AN IMPROVED LAP HEAD ARRANGEMENT FOR A LAP FORMING MACHINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a textile lap forming machine. More particularly this invention relates to an improved lap head arrangement for a textile lap forming machine which occupies lesser floor space and increases productivity. The present lap forming machine provides a drafting arrangement that will minimize the travel distance of the sliver and improve the quality and productivity of lap sheet, thus having beneficial wider application in textile industry with economic advantage. Also, the present invention facilitates easy installation of the lap forming machine with reduced installation time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of lap forming machine for the preparation of lap from plurality of slivers for subsequent feeding to the lap processing machine and comber is known in the existing art of textiles production. The slivers arranged in the creel are doubled and drafted as per requirement by the drafting system of the lap forming machine. Since it may be more critical ilo process more number of sliver in a single drafting system, essentially a plurality of independent drafting systems provided with dedicated individual creel are used. The drafted slivers delivered in the form of lap sheet are subsequently combined together and delivered to the calendering rollers where the lap sheet is compacted and delivered to the lap head. In the lap head, the lap is wound on the lap spool which is being held between the lap discs and driven by the lap rollers driven by the drive system of the lap forming machine.

In the conventional lap forming machines a plurality of independent drafting systems provided with dedicated individual creel are used. Individual sliver creels are being arranged at the feed end of each drafting system. The slivers are fed from cans to each drafting zone through creel arrangement. The number of doublings will vary according to the requirement, generally ranges between 18-28 doublings. So that the drafting systems are arranged at a pre determined distance from the lap head. The known arrangements occupy substantial floor space. Moreover, the sliver travels long distance from feed can to lap head will affect the quality of the lap produced. Also, the known lap forming machines requires more time for installation for assembling various number of individual modules such as lap head, drafting system, suction system, table etc which are disadvantageous.

There has thus been a persistent need to develop a lap-forming machine that would occupy lesser space particularly for drafting the slivers. To achieve the above need, the drafting systems are arranged substantially above the calender rollers and the entire system is arranged inside in a lap head. This configuration would provide an improved lap head arrangement that will minimize the travel distance of the sliver and occupies less space as compared to existing machines.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the basic object of the present invention is to provide a lap forming machine that would provide an integrated lap head arrangement which will occupy lesser floor space.

A still further object of the lap forming machine of the present invention is to improve the quality of the lap and to increase the productivity of lap forming machine.

A still further object of the lap forming machine of the present invention is to minimize the travel distance of the drafted sliver web from front drafting roller nip to calender roller arrangement.

Yet another object of the present invention is directed to provide a lap forming machine that would reduce the installation cost and time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus according to the basic aspect of the present invention there is provided an Improved lap head arrangement for a lap forming system comprising:

a plurality of calender rollers arranged one above the other In a vertical plane;

a pair of pressing rollers arranged above said calender rollers such that the nip line is
parallel to the axes of the calender rollers.

a pair of lap rollers to drivingly support a lap spool which is adapted to wound the lap sheets delivered by said calender rollers arranged downstream to lap rollers;

a drafting arrangement arranged at an inclination in the vertical plane to facilitate smooth
transfer of the drafted slivers to the pair of pressing rollers, wherein at least one of said
drafting arrangement is integrated into lap head arrangement.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said lap head arrangement includes a pair of pressing rollers, plurality of calender rollers and a pair of lap rollers.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said machine includes plurality of slivers comprising a creel arrangement having one set of sliver cans arranged at one side of a lap head and another creel arrangement having another set of sliver cans arranged at the other side of the said lap head, said creel arrangement adapted such that the slivers delivered by the creel feed to a respective drafting arrangement of the lap forming machine.

A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to provide an improved lap head arrangement wherein, said drafting arrangement includes plurality of drafting rollers that are provided inside the lap head to facilitate the smooth transfer of the drafted slivers to a pair of pressing rollers and to minimize the travel distance of the drafted sliver from said front drafting roller nip to calendar roller.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, it is directed to an improved lap head arrangement, wherein the drafting arrangement is adapted such that the lines of flow of slivers arc substantially opposite to each other.

The present invention and its objects and advantages are described hereunder in greater detail with reference lo the following exemplary non-limiting illustrative Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

Figure 1: is the schematic illustration of the existing system of the lap forming machine.

Figure 2: is the schematic illustration showing the top view of the existing system of the lap forming machine shown in figure 1.

Figure 3: is the schematic illustration of a lap forming machine according to the present
invention having integrated lap head arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE
ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

As already described, the invention is directed towards a lap forming machine that provides an integrated lap head arrangement which occupies lesser floor space and increases productivity.

The drafting systems in the present invention are arranged above the calender rollers and the entire system is arranged inside a lap head. Importantly, the drafting arrangement in the improved configuration would minimize the travel distance of the sliver. The present lap forming system reduces the cost and the time required for installation of various numbers of individual modules that includes lap head, drafting system, table etc.

