US2674011A - Process and machine for improving wool tops - Google Patents

Description

April 6, 1954 G. BULLARD 2,674,011

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR IMPROVING WOOL TOPS med aan. 12. 1952 y s shams-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

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PRocEss AND MACHINE FOR IMPRovING woor. Tops Filed Jan. 12. 1952 .6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ew. 3 INVENTOR.

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PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR IMPROVING WOOL TOPS Filed Jan. 12,' 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 6, 1954 L. G. BULLARD PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR IMPROVING WOOL TOPS Filed Jan. 12, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. 7 8" MAXIMUM STAPLE LENGTH AT 98% AT 85% AT 50% ATZOZ, "/UNDER [V2 original Top 5v; 4V; 5V; 2 '/2 7'4 Processed Top 257/; 39; 257; I 7i; 734 7" 6" Original Top Coef. ofv Varioion 36.76 4" Processed Top)`\ coef. of vor. 28.85 2n M "The o III IOO 90% 8O 70% 60% 50 40 "/o 30 2O IO O INVENTOR.

#d www@ Patented Apr. 6L 1954 PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR IMPROVING WOOL TOPS Lyman G. Bullard, Norton, Mass., assignor to l Talbot Wool Combing Co., Division of Winslow Bros. & Smith Co., Norton, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 12, 1952, Serial No. 266,127 4 Claims. (Cl. 19-65 This invention comprises an improved process and apparatus for increasing the proportion of uniform short staple fibers in a wool top sliver. The process is characterized by the steps of passing the sliver as it comes from the combing process continuously through spaced sets of feed rolls driven at different speeds and subjected at both ends of both sets to the same uid pressure. The novel apparatus for carrying out this process includes fluid operated mechanism for imparting uniform or identical pressure to all the four bearings of the pressure or feed rolls employed.

With modern abbreviated spinning systems the requirements of Wool tops have changed from those formerly deman-ded, and more uniform short staple lengths have become very important for good spinning. Tops can be made from short fine wools which can be spun satisfactorily by these newly adopted systems but only by very careful buying and sorting of the tops to be used. Even though such tops are made as carefully as possible by such procedure, they are still capable of being greatly improved as to uniformity of staple length by the process herein disclosed. Moreover, it is often advantageous both from the standpoint of cost and because of the greater efflciency in the combing process to buy longer fiber wools. These are in many cases too long to be satisfactory in present spinning systems. The process and apparatus herein disclosed permit slivers of these long liber wools to be reduced by a single passage of the rolls to any predetermined required staple length; for example, to an average staple length of two inches or less. This cannot be accomplished by sorting since the bulk of the wool is long fiber. If such a Wool top is out, the cutting will not only reduce the long fibers but will also shorten many of the other bers which are arranged at random throughout the sliver and the resulting staple diagram indicates a tremendous and objectionable amount of short ber. Even if the long ber sliver were combed, the resulting sliver would still contain much more short fibers than that produced in accordance with the method of this invention and the sliver would be poor in uniformity of staple length as indicated by the coefficient of variation. Moreover, the combing step can only be effected at high cost particularly because of the incidental loss of short fibers as noil.

Further, it is often desirable from a cost standpoint as well as to meet goverment and customer specifications to use a 10W grade of wool. Since it is generally true that the lower the grade the longer the wool fibers. it is very difficult to 'section on the une 3-3 of Fig, 2.

make low grade tops short enough orY uniform enough for the demands for present spinning systems. Cutting the top produces the same objectionable proportion of short fibers above mentioned. Here again by the process and apparatus of this invention it is possible to reduce the longest wools to a suitable length with a good coefcient of variation and in a condition highly desirable for` spinning yby any system. Even in a long-draft system like the Bradford which can handle long wools, the process of this invention can be employed effectively to shorten the small percentage of excessively long fibers and thus eliminate cockling of the yarn.

The advantages of the novel process herein disclosed may be summarized as follows:

l. Any given wool top can be made more suitable for the spinner by elimination of the longest fibers which initially make up a small percentage of the top.

