Rieter

Conventional system

Index

A well designed feed device is expected to perform the following tasks:

  • clamp the batt securely over its full width;
  • be able to hold the material back against the action of the licker-in;
  • present the batt to the licker-in in such a manner that opening can be carried out gently.

The conventional feed assembly (Fig. 95) comprises a stationary feed table with a feed plate (1) and a feed roller (2) pressed against the plate. The feed plate is formed as a special extension of the feed table and is adapted to the curvature of the cylinder.

The plate is formed at its upper edge with a nose-like deflector (b, Fig. 96) to hold the batt. Facing the licker-in, the plate has a fairly long guide surface (a). The deflector nose and guide surface have a significant influence on quality and on the quantity of waste eliminated. A sharp deflector nose gives good retention of the fibers and hence an intensive, but unfortunately not very gentle, opening effect. On the other hand, an over-rounded curve results in poor retention and poor opening. In this case, the  licker-in often tears out whole clumps of fibers. The length of the guide surface (Fig. 96 a) also influences waste elimination. If it is too short, the fibers can escape the action of the licker-in.

They are scraped off by the mote knives and are lost in the waste receiver. If this surface is too long, it presses the fibers into the clothing. This gives better take-up of the fibers, but at the same time better take-up of impurities. The result is a reduction in the cleaning effect. The length of the guide surface is dependent on the staple length, at least within a wide range.

The feed roller has a diameter of 80 - 100 mm and is usually clothed with saw-tooth wire, the teeth being directed against the flow of material. This gives good retention of the batt, which ensures that the licker-in does not tear whole lumps out of the batt. The opening effect of the licker-in is thus more in the nature of combing.

Fig. 95 – Conventional feed device

Fig. 96 – The shape of the feed plate