Combing machine and process for forming an even combed sliver

Claim 2

A combing machine comprising a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers; at least one drafting system for receiving and drafting the combed slivers, said drafting system including a preliminary drafting zone having a pair of feed rollers for feeding the combed slivers into said zone; a store of slivers between said feed rollers and said combing devices; means for adjusting the tension in the slivers in said sliver store; a can press downstream of said drafting system for storing the drafted sliver; a feedback control unit for controlling said drafting system during operation thereof in dependence on the thickness of the sliver delivered to said drafting system; and a measuring device for measuring the thickness of a sliver delivered to said drafting system, said measuring device being connected to said control unit to deliver a signal thereto indicative of the thickness of a measured sliver, said control unit being connected to one of said feed rollers to control the rotational speed of said one feed roller in dependence on said signal.

Claim 3

A combing machine as set forth in claim 1 which comprises at least two of said drafting systems disposed in parallel, each said drafting system being disposed to separately and independently receive combed slivers from said combing devices.

Claim 4

A combing machine as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a drive for driving said combing devices in dependence on the rotational speed of said feed rollers.

Claim 5

A combing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drafting system includes a main drafting zone having a pair of delivery rollers for feeding the combed slivers into said zone and said control unit is connected to one of said delivery rollers to control the rotational speed of said one delivery roller in dependence on said signal.

Claim 6

A combing machine as set forth in claim 1 which comprises at least two of said drafting systems disposed in sequential order, said control unit being connected to at least one of said drafting systems.

Claim 7

A combing machine as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a master computer connected to at least one of said combing devices and to said control unit to receive control pulses therefrom.

Claim 8

A combing machine as set forth in claim 6 which comprises at least two of said drafting systems disposed in parallel, each said drafting system being disposed to separately and independently receive combed slivers from said combing devices.

Claim 9

A combing machine comprising a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers; a motor for simultaneously driving said combing devices; at least one drafting system for receiving and drafting the combed sliver while maintaining a tension in each sliver; a first sensor for monitoring the tension in a sliver delivered from a first of said combing devices; a second sensor for monitoring the tension in a sliver delivered from a last of said combing devices; and a control unit connected to and between said sensors and said motor for increasing the speed of said motor in response to a signal from said first sensor indicative of an increase in tension in the sliver monitored thereat and for decreasing the speed of said motor in response to a signal from said second sensor indicative of a decrease in tension in the sliver monitored thereat.

Claim 10

A combing machine comprising a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers; a motor for simultaneously driving said combing devices; at least one drafting system for receiving and drafting the combed sliver while maintaining a tension in each sliver; a first sensor for monitoring the tension in a sliver delivered from a first of said combing devices; a second sensor for monitoring the tension in a sliver delivered from a last of said combing devices; and a control unit connected to and between said sensors and said motor for increasing the speed of said motor in response to a signal from said first sensor indicative of an increase in tension in the sliver monitored thereat and for decreasing the speed of said motor in response to a signal from said second sensor indicative of a decrease in tension in the sliver monitored thereat.

Claim 11

A combing machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one sensor includes a pivotally mounted lever, a roller rotatably mounted on said lever for guidance of a sliver thereover and a proximity sensor spaced from said roller for emitting a signal in response to movement of said roller beyond a predetermined spacing from said proximity sensor.

Claim 12

A combing machine as set forth in claim 8 which further comprises a measuring device for measuring the thickness of a sliver delivered to said drafting system, said measuring device being connected to said control unit to deliver a control signal thereto indicative of the measured thickness of a sliver, and said control unit being connected to said drafting system to vary the drafting of the combed slivers in dependence on said control signal.

Claim 13

A combing machine comprising a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers; a motor for simultaneously driving said combing devices; a drafting system for receiving and drafting the combed slivers; a measuring device between said combing devices and said drafting system for measuring the thickness of a sliver delivered to said drafting system and emitting a signal indicative of the measured thickness; a control unit connected to and between said measuring device and said drafting system for controlling said drafting system during operation thereof in dependence on said signal; sensing means connected to and between said combing devices and said control unit for sensing the tension in at least one of the slivers delivered from said combing devices and emitting a control signal to said control unit indicative of the sensed tension, said control unit being connected to said motor to vary the speed of said motor in response to said control signal to effect a change in the tension of the combed slivers; and a can press for receiving and storing the drafted sliver directly from said drafting system.

Claim 14

A combing machine comprising a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers; a motor for simultaneously driving said combing devices; a drafting system for receiving and drafting the combed slivers; a measuring device between said combing devices and said drafting system for measuring the thickness of a sliver delivered to said drafting system and emitting a signal indicative of the measured thickness; a control unit connected to and between said measuring device and said drafting system for controlling said drafting system during operation thereof in dependence on said signal; sensing means connected to and between said combing devices and said control unit for sensing the tension in at least one of the slivers delivered from said combing devices and emitting a control signal to said control unit indicative of the sensed tension, said control unit being connected to said motor to vary the speed of said motor in response to said control signal to effect a change in the tension of the combed slivers; and a can press for receiving and storing the drafted sliver directly from said drafting system.

Claim 15

A combing machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein said sensing means includes a first sensor for monitoring the tension in a sliver delivered from a first of said combing devices and a second sensor for monitoring the tension in a sliver delivered from a last of said combing devices.

