DESC:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to textile spinning preparatory machine. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to feeding duct of carding machine. More specifically, the invention relates to removal of fibre lapping at the feeding apparatus of carding machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a spinning industry, the textile fibers which are compressed in the form of bales are initially opened into small tufts by the bale plucking machine. These small tufts are further cleaned and blended uniformly by cleaning and blending machines. The uniformly blended fibers from blowroom machines can be transferred to series of carding machines either by pneumatic conveying pipeline or by feeding the lap produced by scutching machine. In a modern spinning industry, pneumatic conveying means is preferred to transport the textile fibers. The fibers which are conveyed in the form of fibre flocks are entered into the chute feed of carding machine. Fibre flocks are filled at chute feed either continuously or intermittently as required. The feeding and opening roller mechanism of chute arrangement, processes the small tufts of fibers into a batt form to improve the working efficiency of carding machine.

The fibre batt entering the feed duct and then to feed plate of card is stripped by a feed roller and subsequently passes over the licker-in roller, where large sized impurities are removed. The opening action at licker-in area reduces the load of carding action between main cylinder and revolving flats. The carding zone is the gap between the wire points of revolving flats and main cylinder or drum. In carding zone, the fibers are individually opened and aligned parallel to each other. The fine impurities and neps are removed at the carding zone, which ultimately reduces the final yarn imperfection. The well oriented fibre web is then stripped by doffer roller and condensed into sliver form, which can be supplied to further spinning preparatory machines.

Since the fibre batt is conveyed to card through pneumatic means, supplying a fibre sheet at uniform density is a tedious process. The fibre batt has to be uniformly supplied to the feed duct of the carding machine. Whenever a fibre lapping or double lap occurs at feeding duct, it should be removed or else the sliver quality will be affected. The poor uniformity of sliver ultimately results in an increased imperfection of the final yarn product.

In a carding machine, textile fibers are fed through feeding apparatus. The feed plate is adjusted according to the circumference of feed roller to enhance the passage of fibre batt from feed duct to feed roller. The running direction of feed roller and licker-in are in opposite direction to each other. Since the outer surface of said rollers are covered by wire clothing, the fibers are easily stripped from the feed roller to licker-in. During stripping action, the impurities which are fallen under gravity are collected by the negative pressure at waste collection system. Said waste collection system extends from feed duct to licker-in roller.

Normally the amount of fibre material entering the feed roller is monitored to control the feed variation at card. When the fibre batt is supplied more than specified set limit, an event called ‘double lapping’ occurs, which lifts the feed plate from its position. Whenever the mechanical displacement of feed plate is sensed by corresponding sensor, the carding machine is stopped immediately and the feed roller is rotated in reverse direction. The reverse rotation of feed roller is required to remove the thick fibre material or double lap manually. If the machine is run further without removing the thick material or double lap, the machine will detect again the choking and stop.

Therefore, the machine operator has to reach the feeding duct and loosen the thick batt and remove the choked fibre material manually. After loosening the batt, the machine is restarted to run further. Thus the efficiency of carding machine is reduced due to manual intervention for cleaning the double lap.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The main objective of present invention is to remove double lap at the feeding apparatus of carding machine.

Another objective of present invention is to avoid manual intervention to remove double lap and in particular make it possible to supply more even fibre batt to the feeding apparatus of card.

Further objective of present invention is to improve the efficiency of card by automatic removal means of double lap to avoid machine stoppage and to reduce operator fatigue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

One aspect of present invention is to provide a fibre feeding arrangement in a carding machine, comprising:
a feed roller and a feed plate; said feed plate allow excursions of fibre towards and away from the feed roller by means of a return spring mechanism as a function of the thickness of fiber material passing through a gap between said feed roller and said feed plate;
the improvement comprising a plurality of sensor element connected to said feed plate and arranged for measuring said gap between said feed roller and said feed plate and generate signal in case said gap exceeds a pre-set limit, due to excursion of thick fibre batt; and control means adapted to receive said signal and direct the feed roller to rotate in reverse direction based on said signal and activates a primary nozzle positioned at front side of said feed plate to blow air to said thick fibre to disentangle.

According to an embodiment of present invention, the fibre feeding arrangement comprises a feed plate which is divided into plurality of segments.

According to an embodiment of present invention, each segment of the feed plate has at least a sensor for sensing double lapping and at least a primary nozzle positioned to blow air and to remove the said double lapping.

According to an embodiment of present invention, the fibre feeding arrangement comprises at least a secondary blow nozzle mounted at rear side of said feed plate located above the feed roller to disentangle the double lapping fibre in that area.

According to another embodiment of present invention, said fibre feeding arrangement comprises a waste collection system positioned below the feed roller for collecting all the impurities at feeding zone of the carding machine; wherein said control means is adapted to move an actuating means in linear direction configured for closing/ opening of a cover of said waste collection system.

