1. The document describes the components and operation of a modern comber machine. It has single or double sided heads with 8 or 12 heads respectively. 2. Key components include the nippers, which grip the lap and present it to the combing cylinder. The top comb combs the trailing end of the fringe. 3. The combing cylinder and top comb remove short fibers and impurities, forming the noil, while the detaching rollers separate the combed fringe to form a web.

1. Modern Combers.2

2. COMBER
Machines available as single sided with 8 heads (Rieter –E-
7/5) and double sided as 12 heads (latter – Saco Lowell).
Single sided machine is operated at higher nips per min
than double sided to give equivalent production.
Single sided machine is less complicated and is more easy
to automate.
Description :
The Lap rests on two supporting lap rollers. These rollers, in
turn, unroll the lap at a slow speed.
On the creel, above the normal working lap, there are
reserve laps kept.
The sheet on the way to nippers, passes over a diverter or
a compensating sheet.

3. COMBER
The arrangements are such the sheet folds during backward
movement of the nippers, while it straighten out forward
movement of nippers. This keeps the constant tension
during the forward & Back ward movement.
Before passing to nipper, the sheet passes through feed
roller grip. This feed roller pushes a small quantity of sheet
at constant speed.
When the feeding is complete, the two nippers, through
which the sheet has advanced is gripped by the closure of
the nippers.
There are two nippers – the top nipper and the bottom one
called as ‘cushion plate’.

4. Comber
The closure of the top nipper on bottom cushion plate is
effected by a spring.
In fact, when closed, the top nipper is firmly pressed on the
bottom one by this spring pressure.
During the return swing (backward motion) of the nippers,
the gripped sheet ( called as lap fringe) is presented to
combing segment (in old versions called
as ‘half-lap, in modern combers there is ‘Unicomb’).
The nippers are made to oscillate to & from by shaft.
When the nippers move backwards, they allow the combing
by cylinder needle segment. When they move forward, they
go close to detaching rollers to enable detaching of fringe
by detaching rollers.

5. 4. Diverter Eccentric
5. Feed Roll
8. Pressure spring for
Nipper
7. Nipper plate
13. Nipper Shaft
10. Combing Segment
11. Cylinder
14 Detaching Rollers
9. Top Comb
15. Web Pan
17. Trumpet
18. Table
C.R.
COMBER
12
33
Fig.1
Working Lap
Reserve
Lap
Lap Rolls
6. Lower Nipper
16. Lead-off Roll

6. Comber
During the combing, as the trailing part of the fringe is held
by the nippers, no combing can be carried out.
in this region. The trailing end of fibre fringe, when being
detached, has to be combed and this is done by the needles
of top comb. This thus completes the combing operation of
full fringe being detached by the detaching rollers.
The fringe while being detached, forms a thin web is then
made to pass on a web pan and then via lead-off roller
through a trumpet to form a sliver.
Thereafter, table calender rollers guide the slivers thus
formed on a smooth table where 8 such slivers are
combined & drawn through drafting & coiled.

7. Comber
16. Lead-off Roller
Spring
Nipper
T.C.
ClearerWeb
Pan
Table
C. R.
Trumpet
Fig. 2
14. Detaching Rolls
05. Feed Cylinder
04. Eccentric Shaft – Diverter for tension

8. Comber
Eccentric
Diverter
Pressure
Spring
Nipper
T.C.Clearer
Web
Pan
D.R.
D.R.
Cylinder
Combing
Segment
Brush
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

9. Nipper Assembly
Top
Nipper
3. Bottom
Nipper
4. Pivot Axis
5. Two Springs
One on each
side
5
Lap
6
6. Feed Roll
77. Eccentric Diverter for Lap Tension
Compensation in forward & Backward Motion
of Nippers.
It also allows “Soft-Closure of Top Nipper.

