FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved sliver can arrangement in a textile spinning preparatory machines. This invention is particularly related to sliver can arrangement in a textile sliver filling station which is provided at the delivery station of a sliver-processing textile machine.

BACK GROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general the sliver filling station of sliver-processing textile machines such as comber, draw frame and carding or the like comprises a coiler can handling apparatus, includes a turntable rotatable about a substantially vertical platform axis for rotating a coiler can standing thereon; a plurality of coiler can changing arms for moving a empty can onto and moving a sliver filled can off the platform; and a centering device for centering a coiler can on the platform relative to the platform axis. Sliver can handling and transport has already been automated to such an extent that human intervention is no longer necessary.

Can changing apparatus is capable of exchanging empty cans for filled cans at the work stations of said sliver-processing machine. The empty cans are propelled into a sliver filling unit and then the filled can is automatically shifted to delivery position at a sliver-producing textile machine. The replacement or removal of the full cans is therefore completed by automation of the- can changing mechanism of said sliver- processing machine. The operation of the can changer arms is designed in such a manner, that the fiber sliver is deposited into the full can exists in the filling station, until this can leaves the zone of the turntable. The sliver is then deposited into the empty can which has been brought into the filling station, as soon as this empty can reaches the zone of the turntable. This has been carried out of by the action of pushing arms of the can changer unit. For enhancing the performance and for avoiding the time delay, the said automation is provided with reserve can lay-out arrangement at the sliver storage unit. Upon the substitution of the filled can by an empty, the empty cans are being held in a ready- state position. The Figure-1 of the drawings shows the existing can layout of a known combing machine. In which the first reserve can and second reserve can is arranged after the drafting and suction units. Particularly the first reserve can is placed after the drafting and suction units, i.e., the drafting and suction units are provided between last combing head and the first reserve can. Hence it requires more floor space for accommodating said drafting and suction units as well as reserved can which results in more lengthier machine area. And also in most of the existing combing machines, drafting is placed above and immediately after table. In some of the combing machine the drafting unit is placed above the coiler. In both of the above said type of combers one or two reserve can provision is given. In all the existing combers the first reserve can is placed behind the coiler and the second reserve can (if provision given) is placed after the coiler. In such kind of arrangements also the space occupied by the machine is more.

In spinning mills, the space occupation of a machinery is being considered as an important aspect in machine lay out. Moreover in high speed machines if only one reserve can is kept, an operator has to attend the machine almost every 15-20 minutes. If one more reserve can provision is given he can place the can simultaneously so that his attention is not needed for prolonged time. Thus Mean Time Between Assist (MTBA) for the machine is improved. And customers are expecting to utilize all the space more effectively in proportionate with the production. Due to the more space occupation, the aforesaid prior art does not meet the requirement of floor space. Hence the present invention is proposed to provide an improved sliver can arrangement at the sliver delivery station in order to overcome all disadvantages present in the existing art. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a space saving sliver can arrangement at the sliver delivery station of a sliver-processing textile machine. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sliver can transfer path which simplifies the empty can loading an and full can unloading.

Yet another object of the present invention is to possibly shift the drafting unit and its drive in order to provide the space for preferred sliver can lay out.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the sliver can arrangement in a textile sliver filling station which is provided at the delivery station of a sliver-processing textile machine. This invention particularly relates to the textile combing machine which combs the fibre fleece unwound from a roll so-called lap, in order to remove the impurities from it.

The textile combing machine comprises a plurality of combing heads which are arranged in series along the machine. The comber fibre fleece coming out from each head is condensed as sliver by a trumpet arrangement. Said slivers from each head is being collected and travelled along the table of the machine. Then the sliver is drafted by a drafting unit provided at the delivery end of the machine and then is coiled and stored in a sliver can.

According to the present invention, the improved sliver can arrangement in a combing machine comprises a plurality of combing heads which are arranged in series along the machine; a suction unit; a sliver delivery station at the end of the machine; a plurality of reserve cans provided on the platform of said sliver delivery station; a sliver filling station; a drafting unit over the said sliver filling station; a sliver filling can placed on the rotating plate of the said filling station, in which at least one reserve can is placed between the combing head and said sliver filling station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Other features as well as the advantages of the invention will be clear from the following description.

In the appended drawings:

Figure-1 of the drawings illustrates the elevation & plan view of the existing combing machine and its sliver can layout.

Figure-2 of the drawings shows the elevation & plan view of the combing machine and corresponding sliver can layout according to the present invention.

Figure-3 of the drawing illustrates the modified and improved arrangement sliver can layout of the combing machine according to the invention.

Figure-4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d &4e) of the drawing illustrates the process sequence of loading and unloading of sliver cans according to the embodiment of the Figure-3. Figure-5 of the drawing illustrates the elevation & plan view of the sliver can layout of the combing machine according to the alternate embodiment of the invention.

Figure-6 of the drawing illustrates the elevation & plan view of the sliver can layout of the combing machine according to the one more embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. Further functioning of the arrangement has been discussed below to describe the way the arrangement operates. However, such description should not be considered as any limitation of scope of the present unit. The structure thus conceived in the present description is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all the details may furthermore be replaced with elements having technical equivalence. In practice the materials and dimensions may be any according to the requirements, which will still be comprised within its true spirit.

