Title of Invention

LAP PACKAGE PRODUCTION MACHINE

Abstract

This invention relates to a textile machinery for producing lap packages. It consists of a feeding device, a drafting device, table calendar roller arrangement, lap rollers, loading arrangement electronic control means for maintaining uniform load on lap, electropneumatic means for sensing and varying the pressure on the lap roller, spool and lap changing means, and means for transferring lap packages to a comber.

Full Text

This invention relates to lap package production machine for producing lap packages. Lap packages are fed to combing machines for further processing. Conventionally, carded sliver is fed to a sliver lap machine and the lap generated is subsequently fed to the ribbon lap machine for the preparation of lap and fed to the combing machine. However, lap packaging machines with trolley arranged to transfer heavy laps to high speed combing machines of the present day technology are currently in use. These machines avoid multiple processing steps and produce laps of higher volume. The object of this invention is to develop a lap package production machine with an improved feeding device for feeding sliver material produced by carding machine and arranged in sliver cans to the lap package production machine arranged in sliver cans by the carding machine, drafting device with reduced noise for the drafting of the sliver, lap head provided with means for applying constant contact force on the grooving lap, simple arrangement for the transfer of empty spools to the spool magazine with mechanism to regulate the spool to the spool lifter, spool lifter with means for gentle gripping of the spool and transfer to the lap roller zone, cost effective means for the transfer of the lap from the lap trolley to the combing machine. Accordingly, the present invention provides a Lap package production machine comprising a feeding device, a drafting device comprising plurality of pairs of drafting rollers and top rollers, lap head provided with loading means to apply the load on the lap being wound, calendar roller arrangement, spool loading means for the transfer of empty spool from the lap trolley to spool magazine, spool regulating means for the transfer of empty spool from the spool magazine to the spool lifter, spool lifter assembly to lift the spool to the vicinity of lap discs and a lap trolley provided to receive the laps from the lap package production machine with means incoiporated for depositing the laps on the combing machine characterized in that the feeding device comprises pair of creel, the intake rollers of each of the creel being driven by belts, the sliver from the can directly kept beneath the intake and contact roller pair being guided through inner sliver guide to the nip of the intake and contact roller pair, the sliver from cans kept away from the sliver cans positioned immediately below the intake and contact roller pair being guided through the adjustable sliver guides and middle sliver guide assembly to the nip of the intake and contact roller pair, the lap head being attached to the loading cylinders provided on both the sides, a sensor being provided and connected to an electronic controller, the said electronic controller is connected to a microprocessor, the said micro processor connected to an automatic electronic pressure regulator to regulate the air pressure applied to the said loading cylinders, the spool loading means comprises a swivel tray operably connected to a pinion mounted on the spool holder drive shaft and attached to a rack loaded by compression spring, said spring loaded rack being slideable in a rack housing and connected to the spool loading cylinder, the spool regulating means comprises an index arm provided with a pair of rotatable rollers located at its one end and pivoted to the lap lifter assembly, the other end of the said index arm being operably connected to the spool index cylinder, the spool lifter assembly being provided with spool holder bottom and spool holder top, said spool holder top being operably connected to the spool holder cylinder, the lap trolley comprises a fixed beam, a swingable front beam supported by gas springs, supports being fixed to the bottom of the said front beam, lap lock one end of which being pivoted to the said support through the beam pin, lever link pin being fitted to the other end of the lap lock and passes through a radial slot provided on the side walls of the lap trolley, die lap lock lever one end of which is being pivoted to the said lever link pin and the other end to the said side wall of the lap trolley, one end of the said gas springs being hinged to the said support and the other end to the said side wall of the lap trolley. the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 shows the overall arrangement of the lap package production machine of the present invention; Fig. 2 and 3 shows the roller an the sliver guide arrangement of the power creel; Fig. 4 & 4a shows the drafting device; Fig. 5 represents the table calendar device; Fig. 6 shows the main calendar rollers and the lap rollers; Fig. 7 shows the stop motion arrangement of the lap rollers; Fig. 8&9 shows the lap head of the device; Fig 9a schematically illustrate the control circuit of lap loading and speed regulation arrangement of lap rollers; Fig. 10 shows the