the present instance the lubricant-supplying means consists of a trough 23 having the downwardly-inclined side portions 24 and a cover 25, the trough being supported from the condenser frame by suitable means such as the hangers 26 and 27. The hangers 26 and 27 may be securedto the side fra-mes by suitable securing means such as the bolts 28 and have their opposite end portions connected to the lubricating trough 28, the construction being such that the bolts 28 may be readily detached to permit the lubricating trough to lbe taken from the machine.

in some cases it may be desirable to more readily move the lubricating trough and be able to replace it without the necessity of adjustment and use of tools, so that those unifamiliar with mechanisms may remove the lubricating trough and then replace it in proper position. In such cases the end portions of the lubricating trough .may each be provided with a bracket or leg 49, Fig. 5, having a i'oot portion 50 which may rest upon an adjusting screw 51' extending through the lower portion of a supporting bracket 52 which may secured to and depend from the inner side ot the trame, as indicated in F ig. 5. The bracket 52 may have the guide portions 58 to receive between them the leg 49 and the toot 50.

The trough 28 is supplied with a lubricant from a suitable container which, in the present instance ot the invention, consists ol a reservoir 29 conveniently supported by a bracket 30 from the condenser trame, to which the bracket is secured by a detachable bolt 81, the construction. being such that the reservoir may be readily detached from the condenser frame.

lt will be understood that a lubricating trough 23 is provided ior each pair ot rub aprons and each ot the lubricating troughs is connected to the reservoir 29 by a supply pipe 32. The supply pipe 32 extends prei'- erably longitudinally of the lubricating troughs and is provided with a series o1"- outlets 33 within the lubricating troughs, the end of the supply pipe at 34e, F ig. 3, being closed, the construction being such that the lubricant will be supplied with substantial equality throughout the length o'f the lubricating troughs.

llhe supply of lubricant to the supply pipes 32 may be controlled by suitable ineans which enables the quantity of lubricant delivered to the troughs to be regulated will. the present instance, each of 'the lubricating troughs has extending thereinto and surrounding the portion of the supply pipes 32 within the troughs, a rotary cover which, like the supply pipes themselves, is provided with a series ot outlets 3G. The end ot the cover projects beyond the end ot the lubricating troughs and is provided with a boss 37 by which the cover may be rotated or moved about the perforated portion ot the supply pipes, the construction being such that the outlets ci the supply pipe and outlets 3G of the cover `may be adjusted to regulate the Quantity et lubricant delivered to the lubricating troughs. As a convenient means for maintaining the cover in its operative position, it may be threaded at 38 into a Y 39 projecting from the end of the lubricating troughs.

At its delivery end, each ot the lubricatingv troughs is provided with a lubricant distributor 410 preferably formed of a substance which will permit the slow passage ot lubricant therethrough, such as a wick or the like; and in order that the delivery ot lubricant by the distributor' may be further regulated to suit the conditions of use, the lower kend portion ot the delivery troughs is provided with a 'Flexible wall el which may be made to bear with more or less energy upon the distributor by means ol: a series of adjusting` bolts 42. rllhe delivery end portion oit each trough is preferably reinforced,A also, by angle irons or strengthening members 43 to provide equal distribution oli pressure on the wick. lllithin the lubricating trough and pret erably extending to or above the outlets oi the delive 1y pipes 32 there is provided vthe absorbent material la which may be ilorined oi' some textile liber such as cotton, wool or the like, the construction being such that the lubricant supplied to the lubricatinn` troughs will gradually work downward to .and be transmitted by the distributor 4l() to one surtace of each pair oit rub aprons, substantially as indicated in Fig. l, and the supply ot' lubricant will be automatic throughout the operation of the machine, and of a quantity to maintain the surface theA aprons in proper condition ttor performing their sliver or roving-forming functions. rl`hus the entire length of slivers produced by the rub aprons are made uniiorm in character from start to finish, and waste of material, as well as olf' labor and lubricant, is obviated.

Ot course it will be understood that variations may be made in the particular means for properly supplying and distributing the lubricant to the aprons automatically, and igt desired, the shut-oil' coclrs l5 and e6 may be placed in the supply pipes 32 Yfor interrupting the supply of liiibricant, should such interruption be found desirable.

ln the illustrated 'form of the invention, the lubricating trough for supplying the lubricant automatically to the lower pair ot condenser aprons is supported by the brackets /l' which are adj ustably secured by the bolt and slot connection 48 to the side oi: the condenser trame.

l/Vhile the lubricant is continuously and automatically supplied to only one oli the condenser aprons, such lubricant is itself transferred to the surface ot its companion condenser apron by the libers which pass between the aprons and also by contact ol' the aprons themselves.

