Patent Publication Number: US-7895714-B2

Title: Apparatus for the fibre-sorting or fibre-selection of a fibre bundle comprising textile fibres, especially for combing

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2007 030 471.6 dated Jun. 29, 2007, and German Patent Application No. 10 2008 004 098.3 dated Jan. 11, 2008, the entire disclosure of each which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an apparatus for the fibre-sorting or selection of a fibre bundle comprising textile fibres, especially for combing. In certain known apparatus, fibre slivers are supplied by means of a supply device to a fibre-sorting device, especially to a combing device, in which clamping devices are provided, which clamp the fibre bundle at a distance from its free end and mechanical means are present which generate a combing action from the clamping site to the free end of the fibre bundle in order to loosen and remove non-clamped constituents, such as, for example, short fibres, neps, dust and the like from the free end, wherein a clamping element is present to take up the supplied fibre material. 
     In practice, combing machines are used to free cotton fibres or woolen fibres of natural impurities contained therein and to parallelise the fibres of the fibre sliver. For that purpose, a previously prepared fibre bundle is clamped between the jaws of the nipper arrangement so that a certain sub-length of the fibres, known as the “fibre tuft”, projects at the front of the jaws. By means of the combing segments of the rotating combing roller, which segments are filled with needle clothing or toothed clothing, this fibre tuft is combed and thus cleaned. The take-off device usually consists of two counter-rotating rollers, which grip the combed fibre tuft and carry it onwards. The known cotton-combing process is a discontinuous process. During a nipping operation, all assemblies and their drive means and gears are accelerated, decelerated and in some cases reversed again. High nip rates result in high acceleration. Particularly as a result of the kinematics of the nippers, the gear for the nipper movement and the gear for the pilgrim-step movement of the detaching rollers, high acceleration forces come into effect. The forces and stresses that arise increase as the nip rates increase. The known flat combing machine has reached a performance limit with its nip rates, which prevents productivity from being increased. Furthermore, the discontinuous mode of operation causes vibration in the entire machine, which generates dynamic alternating stresses. 
     EP 1 586 682 A discloses a combing machine in which, for example, eight combing heads operate simultaneously one next to the other. The drive of those combing heads is effected by means of a lateral drive means arranged next to the combing heads having a gear unit which is in driving connection by way of longitudinal shafts with the individual elements of the combing heads. The fibre slivers formed at the individual combing heads are transferred, one next to the other on a conveyor table, to a subsequent drafting system in which they are drafted and then combined to form a common combing machine sliver. The fibre sliver produced in the drafting system is then deposited in a can by means of a funnel wheel (coiler plate). The plurality of combing heads of the combing machine each have a feed device, a pivotally mounted, fixed-position nipper assembly, a rotatably mounted circular comb having a comb segment for combing out the fibre bundle supplied by the nipper assembly, a top comb and a fixed-position detaching device for detaching the combed-out fibre bundle from the nipper assembly. The lap ribbon supplied to the nipper assembly is here fed via a feed cylinder to a detaching roller pair. The fibre bundle protruding from the opened nipper passes onto the rearward end of a combed sliver web or fibre web, whereby it enters the clamping nip of the detaching rollers owing to the forward movement of the detaching rollers. In the process, the fibres that are not retained by the retaining force of the lap ribbon, or by the nipper, are detached from the composite of the lap ribbon. During this detaching operation, the fibre bundle is additionally pulled by the needles of a top comb. The top comb combs out the rear part of the detached fibre bundle and also holds back neps, impurities and the like. Owing to the differences in speed between the lap ribbon and the detaching speed of the detaching rollers, the detached fibre bundle is drawn out to a specific length. Following the detaching roller pair is a guide roller pair. During this detaching operation, the leading end of the detached or pulled off fibre bundle is overlapped or doubled with the trailing end of the fibre web. As soon as the detaching operation and the piecing operation have ended, the nippers return to a rear position in which they are closed and present the fibre bundle protruding from the nippers to a comb segment of a circular comb for combing out. Before the nipper assembly now returns to its front position again, the detaching rollers and the guide rollers perform a reversing