NIPPER UNIT FOR A COMBING MACHINE

Abstract

A nipper unit for use in a combing machine includes a nipper frame defining a support surface. A lower nipper plate abuts against the support surface. A first portion of the lower nipper plate is fastened to the nipper frame via a fastening screw and a second portion of the lower nipper plate projects beyond the support surface. An area of the lower nipper plate at a transition from the first portion to the second portion is connected to the nipper frame by a resilient seal.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. A nipper unit for use in a combing machine, comprising: a nipper frame defining a support surface; a lower nipper plate abutted against the support surface; a first portion of the lower nipper plate fastened to the nipper frame via a fastening screw; a second portion of he lower nipper plate projecting beyond the support surface; and an area of the lower nipper plate at a transition from the first portion to the second portion connected to the nipper frame by a resilient seal.

8. The nipper unit according to claim 7, wherein the resilient seal comprises a resilient adhesive.

9. The nipper unit according to claim 8, wherein the resilient adhesive is applied at a thickness of at least 1 mm.

10. The nipper unit according to claim 7, wherein t the resilient seal comprises a rubber profile component.

11. The nipper unit according to claim 10, wherein the rubber profile component is glued to the lower nipper plate and the nipper frame.

12. A combing machine comprising the nipper unit according to claim 7.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention is shown and explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown below. In the drawings:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a nipper unit of a combing machine according to the prior art, in the open position;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a nipper unit of a combing machine according to the prior art, in the closed position;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a cross section of a first embodiment of a fastening of a lower nipper plate to a nipper frame, and

[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a cross section of a second embodiment of a fastening of a lower nipper plate to a nipper frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the drawings. Each embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation of the invention. For example features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be combined with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a nipper unit of a combing machine according to the prior art, in the open position, and FIG. 2 shows the same nipper unit in the closed position. The nipper unit shown comprises a nipper frame 1, a lower nipper plate 3 which rests on a support surface 2 of the nipper frame 1 and is fastened by fastening screws 6, and an upper nipper plate 21 which is mounted pivotably on the nipper frame 1. The lower nipper plate 3 comprises a lower nipper lip 11, and the upper nipper plate 21 comprises an upper nipper lip 12.

[0016] A feed cylinder 13 is rotatably mounted in the nipper unit, which feed cylinder performs a discontinuous movement during a comb clearance, in order to introduce the padding 18, unrolled from a reel (not shown), to a circular comb 14, which is intended for combing and is rotatably arranged below the nipper unit. The circular comb 14 has a circular comb segment 15 equipped with teeth for combing a fiber tuft 19. During this combing process, the nipper unit is in a rear position shown in FIG. 2, wherein the nipper unit is closed.

[0017] Closing of the nipper unit takes place by way of the upper nipper lip 12 encountering the lower nipper lip 11. In this case, the upper nipper plate 21 is pressed by means of a compression spring 22 against the lower nipper plate 3. As a result of the impact of the upper nipper lip 12 on the lower nipper lip 11, a pressure is briefly exerted on the lower nipper plate 3 which is so high that the lower nipper plate bends downwards, as a result of which the lower nipper plate 3 is briefly released from the support surface 2 between the fastening screw 6 and the end of the support surface 2. In this closed position of the nipper unit, a fiber tuft 19 is held by the nipper lips 11 and 12 of the nipper plates 5 and 21 resting against each other. The fiber tuft 19, which protrudes from the nipper unit in this way is combed by the circular comb segment 15 by a rotation of the circular comb 14. Subsequently, the nipper unit is transferred into the open position shown in FIG. 1, in which it is open. In this position, a fixed comb 17 points into the padding end protruding beyond the nipper unit. By way of a forward movement of the nipper unit, the padding end now enters a clamping line of an upstream tear-off roller pair 16 and is soldered there to a non-woven fabric 20.

[0018] In order to achieve a qualitatively good combing of the fiber tuft 19, a distance 23 is provided between the nipper unit and the circular comb segment 15 and is kept as low as possible and is generally 0.3 mm or less. Due to a structural length of the lower nipper plate 3 from the fastening screw 6 to a contact point with the upper nipper lip 12, the smallest bending of the lower nipper plate 3 also leads to the formation of a gap between the lower nipper plate 3 and the support surface 2.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a cross section of a first embodiment of a fastening of the lower nipper plate 3 to the nipper frame 1. The nipper frame 1 comprises a support surface 2 for the gap-free contact of the lower nipper plate 3. The lower nipper plate 3 comprises a first portion 4 for contact with the support surface 2 and a second portion 5 protruding beyond the support surface and comprising the lower nipper lip 11. The lower nipper plate 3 is firmly screwed to the nipper frame 1 by means of the first portion 4 resting against the support surface 2, using fastening screws 6. The upper nipper plate (not shown) striking the lower nipper lip 11 of the lower nipper plate 3 with a closing force 9 causes a brief bending of the lower nipper plate 3. Due to the resilience of the lower nipper plate 3, the bending triggered by the abruptly striking closing force 9 is restored. The movement 10 of the lower nipper plate 3 results. In order to prevent dirt from entering the briefly opening gap between the nipper frame 1 and the lower nipper plate 3, a seal 7 is provided. In the embodiment shown, the seal 7 is provided as a resilient adhesive of a thickness 8. In this case, the thickness 8 is dependent on a choice of material for the seal 7. The edge of the support surface 2 may delimit a transition between the first portion 4 and the second portion 5, and the seal 7 may be provided on the transition such as to connect the lower nipper plate 3 to the nipper frame 1.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a cross section of a second embodiment of a fastening of the lower nipper plate 3 to the nipper frame 1. The lower nipper plate 3 is placed, by a first portion 4, on a support surface 2 of the nipper frame 1, and is connected to it by fastening screws 6. A second portion 5 of the lower nipper plate 3 that comprises the lower nipper lip 11 projects beyond the support surface 2 of the nipper frame 1. In the embodiment shown, the seal 7 is provided as a rubber profile. The rubber profile is connected in a dust-tight manner to the nipper frame 1 and the lower nipper plate 3, for example by means of an adhesive.

[0021] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described. Modifications and a combination of the features within the scope of the claims are also possible, even if they are shown and described in different embodiments.

LEGEND

[0022] 1 nipper frame [0023] 2 support surface [0024] 3 lower nipper plate [0025] 4 first portion of the lower nipper plate [0026] 5 second portion of the lower nipper plate [0027] 6 fastening screw [0028] 7 seal [0029] 8 thickness of the seal [0030] 9 closing force [0031] 10 movement lower nipper plate [0032] 11 lower nipper lip [0033] 12 upper nipper lip [0034] 13 feed cylinder [0035] 14 circular comb [0036] 15 circular comb segment [0037] 16 pair of tear-off rollers [0038] 17 fixed comb [0039] 18 padding [0040] 19 fiber tuft [0041] 20 non-woven fabric [0042] 21 upper nipper plate [0043] 22 compression spring [0044] 23 circular comb distance