US3014248A

US3014248A - Center suspended top roll and weighting assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3014248A
Application number: US810895A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burrel C Cole; Edwin P Waite
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-05-04
Filing date: 1959-05-04
Publication date: 1961-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1978-12-26

Description

Dec. 26, 1961 B. c. COLE ETAL 4, 4 CENTER SUSPENDED TOP ROLL AND WEIGHTING ASSEMBLY FOR FIBER ATTENUATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1959 7 w I 3 O I Io w w b we 95 3 w I I I I10 1 l I I 1 4| a m Afiarneys FOR Dec. 26, 1961 B. c. COLE ETAL CENTER SUSPENDED TOP ROLL AND WEIGHTING ASSEMBLY FIBER ATTENUATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1959 INVENTOR. .BurrelvC. Co/e lL-btbrneys 3,014,248 CENTER SUSPENDED T? ROLL AND WElGHT- ING ASSEMBLY FQR FBER ATEENUATING APPARATUS Burt-e1 (J. Cole and Edwin P. Waite, Columbus, Ga. Filed May 4, 1959, Ser. No. 810,895 11 Claims. ((Il. 19-135) This invention rel-ates to a center suspended top roll and weighting assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus and has for an object the provision of such apparatus which is adapted for installation on conventional type frames without the use of complex overarms and without excessive strains on the back bar and roll stands.

Another object of our invention is to provide a top roll assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus in which the saddle is suspended from the back bar instead of the back line rolls, thereby eliminating the use of nebs on any of the top line rolls.

Another object of our invention is to provide a preassembled top roll assembly comprising front and middle line top rolls and upper and lower nose bars for top and bottom aprons in which the balanced tension of the lower aprons revolving around their associated middle line bottom rolls and the lower nose bar resist oscillation and hold the unit in parallel relation with the lower line bottom rolls whereby the position of the top roll unit is established by the bottom aprons.

Another object of our invention is to provide means for holding the nose bars in position and guiding the aprons completely remote from any revolving roll,'thereby eliminating the use of cradles which are usually supported by the revolving middle rolls and/ or apron guides which are in contact with or in close proximity to revolving roll cylinders.

Another object of our invention is to provide atop roll assembly of the character designated in which the tension of the bottom aprons in combination with the rotation of the bottom aprons and the weighting tend to align the top roll unit, whereby parallelization of the top roll unit is established by the uniformity of the apron lengths.

Another object of our invent on is to provide an assembled drafting unit of the character designated in which all parts thereof remain in position when weight is released and at the same time permit easy removal of the front roll, the lower nose bar and the aprons.

Another object is to provide a double boss removable lower nose bar which is offset at points of apron travel, so that it may be installed for close spacing between the two nose bars or reversed for wider spacing.

Another object of our invention is to provide a top roll assembly of the character designated which shall embody an improved alignment and weighting saddle which is pivotally and adjustably attached to a back bar assembly and positioned to apply downward weight on a back line top roll and the back bar and extend forward to support a vertically adjustable pivot member which engages an aligning bracket interposed between the front and middle line top rolls, whereby an assembled drafting unit is held against forward and lateral movement.

Another object of our invention is to provide a top roll assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus which shall include a stirrup which is pivotally attached to a saddle in such a manner as to permit lifting the front portion of the saddle without changing the location of the rearmost portion of the saddle, the stirrup being adapted for use with either dead weight or spring weighting.

A further object of our invention is to provide a selfcontained spring weighting assembly which is positioned remote from the roller beam and may be installed on the underside of the roll stand for attachment to the lower end of a stirrup, thereby eliminating torsional strain on the back bar and the roll stands.

A more specific object of our invention is to provide a top roll assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus which shall include a stirrup and weight lever connection which may be released or engaged by the use of a single hand of the operator and which connection is automatically released in the event either the front or middle top line roll is lifted substantially above its normal position, such as occurs from a lap around the rolls.

