WO2024028895A1

WO2024028895A1 - Spindle driving belt for spinning machines

Info

Publication number: WO2024028895A1
Application number: PCT/IN2023/050740
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vidhubalan Karunanidhi; Maheswaran Easwaramoorthy
Original assignee: Elgi Ultra Private Limited
Priority date: 2022-08-02
Filing date: 2023-08-01
Publication date: 2024-02-08

Abstract

The present invention discloses a transmission belt for driving spindles at higher speed in Ring spinning and twisting machines. Said spindle driving belt (1) for spinning machines comprising of a top elastomer layer (11), a middle fabric layer (21) and a bottom fabric layer (31). The middle fabric layer (21) consists of polyamide continuous filament yarn in both warp (22) and weft (23) structure. Warp structure (32) of said bottom fabric layer (31) consists of polyamide continuous filament yarn and weft structure (33) consists of natural fiber based spun yarn. To improve the power transmission efficiency of the spindle driving belt (1), at least two different fineness yarns (24, 25) are used in weft direction of middle fabric layer (21), and at least two different fineness yarns (34, 35) are used in weft direction of bottom fabric layer (31).

Description

SPINDLE DRIVING BELT FOR SPINNING MACHINES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to transmission belts. Particularly, the present invention relates to driving belt made up of composite materials. Still particularly, the present invention discloses a transmission belt with higher transmission efficiency for driving spindles at higher speed in ring spinning and twisting machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

[0002] In ring spinning and twisting machines, spindle driving belt plays a vital role in spinning and twisting operations. Normally in Ring spinning machines, a drive shaft is connected with main driving motor and said motor consists of plurality of drive pulleys to drive each spindle in the Ring spinning machines. At least one drive pulley is used to drive a set of four spindles using endless driving belt. Tension pulleys are used to maintain uniform tension on the driving belt. The driving belts are drivably connected to at least four spindles on either side of the machine. Said belt contacts with the wharve area of each spindle and the energy from drive pulley is transmitted to the spindles through frictional contact. The driving belt is commonly called as spindle tape. [0003] Normally in spinning mills, Ring spinning department consumes almost 50% of the electrical energy in the total power consumption. Power requirements of spinning mills are directly proportional to the spindle speed, and it plays a major role in the economics of spinning and twisting operations. Since the cost of power and cost of Conversion constitute a significant component of the overall manufacturing cost of yarn and driving the spindles being the most power-intensive operation in the entire process of conversion of staple fibre into yarn, it has always been a challenge to bring down the same as much as possible.

[0004] Apart from power consumption, slippage between wharve surface and tape is also a major problem in driving the spindles through spindle tapes which results in reduction of transmission efficiency and thereby affects the friction co-efficient. Due to continuous friction during running, wear takes place in the inner surface of the spindle tapes. Variation in wear between tapes within the spinning machine also cause speed variation between spindles resulting in twist variation in the yarn. Over a period, the spindle tapes tend to slip from the drive pulley during running which leads to loss in production at least in four spindles.

[0005] To overcome the existing problems, various efforts have been made in the existing art. For example, Polyamide/Cotton fabric sandwich tapes were introduced to improve the performance of spindle tapes. Polyamide sandwich tapes consists of two fabrics such as Polyamide and Cotton combination and both layers were bonded together by resorcinol-based adhesive and one surface was coated with rubber to reduce the wear and friction. Later, a single-ply, polyurethane tapes were introduced. Owing to high flexibility, combined with higher modulus and lower hysteresis, these tapes exhibited much improved power transmission efficiency resulting in significant savings in power cost as compared to Polyamide sandwich tapes. Such single ply polyurethane tapes currently available in the market are made from polyester/cotton spun yarn in both warp and weft direction of the fabric part of the tape. The entire fabric including the single ply tension member of the tape being a spun yarn, loses its strength due to wear and tear resulting in frequent tape cuts especially after running for a predetermined period. Also, the thermoplastic polyurethane coated on the top surface softens due to continuous friction with drive pulley. Therefore, the tapes must be frequently replaced within short period of time which may increase the cost and affect the production of spinning mills.