10. Nipper Support
3 & 5. Nipper Plate
1. Nipper Shaft
Swing
Arm
6. Two Pivot
Levers supporting
Nippers & are
pivoted on axis (7)
8. The nippers at the back by
two Swing arms which are
screwed on nipper shaft &
rotatable at point 8
8

11. Type of Feed
The slivers through the drafting system are again
condensed by finally passing the material through coiler
calender rollers via another trumpet and then coiled in to
one can as a single sliver.
Feed to Comber :
In some combers, both the forward & backward feed modes
are available with a little arrangement. In some cases, by
merely drive change gears.
The feed length varies from 4.3 to 6.7 mm and this derived
from the nipper movement itself. In forward feed, when the
nippers are opened during their forward motion, the ratchet
on feed roller is pulled by the pawl through one tooth.

12. Type of Feed
In the case of backward feed, during the closing of the
nippers, a pair of gear wheel initiates this action and
rotates the pawl.
Change gears provided give adjustment for the direction of
feed and the feed length.
Concurrent Feed Counter Feed
Ratchet Teeth Feed Dist. Ratchet Teeth Feed Dist.
14 6.7 16 5.9
16 5.9 18 5.2
18 5.2 20/22 4.7/4.2

13. Feed Ratchet
The pawl pulls the ratchet in clock-wise direction and
effects the feed. In of course this pulling, the pawl rotates the
ratchet through one tooth.
If ‘X’ is the circumference of the feed roller and ‘T’ is
The number of teeth on the ratchet, then,
Feed Distance = (X) / (T)
Fig. 5

14. Nipper Assembly
Light Assembly : Design wise, the Nipper Assembly is of
vital importance. The mass of the nipper is required to be
accelerated & decelerated in two different direction per
combing cycle (6 times per second in Modern Comber). The
mass of the nipper is thus required to be lowered and for
this nippers are made from light alloys (aluminum as base).
Nippers, during their motion, have to perform yet another
important function – Opening & Closing. With Modern
Combers the thickness of the lap sheet could be as big as
80 ktex. Therefore, while the other parts of the assembly
are made of light alloy, the nipper plate itself is made of
steel. The upper plate is made more stiff, whereas the
bottom plate is made more springy.
The upper nipper is pivoted on the bottom one, so that,
while it moves with latter, it can swing to open
or close during the whole nipper movement.

15. Nipper Assembly
Spring
Lap
Top Nipper
Pivot
Plain Segment
Cylinder
3
3. Bottom
Nipper
2
Top
Nipper
D.R.
Fig.6
Fig. 7
Bite between
Nippers. Special
Design helps
clamping
The spring on either
side, gives the adequate
pressure on the two
sides of top nipper, so
that there is firm
clamping.

16. Nipper Movement
The lower nipper plate (3/5) [fig. 8 next slide] is supported
at the front by two pivot levers (6), on either side, so as to
have a correct balance.
These levers are loosely mounted on the axis (7) of cylinder
and also by two swing arms (2) which are hinged at
nipper shaft (1) rotatable at point 8
During the rocking rotation of the nipper shaft – which is
less than a full rotation – during each combing cycle, the
whole nipper assembly is moved back and forth about the
point 8 with the help of a swing arm (2).
The nippers are moved closer to detaching roller (closest
approach – detachment setting). They are then withdrawn.
The upper nipper is supported on
lower nipper (cushion plate) at the point (10)

17. Nipper Movement
And is also suspended from the shaft (12) by means of
spring (11).
5. Lower
Nipper
D. R.
6. Pivot
Lever
7. Cylinder
Shaft axis
Connecting Link
To Top Nipper
Swing
Arm
3. Lower
Nipper
connection
1. Nipper
shaft
1
Fig. 8

18. Nipper Movement
Nippers
Open
Forward
Movement
Top
Nipper
Lower Nipper
6. Two Pivot Levers
Supporting Lower Nipper
On either side.
3 & 5. Lower Nipper
Cylinder Axis
Rotatable Point
Connecting Nipper to
Nipper shaft
2. Swing Arm
Nipper
Shaft
12. Shaft with eccentric
11. Spring
10. Top Nipper Pivot
4. Link connecting Top Nipper to
Pivot point (10).
Fig. 9
8

19. Nipper Movement
Shaft with Eccentric
Spring
Link
Rotatable Point
Swing
Arm
Nipper
shaft
Bottom Nipper
Top
Nipper
Two
Pivot
Levers
Cylinder Axis
10. Pivot
For Top
Nippers
3. Connecting Link
from rotatable point
to Lower Nipper
Nippers
Closed
Backward
Movement
Fig.10
8