According to a preferred embodiment, when the cover opens by retraction of said actuating means, any of the nozzle is adapted to blow the air on thick fibre material to move towards the waste collection system and the waste collection system is adapted to suck the thick fibre material blown by primary nozzle and once the suction of the thick fibre material is completed, the actuating means is adapted to expand to move the cover into a closed position thus stopping the removal of the fibre material to prevent the loss of good fibers.

Thus the double lap from fibre batt is removed without manual intervention through either by blowing action of air nozzle or by blowing action along with automatic opening and closing of duct cover.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure - 1 shows the feeding zone of a known carding machine.
Figure - 2 illustrates the double lap sensing device at the feed plate of carding machine according to present invention
Figure - 3 represents the enlarged view of double lap sensing device at the feed plate of carding machine according to present invention
Figure - 4 illustrates the air blow nozzle arrangement at the feed plate according to present invention
Figure - 5 illustrates the another embodiment of air blow nozzle along with auto opening and closing duct cover of present invention
Figure - 6 illustrates the yet another position of air blow nozzle along with auto opening and closing duct cover of present invention.

People skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the various embodiments set forth herein, rather, these various embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the present disclosure. Furthermore, a detailed description of other parts will not be provided not to make the present disclosure unclear. Like reference numerals in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.

The present invention relates to a fibre feeding arrangement in a carding machine, comprising:
a feed roller and a feed plate; said feed plate allow excursions of fibre towards and away from the feed roller by means of a return spring mechanism as a function of the thickness of fiber material passing through a gap between said feed roller and said feed plate;
the improvement comprising a plurality of sensor element connected to said feed plate and arranged for measuring said gap between said feed roller and said feed plate and generate signal in case said gap exceeds a pre-set limit due to excursion of thick fibre batt; and control means adapted to receive said signal and direct the feed roller to rotate in reverse direction based on said signal and activate a primary nozzle positioned at front side of said feed plate to blow air to said thick fibre to disentangle.

According to an embodiment of present invention, the fibre feeding arrangement comprises a feed plate which is divided into plurality of segments.

According to an embodiment of present invention, each segment of the feed plate has at least a sensor for sensing double lapping and at least a primary nozzle positioned to blow air and to remove the said double lapping.

According to the present invention, at least a primary air blowing nozzle is mounted on the feed plate to blow the air on feed material to remove the double lap thick material. During the occurrence of double lap, the feed roller is rotated in reverse direction and the air nozzle blows air on double lapped material to loosen the thick material, so that machine can run without removing double lap material manually.

According to another embodiment of present invention, if the air blown from the at least a primary air blowing nozzle failed to loosen the thick material and leads to double lap fault again without transferring material to licker-in, the process of blowing air will be repeated upto two attempts. If that is not successful, an actuator opens the duct cover which is located under the feeding apparatus. At the same time, the air nozzle blows air on double lapped material, so that the material is removed from feeding apparatus and same is diverted down and collected by waste collection system. Once the double lap is removed from the fibre batt, the actuator immediately closes the duct cover to avoid the loss of fibre batt.

Thus the double lap from fibre batt is removed without manual intervention through either by blowing action of air nozzle or by blowing action along with automatic opening and closing of duct cover.

Some of the exemplary embodiment of present invention are provided below:

Figure-1 shows the feeding zone of the known carding machine. The fibers from the blowroom line enters into the feed duct of card through pneumatic pipeline. The fibre batt entering into the feed duct passes through the gap between the plurality of feed plates (16-20) and the feed roller (4). Said feed plates are divided into five segment as feed plate LH (16), feed plate LH Middle (17), feed plate Middle (18), feed plate RH Middle (19) and feed plate RH (20). Every segment of feed plate has return spring mechanism (12) so that feed plate (16-20) become self-adjusted according to the supply thickness/density of feed batt. The amount of material entering between the feed plate and feed roller (4) is monitored continuously to prevent any feed variation. Since there is a segmental mounting of feed plate, during the occurrence of feed thickness variation, or when feed material exceeding the specified set limit, it is not required to lift the entire feed pate as a whole. Only the particular segment in which feed variation occurred can be lifted by spring mechanism (12). Based on the displacement of feed plate, the entry of thick material is identified and the machine is stopped. Then the feed roller (4) is rotated in reverse direction and the thick material is removed manually in the existing technology.

