US3409946A

US3409946A - Apparatus for drafting textile fibrous strands

Info

Publication number: US3409946A
Application number: US562831A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joe R Whitehurst
Original assignee: Ideal Industries Inc
Current assignee: REED-CHATWOOD Inc; Ideal Industries Inc
Priority date: 1966-07-05
Filing date: 1966-07-05
Publication date: 1968-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1985-11-12

Description

NOV. 12, 1968 J, R, WHn-EHURST AQQQ@ APPARATUS FOR DRAFTING TExTLE FIBROUs sTRANDs Filed July 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 54' INVEWOR:

JOE.- E WHlTEHUlZ-r ET 7&4/ BYMMMQMMMM ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1968 .1. R. vvHVrEHURsT 3,409,946

APPARATUS FOR DRAFTING TEXTILE FIBROUS STRANDS med July 5, 196e s sheersheet z :1 1: gummiA 1NVENT0R: 7 JOE: RWHWEHURST ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 19 J. R. WHITEHuRs-r 3,409,946

APPARATUS FOR DRAFTING TEXTILE FIBROUS STRANDS Filed July 5. 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR:

JOE-E WHITEHURST ATTORNEYS nited States Patent O 3,409,946 APPARATUS FOR DRAFTING TEXTILE FIBROUS STRANDS Joe R. Whitehurst, Bessemer City, N.C., assignor to Ideal Industries, Inc., Bessemer City, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina l Filed July 5, 1966, Ser. No. 562,831 7 Claims. (Cl. 19-292) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for varying theeffective length of a drafting zone to Vaccommodate a wide range of s taple length fibers Without changing the spacing between the drafting elements, such asv spaced sets of drafting rolls, defining the draftingzone, which apparatus includes deliecting means adjustably positioned bet-Ween the sets of drafting rolls for engaging and laterally deflecting the textile material being drafted, and wherein the deflecting means comprises a pair of cooperating members forming a nip with one of the same preferably being driven at a speed intermediate the respective speeds of the sets of drafting rolls.

The present invention relates to a textile fibrous strand processing apparatus, and more particularly to such an apparatus wherein textile fibrous strands are drafted in at least one drafting zone and wherein the effective length of the drafting zone may be varied without changing the spacing between the drafting means defining the drafting zone.

Conventional textile processing machines for drafting fibrous strands are well known and include at least two spaced apart cooperating sets of drafting means defining a drafting zone therebetween to draft textile fibrous strands passing therebetween. Such conventional strand processing machines suffer from at least one major deficiency which causes acute problems in both the manufacture and operation thereof. In this respect, it is frequently desirable or necessary to vary the effective length of the drafting zone defined by the sets of drafting means for various reasons, such as varying fiber length in the various fibrous strands to be processed.

To provide for this variance in the effective length of the drafting zone between the sets of drafting means, conventional strand processing machines are manufactured with an extra long bedplate and the sets of drafting means are adjustably mounted thereon in such a manner that the spacing therebetween and hence the length of the drafting zone may be varied. This extra long bedplate and adjustable mounting for the sets of drafting means necessitates additional parts and labor in the manufacture of these conventional strand processing machines and hence the machines are more expensive. Additionally, such machines occupy excessive floor space due to the extra long bedplate which is undesirable for obvious reasons.

Further, the adjustment of the spacing between the sets of drafting means on such conventional strand processing machines is quite time consuming and laborious and results in a considerable loss of production since the operation of the machine must be stopped for a considerable period of time to perform this adjustment. This loss of production and the time and labor involved in adjusting the sets of drafting means adds considerably to the cost of operation of the textile machine.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel textile fibrous strand processing apparatus utilizing at least two spaced apart cooperating sets of drafting means defining a drafting zone therebetween for drafting a strand passing there- CJI ice

between and wherein the effective length of the drafting zone may be quickly and easily varied to accommodate a wide range of fiber lengths without 'changing the spacing between the sets of drafting means. v

A more specific object of thepresent invention insito provide a fibrous strand processing apparatus ofthe character described wherein the effective length of the drafting zone is increased by deflecting the strand laterally vof the plane in which the drafting means lie to increase lthe length of travel thereof between the drafting means and wherein the strand is confined in this deflected' path' of travel to prevent disruption of the strand. Y l

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear asthe description procee'ds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: l A i A l FIGURE l is a fragmentary top plan view of a textile brous strand processing machine incorporating the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the portion of the machine within the box 2 in FIGURE 1 with portions removed and broken away for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 of a modified form of the fibrous textile strand processing machine incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary -sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary isometric View of a drafting roll supporting block of the machine shown in FIG- URE 5 with the drafting rolls removed and illustrating the manner in which the strand deflecting means ofthe present invention is mounted thereon.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1, a textile fibrous strand processing machine 10, in the form of a drawing frame, is shown and is illustrative of the machines with which the present invention is concerned. It should be understood that while the present invention is illustrated and described in connection with the drawing frame 10, it is not restricted thereto, but may be utilized with any textile fibrous strand processing machine which includes a plurality of sets of drafting means defining a drafting zone therebetween, such as a drawing frame, roving frame and spinning frame.