Attention is first invited to accompanying Figures 1 &. 2 that illustrate the existing system of lap forming machine showing the position of the creel zone, drafting zone, flow lines of slivers, calendering zone, lap rollers and lap wound on spool. The creel arrangement in the existing system is on one side of the head and arranged in two separate lanes (1, 1'). A set of sliver cans (C, C) are arranged at the each lane of creel arrangement. Two separate drafting systems (7, 7') are arranged one after the other at a selective spacing. The slivers (S) from each lane (1, 1') are fed to their respective drafting system (7, 7') through the various guide means,. The slivers (S) are made to turn in a direction transverse to their path before entering drafting (7, 7'), The drafting system (7, 7') and a set of pressing rollers (10, 10') are mounted on a table (14) and the table is connected with the head (15). The output lap sheet (L) from drafting system (7, 7') is over lapped one over other and compressed by the pressing rollers (10, 10') before entering into the calender rollers (4). The output lap sheet from calender rollers (4) is wound on spool (11) to form a lap package (12).

Reference is now invited to accompanying Figure 3 that illustrates an integrated lap head (2) provided in the lap forming machine of the present invention. One set of sliver cans (C) are arranged at the creel arrangement (1) at one side of the lap head (2) and another set of sliver cans (C) are arranged at the creel arrangement (L) to other side of the lap head (2). The lap head (2) comprising a pair of lap roller (3, 3') and the plurality calender rollers (4). The creel arrangement comprises a plurality of feed rollers (5, 5'.,.) and contact rollers (6, 6'..) the axes of which are arranged parallel to the axes of the calender roller (4) and the lap rollers (3, 3',). The slivers delivered by the creel feed to the respective drafting arrangements (7, 7') arranged upstream of the creel.

According to the present invention, the drafting arrangements (7, 7') are being arranged inside the lap head (2). The drafting arrangement comprises set of bottom rollers (8, 8') with corresponding top rollers (9, 9') placed over them and held by pressure, the axes of which are arranged substantially parallel to the axes of the calender roller (4) and the lap rollers (3, 3'). The drafting rollers are arranged at an inclination in the vertical plane to facilitate the smooth transfer of the drafted slivers to the pair of pressing roller (10, 10') arranged down stream to the drafting rollers. The pair of pressing roller (10, 10*) is arranged above the calender rollers (4) such that the nip line is parallel to the axes of the calender rollers (4). The plurality of calender rollers (4) are arranged one above the other in the vertical plane. The pair of lap roller (3, 3') is arranged beneath the calender rollers (4). The lap rollers (3, 3') drivingly support the lap spool (11). A lap lifter (13) arranged adjacent to the lap rollers (3,3') to facilitate the transfer of the lap produced by the lap forming machine on to a trolley (T) for subsequent transfer of the laps (12) to the next processing machine. The said drafting arrangement (7, 7') the pressing rollers (10, 10'), calender rollers (4) and lap rollers (3, 3') are being arranged inside the lap head arrangement (2) of the lap forming machine.

The sliver feed from the sliver cans arranged in the respective creel being transferred to the respective drafting arrangement. The drafted fibers emerging from the respective drafting arrangement in the form of sheet being fed to the nip of the pressing rollers (10, 10') and combined together to form the lap sheet and delivered to the calender rollers (4) and subsequently wound on the lap spool (11). Soon after the pre determined length of lap is wound on the lap spool (11), the full lap (12) is ejected on to the lap lifter (13) and subsequently transferred to a trolley (T) for onward supply to the lap processing machine.

According to the present invention, the drafting rollers, pressing rollers, calender rollers and lap rollers are being arranged inside the lap head arrangement of the lap forming machine would occupy minimum space and thereby facilitating installation of the lap forming machine with reduced floor area and with reduced installation time. It is thus possible by way of the present invention to develop a textile lap forming system wherein the machine occupy less floor space to the extent of about 50% less than the known lap forming machines. The present invention is simple in lay out configuration, economic in floor space utilization and capable to achieve higher productivity. Also, the fiber material would travel relatively shorter path and improves the quality of lap sheet and avoiding impairment of slivers.

WE CLAIM:

1. An improved lap head arrangement for a lap forming machine comprising

a) a plurality of calendar rollers (4) arranged one above the other in a vertical plane;

b) a pair of pressing rollers (10, 10') arranged above the calender rollers such that the nip line is parallel to the axes of the calendar rollers.

c) a pair of lap rollers (3,3') to drivingly support a lap spool (11) which is adapted to wound the lap sheets delivered by said calender rollers arranged downstream to lap rollers;

d) a drafting arrangement (7, 7') arranged at an inclination in the vertical plane to facilitate smooth transfer of the drafted slivers to the pair of pressing rollers, wherein at least one of said drafting arrangement is integrated into lap head arrangement (2).

2. An improved lap head arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lap head includes a pair of pressing rollers (10, 10'), plurality of calender rollers (4) and a pair of lap rollers (3,3’).

3. An improved lap head arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lap forming machine comprises a pair of creel arrangement (1, 1') having plurality set of sliver cans (C, C) arranged at either side of said lap head arrangement (2).

4. An improved lap head arrangement as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein said drafting arrangement (7, 7') facilitate the smooth transfer of the drafted slivers to a pair of pressing rollers (10, 10').

5. An improved lap head arrangement as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein said system minimizes the travel distance of the drafted sliver from said front drafting roller nip to calender roller.

6. An improved lap head arrangement as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein said drafting arrangement (7, 7') is adapted such that the line of flow of slivers are substantially opposite to each other,

7. A lap forming machine having an improved lap head arrangement for preparation of lap sheets from plurality of slivers substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures.