The present invention relates to a straight combing machine for combing a sliver of fibres, particularly woollen fibres, comprising a support structure, a circular comb rotatably mounted on the structure, means for supplying the fibres to the circular comb and means for removing the combed fibres from the circular comb.

In conventional combing machines in which the means for removing the combed fibres comprise, as is known, a pair of detaching rollers and a leather sleeve which is interposed between the detaching rollers to improve the grip and servesas a conveyor plane for the tufts, the slivers of fibres normally supplied include fibres having an average length of more than 45-50 mm. These fibres, which have been washed and subsequently carded, are subjected to conventional combed spinning after the combing process.

With so-called "short" wools, that is with fibres having an average length of less than 40-45 mm, a problem arises with conventional straight combing machines in that too many fibres are discarded (noil) which means that the combing of short wools is not economically worthwhile.

The object of the present invention is to provide a combing machine and a combing method which overcome the aforesaid problem.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by

virtue of the fact that the means for removing the fibres from the circular comb comprise pincers for gripping the fibres and detaching them from the circular comb.

The use of pincers for gripping the ends of the tufts enables closer approach to the fixed comb and thus enables shorter tufts to be combed.

Suction means are preferably associated with the pincers for transporting the combed fibres to fibre-collection means when the pincers open.

As well as ensuring that the end- of the tuft is arranged correctly to be gripped by the pincers, the suction means thus also remove the fibre flocks pneumatically to a storage device.

In current combing machines, in order to improve the penetration of the fibre tufts between the teeth of the comb, so-called mechanical "embedding" devices are used for urging the fibres towards the teeth of the comb to increase the combing efficiency.

As well as being quite complex structurally, these mechanical devices limit the number of beats per minute effected by the combing machine, thus restricting any increase in the productivity of the machine. Conventional embedders also require accurate regulation in relation to the timing of the circular comb.

In order to overcome this further problem, the combing machine of the present invention, which is of the type in which the circular comb is in the form of a hollow cylinder, also has a substantially longitudinal.

elongate aperture in the side wall of the comb, the interior of the circular comb being in communication with a vacuum source so as to encourage the penetration of the fibres of the sliver between the teeth of the comb by suction.

By virtue of this further characteristic, it ^' is no longer necessary to use so-called mechanical "embedding" devices which, because of the complexity of their structure, drive and setting up, limit the productivity of the machine.

With the use of suction towards the interior of the circular comb to embed the fibres in the teeth of the comb, it is possible to increase the operating rate (cycles per minute) of the machine without mechanical problems.

Further characteristics and advantages of the combing machine and of the method of the invention will become clear from the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, provided by way of non-limiting example, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combing machine according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line II-II of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a different stage in the working cycle of the machine.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3 and shows a further stage in the working cycle of the machine.

Figure 5 is a view of a detail of Figure 2 on an enlarged scale,

Figure 6 is a detail of Figure 4 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of part of the machine of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a component of the machine, and

Figure 9 is a view of a detail of Figure 8 on an enlarged scale.

With reference to the drawings, a wool-combing machine is generally indicated 1 and includes a support structure 11, a feed unit 12 and a detaching unit 13; Slivers of wool fibres, combined closely together so as to form a compact web M of even thickness, are fed to the machine 10 in known manner. The web is entrained by feed rollers 14 and is conveyed to the feed unit 12 which comprises an array of oscillating needles 15 which advance the web M intermittently.

A lower nipper 16 and an upper nipper 17 are pivoted to the structure 11 of the machine and arranged to hold a tuft C of fibres while it is being combed by a circular comb 18. The lower nipper 16 and the upper nipper 17 have respective ends 16a and 17a for gripping an end portion M- of the web M so as to define the tuft C which projects from the clamped nippers. A straight comb 19 is also arranged in the feed zone of the machine and is fixed at 20 to an oscillating structure 21 pivoted at 22 to the support structure of the machine. The straight comb 19

is used in known manner to comb the rear end of the tuft C. The straight comb 19 is cleaned by a brush 23 carried by the upper nipper 17.

The machine described hitherto does not differ substantially from conventional combing machines. The innovative characteristics of the machine according to the invention relate primarily to the zone in which the tufts of fibres are detached.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, an oscillating assembly 25 is pivoted to the support structure 11 of the machine about a horizontal axis X-X and comprises two parallel arms 26, each pivoted at a first end 26a to a shaft 27 and having its second end 26b fixed to a cross-member 28 which interconnects the arms 26 and is parallel to the articulation axis X-X; The oscillation of the assembly 25 about the axis X-X is driven in synchronism with the machine by means of a pair of connecting rods 29, as will become clear from the description of the operation of the machine.

A suction manifold 30 is connected to the cross-member 28 of the oscillating assembly 25 and is connected at 30a, by means of a connecting tube 49, to the inlet of a suction fan 31. The manifold 30 has a lower edge portion 30b defining a first jaw of a pincer device. The manifold 30 also has a wall 30c which faces the supply unit 12 and has a curved shape in order to prevent interference with the movement of other members of the machine.

A lower jaw 32 is pivoted to the manifold 30 about a horizontal axis Y-Y parallel to the articulation axis X-X of the oscillating assembly and has an active

portion 32b facing the portion 30b of the manifold 30.

The second jaw 32 is moved by means of a pair of connecting rods 33 each pivoted at a first end to the jaw 32 (about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis

Y-Y) and at a second end to one of a pair of levers 34 keyed to the shaft 27 which is mounted for rotation relative to the support structure 11. The shaft 27 is reciprocated about its axis by a further lever 35 keyed to one end 27a of the shaft 27 with the aid of a connecting rod 37 which is driven in synchronism with the machine. Each connecting rod 33 is also provided with a compression spring 33a arranged during the design stage to achieve a predetermined clamping force between the jaws 30b and 32b.

The manifold 30 has an internal duct 40 which communicates with a straight slot 41 adjacent the first jaw 30b. The duct 40 communicates through the connector 30a with delivery tubing 43 connected to a store (not shown) , the fan 31 being arranged in this tubing.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the circular comb 18, which has two segments 18a and 18b respectively provided with needles, has an internal tubular support body 50 whose interior is connected through a connector 51 to tubing 60 leading to a vacuum source constituted, for example, by a blower fan 61.

A space 52 is defined between the tubular body 50 and the circular segments 18a and 18b and communicates with the connector 51 through a straight slot 53 formed in the wall of the tubular body 50. Similarly, a straight slot 56 is provided in a recessed portion 57 of the second segment 18b of the circular comb which is the

segment which has the denser distribution of needles

55. This recessed portion 57 is located between rows of teeth 55 substantially adjacent a curved connecting element 59 of the circular comb 18.

When the machine 10 is operating, at the stage shown in Figure 2 the tuft C is combed by the circular comb 18 which, by virtue of the low pressure created in correspondence with the straight slot 56 and of the connection of the tubular body 50 to the vacuum source 61, draws the tuft C towards its lateral surface where the teeth of the comb are closer together. This "centripetal" suction ensures that the fibres consituting the tuft are drawn down fully between the teeth 55 of the circular comb 18. The suction starts before the circular comb 18 has reached the position in which its slot 56 is located in correspondence with the tuft C and stops when the latter has been combed.

The "timing" of the suction through the slot 56 is regulated, for example, by means of a distributor disc with suitable apertures placed in correspondence with the connector 51.

During the next stage, shown in Figure 3, the upper nipper 17 moves away from the lower nipper 16 and simultaneously cleans the straight comb 19 by means of the brush 23. At the same time, the jaws 30b and 32b, which are in the open configuration, close on the tuft C so as to grip it between them and initiate the subsequent detachment stage shown in Figure 4.

During this last stage, the straight comb 19 combs the rear end of the tuft C whilst, by virtue of the oscillation of the assembly 25, the tuft is separated

from the web M which is retained by the array of needles 15. At the end of the detachment stage, the opening of the second jaw 32b away from the first jaw

30b formed by the manifold 30 causes the tuft to be drawn into the duct 40 and into the delivery tubing 43 towards the flock store.

To advantage, the suction in the manifold 30 is maintained throughout the operating cycles of the machine so as to facilitate the gripping of the tuft C which, as a result of the suction, aligns itself between the lower nipper 16 and the gripping line of the jaws 30b and 32b when the manifold30 oves towards the nippers 16 and 17.

With the machine described above, the gauge can be reduced considerably in comparison with conventional combing machines, enabling it to be reduced to less than 15-16 mm. This is made possible both by the use of pincers for the detachment instead of conventional detaching rollers and by virtue of the particular shape of the jaws associated with the oscillating assembly 25. In parallel with the reduction in the gauge, particularly short wools can be combed effectively with low percentages of waste.