FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a guiding device for non-woven fibre web for converting the spread web into a sliver form at the outlet of a drawing arrangement of a textile machine, and a sliver guiding arrangement for guiding the sliver coming from the sliver funnel to a draw-off-disc arrangement.

In a further aspect, this invention relates to textile machine, especially a drawing frame, card or a combination machine, with equipment producing a spread non-woven web, for example, with a drawing arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to spinning preparatory machines such as draw frame. A plurality of slivers is doubled and the doubled sliver is conveyed into the drawing unit provided in the draw frame. During the drafting procedure the slivers are drafted to form a fibre web and delivered through the pair of delivery rollers of the drawing unit. The spread fibre web must be shaped again to form the silver. This is performed by a web funnel and a sliver guide tube which are provided at the delivery portion of the drawing unit. As the fibre web enters into the web funnel, a sliver is formed again. A calendering unit is provided downstream of the drawing unit which comprises at least two opposing draw-off discs by means of which the sliver is condensed. After passing through the pair of draw-off discs the condensed sliver is passed to the deposition device of the draw frame.

It is known in the prior art, a pair of delivery rollers convey the said fibre web into a web collector which Is arranged at the outlet of a drawing unit of the draw frame. The web collector is pivotably mounted on the machine frame using a connecting plate and a cylindrical shaft. The fibre web is combined in the web collector and is shaped by the insert provided in the middle of the web collector to form a sliver again and is passed to a sliver guide tube of considerable length. The web collector and the sliver funnel are spaced apart by a considerable distance by way of the sliver guide tube. At the end of the sliver guide tube the sliver is inserted into the sliver funnel which deflects the conveying direction of the sliver by about 90° and inserts it between the draw-off disc arrangement. After passing through the pair of draw-off discs the sliver condensed there is passed to the deposition device of the drawing frame.

A stop motion arrangement is provided in the outlet area of the drawing unit to stop the machine in case of sliver breakage at any of the place between delivery roller to draw-off roller. A sensor plate is mounted along with the web collector arrangement and it is being sensed by a sensing means for example limit switch. When a sliver breakage occurs, the delivered material accumulates in the inner part of the web collector. Since the web collector is pivotably mounted, the accumulated mass of the fibre material lifts the web collector and by this the sensing plate fixed on the cylindrical shaft moves downward. The sensing means senses this movement of the sensing plate and stops the machine.
In the existing web guiding arrangement, the sliver passes through the sliver guide tube which has a length of at least 264mm. This lengthy sliver guide tube affects the quality of the delivery sliver while running the machine at higher speeds (More than 800 metres per minute). The wastage of material is high during the delivery sliver breakage and the frequent cleaning of sliver guide tube is required to avoid the short fibre accumulation on the inner wall of the sliver guide tube which is disadvantageous.

The existing stop motion arrangement consist a web collector, pair of connecting plates and a sensor plate which requires higher opening force for operation during sliver breakages. Hence, more accumulation of material in the web collector is required to stop the machine. This would lead to delay in sensing the breakages and by this wastage of material is increased.

There has thus been a persistent need to develop an improved web guiding apparatus and stop motion arrangement that would overcome the disadvantages present in the existing textile machines especially draw frames.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the basic object of the present invention is to provide an improved web guiding apparatus which would overcome the disadvantages present in the web guiding arrangement of existing draw frames.

Yet another object of the present invention is directed to provide a textile draw frame with improved stop motion arrangement which is simple in construction and functioning effectively than the stop motion devices present in the existing draw frames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the basic aspect of the invention, the web guiding device with stop motion arrangement for a textile machine such as draw frame comprising a drafting arrangement with plurality of drafting rollers and a deflecting roller, a web funnel with a stop motion arrangement, a sliver funnel with sliver funnel holder, and a calendering unit with pair of draw-off discs, wherein said web funnel is provided with at least two movable plates; the movement of one plate actuates the other plate to stop the machine.

The web funnel in the web guiding device comprises a web collector, back plate, front plate, insert and an insert holder. Said back and front plates are pivotably mounted on the sensor plate holders which are mounted on the bottom portion of the web collector and both the plates are provided with at least one 'L' shaped portion. At least one of the 'L' shaped portion is constructed with a profile and at least one sensing means is mounted on the bearing saddle in a position to sense the movement of said profile.

