US3601861A - Top comb mechanism of a combing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A top comb mechanism used for a combing machine wherein a ribbon for supporting combing needles is held tightly being sandwiched by a top comb plate and a fastener plate combined in a detachable pressure contact. The combing needles are bent towards a nip point of detaching rollers for closer approach thereto. A suitable elastic member is attached to the mechanism as a shock absorber of impact loading during combing action. Particularly designed lateral cross-sectional profile of the combing needles enables compulsive liberation of entangled fibers in the processed fiber mass.

Description

s tei 1,446,750 2/1923 Jolly 19/233 X 2,731,677 1/1956 Dudley 19/221 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,432,809 2/1966 France 19/129 16,530 12/1881 Germany 19/115 699,135 10/1953 Great Britain 19/129 Primary Examiner-Dorsey Newton Attorneys-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel]. Lobato ABSTRACT: A top comb mechanism used for a combing machine wherein a ribbon for supporting combing needles is held tightly being sandwiched by a top comb plate and a fastener plate combined in a detachable pressure contact The combing needles are bent towards a n'ip point of detaching rollers for closer approach thereto. A suitable elastic member is attached to the mechanism as a shock absorber of impact loading during combing action. Particularly designed lateral cross-sectional profile of the combing needles enables compulsive liberation of entangled fibers in the processed fiber PATENTEU AUB31 l9?!SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENTEU AUBB] l9?! SHEET 3 BF 3 'lltlill "CUMlll ll/illECllilANllSll/l till A C(llvllllllllhlt'l MAQllllllhllE The present invention relates to an improved top comb mechanism of a combing machine, more particularly it relates to a top comb mechanism wherein a ribbon having a plurality of combing needles of particular design is held in between a top comb plate and a fastener plate in a detachable pressurecontacting condition, the combing needles being bent towards a downstream direction of a fiber flow on the combing machine close to detaching rollers.

in the installation of the conventional top comb mechanism, it was first necessary to unit a plurality of combing needles in a parallel and adequately spaced arrangement by soldering, secondly forming a ribbon by soldering a metallic wire onto the above-united needles, thirdly to hold points of the combing needles of the ribbon by a suitable nipping device, to remove the soldered metallic wire, to seen the ribbon to a top comb plate by soldering, and lastly to release the combing needles from the grip by the nipping device.

in the case of the conventional top comb mechanism installed in the above-described manner, the soldered parts sometimes can not withstand impact or vibrant loadings applied to the combing needles during the combing operation due to resistance of the fibers in the fleece against combing actions. Besides, when any of the combing needles is accidentally broken, it is necessary to remove the broken comb ing needle by melting the soldered portion. This melting inevitably causes unexpected melting of the soldered portions of the neighboring combing needles resulting in undesirable disordering of the combing needles arrangement on the ribbon. in order to avoid this, it was necessary to replace the complete ribbon. Further, because the installation and removal of the ribbon required a highly specialized technique, it was usual to ask help of persons specially skilled in the art.

Aside from the above-described problems, there has been a general requirement for the construction of the top comb mechanism, that is, to locate the points of the top comb needles as adjacent to a nip point of the detaching rollers as possible for the purpose of effective and sufficient combing action on the processed fibers in the fleece.

One of the attempts to fulfill the requirement is given in the form of a bent needle, whose point is bent towards a downstream direction of a fibers flow on the combing machine. However, no method has been proposed for manufacturing the conventional-type bent combing needles in a simple way with low cost.

in another of the attempts, straight combing needles are disposed onto a downstream side surface of a top comb plate. In this construction, however, the combing needles are apt to receive a larger load by the detaching action of the detaching rollers than the combing needles disposed to the upstream side surface of the top comb plate. Application of such a large load on the combing needles is liable to produce undesirable breakage of the soldered portion of the combing needles.

Further, disposition of the combing needles on the downstream side surface of the top comb plate interferes with bringing the top comb mechanism closer to the nip point of the detaching rollers.

The well-known double-comb mechanism is another of the above-described attempts. In this mechanism, however, it is difficult to dispose both sides of combing needles to the top comb plate by soldering. Therefore, one-side combing needles may be affixed to the top comb plate by soldering and another side of the combing needles must be afiirted thereto by using suitable bonding agents. When, loading is applied to the litter combing needles during combing action, such alfixation by bonding agents is apt to be broken.

Most of the conventional-type combing needles are provided with lateral cross sections of a circular, elliptical or square profile. Because of such cross-sectional profiles, when the points of the combing needles are put into the mass of fibers in the processed fleece, the fibers are pushed downward escaping from the effective combing action by the needles.

Although a combing needle having a lateral cross section of a rhombic profile is proposed, foreign materials in the fiber mass are liable to pass through funnel-shaped clearances formed in between neighboring combing needles and a complete elimination of such foreign material from the processed .ti ass can not be expected.

A principal on t of the present invention is to provide a top comb rnccl. mam which can assure a stable and reliable combing action withstanding any kind of provable loading on combing needles without undesireable breakage of the combing needles arrnn went in the top comb mechanism.

Another object or the present invention is to provide a top comb mechanism wherein combing needles can be, both partly and as a whole, installed in or removed from the top comb mechanism by a simple maintenance operation without any provable disordering of the combing needles arrangement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a top comb mechanism wherein a complete and effective combing action on the processed fibers mass is attained by bringing points of the combing needles as close to the nip point of the detaching rollers as possible.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a top comb mechanism whose combing needles can be manufactured by a simple manner with a relatively low manufacturing cost.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a top comb mechanism which can hold the combing needles stably and flexibly under any combing condition with less application of soldering which often creates trouble in the top comb mechanism of the, conventional types.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a top comb mechanism which can assure complete elimination of foreign materials from the processed fiber mass together with effective prevention of the escape of fibers in the fleece from the combing needles resulting insufficient and effective cleaning and combing action of the combing machine.

ln conformity to the above-described objects, the top comb mechanism of the present invention comprises a ribbon for supporting a plurality of combing needles in a given arrangement, a top comb plate and a fastener plate for sandwiching the ribbon in a detachable pressure contact. Combination of the above-described three members can be realized by a suitable fastening means such as screws. Little soldering operation is required for assembling and combining the members together and disassembling of the combination can be done only by releasing the fastening means without any difficulty in the operation.

By making the fastener plate from suitable elastic material, the top comb mechanism can absorb impact loadings or shocks applied to the combing needles during the combing action. Such a shock-absorbing effect can also be provided by inserting a suitable thin elastic layer in between the fastener plate and the top comb plate.

Points of the combing needles may be bent towards a downstream direction of a fiber flow on the combing machine so as to be located close to a nip point ofthe detaching rollers.

A cross-sectional profile of the combing needles may be so selected as to differ from the conventional circular, elliptical, or square ones. Because of a particular cross-sectlonal profile of the combing needles as described later, provable escaping tendency of the processing fibers from the combing needles can be effectively prevented and erroneous passing clearance between neighboring combing needles. can be effectively prevented, also.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become in apparent from the ensuing descriptions, reference being made to the accompanying drawings; wherein lFlG. 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a combing needle usable for the top comb mechanism of the present invention, FIG. RE is a perspective view of a modification of the combing needle shown in FIG. 1A,

FIG. 2 is a perspective representation for showing a manufacturing of the combing needles shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B from a shaped plate,

FIGS. 3A and 3B are front and side views of a ribbon containing the combing needles shown in FIGS. 1A or 13,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fastener plate usable for the top comb mechanism of the present invention in combination with the ribbon shown in FIGS. 3A and 38,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a top comb plate adapted for combination with the fastener plate shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a partly sectional side view of the top comb plate shown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is partly sectional side view of the top comb mechanism of the invention,

FIGS. 8A and 8B are plan and side views of another embodiment of the combing needles usable for the top comb mechanism of the present invention, respectively,

FIGS. 9A and 9B are explanatory drawings for showing combing action of the combing needles shown in FIGS. 8A and 88,

FIG. 10 is a skeleton sketch of the top comb mechanism of the present invention disposed in an ordinary combing machine.