[0006] Chinese patent application CN104514051 disclosed a spindle tape for spinning machines. Said spindle tape for spinning comprises a spindle tape body, an antiskid layer is arranged on the surface of the spindle tape body, the spindle tape body is formed by sequentially covering and adhering a natural rubber layer, a chloroprene rubber layer, a silicon rubber layer and a butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber layer. The surface of the antiskid layer is wave-shaped to improve the frictional coefficient. This invention provides at least five layers of rubber material which may increase the weight of spindle tapes and results in increment in power consumption. Also, the rubber layer may deform due to heat and friction, and it may reduce the life of the spindle tape.

[0007] Chinese utility model patent CN201367499 discloses a spindle tape which comprises a framework layer made of fabric and at least one thermoplastic material film layer, wherein the material of the framework layer is aramid fiber, terylene, or polyester-cotton mixture fabric. The framework layer is made of a single layer of fabric and the spindle tape has simple processing technique, needs no binding agent, and has no stripping phenomenon among layers. As the high-performance fibers like aramid are used in the spindle tape disclosed in this prior art, the flexural rigidity would be lesser, and the bending resistance would be higher which are disadvantageous.

[0008] United States patent application US2018245247 discloses a belt for a textile machine capable of reducing running noise caused during belt running. A canvas core used in the belt is constituted by a woven fabric based on a twill weave texture in which a warp crosses a plurality of wefts and aggregates of weave points at which the warp crosses the wefts are regularly shifted in one longitudinal direction of the belt to form a twill line, and some of the aggregates in the twill line are shifted at a predetermined interval in the opposite direction to the one longitudinal direction. Said belt consists of a canvas core, a first resin layer, second resin layer, pulley-side layer, a twill line, a spindle-side layer, and an aggregate layer. This prior art is mainly aimed to reduce the running noise that occurs during belt running.

[0009] Though various efforts have been made to develop a spindle driving belt with minimum slippage %, high friction co-efficient and flexural rigidity, none of the existing products are suitable to run the spindles at higher speed. Therefore, a spindle driving belt is required to run the ring spinning machines at more than 24,000 revolutions per minute, with minimum slippage and maximum product life.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention is aimed to provide a composite layer transmission belt with enhanced abrasion resistance and bending resistance especially for driving spindles at maximum speed in the ring spinning and twisting machine and thereby to eliminate the disadvantages present in the existing art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

[0012] According to main aspect of the present invention, spindle driving belt for spinning machines comprising of a top elastomer layer, a middle fabric layer, and a bottom fabric layer. The warp and weft structure of said middle fabric layer consists of Polyamide continuous filament yarns. The warp structure of said bottom fabric layer consists of Polyamide continuous filament yarn. The weft structure of said bottom fabric layer consists of natural fiber based spun yarn.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the arrangement of warp and weft yarns, fabric density, and the fabric surface are modified to enhance the power transmission efficiency. In the middle and bottom fabric layers, at least two different fineness yarns are used in weft direction. The fineness of said weft yarn in middle fabric layer is less than or equal to 100 Denier, and the fineness of weft yarn is between 100 to 200 Denier. The fineness of weft yarn of the bottom fabric layer is preferably 7 Tex and the weft yarn is preferably 10 Tex. Fineness of said warp polyamide continuous filament yarn in both fabric layers is less than 200 Denier preferably 100 Denier.

[0014] The fabric layers are constructed in manner to achieve the desired result according to the present invention. The ends per centimeter of the middle fabric layer is in a range of 40 to 100 and the picks per centimeter is in a range of 30 to 70. Mass of the middle fabric layer is in a range of 40 to 110 grams per square metre and the mass of bottom fabric layer is in a range of 40 to 160 grams per square metre. The ends per centimeter of the bottom fabric layer is in a range of 40 to 100 and the picks per centimeter is in a range of 30 to 70.

[0015] According to yet another aspect, the present invention is aimed to increase the area of contact between spindle driving belt and the spindle through improved fabric structure and the yarn used to produce the driving belts. As a result, the area (A2) is 0.67 square millimetres and the distance (L2) between the centre-to-centre contact points of two weft yarns shall be 0.027 millimeter. Also, the area (A3) is 1.29 square millimetres and the distance (L3) between the centre-to-centre contact points of two weft yarns shall be 0.051 millimetre.

[0016] In weaving, ‘Plain’ weave structure is used to produce the middle fabric layer and ‘Satin’ weave structure is used to produce the bottom fabric layer.

OBJECTIVE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0017] Main objective of the present invention is to provide a spindle driving belt to drive the spindles at least 5% higher speed than existing driving belts by improving the transmission efficiency.

