WO2013132519A2

WO2013132519A2 - Sliver-can handling mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2013132519A2
Application number: PCT/IN2013/000132
Authority: WO
Inventors: Narayanaswamy KRISHNAKUMAR; Govindharajulu MANI; Venkateshan NARENDRA; Narayanan MARISEKAR; Thevvan Ganthi Kottiswarra RAGVENTARR
Original assignee: Lakshmi Machine Works Ltd.
Priority date: 2012-03-05
Filing date: 2013-03-05
Publication date: 2013-09-12
Also published as: WO2013132519A3

Abstract

In Sliver-can changing mechanism for spinning preparatory machines such as draw frame, comber, card, different set of Can index plate assemblies are used for different sliver-can diameters. This invention overcomes the above disadvantage by providing single Can index plate for any different sliver-can diameters. Sliver-can handling mechanism for changing sliver-cans comprises sliver-can transport rail (6), Can index plate (7) sliding on said rail (6), Plurality of guide arms (9) pivoted to said Can index plate (7) at regular intervals by means of spring (12), an actuator (8) for sliding said Can index plate (7), wherein Can index plate (7) has provision to fix the actuator (8) at various positions. The Can index plate (7) has plurality of holes (10) to fix the actuator (8) at various positions.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for handling the sliver- cans in textile spinning preparatory machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to sliver-can changing mechanism of textile spinning preparatory machines such as draw frame, carding and combing machines. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In textile fibre processing machines such as draw frame, carding and combing machines, a drafted fibre band known as sliver is deposited in a sliver-can, located in the sliver filling station of a draw frame or the like, by means of coiler and turntable. In general, the sliver filling station comprises a sliver-can handling apparatus including a turntable rotatable about a vertical platform axis for rotating a sliver-can standing thereon; a sliver-can changer for moving an empty can onto and moving a sliver filled can off the platform; and a centering device for centering a sliver-can on the platform relative to the platform axis.

In order to move the empty reserve sliver-can to the sliver filling station of the draw frame and to exit the sliver filled can out of the filling station, pushing means are employed in the sliver-can changing mechanism, which is well known in the textile industry. The pushing means (9) are swingably connected to the Can index plate (7) at regular intervals by means of spring element (12), as shown in fig 2. The Can index plate (7) is fastened with an actuator, i.e. Pneumatic cylinder (8) through index block arrangement (1 1) which comprises connecting means to lock said actuator (8) with said Can index plate (7). The Said index block arrangement (1 1) is fastened with Can index plate (7) through the fixing point (i.e. holes) provided on the lower surface of said Can index plate (7). The entire assembly of Can index plate (7) and pushing means (9) are capable of sliding inside the guide rail (6) provided for horizontal movement of the Sliver-can changing mechanism. In existing sliver-can changing mechanism, only one fixing point is provided in the Can index plate (7) for locking said Can index plate (7) with the actuator (8). The actuator (8) along with the first pushing arm (9) enables the filled sliver-can (not shown) to leave the sliver filling station or turntable (4) shown in fig 1. The empty sliver-can is pushed to the sliver filling station by the preceding pushing arm. Then the sliver is severed by known cutting means. The delivering sliver now starts coiling in the empty sliver-can which has reached the sliver filling station. The Can index plate (7) can be slided horizontally on both left and right directions for a distance upto the stroke length of the actuator (8). The stroke length of the actuator (8) is predetermined such that the filled sliver-can exits out of the sliver- filling station (4) and the empty can reaches the sliver filling station (4). The Can index plate (7) returns to the original position after Can changing due to retraction of the actuating means (8). The pushing arms (9) swings inside the guide rail (6) while returning back due to obstruction of sliver-can and spring action. After returning to the original position the pushing arms (9) extends outside to normal position due to spring tension. The said process is repeated for every sliver-can changing cycle after the sliver-can fills completely.

While sliver filling takes place, the larger diameter sliver-can rotates over the turntable (4) mostly in a uniform manner such that it always rotates in the centre axis due to the guide rollers provided in the guide arms. The Can index plate (7) is locked with the index block arrangement (1 1 ) in a fixed position through the only fixing point provided, as described. The said pushing arm (9) will be in contact with the sliver-can during sliver-can changing. Therefore adjustment of Can index plate (7) is not required during sliver-can changing. In general, the diameter of the sliver-cans used in the sliver filling stations may vary according to the requirements. In existing technology, if smaller diameter sliver-can is to be used in the same turntable suit the smaller diameter of the sliver-can. Otherwise the sliver-can is not guided by the Guide rollers of the pushing arm (9) during can changing. It is not possible to adjust the distance between pushing arm (9) and the sliver- can in the existing arrangement. Different sets of Can index plate assemblies are required to accommodate various sliver-can diameters. This increases the inventory in textile industries. Therefore these limitations of existing art tends to develop an easy method for accommodating various sliver-can diameters in a single Can index plate assembly which would consume less time for sliver-can changeover process of different size sliver-cans.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sliver- can handling mechanism in textile spinning preparatory machines.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved sliver-can handling mechanism for adjusting the sliver-can changing system for accommodating various size sliver-cans.

