Patent Description:
Various types of fiber bundle condensing devices have been proposed for condensing fiber bundles, which are drafted by a draft device, in advance prior to twisting, to improve yarn quality, for example, by reducing fluff or adjusting yarn strength.

Such fiber bundle condensing devices include a countershaft for rotating a delivery roller pair that delivers fiber bundles. In the fiber bundle condensing devices, it is important to precisely arrange a bearing that rotatably supports the countershaft.

<CIT> discloses that a bearing rotatably supporting the countershaft is fixed with a set screw having a threaded portion in a radially inward direction.

<CIT> discloses a fiber bundle condensing device for a spinning machine.

In the spinning machine, fiber bundle condensing devices are disposed at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of the machine frame so as to correspond to a plurality of spindles. Each of the fiber bundle condensing devices is configured to be rotated through a common countershaft.

Thus, a load in an axial direction (hereinafter referred to as a thrust load) may be generated in the bearing that rotatably supports the countershaft. When the bearing is fixed only with the set screw disclosed in the above-cited Publication, the bearing may be dislocated in a case where a thrust load greater than a frictional force between the set screw and the bearing is generated.

The present invention, which has been made in light of the above-described problem, is directed to providing a fiber bundle condensing device for a spinning machine in which a bearing, which rotatably supports a countershaft that rotates a delivery roller transporting fiber bundles, may be positioned precisely in an axial direction.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fiber bundle condensing device for a spinning machine including a condensing device configured to condense a fiber bundle having been drafted, and including a delivery roller pair that comprises a delivery top roller and a delivery bottom roller and transports the fiber bundle, a suction portion that exerts suction on the fiber bundle, and an air-permeable apron that is rotated along the suction portion, a support plate fixed to a roller stand, and configured to support the condensing device, and a countershaft configured to rotate the delivery bottom roller. The support plate has an opening through which the countershaft is inserted. The opening is smaller than an outer diameter of a bearing, and an edge portion of the opening restricts a position of the bearing in an axial direction of the countershaft.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:.

The following will describe a fiber bundle condensing device for a spinning machine according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that same reference numerals are used for the same components in the drawings.

Firstly, a basic configuration of a fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> for a spinning machine according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> is a configuration view, illustrating the fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> and a part of a draft device <NUM> according to the embodiment.

The fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> is disposed downstream of final delivery rollers <NUM>, <NUM> of a draft device <NUM>, and is configured to condense a fiber bundle drafted by the draft device in advance for reducing fluff or the like prior to twisting.

The fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> includes a condensing device <NUM>, a support plate <NUM>, and a countershaft <NUM> as main components.

The condensing device <NUM> includes a delivery bottom roller <NUM>, a suction portion <NUM>, a guide portion <NUM>, an air-permeable apron <NUM>, and a delivery top roller <NUM>.

The delivery bottom roller <NUM> includes a gear (not illustrated) corresponding to a gear mounted on the countershaft <NUM>. The delivery bottom roller <NUM> is rotated by the gear of the countershaft <NUM>, thereby rotating the air-permeable apron <NUM> and transporting a fiber bundle F.

The suction portion <NUM> includes a plurality of suction holes. The suction portion <NUM> exerts suction on the fiber bundle F transported by the air-permeable apron <NUM>.

The air-permeable apron <NUM> is made of air-permeable woven cloth having no end. The air-permeable apron <NUM> is wound on the delivery bottom roller <NUM>, the suction portion <NUM>, and the guide portion <NUM>. The delivery top roller <NUM> is pressed against and in contact with the delivery bottom roller <NUM> with the air-permeable apron <NUM> interposed therebetween, and rotates together with the delivery bottom roller <NUM>. The delivery top roller <NUM> and the delivery bottom roller cooperate to form a delivery roller pair.

The above-described components of the condensing device <NUM> are supported directly or through an additional support member, by the support plate <NUM>. The support plate <NUM> is fixed to a roller stand <NUM> at a predetermined position.

With rotation of the delivery bottom roller <NUM> driven by the countershaft <NUM>, the fiber bundle F is transported while being held between the delivery bottom roller <NUM> and the delivery top roller <NUM> and drawn by the suction portion <NUM> through the air-permeable apron <NUM>.

The countershaft <NUM> is rotatably supported by a bearing <NUM> accommodated in the roller stand <NUM>.

The following will describe positioning of the countershaft <NUM> in the fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> with reference to <FIG> are views, illustrating the positioning of the countershaft <NUM> in the fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> for the spinning machine according to the embodiment.

