US3411187A - Feed roller arrangement to card licker-in - Google Patents

Description

Y- 19, 1963 H. W.GRO CE ETAL 3,411,187

7 FEED ROLLER ARRANGEMENT T0 CARD LICKERIN Filed Feb. 23 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I v INVENTORS'.

Hon E2. w. Gzocaand W\LL\AM kwmuock ficljnlfqflqqlw ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1968 H. w. GRQCE ETAL 3,411,187

FEED ROLLER ARRANGEMENT TO CARD LICKER-IN Filed Feb. 23, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

Ho M ER \MGRocE- and W: LUAM A.WAENOCK ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1968 H. w. GROCE ETAL FEED ROLLER ARRANGEMENT TO CARD LICKER-IN Filed Feb. 25 11967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 GEOCE: and

INVENTORS'. HOM era WILUAM A.WARNOCK B fiwztffld ffljufi f w ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1968 H. w. GROCE ETAL 3,411,187

FEED ROLLER ARRANGEMENT TO CARD LICKER-IN Filed Feb. 23, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Q j I OMERW-GROCEanaZ I WILUAM AWARNQCK United States Patent 3,411,187 FEED ROLLER ARRANGEMENT TO CARD LICKER-IN Homer W. Groce and Wilfiam A. Warnock, Lyman, S.C., assiguors to Wellman Industries, Inc., J ohnsonville, S.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 23, 1967, Ser. No. 617,918 8 Claims. (Cl. 19-105) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a high production textile card, correct feeding of textile materials to the operating instrumentalities of the card is assured by a novel mounting and drive arrangement for a plurality of toothed feed rollers. The feed rollers are supported in at least one predetermined group from the card frame adjacent one of two licker-in cylinders so as to be adjustable as a unit in a group relative to the operating instrumentalities of the card and so as to be individually adjustable relative to other feed rolls in the same group. Transmission means are provided to operatively connect the feed rolls together for coordinated rotation and to one of the operating instrumentalities of the card to normally be driven in rotation therefrom while permitting interruption of the driving connection when excessive torque is required to drive the feed rollers. The mounting and drive arrangement provides a wide range of choices as to roll spacing while properly coordinated drive is maintained and damage to the feed rollers is avoided.

Recent efforts to improve the efficiency of textile manufacturing operations have resulted in substantial increases in the production rates of various classes of textile machinery, including textile cards. With the advent of high production textile cards, certain difiiculties which heretofore have been ignored in textile cards have become critical. In particular, it has become apparent that the advance of textile material to the operating instrumentalities of a card in proper and close coordination to the production of carded material thereby is critical in 0btaining the desired high production from the card while maintaining high quality.

It has heretofore been recognized that the rate of feed of textile material to a card must be coordinated to the rate of production of carded material thereby, and it is conventional card practice to seek such coordination. However, a high production card places more exacting requirements upon the feeding mechanism in that the handling of multiple incoming laps of textile material must be facilitated and in that the incoming material must be properly prepared as it is advanced to the operating instrumentalities of the card. To satisfy these requirements, it is necessary that the spacing of the feed rollers in the feeding mechanism be set with an accuracy not heretofore required, and maintained at the established settings even while handling multiple incoming laps. Additionally, it is necessary that the feed rollers be driven in close coordination one to another, and that this closely coordinated driving relationship be maintained even as the roller spacing relationships are varied.

In view of the above discussed difficulties and desired features for a high production textile card, it is an object of the present invention to provide, in combination with a high production textile card, a mounting and drive arrangement for a plurality of feed rollers which obviates the difliculties heretofore encountered and assures that an accurate and proper advance of textile material to the instrumentalities of the card is achieved and maintained.