It is one more object of the present invention to provide an improved sliver-can changing system with simple mechanism for accommodating various size sliver-cans.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved sliver-can changing system that requires lesser time for adjusting said system to accommodate various size sliver-cans.

It is yet another object of the present invention to reduce the inventory of Can index plate assembly in textile industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved sliver-can changing mechanism of textile spinning preparatory machines like draw frame, carding and comber. Said mechanism comprises a sliver-can transport rail, i.e. guide rail (6) for replacing the filled sliver-can with empty sliver-can during doffing. The Can index plate (7) slides on said guide rail (6) as described in the background of the invention. The pushing arms (9) are pivoted to the Can index plate (7). When the actuating device (8) operates during doffing, the Can index plate (7) starts sliding over the guide rail (6). The pushing arms (9) push the sliver-cans to their respective positions. In existing Can index plates, only one fixing point (holes) is provided for fastening the actuator (8).

In the present invention plurality of fixing points (holes) (10) are provided on the Can index plate (7) for fastening the actuator (8), as shown in fig 3. The plurality of holes (10) is provided both longitudinally and traversely on the Can index plate (7) for a predetermined length so as to accommodate all sizes of sliver-cans available in the textile industry. The index block (1 1 ) along with the actuator (8) is connected to any of the desired holes (fixing point) of the Can index plate (7) by means of connecting elements. The actuating device (8) can be fastened to any of the plurality of holes or fixing points (10) provided on the Can index plate (7). The fixing point is selected based on the diameter of the sliver-can. This adjustment results in proper guidance of sliver-can by the guide rollers of pushing arms (9) during can changing irrespective of the diameter of sliver-can, i.e. smaller or larger diameter sliver-can as the case may be. Hence usage of different sets of Can index plates for different sliver-cans is avoided. The inventory management of various sets of Can index plate assembly is avoided in textile mills.

Thus, according to the main aspect of this invention, sliver-can handling mechanism for changing sliver-cans in a textile spinning preparatory machine comprises sliver-can transport rail (6); Can index plate (7) sliding on said rail (6); Plurality of guide arms (9) pivoted to said Can index plate (7) at regular intervals; an actuator (8) for sliding said Can index plate (7); wherein Can index plate (7) has provision to fix the actuator (8) at various positions.

According to another aspect of this invention, said Can index plate (7) has plurality of holes (10) to fix the actuator (8) at various positions. The holes (10) are provided longitudinally on the Can index plate (7) for a predetermined length. The actuator (8) is connected to an index block (1 1). The index block (1 1 ) is fastened to any of the plurality of holes (10) of the Can index plate (7). Connecting elements are used for fastening said actuator (8) with the index block (1 1) and for fastening said index block (1 1 ) with the holes (10).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig 1 shows the front view of single delivery draw frame machine used in textile spinning mills without sliver-can.

Fig 1 a shows the front view of single delivery draw frame machine used in textile spinning mills with sliver-can.

Fig 2 shows the sliver-can changing mechanism of a textile draw frame machine according to the existing art without sjiver-can.

Fig 2a shows the sliver-can changing mechanism of a textile draw frame machine according to the existing art with sliver-can present only in sliver filling station.

Fig 2b shows the sliver-can changing mechanism of a textile draw frame machine according to the existing art with sliver-cans present in both sliver filling station and reserve sliver-can stations.

Fig 3 shows the sliver-can changing mechanism of a textile draw frame machine according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig 1 shows a creel arrangement (1) provided for feeding the slivers from a plurality of feed sliver-cans (not shown) to levelling section (2) of the draw frame. The drafting arrangement (3) is arranged downstream of the levelling section (2) and the slivers fed in the form of multiple slivers are processed by means of drafting arrangement (3) and delivered in the form of single sliver and deposited into the sliver-can (not shown) seated over the turntable (4) at the rotating sliver filling station. The empty reserve cans (13) are placed behind the filling station on the space (5) provided as shown in fig 2b. When a predetermined length of the sliver is filled into the sliver-can, the filled can is replaced by an empty can by an automatic can changing arrangement provided in the draw frame.