movement, whereby the trailing end of the fibre web is moved backwards by a specific amount. This is required to achieve a necessary overlap for the piecing operation. In this way, a mechanical combing of the fibre material is effected. Disadvantages of that combing machine are especially the large amount of equipment required and the low hourly production rate. There are eight individual combing heads which have in total eight feed devices, eight fixed-position nipper assemblies, eight circular combs with comb segments, eight top combs and eight detaching devices. A particular problem is the discontinuous mode of operation of the combing heads. Additional disadvantages result from large mass accelerations and reversing movements, with the result that high operating speeds are not possible. Finally, the considerable amount of machine vibration results in irregularities in the deposition of the combed sliver. Moreover, the ecartement, that is to say the distance between the nipper lip of the lower nipper plate and the clamping point of the detaching cylinder, is structurally and spatially limited. The rotational speed of the detaching rollers and the guide rollers, which convey the fibre bundles away, is matched to the upstream slow combing process and is limited by this. A further drawback is that each fibre bundle is clamped and conveyed by the detaching roller pair and subsequently by the guide roller pair. The clamping point changes constantly owing to the rotation of the detaching rollers and the guide rollers, i.e. there is a constant relative movement between the rollers effecting clamping and the fibre bundle. All fibre bundles have to pass through the one fixed-position detaching roller pair and the one fixed-position guide roller pair in succession, which represents a further considerable limitation of the production speed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an aim of the invention to provide an apparatus of the kind described at the beginning which avoids or mitigates the mentioned disadvantages and which in a simple way, in particular, enables the amount produced per hour (productivity) to be substantially increased and an improved combed sliver to be obtained. 
     The invention provides an apparatus for the fibre-sorting or fibre-selection of a fibre bundle comprising textile fibres having: 
     a fibre sorting device in which clamping devices are provided which each clamp a bundle of the textile fibres at a distance from its free end; 
     a supply device for supplying the fibre bundle to the fibre-sorting device; and 
     at least one mechanical device for generating a combing action from the clamping site to the free end of the fibre bundle in order to loosen and remove non-clamped constituents; 
     wherein the fibre-sorting device comprises at least first and second rotatably mounted rollers that, in use, rotate rapidly without interruption, and clamping devices for fibre bundles distributed spaced apart in the region of the periphery of at least one said roller, wherein the device for generating a combing action is associated with at least one of said rollers, and wherein the fibre-sorting device further comprises at least one suction device associated with the clamping devices in the region of the transfer of the fibre bundle from the supply device to the first roller, and/or in the region of the transfer of the fibre material from the first roller to the second roller, for the suction of the supplied fibre bundles. 
     By implementing the functions of clamping and moving the fibre bundles to be combed-out on rotating rollers, preferably a turning rotor and a combing rotor, high operating speeds (nip rates) are achievable—unlike the known apparatus—without large mass accelerations and reversing movements. In particular, the mode of operation is continuous. When high-speed rollers are used, a very substantial increase in hourly production rate (productivity) is achievable which had previously not been considered possible in technical circles. A further advantage is that the rotary rotational movement of the rollers with the plurality of clamping devices leads to an unusually rapid supply of a plurality of fibre bundles per unit of time to the first roller and to the second roller. In particular the high rotational speed of the rollers allows production to be substantially increased. 
     To form the fibre bundle, the fibre material pushed forward by the feed roller is clamped at one end by a clamping device and detached by the rotary movement of the turning rotor. The clamped end contains short fibres, the free region comprises the long fibres. The long fibres are pulled by separation force out of the fibre material clamped in the feed nip, short fibres remaining behind through the retaining force in the feed nip. Subsequently, as the fibre sliver is transferred from the turning rotor onto the combing rotor the ends of the fibre sliver are reversed: the clamping device on the combing rotor grips and clamps the end with the long fibres, so that the region with the short fibres projects from the clamping device and lies exposed and can thereby be combed out. 
