US2910719A - Apparatus for cleaning textile machines and the floors therebeneath - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3, 1959 LONG 2,910,719

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINES AND THE FLOORS THEREBENEATH Original Flled Sept. 11, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 TIMER INVENTOR. JOHN R. Lows.

Nov. 3, 1959 J LONG 2,910,719

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINES AND THE FLOORS THEREBENEATH Original Filed Sept. 11. 1952 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN R Lone, INVENTOR.

NOV. 3, 1959 J. LONG 2,910,719

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINES AND THE FLOORS THEREBENEATH Original Filed Sept. 11, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 W23 IL llll'll ll/I (/JE-YRYUYRA/ A 53 f 5o 52 JOHN P. LoNG. INVENTOR.

\ 'W if United States PatentO i APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINES AND THE FLOORS THEREBENEATH John R. Long, Hickory, N.C., assignor to Parks-Cramer (ifmpany, Fitchburg, Mass, a corporation of Massac usetts Original application September 11, 1952, Serial No. 309,062, now Patent No. 2,844,495, dated July 22, p 1958. Divided and this application May 20, 1955, Se-

rial No. 509,847

6 Claims. (Cl. -316) This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning textile 1 machines such as spinning, twisting and drafting machines and for cleaning the floors beneath said machines.

As is well known, in the manufacturing process of making threads and yarns of textile fibres which includes the cleaning and blending of the fibres and then the drawing thereof in various operations to form endless rope-like ing said machines free from accumulation of lint or fly and also for cleaning the floors beneath said machines for keeping the same free from lint and fly.

This invention is particularly adapted for use with textile machines of the open frame type such as spinning frames, twister frames, winders and the like. Heretofore, some means have been provided to clean lint and fly from various parts of textile machines but said means have not been entirely effective and the problem of cleaning the floors has not been solved. Accumulations of fly and lint have generally been cleaned from the floor by manual sweepers moving between the machines with brooms and the like and in this cleaning process lint and fly and other foreign matter is stirred up and is caused to settle on various operating parts of the machine and may become embedded in the yarn or roving being processed which will result in defects in the finished product. Further, ac-

' cumulations of lint and fly and the like on the various parts of the machine frequently result in slow operation of some of the parts of the machine thus preventing uniformity in the roving or yarn being processed thereby.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide improved means of simplified and economical construction which may be utilized in association with a textile machine of the open frame type for cleaning the working parts of the machine and which means may also be utilized for directing a plurality of blasts of compressed air across the floor supporting said machine to set up currents of air along said floor to free the same from accumulations of lint and the like.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide rotary pneumatic means in duplicate for each of said textile machines. An upper rotary pneumatic means is positioned adjacent the upper part of the textile machine and is designed to rotate to direct blasts of compressed air toward adjacent parts of the machine to free the same from accumulations of lint and the like. A second rotary means is positioned adjacent the lowermostportion "of each textile machine and is adapted to rotate to direct blasts of compressed air against the adjacent lowermost which the machine is supported. This lowermost clean- Patented Nov. 3, 1959 ing means is adapted to set up currents of air flowing along the floor of the room in which the textile machines are disposed to free the same from any accumulation of lint or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for cleaning textile machines and floors therebeneath which means may be operated intermittently in predetermined timed relationship to achieve the maximum cleaning results.

This application is a division of application, Serial Number 309,062, entitled, Method for Cleaning Textile Machines and the Floors Therebeneath, filed on September 11, 1952 which is now Patent No. 2,844,495.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear asthe description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whicht Figure 1 is a plan view of a room showing an embodiment of the invention somewhat schematically and where in a plurailty of textile machines such as spinning frames and the like are shown in broken lines in a row;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view with parts omitted for purposes of clarity, looking along the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation looking at the righthand end of Figure 1 along the line 33 and showing one of said textile machines;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 3 through the right-hand end of the machine and illustrating the driving means for the cleaning apparatus;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the upper cleaning means showing the same disassociated from the spinning frame;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailed elevation of the lefthand portion of Figure 6, with pants in section, and illustrating the packing gland rotatably supporting the rotary cleaning means.