Claim 16

A process of forming an even combed sliver comprising forming a plurality of combed slivers into a sliver store with the slivers held in tension; collecting the combed slivers into a single sliver; delivering the single sliver into a drafting system; measuring the thickness of the single sliver delivered to the drafting system; drafting the sliver in the drafting system in dependence on the measured thickness of the single sliver to obtain an even sliver; and adjusting the tension in the sliver in the sliver store to a predetermined tension in dependence on a constant delivery speed of the drafting system.

Claim 17

A process of forming an even combed sliver comprising forming a plurality of combed slivers into a sliver store with the slivers held in tension; collecting the combed slivers into a single sliver; delivering the single sliver into a drafting system; measuring the thickness of the single sliver delivered to the drafting system; drafting the sliver in the drafting system in dependence on the measured thickness of the single sliver to obtain an even sliver; and adjusting the tension in the sliver in the sliver store to a predetermined tension in dependence on a constant delivery speed of the drafting system.

Claim 18

A process as set forth in claim 13 which further comprises the step of delivering the even sliver into a can press.

Claim 19

A combing machine comprising a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers; at least one drafting system for receiving and drafting the combed slivers, said drafting system including a preliminary drafting zone having a pair of feed rollers for feeding the combed slivers into said zone; a can press downstream of said drafting system for storing the drafted sliver; a feedback control unit for controlling said drafting system during operation thereof in dependence on the thickness of the sliver delivered to said drafting system; a measuring device for measuring the thickness of a sliver delivered to said drafting system, said measuring device being connected to said control unit to deliver a signal thereto indicative of the thickness of a measured sliver, said control unit being connected to one of said feed rollers to control the rotational speed of said one feed roller in dependence on said signal; and a drive for driving said combing devices in dependance on the rotational speed of said feed rollers of said drafting system.

Claim 20

A combing machine comprising a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers; at least one drafting system for receiving and drafting the combed slivers, said drafting system including a preliminary drafting zone having a pair of feed rollers for feeding the combed slivers into said zone; a can press downstream of said drafting system for storing the drafted sliver; a feedback control unit for controlling said drafting system during operation thereof in dependence on the thickness of the sliver delivered to said drafting system; a measuring device for measuring the thickness of a sliver delivered to said drafting system, said measuring device being connected to said control unit to deliver a signal thereto indicative of the thickness of a measured sliver, said control unit being connected to one of said feed rollers to control the rotational speed of said one feed roller in dependence on said signal; and a drive for driving said combing devices in dependance on the rotational speed of said feed rollers of said drafting system.

Claim 21

A combing machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said drive includes a motor for driving said combing devices and a master computer connected to said control unit to receive control pulses therefrom and to said motor to change the speed of said motor in response to said pulses.

Claim 22

A combing machine comprising a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers; a plurality of drafting devices, each drafting device being disposed downstream of a respective combing device for drafting a combed sliver; a delivery table downstream of said drafting devices for conveying the slivers thereon in parallel; a drafting system downstream of said table for drafting of the slivers therein; a measuring device for measuring the thickness of a sliver delivered to said drafting system; means downstream of said drafting system for forming the drafted slivers into a single sliver; a can press downstream of said means and said drafting system for storing the drafted sliver; and a feedback control unit for controlling said drafting system during operation thereof in dependence on the measured thickness of the sliver delivered to said drafting system.

Claim 23

A combing machine comprising a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers; a plurality of drafting devices, each drafting device being disposed downstream of a respective combing device for drafting a combed sliver; a delivery table downstream of said drafting devices for conveying the slivers thereon in parallel; a drafting system downstream of said table for drafting of the slivers therein; a measuring device for measuring the thickness of a sliver delivered to said drafting system; means downstream of said drafting system for forming the drafted slivers into a single sliver; a can press downstream of said means and said drafting system for storing the drafted sliver; and a feedback control unit for controlling said drafting system during operation thereof in dependence on the measured thickness of the sliver delivered to said drafting system.

Claim 24

A combing machine comprising a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers; a plurality of drafting devices, each drafting device being disposed downstream of a respective combing device for drafted a combed sliver; a delivery table downstream of said drafting devices for conveying the slivers thereon in parallel; a drafting system downstream of said table for drafting of the slivers therein; a sliver storage between said drafting system and said combing devices; a measuring device for measuring the thickness of a sliver delivered to said drafting system; a feedback control unit for controlling said drafting system during operation thereof in dependence on the thickness of the sliver delivered to said drafting system; means downstream of said drafting system for combining the drafting slivers into a single sliver; and a can press downstream of said means and said drafting system for storing the drafted sliver.

Claim 25

A combing machine comprising a plurality of combing devices for delivering a plurality of combed slivers; a plurality of drafting devices, each drafting device being disposed downstream of a respective combing device for drafted a combed sliver; a delivery table downstream of said drafting devices for conveying the slivers thereon in parallel; a drafting system downstream of said table for drafting of the slivers therein; a sliver storage between said drafting system and said combing devices; a measuring device for measuring the thickness of a sliver delivered to said drafting system; a feedback control unit for controlling said drafting system during operation thereof in dependence on the thickness of the sliver delivered to said drafting system; means downstream of said drafting system for combining the drafting slivers into a single sliver; and a can press downstream of said means and said drafting system for storing the drafted sliver.