US3021084A - Apparatus for controlling the thickness of textile laps - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1962 JA. R. LONG 3,021,084

APPARATUS'FOR CONTROLLING THE THICKNESS OF TEXTILE LAPS Original Filed Deo. 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L; ZAM

ATTORNEYS Feb. 13, 1962 R LONG 3,021,084

J. APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE THICKNESS OF' TEXTILE LAPS Original Filed Deo. 24. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r 5o f" f 55 V58 z 44 l llaa 45 A 'ff 22 u I/( 64x I :77| 52 l V l l; l l l .I 65 I 5T) D 5| 5'5 INVENTOR: JOHN R. LONG.

Fifi FJ ATTORNEYS chine Company, Hickory, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Continuation of application Ser. No. 327,795, Dec. 24, 1952. This application Mar. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 723,080 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-551) 'This invention relates to lapping machines such as pickers and the like and more especially to means for applying and maintaining a predetermined amount of uniform pressure equally on each end of the lap roll during formation of the lap thereon.

The application of pressure to the lap as it builds up on the lap roll has long been recognized in the industry as desirable in order to preserve the integrity of each layer of lap as it is wound on the lap roll. In the absence of pressure being applied to the lap as it is wound on the lap roll, or in the event insucient or unever pressure is applied to the lap, it frequently happens that the fibers making up each layer of the lap become intermingled with fibers in adjacent layers of the lap and this is undesirable because it results in splitting of the lap during subsequent processing.

Absence of pressure or insufficient pressure on the lap as it is wound on the roll is also detrimental in that it decreases the density of the lap and thereby results in decreased production for a given diameter of lap.

Prior to my invention the means customarily employed in the industry for imparting pressure to the lap roll comprised mechanical linkage and dead Weight systems such as shown in U.S. Patent No. 1,037,327 to Rogers and British Patent No. 12,292 of 1899 to Dugdale et al. These systems employ either a friction brake device or a rack and pinion to apply pressure to the lap and the use of such devices results in either a constant build up of pressure as the lap forms on the roll or interrnittent build up and release of pressure during formation of the lap. lIn either event the rst few layers of lap are wound on the roll under insutiicient pressure and must-be discarded as waste. l

Such prior mechanical systems are not capable of delivering and maintaining a uniform predetermined amount of pressure on the lap throughout its width and length and moreover the amount o f pressure imparted to the lap by these prior systems is limited so that they are not capable of delivering as much pressure to the lap as the present invention. Efforts to increase the amount of pressure in such systems have merely accentuated the lack of uniformity of pressure resulting in greater variations in lap vthickness and integrity. Accordingly, laps formed.

under prior known systems have less density and are .more prone to splitting than laps formed by means of this invention.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide means for applying and maintaining a predetermined amount of pressure equally on each end of the lap roll to subject the lap to constant uniform pressure throughout its width and lengthas the diameter of the lap increases through build up of the lap on the roll.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for automatically relieving pressure from the lap roll upon the build up of the lap thereon reaching a predetermined diameter.

V It is another object of this invention to provide vmeans 3,621,084 Patented Feb. 13, 1962 for applying a greater amount of pressure to the lap roll than has heretofore been possible resulting in a greater number of layers of lap in each completed lap roll, hence greatly increased production and less down time for each machine. The denser more uniform laps made possible by this invention also result in increased production and better quality in subsequent processing.

ln the preferred embodiment of the invention these objectives are attained by the provision of a fluid pressure system and mechanical controll linkage whereby fluid pressure is selectively applied to and relieved from each end of the lap roll in response to starting and stopping of the machine and wherein the uid pressure system comprises iiuid pressure means associated with each end of the lap roll, a source of uid pressure, a conduit extending between said source and said fluid pressure means, and a valve arrangement interposed in the conduit means for controlling the amount and flow of tiuid pressure.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a lapping machine showing an embodiment of the improved pressure means in association therewith;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the discharge end of the machine looking at the right-hand side of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the machine looking at the opposite side thereof from that shown 12, in which-opposite ends of a vertically disposed row of horizontall calender rolls 13 are rotatably mounted. The lowermost roll 13 carries a spur gear 15 and a beveled gear 16.

During operation of the machine, the gear 1'5 is engaged by a gear 26 fixed on a drive shaft 21 journaled in an operating or control lever 22 pivoted at 23 to the frame 10 or a suitable bracket bolted thereto. The drive shaft 21 carries a belt pulley 24 on Which a constantly driven belt 25 is mounted for imparting rotation to the rdrive shaft 21.