A further object of our invention is to provide a single spring and lever assembly for the application of weight and a simple gauge for setting all springs on a frame to the same tension, together with simple accessible adjustment means for setting or correcting spring tensions with speed and accuracy.

A further object of our invention is to provide a top roll assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus which shall include a simple and accessible dual apron drafting systern which shall be completely free from friction and surface oil, thereby permitting full and effective use of the blower system to disperse fly.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a top roll assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which greatly reduces the man hours in both the operation of the apparatus and the maintenance thereof.

Apparatus embodying features of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a complete drafting assembly embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the drafting assembly;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the parts which make up the front and middle line top roll units; and,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a thickness gauge employed to check spring compression.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention, we show a roll stand 10 having lower front, middle and back

line roll assemblies

11, 12 and 13, respectively.

Mounted above the lower middle line roll 12 is a middle line top roll 14 which comprises

independent roll cylinders

16 and 17 which are adapted for rotation on a stationary shaft 1%. Attached to and extending forwardly of the shaft 18 is an aligning bracket 19 having a downwardly opening groove 21 therein for receiving the shaft 18. Secured to the undersurface of the aligning bracket 19, by any suitable means such as a screw 22, is a spring clip member 23 which extends under and against the shaft 118 to hold the shaft in substantially perpendicular relationship to the aligning bracket 19.

Secured to the undersurface of the aligning bracket 19 by means of the screw 22 is a top apron nose bar 24. A transverse groove 26 is provided in the undersurface of the aligning bracket 19 for receiving the top apron nose bar 24 whereby the nose bar is held in substantially parallel relation to the middle line top roll unit 14. Se

7 cured to and depending from the top apron nose bar 24 are apron guides 27. The apron guides may be secured to the top nose bar 24 by any suitable means, such as by rivets, welding or the like. Suitable notches 23 are provided in the apron guides 27 for receiving and supporting a bottom nose bar 29. The ends of the bottom nose bar 29 are offset, as shown in FIG. 4, and are adapted to enter the recesses 28 in the endrnost apron guides 27. The central portion of the bottom nose bar 29 is also offset in the, same direction as the end portion 3 thereof and is provided with suitable notches 31 which are in position to engage the notches 23 in the innermost apron guides 27.

Passing around each of the

roll cylinders

16 and 17 of the middle line top roll assembly 14 and around the upper nose bar 24 are aprons 33. In like manner, passing around the middle line bottom roll assembly 12 and the bottom nose bar 29 are aprons 34. By providing the offset portions in the bottom nose bar 29, the portions thereof which engage the lower aprons 334 may be moved to selected positions relative to the upper nose bar 24, thereby varying the space between the upper nose bar 24 and the lower nose bar 29. That is, the bottom nose bar 29 is provided with offsets at the points of apron travel whereby upon reversing the ends of the lower nose bar 29 in the notches 28, the lower apron 34 can be moved toward and away from the upper apron 33.

A downwardly opening recess 36 is provided in the forward end of the aligning bracket 19 in position to receive a transverse shaft 37 of a front line top roll unit 38 having

roll cylinders

39 and 41. Lateral movement of the shaft 37 relative to the aligning bracket 19 is prevented by providing a center head 42 on the shaft 37 and a groove 43 in the recess 36 for receiving the bead 42. The recess 36 together with the bead 42 and-groove 43 hold the shaft 37 in parallel relationship with the middle line top roll unit 14 and the nose bars 24 and 29. By so connecting the front line top roll unit 33 to the aligning bracket 19, the front line top roll is permitted to pivot in a vertical plane but is held against movement in a horizontal plane.

The top roll aprons 33 are of a predetermined length and are pre-installed around the

roll cylinders

16 and 17 of the middle line top rolls and the upper nose bar 24. This is accomplished by snapping the shaft 18 of the middle line top roll unit out of the recess 21 against the tension of spring clip 23. With the shaft 18 removed from the aligning bracket 19, the aprons 33 are then free to pass over apron guides 27 and the

roll cylinders

16 and 17.

