DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates in general to the field of textile machinery. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a textile spinning preparatory machine. Further embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a mechanism for driving a detaching rollers of a textile combing machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Textile spinning preparatory machines like combing machines are employed in the textile industry for removing short fibre from a feed lap. The process of combing may be done by synchronous operations of various units including nipper, comb and detaching rollers, where nipper clamps the input fibre tufts at rear end and so front end is combed by continuously rotating the circular comb. Whole nipper arrangements are forwarded to the detach area where the pair of detaching rollers are employed. The detaching roller may draw the combed tufts from nipper and perform piecing of single fleece in a manner of joining one over the other to form an endless combed sliver. The detaching rollers may be reciprocated in both forward and backward movements to do piecing operation. It is also necessary to rotate detaching rollers in higher speeds during forward movement than backward movement to form an endless combed sliver. During the process, alike slivers produced from each head of the combing machine is drafted and transported to coiling by calendering and take off rollers.

Referring to FIG.1, it illustrates a conventional combing machine drive arrangement (1). The arrangement (1) comprises common drive element (5) driven by a main motor, which drives the nipper, detaching rollers and comb thorough linkage mechanisms or gear trains. Oscillating movement of bottom nipper and top nipper may be achieved through variable speed drive systems such as simple four bar or slider crank mechanism. Unidirectional continuous rotary variable speed of comb drive is achieved through linkage or non-circular gear mechanism (4). Further, bidirectional rotary variable speed of the detaching rollers (8) may be achieved through the differential (7) whose inputs are taken from constant speed drive systems such as gear train from the common drive element (5) and variable input drive systems (4, 6) such as eight bar or six bar mechanisms. Thus, the pilgrim step motion of detaching roller assembly (8) may be produced by inputs from constant speed drive systems and variable input drive systems. Thereby the nipper, comb and detaching rollers are operated in a synchronous way to get the combing and piecing operations in an effective way.

During normal operation of the combing machine, a continuously fluctuating variable load arise from the nipper drive, detaching roller drive and a comb drive. This continuous variable load is being carried by the common drive element (5) at different positions. The common drive element (5) as shown in FIG. 2, comprises a plurality of load carrying regions (9,10,11,12). Referring to FIGS 1 and 2, the region (9) carries the load of an eccentrically mounted pin (16) which is driven from the slider crank mechanism of the nipper drive (3). Region (10) carries a sum of the load of the eccentric cam which is rigidly mounted with a rotational adjustable disc coupled on the face drives of the variable speed linkages mechanism (4) and the load of the region (11). Region (11) carries the sum of the load from the arm gear (14b) of the differential gear drive (7) of detaching roller mechanism through an intermediate gear (14a) and the load of the region (12). Region (12) carries the load from the linkage mechanism or a non-circular gear train which drives the comb shaft (2). Among the above said regions, the region (11) further comprises sub-regions (13 ,15) whose section is limited by the dimensions of the gear (14). The minimum diameter of the gear portion lies at its root circle. A gear made on the shaft to be designed such that there should not be any high stress concentrated points such as sharp corners and edges. To avoid these high stress points, enough relief neck portion is to be given for relieving the gear hob cutter. The diameter of this neck portion cannot be kept more than the gear root circle diameter. Thus, a limitation is imposed on the shaft dimensions. While the combing machine runs, the common drive element (5) undergoes higher stress or torque in the regions adjacent to the gears because of the reduced cross-sectional area of the sub regions (13,15) on said common drive element (5).

In this type of drive arrangement, operating speed of the machine is limited due to high stress in common drive element. Too high stress or prolonged continuous stress may break the common drive shaft. Hence it is necessary to increase the load carrying capacity of the common drive element to ensure its working without failure during entire life of the machine.

Load carrying capacity of the common drive element may be improved by increasing the size of the gear. But, increase in size of the gear increases the size of almost all other drive components which adds a considerable amount of inertia to the adjacent drive systems resulting in increased reaction forces and power loss. The above said limitations in turn limits the diameter at the adjacent section of the gear to the dimension beyond which it cannot be increased. This also limits the torque and load carrying capacity of the common drive element.
In the known drive arrangement as described in EP 0418 472, both the inputs to the differential drive are variable drive wherein one being complicated eight bar mechanism and the other being four bar mechanism. Attempts have been made in this system to eliminate the above said disadvantages. But, these drive arrangements also have disadvantage of complicated drive arrangement, large number of moving components with continuous acceleration and deceleration, higher reaction forces and heat generation due to more no of sliding joints, which are disadvantageous at higher operating speeds.