     The fibre bundles are—unlike the known apparatus—held by a plurality of clamping devices and transported under rotation. The clamping point at the particular clamping devices therefore remains substantially constant on each roller until the fibre bundles are transferred to the subsequent roller or take-off roller. A relative movement between clamping device and fibre bundle does not begin until after the fibre bundle has been gripped by the subsequent roller, especially the take-off roller, and in addition clamping has been terminated. Because a plurality of clamping devices is available for the fibre bundles, in an especially advantageous manner fibre bundles can be supplied to the first or second roller respectively one after the other and in quick succession, without undesirable time delays resulting from just a single supply device. A particular advantage is that, for support, the supplied fibre bundles are additionally acted upon by suction. The free end of the fibre bundles is gripped very quickly and drawn into the clamping device whilst the clamping device is open, which leads to a further considerable increase in production speed. The suction air currents advantageously have an influence on the alignment and movement of the fibre bundles to be transported. 
     In certain preferred embodiments, at transfer, before the clamping by the clamping devices, a suction air current acts on the supplied fibre bundles. Advantageously, the suction air current influences the alignment and movement of the fibre bundles to be supplied and taken up. Advantageously, after clamping of the free regions of the fibre bundles the clamping of the clamped ends is arranged to be terminated. Advantageously, at least one blowing opening is provided in the region of the delivery of the fibre bundle from the supply device to the first roller and/or in the region of the delivery of the fibre material from the first roller to the second roller. Advantageously, the blowing device is associated with the supply device. For suction of the fibre material, the opening of the suction device may advantageously be arranged at the first roller in the region of the supply device (feed roller). As well or instead, an opening of a suction device may advantageously be arranged at the second roller in the region of the transfer of the fibre material between the first roller and the second roller. Advantageously, the suction device is of channel-like construction. Advantageously, the suction channel has an open end with a suction opening. Advantageously, the suction channel has another end that is connected to an reduced pressure region. Advantageously, the suction channels are arranged inside the first roller and/or inside the second roller. Advantageously, the suction channels rotate with the first roller and/or the second roller. Advantageously, at least one suction channel is associated with each nipper device (upper nipper, lower nipper). Advantageously, the suction channel is arranged substantially between the gripper element (upper nipper) and the counter-element (lower nipper). Advantageously, a reduced pressure region is present in the interior of the first roller and/or the second roller. Advantageously, the suction channels are connected to the reduced pressure region. Advantageously, the reduced pressure region is connected to a source of suction, e.g. a flow-generating machine. Advantageously, the suction flow at the individual suction channels between the reduced pressure region and the suction channel is adjustable in such a manner that the suction flow is applied only at particular adjustable (predetermined) angular positions on the circumference of the roller. Advantageously, valves are provided for the adjustment of predetermined angular positions. For the adjustment, a fan with openings is advantageously provided at the predetermined angular positions. Advantageously, the release of the suction flow can be effected by the movement of the gripper element (upper nipper). Advantageously, a reduced pressure region is arranged only at the predetermined angular positions. Advantageously, a blown air device is provided in the region of the supply device. Advantageously, a blown air current is provided in the region of the transfer between the first roller and the second roller. In certain embodiments, in the region of the supply device, an element for generating the blown air current may be fixedly arranged directly below and/or directly above the supply device. In other embodiments, the blown air source may be arranged inside the supply device. Advantageously, the blown air current acts, through the air-permeable surface of the supply device or through air passage openings, in the direction of the first roller. Advantageously, a blown air current source is arranged in the region of transfer between the first roller and the second roller directly below and/or above each nipper device. Advantageously, between the supply device and the first roller a screen element is arranged above the fibre material. Advantageously, between the supply device and the first roller a respective screen element is arranged laterally of the fibre material. Advantageously, air guide elements for the air currents are present. Advantageously, the at least two rotatably mounted rollers comprise at least one turning rotor and at least one combing rotor. Advantageously, the turning rotor and the combing rotor have opposite directions of rotation. To assist the suction of the supplied fibre slivers, at least one blowing device is advantageously associated with the clamping devices in the region of the transfer of the fibre bundle from the supply device to the first roller and/or in the region of the transfer of the fibre material from the first roller to the second roller. 