[0018] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a high-density double layer fabric with cotton/synthetic yarn combination in the spindle driving belt by increasing the number of yarns per unit area.

[0019] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved weaving structure to produce high density fabric and make them suitable for manufacturing spindle driving belts.

[0020] Still another objective of the present invention is to increase the area of contact between spindle wharve and driving belt surfaces and to increase friction coefficient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0021] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] Fig - 1 is a spindle driving arrangement of the Ring spinning machine known in the existing art.

[0023] Fig - 2 is a cross section of spindle driving belt according to the main aspect of the present invention.

[0024] Fig - 3 and 3a is a weaving structure and pattern of high-density middle fabric layer according to the present invention.

[0025] Fig - 4 and 4a is a weaving structure and pattern of high-density bottom fabric layer according to the present invention.

[0026] Fig - 5 and 5 a is a weaving structure and pattern of high-density bottom fabric layer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Fig -6 and 6a is a spindle wharve and driving belt contact position known in the existing art.

[0028] Fig - 7 and 7a is a spindle wharve and driving belt contact position according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Fig - 8 and 8a is a spindle wharve and driving belt contact position according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Fig - 9 illustrates a graphical representation of test results and the comparison of performance of existing drive belt and the drive belt according to the present invention.

[0031] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings but are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0033] FIG - 1 illustrates a spindle driving arrangement in the Ring spinning machines known in the existing art. Said spindle driving arrangement discloses a drive pulley (2), tension pulleys (3), plurality of spindles (4), spindle wharve (5) and a spindle driving belt (6). One spindle driving belt (6) drives at least four spindles (4) and the belt is driven by the drive pulley (2). At least a tension pulley (3) is provided for each drive belt and uniform tension is obtained by using the said tension pulley.

[0034] FIG - 2 describes the cross section of spindle driving belt ( 1 ) according to the main aspect of the present invention. The driving belt (1) consists of three layers such as top elastomer layer (11), middle fabric layer (21) and a bottom fabric layer (31). The middle fabric layer (21) is sandwiched between the said elastomer layer (11) and bottom fabric layer (31). The elastomer layer (11) is preferably made of NBR (Nitrile butadiene rubber) or any similar elastomer which can ensure high friction through enhanced grip. The middle fabric layer (21) acts as a tension member and said middle fabric layer (21) is made up of high tenacity Polyamide continuous filament yarn. The bottom layer fabric (31 ) is made up of a combination of synthetic and natural fibre yarns. The synthetic yarn is preferably made up of Polyamide and the natural fibre yarns are preferably made up of Cotton or Flax. [0035] Fig - 3 and 3a describes the weaving structure of high-density fabric according to the present invention. The high-density middle fabric layer (21) is preferably a woven fabric which is formed by weaving with many numbers of yarns in warp (22) and weft (23) structure. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the middle fabric layer (21) is made up with Polyamide continuous filament yarn in both warp and weft structure. The fineness of said Polyamide continuous filament yarn is less than 200 Denier preferably 100 Denier. The ends per centimeter of the fabric is preferably in a range of 40 to 100 and the picks per centimeter is preferably in a range of 30 to 70. The mass of the said fabric (21) is preferably in a range of 40 to 110 grams per square metre. A ‘Plain’ weave structure is used to produce the middle layer fabric.

[0036] Fig - 4 and 4a describes the weaving structure of high-density fabric according to another embodiment of the present invention. The high-density bottom fabric layer (31) is preferably a woven fabric which is formed weaving with many numbers of yarns in warp (32) and weft (33) structure. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the warp structure (32) consists of Polyamide continuous filament yarn and the weft structure (33) consists of natural fiber yarn such as cotton or flax. The fineness of said Polyamide continuous filament yarn is less than 200 Denier preferably 100 Denier. The fineness of cotton yarn used in the weft structure is less than 10 Tex. The ends per centimeter of the fabric is preferably in a range of 40 to 100 and the picks per centimeter is preferably in a range of 30 to 70. The mass of the said fabric (31 ) is preferably in a range of 40 to 160 grams per square metre. A ‘ Satin’ weave structure is used to produce the bottom layer fabric. The two layers of high-density fabrics are bonded with adhesives having good anti-static property.

