Fibre processing

Abstract

An apparatus ( 1 ) and method for fibre processing, in particular, for opening and drafting fibres. The apparatus includes a device ( 2 ) having a series of pins ( 7 ) coupled to a drive mechanism ( 8 ) and arranged for sequential insertion in a feed path ( 6 ) along which the fibres are passed, the mechanism being arranged to increase the relative speed between the pins after insertion, to open and draft the fibres.

1 . An apparatus for fibre processing, having a fibre-opening device including a series of pins coupled to a drive mechanism and arranged for sequential insertion in a feed path along which the fibres are passed, the mechanism being arranged to increase the relative speed between the pins after insertion.  
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism increases the speed between the pins by increasing the relative angle therebetween.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pins are coupled to the drive mechanism so as to maintain an angle of greater than 90° relative to the feed path, in a direction of travel of the fibres.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the pins are mounted to respective carriages which are pivotally connected to the drive mechanism.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the pins are each provided in a respective comb of pins, extending transversely of the feed path.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive mechanism drives the pins along a drive path which includes a curved portion to increase the relative angle therebetween.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the curved portion extends over a substantial part of the feed path in which the pins are inserted.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a continuous loop drive which passes over a first cog or set of cogs to effect the curved portion of the drive path.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the continuous loop drive is a chain drive.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 6  to  9 , including feed-in rollers for directing the fibre travelling along the feed path to intersect with the drive path, the rollers being driven at a speed less than the speed of the pins so as to create a draft between the rollers and the device.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a plurality of devices arranged in series.  
     
     
         12 . A method for opening and drafting fibres including passing the fibres along a feed path to be engaged by a series of pins coupled to a drive mechanism, for sequential insertion into the feed path, and increasing the relative speed between the pins after insertion in the feed path.  
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the relative speed between the pins is increased by increasing the relative angle therebetween.  
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  or  13 , including passing the pins along a drive path which includes a curved portion to increase the relative angle therebetween.  
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the curved portion extends over a substantial part of the feed path in which the pins are inserted.  
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 14  or  15 , including maintaining the pins at an angle of greater than 90° relative to the feed path, along the curved portion, in a direction of travel of the fibres.  
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 12  to  16 , including, providing feed-in rollers to direct the fibres travelling along the feed path to intersect with the drive path and driving the rollers at a speed less than the speed of the pins along the drive path so as to create a draft between the rollers and the pins.