     The invention also provides an apparatus for the fibre-sorting or fibre-selection of a fibre bundle comprising textile fibres, especially for combing, which is supplied by means of supply means to a fibre-sorting device, especially a combing device, in which clamping devices are provided which clamp the fibre bundle at a distance from its free end, and mechanical means are present which generate a combing action from the clamping site to the free end of the fibre bundle, in order to loosen and remove non-clamped constituents, such as, for example, short fibres, neps, dust and the like from the free end, wherein for transfer of the supplied fibre material a clamping element is present, characterised in that downstream of the supply means there are arranged at least two rotatably mounted rollers rotating rapidly without interruption which are provided with clamping devices for the fibre bundles transported in rotation, which clamping devices are distributed spaced apart in the region of their periphery, and the means for generating a combing action (combing elements) are associated with at least one said roller, wherein for suction of the supplied fibre bundles, at least one suction device is associated with the clamping devices in the region of the transfer of the fibre bundle from the supply device to the first roller and/or in the region of the transfer of the fibre material from the first roller to the second roller. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a device for combing fibre material, comprising a combing preparation device, a rotor combing machine and a sliver-deposition device, 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic side view of a rotor combing machine according to the invention having two rollers, 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a rotor combing machine constructed generally as shown in  FIG. 2  and further have two cam discs, 
         FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of the invention in which a top comb roller acts as supply device, 
         FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the invention in which a clothed roller acts as supply device, 
         FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b  show embodiments of the invention in which two arrangements of a double belt device act as supply device, 
         FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  show embodiments of the invention in which two feed rollers act as supply device, having a fixed comb from above ( FIG. 7   a ) and from below ( FIG. 7   b ), 
         FIGS. 8   a  to  8   c  show in diagrammatic form the operating sequence during transfer of a supplied fibre bundle from the supply device onto, and take up by, the first roller with suction device, 
         FIGS. 9   a  to  9   c  show in diagrammatic form the operating sequence during transfer of a fibre bundle transported in rotation from the first roller onto, and take up by, the second roller with suction device, 
         FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of the invention in which a supply device as in  FIG. 8   a  to  8   c  has a suction device associated with the first roller and additionally has a blown air nozzle arranged inside the feed roller, 
         FIG. 11  shows a supply device with a blown air nozzle arranged inside the feed roller, 
         FIG. 12  shows an embodiment of the invention in which a rotor combing machine generally as in  FIG. 2  has reduced pressure channels and suction openings, associated in each case with the clamping devices of the first and second rollers, as well as a blown air nozzle inside the supply roller, 
         FIG. 13  is a diagrammatic side view of a further embodiment of the rotor combing machine, according to the invention in which on the first roller (turning rotor) counter-elements are arranged lying opposite and the fibre bundle (fibre portion) is acted upon by suction, and 
         FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic side view of another embodiment of the rotor combing machine according to the invention, in which combing elements are arranged inside the combing rotor. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a combing preparation machine  1  has a sliver-fed and lap-delivering spinning room machine and two feed tables  4   a ,  4   b  (creels) arranged parallel to one another, there being arranged below each of the feed tables  4   a ,  4   b  two rows of cans  5   a ,  5   b  containing fibre slivers (not shown). The fibre slivers withdrawn from the cans  5   a ,  5   b  pass, after a change of direction, into two drafting systems  6   a ,  6   b  of the combing preparation machine  1 , which are arranged one after the other. From the drafting system  6   a , the fibre sliver web that has been formed is guided over the web table  7  and, at the outlet of the drafting system  6   b , laid one over the other and brought together with the fibre sliver web produced therein. By means of the drafting systems  6   a  and  6   b , in each case a plurality of fibre slivers are combined to form a lap and drafted together. A plurality of drafted laps (two laps in the example shown) are doubled by being placed one on top of the other. The lap so formed is introduced directly into the supply device (feed element) of the downstream rotor combing machine  2 . The flow of fibre material is not interrupted. The combed fibre web is delivered at the outlet of the rotor combing machine  2 , passes through a funnel, forming a comber sliver, and is deposited in a downstream sliver-deposition device  3 . Reference numeral A denotes the operating direction. 
     An autoleveller drafting system  50  (see  FIG. 2 ) can be arranged between the rotor combing machine  2  and the sliver-deposition device  3 . The comber sliver is thereby drafted. 
     In accordance with a further embodiment, more than one rotor combing machine  2  is provided. If, for example, two rotor combing machines are present, then the two delivered comber slivers  17  can pass together through the downstream autoleveller drafting system  50  and be deposited as one drafted comber sliver in the sliver-deposition device  3 . 