Machine 10 comprises a two-delivery drawing frame having two drafting mechanisms 11, 11' to which textile fibrous strands S, S' are delivered for drafting, and also having coiler mechanisms 12, 12', for condensing the drafted strands into sliver form and for coiling the same in suitable receptacles, such as sliver cans. Drafting mechanisms 11, 11 comprise a plurality of spaced apart sets of drafting means 13, 14, 15, 16, and 13', 14', 15', 16', respectively. As illustrated in the drawings, these sets of drafting means comprise top and .bottom uted drafting rolls, the rolls of the drafting mechanism 11 being referred to as 13a, 13b; 14a, 14b; 15a, 15b; and 16a, 16b, and only certain rolls of drafting mechanism 11 being shown in the drawings, namely rolls 13a'; 14a'; 15a', 15b'; and 16a'.

Conventionally, the sets of drafting means 13, 13'; 14, 14'; 15, 15'; 16, 16 are disposed in parallel relation and areY supported -for. rotationain .,suitablegendtbearingr,

blocks 17, 17' and a medial bearing block 20, all of which are carried by a bedplate 21 of the machine 10. These bearing blocks include. upwardly ,opening grooves.,

such asgrooves

22, 23, 24 and.25.'in bearing b1ock20 (FIGURES 2 and 9), inwhichthe'ends of ,the sets of drafting rolls 13, 13'; 14, 14'; I1515'; 16,. 16'. are-,respectively.disposed. Conventionally, the.drafting mechanisms 11 11'; havefthebottom drafting-.rolls of eachv ofthe sets formed as portions of a sha-ft whichextendsbetwen the end bearing ,blocks 17,-17-'.All of thessshaftsare connected to and` driveniby a conventionalvdrive mechanism 26 which. is dri-venbya motor 27;; l The' drafting mechanisms 11, 11'- usuallyfhavewindividual or separate top rolls whichtare freely rotatable relative to thebottom rolls, and Ameans 3,0, 31, 32, and 33t-are .provided for respectively weighting the .,toprolls rolls with predetermined pressure to providethe, desired interaction between the sets. oft-rolls... These .weighting means are Iprovided at each en d ofthe top rollsand-rna'y be in any desired form but are illustrated asadjustable, spring biased weighting means.

. Conventionally, adjacent sets of drafting means in each drafting mechanism are spaced apart a predetermined distance to dene drafting zones therebetween which progressively decrease in length from the rear .sets of rolls 13, 13' to the front sets of rolls 16, 16' (FIGURE length of each drafting zone. to accommodate a widerange f of fiber lengths without changing the spacing between the sets of drafting means. Such ameans 34 or 34' is disposed in each drafting zone defined by adjacent sets of drafting means 13, 14; 13', 14'; 14, 15,714', 15'; 15,

16; I15', 16'; and comprises strand deflecting means 35 or 35 for deflecting the strands S or S' passing through the drafting zones laterally of the predetermined plane in which the sets of drafting means conventionally are disposed. Each of the strand deecting means 35 or .3. 5' is rst illustrated in the form of an elongate nose bar member 36 or 36', including a rounded upper- Strand

engaging edge

36a or 36a' and a rotatable roller 37 or 37' cooperating with the strand Aengaging edge36a 'or 36a' of nose bar 36 or 36' to define a strand gripping nip therebetween, Nose bar 36 or 36' androller` 37 or 37 aremounted for vertical adjustment at their opposite ends in upwardly opening grooves 38 or 38' (FIGURE 4) formed in the bearing bloeit 20, and in similar grooves (not shown) formed in the bearing blocks 17, 17f, respect to the sets of` drafting means.