<FIG> illustrates a relationship between the support plate <NUM> and the countershaft <NUM> in which an axial direction of the countershaft <NUM> coincides with a direction vertical to the illustration. <FIG> illustrates a positional relationship among the support plate <NUM>, the countershaft <NUM>, and the bearing <NUM>, taken along line IIB-IIB of <FIG>.

The support plate <NUM> is fixed to a roller stand <NUM> at a predetermined position with a plurality of bolts <NUM>.

The roller stand <NUM> is supported by a draft rod supported by a machine frame of the spinning machine, and supports the above-mentioned draft device <NUM>. The roller stand <NUM> has an accommodation portion <NUM> to accommodate the bearing <NUM>.

The bearing <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodation portion <NUM> formed in the roller stand <NUM>, and supports the countershaft <NUM> rotatably.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the support plate <NUM> is fixed so that the roller stand <NUM> is sandwiched in a width direction of the roller stand <NUM>. That is, the support plate <NUM> includes a pair of support plates 120a, 120b fixed to the roller stand <NUM> on opposite sides thereof. A movement of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction thereof is restricted by the pair of support plates 120a, 120b such that the movement of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction does not exceed a predetermined amount. That is, the pair of support plates 120a, 120b restricts a position of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction from the opposite sides of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction of the countershaft <NUM>.

Although the support plate <NUM> restricts the position of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction from the opposite side with the pair of support plates 120a, 120b in the present embodiment, when it is known that the thrust load is applied to the countershaft <NUM> only in one direction, the support plate <NUM> may be configured to restrict the position of the bearing <NUM> only in the direction in which the thrust load is applied.

In the present embodiment, "restricting the position in the axial position" may be achieved by the configuration in which the support plate <NUM> and the bearing <NUM> are in contact from the start, or the configuration in which the bearing <NUM> is placed in contact with the support plate <NUM> when axial displacement of the bearing <NUM> exceeding a gap occurs, as illustrated in <FIG>.

In a case where a plurality of roller stands <NUM> is provided for the countershaft <NUM>, the bearing <NUM> may be provided in at least one of the plurality of roller stands <NUM>. In this case, in the roller stands <NUM> having no bearing <NUM>, the support plate <NUM> is provided for supporting the condensing device <NUM>.

Each of the pair of support plates 120a, 120b has an opening <NUM> having a circular shape and an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the countershaft <NUM> for insertion of the countershaft <NUM>. The inner diameter of the opening <NUM> is smaller than an outer diameter of the bearing <NUM>, and an edge portion of the opening <NUM> restricts the position of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction.

Thus, in the support plate <NUM>, the edge portion of the opening <NUM> is placed in contact with a casing or an outer race of the bearing <NUM>, which restricts the position of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction. Since the edge portion of the opening <NUM> is placed in contact with the casing or the outer race of the bearing <NUM>, the edge portion does not prevent the rotation of the countershaft <NUM>.

The opening <NUM> may be formed in any shape as long as the opening <NUM> allows the countershaft <NUM> to be inserted therethrough and restricts the axial position of the bearing <NUM>. That is, the opening <NUM> may have a shape other than a circular shape. For example, the opening <NUM> have a triangle shape, a square shape, a pentagon shape, or a hexagon shape.

The following will describe a modified example of the positioning of the countershaft <NUM> in the fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG>and <FIG> are views, illustrating the modified example of the positioning of the countershaft <NUM> in the fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> for the spinning machine according to the above-described embodiment.

<FIG> illustrates a relationship between the support plate <NUM> and the countershaft <NUM> in a state where an axial direction of the countershaft <NUM> coincides with a direction vertical to the illustration. <FIG> illustrates a positional relationship among the support plate <NUM>, the countershaft <NUM>, and the bearing <NUM>, taken along the line IIIB-IIIB of <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the same reference numerals are used for the same components illustrated in <FIG>. In the following description with reference to <FIG>, the description the same as that in <FIG> is omitted and a part different from <FIG> will be described.

Each of the pair of support plates 120a, 120b has an opening 122a having a U-shape and an opening width greater than the outer diameter of the countershaft <NUM> for insertion of the countershaft <NUM>.

The opening width of the opening 122a is smaller than the outer diameter of the bearing <NUM>, and one end of the opening 122a is opened.

Thus, in the support plate <NUM>, the edge portion of the opening 122a having a U-shape is placed in contact with the casing or the outer race of the bearing <NUM>, which restricts the position of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction. Since the edge portion of the opening 122a is placed in contact with the casing or the outer race of the bearing <NUM>, the edge portion does not prevent the rotation of the countershaft <NUM>.