That is claimed isl. ln a condenser provided with rub aprons, means for applying oil to the sliverengaging surface of said aprons, comprising, in combination, a lubricant trough. supported transverse-ly of and in spaced relation to an apron, a flexible lubricant distributor efrtending lengthwise ot the trough and protruding :trom the trough in the direction ot the apron, lubricant supply means extending longitudinally wit-hin said trough and having outlets for the lubricant at spaced intervals within the trough, and adjustable means cooperating with said outlets to regulate the flow ot lubricant therefrom.

2. A lubricant device for supplying lubricant to a traveling apro-n, comprising, in combination, lubricant trough having a longitudinally-extending slot leading trom the lower portion ol1 the trough, means for supporting the trough transversely ot and in spaced relation to the apron, a lubricant wiclr within said slot and extending therefrom toward the traveling' apron, and adjustable means adjacent said slot and adapted to pinch the wick to vary the amount of lubricant delivered by the wick to the apron.

3. A lubricant device for supplying oil to a traveling condenser apron, comprising in combination, a lubricant trough containing oil-absorbing` material and having a longitudinally-extending slot leading from the lower portion of the trough, means for supporting the trough in spaced relation to the apron,.an oil wick within said slot and extending therefrom into engagement with the condenser apron, and adjustable means for moving one of the walls of Said slot toward the other to pinch the Wick and thereby vary the amount ot oil supplied by the Wick to the apron.

d. A. lubricant device iter supplying oil to a condenser apron, comprising, in combination, a lubricant trough having a slot extending longitudinally thereof and leading irom the lower portion oi the trough, means tor conducting oil trom said slot to an apron, a reservoir for the oil positioned ex-l ternally of the trough a conduit leading from the reservoir and extending into the trough and longitudinally thereof and provided with a series olf outlets tor the oil, and adjustable means Jfor varying the c'li'ecH tive size oit said outlets to control the amount oi: oil passing through the outlets.

5. A lubricant device for supplying oil to a condenser apron, comprising in combination a lubricant trough having an adjustable outlet constructed to extend across a condenser apron, means Yl'or supporting the trough in spaced relation to the apron, a flexible distributor extending through the outlet toward the apron to conduct oil thereto, and means l'or adjusting the Width oil said outlet to squeeze `be -tlexible distributor and thereby control the amount oi? oil sui plied to the apron.

6. A. lubricant device for supplying lubricant to a traveling apron, comprising, in combination, a lubricant trough, a lubricant supply conduit extending longitudinall)T Within the trough and having outlets tor the lubricant at spaced intervals 'Within the trough, adjustable means cooperating with said outlets to regulate the llow ol" lubri cant therefrom, and a lubricant distributor disposed longitudinally of said trough and extending therefrom to conduct lubricant to the apron. y

7. A condenser apron oiler, comprising, in combination, a lubricant trough having a longitudinally-extending slot leading from the lovver portion of the trough, means for supporting the trough in spaced relation to the apron and adjustable to vary the position of the trough relative to the apron, a lubricant Wick Within said slot and extend ing therefrom toward the traveling apron, and means for adjustably pinching the Wick to vary the amount of lubricant delivered the amount of oil supplied by the Wick to e the traveling surface.

9. A lubricant device for supplying oil to a traveling Web, comprising in combination, a lubricant trough having a longitudinallyextending slot leading from the trough, an oil Wick Within said slot and extending therefrom toward the traveling` Web to supply oil to the web, and adjustable means for pinching the Wick to thereby vary the amount of oil supplied by the Wick to the traveling web. y

l0. A lubricant device for supplying oil to a traveling surface, comprising, in combination, a. lubricant trough having a longitudinally-extending slot leading from the lower portion of the trough, an oil Wick Within said trough and extending therefrom toward the traveling surface to supply oil to the surface, means for pinching the Wick to thereby control the amount of oil supplied by the Wiclr to the traveling surface, and oilabsorbing material packed in the 'trough adjacent the Wick to retard by capillary attraction passage oi oil Within the trough to the Wick.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my ame to this specification.

JOHN DEXTER

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