Each end of nose bar 36 or 36' includes an internally threaded opening therein through which penetrates.l a threaded shaft 40 or 40' mounted for rotation at its lower end in the bearing blocks 17, 17' and 20 and in a suitable bearing 41-or 4:1' (FIGURE 4) at its upper end also carried by thebearing blocks. The upper end of shaft 40 or 40' is formed 4into ,a hexagonal head 40a or 40a' which isadapted to receive a suitable Wrench thereon fortrotation of the shaft relative to the nose bar 3 6 or 36'. Upon and roller 37 or. 3.7' are moved upwardly or downwardly with respect to the bearing blocks and the sets of drafting means to vary `the amount that the strands are detiected to thereby vary the effective length of the drafting zone.A

` 'Suitable weighting means 43 or 43'. is provided at each end of roller 37 or 37' for applying downward pressure with such rotation of theshaft 40 or 40', nose bar 36 or, 36T

.theretototpressthenoller. againstthenose bar 36A or- 3.6'

to provide the desired gripping action on the strands passing therebetween. Weighting means 43 or 43' may be of any character, but is illustrated as an adjustable, spring biased weighting means similarin construction to weighting means 30-'33 for `the-. top drafting rolls. The Weighting for-.cepppliedto r`vc` lle1g3 7V 0 1-37' should be such that fibers; may-slip therebetween without -breakage .since there must be a slip draft between the roller 3.7.,.or `37' and nose bar 36or36'; f Y" v f f To aid in the adjustment of'strand deecting means 35, 35', bearing block 20 has a, scale 44 mounted thereon between the Adrafting mechanisms 11, 11and between adjacent stsoffdrftirig means-"Scale 44: is""calibrated in anydesred` manner to indicate the .amount of. deflection that 1is,heingperformedon thestrands passingrbetween the setsfof drafting-means. An indicating or pointing elemenf45t`=gl5' isrcarriedfby each ofthe

nose bars

36,36.' andeooperatemwithxhe; scale 44ste indicate `this amount offdellectionr. v l., f

-zReferring-now -toFIGURES 58,.a modifiedform of strandwdeflecting meanst or isshown in connection wit-h astrand processing machinerwhich is substantially the "same as thatdescribed above and will not, therefore, be redescribedin connection with thisembodiment. The primary difference between this strand processing machine and that shown in FIGURES 1 4 is that the adjacent sets of drafting means are illustrated as being spaced the same distance apart as opposedto the progressively decreasing spacingY shown in FIGURE 3. t

Y rStranddeiecting meansk 50 or y50,' comprises a pair of

rotatable members

51, 52 or 51', 52' mounted in the bearingrblocks 17, 17 and 20. Lower member 51 or 51' comprises an elongate apron rotatably supported at its upper end on shaft 54 or 54' and at its lower end on shaft p0rtion 53 or l53' (FIGURE 9). Shaft portions-53 and 53' are preferably portions of a shaft which extends the full length ofI both drafting mechanisms 11, `11' and is rotatably mounted in suitable Ibearings v55 carried bythe bifurcated lower'end of amounting member 56. Mounting ,member 56 has upwardly facing Vslots S7, 57' inthe upper corners thereofin which are mountedV

suitable bearings

58, 59; 58', 59' which rotatably journal one end of theupper `shafts 54, 54' and. upper rotatable member52, 52' which are preferably in the form offreely rotatable rollers. Similar mounting. members (not shown) will be provided at-the bearing blocks 17, 17'.

Mounting member 56 has :an internally threaded opening therein in which is disposed a threaded shaft 60 rotatably mounted at its lowerend in bearing block l20. The ,upper end of shaft 60 is in the form of a hexagonal head 60a for rotation thereof and vertical adjustment of the mountingmember, and hence the strand deflecting means. A scale `61 isv carried by mounting member 56 for movementtherewith vand a stationary pointer 62 is carried `by shaft. 60. Pointer 62 cooperates with scale 61 to indicate 4the position of the strand deflecting means,

A suitable weighting means 63 or 63 is provided for each vend of the

upper rollers

52 or 52 to press the same into engagement with the upper end of apron 51 or l51'. These .weighting means, 63, 63'tmay be of any character but preferablyA are adjustable, .spring biased weighting means. As with weighting means 43, 43', weighting means 63, 63 should provide a slip draft between aprons 51, 5,1' and rollers `52, 52.'. t j