To install the assembly, the front top roll 38 is removed. The bottom aprons 34 are first installed around the lower middle line driven rolls 12. The double boss bottom nose bar 29 is then inserted through the aprons 34 and is held upwardly at the center between the aprons. The aligning bracket 19 is then lowered until the grooves 28 in the apron guides 27 engage the notches in the bottom nose bar 29. The front line top roll unit 38 is then installed by lifting the front end of aligning bracket 19 and inserting the head 42 in the groove 43. No clips are required to hold the front line top roll assembly 38 in the aligning bracket 19.

Secured to the upper surface of the aligning bracket 19 at a position nearer the front line top roll 38 than the middle line top roll 14 is a member 4% having a recess 46 in the upper surface thereof for receiving the lower end of a vertical member 47, which may be in the form of a threaded screw. Preferably, a suitable opening is bored through the aligning bracket 19 for receiving the member 44 and the member 44 is provided with a centrally disposed threaded opening 48 for receiving the upper end of the threaded screw 22, thereby securing the member 44, the upper nose bar 24 and the clip member 23to the aligning bracket 19. As shown in 1, the member 44 is provided with an enlarged diameter portion 49 which defines a shoulder for engaging an enlarged diameter bore in the bored opening through the aligning bracket 19.

Supported in suitable slots in the roll stand it} is a back unit comprising an aligning bar 51 which extends substantially parallel to the bottom and top line rolls. Secured to the aligning bar Sll, such as by a threaded screw 52, is an upstanding bracket 53 which is substantially U-shaped as viewed in transverse cross section;

pin 54. Pivotally connected to the pivot pin 54 and extending forwardly of the bracket 53 is a back line top roll holder 56 for holding a back line top roll unit 57 in parallel relationship to the back line bottom roll unit 13. The back line top roll holder 56 is provided with depending leg members 58 and 59 which are disposed to engage op posite sides of the shaft 61 of the back line top roll unit 57, as shown in FIG. 1. The shaft 61 is held in position between the leg members 58 and 59 by a spring clip member 62 which is carried by the back line top roll holder 56. Adjustably connected to the back line top roll holder 56 by means of a threaded screw 63 is an adjustable saddle holder 64 which is adapted to slide longitudinally of the back line top roll holder 56. The saddle holder 64 comprises a base member 66 having upturned flanges 67 at opposite sides thereof. An elongated slot 68 is provided in the base 66 of the saddle holder 64 whereby the saddle holder may be adjusted longitudinally of the back line top roll holder 56.

The upper surfaces of the upstanding flanges 67 are provided with downwardly and forwardly inclined recesses 70 for receiving a pivot pin 69 carried by a saddle 71. A clearance is provided between the forward end of recess 76 and the pin 6% whereby the pin 69 can move forward when weight is applied to increase the forward thrust and the bottom apron tension. The forward end of the saddle 71 is provided with a suitable threaded opening '72 therein for receiving the threaded member 47, as shown in FIG. 1. The threaded member 4-7 is held in selected axial positions relative to the saddle 71 by a suitable lock nut 73. Preferably, the threaded member 57 has a ball point lower end and is provided with a recess 74 at the upper end thereof for receiving a suitable tool whereby the screw 47 may be rotated to move the same in an axial direction, thereby raising or lowering the forward end of the saddle 71 relative to the front line rolls. Preferably, the saddle 71 is in the form of a channel having depending flanges 76.

