RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the provisional application bearing no. 2688/CHE/2009, titled 'AN IMPROVED DRIVING MECHANISM FOR COMBING MACHINE' filed on November 2, 2009 by LAKSHMI MACHINE WORKS LTD., has been entirely incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to a field of drive mechanism and more particularly to a drive mechanism for a spinning preparatory machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, a spinning preparatory machine such as a textile combing machine comprises a plurality of combing heads, each combing head having a combing cylinder, a top comb, a pair of detaching rollers, and a nipper apparatus. The nipper apparatus rocks back and forth while nipping sheet-like fibers, so-called "lap", supplied thereto. The combing cylinder also known as half lap has a series of saw toothed wires embedded on its peripheral surface. As the nipper apparatus moves backward, the saw toothed wires comb the forward end of the lap to remove short fibers from the lap, producing a thin sheet-like fiber product, so-called "fleece".

The combed fleece is transferred forward as the nipper apparatus moves forward towards the detaching rollers. This cycle comprises advancing the nipper apparatus to move the combed fleece to the detaching rollers and reversing the detaching rollers in synchronism with the advancement of the nipper apparatus. This helps reverse a fleece pulled out from the lap in the preceding combing cycle so that the fleece combed in the present combing cycle overlaps the fleece combed in the preceding combing cycle. The detaching rollers are then rotated in the normal direction to pull off the combed fleece that combed during the present combing cycle from the nipper apparatus and to comb the rear end of the fleece with a top comb.

Substantially, during the first half of a full turn of the combing cylinder shaft during which the combing cylinder exerts a combing action on the fleece, the detaching rollers are stopped or are rotated at a low rotating speed in the normal direction. Also, during the second half of the full turn of the combing cylinder shaft, the detaching rollers are rotated substantially in the reverse direction and in the normal direction. As a result, the combing fleece from the combing heads are doubled and drafted in the drafting arrangement of the combing machine and finally converted as sliver and deposited in sliver cans.

The drive mechanism for the detaching rollers in existing combing machines comprises a differential gear, wherein a primary drive shaft is connected with a drive imparting the primary shaft with an even rotational movement and a secondary drive shaft is connected with a control apparatus imparting an additional rotational movement with an eccentric member held on the frame. An exemplary existing drive mechanism is illustrated in Figure 1. The eccentric member is connected using a drawbar with a crank which imparts the eccentric member with an uneven rotational movement of constant drive speed and is held in a manner as to be offset from the point of rotation of the eccentric member. A rocker is mounted on the eccentric member and is supported at a circumferential point in an articulated manner on a supporting lever which is held on the frame. The rocker is provided for the transmission of a movement imparted to the rocker by the eccentric member. The rocker is connected by way of a connecting rod with a control lever of the primary shaft provided for the additional rotational movement.

Currently known drive mechanisms use a large eccentric of mass around 7 Kilograms which is rotated non-uniformly to provide desired motion to the detaching rollers and the rocker weighing about 7 Kilograms which is oscillated to 240mm. Also, with the existing centers of the combing cylinder shaft, nipper shaft and differential centers, the linkage with efficient configurations or transmission angles between links are complicated to construct. Additionally, larger diameter of the eccentric member adds to the rubbing surface velocities, thereby requiring higher bearing properties and producing enormous heat.

Further, at higher machine speeds (e.g., more than 500 nips per minute), the driving mechanism may induce higher unbalanced reaction forces due to the acceleration of higher masses and vibrations due to inefficient leverage positions of links. Also, at higher machine speeds, the drive mechanism consumes approximately about 40% of power. Moreover, the existing driving mechanism consist of large number of moving components and complicated linkages, all of which requires higher manufacturing precision and accuracy that may add up to the overall cost of the textile combing machine.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved linkage mechanism for driving detaching rollers and achieve more speed by simplified linkages.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the number of components of the driving mechanism for detaching rollers and precisely control the detaching roller movements.

Yet another object of the present invention is to minimize size of working components thereby reduce the machine vibration and power consumption.

Further another object of the present invention is to provide an efficient compact linkage using an existing comb shaft and nipper shaft centers as ground points.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a drive mechanism for a textile combing machine.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a drive mechanism for a textile combing machine includes a rocker member having a protuberant portion, and a linking member pivotally coupled to the protuberant portion of the rocker member via a first pin.

The drive mechanism further includes an output shaft drivingly coupled to the linking member via a bracket member, where the output shaft provides superimposed movement to detaching rollers of the textile combing machine based on the movement of the rocker member.

