Textiles: fiber preparation – Working – Carding
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-19
2001-03-27
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Textiles: fiber preparation
Working
Carding
C019S104000, C019S110000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205620
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fibre processing apparatus, and in particular, but not exclusively, to apparatus forming part of a cotton card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During the processing of raw cotton, following initial cleaning and processing and prior to spinning, the cotton fibres are separated from one another on a machine known as a card. The cleaned raw cotton is lifted from a conveyor by a take-in cylinder and transferred onto a main card cylinder, the surface of which carries a large number of wire points, typically at a density of around 1000 points per square inch. The rotating main cylinder carries the cotton beneath a set of stationary pre-carding flats, typically formed of three blades, each blade extending across the cylinder surface parallel to the cylinder axis. Each blade carries a large number of “wires”, that is metal strips blanked out to form a number of teeth. The strips are mounted together on a thin bar and clipped to a support.
Beyond the pre-carding flats, the main cylinder passes the cotton beneath a set of revolving flats which may be mounted on a caterpillar-like track. The cylinder then carries the cotton beneath a further set of stationary flats, before a doffer roller transfers the cotton from the main cylinder to a further conveyor which carries the carded cotton on for further processing.
Wire flats provided on continuously operating cards generally have to be replaced every three months. The replacement operation may only be carried out when the card is shut down, resulting in a loss of production. Further, the quality of cotton produced by a card drops as the teeth of the flats are subject to wear.
It is among the objectives of embodiments of the present invention to provide flat blades which have a longer life than conventional wire flats and to provide an efficient method of producing such flats.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a method of producing apparatus for use in fibre processing, the method comprising the steps:
providing a body defining a multiplicity of bores extending between rear and front faces thereof;
providing a multiplicity of pointed pins of corresponding diameter to the bores;
locating the pins in the bores from the rear of the body such that the points extend from the front of the body; and
fixing the pins in the body.
The invention also relates to apparatus produced by this method.
The invention facilitates the manufacture of pinned products, such as blades of flats for cotton cards. The resulting products also tend to have a longer working life than corresponding wire blades.
In conventional pinned products, such as take-in rollers for cotton cards, the pins are located “tail-first” in bores drilled in a metal tube. This is normally achieved by filling a cartridge with a row of pins, and then locating the pins held in the cartridge, tail first, in a row of bores. Adhesive is then brushed around the pins and travels, by capillary action, into the bores. This assembly process is labour-intensive and becomes more difficult as the point density increases. Further, pins of this size tend to be formed from longer lengths of metal which have one end formed into points, the pointed ends then being cut off to form the relatively short pins. The cutting operation tends to produce a pin with a flattened tail. To avoid problems locating the deformed tails in the bores, the pins are deburred by polishing. However, the polishing operation also tends to dull the point. The present invention reduces or obviates the need for deburring, as the burrs or bore walls may simply deform as the pin, already located in the bore, is pressed further into the bore. Alternatively, and preferably, the body thickness between the faces and the pin length may be selected such that the pin tails do not enter the respective bores.
Preferably, the body is adapted to be mounted on a support. Conveniently, the body and support are in the form of elongate members adapted to inter-engage, and most preferably channels with side walls adapted to inter-engage. Most preferably, the channels are arranged to snap-fit together. The support may be adapted to engage with a blade mounting arrangement of a card.
Preferably also, the bores are provided at an acute angle to the front body face, such that the pins are angled when located in the body.
Preferably also, the pins are fixed in the bores by settable material, most preferably a polymer, such as a UV-curable anaerobic polymer various forms of which are sold under the LOCTITE trade mark.
The pin points may lie in a common flat plane, or may lie in a curved plane, the latter arrangement allowing provision of a relatively wide body to, for example, co-operate with the main cylinder of a cotton card.
The pins may have a shaft of substantially constant cross-section, or may have tails of relatively large cross-section, to prevent the pins entering the bores tail first.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in fibre processing, the apparatus comprising:
a body defining a multiplicity of bores extending between rear and front faces thereof; and
a multiplicity of pointed pins having shafts of corresponding diameter to the bores and tails of greater diameter than the bores, the pins being fixed in the bores such that the points extend from the front of the body.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for use in fibre processing, the apparatus comprising; a body defining a plurality of points; and a support for the body, the body and support combining to define a channel for engaging a corresponding mounting profile on a card.
Preferably, said channel is an undercut channel.
Preferably, said body includes a number of ribs, for interlocking with said support. Preferably also said ribs snap-fit together with said support. Preferably also all or some of said ribs define part of said channel.
Preferably, said support includes a plurality of sections.
More preferably, said support includes two longitudinal sections.
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Calvert John J.
Dykas Frank J.
Shaver Robert L.
Welch Gary L.
WM R Stewart & Sons, LTD
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