Figure-2 of the drawings illustrates the double lap sensing device at the feed plate of carding machine according to present invention. The feed plate assembly of the carding machine is divided into five segments as feed plate LH (16), feed plate LH Middle (17), feed plate Middle (18), feed plate RH Middle (19), feed plate RH (20). The segments of feed plates are adjusted according to the supply thickness/density of feed batt when the batt reaches the circumference of the feed roller (4). Each segment of feed plate has sensing zone individually. If any feed plate reaches more than the specified limit of feed material, the feed roller (4) is rotated in reverse direction and air is blown through the respective primary air nozzle / sensing zone (21, 22, 23, 24, 25). The sensing zone-LH (21), sensing zone-LH Middle (22), sensing zone-Middle (23), sensing zone-RH Middle (24), sensing zone-RH (25), are respectively mounted on their corresponding segments of feed plate LH (16), feed plate LH Middle (17), feed plate Middle (18), feed plate RH Middle (19) and feed plate RH (20). Based on the amount of feed material, the respective feed plate zone is lifted from its position. Whenever the feed plate lifted beyond the predetermined gap between the feed roller (4) and feed plate, the sensing zone senses the displacement of feed plate from specified set limit.

Figure - 3 shows the enlarged view of double lap sensing device at the feed plate of carding machine according to present invention. For representation purpose, only the feed plate-LH (16) is explained in line with the inventive feature of the present embodiment. The feed plate-LH (16) is placed above the feed roller (4) and the nozzle / sensing zone LH (21) is mounted on the feed plate LH (16). During the entry of thick fibre batt, it is not required to lift all the five segments of feed plate shown in Figure-2. If thick material enters into the LH zone, only the feed plate segment at LH zone (16) is lifted from the nearest position of feed roller (4). Whenever the feed plate segment LH (16) is lifted beyond the predetermined threshold set limit, the sensing zone LH (21) identifies the displacement condition as a double lapping according to the present invention.

Figure - 4 of the drawings illustrates the enlarged view of first embodiment of Primary air blow nozzle (7), shown in Figure-6 at front side of feed plate and Secondary air blow nozzle (14) at rear side / delivery duct according to present invention wherein the secondary air blow nozzle (14) is mounted on Delivery duct at rear side of feed plate (3) which is located above the feed roller (4). As mentioned in Figure-3 during the entry of thick fibre batt (2), the feed plate segment is displaced from its position. Whenever a feed plate segment is lifted beyond the threshold gap, the sensing zone monitors the displacement and the air blow in primary nozzle (7) is activated to blow the air. Thus the air is blown from the primary nozzle (7) on the thick/double lapped fibre material (2) along the air blow path. The blowing action of air from primary nozzle (7) disentangles the fibers of said double lap and reduces the bulkiness of fibre batt without stopping the machine. Thereby the necessity of manual intervention to remove double lap without reducing the machine efficiency is achieved.

Figure - 5 depicts a further embodiment of the present invention wherein an air blow nozzle along with auto opening and closing duct cover is provided. The fibre batt (2) stored at the chute feed enters into the carding machine through the feed duct (1). The feed plate (3) is mounted above the feed roller (4) as described in aforesaid embodiment. The gap between the feed roller (4) and the segments of feed plate (1) as shown in Figure-1, Figure-2 and Figure-3 are adjusted according to the supply thickness/density of feed batt when the batt reaches the circumference of feed roller (4). The feed material (2) from the feed duct (1) passes in between the feed roller (4) and feed plate (3). During the entry of fibre batt (2), feed plate (3) is lifted or lowered depending upon the thickness of fibre batt passing through. This lifting or lowering action is assisted by the spring-bolt arrangement (12) and this displacement of feed plate (3) is monitored consistently by sensing zone (13) according to the present invention. Then the licker-in roller (5) strips the textile fibers from feed roller (4) and transfers the said fibre to main cylinder of carding machine. The opening action of fibre batt takes place between the wire points of feed roller (4) and licker-in (5). During the opening of fibre sheet, large impurities which are fallen under gravity is collected by waste collection system (6). The waste collection system (6) is extended to feed duct (1) from licker-in (5) for collecting all the impurities at feeding zone of card.

Whenever a double lap or thick feed material (2) enters, the feed plate (3) is lifted proportionate to the material thickness which is sensed by sensing zone (13). As explained in first embodiment, the primary nozzle (7) blows air on double lapped feed material (2) to disentangle the flocked fibers into loosened fibre mass. During this process, the duct cover (8) is at closed position wherein the actuator (9) is at lifted position. If the air blown by primary nozzle (7) failed to reduce the thickness/bulkiness of material, the above mentioned air blowing process is repeated upto two attempts. If said attempts are not successful, the actuator (9) retracts down to the position (11) and pulls duct cover to reach the open position (10) around the hinge point.

