U.S. patent application number 14/455416 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-12 for cleaner for fiber bundle feeder in fore-spinning frame.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI. The applicant listed for this patent is KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI. Invention is credited to Yasuhiko TANIGUCHI, Makoto YAKUSHI.
Application Number | 20150040355 14/455416 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51260748 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150040355 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YAKUSHI; Makoto ; et
al. |
February 12, 2015 |
CLEANER FOR FIBER BUNDLE FEEDER IN FORE-SPINNING FRAME
Abstract
A cleaner for a fiber bundle feeder, which nips and discharges a
strip of fiber bundle with a top roller and a bottom roller, in a
fore-spinning frame includes a support member located above the top
roller and a tubular clearer having an inner diameter that is
greater than an outer diameter of the support member. The tubular
clearer is rotatable around the support member by the top roller
such that the tubular clearer is located at a position where the
tubular clearer is in contact with the top roller and a position
where the tubular clearer is separated from the top roller. The
tubular clearer is configured to block a fiber. A suction unit is
configured to draw in the fiber that has been blocked by the
tubular clearer.
Inventors: |
YAKUSHI; Makoto;
(Kariya-shi, JP) ; TANIGUCHI; Yasuhiko; (Gifu-ken,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI |
Kariya-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA
JIDOSHOKKI
Kariya-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
51260748 |
Appl. No.: |
14/455416 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
19/263 ;
19/265 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D01H 5/64 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
19/263 ;
19/265 |
International
Class: |
D01H 5/62 20060101
D01H005/62 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 12, 2013 |
JP |
2013-167703 |
Claims
1. A cleaner for a fiber bundle feeder in a fore-spinning frame,
wherein the fiber bundle feeder nips and discharges a strip of
fiber bundle with a top roller and a bottom roller, the cleaner
comprising: a support member located above the top roller; a
tubular clearer having an inner diameter that is greater than an
outer diameter of the support member, wherein the tubular clearer
is rotatable around the support member by the top roller such that
the tubular clearer is located at a position where the tubular
clearer is in contact with the top roller and a position where the
tubular clearer is separated from the top roller, and the tubular
clearer is configured to block a fiber; and a suction unit
configured to draw in the fiber that has been blocked by the
tubular clearer.
2. The cleaner for a fiber bundle feeder in a fore-spinning frame
according to claim 1, wherein the tubular clearer is made of
rubber.
3. The cleaner for a fiber bundle feeder in a fore-spinning frame
according to claim 1, wherein the top roller is one of a plurality
of top rollers including a turning top roller, and the tubular
clearer is arranged at a position corresponding to at least the
turning top roller.
4. The cleaner for a fiber bundle feeder in a fore-spinning frame
according to claim 1, wherein the tubular clearer includes a
circumferential surface including frictional force variation
structures that are located in random positions, and the frictional
force variation structures are configured to vary frictional force
between the tubular clearer and the top roller during the rotation
of the tubular clearer.
5. The cleaner for a fiber bundle feeder in a fore-spinning frame
according to claim 4, wherein the frictional force variation
structures include openings or projections.
6. The cleaner for a fiber bundle feeder in a fore-spinning frame
according to claim 1, wherein the tubular clearer is configured to
block passage of the fiber between the tubular clearer and the top
roller when the tubular clearer contacts the top roller, and the
tubular clearer is configured to allow passage of the fiber between
the tubular clearer and the top roller when the tubular clearer is
not in contact with the top roller.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaner for a fiber
bundle feeder in a fore-spinning frame. More particularly, the
present invention relates to a cleaner for a fiber bundle feeder in
a fore-spinning frame used in fore-spinning processes such as a
drawing frame, a comber, a carding machine, and a lap former.
[0002] In a drawing frame and a comber, a drafting unit
simultaneously drafts a plurality of slivers. The drafted wide
fiber bundles (laps) are delivered from the front rollers as fleece
strips. The fleece strips are then bundled into a single sliver by
a gatherer and retained in a can by a coiler. In a lap former, a
drafting unit simultaneously drafts a plurality of slivers, and the
drafted fleece strips are overlapped to form a lap. Further, a
carding machine forms slivers from wide fiber bundles (webs) that
are drafted by a drafting unit.
[0003] A drafting unit of a spinning machine includes drafting
rollers. Floating fibers and foreign matter (hereinafter also
referred to as lint) that are not held between the drafting rollers
tend to adhere to the drafting rollers. This attracts and adheres
further fibers to the drafting rollers. As a result, the weight of
the drafted slivers may vary and drafting may be hindered. Thus, a
cleaner is used to clean the surfaces of the drafting rollers so
that floating fibers do not adhere to the drafting rollers.
