US2536884A

US2536884A - Drafting mechanism for textile fibers

Info

Publication number: US2536884A
Application number: US630863A
Authority: US
Inventors: Noguera Joseph
Original assignee: Casablancas High Draft Co Ltd
Current assignee: Casablancas High Draft Co Ltd
Priority date: 1944-09-28
Filing date: 1945-11-26
Publication date: 1951-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1968-01-02
Also published as: GB582912A

Description

1951 J. NOGUERA DRAFTING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE FIBERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1945 DRAFTING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE FIBERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1945 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 DRAFTING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE FIBERS Joseph Noguera, Prestwieh, Manchester, England, assignor to Casablancas High Draft Company Limited, Manchester, England, a British company Application November 26, 1945, Serial No. 630,863 In Great Britain September 28, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires September 28, 1964 5 Claims. (Cl. 19-131) I This invention relates to drafting apparatus for textile fibres of the kind in which the fibres pass between two endless belts which are supported by means of transverse rollers.

Such apparatus normally comprises a twopronged tensor, the prongs of which are located within the respective belts and are arranged to hold the front parts of the belts in the correct working position and at a predetermined distance apart. Alternatively, the apparatus comprises two separate single-pronged tensors which are similarly located within the respective belts. The tensor member or members is/ are supported by a cradle or cage which forms the body of the apparatus and is supported by the belt-supporting rollers. Such cradle normally consists of a pair of side plates which are recessed to engage the belt-supporting rollers and are connected together by at least two transverse rods or bars. A composite form of cradle has been suggested, however, which consists of upper and lower parts, each comprising two side plates which are connected together by means of transverse members, and which are adapted to be coupled up to form the complete cradle.

In all such known types of apparatus, therefore,

the cradle is a rigid structure and is liable to be distorted through careless handling or accident, and to be put into use in such unsatisfactory condition. In addition, the transverse rods or bars are undesirable from the point of view of the operation of the apparatus, since they constitute obstructions which encourage the accumulation of fluff and dirt in the vicinity of the apparatus. Furthermore, the composite type of cradle has the disadvantages firstly that the slightest damage to either component may result in their not coupling up accurately with consequent deterioration in the efiiciency of the apparatus, and secondly that it is not readily adaptable to the use of the double-pronged type of tensor which is the most satisfactory for ensuring that the desired distance between the prongs is maintained. The principal object of the present invention is to provide a drafting apparatus of the kind described, in which the risk of distortion is practically eliminated, and which is simpler and cleaner in operation. In particular, it is desired to dispense with all obstructive transverse members whilst retaining the possibility of using the desirable two-pronged tensor.

According to the invention, drafting apparatus of the kind described comprises a cradle constltuted by two independent side plates which are mounted on the belt-supporting rollers and a two-pronged tensor, the side plates being maintained in position by engagement with slots in the upper prong of the tensor, the prongs of which are located within the respective belts in the usual way.

The invention thus requires the use of a new form of tensor. The prongs of the new tensor are formed along their forward edges in the usual way to exert the desired nip on the belts, but the upper prong is provided at each end of its rear edge with an enlarged portion in which is formed a deep slot. The forward edges of the side plates are formed with notches in their upper portion which are adapted to fit around the upper prong of the tensor in such manner that substantially the upper edges of said notches enter said slots in the upper prong whereby the side plates are maintained against lateral displacement. The lower portions of the forward edges of the side plates are recessed to seat on the lower prong of the tensor although said lower prong is not slotted' to engage said lower portions to any great extent. The lower prong is, however, advantageously formed with deep slots as described in connection with the upper prong, so that if the tensor is inserted from the opposite side of the apparatus, in which case the positions of the upper and lower prongs will be reversed, the upper prong will still present the required slots for engagement with the upper notches in the side plates.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a tensor according to the invention,

Figure 2 is an end view taken from the lefthand end of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an end view taken from the righthand end of Figure 1,

' Figure 4 is a section on the line AA of Figure 1, the end plate being omitted,

Figure 5 is a section on the line B--B of Figure 1,

Figure 11 is a front view and,

Figure 12 is a back view. Referring to Figures 1-7, the tensor comprises an end plate In and two prongs Ii extending from said end plate and terminating in foot members 12. The forward edges i3 of the prongs are formed in the usual way to exert the desired nip on the belts.

At their ends the prongs are formed with raised portions I4 on their outer faces, said raised portions terminating short of the end plate It and foot members l2, whereby deep slots l5 are formed at each end of the prongs. The forward edges of the side plates it are formed with notches I! in their upper portions in such manner that the side plates are adapted to engage the prongs of the tensor with the upper edges of said notches I! entering the slots and resting on the upper prong, whereby the side plates are maintained against lateral displacement with respect to the tensor. The lower portions of the forward edges of the side plates are recessed to seat on the lower prong of the tensor although said lower portions do not enter the slots in the lower prong to any great extent. In fact, the lower prong need not be formed with slots but is advantageously so formed so that if the tensor is inserted from the opposite side of the apparatus, in which case the positions of the upper and lower prongs will be reversed, the upper prong still presents the required slots for engagement with the notches H in the side plates. It will be understood that the thickness of the prongs H is dependent upon their length, while the distance between the forward edges l3 determines the nip exerted on the belts and can be varied by altering the inclination of the prongs .H to the horizontal.

Referring now to Figures 8-12,, the side plates 16. are mounted on the shafts is of the rollers 19 supporting the belts 26, and are thus held against longitudinal movement. The engagement of the side plates IS with the prongs ii of the tensor as hereinbefore described prevents transverse movement of the side plates.

.It will thus be understood that the side plates and tensor are mutually self-supporting. Apart from its simplicity of construction and ease .of handling, the new arrangement has the important advantages that no transverse members are required to hold the side plates together so that there are no projections anywhere around the outer surfaces of the belts with consequent increased cleanliness, while the apparatus is not so susceptible to damage as are the previous rigid cage-like constructions.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Drafting apparatus for textile fibres comprising two superimposed transverse rollers, meansfor driving said rollers,two endlessbelts in the form of elongated loops supported at their rear ends one on each said roller, two independent side plate members resting on the lower roller at their 5 rear portions and positioned one on each side of ward edge, and a. two pronged tensor, the prongs of which are located one within each said belt loop to correctly position the front ends of the loops, the upper prong of said tensor being formed with a slot adjacent each end and each said slotted portion of the prong being in co-operating engagement with the upper surface engaging portion of the notch in the adjacent side plate in such manner as to hold the said side plates and tensor in their operative positions without other securing means.

2. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the lower parts of the forward edges of said side plates are cut back and away from the surface having the notch at a point removed from said notch to define 'a recess having an upper surface engaging portion shaped to seat on the lower prong of said tensor.

3. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the slots are formed in enlarged portions at each end of the upper prong.

4. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said tensor comprises an end plate and two prongs extending from said end plate and terminating in foot members, at least the upper of said prongs being formed with slots in its rear edge adjacent each end for cooperation with the notches in the side plates and said prongs having their forward edges formed to exert the required nip on the belts.

5. For use in drafting apparatus for textile fibres in which two endless belts in the form of elongated loops are supported, one on each of a pair of superimposed transverse driven rollers,

" a belt guiding and positioning device comprising two independent side plate members adapted .to rest, towards their rear ends, on said lower roller, one on each side of said belts, said side plate members each being formed with an elongated notch in the forward edge, said notch having upper and lower surface engaging portions, and a two pronged tensor the prongs of which are adapted to be located one within each said belt loop between the forward ends of said side plates to correctly position the front parts of the loops, the upper prong of said tensor being ,formed with a slot adjacent each :end and each slotted Portion of the prong being adapted to engage the upper surface portion of said notch in the adiacent side plate so as $0 hold the said side plates and tensor against relative lateral displacement without the aid of additional securing means.

JOSEPH NOGUERA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references :are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,917,699 :Casablancas- July 11, 1933 2,035,318 Casablancas Apr. 7, 1936 2,075,571 Casablancas Man 36, 1937 2,132,299 Jackson Oct. 4, 1938 FORE-EGN PATENTS Number Country Date 638,797 Germany l Nov. 23,1936