     The sliver-deposition device  3  comprises a rotating coiler head  3   a , by which the comber sliver can be deposited in a can  3   b  or (not shown) in the form of a canless fibre sliver package. 
       FIG. 2  shows a rotor combing machine  2  having a supply device  8  comprising a feed roller  10  and a feed tray  11 , having a first roller  12  (turning rotor), second roller  13  (combing rotor), a take-off device  9  comprising a take-off roller  14  and a revolving card top combing assembly  15 . The directions of rotation of the rollers  10 ,  12 ,  13  and  14  are shown by curved arrows  10   a ,  12   a ,  13   a  and  14   a , respectively. The incoming fibre lap is indicated by reference numeral  16  and the delivered fibre web is indicated by reference numeral  17 . The rollers  10 ,  12 ,  13  and  14  are arranged one after the other. Arrow A denotes the operating direction. 
     The first roller  12  is provided in the region of its outer periphery with a plurality of first clamping devices  18  which extend across the width of the roller  12  (see  FIG. 3 ) and each consist of an upper nipper  19  (gripping element) and a lower nipper  20  (counter-element). In its one end region facing the centre point or the pivot axis of the roller  12 , each upper nipper  19  is rotatably mounted on a pivot bearing  24   a  which is attached to the roller  12 . The lower nipper  20  is mounted on the roller  12  so as to be either fixed or movable. The free end of the upper nipper  19  faces the periphery of the roller  12 . The upper nipper  19  and the lower nipper  20  cooperate so that they are able to grip a fibre bundle  16 ,  30   1 ,  30   2  (clamping) and release it. 
     The second roller  13  is provided in the region of its outer periphery with a plurality of two-part clamping devices  21 , which extend across the width of the roller  13  (see  FIG. 3 ) and each consist of an upper nipper  22  (gripping element) and a lower nipper  23  (counter-element). In its one end region facing the centre point or the pivot axis of the roller  13 , each upper nipper  22  is rotatably mounted on a pivot bearing  24   b , which is attached to the roller  13 . The lower nipper  23  is mounted on the roller  13  so as to be either fixed (see  FIG. 9 ) or movable. The free end of the upper nipper  22  faces the periphery of the roller  13 . The upper nipper  22  and the lower nipper  23  co-operate so that they are able to grip a fibre bundle  30   2  (clamping) and release it. In the case of roller  12 , around the roller periphery between the feed roller  10  and the second roller  13  the clamping devices  18  are closed (they clamp fibre bundles (not shown) at one end) and between the second roller  13  and the feed roller  10  the clamping devices  18  are open. In roller  13 , around the roller periphery between the first roller  12  and the doffer  14  the clamping devices  21  are closed (they clamp fibre bundles (not shown) at one end) and between the doffer  14  and the first roller  12  the clamping devices  21  are open. Reference numeral  50  denotes a drafting system, for example an autoleveller drafting system. The drafting system  50  is advantageously arranged above the coiler head  3   a . Reference numeral  51  denotes a driven ascending conveyor, for example a conveyor belt. It is also possible to use an upwardly inclined metal sheet or the like for conveying purposes. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , two fixed cam discs  25  and  26  are provided, about which the roller  12  having the first clamping devices  18  and the roller  13  having the second clamping devices  21  are rotated in the direction of arrows  12   a  and  13   a , respectively. The loaded upper nippers  19  and  22  are arranged in the intermediate space between the outer periphery of the cam discs  25 ,  26  and the inner cylindrical surfaces of the rollers  12 ,  13 . By rotation of the rollers  12  and  13  about the cam discs  25  and  26 , the upper nippers  19  and  22  are rotated about pivot axes  24   a  and  24   b , respectively. In that way, the opening and closing of the first clamping devices  18  and the second clamping devices  21  is implemented. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the feed roller  10  has around its periphery comb segments  10   b  which are arranged axially parallel across the width. In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the feed roller  10  has around its periphery a clothing  10   c , preferably all-steel clothing. In the embodiments of  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b , the supply device consists of two endlessly revolving belts  27   a ,  27   b , between which there is a conveyor gap for the incoming fibre lap  16 . The conveyor gap in  FIG. 6   a  is arranged substantially radially with respect to the roller  12 , while the conveyor gap in  FIG. 6   b  is arranged opposite the direction of rotation  12   a . In the embodiments  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , between a feed roller pair  28   a ,  28   b  (for directions of rotation see curved arrows) and the first roller  12  there is arranged a fixed comb  29   1 , and  29   2 , respectively, the comb teeth of the fixed comb  29   1  engaging the fibre lap  16  from above and the comb teeth of the fixed comb  29   2  engaging the fibre lap  16  from below. 