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In accomplishing this object, this invention provides means for mounting a plurality of feed rollers for adjustment as a unit in at least one predetermined group relative to the operating instrumentalities of a high production card and for individual adjustment relative to one another with a group. The mounting means is so constructed and arranged that the necessary adjustments are readily made on initial setup of the card and are accurately maintained thereafter until consciously varied by a mechanic. Further, this invention provides a torque s nsitive transmission means which operatively connects the feed rollers to one of the instrumentalities of the card for normally driving the feed rollers for rotation therefrom. The transmission means is so constructed and arranged as to assure accurate coordination of the rotation of each of the feed rollers with respect to others of the feed rollers, which coordination is maintained in all operating conditions, including the removal of lap-ups of textile material from about one of the feed rollers.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partly schematic elevation of a portion of a high production card incorporating the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic elevation, similar to FIG- URE 1, of the feed roller arrangement of the card of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation of the card of FIGURE 1, opposite the side shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view similar to FIGURE 1 of the mounting means for the feed rollers for the high production card of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a section view through a torque limiting slip clutch included in the transmission means for the feed rollers of the card of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a section view through a right-angle drive and manually engageable clutch included in the transmission means for the feed rollers of the card of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is an elevation view of the right-angle drive of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting arrangement for one group of feed rollers of the card of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting arrangement for another group of feed rollers of the card of FIGURE 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a high production textile card incorporating the present invention is there shown and generally indicated at 10. More particularly, means are provided in combination with the high production textile card .10 for advancing textile material to the operating instrumentalities of the card in accurately controlled coordination to the processing of such material thereby. Before proceeding to a detailed description of the means so provided in combination with the card 10, it is believed appropriate to first briefly discuss the general manner in which the card 10 operates and the characteristics thereof which facilitate the particularly advantageous combination herein described.

The operating instrumentalities of the card 10 include a number of rotatably mounted cylinders having toothed surfaces which engage and act upon fibrous textile material being processed through the card. As is conventional, the card 10 includes a main cylinder '11 and a dofr'er cylinder (not shown) for removing processed textile material from the main cylinder and advancing such processed material to a packaging means for subsequent further processing. High production for the card 10 is obtained in part by increased speed of rotation for the main cylinder 11 and dolfer cylinder, and in part by the provision of a pair of licker-in cylinders 12 and 13, which prepare incoming textile material to be worked by the main cylinder 11 and perform the first steps in the processing of textile materials by the card 10. In order to assure proper working of the textile materials being processed through the card 10, the card preferably includes a plurality of additional cylinders operating as dividers and clearers between and among the primary operating instrumentalities of the card 10. The various rotatable cylinders of the card are supported for rotation from a card frame 15, and driven in coordinated rotation from a suitable source of rotational power, such as an electrical motor. As described to this point, the various operating instrumentalities of the high production textile card, the manner in which those instrumentalities are supported and driven, and the manner in which the instrumentalities cooperate to process textile material at a relatively high rate may be substantially conventional.

In order to provide textile material for processing by the card 10 at the production rates made possible thereby, it is in many instances found preferable to deliver fibrous textile material to the card 110 by superimposing a plurality of laps of textile material such as are formed by textile pickers or other preliminary processing machines. Superimposed laps of textile material may be advanced by a lap conveyor 19, for introduction to the operating instrumentalities of the textile card 10.

In accordance with the present invention, and in order to advance textile materials from the lap conveyor 19 to the first licker-in cylinder 12 of the card 10, this invention provides the combination wtih the card 10 of a plurality of feed rollers, preferably five in number as indicated at 20-24. As will be described more fully hereinafter, means are provided for mounting feed rollers 20-24 for particular cooperation with the operating instrumentalities of the card 10, and for transmitting rotation thereto in particular coordination to the rotation of the operating instrumentalities of the card 10. Each of the feed rollers 20-24 is provided with a toothed surface, as by being wound with card clothing such as is applied to others of the operating instrumentalities of the card 10. Where the feed rolls number five, the arrangement of the rollers with respect to the lap feeding conveyor 19 and the first lickerin cylinder 12 is as indicated schematically in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

