GB2043129A - Method of combing a fibrous web and apparatus for performing this method - Google Patents

Abstract

Lengths of fibrous web A are separated periodically from the leading end of the web and the fibres forming the trailing end B of the separated length and the new leading end of web A are combed simultaneously and by common combing members (17) carried on an endless chain conveyor (4). The separating mechanism 3 and a conveyor (12) of a sliver forming device are located within the closed conveyor path. Gaps (18) are provided between the combing members to allow the web A to pass to the separating mechanism. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of combing a fibrous web and apparatus for performing this method The present invention is concerned with the treatment of a fibrous web in which lengths of web are separated and combed.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a method of treating a fibrous web, wherein successive lengths of the fibrous web are separated periodically from the leading end thereof, and during each said separation step the fibres which form the trailing end of the separated length and the new leading end of the web are combed simultaneously and by a common combing device.

With this method the time required for performing a single combing cycle is significantly shortened, whereby it becomes possible to increase the number of such cycles performed within a unit of time, to as many as 400 cycles per minute or more. Furthermore, it becomes possible to comb fibrous webs or laps of a higher linear density.

The invention also provides an apparatus for use in performing the method comprising a feed device for feeding a fibrous web, clamping means for clamping the web, separating means for separating a length of the fibrous web from the leading edge thereof when the web is clamped by the clamping means, a combing device including an endless conveyor extending around a closed path including a part between the clamping means and separating means, and combing members carried by the conveyor and having teeth protruding on both the inner and outer sides of the conveyor at an acute angle to the direction of conveyor travel during travel of the combing members along said closed path part for combing members to comb web portions between the clamping means and the separating means, the combing members being spaced apart around the conveyor to define gaps therebetween through which the web may pass to the separating means, and means for forming a combed sliver from the separated and combed lengths of web including a conveyor with a part located within the closed path for receiving the web fibres.

This arrangement of the combing teeth enhances the retention of the ends of the fibres being combed in the teeth of the successive combs during the combing, which improves the combing quality and makes it possible to comb a fibrous web of a high linear density, owing to the better utilization of the entire length of the working portions of the needles making up the combs.

With the combing teeth protruding on both the inner and outer sides of the endless conveyor, it is possible, while separating a portion from the web, to comb simultaneously the leading ends of the fibres within the web and of the trailing ends of the fibres within a separated portion.

Furthermore, the disclosed arrangement of the components of the apparatus makes it possible to comb fibres of different lengths and to reduce the amount of short fibres falling through and wasted.

With the proposed method and apparatus for combing a fibrous web it is possible to step up the productivity of the process two to threefold, and also to improve significantly the combining quality, with fibrous webs of greater linear densities being treated, and the frequency of separating individual portions or amounts of combed fibres increased to 400 cycles per minute or more.

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description which follows, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 schematically illustrates the proposed method of combing a fibrous web; Figure 2 shows a combing machine, with but a single apparatus for combing a fibrous web shown for clarity sake; Figure 3 shows on an enlarged scale a portion of the endless conveyer; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a strip of the combing member.

The proposed method of combing a fibrous web, or feed lap is performed, as follows.

A fibrous web A (Fig. 1) continuously fed by a feed mechanism 1 passes through a mechanism 2 for periodically clamping the web A and advances therefrom into a mechanism 3 for separating successive amounts or portions B of the fibres from the fibrous web A. As the fibrous web A periodically emerges from the mechanism 2, it is acted upon by the combing mechanism 4 which combs the fibres, with the combing of the leading ends of the fibres in a portion being effected within the fibrous web A, and the combing of the trailing ends of the fibres being effected already within the separated portion B.In accordance with the invention, the combing of the leading ends of the fibres of a portion within the fibrous web A and of the trailing ends of the fibres within the portion B is effected simultaneously by the same combing mechanism 4, in the process of the separation of the portion B from the fibrous web A. The combed portions B of the fibres are formed into a combed sliver C.