Pivotally connected to the saddle 71 intermediate the threaded member 47 and the pivot pin 69, by means of a transverse pivot pin 77, is the upper end of a stirrup 78 which extends downwardly between the middle and back line rolls and weighting is applied to the lower end thereof. The stirrup 78 is pivotally connected to the saddle 71 at a position closer to the screw 47 than the pivot pin 69 whereby a greater portion of the weighing is applied to the front line top roll unit, which is required. The forward weighting applied by the adjustable screw 47 to the recess 46 is distributed to the shaft 37 of the front line top roll 38 and the shaft 18 of the middle line top roll 14 whereby a larger portion of the weighting is applied to the front line top roll 38, which is required. The recess 70 permits the saddle unit to. back up and relieve any undue strain on the aprons, thus reducing the breakage of the bottom aprons to a minimum. The weight applied to the pivot pin 69 of the saddle 71 is distributed to the shaft 61 of back line top roll 57 and to the pivot pin 54 to hold down the aligning bar 51. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to employ separate means for holding the aligning bar 51 in the slots of the roll stand it).

Extending upwardly from the aligning bracket 19 are vertical guide members which are spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the width of the saddle 71, whereby the saddle is'adapted for free vertical movement between the guide members. The guide members 8i) serve to stabilize the unit whereby it will remain in approximate true alignment in the event one of the bottom aprons should break or become stretched out of balance with the other apron.

To establish-the proper forward location of the screw 47, the saddle holder 64 is shifted longitudinally of the back line top rollholder 56 to the proper position and the screw 63 is tightened to lock the screw 47 in selected positions. A suitable cover 79 is pivotally conu nected to the bracket 53 adjacent the ends of the pivot pin 54, whereby the cover may be moved upwardly to expose the screw 63. The cover 79 prevents the accumulation of lint in the adjacent parts of the back line roll assembly.

To apply adjustable spring weighting to the stirrup 78 and at the same time attach nothing to the roller beam 81 for the roll stand 11), we employ a box type beam 82 which is attached to the underside of the roll stands 10 below and in parallel relation with the lower line rolls. Attached to the beam 82 below each saddle is an upstanding bracket 83 having forwardly extending flanges 84 at each side thereof. The bracket 83 is attached to the beam 82 by a suitable screw 86, as shown in FIG. 1. Pivotally connected to the forwardly extending flanges 84, by means of a pivot pin 87, is the upper end of a lever 88 which is provided with forwardly extending flanges 89 to define a U-shaped structure, as viewed in horizontal cross section. Extending between and secured to the forwardly extending flanges 89 of the lever 88 is a pin 91. Mounted for rotation on the pin 91 within the confines of the flanges 89 is a small roller 92 which is in position to engage a notch 93 provided adjacent the lower end of the stirrup 78. Extending between and attached to the flanges 89 below the pin 87 is a transverse pin 94. As shown in FIG. 1, the pin 94 is spaced a greater distance from the pin 87 than is the pin 91. Pivotally connected to the pin 94 is an actuating rod 96 which extends rearwardly through an opening 97 provided in the lever 88 and suitable openings 98 and 99 provided in the beam 82, whereby the actuating rod 96 is held substantially normal to the lever 88. Secured to the rear side of the beam 82 is a spring housing 101 which surrounds and is spaced from the actuating rod 96. Surrounding the actuating rod 96 adjacent the inner end of the housing 101 is a pressure washer 102 which is adapted to engage the inner end of a coiled compression type spring 103 which surrounds the actuating rod 96 within the housing 191. As shown in FIG. 1, the rear end of the actuating rod 96 extends outwardly of the housing 101 and is threaded as at 104- for receiving a tension nut 106 having an outer enlarged portion 107 which is hexed or otherwise machined to receive a wrench or suitable tool for turning the tension nut on the threads 104 whereby the force exerted by the spring 103 may be varied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tension nut 106 is provided with a reduced diameter, round portion 108 inwardly of the portion 107, whereby the reduced diameter portion of the nut is adapted to move inwardly and outwardly of the housing 101. To determine the amount of spring compression, a thickness gauge 110 is inserted between the housing 101 and the larger diameter portion 107, the thickness gauge 110 being shown in FIG. 5. To set up the weighting on a frame, the amount of weighting for best results is predetermined and a thickness gauge for that amount of spring compression is employed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the relatively long lever 88 provides a release handle for the weighting mechanism. That is, by employing the lower end of the lever 88 as a release, we obtain approximately 10 to 1 leverage on the weightingbeing applied to the stirrup '78. To release the weighting mechanism, the lower end of the lever 88 is pulled forward which lifts the roller 92 out of the notch 93, thereby permitting the lower end of the stirrup 78 to move downwardly and forwardly, by gravity, whereby the stirrup is released from the weight mechanism. The lower end of the stirrup '78 extends downwardly to a point directly opposite the forward end of the actuating rod 96 whereby the forward end of the actuating rod engages the lower end of the stirrup as the lower end of the lever 88 is moved forward. Accordingly, should the roller 92 remain in engagement with the notch 93, the forward end of the actuating rod 96 would strike the lower end of stirrup 78 and force it out of engagement with the roller 92 before the coil spring 103 has reached its maximum compression. To reengage the stirrup 78 with the weighting mechanism, the lower end of lever 88 is again pulled forward and the extreme lower end of the stirrup 78 is pushed into contact with the roller 92 by the thumb of the same hand which pulls the lever- 88 forward. With the roller 92 thus positioned within the notch 93, the lever 88 is released, thus attaching the stirrup to the weighting mechanism. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower surface of the notch 93 is disposed at an angle whereby the stirrup is automatically released from the roller 92 when the stirrup is lifted a substantial distance above its normal position shown in FIG. 1. That is, as the stirrup 78 is raised by a severe lap of roving around the front rolls, the drafting unit and the saddle 71 is raised until the roller or detent 92 is automatically released from the notch 93. Without this automatic release of the stirrup 78 from the Weighting mechanism, the drafting unit and the saddle might be lifted until the compression spring 103 bottoms or reaches its maximum compression, after which abnormal strains would be placed on the stirrup, saddle and drafting unit. Also, excessive downward pressures would be exerted on the bottom line rolls.