[0037] Fig - 5 and 5a describes the weaving structure and pattern of high-density bottom fabric layer according to another embodiment of the present invention. Said Fig - 5 describes the high-density middle fabric layer (21) consists of many numbers of yarns in warp (22) and weft (24, 25) structure. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the middle fabric layer (21) is made up with Polyamide continuous filament yarn in both warp and weft structure, wherein at least two different fineness yarn Polyamide continuous filament yarns are used in weft direction. The fineness of said weft yarn (24) from amongst the at least two different fineness yarns (24, 25) in middle fabric layer (21) is less than or equal to 100 Denier, and the fineness of weft yarn (25) from amongst the at least two different fineness yarns (24, 25) in middle fabric layer (21) is preferably 200 Denier. The fineness of warp yarn (22) is preferably 200 Denier. The weft yarn (24) and weft yarn (25) are arranged alternatively in particular to form a cogged surface.

[0038] Referring more specific to Fig - 5a, the high-density bottom fabric layer (31) is formed with many numbers of yarns in warp (32) and weft (34, 35) structure. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the warp structure (32) consists of Polyamide continuous filament yarn and the weft structure consists of natural fiber yarn such as cotton or flax with different fineness (34 and 35). Fineness of said weft yarns (34) from amongst the at least two different fineness yarns (34, 35) of the bottom fabric layer (31) is preferably 7 Tex and fineness of the weft yarn (35) from amongst the at least two different fineness yarns (34, 35) of the bottom fabric layer (31) is preferably 10 Tex.

[0039] Fig - 6 and 6a describes the difference in driving belt contact position with spindle wharve (5) with existing spindle drive belts (6) known in the art. Normally the width of spindle driving belt is 11.0 mm and the same is maintained as standard value. Number of ends present in the entire width determines the factors such as, strength, life, friction, and power transmission. Increasing the area of contact between the spindle wharve and the spindle tape helps to increase the friction co-efficient. Fig - 6 is a representational image which discloses a spindle wharve (5) and a spindle driving belt (6) known in the art. Said belt (6) consists of a top elastomer layer (7), middle fabric layer (8), and a bottom fabric layer (9). Number of threads in warp direction (ends) and weft direction (picks), and the material used in the threads are the major factors to determine the life and transmission efficiency of the driving belts. Fig-6a particularly illustrates the bottom fabric layer (9) which is in contact with spindle wharve (5). Depending upon the diameter of weft yarn, a space between two weft yarn and the spindle wharve (5) is formed and the area (Al) of that space determines the area of contact, friction, and speed. Normally, the area (Al) shall be 2.70 square millimetres and the distance (LI) between the centre-to-centre contact points of two weft yarns shall be 0.108 millimetre.

[0040] Fig - 7 and 7a describes the difference in driving belt contact position with spindle wharve when compared with existing spindle drive belts (6) and the driving belt (1) according to the present invention. Fig - 7 discloses a representational image of spindle wharve (5) and a spindle driving belt (1) according to the present invention. Said belt (1) also consists of atop elastomer layer (11), middle fabric layer (21), and a bottom fabric layer (31). According to the main aspect of the present invention, the ends per centimeter and the picks per centimeter used in the driving belt (1) are at least 40% higher than the existing. Moreover, the fineness of yarn used in the driving belt (1) are at least 40% finer than yarns used in the existing belts (6). As shown in Fig - 7a, a space between two weft yarns (33) of the bottom layer fabric (31) and the spindle wharve (5) shall be the area (A2). According to present embodiment of the invention, the area (A2) is 0.67 square millimetres and the distance (L2) between the centre-to- centre contact points of two weft yarns shall be 0.027 millimetre.

[0041] Fig - 8 and 8a describes the driving belt contact position with spindle wharve (5) and the driving belt (1) according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring more specific to Fig - 8, the spindle belt (1) also consists of a top elastomer layer (11), middle fabric layer (21), and a bottom fabric layer (31). According to another aspect of the present invention, yarn with two different fineness (34, 35) are used as weft yarn. The weft structure consists of spun yarn with different fineness (34 and 35). Fineness of weft spun yarn (34) is preferably 7.0 Tex and the weft yarn (35) is preferably 10.0 Tex.

[0042] As shown in Fig - 8a, a space between two weft yarns (34, 35) of the bottom layer fabric (31) and the spindle wharve (5) shall be the area (A3). According to present embodiment of the invention, the area (A3) is 1.29 square millimetres and the distance (L3) between the centre-to-centre contact points of two weft yarns shall be 0.051 mm. Alternatively, two different fineness yarns (24, 25) made up of Polyamide continuous filament yarns shall be used in weft direction in place of natural fibre made spun weft yarns (34, 35).