To perform the proposed method, there is proposed a combing machine having a framework 5 (Fig. 2) supporting a plurality of the combing apparatus embodying the invention.

The actual number of such apparatus in the combing machine is selected to correspond to the required linear density of the combed sliver C formed of the combed portions B.

Each apparatus for combing a fibrous web comprises, successively arranged in the direction of the advance of the fibrous web A, a device 1 for feeding the fibrous web A, in cluding a mechanism 2 for periodically clamp ing the web A, the device and the mechanism being of any suitable known per se structure, a combing mechanism 4, a mechanism 3 for separating successive amounts or portions of the fibres from the fibrous web or lap A, and a mechanism 6 for forming the combed portions B of the fibres into a combed sliver C.

All the abovespecified mechanisms of each apparatus are operatively interconnected in any suitable known per se fashion for timed operation and are driven from a common drive, also of any suitable known per se structure, not shown in the drawings.

As one of the suitable known per se structures, there is shown in Fig. 2 the device 1 for feeding the fibrous web A, including two successively arranged pairs 7 and 8 of feed rollers, and an apron 9 mounted for horizontal reciprocation in a horizontal plane under the pair 8 of the feed rollers. The mechanism 2 (Fig. 1) for periodically clamping the fibrous web A is in the form of nippers, with the reciprocable top nipper 10 and a stationary bottom nipper 11.

The known per se mechanism 3 for separating successive amounts or portions of the fibres includes a pair of pull-out cylinders of a known structure rotatable at a permanent angular speed. The known per se mechanism 6 (Fig. 2) for forming the combed sliver includes a conveyer 1 2 of a known structure, a drafing head 1 3 and a coiler 14.

The combing mechanism 4 (Figs. 1 and 2) includes a contionuously movable endless conveyer 4a which is closed in a vertical plane and includes two endless flexible traction members, e.g. chains, toothed belts, etc. running about guide sprockets 1 5 spaced from one another to define an open space 1 6 intermediate the opposite runs of the endless conveyer 4a.

This open space 1 6 intermediate the runs of the endless conveyer 4a accommodates the mechanism 3 for separating portions of the fibres and the conveyer 1 2 of the sliverforming mechanism 6, with one of the runs of the endless conveyer 4a extending intermediate the mechanism 2 for periodically clamping the fibrous web and the portion-separating mechanism 3.

The endless traction members of the endless conveyer 4a have mounted thereon, both on the inner and outer sides of the conveyer 4a, as it is shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a succession of combing members 17, with these combing members 1 7 both on the inner and outer sides of the conveyer 4a being spaced to define therebetween through-going windows 1 8 for the passage therethrough of the apron 9 with the fibrous web, i.e. with the combed leading ends of the fibres of the portion-to-be.

Each combing member 1 7 (Figs. 3 and 4) is made up of several strips 1 9 having the combing clothing or needles mounted thereon. Each strip 19 of the combing mem ber 1 7 is pivotally mounted on the endless conveyer 4a and is provided with cams 1 9a adapted to run in guideways 20, whereby the strips 1 9 are pivotable under the action of these guideways 20 into the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The guideways 20 are mounted along the portion of the path of the strips 19, running past a device 21 for clean ing the clothing or needles of the combing members 1 7 from foreign matter and short fibres.

The clothing or needles of each combing member 17, both on the inner and outer sides of the endless conveyer 4a, is included with respect to the conveyer 4a at an acute angle in the direction of its motion, as it can be seen in Fig. 1, whereby, with the endless conveyer 4a moving, the combing members 1 7 act upon the fibres of the web and of its separated portion in the downward direction.

The spacing of the needles of the successive strips 1 9 of each combing member 1 7 diminishes in the direction opposite to that of the motion of the endless conveyer 4a, as it is shown in Fig. 3.