     Embodiments of the invention in which the apparatus has a suction device (see  FIGS. 8   a  to  8   c ,  9   a  to  9   c ,  10  and  12 ) and/or a blowing device (see  FIG. 10 to 12 ) can include one of the arrangements illustrated in  FIGS. 4 to 7 . 
     In respect of the mode of operation and operating sequence of an illustrative apparatus according to the invention: 
     Lap Preparation 
     A plurality of slivers is combined to form a lap  16  and drafted together. A plurality of laps  16  can be doubled by being placed one on top of the other. The resulting lap  16  is introduced directly into the feed element  10  of the rotor combing machine  2 . The flow of material is not interrupted by forming a wound lap. 
     Feed 
     Unlike a flat combing machine, the upstream lap  16  is fed continuously by means of a conveyor element. The feed quantity is determined by the length of lap  16  conveyed between two closure time points of the nippers  18  (reversing nippers) of the first rotor  12  (turning rotor). 
     Clamping  1   
     The fibre tuft aligned and projecting out of the lap  16  is clamped by a clamping device  18  (reversing nipper) of the first rotor  12  (turning rotor). The clamping device  18  of the first rotor  12  assumes the function of detachment. 
     Delivery from the supply device onto, and take up by, the first roller with suction device. 
       FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b  and  8   c  show in diagrammatic form the operating sequence during transfer of the supplied fibre material  30   1  from the feed roller  10  to the first roller  12  (turning rotor) acted upon by suction and the take-up of the supplied fibre material  30   1  from the feed roller  10  by the first roller  12  acted upon by suction, the Figures showing one after the other in chronological order: according to  FIG. 8   a , intake of the fibre material  16  by the feed roller  10  in direction  10   a  and advance of the free end  30   1  into the suction region of the roller  12  with clamping of the fibre material between the comb segments  12   b  and the nose of the feed trough  11 .  FIG. 8   b  shows suction of the free end  30   1  by the air current B of the suction channel  52  between the upper nipper  19  and the lower nipper  20 . Through the suction, the fibre bundle  30   1  is bent at an angle and straightened. In this operation, the fibre bundle  30   1  continues to be clamped between feed roller  10  and feed trough  11 . In accordance with  FIG. 8   c , a rotation of the upper nipper  19  around the pivot joint  24   a  in direction C is effected and thereby a closure of the clamping device  18 , wherein an end region of the fibre bundle  30   1  is clamped between upper nipper  19  and lower nipper  20 . 
     Removal 
     As a result of the rotation of the turning rotor  12  in direction  12   a  with the reversing nippers  18  located thereon, the clamped fibre tuft is removed from the feed lap, it being necessary for a retaining force to act on the lap  16  so that the fibres in the lap  16  not clamped by the reversing nipper  18  are retained. The retaining force is applied by the conveyor element of the feed means or by additional means such as a feed tray  11  or a top comb. The elements that generate the retaining force assume the function of the top comb. 
     Clamping  2   
     The fibre tuft is aligned and transferred to the clamping device  21  (combing nipper) of the second rotor  13  (combing rotor). The distance between the reversing nipper clamping line and the combing nipper clamping line at the time the combing device  21  closes determines the ecartement. 
     Delivery from the first roller onto, and take up by, the second roller with suction device. 