Referring to FIG. 1A, an embodiment of the combing needle of the present invention is shown. A combing needle 1 is I composed of an upper portion 1a adapted for being held by a needle bed, a point portion lb adapted for combing fibers and a horizontal portion 1c for connecting the two portions la and lb. When required, one surface of the point portion lb may be sharpened as shown in FIG. 1B for the purpose of a better combing action. Although the combing needle 1 is shown in the drawings with enlarged dimensions for the purpose of better understanding, the actual combing needle 1 is usually provided with a thickness which is thin but thick enough to withstand loading by the combing action. The combing needle 1 of this structure can be easily produced merely by slicing ashaped plate 2 shown in FIG. 2 at a given width into individual plate-shaped pieces as shown with dotted lines in the drawing. It will be well understood by persons skilled in the art that this manufacturing method of the bent combing needles 1 of the presentinvention can be carried out far more easily than the conventional manner of manufacturing wherein the combing needles are formed by bending a rod is desired. In case the combing needle 1 shown in FIG. 1B is required, the shapedplate 2 may be milled along the dotted lines in the drawing on thesurface 2a prior to slicing the shapedplate 2 into plateshaped pieces.

Next, a plurality of thus formed combing needles 1 are disposed at the upper portions 1a thereof to aneedle bed 3 in a parallel-spaced arrangement forming aribbon 4 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. This disposition of the combing needles can be done by any of the known methods such is soldering or bonding by suitable bonding agents. In the above-described arrangement of the ribbon, it is advisable to make the downstream side surfaces of the point portions lb of the combing needles 1 approximately parallel to a downstream side surface of theneedle bed 3. It is also advisable to divide theribbon 4 into several groups. By doing this, when any of the combing needles is worn out or broken by repeating combing actions or combing actions under severe conditions, replacement of the combing needles can be done by replacing only that group of the ribbon whereto the broken or worn out combing needles belong.

Referring to FIG. 4, an embodiment of the fastener plate of the present invention is shown in a condition assembled with the above-describedribbon 4. Thefastener plate 5 is so constructed as to be receptive of the upper portion of theribbon 4 at its lower portion. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, thefastener plate 5 is provided with a lowerlateral recess 6 for receiving theupper portions 12 of the combing needles I and abottom portion 7 adapted for partly supporting the point portions 1b of the combing needles I. On the surface of thefastener plate 5 receiving theribbon 4, there are located more than oneprotuberance 8 having threaded recesses 9. Theprotuberances 8 are located spacedly and laterally on the surface above therecess 6 of theplate 5 receptive of theribbon 4.

A top comb plate 11 adapted for combination with theribbon 4 and thefastener plate 5 is shown in FIG. 5, wherein the top comb plate 11 is provided with a steppedbottom portion 12 adapted for receiving the upper portion of theribbon 4. Above this stepped bottom portion, more than oneperforation 13 is formed through the top comb plate 11. As theperforations 13 are adapted, as is later described in detail, for receiving theprotuberances 8 of thefastener plate 5, the number and location of the perforation should be so selected as to conform to those of theprotuberances 8 in a combined arrangement of thefastener plate 5 with the top comb plate 1 l.

A detailed view of theperforation 13 is shown in FIG. 6, wherein theperforation 13 is composed of aperforation 13a of smaller diameter and aperforation 13b of larger diameter connected to thesmall perforation 13a. The reason for the difference in the perforation diameters will be made clear in the ensuing description.

Referring to FIG. 7, a combined arrangement of theribbon 4 with the top comb plate 11 and thefastener plate 5 is shown. In this combined arrangement, thefastener plate 5 is assembled with the top comb plate 1 1 sandwiching theribbon 4. Theprotuberances 8 of thefastener plate 5 are inserted into the correspondingsmall diameter perforations 13a of the top comb plate 11. From the side of thelarge diameter perforations 13b, screws 14 are threaded into the screwed recesses 9 of theprotuberances 8 for the fast combination of the twoplates 5 and 11. The dimensions of thescrew 14 should be so selected that the diameter of thehead 14a of thescrew 14 is at least larger than the diameter of the small diameter perforation 130, that the thickness of thehead 14a does not exceed the depth of thelarge diameter perforation 13b and that the length of the screwed portion 14b of thescrew 14 does not exceed the depth of the receiving screwed recesses 9.

The top comb mechanism of the present invention is disposed on the combing machine with its top comb plate side facing the detaching rollers, that is the offset of the lower por tion of the combing needle relative to the upper portion is in a direction downstream of the fiber flow on the combing machine.