According to the existing combing machine, the sliver can layout as discussed in background is shown in Figure-1 of the drawings. In this prior art disclosure, the reserve cans are arranged after the suction unit. Since the can layout is arranged after a quite distance from the last combing head, the sliver undergoes a long travelling path with high speed which requires careful guidance. And also the machine occupies more space for can layout in lengthwise direction. Figure-2 of the drawings illustrates the combing machine and its corresponding sliver can layout according to the present invention. Combing machine (1 ) comprises a plurality of combing heads (2), drive end (3), suction unit (4), a sliver delivery station (5) in which a sliver filling station (16) is provided. The combed slivers coming out from the each combing head (2) are being collected and travelled along the table and upper slope with slow speed (13) of the machine and is drafted by the drafting unit (9) provided at the said sliver filling station (16). Then the drafted sliver is being condensed and coiled into the filling can (10) which is placed over the rotating plate of the platform (7) of sliver filling station (16). Since the sliver coiling and storing is a continuous process, the filled can (10) is to be replaced by an empty can subsequently. For this purpose a plurality of empty reserve cans (6a, 6b) are being always maintained at the end of the machine i.e., at the platform (7) of sliver delivery station (5). So whenever the filling can (10) becomes full by pre determined quantity of sliver, it is being doffed and replaced by the empty can (6a). In order to feeding the empty can (6a or 6b) onto the platform, a ramp (1 1) is provided at the entry point of the said platform (7). For delivering the filled can (10) out from filling station (16), an another ramp (12) is provided at the delivery point of the platform (7). The ramps (1 1 , 12) are provided for smooth and trouble-free feeding and delivery of said empty and filled cans. These ramps (1 1 ,12) are actuated by means of pneumatic/hydraulic or linkage drives (not shown). Said pneumatic/hydraulic drive may comprises piston and cylinder. The feeding and delivering direction of cans is represented by the arrow marks. Since the conventional machine consumes more space for the sliver can layout, here it is improved as that at least a reserve can (6a or 6b) is placed between last combing head (8) and said sliver filling station (16). Said last combing head (8) which has been placed nearer to the sliver delivery station (5). Hence the space occupied by drafting unit and suction unit in the existing machines is minimised and used for reserve can layout according to the invention. In some known combing machines, drive to combing heads are provided in the middle of the machine having combing heads at either side of the machine. In that machines said sliver delivery station (5) is provided at either end of combing machine.

The modified and improved arrangement sliver can layout of the combing machine according to the embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure-3 of the drawings. Here a single and actuating ramp (12) is used for both feeding of empty cans (6a, 6b) and delivering the full can (10). Reserve cans (6a, 6b) is placed on the platform (7) and is provided in between the combing head (8) and sliver filling station (16). Said ramp (12) is being actuated between two predetermined positions i.e., slanting position & horizontal position while feeding and delivering the cans, and its function cycle is explained by Figure-4 as follows.

Figure-4 (4a) : The first reserve can (6a) is positioned between the last combing head (8) and sliver filling station (16) of the sliver delivery station (5). The filling can (10) is at the sliver filling station (16). The ramp (12) is in initial position and the second reserve can (6b) is fed through this ramp (12) in the arrow shown direction. Figure-4 (4b) : The second reserve can (6b) is in its reserve position and very close to the combing head (8). The ramp (12) is in upward position and its surface becomes equal and parallel to the platform (7). The filling can (10) is getting filled with sliver.

Figure-4 (4c) : The push rod (15) is actuated and pushes the full can ( 0) from the filling station (16) to the upward positioned ramp (12).

Figure-4 (4d) : The push rod (15) and ramp (12) are returned to their original position. And the can (10) becomes slanting due to the position of ramp (12).

Figure-4 (4e) : The full can ( 0) is ejected from the ramp ( 2) because of self rolling function of the caster wheels provided beneath the can (10). The push rod (14) pushes the first reserve can (6a) to the filling station (16) as shown by the arrow.

Meanwhile the second reserve can (6b) is being pushed by the push rod (13) and is replaced in the previous position of first reserve can (6a) and the cycle continues further. Hence the complete doffing operation is being carry out by means of push rods (13, 14).

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure-5 of the drawings in which the ramp (12) is provided for accessing and ejecting the cans parallel to the length of the machine. And the platform (7) is provided to accommodate even three reserve cans (6a, 6b &6c). First two reserve cans (6a, 6b) are placed between the combing head (8) and sliver filling station (16) while another reserve can (6c) is placed behind the filling can (10). The movement of cans are illustrated by arrows.

The Figure-6 of the drawings shows the one more embodiment of the invention, which provides only one reserve can (6b) between the combing head (8) and said sliver filling station (16). The another reserve can (6a) is placed behind the filling can (10) and adjacent to the second reserve can (6b). Here the can movement on the platform (7) is shown by corresponding arrows. Moreover there are two ramps (1 1 , 12) are used to transfer the cans while feeding and delivering. The first ramp (1 1 ) is used to feed the can onto the platform (7) while the second ramp (12) is used to deliver the filled can from the sliver filling station (16).

Since the present invention uses compacted floor space for suction unit and over drafting unit arrangement, the remaining space is efficiently utilized for can layout which results in emphasised floor space saving. Moreover the ramp used in this invention may be stationary and/or actuate according to the requirement which provides ease of loading and unloading of the cans. And the provision for increased number of reserve cans reduces the frequent movement of operating persons required for keeping the reserve can in time. Furthermore the improved layout of the cans according to the invention provided easy access to all reserve cans and filling can from either side of the machine as well as simplified travelling path for said cans.

The embodiments shown herein are only exemplary. And further embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.