In order to provide for adjustment of the distance between the axes of rotation of the plurality of feed rollers 20-24, and for maintenance of correct distances once the desired and necessary adjustments are completed for proper advancement of textile material to the operating instrumentalities of the card 10, this invention provides means supported on the frame and mounting the feed rollers adjacent the first licker-in cylinder 12 (see FIGURES 1, 3, 4, 8 and 9). The mounting means permits joint adjustment of the feed rollers 20-24 in predetermined groups relative to the operating instrumentalities of the card -10 and permits individual adjustment thereof relative to other feed rollers within the respective groups. More particularly, it is necessary to provide for adjustment of the two feed rollers 20 and 21 which first receive superposed laps advanced by the lap conveyor 19 relative to the three toothed feed rollers 22, 23 and 24 which distribute such textile material to the first licker-in cylinder 12, in order to control the linear distance or opening zone traversed by the textile material between the first pair of feed rollers 20 and 21 and the next following pair of feed rollers 22, 23. However, while these group adjustments are necessary to control the length of the opening zone, it is also critical to provide for adjustment of the distances between the axes or rotation of the rollers in each group, in order to assure that the nip space therebetween will pass the quantity of textile material being advanced thereby while providing the desired working of the textile material.

Referring now to the mounting arrangement for the group of three toothed feed rollers 22, 23 and 24 located immediately adjacent the licker-in cylinder 12 (FIGURES 4 and 9), the adjustable mounting means includes a standard 30 which is secured to the card frame 15 by a standard base 31 for pivotal movement about a predetermined horizontal axis as defined by a pivot bolt 32 extending through a bore provided in the standard base 31 and threadingly engaging the standard 30. The pivotal movement of the standard 30 about the axis provided by the bolt 32 is controlled by a pivot adjustment bolt 34, which penetrates an abutment ear 35 formed with the standard 30 and engages a tapped bore in the standard base 31. By appropriate adjustment of the bolt 34 and a locking nut 36, engaging opposing sides of the ear 35, the angular position of the standard 30 about the horizontal axis defined by the bolt 32 may be determined, and the standard 30 locked in the appropriate adjusted position. A bearing receiving bore 38 is formed in the standard 30, to receive and support a hearing which in turn supports the lowermost toothed feed roller 22 for rotation. Accordingly, the axis of rotation of the feed roller 22 may be displaced relative to the first licker-in 12 by appropriate adjustment of the position of the standard 30.

A first bearing block 40 is secured to the standard 30 by a pair of mounting bolts 41 and 42, which extend through respective adjustment slots 44 and 45 in the hearing block 40 and threadingly engage the standard 30. By the cooperation of the mounting bolts 41 and 42 and the respective adjustment slots 44 and 45, the first bearing block 40 is permitted to move linearly with respect to the standard 30 in a generally vertical direction. In order to lock the first bearing block 40 in a desired location relative to the standard 30, a pair of locking bolts 47 and 48 are provided and threadingly engage the first bearing block 40 in appropriate positions to lock that first bearing block with respect to the mounting bolts 41 and 42. Inasmuch as a bearing bore 49 is formed in the first mounting block 40 for receiving a hearing which rotatably supports the intermediate toothed feed roller 23, the adjustment permitted for the first bearing block 40 relative to the standard 30 permits varying the linear distance between the centers of rotation of the respective two toothed feed rollers 22 and 23.

A second bearing block member 50 is provided and secured to the first bearing block member 40 by a pair of mounting bolts 51 and 52, extending through respective elongate slots 53 and 54 and threadingly engaging the first bearing block 40. A pair of oppositely directed adjustment bolts 56 and 57 extend through threaded bores in the second bearing block 50, and bear against opposing surfaces of the first bearing block 40, so as to provide limits on the lineal movement of the second bearing block 50 relative to the first bearing block 40 in a generally horizontal direction determined by the elongate slots 53 and 54. Inasmuch as the second bearing block 50 includes a bearing receiving bore 59 to be penetrated by a suitable hearing which rotatably supports the associated uppermost toothed feed roller 24, adjustment is provided in the predetermined lineal direction between the centers of rotation of the respective toothed feed rollers 23 and 24 supported by the second and first bearing blocks 50 and 40.

As may be understood from the adjustments provided by the first standard 30 and by the first and second hearing blocks 40 and 50, as described above, provision is thus made for individual adjustment of all rollers and also for independent individual adjustment of one of the three toothed feed rollers 22, 23 and 24 relative to others of that particular group, together with provision for adjustment of the entire group as a unit about the horizontal axis defined by the pivot bolt 32. Thus, proper nip spacing between each pair of adjacent toothed feed rollers among the group 22, 23 and 24 may be achieved by adjustment of the first and second bearing blocks and 50, and the entire group as a unit may thereafter be adjusted relative to the first licker-in cylinder 12 by means of pivotal movement of the standard 30. It is to be noted that the pivotal movement of the standard 30 also provides individual adjustment for the toothed feed rollers 22. In each instance, a positive lock is provided for the adjustment made of the respective roll bearing supporting member relative to the support to which it is secured.