In order to warn the operator of a released drafting unit, we provide means for moving the saddle unit upwardly upon release of the stirrup from the release lever 88. Surrounding the pin 54 is a torsion spring 109 which is connected at one end to the back line top roll holder 56 as at 111. The other end of the spring 109 bears against the bracket 53 whereby upon release of the stirrup 78 from the weighting mechanism, the spring 109 urges the back line top roll holder and the saddle assembly carried thereby to an elevated position. A con tact point 112 is carried by the cover 79, or other suitable part of the saddle assembly, in position to move into contact with a contact point 113 when the saddle assembly is raised above its normal position shown in FIG. 1. The contact point 113 is connected by a lead 114 to a warning device 116, which may be in the form of a whistle, belt, light or the like. The warning device 116 is connected by a lead 117 to a suitable source of power indicated generally at 118 which in turn is rounded to the cover 79 by a lead 119 whereby the circuit to the warning device 116 is completed upon engagement of the contact points 112 and 113.

From the foregoing description, the operation of our improved top roll assembly will be readily understood. To set up the weighting on the frame, the amount of weighting for best results is predetermined and a thickness gauge for that amount of spring compression is selected for use between the housing 101 and the enlarged diameter portion 107 of the nut 10 6. With the spring compression applied, the stirrup 78 is attached to the lever 88. The ball point screw 47 carried by the saddle 71 is then adjusted until the lever 88 is approximately in parallel alignment with the bracket 83. Spring tension nut 106 is then adjusted to fit the gauge 110. Thereafter all readjustments are made with the ball point screw 47, using the thickness gauge 110 to determine when correct compression has been applied by the spring 103. The weighting on the front line top roll unit is applied to the recess 46 by the screw 47. In view of the fact that the recess 46 is located closer to the front line top roll 38 than to the middle line top roll 14, the front line top roll receives a greater proportion of the applied forward rotation of the front and middle line bottom rolls which causes the

aprons

33 and 34 and the roll. cylinders on the middle and front line top rolls to rotate. This forward thrust and rotation has a tendency to align. the top rolls with the bottom rolls, however, the bottom. aprons 34, which surround the middle line bottom rolls 12- and the bottom nose bars 29, establish the major align-- ment of the unit. That is to say, if the bottom aprons 34 are of equal diameter they hold the lower nose bar and the unit in absolute parallel relation with the bottom linerolls and the tension on each bottom apron will be exactly the same. Preferably, all aprons are stenciled to theexact diameter and on initial installation it is best to check all aprons for diameter size. An extreme under or over size apron will be instantly recognized due to the fact that the unit would be misaligned. Also, in making; apron replacements, the apron should be of the same: diameter or replaced in pairs.