According to another embodiment of the present invention an apparatus for a textile combing machine includes an input shaft, a drive mechanism mounted on the input shaft, a differential gear mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism, and a pair of detaching rollers drivingly coupled to the differential gear mechanism. The drive mechanism includes an eccentric member mounted on the input shaft, and a rocker member having a protuberant portion and concentrically mounted on the eccentric member. The drive mechanism also includes a linking member pivotally coupled to the protuberant portion of the rocker member using a first pin, and an output shaft connected to the linking member via a bracket member, where the output shaft provides superimposed movement to the pair of detaching rollers based on the movement of the rocker member via the differential gear mechanism.

The systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of an example and not limited to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation illustrating a conventional driving mechanism for detaching roller of a textile combing machine, in the context of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation illustrating a drive mechanism for detaching rollers of a textile combing machine, according to one embodiment; and

Figure 3 is cross-sectional view of a detaching roller assembly implementing the drive mechanism of Figure 2, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a drive mechanism for a textile combing machine. In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation illustrating a drive mechanism (200) for detaching rollers of a textile combing machine, according to one embodiment. In Figure 2, the driving mechanism (200) includes an eccentric member (7) mounted on the input shaft, and a rocker member (8) having a protuberant portion (9) and concentrically mounted on the eccentric member (7). The drive mechanism (200) also includes a linking member (11) pivotally coupled to the protuberant portion (9) of the rocker member (8) using a pin (13), and an output shaft (16) connected to the linking member (11) via a bracket member (15). The linking member (11) is coupled to the bracket member (15) using pin (14). The output shaft (16) is coupled to a differential gear mechanism (17) which provides superimposed movement to detaching rollers (25) and (26) based on the movement from the output shaft (16). The drive mechanism (200) further includes a lever (10) pivotally coupled to the protuberant portion (9) via the pin (13). The other end of the lever (10) is mounted on a nipple shaft (12) of a nipper apparatus.

With reference to Figure 2 and Figure 3, a drive shaft (2) receives drive form driving means (not shown) via a pulley wheel (1) and transmits the drive to a gear wheel (4) through a gear (3). The gear wheel (4) is connected to a combing cylinder shaft (5) in which a combing cylinder (6), the eccentric member (7) and a gear wheel (18) are mounted. The rocker member (8) is mounted concentrically on the eccentric member (7) and is pivotally connected on the periphery through the protuberant portion (9) by means of the pin (13). The pin (13) supportively connects one end of the supporting lever (10) and one end of the linking member (11) while the other end of the supporting lever (10) is rotatably mounted on the bottom nipper shaft (12) and the alternate end of the linking member (11) is supportively connected to the lower end of a bracket (15). The upper end of the bracket (15) is connected to the output shaft (16) (also referred as differential gear shaft) which drives one side sun wheel (27) of the differential gear assembly (17).

Another input drive is taken from the combing cylinder shaft (5) and is transmitted to an arm gear (20) of the differential gear assembly (17) through the gear wheel (18), and intermediate gear (19). The gear (23) is directly coupled on the other side output sun wheel (21) of differential gear mechanism (17) which directly engages with gear wheels (22, 24 ) mounted on the detaching rollers (25) and (26).

In operation, the combing cylinder shaft (5) receives drive from driving means (not shown) through the pulley wheel (1), the drive shaft (2), the gear (3) and the gear wheel (4). The combing cylinder shaft (5) drives the eccentric (7) which in turn drives the concentrically mounted rocker member (8). Since, the protuberant portion (9) of the rocker (8) is pivotally connected to the supporting lever (10) and the linking member (11) by means of the connecting pin (13), the protuberant portion (9) exerts a curvilinear motion; whereas the supporting lever (10) is rotatably supported by the bottom nipper shaft (12). Since the top portion of the bracket (15) is coupled with the differential gear shaft (16) and its lower portion is supportively connected to the linking member (11), the bracket (15) receives a pivoted oscillatory motion by the action of protuberant portion (9). Thus the transmission angle (a) at left & right extreme of bracket (15) is maintained around 90° which results in limited feed rotation of the differential gear shaft (16) in forward and reverse direction. Hence, a machine speed greater than 500 nips/min can be achieved with considerably lesser reaction forces and power.

Referring to Figure 3, the drive from the differential gear shaft (16) is transmitted to differential gear assembly (17) and an another input drive is received from the combing cylinder shaft (5) through the gear wheel (18), the intermediate gear (19) and the arm gear (20). As a result, the differential gear shaft (16) obtains a fast forward movement and a moderate slower return movement with a stationary phase. Hence, the output of the differential gear assembly (17) transmits superimposed movement to the detaching rollers (25) & (26) through the sun wheel (21), and the gears (22), (23), (24).

