Title of Invention

AN IMPROVED DRIVE SYSTEM FOR A COMBING MACHINE

Abstract

The invention disclosed in this applications relates to an improved drive system for driving the delivery end components of a combing machine, namely drafting rollers coiler and can plate , comprising a gear box unit with one input shaft and two out put shafts, the input shaft of the gear box unit placed parallel to the axis of the drafting rollers and drivingly connected to an intermediate shaft driven by the drafting arrangement drive system, the out put shafts of the gear box unit placed parallel to the coiler and can plate axes and drivingly connected to drive the coiler and can plate; the drafting rollers being driven by a known timing belt drive arrangement.

Full Text

Field of Invention This invention relates to an improved drive system for a combing machine. This invention particularly relates to an improved driving system for the drafting, coiler and can plate of a combing machine. Combing machines are very well known . A typical combing machine consists of rows of combing heads disposed along a longitudinal axis and with a drafting arrangement for receiving and drafting the sliver from the combing heads. Normally the drafting arrangement consists of drafting rollers which are arranged approximately horizontally and at right angles to the longitudinal axis or direction of row of the combing heads . A can plate is also provided for mounting a sliver can to receive the drafted sliver from the drafting arrangement as well as a funnel wheel for directing the drafted slivers from the drafting arrangement into the sliver can. Further the can plate and the funnel wheel are mounted in such a way to rotate about the vertical axis. An embodiment of such a device has been described in the German patent no OS 4119877 The drive for such a combing machine has employed a main drive shaft which extents parallel to the longitudinal direction of the combing heads. In order to drive the various components of the delivery end such as drafting rollers, coiler and can plate, drive devices with several direction changes of 90 deg. each have been used. Such drive arrangements are relatively complex and expensive. It is complex because for driving the delivery end drive element, gear wheels arranged at an angle 90 degrees to the combing heads , which comprises for example ,several angular gears. Another relatively simple transmission system for driving the components of a combing machine has been disclosed in the US patent no 5,502,875 The combing machine disclosed in the US patent comprises a row of combing heads disposed along a longitudinal axis to deliver slivers therefrom ; a drafting arrangement for receiving and drafting slivers from the said combing heads, said drafting arrangement including a plurality of horizontal cylinders disposed transversely of said longitudinal axis ; a can plate for mounting a sliver can thereon to receive drafted sliver from said drafting arrangement, said can plate being rotatable about a vertical axis; a funnel wheel for directing drafted sliver from said drafting arrangement into a sliver can on said can plate ,said funnel wheel being rotatable about said vertical axis ; a main drive shaft extending parallel to said longitudinal axis; a drafting arrangement drive shaft parallel to and drivingly connected to said cylinders of said drafting arrangement; a vertical drive shaft parallel to said vertical axis and drivingly connected to said can plate and said funnel wheel; a first V drive drivingly connecting said main drive shaft to said drafting arrangement drive shaft; said V drive including a crossed tooth belt for transmitting a drive force from said main drive shaft to said drafting arrangement drive shaft ;, a transfer shaft parallel to and drivingly connected to said drafting arrangement drive shaft and a second V drive drivingly connecting the said transfer shaft to said vertical drive shaft , said second V drive including a crossed toothed belt for transmitting a drive force from said transfer shaft to said vertical shaft which drives the coiler and can plate. For details the patent may be referred to . It is stated in the US patent that the above construction of the combing machine has resulted in making the combing machine simple and inexpensive . In addition it has also been stated that the combing machine provides a transmission which is subject to relatively lesser backlash due to the usage of timing belt drive. In yet another type of a known combing machine, one bevel gear pair is incorporated for driving the drafting rollers of the drafting system through a spur gear train and another spur train from a drive shaft , drivingly connected to a worm and worm wheel transferring the drive to the coiler and the calendar rollers through a cordon shaft. In the above system the coiler is driven by epicyclic gear train, which imposed a limitation to the speed of the coiler. Such limitation of the speed of the coiler results in reduced production of the machine consequently effecting the efficiency of the machine . Further the system comprises more number of relatively heavier moving parts , creating more inertial load consequently requiring consumption of more power making the system un economical. In addition the drive being open the lubrication of the machine becomes difficult, resulting in wear and tear of the gears . Also such arrangement produces more noise. In yet another known combing machine, one bevel gear pair is incorporated for driving the rear rollers of the drafting system and another bevel gear and timing belt drive is provided through a gear train for driving the first roller of the drafting system and the drafting calendar rollers. The drive from the gear train is also taken via another timing belt to the input shaft of the gearbox, which is perpendicular to both drafting rollers and can plate axis. From the gearbox ,drive is taken thro bevel gear pair via a vertical shaft, arranged perpendicular to the drafting rollers and parallel to the axes of coiler and can plate, the coiler being driven by timing belt arrangement. Another drive shaft of the gearbox, which is parallel to the axes of coiler and can plate ,driven by worm and worm wheel of the gear box , drives the can plate through pulleys and belt. In this system the bevel gear at the input end requires not only frequent lubrication but also produces more noise. Therefore it is not possible to use this drive system in high speed combers. In addition since the drive being open causes difficulties in lubricating, resulting in wear and tear of gears, resulting in the maintenance of the machine very difficult. Due to the advancement of the technology and the availability of high speed and rapidly spinning machines it has become necessary that appropriate improvements have also to be made on various aspects of the machines especially in the driving system of the combing machine Under the above said circumstances regular work is being conducted to find out better means of driving the components of the combing machine to make it simple efficient and cost effective . From the above survey of prior art it can be observed that developmental are being undertaken in the above mentioned direction Objectives of the invention: It is therefore the main objective of the present invention to provide an improved driving system for driving delivery end components such as drafting rollers, coiler and can plate of a combing machine. Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved driving system for driving the delivery end components of a combing machine which is simple , efficient and cost effective. Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved driving system for driving the delivery end components of a combing machine which has minimum number of drives thereby reducing the manufacturing and maintenance costs. » The above objectives have been achieved according to the present invention by developing an improved drive system for coiler and can plate and combining the system with a known drive system used for driving the drafting rollers. Detailed description of the Invention A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs 1 & 2 of the drawings accompanying this specification . In the drawings, Fig 1 represents the drive system according to the invention. Fig. 2 represents the conveyor belt arrangement, including drive ,for the transfer of sliver from the calendar roller region to the delivery calendar zone according to the present invention. Accordingly the invention provides an improved drive system for a combing machine comprising plurality of combing heads and a main drive shaft arranged in horizontal plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of combing heads, drafting arrangement with drafting rollers placed horizontally with their axes arranged perpendicular to the axis of said main drive shaft ,a coiler and a can plate which are rotatable in their vertical planes about an axis perpendicular to said drafting rollers ,the said coiler and the said can plate being drivingly connected to the drafting arrangement drive characterized in that between the said main drive shaft and drafting rollers there is located a first drive comprising of pulleys, deflection pulleys, crossed toothed belt, one of the pulleys being fixed to the said drive shaft and the other pulley being fixed to the drafting arrangement drive shaft and a second drive comprising of a gear box unit whose input shaft drivingly connected to an intermediate shaft the said gear box unit being further provided with a first out put shaft drivingly connected to said can plate and the second out put shaft drivingly connected to the said coiler. The invention will be now described in detail as follows: (i) a first drive adopted for drivingly connecting the main drive shaft(l)of a combing machine and to a drafting arrangement drive shaft (2), the first drive having a crossed toothed belt (6 ) for transmitting a drive force from said main drive shaft to said drafting arrangement drive shaft through the timing belt pulley (3) , two deflection pulleys (5) and the timing belt pulley (4) (ii) the drafting arrangement drive shaft (2 ) being connected parallel to and drivingly to drafting rollers( ( 11,12,13,14,.& 15 ) (iii)the timing belt pulley (4) disposed on the drafting arrangement drive shaft (2) being connected parallel to and drivingly to the drafting rollers ( 11,12,13,14,.& 15 ) (iv) the drafting arrangement drive shaft (2) driving a drive shaft (8) through a further timing belt(10) and timing belt pulleys (7&9) (v) the drive shaft (8) being also fixed parallel to the drafting rollers ( 11,12,13,14,.& 15) and carrying timing belt pulleys ( 9,23,30) (vi) the drive shaft (8) being also connected through the timing belt (26) and timing belt pulleys (23,25), driving another drive shaft (24) being also disposed parallel to the drafting rollers (11,12,13,14,15), and carrying timing belt pulleys (21,27) (vii) the timing belt pulley (21) being fixed on the drive shaft (24), through timing belt (28) and timing belt pulleys (16,17) driving the drafting rollers (11,12) (viii) a timing belt (29) being drivingly connected to the timing belt pulleys (27,18,19) driven by drive shaft (24), driving the drafting rollers (13,14) (ix) a timing belt pulley (30) being driven by drive shaft (8) driving the timing belt pulley (32) attached to an intermediate shaft (31) through the timing belt (34), the intermediate shaft (31) being placed parallel to the drafting rollers (11,12,13,14,15) (x) a timing belt pulley (20) being mounted on the drafting roller (15) and driveably connected to timing belt pulley (33) (xi) the timing belt pulley (33) being disposed on the other end of the intermediate shaft (31) driving the drafting roller (15) through the timing belt (36) and the timing belt pulley (20) (xii) a second drive drivingly connecting the said intermediate shaft (31) to the input shaft( 37 ) of the gear box unit ( GB ) being placed parallel to the above said drafting rollers and perpendicular to a coiler (42) and a can plate (50) (xiii) the coiler (42 ) being provided perpendicularly to the drafting rollers and fixed to the frame of the machine for directing drafted sliver from said drafting arrangement into a sliver can ( SC ) said coiler being rotatable about its vertical axis (xiv) the can plate ( 50 ) being also fixed to the frame of the machine for mounting a sliver can (SC) thereon to receive drafted sliver from said drafting arrangement, said can plate being rotatable about a vertical axis (xv) the said timing belt pulley (33) driving the input shaft (37) through timing belt (36) and the timing belt pulley (35) (xvi) a gear box unit (GB ) having one input shaft (37) parallel to the drafting rollers and two out put shafts (40,47) perpendicular to drafting rollers and parallel to the axis of the coiler (42 ) and the can plate (50) (xvii) a Bevel gear (38) being attached to the input shaft (37) of the gear box unit driving the bevel gear (39) attached to the out put shaft (40) of the gear box unit , fixed perpendicular to the axis of the drafting arrangement and parallel to coiler and the can plate (xviii) a timing belt pulley (41) being driven by the out put shaft (40) of the gear box unit driving the coiler (42) via the timing belt (43) and the timing belt pulley (44) (xix) a worm (45) mounted on the input shaft (37) of the gear box unit driving the wbrm-wheel (46) and the drive transmitted to another out put shaft (47) of the gear box unit through gear trains (48,49), the out put shaft (47) of the gear box unit being also connected perpendicular to the axis if the drafting rollers and parallel to the out put shaft (40) of the gear box unit. (xx) the out put shaft (47) of the gear box unit driving the can plate (50) through 'V belt (51) via V belt pulleys (52,53). (xxi) a delivery calendar roller (54), which drives another delivery calendar roller(54a) to facilitate the transfer of the sliver to the coiler (42) driven by the timing belt pulley (33) through timing belt (36) and timing belt pulley (55) (xxii) the timing belt pulley (33) through timing belt (36) and timing belt pulley (56) driving the shaft (57) (xxiii) a flat belt pulley (58) connected to the other end of the shaft (57) driving the calendar rollers (59,59a) through the conveyor belt (60) which also receives the sliver delivered by the calendar rollers (59,59a),conveying the sliver to the nip of the delivery calendar rollers (54,54a) (xxiv) the conveyor belt (60) being provided with tensioner pulleys (61,62) and (xxv) tensioner pulleys (63,64) being provided for tensioning of the timing belt (36) Working of the machine: The plurality of slivers delivered by the plurality of combing heads to the drafting arrangement in the form of single sliver. The drafting rollers (11,12,13,14,15) in cooperation with the rotate ably mounted, pneumatically loaded, and friction driven top rollers resting on them, draft the fibre sliver. The drafted sliver is passed through a pair of calendar rollers (59,59a) and laid over the conveyor belt (60).The sliver is then fed to the nip of delivery calendar roller (54,54a) through delivery condenser. The sliver delivered by the delivery calendar roller (54,54a) is deposited in the sliver can which is mounted on a revolving can plate (50) via the coiler (42). Advantages of the invention 1. The driving system of the present invention is simple to fabricate 2. The driving system of the present invention is cost effective 3 The improved machine is very easy and cheap for its maintenance We Claim 1 An improved drive system for a combing machine comprising plurality of combing heads and a main drive shaft (1) arranged in horizontal plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of combing heads, drafting arrangement with drafting rollers (11,12,13,14,15 ) placed horizontally with their axes arranged perpendicular to the axis of said main drive shaft (1), a coiler (42 ) and a can plate (50) which are rotatable in their vertical planes about an axis perpendicular to said drafting rollers (11,12,13,14,15), the said coiler(42) and the said can plate(50) being drivingly connected to the drafting arrangement drive characterized in that between the said main drive shaft (1) and the said drafting rollers (11,12,13,14,15) there is located a first drive comprising of pulleys (3&4) deflection pulleys(5) crossed toothed belt (6), the said pulley (3) being fixed to the said drive shaft (1) and the said pulley (4) being fixed to a drafting arrangement drive shaft (2) and a second drive comprising of a gear box unit (GB) whose input shaft (37) drivingly connected to an intermediate shaft (31) the said gear box unit (GB) being further provided with a first out put shaft (47) drivingly connected to said can plate(50) and the second out put shaft (40) drivingly connected to the said coiler (42). 2 A combing machine incorporating the improved drive system as claimed in claim 1. 3 An improved drive system for a combing machine substantially as herein described with reference to figs 1 & 2 of the drawing accompanying this

Documents:

0819-mas-2001 claims-duplicate.pdf

0819-mas-2001 description (complete)-duplicate.pdf

0819-mas-2001 drawings-duplicate.pdf

819-mas-2001-abstract.pdf

819-mas-2001-claims.pdf

819-mas-2001-correspondence others.pdf

819-mas-2001-correspondence po.pdf

819-mas-2001-description complete.pdf

819-mas-2001-drawings.pdf

819-mas-2001-form 1.pdf

819-mas-2001-form 19.pdf