Whenever the fibre mass increases in the curved portion of the web collector during sliver breakage, the back plate is pushed out by the force of said accumulated mass; the 'U shaped portion of the back plate moves upward and apply a force on the 'L' shaped portion; by means of this force the front plate turn away from the web collector and moves the profile upward; the sensing means senses this movement and stop the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

Fig -1 is the schematic illustration of the existing web guiding apparatus and stop motion arrangement of the existing draw frames.

Fig - 2 is the schematic illustration of web guiding arrangement according to the present invention.

Fig - 3 of the drawings illustrates the web collector according to the present invention.

Fig - 4 of the drawings illustrates the isometric view of stop motion arrangement according to the present invention.

Fig - 5 of the drawings illustrates the position of stop motion arrangement in working condition.

Fig - 5a of the drawings illustrates the position of stop motion arrangement in non-working condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Attention is first invited to accompanying Figure 1 that illustrates the existing system of draw frames showing the position of web guiding arrangement. The fibre web delivered from the pair of drafting rollers (1, 2) fed into the web funnel (3). The spread fibre web is converted as sliver (S) form by the insert (4) provided in the web funnel (3). Then the undrawn sliver (S) is inserted into a long guide tube (5) which is mounted on a table (6) and passed into the calendering unit through a sliver funnel (7). The sliver funnel deflects the sliver (S) by substantially 90° into the clamping gap of the draw-off discs (8, 9) of the calendering unit. After calendering, the sliver emerges vertically downwards from the calendering unit and stored in a deposition device.

The web funnel (3) is positioned in front of the delivery drafting rollers using a pair of connecting plates (10). Said web funnel (3) is mounted at one end of the connecting plates (10) and the other end of the connecting plates (10) are fixed on a cylindrical shaft (11). The cylindrical shaft (11) is pivotably mounted on the table (6). A sensor plate (12) is mounted on the other side of the cylindrical shaft (11). A sensing means for example limit switch (13) is rigidly mounted on the side portion of the table (6) and positioned above the other end of the sensor plate (12). During normal running, the switch (14) of the sensing means (13) is continuously pressed by the sensor plate (12). Whenever the sliver breakage occurs in any of the places in between delivery roller to coiler tube, the delivered fibre material accumulates at the inner portion of the web funnel (3). The increment in the mass of the accumulated material upwardly pushes the web funnel (3) and by this the sensor plate (12) moves downwards. This downward movement of said sensor plate releases the switch (14) and deactivates the sensing means and stops the machine.

The present invention shortens the sliver path by eliminating the lengthy sliver guide tube (5) and the complicated stop motion arrangement of the existing art. Fig - 2 discloses the embodiment of the present invention. A deflecting roller (20) is added in the drafting arrangement which causes a deviation of substantially 60° from the conveying direction of the fibre web and introduces the sliver into a web funnel (21). The web funnel (21) consist a web collector (22), a back plate (23) and a front plate (24). As shown in Fig - 3, at the middle of the web collector (22) a bore (25) is provided and the sliver (also referred to as the fibre web) arriving in a wide state is folded, turned over and inserted into a sliver forming portion. Said sliver forming portion consists an insert (26) and it is firmly held by the insert holder (27). Said insert holder is mounted at the bottom portion of the web collector (22) and secured by using fastening means. A slot (28) is provided at the side walls (29) of the web collector to locate the web funnel (21) downstream to the delivery drafting rollers using the pins (30) provided in the bearing saddle.

The front portion of the insert holder (27) engages in the inner portion of a sliver funnel (31). The sliver funnel (31) is constructed as an insert and, with a V-shaped end converging to a point, engages between the draw-off discs (8, 9) to immediately against the clamping gap (32). The sliver funnel (31) is shaped in such a way that it can be inserted axially into a sliver funnel holder (33). The sliver funnel holder (33) has a central, substantially cylindrical opening into which the sliver funnel (31) is inserted and can be held.

Fig - 4 illustrates the stop motion arrangement in the web funnel (21) according to the present invention. Said stop motion arrangement (41) comprises a back plate (23), a front plate (24) and a sensing means (49). The front and back plates can be made up of either metallic or non-metallic material. The back plate (23) is pivotably mounted on the pins (42, 42a) provided in the sensor plate holders (48, 48a) which are mounted on the bottom portion of the web collector (22). At the bottom portion of the back plate (23), at least one 1' shaped portion (43) is extended. The front plate (24) is pivotably mounted on the pins (44, 44a) provided at the sensor plate holders (48, 48a). At the bottom portion of the front plate (24), at least one 'L' shaped portion (47) is extended. The 'U shaped portion (43) of the back plate (23) rests on the L shaped portion (47) of the front plate (24). At the top portion of the front plate (24) a coated steel plate (45) is secured by means of screws (46) to keep the front plate in working position during normal running. The 'L' shaped portion (47) is constructed with a profile (50). The sensing means (49) is mounted on the bearing saddle in a position to sense the movement of Profile (50). The 'L' shaped Portion (43) of the back plate (23) presses the 'L' shaped portion (50) of the Front plate (24) during normal running of the machine.