In order to similarly provide for adjustment of the first pair of toothed feed rollers 20, 21 for engaging a plurality of stacked laps advanced by the lap conveyor 19, the mounting means of this invention further includes a second standard supported on the card frame 15 by a standard base 61 and secured thereto by a pivot bolt 62 defining a horizontal axis for pivotal movement of the standard 60. In similarity to the previously described standard 30, a pivotal adjustment bolt 64 is provided which penetrates an adjustment ear 65 of the standard 60, and threadingly engages the standard base 61. A suitable locknut 66 may engage the lower surface of the locking ear 65, for limiting the angular location of the standard 60 about the pivot bolt 62. The standard 60 includes a bearing receiving bore 68, sized to engage a bearing means which supports the lower toothed feed roller 20 for rotation about a predetermined axis.

Additionally, a third bearing block 70 is secured to the second standard 60, for generally vertical lineal adjustment relative thereto, by a bolt 71 which extends through an elongate slot 72 in the second standard 60. Adjustment of the third bearing block 70 relative to the standard 60 is obtained by the action thereon of three adjusting bolts 74, 75 and 76, each extending through a portion of the standard 60 and engaging the third bearing block 70. The block 70 additionally includes a bearing re ceiving bore 78, for encircling a bearing means which supports the upper toothed feed roller 21 for rotation. Through proper adjustment of the three adjusting bolts 74, 75 and '76, and by tightening the securing bolt 71, the distance between the centers of the two feed rollers 20 and 21 may be accurately adjusted and fixed against subsequent variation during the use of the card 10. Thereafter, the distance between the nip of the first pair of feed rollers 20, 21 and the nip of the next following pair of feed rollers 22, 23 may be adjusted by pivotal movement of the second standard 60 about the horizontal axis determined by the securing bolt 62.

In order to drive the feed rollers 20-24 in accurately controlled coordination to the rotation of the operating instrumentalities of the card 10, while permitting the adjustment movements described above with regard to the mounting means and avoiding other operating difiiculties,

this invention provides a torque sensitive transmission means operatively interconnecting the feed rollers 20-24 and operatively connecting those feed rolls to a selected one of the operating instrumentalities of the card 10. Preferably, in order to assure an accurate coordination in the quantity of textile material flowing from the operating instrumentalities of the card 10 with the quantity of textile material being fed thereto, the transmission means interconnects the feed rollers 20-24 with the doffer cylinder (not shown) by means of a side shaft extending forwardly along one side of the card 10 (FIGURE 1).

In order to operatively interconnect the plurality of feed rollers 20-24 in order to drive the same in rotation from the side shaft 80 while precisely controlling the angular relationships between the rollers and permitting the adjustments described above, this invention incorporates a plurality of endless flexible members such as drive chains 90, 91 and 92 (FIGURES 1 and 3). Each of the drive chains -92 is supported for movement along a predetermined closed path of travel by a plurality of associated sprocket members. The sprockets engaged by a first side chain 91 include three sprockets each respectively connected to one of the three toothed feed rollers 22, 23 and 24 which are immediately adjacent the first licker-in cylinder 12. This side chain 91 additionally engages a drive sprocket 98 for the transmission of driving force to the lap conveyor 19, an intermediate sprocket 99, and an idler sprocket 100. The intermediate sprocket 99 is also engaged by the drive chain 90, as described more fully hereinafter. On the opposite side of the frame of the card 10 from the drive chain 90 and the first side chain 91, a second side chain 92 (FIGURE 3) is supported for movement along a predetermined closed path of travel by a plurality of sprockets including one sprocket connected to a selected one of the three toothed feed rollers included in the first group, preferably the intermediate toothed feed roller 23, and by sprockets secured to the second group of toothed feed rollers for rotation with the toothed feed rollers 20, 21. Additionally, the second side chain 92 passes over a drive sprocket 101 also operatively connected to the lap conveyor 19. By means of the interconnection provided by the drive chains 91 and 92, and the respective sprocket supporting those chains for movement, positive coordination is obtained for the rotation of all of the plurality of toothed feed rollers 20-24 and for the lap feeding conveyor 19. The adjustments provided for the toothed feed rollers 20-24 may be made without regard to the center-to-center distance of the sprockets, as the chain drive permits such variation in distances while maintaining a positive and accurately controlled coordination of rotation. The latter point is particularly important as the intermeshing relationship of toothed surfaces on the plurality of rollers 20-24 necessarily must be controlled.