` Preferably, shaft .portions 53 and 53' are driven and in turn. positively-drive the aprons 51, 51' and preferably have roughened surfaces` engaging theaprons to insure this positive drive. To drive these shaft portions, a drive train (FIGUREN is provided thereto from the lower drafting means of the set of drafting means immediately behind the lstrand detiecting means 50, 50'. This drive train includes a gear 64 mounted on shaft portion 53 and meshing/with a gear 65 mounted ou a stub shaft 66. Stub shaft 66 is journaled at its opposite ends in the medial portion of a pair of levers 67 pivotally mounted at one end on shaft 53 and carrying anotherstub shaft 70 at the other end thereof. Stub shaft 70 carries another gear 71 thereon which meshes with gear 65 and also pivotally connects the pair of levers 67 to one end of another pair of levers 72. The pair of levers 72 are pivotally mounted at the other end thereof on the lower drafting means and journal a stub shaft 73 in the medial portion thereof which carries a gear 74. Gear 74 respectively meshes Iwith gear 71 and a drive gear 75 carried by the lower drafting means. The described lever and gear arrangement permits the

aprons

51, 51 and the

shaft portions

53, 53 to be adjusted vertically while still maintaining the driving relationship thereto.

The size of the gears are such that shaft portion 53 is driven-from the lower drafting means to drive the aprons 51, 51' at a speed corollated to the speed of the drafting means. In this respect, the surface speeds of the drafting means progressively increase'from rear to front to provide the desired draft, and preferably, the aprons '51, 51 are driven at a surface speed greater than the surface speed of the drafting means from which it is driven by an amount equal to one-half the difference in the surface speed of this drafting means and the next adjacent drafting means toward the front of the machine.

It is noted that in the embodiment illustrated in FIG- URES 5-9, the defiecting means for both the drafting mechanisms 11, 11 are adjustable vertically as avunit. However, it should be understood that the same may be independently mounted, as are the defiecting means illustrated in FIGURES 1-4, and in such an arrangement, shaft portions 53, 53' would be unconnected and drive mechanisms would be provided to each shaft portion.

In the drafting of textile fibrous strands, the length of a drafting zone between adjacent sets of drafting means is primarily dependent uponthe staple length of the fibers in the strands, with the length of the front drafting zone usually being slightly greater than the longest length of fibers in the strands and the lengths of the other drafting zones progressively increasing from front to rear of the machine. As stated above, the lengths of the drafting zones have heretofore been dependent solely upon the spacing between the adjacent sets of drafting means. With the present invention, the lengths of the drafting zones are determined independently of the spacing between the adjacent sets of drafting means.

In this respect, the strand detiecting means are adjusted vertically relative to the sets of drafting means by rotating the threaded

shafts

40, 40 or 60 to a predetermined height, as indicated by

scales

44 or 61, which height, along with spacing between the adjacent sets of drafting means, will provide the desired effective lengths of the drafting zones for the staple length fibers in the strands to 'be processed. The strands are then processed in the normal manner and are laterally defiected between the adjacent sets of drafting means by the strand deflecting means 35, 35' or 50, 50 with

rollers

37, 37' or 52, 52' serving to maintain the strands in contact with the nose bar members or aprons and to prevent ffy-off .from or disruption of the strands being deflected.

If lfibrous strands of a different staple length `are desired to lbe processed, the lengths of the drafting zones may be readily changed by vertical adjustment of the Strang deecting means without varying the spacing between the adjacent sets of drafting means.

It is, therefore, believed apparent that a novel textile fibrous strand processing machine is provided wherein the effective lengths of the drafting zones between adjacent sets of drafting means may be varied to accommodate a wide range of fiber lengths without varying the spacing between the sets of drafting means and without the problems and lost time involved with conventional strand processing machines.

In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments 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.

What is claimed is:

|1. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine having at least three'serially arranged, spaced apart cooperating sets of drafting means disposed in parallel relation and defining a plurality of successive drafting zones therebetween, each of said drafting zones lyingin Va predetermined plane and being of a predetermined length; the improvement which comprises means for substantially increasing the effective lengths of the drafting zones to accommodate a wide range of fiber lengths -without changing the spacing fbet-weenthesets of draftingy means, said means comprising defiecting meansfdisposed between adjacent sets of drafting means in each of said drafting zones for engaging and deffecting the strand laterally of the predetermined plane of eachdraftingzone to lengthen the path of travel of the strand between said sets of drafting means, each of said defiecting means comprising a pair of cooperating members defining a strand gripping nip therebetween', weighting means operatively associated with said pair of members for urging Vthe same to-ward each other with sufficient force to provide the desired gripping action on the strand while permitting a slip draft through the nip thereof, means mounting each of said deilecting means for adjustment relative to and independently of said sets of drafting means and independently of the other deflectin-g means to selectively vary the amount the strand is deflected in each drafting zone and thus the amount the effective length of each drafting zone is increased t0 accommodate the wide range of fibers without changing the spacing between the sets of drafting means, and indicating means operatively associated with each-of said strand defiecting means for indicating the position of the strand deflecting means relative to said predetermined plane for facilitating adjustment of said strand deflecting means to the proper position to obtain'the correct effective distance 'between the adjacent sets of drafting Imeans.

2. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine having at least three serially arranged, spaced apart cooperating lsets of drafting means disposed in parallel relation and defining a plurality of successive drafting zones therebetween, each of said drafting zones lying in a predetermined plane and being of a predetermined length; the improvement which comprises means for substantially increasing the effective lengths of the drafting zones to accommodate a wide range of fiber lengths without changing the spacing between the sets of drafting means, said means comprising deflecting means disposed between adjacent sets of drafting means in each of said drafting zones for engaging and deecting the strand laterally of the predetermined plane of each drafting zone to lengthen the path of travel of the strand between said sets of drafting means, each of said defiecting means comprising a pair of movable cooperating mem-bers having their proximal surfaces 'movable in the direction of movement of the strand through the drafting zone and defining a strand gripping nip therebetween, weighting means operatively associated with said pair of members Ifor urging the same toward each other with sufficient force to provide the desired gripping action on the strand while permitting a slip draft through the nip thereof, means mounting each of said deflecting .means for adjustment relative to and independently of said sets of drafting means and independently of the other deecting means to selectively vary the amount the strand is deflected in each drafting zone and thus the amount the effective lengthgof each drafting zone is increased to accommodate the wide range of fibers without changing the spacing between the sets of drafting means, and driving lmeans operatively connected to one of saidcooperating members of each pair for driving the same so that its proximal surface moves at a speed greater than the speed of the rearward adjacent set of drafting means but less than the speed of the forward adjacent sets of drafting means.

3. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine according to claim 2, wherein said cooperating members of each pair comprise a freely rotatable roller and an apron, two spaced rotatable shafts mounting said apron for movement thereon, and wherein said one cooperating member driven by said driving means is said apron, and said driving means operatively connects said apron to one of the sets of drafting means.

4. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine according to claim 3, wherein saiddriving means for each of said aprons includes a driving element carried by one of said drafting means, a driving element carried by one of the shafts mounting said apron, and means connecting said driving elements and permitting adjustment of said apron relative to said predetermined plane While still maintaining the proper driving connection between said apron and said drafting means.

5. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine according to claim 3, wherein said drive means for each of said aprons comprises a gear train including a first gear mounted on one of the drafting means of an adjacent set of drafting means, a second gear mounted on one of the shafts supporting the apron, and intermediate gears between said first and second gears providing the desired direction of movement of the apron and arranged to permit vertical adjustment of the apron while still maintaining the driving connection thereto.

6. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine having at least two spaced-apart cooperating sets of drafting means disposed in parallel relation and defining a drafting zone lying in a predetermined plane and of a predetermined length therebetween; the improvement which comprises means for substantially increasing the effective length of the drafting zone to accommodate a wide range of ber lengths without changing the spacing between the sets of drafting means, said means comprising defiecting means disposed vbetween the sets of drafting means for engaging and deflecting the strand laterally of said pre- 40 determined plane to lengthen the path of travel thereof between said sets of drafting means, said deecting means comprising a pair of cooperating members having movable proximal surfaces defining a strand gripping nip therebetween, drive means connecting one of said cooperating members to one of said sets of drafting means Afor driving the movable proximal surface thereof at a speed greater than the rearward adjacent set of drafting means 'but less than the speed of the forward adjacent set of drafting means, and means mounting said deflecting means for adjustment relative to and independently of said drafting means to Ivary the amount the strand is deflected and the amount the effective length of the drafting Zone is increased to accommodate the wide range of bers without changing the spacing between the sets of drafting means.

7. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine according to claim 6 including indicating means operatively associated with said strand deflecting means for indicating the position of the strand deflecting means relative tosaid predetermined plane for facilitating adjustment of said strand deecting means to the proper position to obtain the correct effective distance between the sets of drafting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 241,851 5/1881 Essex et al. 19-261 1,586,735 6( 1926 Fonseca 19-25 9 1,784,659 12/1930 Devaux 19-272 1,973,582 9/1934 Stone et al. 19-288 2,695,428 11/1954 Naegeli 19-250 FOREIGN PATENTS 510,073 8/ 1920 France.

554,471 3/ 1923 France. 1,283,279 12/1961 France.

715,839 1/ 1942 Germany.

908,948 3/ 1954 Germany.

16,024 1892 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

DORSEY NEWTON, Assistant Examiner.