FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to textile bale plucking machine for plucking fibre tufts from the bales arranged on both sides of the machine. Particularly the invention relates to cover belt used in the suction channel of textile bale plucking machine. More particularly the invention relates to an improved cover belt tensioning arrangement of the suction channel in textile bale plucking machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A fibre bale plucking machine is used to pluck fibres from fibre bales that are arranged on both sides of the machine. A plucking head assembly mounted onto the carriage is made to travel in a horizontal direction in a linear path so as to pluck fibres from the rows of fibres bales arranged on both sides of the machine. The bale plucking machine plucks fibres and feed them to further processing machines.

Figures 1 and 2 shows the isometric and rear views respectively of bale plucking machine with plucking head assembly (1) mounted onto the carriage (2). A suction channel (3) is provided underneath the carriage (2) between the wheels (4) along the entire length of the bale plucking machine. The suction channel (3) is rectangular in cross section and the top side is open. Fibre tufts plucked from the bales travel through the duct (5) and reaches the suction channel (3) with the aid of suction pressure. A cover belt (6) is provided on the top side of the suction channel (3). The said cover belt (6) acts as an air sealing cover over the entire length of suction channel (3). The said cover belt (6) is fixed at both the ends of the machine as shown in the figures. Guide rollers (8) lift the cover belt (6) from the suction channel (3) along a short length portion during plucking head (1) movement over the row of bales so that the plucked fibres enter into the suction channel (3) through the opening (7). The said guide rollers (8) are in frictional contact with the cover belt (6) of the suction channel (3). Fibre tufts are thus transferred to downstream processing machines through the suction channel (3).

The drawback in the present arrangement is that the cover belt (6) is elongated over a period of time due to continuous friction. This elongation of the cover belt (6) reduces the air sealing effect and thereby the suction is reduced inside the suction channel (3). In addition to the above drawback, the cover belt (6) slip from rotation during carriage (2) movement and eventually the cover belt (6) will get damaged and will call for a replacement. To eliminate these problems, the cover belt (6) needs to be adjusted periodically to provide proper tension. In existing arrangement, one fixed end of the cover belt (6) is loosened and pulled to give the required tension and the loosened end is again tightened. The said process of pulling the cover belt (6) for the entire length of bale plucking machine, say 20 meters requires more manpower of around 7 peoples. It is a tedious process. This invention is intended to provide an improved cover belt (6) tensioning arrangement which avoids the above mentioned disadvantages.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved cover belt tensioning arrangement of a textile bale plucking machine which eliminates the above mentioned drawbacks.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cover belt tensioning arrangement with more user friendliness.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide adequate tension to the cover belt of the bale plucking machine whenever required and ensure airtight covering of suction channel.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved cover belt tensioning arrangement which reduces the manpower and time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment, the present invention provides an improved tensioning arrangement for the cover belt of a textile bale plucking machine. The cover belt is attached with a tension bracket at one end of the suction channel of bale plucking machine. The said tension bracket is box shaped and rigidly bolted to the ground. The tension bracket is attached to the suction channel with fixing means. The said tension bracket is provided with slots on its top surface extending along the moving direction of the plucking head. Two movable belt holding plates (upper and lower) are mounted perpendicularly above the slots of tension bracket by means of fixing bolts such that the cover belt passes in between said plates. The cover belt is firmly held between the plates. The fixing bolts provided below the slot can be loosened and tightened to allow the movable belt holding plates to slide axially along the moving direction of carriage. The belt tensioning arrangement further includes another fixed belt holding plate assembly disposed in proximity to a vertical side sheet outside the tension bracket. A slot is provided in said vertical side sheet to enable the cover belt to pass through. Then the cover belt is firmly held between said fixed belt holding plate assembly (between upper and lower plates). The fixed belt holding plates and movable belt holding plates are parallel to each other. The fixed belt holding plates and movable belt holding plates firmly hold one end of the cover belt by means of fixing elements. The movable belt holding plate assembly is provided with a vertical sheet at the top in a parallel manner to vertical side sheet. A tensioning screw is rotatably mounted between the vertical side sheet and the vertical sheet above movable belt holding plates. After loosening the bolt below the slot, the rotation of said tensioning screw makes the movable belt holding plates move in the axial direction i.e. carriage moving direction. Whenever the cover belt is to be adjusted, the tensioning screw is rotated to the required amount and the cover belt is tightened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows the isometric view of the bale plucking machine according to the existing art.

Figure 2 shows the rear view of the bale plucking machine depicting cover belt and suction channel arrangement according to the existing art.

Figure 3 & 4 shows the isometric views of the belt tensioning arrangement according to the present invention.

Figure 5 shows the front view of the belt tensioning arrangement attached with suction channel according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The existing system shown in figures 1 & 2 is explained in the background part of the invention.