spool-loading device; Fig. 11 shows the spool magazine device; Fig. 12 shows the the lap spool indexing arrangement; Fig. 13 shows the spool lifter; and Fig. 14 is a schematic representation of the trolley attached to the lap package production machine of the present invention. In fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings , reference letters TR- represent the lap trolley, SC stands for spool loader, SL - the spool lifter, LH - the lap head, CL-the calendar roller, T-the table, D- the drafting device, SLC-the sliver cans, CR1 and CR2 - creels. Reference numeral ( 1) stands for support on the frame. Plurality of intake rollers are shown by numeral (2) in fig.3 of the accompanying drawings These intake rollers are mounted on anti-friction bearings and are fixed to the frame of the creel. Intake rollers are driven by flat belt drive by the feed drafting roller. Plurality of studs shown by numeral (3) in fig.2 of the accompanying drawings have contact rollers represented by (4), the contact rollers (4) being mounted on ami friction bearings and swing ably connected to the studs (3) and are mounted over the rotating intake rollers (2) and driven by friction means. Plurality of sliver guides are shown in Fig.2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings as (S) which are also pivoted to studs (3). Plurality of middle sliver guide assembly and inner sliver guide assembly are shown by (6) and (7) respectively. The sliver cans (SLC) are positioned in the feeding device as shown in Fig. 1. The sliver from the can directly kept beneath the intake and contact roller pairs (2 and 4) are guided through the inner sliver guide (7) to the nip of the intake roller contact roller pair (2 and 4). The sliver from cans kept away from the sliver cans positioned immediately below the intake roller and contact rollers are guided through sliver guides (5) and middle sliver guide assembly (6) to the nip of the intake roller contact roller pair (2 and 4). Plurality of sliver separators are shown by (8) in Fig. 1 and the sliver delivered by the intake and contact rollers is guided to the drafting device through these sliver separators which are provided to avoid rubbing of sliver at high delivery speed. Reference numeral D in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings indicates the plurality of drafting device. Fig 4 and 4a of the accompanying drawings illustrate the drafting device ofthis invention. Four drafting rollers are indicated by numerals (10,11,12 and 13) in Fig.4 These drafting rollers are rotatably mounted on anti-friction bearings arranged on bearing saddles ( 20,21,22,23,24,25,26 and 27 ). The bearing saddles are secured at the desired position on the drafting frame (28). The drafting rollers are provided with top rollers shown in Fig, 4a as (29) .Pressure cylinders (30) with preloaded spring means are provided for applying load to the drafting system. Lockable top arm pairs indicated by (31) provided for loading of the top rollers. Drive from the main motor of the lap package production machine is transmitted to the first drafting rotler(lO) through a flat belt drive ( not shown). Drive from the first drafting roller( 10) to the fourth drafting roller (13) being transmitted by atimingbelt (16)through timing belt pulley (14,15) fitted on one end of the first and fourth drafting rollers. The other end of the fourth drafting roller(13) is provided with flat belt pulley(17) and drive from the fourth drafting roller(13) is transmitted to the third drafting roller (12) and second drafting roller (11) by aflat belt (9) through flat belt pulleys (17,18,19)provided on the fourth, third and second drafting rollers. Axis of the drafting rollers (10,11,12,13) are parallel to the axis of the calendar rollers (39,40,41,42) shown in fig 6 of the accompanying drawings and perpendicular to the flow of sliver from the creel. An inlet sheet assembly (32) shown in fig .4a is provided for guiding the slivers that approach the drafting zone. Delivery sheet (33) guide the lap from the drafting zone to the table calendar roller zone. Plurality of guides provided on the delivery sheet is shown by (34) to control the width of the lap emerging from the drafting zone for feeding to the table calendar rollers shown in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings and indicated by numeral (35) and (35"). These table calendar rollers are driven by the main motor through flat belts in conjunction with flat belt pulleys (not shown ). Table indicated by numeral ( 36) in Fig.5 is used for combining and guiding the lap delivered by the drafting devices to the calendar roller device . Sliver guides are indicated by numeral (37). These sliver guides control the width of the lap delivered to the calendar rollers. Lap guide sheet shown by (38) guides the lap smoothly to the main calendar roller and there on to the lap rollers. Reference numeral CL in fig 1. indicates the calendar roller arrangement. Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings illustrates the calendar roller arrangement of the invention in detail. It consists of three over one arrangement of rollers for compacting the lap before it reaches the lap roller zone. The first calendar roller (39) is driven by the main motor through chain drive( not shown) and the other three calendar rollers( 40,41 and 42) are driven by the calendar roller (39) through gears (43,44,45,46). Fig 7 of the accompanying drawings shows the loading cylinders (47) having plunger (48) used for loading the calendar rollers in association with compression spring (49). An adjustable contact pin (50) is provided in the plunger (48) which establishes contact with a stop motion plate (51) mounted on electrical insulation means and stops the machine in the event of lapping of the calendar roller(39,40,41,42). Lap rollers ( 52,53) are rotatably mounted on anti-friction bearings and arranged parallel to the calendar rollers(39,40,41,42). as shown in fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings . Drive to the lap roller (52) is transmitted from the transmitted from lap roller (52) through chain wheels (54,55,56 and 57) in is conjunction with chains (58) and (59) .Gear motor (60) through chain wheels (61,62) and chain (63) also provide another drive means for tap roller (53), for tearing off the lap to facilitate doffing at the end of lap built up. Lap head is represented by numeral LH in fig 1. Figs. 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawing illustrate the lap head in detail. Empty lap spool(S) is located on the top surface of the revolving lap rollers (52,53) and driven by friction means. Plurality of lap discs are indicated by numeral (68) . Lap received from the calendar roller zone is wound on the lap spool (S) resting over the revolving lap rollers (52,53) . Plurality of guide head assembly comprising guide heads (64), top traverse (65), bottom traverse (66) and are rigidly fastened together. Plurality of lap disc shafts (67) are arranged in the guide head. On the other end of the lap disc shaft (67) the lap discs (68) are rotatably mounted on anti friction bearings. The lap disc shafts (67) are arranged in the guide head such that the axes of the lap discs(68) are in a relation parallel to each other and perpendicular to the guide heads to accommodate the spool (S) in between them for lap built up. The lap disc shafts (67) along with the lap discs (68) can be operated to hold the empty lap /Spools (S) resting on the lap rollers (52,53) during the lap built up process and to leave the lap wound on the spool freely on the lap rollers (52,53) for doffing after completion of the lap built up. Plurality of housings (69) with linear bearings mounted on it are rigidly fitted to the guide heads (64) such that the axes of the housings are in a relation parallel to each other to facilitate guiding of the guide head assembly on the plurality of guide shafts (70) disposed, Plurality of supports (71) rigidly fitted to the frame of the lap package production machine and disposed such that the guide shaft (70) can be fitted in the supports (71) to provide guide means fo head assembly in cooperation with linear bearings fitted in the housings (69) . Plurality of cylinder holders (72) are rigidly fitted to the guide heads (64) and the piston rod (73) of the loading cylinder (74) is rigidly connected to it. Plurality of loading cylinder (74) is hinged to the supports (75 ), and fixed to the frame of the lap package production machine. The above configuration is disposed such that the guide head assembly can freely move on the guides shaft (70) and exert load on the lap spool (S) / lap (L) resting on the lap rollers (52,53), when the loading cylinders are actuated by electro pneumatic means. In order to maintain uniform load on the lap irrespective of the diameter of the growing lap , during the lap build up process, the load applied by the loading cylinder (74)is to be adopted . Fig 9a of the accompanying drawing schematically illustrate such arrangement. Measuring means are provided for continuously measuring the length of the lap wound on the lap spool. For this purpose this invention measure the rotational speed of the lap roller input drive shaft using suitable sensors (SE)vhich generate signal proportional to the length of the lap wound. The signal generated by the sensor is fed to an electronic controller (C) which determine the diameter of the lap package from time to time.This information is provided to a micro processor (P) which regulate an automatic electronic pressure regulator which is preferably a proportional valve,which increases the supply air pressure of the loading cylinders (74) and the load applied on the lap is increased proportional to the increase in the lap size. To ensure compactness of the lap package the winding speed has to be adopted in accordance to the lap build up and the speed has to be reduced proportional to the increase in diameter of the lap. The signal provided for determining the wound length of the lap by the sensor (S) is fed to the said electronic controller (C) which controls the speed of the motor driving the rollers through variable speed drive (DR1) through the said micro processor. A display system (D) is also provided for inputting process parameters to the electronic controller (C) through micro processor (P) for the regulation of the variable load (VL) applied to the lap (L) and also to vary the speed of the lap rollers (52,53). The spool loading device is represented by numeral SC in fig 1. Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings illustrates the spool loading device according to this invention. Lap trolley consisting of a rack ( 77) which slides smoothly in the rack housing (78).Compression spring (79) holds the rack under load. Pinion (80) which is rigidly fitted on the spool holder drive shaft (81) and rigidly connected to spool swivel tray (82). The arrangement is such that the spool swivel tray (82) is capable of swinging about the axis of the pinion (80) when activated by the rack.(77). During doffing cycle, the spool loading cylinder (83) is activated by electro pneumatic means and the piston rod of the cylinder (83) along with the pushing plate assembly (84) attached to it moves forward and pushes the rack (77)which rotates the pinion (80) and the swivel tray (82)attached to the pinion (80)swings in clock wise direction and the empty spool (S) loaded on the swivel tray (82)is deposited on the spool magazine through the opening provided thereof. After this, the piston rod of the spool-loading cylinder (83) moves back to its home position . The spring (79) actuates the rack and spool swivel tray (82) swings back to its normal horizontal position. Fig. 12 of the accompanying drawings illustrates the empty spool regulating mechanism of this invention. Index arm (86) is pivoted to the lap lifter assembly at pivot point (87) and one end is connected to the hinge head (88) attached to the piston rod of the spool indexing cylinder (85). Rollers (89) the spool index cylinder (85) makes backward movement and the index arm (86)aiong with rollers (89,90) swiveled in anti clockwise direction. The roller (90) mounted on the index arm (86) allows the movement of one empty lap spool (S) present in the spool magazine by gravity on to the spool lifting device, at that time the roller (89) attached to the index arm (86) obstruct the movement of subsequent lap spool present in the lap magazine. Subsequent to that when the spool index cylinder (85) makers forward movement the index arm (86) along with rollers (89,90) swiveled in clock wise direction and the next lap present in the spool magazine is allowed to travel up to the roller (90) by gravity and is ready for dropping in to the spool lifting device during next doffing cycle. The spool lifter is represented by numeral SL in fig 1. Fig. 13 of the accompanying drawings illustrates spool lifter mechanism which is fixed to the machine frame. Spool holder bottom (91) is rigidly connected to spool changer lever (94) .Spool holder top ( 92 ) connected to spool holder bottom (91) by hinge means. The spool holder top (92) is provided with connecting means and pivoted to hinge head (95) attached to the piston rod of the spool holder cylinder (93). Other end of the spool holder cylinder (93) is hinged to the spool holder bottom(91). When the spool holder cylinder (93) is electro pneumatically actuated , the lap spool (S) is gripped firmly between the spool holder halves. Lever (97) is rigidly connected to the hinge pin (96) provided in the spool changer lever (94). Connecting means (98) is provided on the other side of the lever (97) and is operably connected to the spool-lifting cylinder ( 97a) shown in fig. 11. When the spool-lifting cylinder (97a) is actuated by electro pneumatic means, the spool lifter assembly swing about the axis of the hinge pin (96) and is held at a position such that the axis of the lap spool (S) present is parallel to the axis of the lap disc (68). Subsequently the spool holder cylinder(93) is actuated and the spool holder halves ( 91, 92 ) open . Separate means is provided for subsequent holding of the lap spool in between the lap discs ( 68 ).The spool lifting cylinder is (97a) is actuated and the spool holder assembly with the spool holder halves ( 91,92) in the open condition reaches its home position and is ready to receive the next empty spool from the spool magazine (SP). Lap trolley is indicated by reference numeral TR in fig.l. The Lap trolley is capable of holding up to 4 laps as they are ejected at the end of lap build up. Soon after completion of the doffing cycle, the trolley is indexed and positioned appropriately to receive the next ejected lap thereon. Once this trolley is loaded with four laps, another trolley takes place to receive further laps. The loaded trolley is moved and attached to the comber for further processing. Transfer of lap package from the lap trolley to the comber is effected by a simple and cost effective transfer arrangement, which is illustrated in Fig. 14 of the accompanying drawings. Lap holding zone of the lap trolley has a fixed beam ( 99 ) and a swing able front beam ( 100 ).Supports ( 101 and 102 ) are rigidly fixed at the bottom of the front beam ( 100 ). A lap lock ( 103 ) is provided , one end of which is pivoted to the support (101) through beam pin (104). Lever link pin (105) is rigidly fitted to the other end of the lap lock (103) and passes through the radial slot provided on the side walls of the lap trolley. One end of the lap lock lever (106) is pivoted to the lever link pin (105) and the other end is pivoted to the side wall of the lap trolley. One end of the gas spring (107) is hinged to the support (102) and the other end hinged to the side wall of the lap trolley. Similar arrangement is provided on the other end. The lap (L) rests partially on the fixed beam ( 99 ) and partially on the front beam ( 100). The load exerted by the lap (L) on the front beam acts on the lever link pin (105) which rests at the top most