[0004] Referring to FIG. 5, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model
Publication No. 7-33981 describes an example of a cleaner for a
drafting unit D of a drawing frame. The drafting unit D includes
four pairs of draft rollers, which include four bottom rollers 61a
to 61d and four top rollers 62a to 62d. A turning roller 63, which
serves as a top roller, is located at the downstream side of the
top roller 62a, which is the most downstream one of the draft
rollers. The turning roller 63 changes the moving direction of a
sliver S from a generally horizontal direction to an obliquely
downward direction.
[0005] In the drafting unit D, floating fibers tend to adhere to
the turning roller 63 and the top roller 62a, which is located at
the immediately upstream side of the turning roller 63. Thus, the
cleaner of the '981 publication includes an Ermen's clearer E,
which has a high cleaning capability, to clean the turning roller
63 and the top roller 62a. The cleaner further includes wiper bars
64. Each wiper bar 64 contacts and cleans the corresponding one of
the top rollers 62b to 62d, which are located at the upstream side
of the top roller 62a. The Ermen's clearer E includes an endless
clothbelt (clearer) 71 and a comb 73. The clothbelt 71
intermittently rotates and removes fibers from the turning roller
63 and the top roller 62a. The comb 73 moves linearly in a
reciprocal manner on the clothbelt 71. Each wiper bar 64 is
supported by a holder (not shown) such that the wiper bar 64 is in
contact with the corresponding one of the top rollers 62b to 62d
under its own weight. The wiper bars 64 remove lint from the top
rollers 62b to 62d. The fibers, which are scraped off from the
clothbelt 71 by the comb 73, and the lint, which is removed from
the rollers 62b to 62d by the wiper bars 64, are drawn into a
suction head 75 through suction ports 75a.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 6, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication
No. 2005-120561 describes a cleaner for an upper roller (top
roller). The structure of the publication includes an air cylinder
81, which includes a piston rod (pressing rod) 81a that presses an
upper roller 82 against a lower roller 83. The cleaner includes a
cleaning bar 84, one end of which is coupled to the piston rod 81a.
The piston rod 81a includes an O ring that supports the cleaning
bar 84.
[0007] Further, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No.
2-374 describes a rotating roller cleaner that removes adhered
material, such as lint, dust, and short fibers from the surface of
a rotating roller used in a spinning machine. The cleaner includes
a clearer roller, which includes a roller body having a bristled
circumferential surface, and support rods, which support opposite
ends of the roller body. The axis of at least one of the support
rods is eccentric with respect to the axis of the roller body. Each
support rod is loosely fitted into a guide groove formed in a
bracket and movable in the vertical direction in the guide groove.
The guide groove has a width that is slightly larger than the
diameter of the support rod. This limits horizontal movement of the
clearer roller. The support rods are separated from each other by
180 degrees in the circumferential direction. This slightly varies
the area of contact between the rotating roller and the clearer
roller and slightly varies the speed of the clearer roller relative
to the rotating roller at the area of contact. Thus, the clearer
roller is rubbed against the surface of the rotating roller.
[0008] The cleaner of the publication '981, which uses a clothbelt,
efficiently cleans the turning roller and a top roller. However, a
complicated structure is needed to scrape off fibers from the
clothbelt. In addition, the wiper bar that removes lint from a top
roller is in contact with the top roller under its own weight.
Thus, the removed lint accumulates between the top roller and the
wiper bar. This results in the need for periodic cleaning.
[0009] In the cleaner of the '561 publication, the air cylinder
allows the cleaning bar to move into and out of contact with the
upper roller. Thus, unlike the wiper bar that is in contact with
the top roller under its own weight, in the cleaner of the '561
publication, the removed lint does not accumulate between the
cleaning bar and the upper roller. However, a structure is needed
to move the cleaning bar into and out of contact with the upper
roller in a suitable manner. This enlarges the cleaner.
[0010] In the rotating roller cleaner of the '374 publication, the
clearer roller includes a bristled portion. When such a clearer
roller including a bristled portion is used to clean a top roller
that moves laps and webs, fibers may become entangled in the
bristled portion. Such fibers may be difficult to remove.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
cleaner for a fiber bundle feeder in a fore-spinning frame that
effectively limits adherence of fibers to a top roller with a
simple structure.