To relieve all abnormal strains on the bottom aprons 34 and at the same time keep them taut, the screw 63 is loosened while the frame is running and the saddle 71 is: moved forward until the aprons are taut. Then, the: screw is tightened. It is to be understood that the forward thrust on the unit doe not stretch the aprons totheir maximum load capacity, but only makes them taut.. After the screw 63 is tightened, forward thrust on the unit: is opposed by the position of the screw 47 and not by the bottom aprons 34. However, the bottom aprons do re main taut and the tension on each pair of aprons is balanced. After long periods of operation, the apronsmay stretch slightly. To compensate for this, proper tension may be re-established by resetting the position of the saddle holder 64. Undue strain on the aprons is prevented due to the fact that the recess 70 permits the sad-- dle unit to back up in the event there is a lap around either front roll.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have devised an improved top roll assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus. By providing a simple, accurate and fast. method of gauging and adjusting spring compression, our top roll assembly reduces greatly the time and labor required to maintain the assembly in proper working condition. For example, when the cots of the front line top rolls are buffed, the diameters thereof are reduced and the saddle and stirrup will drop, thereby reducing the spring compression. Our device provides for simple readjustment of the saddle by merely readjusting the adjustable screw 47 which in effect lifts the stirrup to its previous position before the cots were buffed, the correct position-being determined by the thickness gauge 110.

While we have shown the top rolls as having stationary shafts and independent rotating bosses, it will be apparent that the bosses could be tied together and a single bearing provided at the center. Also, the bosses could be mounted on a rotating shaft which is supported by a stationary sleeve.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modications without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a center suspended top roll and weighting assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus including a roll stand having bottom rolls together with two top rolls having spaced roll cylinders, an aligning bar mounted adjacent the rear of the roll stand, a support bracket operatively connected to said bar, a saddle holder, means operatively connecting said saddle holder to said support bracket,

an alignment bracket between said roll cylinders and holding said top rolls in spaced parallel relation to each other, a forwardly extending weight applying saddle pivotally connected adjacent its rear end to said saddle holder and extending forwardly over said alignment bracket, a weight applying member mounted adjacent the forward end of said saddle and adapted for vertical adjustment relative thereto with the weight applying member contacting said alignment bracket at a point intermediate said top rolls and holding said weight applying saddle against lateral movement, means for applying weight to said Weight applying saddle, a top nose bar attached intermediate its ends to said alignment bracket in parallel relation to said top rolls, depending apron guides carried by said top nose bar, a bottom nose bar, there being slots in the depending apron guides for receiving and supporting said bottom nose bar, aprons surrounding the top nose bar and the roll cylinders of said top rolls, and aprons surrounding the bottom nose bar and the bottom rolls whereby the uniformity of the diameters of the bottom aprons establishes the forward position of the assembly and parallel alignment of the top roll assembly with the bottom rolls.

2. In a top roll assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus including a roll stand together with back, middle and front line top rolls having spaced roll cylinders, an aligning bar mounted adjacent the rear of the roll stand, at least one support bracket secured to said bar, a back line top roll holder pivotally connected to said support bracket and extending forwardly thereof and adapted to hold said back line top roll in parallel relation to said aligning bar, a saddle holder connected to said back line top roll holder, a saddle pivotally connected adjacent its rear end to said saddle holder, an aligning bracket between the front and middle line top rolls and holding said front and middle line top rolls in spaced parallel relation to each other, a weight applying member adjacent the front end of said saddle and detachably connected to said aligning bracket intermediate said middle and front line top rolls, and means for applying weight to said saddle intermediate said Weight applying member and the pivotal connection between the saddle and said back line top roll holder.