position of the radial slot provided in the side wall of the lap trolley. For the transfer of the lap from the trolley to the comber, an actuating mechanism ( not shown ) in the comber momentarily lifts the lap lock lever (106) provided on both sides of the lap trolley simultaneously in the upward direction. This causes the lever link pin ( 105) along with the lap lock (103) to slide in the radial slot resulting in the swinging of the front beam. The lap (L) get released from the front beam and get deposited on to the combing heads of the comber. Soon after , the pressure exerted by the gas spring (107) lifts the front beam (100) to its home position. Obvious alterations and modifications known to persons skilled in the art are not excluded from the scope of this invention and the appended claims. WE CLAIM : 1. A Lap package production machine comprising a feeding device, a drafting device comprising plurality of pairs of drafting rollers and top rollers, lap head provided with loading means to apply the load on the lap being wound, calendar roller arrangement, spool loading means for the transfer of empty spool from the lap trolley to spool magazine, spool regulating means for the transfer of empty spool from the spool magazine to the spool lifter, spool lifter assembly to lift the spool to the vicinity of lap discs and a lap trolley provided to receive the laps from the lap package production machine with means incorporated for depositing the laps on the combing machine characterized in that the feeding device comprises pair of creel (CR1 and CR2), the intake rollers (2) of each of the creel (CR1 and CR2 ) being driven by belts, the sliver from the can directly kept beneath the intake and contact roller pair (2 and 4) being guided through inner sliver guide (7) to the nip of the intake and contact roller pair (2 and 4), the sliver from cans kept away from the sliver cans positioned immediately below the intake and contact roller pair (2 and 4) being guided through the adjustable sliver guides (5) and middle sliver guide assembly (6) to the nip of the intake and contact roller pair (2 and 4), the lap head being attached to the loading cylinders (74) provided on both the sides, a sensor (SE) being provided and connected to an electronic controller ( C ), the said electronic controller (C) is connected to a microprocessor (P), the said micro processor (P) connected to an automatic electronic pressure regulator (VL) to regulate the air pressure applied to the said loading cylinders (74), the spool loading means comprises a swivel tray (82) operably connected to a pinion (80) mounted on the spool holder drive shaft (81) and attached to a rack (77) loaded by compression spring (79), said spring loaded rack being slideable in a rack housing (78) and connected to the spool loading cylinder (83), the spool regulating means comprises an index arm (86) provided with a pair of 15 assembly, the other end of the said index arm (86) being operably connected to the spool index cylinder (85), the spool lifter assembly being provided with spool holder bottom(9l) and spool holder top (92) ,said spool holder top (92) being operably connected to the spool holder cylinder (93), the lap trolley comprises a fixed beam (99), a swingable front beam(100) supported by gas springs (107), supports(l 01,1 02) being fixed to the bottom of the said front beam (100), lap lock (103) one end of which being pivoted to the said support(101) through the beam pin (104), lever link pin (105) being fitted to the other end of the lap lock (103)and passes through a radial slot provided on the side walls of the lap trolley, the lap lock lever(106) one end of which is being pivoted to the said lever link pin( 105) and the other end to the said side wall of the lap trolley, one end of the said gas springs (107) being hinged to the said support (102) and the other end to the said side wall of the lap trolley. 2. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein pressure cylinders with preloaded spring means are provided for applying load on said drafting cylinders. i. The machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drafting device has an inlet sheet assembly for guiding and adjusting the width of the sliver approaching the drafting zone. 4. The machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein loading cylinders are provided in the calendar roller arrangement, said loading cylinders having plunger and compression spring assembly. 5. The machine as claimed in claims 1 wherein rotatably mounted lap rollers are located parallel to said calendar rollers. 6. The machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automatic electronic pressure regulator is a proportional valve. 7. A lap package production machine for producing lap packages substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

731-MAS-2002 FORM-1 16-09-2010.pdf

731-MAS-2002 FORM-13 16-09-2010.pdf

731-mas-2002 abstract-duplicate.pdf

731-mas-2002 abstract.pdf

731-mas-2002 claims-duplicate.pdf

731-mas-2002 claims.pdf

731-mas-2002 correspondence-others.pdf

731-mas-2002 correspondence-po.pdf

731-mas-2002 description (complete)-duplicate.pdf

731-mas-2002 description (complete).pdf

731-mas-2002 drawings.pdf

731-mas-2002 form-1.pdf

731-mas-2002 form-19.pdf

731-mas-2002 form-26.pdf

731-mas-2002 form-3.pdf

731-mas-2002 petition.pdf