Figures 3, 4 & 5 show the belt tensioning arrangement according to the present invention. The belt tensioning arrangement in the form of tension bracket (9) is attached with the suction channel (3) at one end with suitable fixing means (10) and vertical closing sheet (14). The cover belt (6) is attached with the tension bracket (9) at said end of the suction channel (3) of bale plucking machine. The said tension bracket (9) is box shaped and bolted to the ground using ground fixing screws (15). The tension bracket (9) is attached with another vertical side sheet (18) on the other side using fixing bolts (20). The said tension bracket (9) is provided with two slots (16) on its top surface extending along the moving direction of the plucking head (1). Two movable belt holding plates (12a & 12b) are mounted perpendicularly above the slots (16) of tension bracket (9) by means of fixing bolts such that the cover belt (6) passes in between two plates (12a & 12b) mounted above the tension bracket (9). The cover belt (6) is firmly held between the plates (12a & 12b). The bolt (17) provided below the slot (16) can be loosened and tightened to allow the movable belt holding plates (12a & 12b) to slide axially along the moving direction of carriage (2) during tension adjustment. The belt tensioning arrangement further includes another fixed belt holding plate assembly (11a & 11b) disposed in proximity to the vertical side sheet (18) outside the tension bracket (9). A slot (19) is provided in said vertical side sheet (18) to enable the cover belt (6) to pass through. Then the cover belt (6) is firmly held between the fixed belt holding plate assembly (between upper plate 11a and lower plate 11b). The fixed belt holding plates (11) and movable belt holding plates (12) are parallel to each other. The fixed belt holding plates (11) and movable belt holding plates (12) firmly hold one end of the cover belt (6) by means of fixing elements. The fixed belt holding plate assembly (11) is freely suspended outside the tension bracket (9). The other end of the cover belt (6) is fixed permanently to other end of the suction channel (3) of bale plucking machine by known means.

The movable belt holding plate assembly (12) is provided with a vertical sheet (21) at the top in a parallel manner to vertical side sheet (18). A tensioning screw (22) is rotatably mounted between the vertical side sheet (18) and the vertical sheet (21). The rotation of said tensioning screw (22) after loosening the bolt (17) below the slot (16) makes the movable belt holding plates (12) move in the axial direction i.e. carriage (2) moving direction. Whenever the cover belt (6) is to be adjusted, the tensioning screw (22) is rotated to the required amount and the movable belt holding plate (12) is tightened. The fixed belt holding plate assembly (11) outside the tension bracket (9) also moves outwards after adjusting the tensioning screw (22). The fixed belt holding plate assembly (11) can be brought to original position after completing cover belt (6) adjustment by loosening and tightening the bolts. The adjustment can also be done in reverse direction if the tension of cover belt (6) is to be reduced which is however not necessary. The tension bracket (9) height adjustment screws (13) are provided at the bottom for adjusting the height based on the floor variations.

Thus, to provide desirable tension to the cover belt (6) whenever required, the bolt (17) thereon is loosened such that the movable belt holding plates (12) are freely displaceable along the slots (16) of the tension bracket (9). Meanwhile the entire load of the cover belt (6) is taken up by the tensioning screw (22) supported by vertical side sheet (18). The tensioning screw (22) is rotated as required, which in turn displaces the movable belt holding plates (12) away from the suction channel (3). Thus the cover belt (6) which is firmly held by the movable belt holding plates (12) is subsequently pulled and the desirable tension is provided. Following this, the movable belt holding plates (12) are again firmly secured into the slots (16) of tension bracket (9) by tightening the fixing bolts (17). By this adjusting means, the suction channel (3) is substantially airtight along most of its length portion.

Meanwhile the belt holding plate assembly (11) that is suspended freely moves away from the vertical side sheet (18) along with the cover belt (6). The belt holding plate assembly (11) is again brought adjacent to the vertical side sheet (18) by loosening and tightening the fixing elements of the top plate (11a) and bottom plate (11b). Thereby the vertical side sheet (18) arrest the movement of belt holding plate (11) towards the suction channel (3) in addition to the tightened movable belt holding plate assembly (12). The cover belt (6) is firmly held with the tension. The proposed method is very simple and can be fixed on the existing machine.

In view of the present disclosure which describes the present invention, all changes, modifications and variations within the meaning and range of equivalency are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A textile bale plucking machine comprising:

suction channel (3) along the entire length of the machine;

a cover belt (6) is provided on the top side of said suction channel (3);

characterized in that tensioning means are provided for the cover belt (6).

2. An improved cover belt tensioning arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tensioning means comprises a tension bracket (9) provided with a tensioning screw (22).

3. An improved cover belt tensioning arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tension bracket (9) is attached to the suction channel (3) with fixing means (10).

4. An improved cover belt tensioning arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tension bracket is provided with slots (16) on its top surface extending along the moving direction of the plucking head (1).

5. An improved cover belt tensioning arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein two movable belt holding plates (12a & 12b) are mounted perpendicularly above the slots (16) of tension bracket (9) such that the cover belt (6) is firmly held between said plates (12a & 12b).

6. An improved cover belt tensioning arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein a fixed belt holding plate assembly (11a & 11b) is provided outside the tension bracket (9) in proximity to a vertical side sheet (18) such that the cover belt (6) passes through a slot (19) provided in said vertical side sheet (18) and firmly held between the fixed belt holding plate assembly (11a and 11b).

7. An improved cover belt tensioning arrangement as claimed in claims 5 and

6 wherein the movable belt holding plate assembly (12) is provided with a vertical sheet (21) at the top in a parallel manner to vertical side sheet (18).

8. An improved cover belt tensioning arrangement as claimed in claims 2 and 7 wherein a tensioning screw (22) is rotatably mounted between the vertical side sheet (18) and the vertical sheet (21) such that rotation of said tensioning screw (22) after loosening the bolt (17) makes the cover belt (6) move in the axial direction along with belt holding plates (12).

9. An improved cover belt tensioning arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein the vertical side sheet (18) arrest the movement of cover belt (6) and belt holding plates (11) towards the suction channel (3) after tension adjustment.