       FIGS. 9   a ,  9   b  and  9   c  show in diagrammatic form the operating sequence during transfer of the supplied fibre material  30   2  from the first roller  12  to the second roller  13  (turning rotor) acted upon by suction and the take-up of the supplied fibre material  30   2  from the first roller  12  by the second roller  13  acted upon by suction, the Figures showing in chronological order: 
       FIG. 9   a  shows transport of the fibre bundle  30   2  by the roller  12  in direction  12   a  into the suction region of the roller  13  with clamping of the clamped end of the fibre bundle  30   2  by the closed clamping device  18  comprising upper nipper  19  and lower nipper  20 .  FIG. 9   b  shows suction of the free end of the fibre bundle  30   2  by the air current E of the suction channel  56  between the upper nipper  22  and the lower nipper  23 . Through the suction, the fibre bundle  30   2  bent at an angle is stretched out and aligned. In this operation, the one end region of the fibre bundle  30   2  continues to be clamped between upper nipper  19  and lower nipper  20  of the closed clamping device  18 .  FIG. 9   c  shows a rotation of the upper nipper  22  around the pivot joint  24   b  in direction I is effected and thereby a closure of the clamping device  21 , wherein the other end region of the fibre bundle  30   2  is clamped between upper nipper  22  and lower nipper  23 . 
     Combing 
     The fibre tuft projecting out of the combing nipper  21  contains non-clamped fibres that are eliminated by means of combing. 
     Piecing 
     The combed-out fibre tuft is deposited on a take-off roller  14 . The surface of the take-off roller  14 , which surface is acted upon by suction and is air-permeable, causes the fibre tuft to be deposited, stretched-out, on the take-off roller  14 . The fibre tufts are placed one on top of the other, overlapping in the manner of roof tiles, and form a web. 
     The web  17  is removed from the take-off roller  14  at a point on the take-off roller not acted upon by suction and is guided into a funnel. 
     Comber Sliver Procedure 
     The resulting comber sliver can be doubled and drafted (drafting system  50 ) and is then deposited, for example, in a can  3   b  by means of coiler  3   a.    
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 10 , a supply device  8  as in  FIG. 8   a  to  8   c  is shown with a suction channel  52  associated with the first roller  12 . In addition, inside the feed roller there is a blast air nozzle  39 , which is connected to a source of blown air (not illustrated). The cylinder casing of the feed roller  10  has openings, which allow the passage of the blown air current K. The blown air current K is directed onto the fibre bundle  30   1 . The blown air current K is substantially in alignment with the suction air current B. 
       FIG. 11  shows an embodiment similar to  FIG. 10 , but differing in that only a blown air channel  39 , i.e. no suction channel  52 , is provided. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 12 , the rotatably mounted rollers  12  and  13  with clamping devices  19 ,  20  and  22 ,  23  respectively are additionally fitted with suction channels  52  and  56  respectively (suction openings) which, in the region of the delivery between the supply device  8  and the roller  12  and in the region of the delivery between the rollers  12  and  13 , influence the alignment and movement of the fibres being transported. In that way, the time for the taking up of the fibre material from the supply device  8  onto the first roller  12  and the delivery to the second roller  13  is significantly reduced, so that the nip rate can be increased. The suction openings  52 ,  56  are arranged within the rollers  12  and  13 , respectively, and rotate with the rollers. At least one suction opening is associated with each clamping device  19 ,  20  and  22 ,  23  (nipper device). The suction openings  52 ,  56  are each arranged between a gripping element (upper nipper) and counter-element (lower nipper). In the interior of the rotors  12 ,  13  there is a reduced pressure region  53  to  55  and  57  to  59 , respectively, created by the suction flow at the suction openings  52 ,  56 . The reduced pressure can be generated by connecting to a flow-generating machine. The suction flow at the individual suction openings  52 ,  56  can be so switched between reduced pressure region and suction opening that it is applied only at particular selected angular positions on the roller circumference. For the purpose of the switching, valves or a valve pipe  54 ,  58  with openings  55  and  59 , respectively, in the corresponding angular positions, can be used. The release of the suction flow may also be brought about by the movement of the gripping element (upper nipper). Furthermore, it is possible to arrange a region of underpressure only at the corresponding angular positions. 