20. Nipper Movement
As the nippers are moved forward, the upper nipper is
raised, relative to bottom one owing to link mechanism as
shown in fig. 10 – Nippers Opening during their forward
motion.
Conversely, when the nipper assembly (top & bottom)
withdraw back, the linkage closed the top nipper on the
bottom one.
While closing, however, the care needs to be taken so that
the top nipper, does not strike or sharply & suddenly strikes
on the bottom nipper. This soft-closure is effected by
eccentric (12). Even after the closure, the spring gradually
increases the pressure on the bite and thus helps in perfect
gripping of lap sheet.
The spring is compressed during backward motion when the
combing by cylinder occurs. It is then released during
forward motion when the nippers

21. Nipper Movement
move towards detaching rollers for piecing-up
operation. All this is done by the rotating eccentric.
The shaft holding the cylinder extends through the
whole machine and appropriately at each head
carries a combing cylinder.
Half-Lap : Each cylinder supports a combing segment
in the form of either “Conventional Half-Lap’ or
‘Unicomb’ – a metallic clothing.
On Modern Combers, the conventional half-lap has
been replaced with metallic segment. This is
because, these are robust, than needles, need no
maintenance, are not liable to damage and can easily
cope-up with much heavier laps (higher production)
In the case of needles, there are 17-18 rows
arranged in succession.

22. Concentric Nipper Movement
Concentric Nipper Movement Non-Concentric
Fig.11

23. Half Lap
The point density is increased from first row to the
last row. In some of the arrangements, even the
height of the needles (for first few rows) is steadily
increased, after which it remains constant.
This allows a gradual increase in combing intensity,
commensurate with the degree to which the fibre
fringe has reached after each needle row.
Thus, at the start of the combing cycle, the sheet
containing short fibres & impurities is not strongly
oriented in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, first
few rows of the needles which are coarsely spaced
rake through the fibre fringe and prepare it for a more
thorough & intensive combing by subsequent needle
rows.

24. Half Lap
By last row of needles, most of the combing is over
and the short fibres & impurities are removed by much
finer and densely spaced needles. The increase in
number of needles from first row to the last row can
be from 2 to 33 additional needles per cm.
The earlier form of metallic segments with metallic
clothing did not have this fine variation of wire points.
Now a days, metallic segments are split-up in to 3 to 4
zones, each progressively increasing in point density,
very similar to conventional half-lap needling.
Top Comb :
The replaceable Top Comb is arranged between
nippers & detaching roller so that the fibre fringe can
be drawn through its single row-needles.

25. Top Comb
The top comb has a holder to which a bar with needles
is screwed.
These needles, in turn, are soldered to the bar. With
the help of holder, the top comb is mounted on lower
nipper plate.
The needles are flat in cross section and have a
characteristic bend at the bottom. The top comb along
with bottom nipper plate swings to & from.
Unlike in the conventional Comber, the top comb on
Modern comber is fixed. It does not move up & down.
However, it swings along with the nippers.

26. Top Comb
Top
Comb
Top Nipper
Linkage
Nippers
D. R.
Cylinder
The archial movement of
Nippers, automatically
puts he top comb in the
position, so that when
The nippers are open &
near to detaching rolls,
it comes in the path of
fringe being detached.
When the nippers recede
Back and close, the
Position of the top comb
Being fixed w.r.t. bottom
Nippers, it is away from
The fringe being combed.
Fig.12

27. Top Comb
Holder
Top
Comb
S
Screw
Needle
Bar
Needle
The holder (H) - Top comb comprises
of a holder to which needle bar (B)
is secured by screws.
The holder (H) is mounted on the
lower nipper plate and hence top
Comb Swings with nipper plate.
The needles (N) have a flattened
cross-section and are bent at the
bottom.
Though it swings with nipper,
position-wise top comb is fixed.
Relative to its fixed position, the
Nippers move in arc, slightly up, so
that the top comb comes in the
way of fringe being detached.
Even then, the depth of the top
comb being very important, can be
adjusted by positioning needle Bar
(B), by loosening screw (S)
Fig.13