The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above or any other limitation associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One or more shortcomings of the conventional mechanism are overcome by mechanism as disclosed and additional advantages are provided through the assembly as described in the present disclosure.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure

In one non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, a mechanism for driving detaching rollers of the textile combing machine is disclosed. This mechanism comprises of a differential unit that is coupled to the detaching rollers, wherein the differential unit is configured to impart rotary and reciprocating movement to the detaching rollers. A common drive element is configured to receive power from a prime mover is provided in the mechanism. The common drive element is coupled to the differential unit to provide variable drive speed to the differential unit. It further comprises of a main drive element configured to receive power from a prime mover, wherein the main drive element is coupled to the differential unit to provide a constant speed drive to the differential unit.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the cross section of the common drive element is either of uniform cross section or gradually reducing cross section.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the common drive element includes gear train which includes non-circular gears as the driving member.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the gear train drives the variable dive unit, the variable drive unit is coupled to the differential unit to input variable speed to the differential unit.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the mechanism further comprises of an intermediate shaft between the main drive shaft and the differential unit. The main drive shaft and the intermediate shaft includes a plurality of gears.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, wherein the differential unit is configured to impart rotary movement to the detaching rollers selectively in either one of the directions.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, wherein the differential unit is a planetary differential gear unit comprising sun gear driven by linkage mechanism and arm gear driven through additional driving gears of fiber transmitting rollers such as take-off rollers, calender rollers, delivery conveyor rollers, drafting rollers, coilers and/or drafting rollers.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, wherein the differential gear unit receives both inputs from the main drive shaft through gear train with gears having at least two different modules.

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

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended description. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a conventional drive arrangement of the combing machine.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a common drive element of the conventional combing machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of a drive mechanism for the detaching roller of the combing machine, according an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrates different variation of the common drive element of the mechanism, according an embodiment of present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the mechanism illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the description of the disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the scope of the disclosure. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, as to assembly, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

In the present disclosure, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the specification, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an assembly that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or method. In other words, one or more elements in an assembly proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly.

Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses a mechanism for driving detaching rollers of a combing machine. The combing machine includes a pair of detaching rollers among other components for carrying out piecing operation of the combed tufts. The detaching rollers reciprocated in both forward and backward movements to do the piecing operation. It is also necessary to rotate detaching rollers in higher speeds during forward movement than backward movement to form an endless combed sliver. The mechanism according to embodiments of the disclosure delivers both constant speed drive and a variable speed drive to the detaching rollers.

The mechanism includes a common drive element and a main shaft. The common drive element is used to drive the nipper drive, the comber drive, detaching rollers and further process involved in the textile preparatory process. The common drive element and the main shaft are configured to receive power from the prime mover such as motor and operate the mechanism. The common drive element is configured with a gear train that is configured to provide a variable input to the differential unit. These gear trains are coupled with a differential unit through a differential arm. The main shaft provides a constant drive input to the differential unit. The detaching rollers are coupled to the differential unit such that when the differential unit receives a drive from the constant drive unit (of the main shaft) and the variable drive unit (of the common drive element), the detaching rollers operates. The detaching rollers reciprocate backward and forward and rotate in either of the direction selectively.