Referring more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 designates a room having a floor F on which a plurality of textile machines are arranged in rows. For purposes of illustration there are shown textile machines in the form of spinning frames 11, 12, 13 and 14. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to spinning frames but may be used on any type of open frame textile machines such as twisters, warpers and the like. Such machines are usually arranged in rows in a room of a plant or mill and for purposes of illustration only four of such machines are shown, it being understood that any desired number of machines may be arranged in a row and any desired number of rows may be utilized.

Each of the spinning frames shown is of identical construction and includes end frame embers 20 and 21 and a plurality of intermediate Samsons 22 and a creel 23 adapted to support spools of yarn to be processed. Bolster rails 24 extend longitudinally of the machine and support a plurality of bobbins '26 which extend upwardly through ring rails 27 and to which yarn Y is directed from the creel 23 in a conventional manner. Suitable drive means, not shown, are disposed within a gear housing 30 and drive a conventional drive shaft 5'1 having a main drive cylinder 32 fixed thereon. A builder motion shaft 33 extends from the housing 30'and this conventional building shaft 33 is utilized for operating the present invention in a manner to be described. Conventional roll stands 34 are also provided having a plurality of rolls through which the yarn Y is passed in itscourse of travel from the spools to the bobbins 26'.

The parts heretofore described are conventional audit is with a machine of this type or of a similar type that the present invention is adapted to be used. The cleaning means associated with textile machine 14 will be described and like reference characters will apply to the cleaning added to those parts associated with the lower cleaning means 40. The upper cleaning means 40 includes a longitudinally extending rotary pipe 4d having one end thereof rotatably mounted in a packing gland 42 which is threadably secured on an elbow 43 connected to a vertically extending pipe 44. The lower end of the pipe 44- is mounted in one branch of a T pipe 45 which is connected at its stem to a pipe 46 which is connected to a solenoid valve 47 which has a pipe 48 extending from the other side thereof to a suitable source of compressed air, not shown.

The packing gland 42 has a bore 50 therein in which one end of the pipe 41 is rotatably mounted. The gland 42 also has a counterbore 51 therein communicating with the bore 50 and which is adapted to receive suitable packing material 52 which is held in place by a sleeve type washer 3 secured to the gland 42 as by screws 54 slidably penetrating the flange of the sleeve type washer 53 and being threadably mounted in the gland 42. It will thus be observed that the pipe 41 is free for rotation without the escape of air therefrom at the rotary connection.

The pipe 41 extends longitudinally of the machine and is suitably mounted at various spaced points intermediate its ends by a plurality of bearing members 55 suitably secured to the Samsons 22 as by bolts 56. The bearings 55, as illustrated, are wooden members having a concave portion at the lower end thereof in which the pipe 41 is rotatably mounted. It is to be understood that any suitable bearings or bearing stands may be utilized.

The pipe 41 is retained against longitudinal sliding movement in the bearings 55 as by collars 60 and 61 suitably secured to the pipe 41 on each side of .each bearing 55 as by set screws 62. The end of the pipe 41 remote from the packing gland 42 is closed as by cap member 65. A sprocket 66 is fixed 011 the pipe 41 as by a set screw 67 penetrating the hub thereof and a sprocket chain 68 is positioned around the sprocket wheel 66 and extends downwardly and around a sprocket wheel 70 mounted on the builder motion shaft 33. The sprocket chain 68 also extends around a sprocket 66 mounted on the pipe 41 which is identical to the sprocket 66. It will thus be observed that motion imparted to the builder motion shaft 33 by the conventional driving mechanism disposed within the gear housing 3:) will impart rotary motion to the pipes 41 and 41' through the sprocket chain 68 and the sprocket wheels 66, 66'. The pipes 41 and 41 will thus rotate continuously during the operation of the machine.

The pipe 41 is provided with a plurality of nozzles in the form of short pipes 72 threadably mounted in threaded bores '73 spaced longitudinally along the pipe 41, said bores 73 preferably extending in longitudinal alinement.