The above-described ribbon-holding mechanism of the present invention is applicable not only to bent needles but also to straight combing needles with small mechanical modifications. Further, the above-described held-fast combination of the twoplates 5 and 11 can be also attained by forming theprotuberances 8 on the top comb plate 11 and theperforations 13 though the fastener plate. Any type of a known fastening mechanism can be applied to the combination of the twoplates 5 and 11 so far as it assures a tight-holding condition of theribbon 4 sandwiched by the twoplates 5 and 11.

Disassembling of the top comb mechanism can be easily done only by loosening thescrew 14 and drawing out theprotuberances 8 from theperforations 13 No trouble exists in the replacement of the wornout or broken combing needles.

As is well known, impact loadings or shocks are often unexpectedly applied to the combing needles during their combing actions. Loading of this nature oftentimes causes breakage of the mechanism holding the combing needles. So, it is desirable to absorb such a loading for the protection of the machine parts related to the combing needles.

In the construction of the top comb mechanism of the present invention, this shock-absorbing function can be presented by using thefastener plate 5 made up of elastic materials. For this purpose, it is also advisable to insert anelastic layer 25 in between thefastener plate 5 and the top comb plate 11.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, another embodiment of the combing needle 1 usable for the top comb mechanism of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the point portion lb of the combing needle l is composed of threeportions 101, 102 and M13. The portion llllll has a lateral cross section of a square profile and is connected to the horizontal portion 10. Theportion 102 forming a succession of the portion Mill is provided with a lateral cross section of trapezoid profile with its shorter side surface converging towards the portion 1W3. From the apex of the converging shorter side surface theportion 103 starts and is provided with a cross section of a triangular profile.

The combing needles 1 thus shaped are disposed in the top comb mechanism of the present invention in such a manner that, when the combing needles penetrate the fiber mass flowing toward a direction shown with arrows in lFlGS. 9A and 9B, the apex of the triangular profile of the portion W3 is directed towards the flowing direction of the fiber mass as shown in FIG. 9A and the shorter side surface of the portion ill 2 is directed in the same direction as shown in FlG. @B.

Because of the above-described particular design of the combing needles the clearances between the neighboring combing needles becomes smaller as they approach theportions 102 and Ml. Consequently, the combing needles ll can penetrate deeply into the fiber mass due to the forwardly sharpened shape of the portion W3 while the liberation of in dividual fibers from random entanglement in the fiber mass can be effectively accomplished because of the progressively narrow clearance between the neighboring combing needles l in the region of the portion W2.

Referring to FIG. lit), the top comb mechanism lllllll of the present invention is shown in a condition disposed in between the. nipper mechanism lllll and the detaching roller mechanism M2 on an ordinary combing machine. in this arrangement, either the fastener plate and the nipper plate can be arranged facing the detaching roller mechanism llll2 so far as the needles l are biased towards the detaching roller mechanism i112. The fibers llllll are combed by the top comb mechanism ill) of the present invention while being trans ported form the nipper mechanism llllll towards the detaching roller mechanism 11112 as is shown with arrows in the drawing.

What is claimed is:

ll. An improved top comb mechanism of a combing machine, comprising a ribbon including a needle bed and a plurality of combing needles laterally disposed on said needle bed in a parallel-spaced arrangement, a laterally extending top comb plate with its lower portion contacting one surface of an upper portion of said ribbon, a laterally extending fastener plate with its lower portion contacting another surface of said upper portion of said ribbon in an arrangement sandwiching said upper portion of said ribbon with said top comb plate and means for securing said top comb plate with said fastener plate in a detachable pressure contact each said combing needle having an upward portion the lateral cross section of which is of trapezoid profile with its shorter side surface directed downstream of the fiber flow on said combing machine and a point portion the lateral cross section of which is of triangular profile with one apex directed downstream of said fiber flow on said combing machine.

An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said securing means is one or more screws having heads and threaded portions protruding from said head.

An improved top comb mechanism as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said fastener plate is provided with more than one protuberance having threaded recesses receptive of said threaded potions of said screws and located spacedly and laterally on a surface thereof adapted for contact with said top comb plate, said top comb plate being provided with more than one laterally and spacedly located perforation receptive of said protuberances of said fastener plate and of said heads of said screws.

An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim 1,

' wherein said fastener plate is made of'an elastic material.