[0012] To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present
invention is a cleaner for a fiber bundle feeder in a fore-spinning
frame. The fiber bundle feeder nips and discharges a strip of fiber
bundle with a top roller and a bottom roller. The cleaner includes
a support member located above the top roller and a tubular clearer
having an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of
the support member. The tubular clearer is rotatable around the
support member by the top roller such that the tubular clearer is
located at a position where the tubular clearer is in contact with
the top roller and a position where the tubular clearer is
separated from the top roller. The tubular clearer is configured to
block a fiber. A suction unit is configured to draw in the fiber
that has been blocked by the tubular clearer.
[0013] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of
example the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof,
may best be understood by reference to the following description of
the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0015] FIG. 1A is a schematic partial cutaway view of a drafting
unit of one embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1A;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway plan view showing a turning top
roller and a tubular clearer;
[0018] FIG. 3A is a schematic view showing the operation of the
tubular clearer;
[0019] FIG. 3B is a schematic view showing the operation of the
tubular clearer;
[0020] FIG. 4A is a schematic perspective view showing a tubular
clearer in another embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 4B is a schematic perspective view showing a tubular
clearer in a further embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a side view showing background art; and
[0023] FIG. 6 is a partially cross-sectional view showing other
background art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1A to 3, a drafting unit of one
embodiment used in a comber will now be described. The comber is a
fore-spinning frame used in a fore-spinning process.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 1A, a drafting unit 10 drafts a plurality
of slivers S supplied from a plurality of combing heads of a comber
(not shown). The drafting unit 10 forms fleeces F, which are strips
of fiber bundles, from the slivers S and discharges the fleeces F.
The drafting unit 10 includes a front bottom roller 11, a middle
bottom roller 12, and a rear bottom roller 13, which are supported
by a roller stand (not shown). A front top roller 14, a middle top
roller 15, and a rear top roller 16 are arranged above the front
bottom roller 11, the middle bottom roller 12, and the rear bottom
roller 13, respectively. A turning top roller 17 is arranged in
front of the upper portion of the front bottom roller 11. The
turning top roller 17 downwardly directs the fleece F delivered
from the front bottom roller 11 and the front top roller 14. The
drafting unit 10 has a 4-over-3 construction and functions as a
fiber bundle feeder in a fore-spinning frame that nips and
discharges strips of fiber bundles using top and bottom
rollers.
[0026] A gatherer 18 is arranged in front of the lower portion of
the front bottom roller 11. A coiler trumpet 20 of a coiler is
arranged below the gatherer 18, and two coiler calender rollers 21
are arranged below the coiler trumpet 20. The sliver S is
downwardly moved from the gatherer 18 and recompressed by the
coiler calender rollers 21. The recompressed sliver S is retained
in a can using a tube wheel (not shown).
[0027] A drafting unit cleaner 30 is arranged above the drafting
unit 10 to clean the top rollers 14 to 17.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1A, the drafting unit cleaner 30 includes
support members 31, tubular clearers 32, and a suction unit 33.
Each support member 31 is arranged above the corresponding one of
the top rollers 14 to 17. The inner diameter of the tubular
clearers 32 is greater than the outer diameter of the support
members 31. Each tubular clearer 32 intermittently contacts the
corresponding one of top rollers 14 to 17 while rotating around the
corresponding support member 31. The tubular clearer 32 also block
fibers. The suction unit 33 draws in the fibers that have been
blocked by the tubular clearer 32.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, each support member 31
includes a cylindrical bar body 31a and projections 31b extending
from opposite ends of the bar body 31a. Each projection 31b has the
shape of a quadrangular prism. Each support member 31 is parallel
to the corresponding one of the top rollers 14 to 17. The
projections 31b are fixed to frames 34 (FIG. 2) so that the
corresponding support member 31 is not rotatable.
[0030] Each tubular clearer 32 is made of rubber and has an inner
diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the bar body
31a. The tubular clearer 32 is rotatable around the bar body 31a
such that the tubular clearer 32 is located at a position where the
outer surface of the tubular clearer 32 is partially in contact
with the outer surface of the corresponding one of the top rollers
14 to 17 and a position where the outer surface of the tubular
clearer 32 is separated from the corresponding one of the top
rollers 14 to 17. The bar body 31a has an outer diameter of about 8
mm, and the tubular clearer 32 has an inner diameter of about 20
mm, for example.
[0031] The suction unit 33 includes a suction head 35 located above
the drafting unit 10. The suction head 35 includes suction ports
35a located at positions corresponding to the tubular clearers 32.