3. In a top roll assembly as defined in claim 2 in which upstanding guide members are mounted on said aligning bracket at opposite sides of said saddle, whereby the saddle remains in approximate true alignment.

4. In a top roll assembly as defined in claim 2 in which the saddle is pivotally connected to the saddle holder above the back line top roll.

5. In a top roll assembly as defined in claim 2 in which the weight applying member is in the form of a threaded member which is detachaly connected to the aligning bracket, there being a threaded opening in the saddle for receiving said threaded member, whereby the threaded member is adjustable axially of said saddle.

6. In a top roll assembly as defined in claim 5 in which the aligning bracket is provided with a socket and the threaded member is in the form of a vertically extendmg member disposed to engage said socket.

7. In a center suspended top roll and weighting assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus including a roll stand together with back, middle and front line top rolls having spaced roll cylinders, an aligning bar mounted adjacent the rear of the roll stand, at least one support bracket secured to said bar, a back line top roll holder pivotally connected to said support bracket and extending forwardly thereof and adapted to hold said back line top roll in parallel relation to said aligning bar, a saddle holder adjustably connected to said back line top roll holder, a saddle pivotally connected adjacent its rear end to said saddle holder, an aligning bracket between said front and middle line top rolls and holding said front and middle line top rolls in spaced parallel relation to each other, a weight applying member adjacent the front end of said saddle and detachably connected to said aligning bracket intermediate said middle and front line top rolls, a stirrup pivotally connected to said saddle between said weight applying member and the pivotal connection'between the saddle and said back line top roll holder, said stirrup extending downwardly between the middle line top rolls and the back line top rolls, and means for attaching weighting mechanism to said stirrup.

8. In a center suspended top roll and weighting assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus including a roll stand together with back, middle and front line top rolls having spaced roll cylinders, an aligning bar mounted adjacent the rear of the roll stand, a back line top roll holder operatively connected to said aligning bar, a saddle pivotally connected adjacent its rear end to said back line top roll holder and adapted for horizontal adjustment relative thereto, an aligning bracket between said front and middle line top rolls and holding the same in spaced parallel relationship to each other, 21 depending weight applying member adjacent the forward end of said saddle adapted for vertical adjustment relative thereto and in position to engage said aligning bracket intermediate said front and middle line rolls, and a stirrup pivotally connected to said saddle intermediate said weight applying member and the pivotal connection between the saddle and said back line top roll holder, the pivotal connection of the stirrup to the saddle being nearer the weight applying member whereby the greatest weight is applied to said weight applying member.

9. In a center suspended top roll and weighting assembly for fiber attenuating apparatus including a roll stand together with a front, middle and back line top roll, an

aligning bar mounted adjacent the rear of the roll stand, a support bracket oper-atively connected to said bar, an elongated forwardly extending saddle, a transverse pivot member adjacent the rear end of said saddle, a forwardly and downwardly inclined supporting surface on said support bracket disposed to support said pivot member, an alignment bracket between said front and middle line top rolls holding said front and middle line top rolls in spaced parallel relation to each other, and a depending weight applying member detachably connected to said alignment bracket intermediate said front and middle line top rolls and adapted for vertical adjustment relative to said saddle whereby the saddle is adjustable vertically relative to said alignment bracket.

10. In a center suspended top roll and Weighting assembly as defined in claim 9 in which the support bracket is in the form of a channel member having upturned legs, said downwardly inclined surface being at the free ends of the channel legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,387,910 Rogers Aug. 16, 1921 2,249,408 West July 15, 1941 2,834,996 Roulon-Miller et a1. May 20, 1958 2,853,743 Starnes Sept. 30, 1958