5. An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim ll, further comprising an elastic layer inserted in between said top comb plate and said fastener late.

. An improved top comb mec anism as claimed in claim 1,

wherein each said combing needle includes an upper portion being disposed on said needle bed and a point portion downwardly extending from said upper portion in a condition offset in a downstream direction of a fiber flow on said combing machine, said point portion is approximately parallel to a downstream side surface of said needle bed,and a lateral cross section of said needle is of a noncircular profile.

"7. An improved top comb mechanism of a combing machine comprising a plurality of like needles of noncircular cross section each having a lower pointed portion, an upper portion offset from said lower portion and a transverse portion connecting said lower and upper portions and forming a shoulder disposed at an angle to said upper and lower portions, a needle bar on which said needles are assembled in spaced-apart relation, said needle bar being received in the angle between said upper portion and said shoulder and engaging said upper portion and said transverse portion of each said needle, means bonding said needles to said needle bar, a top comb plate having along a longitudinal lower edge a recess receiving said needle bar with the needles bonded thereto, a fastener plate having spaced from a longitudinal lower edge a channel receiving said upper portions of said needles and having a bottom lip portion that extends under said transverse portions of the needles and engages adjacent parts of said lower portions of the needles, and securing means for drawing said plates together to clamp the assembled needles and needle bar between them.

55. An improved top comb mechanism according toclaim 7, wherein one said plates has internally threaded hollow protuberances extending in the direction of the other plate and said other plate has perforations receiving said protuberances, said securing means comprising screws extending through said perforations and screwed into said internally threaded protuberances.

Claims (8)

1. An improved top comb mechanism of a combing machine, comprising a ribbon including a needle bed and a plurality of combing needles laterally disposed on said needle bed in A parallel-spaced arrangement, a laterally extending top comb plate with its lower portion contacting one surface of an upper portion of said ribbon, a laterally extending fastener plate with its lower portion contacting another surface of said upper portion of said ribbon in an arrangement sandwiching said upper portion of said ribbon with said top comb plate and means for securing said top comb plate with said fastener plate in a detachable pressure contact each said combing needle having an upward portion the lateral cross section of which is of trapezoid profile with its shorter side surface directed downstream of the fiber flow on said combing machine and a point portion the lateral cross section of which is of triangular profile with one apex directed downstream of said fiber flow on said combing machine.

2. An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said securing means is one or more screws having heads and threaded portions protruding from said head.

3. An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fastener plate is provided with more than one protuberance having threaded recesses receptive of said threaded potions of said screws and located spacedly and laterally on a surface thereof adapted for contact with said top comb plate, said top comb plate being provided with more than one laterally and spacedly located perforation receptive of said protuberances of said fastener plate and of said heads of said screws.

4. An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastener plate is made of an elastic material.

5. An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elastic layer inserted in between said top comb plate and said fastener plate.

6. An improved top comb mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said combing needle includes an upper portion being disposed on said needle bed and a point portion downwardly extending from said upper portion in a condition offset in a downstream direction of a fiber flow on said combing machine, said point portion is approximately parallel to a downstream side surface of said needle bed, and a lateral cross section of said needle is of a noncircular profile.

7. An improved top comb mechanism of a combing machine comprising a plurality of like needles of noncircular cross section each having a lower pointed portion, an upper portion offset from said lower portion and a transverse portion connecting said lower and upper portions and forming a shoulder disposed at an angle to said upper and lower portions, a needle bar on which said needles are assembled in spaced-apart relation, said needle bar being received in the angle between said upper portion and said shoulder and engaging said upper portion and said transverse portion of each said needle, means bonding said needles to said needle bar, a top comb plate having along a longitudinal lower edge a recess receiving said needle bar with the needles bonded thereto, a fastener plate having spaced from a longitudinal lower edge a channel receiving said upper portions of said needles and having a bottom lip portion that extends under said transverse portions of the needles and engages adjacent parts of said lower portions of the needles, and securing means for drawing said plates together to clamp the assembled needles and needle bar between them.

8. An improved top comb mechanism according to claim 7, wherein one said plates has internally threaded hollow protuberances extending in the direction of the other plate and said other plate has perforations receiving said protuberances, said securing means comprising screws extending through said perforations and screwed into said internally threaded protuberances.

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