2. Any top can be substantially shortened throughout to conform to customers requirements with a marked improvem-ent in the coefficient of variation and this reduction can be controlled within very close limits at the fty per cent mark.

3. Long fine Wools can be utilized and treated in accordance with this invention for customers requiring short wools, often at a very appreciable price advantage.

4. Lower grade wools not available in short lengths can be utilized and transformed to satisfactory staple sliver.

5. A11 the good results of careful buying and sorting can be achieved at substantially less expense by the process of this invention.

6. Cutting as a means of reducing staple length will definitely not produce a satisfactory top for many uses, and in any case the sliver after cutting must be recarded and often recombed to put it in useful condition, whereas the process of this invention delivers an improved sliver ready for spinning.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred machine by Which the process may be carried out as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine with certain parts broken away,

Fig. 2 is a corresponding view in rear elevation,

Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the machine as seen from the right side,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the machine as seen from the left side,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the fluid pressure connections, and

Fig. 7 is a top analysis diagram.

The illustrated machine comprises essentially two sets of feed rolls through which the sliver is passed, driven at different rates of speed and maintained with their bearings under uniform and identical uid pressure.

The machine as organized includes a base plate I upon which is movably supported a pair of upright side frames I I and I2 and a pair of xed upright side frames I3 and I4. One set of feed rolls is journaled in each pair of these side frames and the distance between the two sets of feed rolls is called the ratch of the machine and is adjustable to accommodate differences in the sliver to be treated. For example, the machine as herein shown is set for a l1/2 ratch.

The main shaft I5 of the machine is journaled atone end in the lower box I6 in the fixed side frame I3 and at the other in the lower box I1 in the corresponding fixed side frame I4. The shaft carries at its left-hand end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a gear I8 and this is driven through a gear vI9 from the motor or other source of power. The shaft I5 carries a iluted metal roll 20 against the lower side of which is pressed a felt wiper 2|. The wiper is supported upon a pair of compression springs 22 as best shown in Figs. 2 ands 3.

An upper shaft 23 is journaled at one end in the upper box 24 in the side frame I4 and the upper box 25 in the side frame I3. This shaft carries a rubber pressure roll 26 which grips the'sliver against the lower roll 20 and rotates with it as the sliver is positively fed rearwardly between the two rolls. The two upper boxes 24 and 25 are maintained at all times under a constant fluid pressure. To this end a vertical rod 21 of adjustable length is arranged to bear upon the upper face of the box 25. At its upper end the rod 21 engages a flexible diaphragm, not shown, within ya cylindrical pressure chamber 28 supported by arms 23 from the side frame I3. A corresponding pressure chamber 30 is supported by arms 3| above the side frame I4 and a corresponding adjustable rod 32 is similarly maintained under uniform fluid pressure against the upper box 24. Thus both ends of the shaft 23 are maintained under constant fluid pressure and this is made always uniform by connections which willbe presently described.

The adjustable side frame II is provided with a lower box 33 in which is journaled one end of the shaft 34 which carries a fluted metal roll 35 similar in all respects to the roll 20 above described. A rotary brush 36 is arranged to run in contact with the lower surface of the roll 35 to keep it clean from any accumulation of lint. The shaft 34 is journaled at its other end in the lower box 31 in the side frame I2. Above this box is located the upper box 38 in whichr is journaled one end of the shaft 39 which carries a rubber pressure roll 48 similar to the roll 28 already described. Above the box 38 is an adjustable rod 4I operated by a flexible diaphragm in the pressure cylinder 42 supported by arms 43 above the side frame. The other end of the shaft 39 is journaled in the upper box 44 of the side frame II and maintained under pressure through a rod 45 which enters at its upper end the cylindrical pressure chamber 46 supported by arms 41 above the side frame.

The main shaft I5 carries at its right end, as shown in Figs. l and 2, a pinion 58 which meshes with a large gear 5I carried by a short countershaft 52 journaled in a portion of the machine frame. The shaft 52 carries a small gear 53 meshing with a large gear 54 on the end of the shaft 34. A swing piece 55 is mounted to rock about the axis of the shaft 52 and this swing piece has a slotted connection with the side frame I2. The slot as shown in Fig. 5 is concentric with the axis of the shaft 52 and a clamping nut 56 is provided for clamping the swing piece any adjusted position permitted by the length of the slot. This construction permits relative adjusting movement of the side frame I2 while maintaining an effective driving train between the main fshaft I5 in the stationary side frames and theshaft 34 which is journaled in the adjustable side frames. The'maximum adjustment of the ratch required in the use of the machine is in the order of 1/2 to 1", and this is readily permitted by the swing plate. It will be understood that the side frames II and I2 may be loosened from the base plate I0 for purposes of adjustment and then clamped securely in the adjusted operating position.

The four pressure chambers 28, 30, 42 and 48 are connected by a system of piping best shown in Fig. 6. This comprises a supply pipe 51 which leads from an air compressor or accumulator, not shown, into a position above the pressure chambers and into communication with the parallel branches 58 which extend transversely to the pressure chambers 28 and 46. A downwardly extending pipe 58 is shown as leading from one of these branches to the pressure chamber -42 and a similar vertical pipe leads from one of the branches 58 to the pressure chamber 48. A flexible section 49 is interposed between the two branches 58 to permit adjustment of the ratch as above explained. Through this system of piping constant and identical fluid pressure is maintained in all four pressure chambers and therefore on both ends of the shafts 23 and 39 of the upper pressure rolls of each set. The diaphragms may be of any suitable area for the work in hand, for example, 10 square inches, and thus may be utilized to impart a pressure of 40 to l80 lbs., for example, on each of the upper bearing boxes.

The employment of compressed air or other uid is an essential feature of the present invention and lcontributes in an unexpected and unpredictable way to the important results vof the present invention. It has been found impractical to achieve these results by employing springs instead of the fluid pressure mechanism above described. One reason for this may be that the pressure of a spring is bound to vary with the position thereof or with the lengthv of the spring under effective compression. This is not the case, however, with the fluid pressure mechanism herein shown, the pressure `uponthe journal boxes remaining constant regardless of any displacement thereof during the operation of the machine. Under these novel conditions a more uniform break of the fibers is achieved than has been heretofore possible and a much more uniform control of results is brought about. In addition, the rubber rolls last many times longer when Voperated. under 'air pressure than do spring loaded rubber rolls. It has been found in 'actual practice that vrubber rolls run- 5 ning under uid pressure in the machine'herein disclosed will run as much as one hundred times longer than spring loaded rolls.

As herein shown, a transverse supporting bar 6B extends between the side frames I3 and i4 and a corresponding bar 6| extends between the side frames Il and I2. A static eliminator 62 of conventional type is supportedfrom the bar 60 and connected through a flexible connector with the bar 6| A detector plate 63 is yieldingly mounted on the bar B above the rubber roll 26 and a similar detector plate 64 is mounted on the bar 6| above the rubber roll 4U. The plate 54 is engaged by a spring pressed plunger 65 and this is movable in a vertical path to make contact with a switch terminal 6B mounted directly above it in case the roll 40 is displaced upwardly by a slub or other obstruction to more than a predetermined adjustable position. When contact is closed by lifting of the detector plate B4, the machine is automatically stopped. The detector plate BB is similarly provided with stopping mechanism of the same type.

A guiding throat 6l is mounted upon the base plate in position to direct the sliver to the bite of the rolls 35 and 40. From these rolls the sliver passes directly to the rolls 20 and 26, and upon leaving them it is deected downwardly by a transverse guide bar 10 so that it will pass over the surface of an idle roll 58 mounted in a trough 69 which may contain water or any other liquid for dampening or treating the sliver as it leaves the machine.

As already suggested, the fluted roll 26 is driven at a substantially greater speed than the roll 35 which rst engages and feeds the sliver. ln practice this ratio may be approximately to l. This ratio is brought about by the reduction effected by the gear train shown in Fig. 5 and it may be assumed for purposes of illustration that the ratch is set at 41/2".