The drafted sliver is being passed through coiling head arrangement and then supplied into the rotating sliver-can in which it is being coiled and stored. Said can is being placed upon the turntable (4) of the sliver filling station which is driven through transmission means (not shown). The sliver- can changer unit guides the sliver-can while can changing until said sliver-can reaches the sliver filling station (4). The pushing arm (9) of the can changer unit moves the sliver-can for proper seating upon the rotatable platform. The sliver-can also rotates along with rotatable platform. Thus the sliver is getting coiled and stored in the can until the predetermined length of sliver is reached. While the filling can is processed in sliver filling station (4), the empty reserve cans (13) are being placed in the predetermined space (5) behind the filling station (4). After the predetermined length of sliver is filled in the sliver-can, the filled can is pushed away from the sliver filling station by means of can changer arms or pushing arms (9). During can changing, the supplying sliver is being severed and the filled can is ejected into the delivery area.

Thus the filled can is ejected into the delivery area and is ready for further process. Simultaneously, the preceding pushing arm (9) pushes the empty reserve can and locates it over the turntable (4) of the filling station. Meanwhile another can in the predetermined path comes into position as reserved one and thus the sliver filling process in a coiler unit completes one cycle of operation.

Fig 3 shows the sliver-can changer unit consisting of guide rail (6). The can index plate (7) is fitted to the guide rail (6) by connecting means. The can index plate (7) slides horizontally over the rail (6). In the present invention, plurality of holes (i.e. fixing poifrts) (10) are provided upon the Can index plate (7) as shown in the Fig 3. The Can index plate (7) is fastened with an actuating means (8) through any of the holes (10) by means of index block arrangement (1 1 ). The actuating means (8) is preferably pneumatic cylinder or hydraulic cylinder. The index block arrangement (1 1 ) comprises connecting means to lock said cylinder (8) with said Can index plate (7). The entire assembly of Can index plate (7) and pushing arms (9) are capable of sliding inside the guide rail (6) provided for horizontal movement of the Sliver-can changing mechanism. The cylinder (8) actuates the can index plate (7) upon extension. The pushing arms (9) are pivoted to the can index plate (7) at regular intervals by means of spring element (12). Hence the pushing arms (9) move along with the can index plate (7). The Can index plate (7) returns to the original position after Can changing due to retraction of the cylinder (8). The pushing arms (9) swings inside the guide rail (6) while returning back due to obstruction of sliver-can and spring action. After returning to the original position the pushing arms (9) extends outside to normal position due to spring tension.

The index block (1 1 ) can be locked to any of the plurality of holes or fixing points (10) that are provided both longitudinally and traverseiy on the can index plate (7). The can index plate (7) setting is adjusted by selecting the required fixing point based on the diameter of the sliver-can.

For example, if a smaller diameter sliver-can is to be used, the can index plate (7) has to be adjusted as per operating sliver-can diameter. This adjustment is easily done by releasing the can index plate (7) from the rail (6) by loosening the connecting elements and locking with index block (1 1) in the required fixing point from a plurality of holes (10).

This mechanism provides simple way for adjusting the can index plate (7) for accommodating various size sliver-cans. It requires lesser time for adjusting the can index plate (7). In view of the present disclosure which describes preferred and best mode of sliver-can changing mechanism, many modifications and variations would present themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. All such modifications performing the described function are still comprised within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIM

1) Sliver-can handling mechanism for changing sliver-cans in a textile spinning preparatory machine comprising:

sliver-can transport rail (6);

Can index plate (7) sliding on said rail (6);

Plurality of guide arms (9) pivoted to said Can index plate (7) at regular intervals;

an actuator (8) for sliding said Can index plate (7);

wherein Can index plate (7) has provision to fix the actuator (8) at various positions.

2) Sliver-can handling mechanism for changing sliver-cans as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said Can index plate (7) has plurality of holes (10) to fix the actuator (8) at various positions.

3) Sliver-can handling mechanism for changing sliver-cans as claimed in claim 2, wherein said holes (10) are provided longitudinally on the Can index plate (7) for a predetermined length.

4) Sliver-can handling mechanism for changing sliver-cans as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said actuator (8) is preferably a pneumatic cylinder.

5) Sliver-can handling mechanism for changing sliver-cans as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said actuator (8) is a hydraulic cylinder.

6) Sliver-can handling mechanism for changing sliver-cans as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said actuator (8) is connected to an index block (1 1 ).

7) Sliver-can handling mechanism for changing sliver-cans as claimed in claim 6, wherein said index block (11) is fastened to any of the plurality of holes (10) of the Can index plate (7).

8) Sliver-can handling mechanism for changing sliver-cans as claimed in claims 6 & 7, wherein connecting elements are used for fastening said actuator (8) with the index block (11 ) and for fastening said index block (1 1) with the holes (10).

9) Sliver-can handling mechanism for changing sliver-cans as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said guide arms (9) are pivoted to the Can index plate (7) by means of spring element (12).