The present invention helps minimize machine vibration at higher speed using simplified linkages for driving the detaching rollers and nippers. Further, limited movement of linkages results in lesser mass acceleration. Moreover, the present invention helps reduce vibration, lesser wear and tear of working components and effective power consumption due to less reaction forces and use of light weight eccentric and rocker assembly.

Additionally, because of the reduced eccentric diameter, the surface velocity of rubbing parts is lower than the existing linkage mechanism. Hence, the life of bearing and dynamic performances is enhanced.

A skilled person will recognize that many suitable designs of the systems and processes may be substituted for or used in addition to the configurations described above. It should be understood that the implementation of other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the invention and its various aspects will be apparent to one ordinarily skilled in the art, and that the invention is not limited by the exemplary embodiments described herein and in the claims. Therefore, it is contemplated to cover the present embodiments of the invention and any and all modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed and claimed herein. The contents of all references cited are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

We Claim:

1. A drive mechanism for a textile combing machine comprising:

a rocker member having a protuberant portion;

a linking member pivotally coupled to the protuberant portion of the rocker member via a first pin; and

an output shaft drivingly coupled to the linking member via a bracket member, wherein the output shaft provides superimposed movement to detaching rollers of the textile combing machine based on the movement of the rocker member.

2. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprises an eccentric member mounted on an input shaft, wherein the input shaft is coupled to an output shaft of a combing cylinder.

3. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the rocker member is concentrically mounted on the eccentric member such that the rocker member receives rotary movement from the input shaft of the combing cylinder.

4. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the output shaft provides superimposed movement to the detaching rollers via a differential gear mechanism.

5. The drive mechanism of claim 4, further comprises a lever pivotally coupled to the protuberant portion of the rocker member via the first pin.

6. The drive mechanism of claim 5, wherein other end of the lever is mounted on a nipple shaft for providing movement to a nipper apparatus.

7. The drive mechanism of claim 6, wherein the linking member is connected to the bracket member via a second pin.

8. The drive mechanism of claim 7, wherein the protuberant portion of the rocker member, the linking member, and the lever are pivotally connected to each other using the first pin such that the protuberant portion of the rocker member generates a curvilinear motion due to the rotary motion of the rocker member.

9. The drive mechanism of claim 8, wherein the linking member provides pivoted oscillatory motion to the bracket member due to curvilinear motion of the protuberant portion of the rocker member.

10. The drive mechanism of claim 9, wherein the bracket member provides limited speed rotation to the output shaft in forward and reverse direction.

11. The drive mechanism of claim 10, wherein the output shaft provides a fast forward movement and moderate slower return movement with a stationary phase to the detaching rollers via the differential gear mechanism.

12. An apparatus for a textile combing machine, comprising:

an input shaft;

a drive mechanism mounted on the input shaft;

a differential gear mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism; and

a pair of detaching rollers drivingly coupled to the differential gear mechanism, characterized in that is the drive mechanism comprising:

an eccentric member mounted on the input shaft;

a rocker member having a protuberant portion and concentrically mounted on the eccentric member;

a linking member pivotally coupled to the protuberant portion of the rocker member using a first pin; and

an output shaft drivingly coupled to the linking member via a bracket member, wherein the output shaft provides superimposed movement to the pair of detaching rollers based on the movement of the rocker member via the differential gear mechanism.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the input shaft is drivingly coupled to an output shaft of a combing cylinder of the textile combing machine.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the drive mechanism further comprises a lever pivotally coupled to the protuberant portion of the rocker member via the first pin.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein other end of the lever is mounted on a nipple shaft for providing movement to a nipper apparatus of the textile combing machine.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the linking member is connected to the bracket member via a second pin.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the protuberant portion of the rocker member, the linking member, and the lever are pivotally connected to each other using the first pin such that the protuberant portion of the rocker member generates a curvilinear motion due to the rotary motion of the rocker member.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the linking member provides pivoted oscillatory motion to the bracket member due to curvilinear motion of the protuberant portion of the rocker member.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the bracket member provides limited speed rotation to the output shaft of the drive mechanism in forward and reverse direction.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the differential gear mechanism attains a fast forward movement and moderate slower return movement with a stationary phase based on the movement of the output shaft of the drive mechanism.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the differential gear mechanism receives a first drive from the output shaft of the combing cylinder and a second drive from the output shaft of the drive mechanism in such a way that the differential gear mechanism provides non-uniform superimposed movement to the pair of detaching rollers.

22. A drive mechanism and apparatus described herein are illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.