The result of subjecting a commercial wool top to the process herein described is graphically illustrated in the top analysis graph of Fig. 7. The graph is laid out in accordance with the Test for Fiber Length of Wool (D 519-49)" established by the American Society for Testing Materials and set forth in its book entitled A. S. T. M. Standards on Textile Materials for 1950. The ordinate of the graph, divided into inch divisions, indicates ber length, and the abscissa having divisions each equivalent to represents the number of bers in the top of the various lengths indicated. The coeicient of variation for the original and for the processed top is calculated from the equation where X is the average fiber length, and Alpha is the standard deviation,

all as explained in the article above identied. It will be seen that in the present example the original top contains some fibers 61/2 long; 50% of its fibers are 3%" long; and its coefficient of variation is 36.76. On the other hand. the processed top, after a single passage of the rolls, contains no fibers longer than Iill/2; 50% of its fibers are 2%" in length; and its coefficient of variation is 28.85. The improvement in the top indicated by these gures is typical of that achieved by the practice of my novel process and is of outstanding importance in the industry. The reduction ln the coeicient of variation from 36.76 75 6. to 28.85 is of special signicance to the buyer of tops and characterizes a top of increased value to the spinner for which a premium price may readily be secured. On the other hand, a sample of the same original top when run through a carefully adjusted machine having spring controlled rolls was found to contain some fibers 51/2 long, a .much larger percentage of short bers under 11/2" and to have a coefficient of variation of 33.87 which indicates the excessive number of long and short bers present.

Adjustment of a machine with spring controlled rolls, even to get the unsatisfactory results above described for any length of time, requires such excessive pressure as to split the rubber rolls after a short run. Moreover, it has been found impossible to maintain such heavy pressure uniformly under conditions of commercial manufacture, so that in using such machines inconsistent fiber breakage and yard-for-yard variation in the weight and thickness of the sliver is encountered.

While a machine employing spring pressed rolls may be tuned up to perform satisfactorily for a short time, much more than that is required of a machine that is suitable for use in the wool industry where continuous operation with predictable results and without constant supervision is the essential requirement.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail an illustrative manner in which it may be practiced, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A machine for improving slivers of wool bers, comprising two pairs of side frames spaced apart a substantial ratch distance, journal boxes located one above another in each frame, forward and rearward feed rolls journaled in said boxes, gear mechanism for driving said rolls in both frames simultaneously at different speeds with the forward feed roll being driven at a greater rate of speed than that of the rearward feed roll, means for transmitting identical pressure to the feed rolls, journaled in said boxes including a iiuid pressure chamber carried by each frame, means including a single fluid pressure source for maintaining constant uniform pressure in al1 of said chambers, and means for directly transmitting said pressure to the uppermost journal boxes of each side frame.

2. A machine for improving the staple length of wool fibers in a continuous sliver, comprising side frames spaced apart a substantial ratch distance and each containing a pair of feed rolls comprising a forward and a rearward pair of rolls, means for driving a roll of each pair at different speeds with a roll of the forward pair of rolls moving at a higher rate of speed than a roll of the rearward pair of rolls, a pressure chamber mounted upon and above each side frame, a diaphragm in each chamber, pressure transmitting connections between each diaphragm and the feed rolls beneath it, and a fluid pressure including a single fluid pressure source to al1 of said chambers for supplying iiuid under uniform pressure to all of said chambers above the diaphragms therein.

3. The process of increasing the proportion of uniform staple bers in wool top sliver, which is characterized by the step of making a single continuous passage of the sliver through a forward set and a rearward set of feed rolls spaced apart a substantial ratch distance which can be varied to control the desired length of fibers in the top, driving the forward set of rolls at a speed in excess of that of the rearward set of rolls and sub,

8 separateareaswherethe sliver is engaged by the rolls.

References Cited in the'le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date .2,315,813 Oettl et al Apr. 6, 1943 Y2,479,759 .Merchant Aug. 23, 1949 2,547,485 Norcross Apr. 3, 1951 10 v2,624,077 Winslow Jan. ,6, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 357,004 Italy Feb. V25, 193.8

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