Bearing device for drafting rollers having pressure relieving means

A roller support system, comprising:

• a longitudinally extending support arm, said support arm defining a receptacle;
• a rotatable roller having a central axis of rotation and two ends, at least one of said two ends defining a partially conical cavity substantially coaxial with said central axis of rotation;
• said partially conical cavity defining a first interface surface;
• a bearing member having an outwardly extending partially conical portion defining a second interface surface thereon for substantial coaxial receipt within said partially conical cavity;
• and
• said bearing member having a receptacle engaging portion for substantially stationarily engaging said receptacle of said support structure, such that said partially conical cavity of said roller is receivable on said outwardly extending partially conical portion for rotation with respect to said bearing member and said support structure, and such that upon rotation of said roller, said first interface surface moves in proximity about said second interface surface.

A roller support system, comprising:

• a rotatable roller having a central axis of rotation, two ends, and a central portion between said two ends;
• at least one of said two ends defining a first interface surface;
• a bearing member defining a second interface surface for receiving said first interface surface of said roller;
• and
• a debris excluding interface including said first and second interface surfaces, said debris excluding interface defining a first region adjacent said end of said roller and a second region disposed inwardly in a direction towards said central portion of said roller, such that upon receipt of said first interface adjacent said second interface surface, and upon rotation of said roller, the relative velocity between said first and second interface surfaces in said first region is greater than the relative velocity between said first and second interface surfaces in said second region.

A drafting roller support system for supporting a pair of rotatable drafting rollers, said drafting roller support system comprising:

• a frame support structure;
• first and second rotatable drafting rollers;
• said first roller having a roller axis of rotation and two ends, at least one of said two ends defining a partially conical cavity substantially coaxial with said roller axis of rotation;
• said partially conical cavity defining a first interface surface;
• said second rotatable roller being supported in said support structure for rotation;
• a support arm, said support arm defining a receptacle;
• a bearing member having an outwardly extending partially conical portion defining a second interface surface thereon for substantial coaxial receipt within said partially conical cavity of said first roller;
• and
• said bearing member having a receptacle engaging portion for substantially stationarily engaging said receptacle of said support arm, such that said partially conical cavity of said first roller is receivable on said outwardly extending partially conical portion for rotation with respect to said bearing member and said support arm, and such that upon rotation of said first roller, said first interface surface moves in proximity about said second interface surface.

A roller support system for supporting the end of a roller for rotation, the roller support system comprising:

• a bearing member for supporting the end of the roller;
• a receptacle for receiving said bearing member, said receptacle defining a reference surface and first and second contact portions for contacting said bearing member;
• said bearing member defining a first cam surface for contacting said first contact portion of said receptacle and a second cam surface for contacting said second contact portion of said receptacle, such that upon said first cam surface of said bearing member contacting said first contact portion of said receptacle, the roller is a first predetermined distance from said reference surface of said receptacle, and upon said second cam surface of said bearing member contacting said second contact portion of said receptacle, the roller is a second predetermined distance from said reference surface of said receptacle;
• and
• bearing member rotation means associated with said bearing member for rotating said bearing member between a first position, wherein said first cam surface contact said first contact portion, and a second position, wherein said second cam surface contact said second contact portion.

A method for supporting the end of a drafting roller having a roller axis, and for selectively varying the distance between the drafting roller and a reference surface, the method comprising:

• providing the end of the drafting roller with a bearing member having first and second cam surfaces, each of said first and second cam surfaces being spaced a different distance from the roller axis;
• positioning the bearing member in a receptacle such that said first cam surface of the bearing member contacts the receptacle and the roller axis is a first corresponding distance from the reference surface;
• and
• moving the bearing member about said receptacle such that said second cam surface contacts said receptacle, thereby moving of the roller axis to a second corresponding distance from the reference surface.

A method of seating an end of a drafting roller in a receptacle, comprising:

• providing the end of the drafting roller with a bearing member having a first portion of a first width and a second portion of a second width, wherein said first width is greater than the width of the receptacle, and said second width is less than the width of the receptacle;
• positioning the end of the roller adjacent the receptacle such that said first portion of said bearing member is adjacent the receptacle;
• and
• rotating the roller such that said second portion of said bearing member registers with and is received by the receptacle.

A method for excluding debris from a roller and bearing, comprising:

• providing a roller end defining a partially conical cavity;
• providing a bearing member having a partially conical portion;
• inserting said partially conical portion of said bearing member into said partially conical cavity of the roller end;
• and
• rotating the roller with respect to said bearing member, such that said partially conical cavity rotates with respect to said partially conical portion, thereby defining a debris excluding interface therebetween.

A spinning frame for spinning a fiber strand, the spinning frame comprising:

• a support structure;
• a first pair of drafting rollers associated with said support structure for receiving a fiber strand;
• means associated with said support system for delivering a fiber strand to said first pair of drafting rollers;
• a second pair of drafting rollers associated with said support structure, said second pair of drafting rollers being positioned downstream from said first pair of drafting rollers and defining a drafting zone between said first and second pair of drafting rollers;
• means for rotating said first and second drafting roller pairs to produce a speed differential therebetween;
• means associated with said support structure for spinning the fiber strand upon the fiber strand exiting said second pair of drafting roller;
• at least one roller of one of said first and second pair of drafting rollers having an end defining a partially conical cavity substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of said at least one roller, said partially conical cavity defining a first interface surface;
• and
• a bearing member having an outwardly extending partially conical portion defining a second interface surface thereon for substantial coaxial receipt within said partially conical cavity of said roller, such that said partially conical cavity of said at least one roller is receivable on said outwardly extending partially conical portion for rotation with respect to said bearing member, and such that upon rotation of said at least one roller, said first interface surface moves in proximity about said second interface surface.

A drafting system for drafting a fiber strand in a spinning frame, the drafting system comprising:

• a support structure;
• a first pair of drafting rollers associated with said support structure for receiving a fiber strand;
• a second pair of drafting rollers associated with said support structure, said second pair of drafting rollers being positioned downstream from said first pair of drafting rollers and defining a drafting zone between said first and second pair of drafting rollers;
• means for rotating said first and second drafting roller pairs to produce a speed differential therebetween;
• at least one roller of said first and second pair of drafting rollers having an end defining a partially conical cavity substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of said at least one roller, said partially conical cavity defining a first interface surface;
• and
• a bearing member having an outwardly extending partially conical portion defining a second interface surface thereon for substantial coaxial receipt within said partially conical cavity, such that said partially conical cavity of said at least one roller is receivable on said outwardly extending partially conical portion for rotation with respect to said bearing member, and such that upon rotation of said at least one roller, said first interface surface moves in proximity about said second interface surface.