As is Well known, the web or lap passes from the calender rolls 13 to a conventional lap roll or lap pin 26 upon which the lap 27 is wound and beneath which the usual driven supporting rollers 30 an-d 31 are positioned for supporting and rotating the lap roll or lap pin 26 and its accumulated lap 27. The lap rollers 30 and 31 are journaled in the side frame members 10 and 11 and are driven by suitable well-known connections, not shown, driven by the gear 15.

The control or operating lever 22 penetrates a bracket 32 carried by the side frame member 11 and said bracket is provided with a shoulder 33 upon which the control or operating lever 22 rests when in operative 4or raised position as shown in FIGURES l and 2. Suitable knockoii means, not shown herein but which may be of the type shown in sa-id Patent No. 1,037,327, are operatively connected to the control lever 22 for stopping the machine upon a predetermined amount of lap building up on the lap roll 26. The parts heretofore described are the usual parts of a picker machine or lapping machine and it is with these parts that the improved lap evener is adapted to be associated.

In order to exert a uniform predetermined downward pressure equally on each end of the lap roll 26 while the machine is running, so as to cause the lap roll 26 and its accumulated lap 27 to engage the supporting rollers 30, 31 under uniform pressure as the diameter of the lap 27 increases, I have provided means for delivering uid pressu-re to each end of the lap roll 26 including a uid pressure operated device which may comprise a pair of cylinders 3S, 36 closed at their upper and lower ends and supported on respective oiset portions 37, 38 of respective uprights or standards 41, 42. 'I'he standards 41, 42 extend downwardly past and rearwardly of the lap roll 26 and are each suitably secured to the side frame members 11 and 12, respectively.

Each of the cylinders 35, 36 has a piston 43 mounted for vertical sliding movement therein, to which is secured the upper end of a piston rod or ram 44. The piston rods 44 extend downwardly and slidably penetrate the bottoms of the respective cylinders and the respective offset portions 37, 38 of the standards 41, 42, and each of the pislton rods 44 has -a head block 45 fixed on the lower end thereof. Each of the head blocks 45 comprises a p-air of pressure rolls 46 suitably journaled therein for engagement with the lap roll 26.

The iiuid pressure means also includes suitable conduits or pipes 50, 51 for delivering tiuid under pressure to the upper ends of respective cylinders 35, 36, and may also include conduits or pipes 52, 53 communicatively connected to the lower portions of respective cylinders 35, 36. The conduits S0, 51 are adapted to deliver fluid pressure to the upper surface of the pistons 43 to impart downward pressure on the head blocks 45 while the machine is in operation and the conduits 52, 5.3 connected to the lower portions of the cylinders 35, 36 are adapted to deliver pressure to the lower surface of the pistons 43 to thereby lift the head blocks 45 from the lap roll when it is desired to remove the lap roll from the machine. It is contemplated that various other devices may be utilized to lift the head blocks from engagement with the lap roll to permit removal of the lap from the machine, but in the preferred embodiment of the invention it is deemed desirable to utilize the same source of uid pressure to raise the head blocks as is utilized to impart uniform downward pressure equally on each end of the lap roll while the lap Ibuilds up thereon.

To this end, the ends of the conduits 50, S1 remote from the cylinders 35, 36 are communicatively connected to a common conduit 54 by means of a T 55, and the ends of the conduits 52, 53 remote from their respective cylinders 35, 36 are connected to acommon conduit 56 by means of a T 57 (FIGURES 2 and 5). The proximal ends of the conduits 54, 56 are connected to a suitable control valve which may comprise a four-way valve assembly broadly designated at 60 and preferably located adjacent the operating lever 22 of the lapping machine.

rIfhe four-way valve 60 is shown schematically in FIG- URE and comprises a stationary housing 61 and a movable core 62, the core 62 being shown as a revolvable core in FIGURE 5.Y The core 62 is fixed to a lever or crank arm 63 (FIGURE 2) which extends forwardly from the housing 61 of the four-way valve 60 and has the lower end`of a connecting rod or link 64 pivotally connected thereto. The connecting rod 64 extends upwardly and is pivotally connected intermediate the ends of the control or operating lever 22of the picker machine. It is thus seen that movement `of the lever 22 in either direction responsive to either the conventional or other type of knock-off mechanism or to manual actuation causes cor- `responding 'movement of the crank Marm 63 'and its 'connected core 62 of the valve 60. The core 62 has passageways 65 and 66 therein and the housing 61 has a discharge pipe 67 connected thereto which, in the event of air pres sure being used as the motivating force for the pistons 43 in the cylinders 35 and 36, communicates with the atmosf phere. Otherwise, the discharge pipe may communicate with a suitable reservoir, such as the source of uidl pressure.