The suction ports 35a extend along the tubular clearers 32.
[0032] The operation of the drafting unit cleaner 30 will now be
described.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 1A, the drafting unit 10 is operated when
the top rollers 14 to 17 are located at operational positions to
cooperate with the bottom rollers 11 to 13 to draft the slivers S.
Under this situation, the suction ports 35a of the suction head 35
face the tubular clearers 32. The bottom rollers 11 to 13 are
driven at a draft ratio that is set in accordance with the spinning
conditions. The slivers S, which are drafted and enlarged by a
predetermined rate, is delivered from the front bottom roller 11,
the front top roller 14, and the turning top roller 17 as fleeces
F. The fleeces F are bundled into a single sliver S when passing
through the gatherer 18 and the coiler trumpet 20. The sliver S is
re-compressed by the coiler calender rollers 21. Then, the sliver S
is retained in a can through a tube wheel.
[0034] During operation of the drafting unit 10, the suction head
35 is arranged in the operational position as shown in FIG. 1A. The
suction head 35 is held such that the suction ports 35a face the
tubular clearers 32 and the suction effect of the suction source
acts on the tubular clearers 32.
[0035] When the top rollers 14 to 17 rotate, the tubular clearers
32 rotate around the corresponding support members 31 above the top
rollers 14 to 17. Further, the tubular clearers 32 intermittently
contact the corresponding top rollers 14 to 17.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the operation of the tubular
clearers 32 is now described using the tubular clearer 32
corresponding to the turning top roller 17 as an example.
[0037] The tubular clearer 32 rotates together with the turning top
roller 17 and oscillates moderately while rotating. Thus, the
tubular clearer 32 repeatedly contacts the turning top roller 17 as
shown in FIG. 3A and rises away from the turning top roller 17 as
shown in FIG. 3B. As shown in FIG. 3A, when the tubular clearer 32
is in contact with the turning top roller 17, the tubular clearer
32 blocks the adherence of a fiber f to the turning top roller 17.
The fiber f is separated from a strip of fiber bundle that is moved
by the rotations of the turning top roller 17 and the bottom
roller. As shown in FIG. 3B, the fiber f, which has been blocked by
the tubular clearer 32, is then drawn into the suction unit 33 when
the tubular clearer 32 is separated from the turning top roller 17.
In other words, the tubular clearer 32 blocks passage of a fiber
between the tubular clearer 32 and the turning top roller 17 when
the tubular clearer 32 contacts the turning top roller 17 and
allows passage of the fiber between the tubular clearer 32 and the
turning top roller 17 when the tubular clearer 32 is not in contact
with the turning top roller 17. The tubular clearers 32
corresponding to the other top rollers 14 to 16 function in the
same manner. Accordingly, the present embodiment effectively limits
the adherence of fibers to the top rollers 14 to 17 with a simple
structure. Thus, fibers do not adhere to the top rollers 14 to 17
over a long period, and fibers do not collect on the tubular
clearers 32. As a result, the tubular clearers 32 are basically
maintenance-free and stabilize drafting. Further, sticky substances
included in cotton, such as honeydew, does not adhere to the top
rollers 14 to 17.
[0038] The advantages of the present embodiment will now be
described.
[0039] (1) The drafting unit cleaner 30 is a cleaner for a fiber
bundle feeder in a fore-spinning frame that nips and feeds strips
of fiber bundles using the top rollers 14 to 17 and the bottom
rollers 11 to 13. The drafting unit cleaner 30 includes the support
members 31, the tubular clearers 32, and the suction unit 33. The
support members 31 are located above the top rollers 14 to 17. The
tubular clearers 32 have an inner diameter that is greater than the
outer diameter of the support members 31. Each tubular clearer 32
is rotatable around the corresponding support member 31 by the
corresponding one of the top rollers 14 to 17 such that the tubular
clearer 32 is located at a position where the tubular clearer 32 is
in contact with the corresponding one of top rollers 14 to 17 and a
position where the tubular clearer 32 is separated from the
corresponding one of the top rollers 14 to 17. The tubular clearer
32 also block fibers. The suction unit 33 draws in the fibers that
have been blocked by the tubular clearer 32. Thus, the present
embodiment effectively limits the adherence of fibers to the top
rollers 14 to 17 with a simple structure. Thus, fibers do not
adhere to the top rollers 14 to 17 over a long period, and fibers
do not collect on the tubular clearers 32. Further, a sticky
substance included in cotton, such as honeydew, does not adhere to
the top rollers 14 to 17. This allows the cleaning mechanism of the
top rollers 14 to 17 to be maintenance-free.