     Additionally, a flow of blown air can be provided in the region of the supply device  8  and/or in the region of transfer between the rollers. The source of the flow of blown air (blowing nozzle  39 ) is arranged inside the feed roller  10  and acts, through the air-permeable surface of the supply device or through air passage openings, towards the outside in the direction of the first roller. Also, in the region of the supply device  8 , the element for producing the blown air current can be fixedly arranged, directly under or over the supply device  8 . In the region of the transfer between the rollers  12 ,  13  the blown air current sources can be arranged at the rotor perimeter of the first roller  12 , directly under or over each nipper device. For the blown air generation there may be used compressed air nozzles and/or air blades. 
     The suction flow B can favourably influence and shorten not only the guiding, but also the separation process between the lap and the tufts to be removed in the region of the supply device  8 . 
     As a result of the provision of additional air guide elements  60  and lateral screens  61 ,  62  the direction of the flow can be influenced and the air carried round with the rotors separated off. In that way, the time for alignment can be further shortened. In particular, a screen element between the first rotor  12  and supply device  8  over the lap and a screen element on each side of the roller have proved useful. 
     The combed-out fibre portion passes from the second roller  13  onto the piecing roller  14 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 13 , clamping elements  66  are present at the first roller  65  (turning rotor), opposite which a conveyor belt  67  is arranged as counter-element, and in which the fibre bundle is held by suction on the first roller  65 . The first roller  65  rotates in the direction  65   a.    
     The fibre material is fed by a supply device  68  comprising two co-operating continuously revolving conveyor belts  68   a ,  68   b  into the gap between the roller  65  and the conveyor belt  67 . Through clamping between the clamping elements  66  and the belt portion  67   a  of the conveyor belt  67  facing towards the roller  65 , fibre sliver bundles are formed and carried out of the gap between the roller  65  and the conveyor belt  67 . Subsequently an end region of each sliver bundle is firmly held by a suction air current “L” of a suction channel  69 , which is connected to an underpressure region  70 , on the surface of the roller  65 . The fibre bundle is subsequently transferred onto the second roller  13 , (combing rotor). The combed-out fibre material passes from the second roller  13  onto the piecing roller  14 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 14 , a first roller  12  (turning rotor) is provided, which is illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The fibre bundle is transferred from the first roller  12  onto a second roller  71  (combing rotor). The second roller  71  rotates in the direction  71   a . Inside the second roller  71 , a further roller  72  equipped with a plurality of combing elements  73  rotates. The roller  72  is mounted concentrically with respect to the axis of the second roller  71 . The roller  72  rotates continuously and uniformly in the same direction as or in the opposite direction to the combing rotor  71 . The nipper devices  74  consist of an upper nipper  75  and a lower nipper  76 , which with their one end are rotatable about a pivot bearing  77  in direction M, N. In the closed state, the nipper devices  74  present the clamped fibre tufts to the combing elements  73  for combing. Through the relative movement between fibre tuft and combing element  73  the fibre tuft is combed out. Inside the rotor  71  there is a cleaning device, for example, a rotating cleaning roller  78 , which cleans the combing elements  73 . In the case of same-direction combing, the speed ratio between combing rotor  71  and the roller  72  with combing elements  73  is greater than 1. The combed-out fibre bundle passes from the combing rotor  71  onto the piecing roller  14 . 
     Using the rotor combing machine according to the invention there is achieved a mechanical combing of the fibre material to be combed out, that is, mechanical means are used for the combing. There is no pneumatic combing of the fibre material to be combed, that is, no air currents, e.g. suction and/or blown air currents, are used for combing. 
     The circumferential speeds are, for example, for the feed roller about from 0.2 to 1.0 m/sec; the first roller  12  about from 2.0 to 6.0 m/sec; the second roller  13  about from 2.0 to 6.0 m/sec; the doffer about from 0.4 to 1.5 m/sec; and the revolving card top assembly about from 1.5 to 4.5 m/sec. The diameter of the first roller  12  and the second roller  13  is, for example, about from 0.3 m to 0.8 m. 
     Using the rotor combing machine  2  according to the invention, more than 2000 nips/min, for example from 3000 to 5000 nips/min, are achieved. 
     In the rotor combing machine according to the invention there are present rollers that rotate rapidly without interruption (continuously) and that have clamping devices. Rollers that rotate with interruptions, stepwise or alternating between a stationary and rotating state are not used. 
     Although the foregoing invention has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of understanding, it will be obvious that changes and modifications may be practised within the scope of the appended claims.