The opening 122a may be formed in any shape as long as the opening 122a allows the countershaft <NUM> to be inserted therethrough and restricts the position of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction. Thus, the opening 122a may have a shape other than a U-shape. For example, the opening 122a may have a V-shape having one end that is opened, or a polygonal shape having one end that is opened.

In this way, in the spinning machine having a configuration in which the plurality of fiber bundle condensing devices <NUM> corresponding to a plurality of spindles arranged in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame is rotated by the common countershaft <NUM>, even when the thrust load is applied to the bearing <NUM> that supports the countershaft <NUM> rotatably, the support plate <NUM> restricts the position of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction. As a result, the displacement of the bearing <NUM> due to the thrust load may be prevented and the bearing <NUM> may be positioned precisely.

Further, the configuration of the present embodiment can receive a greater thrust load as compared to a configuration in which a set screw or simple fitting of parts, or the like is used. In addition, the fiber bundle condensing device of the present embodiment does not require an additional part and additional processing for the additional part such as a set screw and machining a screw hole for the set screw, and a retaining ring and joggling for the retaining ring.

The bearing <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodation portion <NUM> of the roller stand <NUM>. As a result, the precision of the original alignment may be secured.

The support plate <NUM> supports the components of the condensing device <NUM> and restricts the position of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction. As a result, the precision of the position of the countershaft <NUM> relative to each of the components of the condensing device <NUM> is secured.

As has been described, according to the fiber bundle condensing device for the spinning machine of the present invention, the bearing <NUM>, which rotatably supports the countershaft <NUM> that rotates the delivery bottom roller <NUM> transporting fiber bundles, may be positioned precisely in the axial direction.

As described above, the present embodiment offers the following effects.

The fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> for the spinning machine of the present invention includes the condensing device <NUM> that is configured to condense the fiber bundle F having been drafted on the downstream side of the draft device <NUM> of the spinning machine, and includes the delivery roller pair comprising the delivery top roller <NUM> and the delivery bottom roller <NUM> and transporting the fiber bundle F, the suction portion <NUM> that exerts suction on the fiber bundle F, and the air-permeable apron <NUM> that is rotated along the suction portion <NUM>. The fiber bundle condensing device further includes the support plate <NUM> that is fixed to the roller stand <NUM> and supports the condensing device <NUM>, and the countershaft <NUM> that rotates the delivery bottom roller <NUM>. The support plate <NUM> has the opening <NUM> through which the countershaft <NUM> is inserted. The opening <NUM> is smaller than the outer diameter of the bearing <NUM> that supports the countershaft <NUM> rotatably, and the edge portion of the opening <NUM> restricts the position of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction.

According to this configuration, the bearing <NUM>, which rotatably supports the countershaft <NUM> that rotates the delivery bottom roller <NUM> transporting the fiber bundle F, may be positioned precisely in the axial direction in the fiber bundle condensing device <NUM>.

In the fiber bundle condensing device <NUM> for the spinning machine according to the present invention, the support plate <NUM> restricts the position of the bearing <NUM> in the axial direction from the opposite sides thereof in the axial direction of the countershaft <NUM>. It is to be noted that the support plate <NUM> may be configured to restrict the position of the bearing <NUM> only in the direction in which the thrust load is applied when it is known that the thrust load is applied to the countershaft <NUM> only in one direction. As a result, the bearing <NUM> rotatably supporting the countershaft <NUM> may be reliably positioned in the axial direction with precision.

Claim 1:
A fiber bundle condensing device (<NUM>) for a spinning machine comprising:
a condensing device (<NUM>) configured to condense a fiber bundle (F) having been drafted, and including a delivery roller pair that comprises a delivery top roller (<NUM>) and a delivery bottom roller (<NUM>) and transports the fiber bundle (F), a suction portion (<NUM>) that exerts suction on the fiber bundle (F), and an air-permeable apron (<NUM>) that is rotated along the suction portion (<NUM>);
a support plate (<NUM>) fixed to a roller stand (<NUM>), and configured to support the condensing device (<NUM>); and
a countershaft (<NUM>) configured to rotate the delivery bottom roller (<NUM>), characterized in that
the support plate (<NUM>) has an opening (<NUM>) through which the countershaft (<NUM>) is inserted,
the opening (<NUM>) is smaller than an outer diameter of a bearing (<NUM>), and an edge portion of the opening (<NUM>) restricts a position of the bearing (<NUM>) in an axial direction of the countershaft (<NUM>).