Also connected to the housing 61, for communication with the core 62 thereof, are the proximal ends of the conduits 54, 56 and an inlet pipe or conduit 70. The inlet conduit 70 extends between the valve 60 and a suitable Source of uid pressure, not shown, and has interposed therein a pressure indicating gauge 71 and a pressure regulator valve 72 which is preferably of the self-relieving type, but if desired a separate pressure relief valve may be interposed in the llud pressure system.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is controlled through the lever 22 of the picker machine and when this lever is in the lowered or inoperative position, and the gear 20 is spaced from the gear 15, this automatically moves the linkage 64, 63 so as to cause the valve core 62 to occupy the position shown in FIGURE 5. Thus, air or fluid under pressure flows from the pipe 70 through the passageway 66 of the valve core 62, through the pipe 56 and the pipes 52, 53 to the lower' ends of the cylinders 35, 36. This causes the pistons 43 to move upwardly and the heads or head blocks 45 to assume a raised position spaced above the lap roll 26, thus facilitating removal of the lap roll 26 with its accumulated lap and replacement thereof with an empty lap roll. f

Upon the control lever 22 being raised to operative position in engagement with the shoulder 33, this automatically actuates the linkage 64, 63 so as to rotate the valve core 62 within the valve 60 in such a manner as to aline the passageway 65 with the pipe 56 and the discharge pipe 67, and, at the same time, to aline the passageway 66 of the valve core 62 with the pipes 54 and 70. Thus, tluid or air under pressure then passes through the passageway 66 in the valve core 62 and thus through the pipe 54 and pipes 50, 51 to the upper ends of the re spective cylinders 35, 36. This causes the pistons 43 to move downwardly and causes the rollers 46 carried by the head blocks 45 to engage opposite ends of the lap pin 26 under equal pressure. It is evident that the cornpressed air beneath the pistons 43 returns through the pipes 52, 53, through the passageway 65 in the valve core 62 and is discharged through the discharge pipe 67.

Y The pressure regulator valve 72 and its associated pressure relief valve means may be adjusted to maintain a desired amount of pressure on the head blocks 45 and in turn on the lap roll 26, which pressure will be indicated on the pressure gauge 71. As the diameter of the lap increases thereby correspondingly increasing the distance between the lap roll and its supporting rollers 30 and 31, which in turn tends to increase the pressure on the lap roll 26, the excess pressure is relieved through the selfurelieving pressure regulator valve 72 or through any other suitable pressure relief valve associated with the uid pressure system. In this manner a constant uni' form downward pressure is applied equally to each endl of the lap roll 26 throughout the build up of the lap thereon and despite the varying diameter vof the lap.

It should be noted that uniform and equal pressure is applied to both ends of lap pin 26 regardless of variations in density of successive masses of fibers in the lap 27. In other words, assuming that lap portions of normal or mean density are moving adjacent both head blocks 45 and equal pressure is then being applied to lap pin 26 by both head blocks 45, upon a lap portion of higher than normal density (such as a thickened or hard spot in the lap) moving adjacent one of the head blocks 45, this head block is then raised to a greater extent than the other head block 45. However, there is no increase in the pressure exerted by either head block 45 because any excess fluid pressure thus effected in the respective cylinder 35 or 36 is relieved through the pressure relief valve.

Now, as soon as the lap portion of higher than normal density passes said one head block, fluid pressure previously displaced from the respective cylinder is admitted thereto by regulator valve 72. Thus, even though a head block 45 is permitted to drop quite suddenly, there is no lapse in the uniformity of applied pressure. Essentially this same operation occurs whenever a lap portion of lower than normal density follows a lap portion of normal or high density past either or both of the head blocks or when any portions of the lap 27 vary as to density throughout its width during formation of the lap roll.

When the build up of the lap reaches a desired diameter the control lever 22 is moved to inoperative position by the knock-off mechanism thereby actuating the control valve 60 to relieve pressure from the upper portions of the cylinders 35 and 36 and to introduce pressure into the lower portions of the cylinders 35, 36, thereby elevating the pistons 43 within their respective cylinders to move the head blocks 45 out of engagement with the lap roll 26 to permit its removal from the machine.