For the above process, the actuator (9) opens the duct cover (8) by pulling the duct cover to open position (10). When the duct cover (8) reaches the open position (10), the primary nozzle (7) blows the air on thick fibre material (2) to move towards the waste collection system (6). Then the waste collection system (6) sucks the thick fibre material bunch blown by primary nozzle (7). Once the suction of double lapped material is completed, the actuator (9) is lifted up to the home position (9) to move the duct cover into a closed position (8). Thus the duct cover is immediately closed after the removal of double lap to prevent the further loss of good fibers.

Occasionally the thickness of feed material (2) is not reduced by blowing action of nozzle (7), the thick fibre batt (2) is removed by auto opening and closing action of duct cover along with the action of suction waste collection system (6). Hence the double lapping is removed automatically without stopping of carding machine and also reduces the operator fatigue.

Figure - 6 illustrates the alternate position of air blow nozzle along with auto opening and closing duct cover of present invention as mentioned in Figure-5. When double lapping occurs, the feed plate (3) is lifted by spring action (12). The sensing zone (13) mounted on feed plate (3) continuously monitors the displacement of feed plate (3). Whenever the feed plate (3) displacement exceeded beyond the pre-set value, the sensing zone (13) identifies the same and the nozzle (7, 14) is activated. Nozzle blows air on double lap (2) in opposite direction of the feed path to reduce the thickness of material by disentanglement of aggregated fibre. Here the nozzle is either mounted on feed point nozzle (7) or on delivery point nozzle (14) of feed plate (3) for effective blowing action. In addition to that, the present invention enhances the convenience of mounting nozzle on feed plate (3). When the nozzle failed to reduce the thickness of double lap (2) for upto two attempts, the duct cover is moved to open position (10). The actuator moves down to the position (11) to open the duct cover. Simultaneously the double lap (2) is absorbed by waste collection system (6). Then the actuator is lifted up to a position (9) to move the duct cover to a closed position (8). Thus the actuator is lifted up to close the duct cover to prevent unnecessary loss of fibre batt.

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. It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiment of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiment may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

Reference Numerals
1-Feed duct, 2- Fibre material / batt, 3-Feed plate, 4-Feed roller, 5-Licker-in, 6-Waste collection system, 7-Primary Air nozzle at feed point of feed plate (3), 8-Duct cover at closed position, 9-Actuator at lifted position, 10-Duct cover at open position, 11-Actuator at down position, 12-Spring mechanism of feed plate (3), 13-Sensing zone at feed plate (3), 14-Secondary Air nozzle at delivery point of feed plate (3), 15-Air blow path.

The feed plate (3) of carding machine is divided into five segments as feed plate LH (16), feed plate LH Middle (17), feed plate Middle (18), feed plate RH Middle (19), feed plate RH (20), the sensing zone (13) at feed plate (3) is divided into five segments as sensing zone LH (21), sensing zone LH Middle (22), sensing zone Middle (23), sensing zone RH Middle (24), sensing zone RH (25)
,CLAIMS:
1. A fibre feeding arrangement in a carding machine, comprising:
a feed roller (4) and a feed plate (3); said feed plate (3) allow excursions of fibre towards and away from the feed roller (4) by means of a return spring mechanism (12) as a function of the thickness of fiber material passing through a gap between said feed roller (4) and said feed plate (3);
a plurality of sensor element connected to said feed plate (3) and arranged for measuring said gap between said feed roller (4) and said feed plate (3) and generate signal in case said gap exceeds a pre-set limit due to excursion of thick fibre batt; and control means adapted to receive said signal and direct the feed roller (4) to rotate in reverse direction based on said signal and activate a primary nozzle (7) positioned at front side of said feed plate (3) to blow air on said thick fibre to disentangle.

2. The fibre feeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed plate (3) is divided into plurality of segments.

3. The fibre feeding arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein each segment of the feed plate (3) has at least a sensor (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) for sensing double lapping and the feed point of the feed plate (3) has at least a primary nozzle (7) positioned to blow air and to remove the said double lapping.

4. The fibre feeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a secondary blow nozzle (14) is mounted at rear side of said feed plate (3) located above the feed roller (4) to disentangle the double lapping fibre in that area.

5. The fibre feeding arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a waste collection system (6) is positioned below the feed roller (4) for collecting all the impurities at feeding zone of the carding machine; and wherein said control means is adapted to control linear movement of an actuating means (9) configured for closing/ opening of a cover (10) of said waste collection system (6).

6. The fibre feeding arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cover (10) is opened by retraction of said actuating means (9) and the primary nozzle (7) is adapted to blow the air on thick fibre material to move towards the waste collection system (6).

7. The fibre feeding arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the waste collection system (6) is adapted to suck the thick fibre material blown by primary nozzle (7) and once the suction of the thick fibre material is completed, the actuating means (9) is adapted to expand to close the cover (10) thus stopping the removal of the fibre material to prevent the loss of good fibers.