Henceforth, the present disclosure is explained with the help of one or more figures of exemplary embodiments. However, such exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. The segment of textile spinning machine shown in figures is of one particular configuration, it is to be noted that slight variations in configuration of the segment of textile spinning machine are to be considered as part of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure which illustrates a schematic view of a mechanism (1) for driving the detaching rollers (8) of the combing machine. The combing machine consists of a common drive element (20) which runs the nipper drive (3) and the variable input drive (6), wherein the variable input drive (6) is coupled to the planetary differential gear unit (7). The mechanism (1) also includes a main shaft (19) further comprises of a compound gear arrangement (17) that is configured to run the differential unit (7) and the other processes further involved in the textile preparatory process. The common drive element (20) and the main shaft (19) are configured to receive power from a prime mover such as main motor (not shown) of the combing machine.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the planetary differential gear unit (7) comprises a sun gear driven by linkage mechanism and differential arm gear (18) which is coupled to the detaching rollers (8) through a gear train. Said arm gear (18) driven through additional driving gears of fibre transmitting rollers according to the requirement. The fibre transmitting rollers are take-off rollers, calender rollers, delivery conveyor rollers, drafting rollers, coilers and/or drafting calender rollers etc. Either one of the two differential input drives of the detaching rollers (8) is taken through the variable speed drive (6). The input for the variable speed drive is receivable from the constant speed drive systems such as gear train (4) configured on the common drive element (20). Another constant speed drive is received from the main shaft (19) to the differential arm gear (18). This is done through a separate compound gear train (17). The constant speed drive to the main shaft (19) is preferably taken from the main drive element using a gear train in which the plurality gears of compound gear train (17) has the same axis of rotation. The driving gear (17a) of the compound gear train (17) is rigidly fixed in preferential position on the drive shaft (19). It comprises plurality of transmission gears (17b, 17c, 17d, 17e, 17f). It is advantageous when the differential gear unit (7) receives both inputs from the main drive shaft (19) though gear train with gears having at least two different modules.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a pair of gears (17e, 17f) of the plurality of transmission gears (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d,17e,17f) are mounted over the main drive shaft (19). The pair of gears (17e, 17f) of the plurality of transmission gears (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e, 17f) are integrated double gears having different module. Similarly, the remaining gears (17b, 17c and 17d) of the plurality of transmission gears (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d,17e,17f) are integrated triple gear arrangement. This triple gear is freely rotatably mounted over the intermediate drive shaft (24) which is driving other delivery rollers. Therefore, the constant drive from the main shaft (19) is transmitted to the remaining gears (17b, 17c, 17d) through the driving gear (17a) of the plurality of transmission gears (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e, 17f). One gear (17c) of the plurality of transmission gears (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e, 17f) drives other elements such as take-off roller and calender roller through separate gear train.

Drive is further transmitted from the gear (17d) of the plurality of transmission gears (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e, 17f) to gear (17e) of the plurality of transmission gears (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d,17e,17f) and then to differential arm gear (18) through the gear (17f) of the plurality of transmission gears (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e, 17f). The axis of rotation of the gear (17d) and gear (17f) of the plurality of transmission gears (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d,17e,17f) of the compound gear train (17) is in the same line and thus the constant speed drive is transmitted to the differential unit (7) to drive the detaching rollers (8). At least three gears in the compound gear train (17) for the differential unit (7) has the same axis of rotation in such a way that at least a module of one gear is different from the other gears. Moreover at least any two gears of the said compound gear train (17) are rigidly coupled to each other.

The mechanism (1) comprises of a variable drive unit (6) which is coupled to the common drive element (20) through the gear train (4), this provides a variable input to the differential gear (7). The common drive element (20) acts an input to the variable input drive (6) of the differential unit (7).

The mechanism (1) further comprises of a main drive element (19) that is coupled to the main motor (not shown), this runs the main drive element (19) and imparts a rotary movement on other elements in the mechanism (1) through the double integrated gear (17e and 17f) of the plurality of transmission gears (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e, 17f). The gear (17f) of the plurality of transmission gears (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e, 17f) engages with the differential gear arm (18), providing the rotary motion to the differential unit (7). The main drive element (19) provides a constant speed input to the differential gear (7). Thereby providing the rotary motion to the dethatching rollers (8) selectively in either one of the directions.

The mechanism (1) further comprises of an intermediate shaft (23) that allows it to mesh with the main drive element (19). The intermediate shaft (23) consists of a plurality gears of different modules mounted on its surface. Wherein the intermediate shaft (23) is coupled to the main drive element (19) through the plurality of gears. The gears mounted on the surface of the intermediate shaft (23) which are of different module are integrated to provide ease of meshing between the other drive elements without the requirement of any other gears. The intermediate shaft (24) consist of a triple integrated gear (17b, 17c and 17d). The intermediate shaft (23) meshes with the main drive element (19). Thereby controlling further processes in the mechanism (1).

The configuration of the mechanism (1) eliminates the gear construction over the common drive element (20) and thereby reduces the stress over the common drive element. The common drive element (20) as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b made as plain shaft with uniform cross section without any undulations. Alternatively, the shaft may have gradually changing or reduced cross section according to the load carrying requirement. Therefore, this common drive element (20) has same or gradually changing section modulus in a direction perpendicular to its axis of rotation for the length parallel to the width of the differential arm gear. This in turn increases the load and torque carrying capacity of the common drive element (20) for increasing the overall speed of the machine. Further, the common drive element (20) is provided with plain coupling (22) or stepped coupling (21) to connect the variable speed drive which may be directly coupled comb shaft.

Thus, the full utilization of the torque and load carrying capacity of the common drive element (20) is achieved. This also provides higher reliability while increasing the machine speed with the existing gearbox arrangement. Moreover, the complexity in gear hobbing and gear grinding operation in the common drive element (20) may be eliminated. Thereby the need of very high strength and costlier materials in heat treated condition for the common drive element (20) is not required.

In an embodiment, the mechanism of the present disclosure a simple in construction and reliable.

In an embodiment, the mechanism of the present disclosure helps to utilize maximum load carrying capacity and high torque transmission of the common drive element.

In an embodiment, the mechanism of the present disclosure helps to increase the working speed of the combing machine.

It is to be noted that, all changes, modifications and variations to the mechanism within the meaning and range of equivalency are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

Equivalents

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc. It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Referral Numerals

Referral Numerals Description
1 Mechanism
2 Comb shaft
3 Nipper drive
4 Non circular gear mechanism
5 Common drive element
6 Variable drive input system
7 Differential
8 Detaching roller assembly
9 Region carrying load of eccentrically mounted pin
10 Sum of the load of eccentric cam and the load on region
11 Sum of load of eccentric arm gear and the load of the region
12 Load from linkage mechanism/non circular gear train which drives
13, 15 Subregion of region 11
14a Intermediate gear
14b Arm of differential
16 Eccentrically mounted pin
17 Compound gear train
17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e, 17f Plurality of transmission gears
18 Differential arm gear
19 Main shaft
20 Common drive element
21 Stepped coupling
22 Plain coupling
23 Intermediate shaft ,CLAIMS:1. A mechanism (1) for driving detaching rollers (8) of a textile combing machine, the mechanism (1) comprising:
a differential unit (7) coupled to the detaching rollers (8), the differential unit (7) is configured to impart rotary and reciprocation movement to the detaching rollers (8);
a common drive element (20) configured to receive power from a prime mover, wherein, the common drive element is coupled to the differential unit (7) to provide a variable speed drive to the differential unit (7); and
a main drive element (19) configured to receive power from a prime mover, the main drive element is coupled to the differential unit (7) to provide a constant speed drive to the differential unit (7).

2. The mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cross section of the common drive element (20) is at least one of uniform cross section and gradually reducing cross section.

3. The mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common drive element (20) includes a gear train (4) including non-circular gears as a driving member.

4. The mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gear train (4) drives a variable drive unit (6), the variable drive unit (6) is coupled to the differential unit (7) to input variable speed drive to the differential unit (7).

5. The mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1 further comprises of an intermediate shaft (23) between the main drive shaft (19) and the differential unit (7).

6. The mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the main drive shaft (19) and the intermediate shaft (23) includes a plurality of gears (17a to 17f).

7. The mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential unit (7) is configured to impart rotary movement to the detaching rollers (8) selectively in either direction.

8. The mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential unit (7) is a planetary differential gear unit comprising sun gear driven by linkage mechanism and arm gear driven through additional driving gears of fibre transmitting rollers including take-off rollers, calender rollers, delivery conveyor rollers, drafting rollers, coilers and/or drafting calender rollers.

9. The mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the differential gear unit (7) receives both inputs from the main drive shaft (19) though gear train with gears having at least two different modules.

10. A combing machine comprising a mechanism (1) as claimed in claim 1.