There is thus provided an improved pressure means for lapping machines whereby predetermined amounts of pressure may be applied uniformly to each end of the lap roll as the lap accumulates thereon, which pressure remains constant despite the varying diameter of the lap, and wherein means may also be provided in accordance with the invention for automatically lifting the head blocks from the lap roll upon the lap reaching a predetermined diameter.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 327,796, led December 24, 1952 and now abandoned.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a lap forming machine having a frame, a pair of supporting rollers journaled in the frame, a rotatable lap pin onto which a lap of textile fibers is wound into a compressed roll supported on said rollers. and a pair of head blocks disposed above and engageable with opposite ends of the lap roll; means for maintaining uniform pressure on the lap roll throughout its width and diameter and throughout the length of the lap of textile fibers forming the roll comprising a pair of double-acting cylinders spaced above the respective head blocks and being fixedly supported relative to said frame, a piston in each cylinder, a piston rod fixed to each piston and extending downwardly and being attached to the respective head block, first and second conduit means connected to the respective upper and lower ends of said cylinders and leading from a source of fiuid pressure, a control valve interposed in said conduit means for selectively directing fluid pressure to either of said first and second conduit means, and a pressure regulator valve in said conduit means.

2. A structure according to claim 1 in which said machine is provided with a member movable between two positions for respectively operating and stopping the machine, and connections between said member and said control valve for establishing communication between said source and the first conduit means when said member occupies a position for operating the machine, and for cutting off the ow of iiuid pressure through said first conduit means while introducing the fluid pressure into said second conduit means when said member is moved to said stopping position.

3. In a lap forming machine having a frame, a lap roll and a pair of supporting rollers journaled in the frame and a head block engageable witheach end of the lap roll; means for applying and maintaining a predetermined amount of pressure equally on each of the head blocks during operation of the machine to subject the lap roll and the accumulated lap thereon to constant uniform pressure regardless of the diameter of the lap on the lap roll, means for relieving the pressure from the head blocks and moving the head blocks out of engagement with the lap roll, said first-named means comprising a uid pressure system operatively connected to said head blocks, said fluid pressure system including a fluid pressure source wherein fluid is maintained under pressure at least equal to said predetermined amount of pressure, a uid conduit extending from the fluid pressure source and through which pressure is transmitted to the head blocks, a pressure regulator valve and a pressure relief valve interposed in said conduit, said pressure regulator valve being adjustable to admit said predetermined amount of pressure from the uid pressure source to the head blocks and the pressure relief valve being adjustable to relieve pressure in excess of said predetermined amount of pressure from the head blocks whereby, upon the diameter of the lap accumulating on the lap roll increasing to correspondingly increase the pressure on the head blocks, the pressure relief valve will relieve the excess pressure on the head blocks occasioned by the increased diameter of the lap to thereby maintain the lap roll under constant uniform pressure, said fluid pressure system also including a duid pressure operated device associated with each head block, each device including piston and cylinder elements, one of said elements being stationary and the other of said elements being attached to the respective head block and movable therewith, said fluid conduit being communicatively connected to each end of each cylinder element, each cylinder element being normally sealed against communication with the atmosphere, a control valve and a discharge pipe interposed in said fluid conduit for selectively directing fiuid pressure to either end of said cylinder elements and for relieving fluid pressure from the other end of the cylinder elements whereby fiuid pressure may be introduced to corresponding ends of the cylinders to impart a constant uniform pressure to the lap roll during operation of the machine, and may be introduced to the other ends of the cylinders to disengage the head blocks from the lap roll.

4. In a machine for forming a ylap from textile fibers of varying density, said machine including a frame, a lap pin, a pair of lap roll supporting rollers journaled in said frame, and a head block engageable with each end of the lap pin; the combination of a separate fluid pressure operated device for each head block, each device comprising a piston element and a cylinder element, one of said elements being stationary, the other of said elements being movable with and attached to the respective head block, common conduit means connecting said cylinder elements to a source of fluid pressure and being arranged to apply pressure on the head blocks during operation of the machine to subject opposed ends of the lap pin and the accumulated lap roll thereon to such pressure, pressure regulating valve means interposed in said common conduit means to thereby introduce constant uniform pressure to both of said cylinders and to subject both ends of said lap pin and its lap roll to constant uniform pressure, pressure relief valve means operatively associated with said conduit means for relieving pressure exceeding that passed by the regulating valve means so that excess pressure on the head blocks, produced by increasing diameter of the lap roll on said pin, is relieved by the relief valve means and so that, upon occurrence of a portion of higher than normal density in one end of said lap roll as compared to normal density in the other end of the lap roll, the excess pressure thus effected `as compared to normal density in -the other end of the 'lap roll, the regulator valve means passes an amount of pressure into the cylinders to continue the application of uniform `pressure in both cylinders and on both head blocks.

References Cited in the file qf this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Tice Mar. 1, 1938 Curley May 11, 1954 Strassler July 6, 1954 Strassler Aug. 10, 1954

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