Fig - 5 and Fig - 6a illustrates the working of stop motion arrangement according to the present invention. During normal running, the back plate (23) and the front plate (24) are in contact with the web collector (22) as shown in Fig - 5. In case of sliver breakage in any of the places between web funnel to coiler tube, the fiber web accumulates in the curved portion of the web collector (22). When the mass of the material increases, the back plate will be pushed out by the force of the accumulated mass and the back plate (23) moves backwards as shown by the arrow (A). Due to this movement, the V shaped portion (43) moves upwards and apply a force on the 'L' shaped portion (47). Due to this applied force, the front plate (24) turns away from the web collector (22) in the direction, as shown in Arrow (B).

Due to this movement, the profile (50) moves upward and this movement is sensed by the sensing means (49) and the machine is stopped. Fig - 5a shows the position of stop motion arrangement during non-working condition.

The web guiding apparatus with stop motion arrangement according to the present invention has the following advantages. The web guiding arrangement eliminates the lengthy sliver funnel and by this the speed of the machine can be increased up to 1100 metres per minute where as in the existing arrangement it is possible to run only up to 800 metres per minute. The running distance and the deflecting angle of the delivery sliver are considerably reduced and by this the quality of delivered material is improved. The stop motion arrangement in the web guiding apparatus is simple in construction and works more efficiently than the prior art. An opening force of 1.485 kgs is required to operate the existing stop motion arrangement where as in the present invention only 0.04 kg of opening force is enough to stop the machine. Therefore, even minimum accumulation of fibre web in the web collector would stop the machine immediately and by this fibre material wastage is considerably reduced.

Since other modifications and changes to fit particular requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited as described by the present preferred embodiments which have been chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departure from the spirit and scope of this invention.

WE CLAIM:

1. A web guiding device with stop motion arrangement for a textile machine such as draw frame comprising

a) a drafting arrangement with plurality of drafting rollers and a deflecting
roller (20),

b) a web funnel (21) with a stop motion arrangement (41),

c) a sliver funnel (31) with sliver funnel holder (33), and

d) a calendering unit with pair of draw-off discs (8, 9) Characterized in that, said web funnel (21) is provided with at least two movable plates (23, 24).

2. The web guiding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the web funnel (21) comprises a back plate (23) and front plate (24); the movement of one plate actuates the other plate to stop the machine.

3. The web guiding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the web funnel (21) also comprises a web collector (22), insert (26) and insert holder (27).

4. The web guiding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a slot (28) is provided in the side walls (29) of the web collector (22) and the web funnel (21)is mounted downstream to the delivery drafting rollers using the slot (28) and the pins (30) provided in the bearing saddle.

5. The web guiding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said insert holder (26) with insert (21) is mounted at the bottom portion of the web collector (22) .

6. The stop motion arrangement in the web guiding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back plate (23) is pivotably mounted on the pins (42, 42a) provided in the sensor plate holders (48, 48a) which are mounted on the bottom portion of the web collector (22) and at the bottom portion of the back plate (23) at least one 'L' shaped portion (43) is extended.

7. The stop motion arrangement in the web guiding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front plate (24) is pivotably mounted on the pins (44, 44a) provided at the sensor plate holders (48, 48a) and at the bottom portion of the front plate (24) at least one 'U shaped portion (47) is extended.

8. The stop motion arrangement in the web guiding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 'L' shaped portion (47) is constructed with a profile (50) and the sensing means (49) is mounted on the bearing saddle in a position to sense the movement of said profile (50).

9. The stop motion arrangement in the web guiding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at the top portion of the front plate (24) a coated steel plate (45) is secured by means of screws (46).

10. A method of working of stop motion arrangement in the web guiding device of a textile machine characterized in that, whenever the fibre mass increases in the curved portion of the web collector (22) during sliver breakage, the back plate (23) is pushed out by the force of said accumulated mass; the 'L' shaped portion (43) of the back plate (23) moves upward and apply a force on the V shaped portion (47); by means of this force the front plate (24) turns away from the web collector (22) and moves the profile (50) upward; the sensing means (49) senses this movement and stop the machine.