While the pipe 41 are rotating continuously compressed air is introduced thereto intermittently by means of the pipe 18 and is controlled by means of the valve 47. Suitable wires 75 and 76 extend from the solenoid valve 47 to a timer 77 which electrically interconnects the solenoid valves 47 of all of the textile machines to permit predetermined timed operation of the same. ably connected to a source of electrical energy, notshown.

A pipe 80 connects the T pipe 45 with the elbow 43 of the lower cleaning means 40-. It will thus be observed that as the pipes 41 and 41' continuously rotate, air is introduced thereto by the pipe 46 and the pipes 44 and 80 and is controlled by the solenoid valve 47. The timer The timer is suit- 1 4 may be of any conventional or desired construction and is for the purpose of making and breaking electrical circuits to the solenoid valves 47 so that compressed air may be introduced to the cleaning means for one of said machines and then cut off and introduced to the cleaning means for the second machine.

During operation, compressed air is admitted to the cleaning means for the machine 11 for a predetermined period of time which will cause the same to be emitted from the nozzles 72 of the upper and lower cleaning means so that air will be directed against adjacent parts of the machine. Air emitted from the nozzles 72 of the lower cleaning means will be directed backwardly or to the left in Figure 1 during the cycle of rotation of the pipe 41 and will then be directed downwardly along the floor and to the right in Figure 1 and the compressed air should be under sufficient pressure to cause the same to blow along the floor beneath machines 12 and 13.

Any 'lint which might be collected adjacent the lefthand wall of the room 10 in Figure 1 could be collected manually or by any other desired means. Afterthe cleaning means associated with machine 11 has been operated for the desired length of time, the timer will cause the valve 47 associated with the machine 11 to close and the valve 47 associated with the machine 12 to open to permit compressed air to be introduced to the cleaning means associated with machine 12. The cleaning means associated with machine 12 will then direct air outwardly against adjacent parts of the machine and downwardly toward the floor beneath said machine. Some of the air will be directed backwardly or to the left in Figure 1 but since this area will have previously been cleaned no adverse results will be encountered. The air will then set up currents flowing in the direction of the arrows in Figure l beneath the other machines in the rows. By following these steps air will be introduced to the succeeding machines in timed relation to help set up currents of air flowing across the floor of the room to keep the same free from accumulations of lint, fly and the like.

It is thus seen that I have provided apparatus for cleaning textile machines which comprises introducing a plurality of blasts of compressed air toward adjacent parts of the machines and directing some of said blasts of air downwardly and outwardly beneath said machines to set up currents of air flowing along the floor beneath said machines to free the same from accumulations of lint and the like.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. Means for sweeping the floor of a room having a plurality of rows of open-type machines therein with streams of air to move loose material across said floor, said means comprising a rotary blower pipe rotatably mounted on the lower portion of each of said machines adjacent the floor in each of said rows, means for introducing air under pressure to each of said pipes, each of said pipes having spaced openings for directing rotary streams of compressed air outwardly from each machine along the floor beneath said machines, the air having sufficient force to sweep the floor beneath said machines in one row and the machines in at least one adjacent row, means for rotating said rotary blower pipes, and timer means for actuating the flow of air from the blower pipes for the machines in each row in successive timed relationship.

2. Means for pneumatically cleaning the floor of a room having a plurality of elongated machines therein wherein said machines are spaced in rows across said room, said means comprising a longitudinally extending rotary pipe mounted on the lowermost portion of each of said machines adjacent the floor, means for introducing air under pressure to each of said pipes, each of said pipes having spaced openings for directing streams of air outwardly along the floor beneath said machines, saidcompressed air emitted from each of the rotary pipes being of sufficient force to sweep the floor beneath said machines and beneath at least one adjacent machine in the adjacent row, and means for rotating each of said rotary pipes.