In order to control the transmission of rotational power from the side shaft 80 to the side chains 91 and 92, this invention provides a torque limiting slip clutch 102 and a right-angle drive mechanism, generally indicated at 103 and including a manually engageable positive clutch. The intermediate chain 90 is supported for movement along a predetermined closed path of travel between the intermediate sprocket 99 and a drive sprocket 105 mounted on an output shaft 106 of the right-angle drive 103, for rotation thereabout (FIGURES 6 and 7). The sprocket 105 is selectively coupled to the shaft 106 for rotation therewith by the proper positioning of a locking bar 108 in a mating recess centrally of the sprocket 105. The locking bar 108 is formed integrally with a rod 109 extending within the hollow shaft 106, and is normally urged into a position wherein the sprocket 105 is coupled to the shaft 106 for rotation therewith by a biasing spring 110 acting against a release button 111. When it is desired to disengage the drive chain 90, and thus the feed rollers 20-24, from the rotational motive force applied thereto, an operator of the card 10 may depress the release button 111 to interrupt the transmission of power.

The interruption of the transmission of power to the feed rollers 20-24 is of primary importance in the event that a lap-up of textile material about one of the feed rols occurs. In that event, and due to the arrangement of the toothed surfaces of the rolls (as shown in FIGURE 2), it is necessary to remove the textile material wound about one of the feed rollers by manually rotating the roll as the textile material is removed therefrom. The rovision of a manually operable means for interrupting the transmission of rotational motive force permits such a manual clearing operation to be undertaken.

In order to protect the right-angle drive 103, the chains 90, 91 and 92, and the feed rollers from excessive forces possibly developed due to the continued application of rotational force thereto in the event an improper operating condition obtains, such as in the occurrence of a lap-up of textile material about one of the feed rollers 20-24, this invention provides a torque sensitive slip clutch 102, as briefly mentioned above. The torque responsive slip clutch includes, for example, a first sprocket 115 secured to the side shaft 80 for rotation therewith and joined by a double link circular chain 116 to a driven sprocket 118 which also operates as one clutch member. Within a housing 119 secured to the driven sprocket 118 is located a slipping clutch plate 120 and a torque limiting spring 121, positioned to apply an axial force normally urging the clutch members 120 and 118 together. The slipping clutch plate member 120 is secured to a shaft 122, and in turn secured to the worm gear member 124 of the right-angle drive 103. Upon the occurrence of an improper operating condition, such as when textile material laps up about one of the feed rollers 20-24, the frictional engagement between the clutch members 118 and 120 under the urging of the spring 121 becomes ineffective to transmit the torque required to force rotation of the feed rollers 20-24, and the resulting slippage protects the feed rollers from damage while permitting continued drive of the other operating instrumentalities of the card 10.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a high production textile card having a frame supporting operating instrumentalities including a main cylinder, at least one licker-in cylinder and a doffer cylinder and having means for driving the instrumentalities in coordinated rotation for working fibrous textile material, the combination therewith of means for advancing textile material to the instrumentalities in controlled coordination to the processing of material thereby comprising:

a plurality of toothed feed rollers,

means supported on the frame and adjustably mounting said feed rollers in predetermined groups, each of a plurality of rollers, adjacent said licker-in cylinder for individual adjustment of each of said rollers in each group relative to each other and for collective adjustment of the rollers of each group as a unit relative to said licker-in cylinder and to another group.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said adjusting means provides independent individual adjustment of certain of said rollers without disturbing the positional relation of other of said rollers.