[0043] As a surprising effect of the present invention, the area of contact between wharve and belt surface has been increased up to 30% and as a result, the slippage % has been reduced from 3.59% to 1.99%. Fig - 9 illustrates a graphical representation of test results and the comparison of performance of existing drive belt and the drive belt according to the present invention. The slip % of existing driving belt (6) ranges from 3.41 to 3.59% whereas the slip % of the driving belt (1) ranges from 1.99 to 2.22%. Therefore, the reduction in slip % is around 40% in the driving belt (1), which is advantageous. As a result of reduction in slippage % and increment in transmission efficiency, the spindle speed shall be increased up to 2 % in the Ring spinning machines which results in increment of volume of production up to 2 %.

[0044] In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, the middle or bottom layer fabric layers shall be made up with a combination of natural and synthetic fibre material. The yarns used in warp and weft direction shall be a synthetic continuous filament and/or spun yarn made up of natural fibres. The synthetic material is preferably Polyamide material such as Nylon 6, and the natural fibre is preferably Cotton, Flax or regenerated cellulosic fibres. Alternatively, synthetic filament yarn material shall be Polyester, Rayon, or any other synthetic material.

[0045] The invention has been described as detailed above but various embodiments and variations are possible beyond the preferred embodiments disclosed in this document. All such variations and modifications as obvious to the skilled person is within the scope of this invention.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. Spindle driving belt (1) for spinning machines, comprising: a top elastomer layer (11), a middle fabric layer (21), and a bottom fabric layer (31). warp (22) and weft (23) structure of said middle fabric layer (21) consists of Polyamide continuous filament yarn. warp structure (32) of said bottom fabric layer (31) consists of polyamide continuous filament yam; weft structure (33) of said bottom fabric layer (31) consists of natural fiber based spun yarn; and, at least two different fineness yarns (24, 25) are used in weft direction of middle fabric layer (21), and at least two different fineness yarns (34, 35) are used in weft direction of bottom fabric layer (31).

2. The spindle driving belt (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein fineness of said weft yarns (24) from amongst the at least two different fineness yarns (24, 25) in middle fabric layer (21) is less than or equal to 100 Denier, and the fineness of said weft yarn (25) from amongst the at least two different fineness yarns (24, 25) in middle fabric layer (21) is between 100 to 200 Denier.

3. The spindle driving belt (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein fineness of said weft yarns (34) from amongst the at least two different fineness yarns (34, 35) of the bottom fabric layer (31 ) is preferably 7 Tex and fineness of the weft yarn (35) from amongst the at least two different fineness yarns (34, 35) of the bottom fabric layer (31) is preferably 10 Tex.

4. The spindle driving belt (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein fineness of said warp polyamide continuous filament yarn in both layers of fabric (21, 31) is less than 200 Denier preferably 100 Denier.

5. The spindle driving belt (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein ends per centimeter of the middle fabric layer (21) is in a range of 40 to 100 and the picks per centimeter is in a range of 30 to 70.

6. The spindle driving belt (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein mass of the middle fabric layer (21) is in a range of 40 to 110 grams per square metre and mass of the bottom fabric layer (31) is in a range of 40 to 160 grams per square metre.

7. The spindle driving belt (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein ‘Plain’ weave structure is used to produce the middle fabric layer (21) and ‘Satin’ weave structure is used to produce the bottom fabric layer (31).

8. The spindle driving belt (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein ends per centimeter of the bottom fabric layer (31) is in a range of 40 to 100 and the picks per centimeter is in a range of 30 to 70.

9. The spindle driving belt (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, an area (A2) defined by the space between two consecutive weft yarns of the middle layer (21) and the spindle wharve (5) during a contact of spindle driving belt (1) with the spindle wharve (5) is 0.67 square millimetres and a distance (L2) between the two centre-to-centre contact points made by the consecutive weft yarns of the middle layer of the spindle driving belt with the spindle wharve is 0.027 millimetre. The spindle driving belt (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an area (A3) defined by the space between two consecutive weft yarns of the bottom layer (31) and the spindle wharve (5) during a contact of the spindle driving belt (1) with the spindle wharve (5) is 1.29square millimetres and a distance (L3) between the two centre-to-centre contact points made by the consecutive weft yarns of the bottom layer of the spindle driving belt with the spindle wharve is 0.051 millimetre.