CLEANER FOR FIBER BUNDLE FEEDER IN FORE-SPINNING FRAME

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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:

FIG. 1A is a schematic partial cutaway view of a drafting unit of one embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway plan view showing a turning top roller and a tubular clearer;

FIG. 3A is a schematic view showing the operation of the tubular clearer;

FIG. 3B is a schematic view showing the operation of the tubular clearer;

FIG. 4A is a schematic perspective view showing a tubular clearer in another embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a schematic perspective view showing a tubular clearer in a further embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing background art; and

FIG. 6 is a partially cross-sectional view showing other background art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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.

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.

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).

A drafting unit cleaner 30 is arranged above the drafting unit 10 to clean the top rollers 14 to 17.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The operation of the drafting unit cleaner 30 will now be described.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The advantages of the present embodiment will now be described.

(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.

(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.

(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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The drafting unit 10 does not have to include the turning top roller 17.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CLEANER FOR FIBER BUNDLE FEEDER IN FORE-SPINNING FRAME

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