3. Means for pneumatically cleaning the floor of a room having a plurality of elongated machines therein wherein said machines are spaced in rows across said room said means comprising a longitudinally extending rotary pipe mounted on the lowermost portion of each of said machines adjacent the floor, means for introducing air under pressure to each of said pipes, each of said pipes having spaced openings for directing streams of air outwardly along the floor beneath said machines, said com-' pressed air emitted from the openings of each of'the rotary pipes being of sufi'icient force to sweep the floor beneath said machines and at least one adjacent machine, means for rotating each of said rotary pipes, and timer means for successively actuating the flow of air from each of said pipes in timed relationship.

4. Means for cleaning the floor of a room having a plurality of elongated textile machines therein and for cleaning said machines wherein said machines are spaced to form at least one row across said room, said means comprising an upper blower means for each of said machines including an upper pipe extending longitudinally of each of said machines, means for directing air under pressure to each of said upper pipes, said upper pipes being rotatable and being provided with a plurality of spaced openings for directing air outwardly therefrom toward adjacent parts of said machines, a lower blower means positoned adjacent the lower portion of each of said machines adjacent the floor including a lower pipe extending longitudinally of each of said machines and being provided with a plurality of spaced openings, means for directing air under pressure to said lower pipes to permit the same to be emitted from the openings thereof, some of the air emitted from said openings of said lower pipes being directed outwardly from said machines and having sufficient force to sweep the floor beneath said machines and at least one adjacent machine and the aisle therebetween, means for rotating said upper and lower pipes, valve means associated with said means for introducing air under pressure to said upper and lower pipes and timer means connected to said valve means for cutting off the flow of air to said upper and lower pipes.

5. Means for pneumatically cleaning the floor of a room having a plurality of elongated textile machines therein and for cleaning said machines wherein said machines are spaced to form at least one row across said room, said means for each machine comprising an upper and a lower longitudinally extending pipe, means rotatably mounting each of said upper pipes in the upper central portion of each of said machines, means for rotatably mounting each of said lower pipes in the lowermost portion of each of said machines adjacent said floor, each of said pipes being closed at one of their ends, an air source pipe, common means connecting said air source pipe with the open ends of said upper and lower pipes, each of said upper and lower pipes having a plurality of longitudinally spaced bores therein, nozzles fitted in each of said bores, means for rotating said upper and lower pipes, and means for introducing compressed air to said air source pipe, whereby air emitted from said nozzles on each of said upper pipes during rotation thereof will be directed toward adjacent parts of the machines to free the same from lint and the like and the air emitted from the nozzles of the lower pipes during their rotation being directed outwardly from beneath said machines and having sufficient force to sweep the floor beneath said machines and at least one adjacent machine and the aisle therebetween.

6. Means for cleaning the floor of a room having a plurality of elongated textile machines therein and for cleaning said machines, wherein said machines are spacedto form at least one row across said room, said means for each machine comprising an upper and a lower longitudinally extending pipe, means rotatably mounting each of said upper pipes in the upper central portion of said machines, means for rotatably mounting each of said lower pipes in the lowermost portion of said machines adjacent said floor, each of said pipes being closed at one of their ends, an air source pipe, common means connecting said air source pipe with the open ends of said upper and lower pipes, each of said upper and lower pipes having a plurality of longitudinally spaced bores therein, nozzles fitted in each of said bores, means for rotating said upper and lower pipes, means for introducing compressed air to said air source pipe, valve means in said air source pipe for each machine, and timer means for actuating each of said valve means in predetermined intermittent timed relationship, whereby air emitted from. said nozzles on each of said upper pipes during rotation thereof will be directed toward adjacent parts of each machine to free the same from lint and the like and the air emitted from the nozzles of the lower pipes during their rotation will sweep the floor beneath the machine, the force of the air being sufiicient to create air currents along the floor beneath said machines and at least one adjacent machine and the aisle therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,416,553 Garland May 16, 1922 1,982,997 Linder Dec. 4, 1934 2,516,475 Miller et a1. July 25, 1950 2,553,044 Howse May 15, 1951 2,677,629 Buck May 4, 1954 2,758,041 Denning Aug. 7, 1956

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