3. In a high production textile card having a frame supporting operating instrumentalities including a main cylinder, a pair of licker-in cylinders and a dotfer cylinder and having means for driving the instrumentalities in coordinated rotation for working fibrous textile material, the combination therewith of means for advancing textile material to the instrumentalities in controlled coordination to the processing of material thereby comprising:

three rotatably driven toothed feed rollers, and

means supported on the frame and adjustably mounting said feed rollers in at least one predetermined group adjacent a first licker-in cylinder for individual adjustment of said rollers in the group relative to each other and for collective adjustment of the rollers of the group as a unit relative to said first licker-in cylinder and comprising a first standard secured to the frame for pivotal adjustment about a first pivotal axis, a first bearing block secured to said first standard for lineal adjustment in a first direction and a second bearing block secured to said first bearing block for lineal adjustment in a second direction angularly related to said first direction, each of said blocks and said standard mounting a predetermined one of said three feed rollers for adjustment therewith, so that the feed rollers are collectively adjustable as a unit about said first pivotal axis with respect to the licker-in and with two of said feed rollers being adjustable multilineally with respect thereto.

4. In a high production textile card havlng a frame supporting operating instrumentalities including a main cylinder, a pair of licker-in cylinders and a dolfer cylinder and having means for driving the instrumentalities in coordinated rotation for working fibrous textile material, the combination therewith of means for advancing textile material to the instrumentalities in controlled coordination to the processing of material thereby comprising:

a plurality of rotatably driven toothed feed rollers,

means supported on the frame and adjustably mounting said feed rollers in at least one predetermined group adjacent a first licker-in cylinder for individual adjustment of said rollers in the group relative to each other and for collective adjustment of the rollers of the group as a unit relative to said first licker-in, and

a plurality of chain sprockets each being secured to a corresponding one of said feed rollers for rotation therewith about a common axis and at least one endless flexible chain supported for movement along a predetermined closed path of travel by selected ones of said sprockets for operatively connecting the feed rollers corresponding to said selected sprockets to assure coordinated rotation thereof.

5. In a high production textile card having a frame supporting operating instrumentalities including a main cylinder, a pair of licker-in cylinders and a dofier cylinder and having means for driving the instrumentalities in coordinated rotation for working fibrous textile material, the combination therewith of means for advancing textile material to the instrumentalities in controlled coordination to the processing of material thereby comprising:

a plurality of toothed feed rollers,

means supported on the frame and adjustably mounting said feed rollers in predetermined groups adjacent a first licker-in cylinder for individual adjustment of said rollers in each group relative to each other and for collective adjustment of the rollers of each group as a unit relative to said first licker-in cylinder and to another group, and

torque sensitive transmission means operatively connecting said feed rollers to one of the instrumentalities for normally driving said feed rollers in rotation therefrom in positive coordination to the processing of textile material thereby, said transmission means interrupting the driving connection upon the feed rollers requiring a torque above a predetermined value as in the event of a lap-up of textile material thereabout.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said rollers are five in number and are arranged in two groups and wherein said means for adjustably mounting said feed rollers in said groups provides for collective adjustment as a unit of a first group of three of said rollers positioned adjacent said first licker-in cylinder and for collective adjustment as a unit of a second group of two of said rollers spaced from said first group and from said first licker-in cylinder.

7. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said transmission means comprises an endless flexible member supported for movement along a predetermined closed path of travel and operatively connecting all of said feed rollers to assure coordinated rotation thereof and a torque limiting slip clutch operatively interconnecting said endless member and the dotfer cylinder to normally transmit motive force from the doifer cylinder to said endless member and thus drive said feed rollers in rotation.

8. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said transmission means comprises a manually operable positive engagement clutch normally transmitting motive force to said feed rollers and operable to interrupt such transmission so as to permit rotation of said feed rollers independently of the operating instrumentalities of the card as when clearing the rollers of a lap-up condition.

(References on following page) 9 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 312,456 2/1885 Gessner 191()5 3,188,834 6/1965 Radtke 669 5 3,251,093 5/1966 Maynard et a1 19.26

10 3,299,672 1/1967 Schmidt 19145.7 XR 3,308,511 3/1967 Culpan 19-105 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

I. C. WADDEY, IR., Assistant Examiner.

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