[0040] (2) The tubular clearers 32 are made of rubber. This allows
the tubular clearers 32 to be lighter and produce an appropriate
friction resistance with the top rollers 14 to 17 compared to when
the tubular clearers 32 are made of metal, plastic, or paper.
[0041] (3) The drafting unit 10, which functions as a fiber bundle
feeder, includes a plurality of top rollers 14 to 17 including the
turning top roller 17. At least one of the tubular clearers 32 is
arranged at a position corresponding to the turning top roller 17.
Not every fiber bundle feeder includes the turning top roller 17,
and some devices move a strip of fiber bundle generally in one
direction. However, in a fiber bundle feeder including the turning
top roller 17, the turning top roller 17 tends to attract floating
fibers. The present embodiment effectively cleans the turning top
roller 17.
[0042] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
Particularly, it should be understood that the present invention
may be embodied in the following forms.
[0043] The circumferential surfaces of the tubular clearers 32 may
include frictional force variation structures that are arranged in
random positions. The frictional force variation structures vary
the frictional forces between the rotating tubular clearers 32 and
the top rollers 14 to 17. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the
frictional force variation structures may be through holes 32a
formed in the circumferential surfaces of the tubular clearers 32.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the frictional force variation
structures may be projections 32b formed on the circumferential
surfaces of the tubular clearers 32. In each tubular clearer 32
having the frictional force variation structures, the frictional
force between the section of the tubular clearer 32 that includes
the frictional force variation structures and the corresponding one
of the top rollers 14 to 17 differs from the frictional force
between the section of the tubular clearer 32 that do not includes
the variation structures and the corresponding top roller. Thus,
the tubular clearer 32 rotates irregularly. This allows fibers that
have been blocked by the tubular clearers 23 in cooperation with
the top rollers 14 to 17 to be easily separated from the top
rollers 14 to 17.
[0044] Instead of the through holes 32a, recesses may function as
the frictional force variation structures. That is, the frictional
force variation structures may be any openings formed in the
tubular clearers 32.
[0045] The material of the tubular clearer 32 is not limited to
rubber. The tubular clearer 32 may be made of metal, paper, or
plastic. If the frictional force on the surface of the tubular
clearer 32 is insufficient, a surface treatment may be applied to
the tubular clearer 32.
[0046] The support member 31 is not limited to a structure in which
a single bar extends through and supports the tubular clearer 32.
As long as the tubular clearer 32 is rotatably supported, the
support member 31 may have any structure. For example, the support
member 31 may support the opposite ends of the tubular clearer
32.
[0047] The material of the support member 31 is not limited to
metal. The support member 31 may be made of other materials such as
plastic, ceramic, or wood.
[0048] The cross-section of the portion of the support member 31
that comes into contact with the tubular clearer 32 is not limited
to circular. For example, the cross-section may be polygonal.
[0049] The drafting unit 10 does not have to include the turning
top roller 17.
[0050] The fiber bundle feeder is not limited to the one that forms
a portion of a drafting device and may be any device that functions
to deliver strips of fiber bundles. For example, the fiber bundle
feeder may include only one top roller and one bottom roller
arranged on the delivery path of strips of fiber bundles.
[0051] The suction ports 35a in the suction head 35 of the suction
unit 33 may be located only at positions facing the front top
roller 14 and the turning top roller 17 so that the suction effect
of the suction unit 33 acts only on the areas corresponding to the
front top roller 14 and the turning top roller 17. Adherence of
floating fibers and fleeces tends to occur on the front top roller
14 and the turning top roller 17. Depending on the type of fiber
that is drafted, drafting may be performed in a satisfactory manner
without arranging a dedicated suction portion for each of the
middle top roller 15 and the rear top roller 16.
[0052] The tubular clearer 32 may be arranged only at a position
facing the turning top roller 17 or only at positions facing the
turning top roller 17 and the front top roller 14. Conventional
cleaning devices, such as wiper bars, may be arranged at positions
corresponding to the middle top roller 15 and the rear top roller
16.
[0053] The fore-spinning frame is not limited to a comber and may
be any fore-spinning frame that includes a fiber bundle feeder,
which nips and delivers strips of fiber bundles using top and
bottom rollers. The present invention is applicable to drawing
frames, lap formers, and cards, for example.
[0054] The present examples and embodiments are to be considered as
illustrative and not restrictive and the invention is not to be
limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the
scope and equivalence of the appended claims.
* * * * *