The device 21 (Fig. 2) for cleaning the needles of the combing members 1 7 is of a known per se structure and includes a brush roller 22, a fillet roll 23, a removable comb 24 and bins 25 and 26. For the successive strips 1 9 to be cleaned, the cams 1 9a of the strips 1 9 of the combing members 1 7 on the endless conveyer 4a are made to enter the guideways 20, for the strips 1 9 to be pivoted into the position illustrated in Fig. 1, whereby the needles of the combing members 1 7 on both the inner and outer sides of the conveyer 4a engages the brush roller 22 and are cleaned by its action.

The space between the periodic clamping mechanism 2 and the portion-separating mechanism 3, as well as the size of the through-going openings or windows 1 8 between the combing members 1 7 and the speed of the endless conveyer 4a are selected to correspond to the linear density of the fibrous web A and the length of the fibres in this web. It should be understood that the apparatus for combing a fibous web, embodying the present invention, is complete with every necessary means of a known per se structure for making the apparatus operable in an automatic mode.

The apparatus for combing a fibrous web operates, as follows.

The device 1 continuously feeds the fibrous web A into the periodic clamping mechanism 2.

When the nippers open, the apron 9 engages the end of the web A, projecting from the nippers 10, 11 and advances it through the window 18 in the endless conveyer 4a toward the mechanism 3 for separating a portion of the fibres. The lap of the web A is taken up by the cylinders of the pull-out couple, the apron 9 retracts into its idle position, and the first row of the needles of the combing members 1 7 on the inner and outer sides of the endless conveyer 4a enter the portion of the fibrous web A between the cylinders of the pull-out couple and the nippers 10, 11, and drag the fibrous web A into the combing area through the length corresponding to the linear feed rate.The nippers 10, 11, close, and with the endless conveyer 4a moving further on, the portion B of the fibres becomes separated from the fibrous web A, with the simultaneous combing of the leading ends of the fibres within the feed web or lap A, and of the trailing ends of the fibres within the portion B. In this way there is effected the separation of the portion B of the fibres from the fibrous web A and the simultaneous combing of the leading ends of the fibres of the successive portion, which are still within the fibrous web A, and of the trailing ends of the preceding portion of the fibres, already separated from the web A.

With the endless conveyer 4a moving on, the combing members 1 7 on both the inner and outer sides of the conveyer 4a are pivoted by the guideway 20 into a position facilitating their cleaning (as it can be seen in Fig. 1) by engagement with the brush roller 22. The foreign matter is dumped into the bin 25, while short fibres are taken up by the fillet roller 23, to be removed therefrom by the comb 24 and directed into the waste bin 26.

Claims (6)

1. A method of treating a fibrous web, wherein successive lengths of the fibrous web are separated periodically from the leading end thereof, and during each said separation step the fibres which form the trailing end of the separated length and the new leading end of the web are combed simultaneously and by a common combing device.

2. An apparatus for use in performing the method of claim 1, comprising a feed device for feeding a fibrous web, clamping means for clamping the web, separating means for separating a length of the fibrous web from the leading edge thereof when the web is clamped by the clamping means, a combing device including an endless conveyor extending around a closed path including a part between the clamping means and separating means, and combing members carried by the conveyor and having teeth protruding on both the inner and outer sides of the conveyor at an acute angle to the direction of conveyor travel during travel of the combing members along said closed path part for said combing members to comb web portions between the clamping means and the separating means, the combing members being spaced apart around the conveyor to define gaps therebetween through which the web may pass to the spearating means, and means for forming a combed sliver from the separated and combed lengths of web including a conveyor with a part located within the closed path for receiving the web fibres.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said endless conveyor closed path is in a vertical plane, and said combing members travel downwardly along said part of the closed path.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the combing members are pivotally connected to said endless conveyor.

5. A method of combing a fibrous web, substantially as herein described.

6. An apparatus for combing a fibrous web, substantially as herein described with reference to the appended drawings.