28. Operation of Top Comb
While the cylinder can comb away the forward
portion of the fringe, it is necessary to comb the
tailing end of the fringe. Also this rear end is located
in the nipper bite and hence, it is very essential to
comb out. This is done, when the fringe is drawn out
through the top comb.
It can mislead to a belief that the trailing portion is
not as thoroughly combed as the front portion.
However, the quality of both the portions is the
same, when the web coming out is seen.
The top comb is, in fact, very effective in retaining
the short fibres, impurities, neps as attached to the
fibre-tangle to the front end of the fringe left behind
during detachment. This forms the major portion of
noil removed during the subsequent combing cycle.

29. Top Comb & Piecing-up Operation
Without top comb, therefore, the combing action of
cylinder alone would be very much ineffective. It is
seen that at 14% noil level, the comber extracts as
much as only 6-7% noil when worked without Top
Comb.
Piecing-up Operation :
After the main combing operation is over, the
detaching rollers partly retrieve back the earlier
combed fringe. For this, they rotate back partly.
Nippers, during the combing by cylinder, move back.
After the combing is over, they start moving forward.

30. Piecing-up Operation
During this forward movement, they also open out,
thus presenting the freshly combed fringe towards
detaching roller.
The joining of the two fringes – one from previous
combing cycle and the one freshly combed – is called
as “Piecing-up’ operation. The front end of freshly
combed fringe and the tailing end of the earlier
combed fringe are superimposed so as to make this
joint as less conspicuous as possible.
This is essential so as to maintain the thickness of the
web as normal as possible. The Uster is able to detect
this cyclic variation in the form of a peak , at the
wavelength equal to the piecing distance..
In order to carry this operation, the detaching rolls

31. Piecing-up Operation
must have both the forward and backward motion. The
former is more than the latter so as to have a net
effective length delivered in the forward direction.
In Rieter Comber (E-7/5), the corresponding
movements are as follows :
Forward (V) = 81 mm, Backward (R) = 49.5 mm
Net Forward Delivery = 31.5 mm
These motions in either direction are effected through
a differential gear.
The basic principle of a differential gear is that two
different motions are superimposed. The effects of
these two motions is either additive or subtractive,
depending upon the directions of each.

32. Piecing-up Operation
With favourable directions of both, the two different
speeds are added; with one of the directions being
unfavourable (opposite to that of earlier one), the
speeds are subtracted.
This is shown in the fig.13 in the next slide. There are
basically two motions – one ‘intermittent’ rotation (A -
faster) and the other ‘constant’ rotation (B -slower) –
(A) being superimposed on (B). The constant rotation
is generated by the comber shaft.
If the superimposed rotation of (A) is acting in the
same sense, then the result is a ‘rapid acceleration’
with the resultant speed equal to (A + B).
While with opposite direction of (A), not only (B) gets
cancelled out wholly but D.R. reverse their motion as
(A) >> (B).

33. Motion of Detaching Roller
Forward Motion (V) = 81 mm
Backward Motion ® = 49.5 mm
Net Delivery
(A)
(A)-Intermittent-Faster
(B) Continuous-Slower
(C) = (A) – (B)
(C) = Detaching Rollers reversing their motion.
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

34. Withdrawal of Sliver Web from D. R.
The sliver web as delivered by the detaching rollers
must condensed into a sliver form. This is done by
collecting the web together by passing it through a
trumpet.
It is interesting to not that the net delivery of
detaching rollers is made to coincide with the rate at
which the condensed sliver is taken through trumpet.
Thus there has to be some reserve of material-web in
the web pan.
When the detaching rollers move forward, the slower
moving table calender rollers allow this reserve to be
formed on the web pan. This excess of material (web)
forms a corrugated sheet on the web pan. During the
reverse movement of detaching rollers, this

35. Withdrawal of Sliver Web from D. R.
corrugated web sheet forms as a reserve and gets
straightened out.
The web pan thus acts as reservoir region.

36. Collection of Web in Web-Pan
Symmetric
Condensation
Assymetric
Condensation
Corrugated
Web Sheet
Diagonal
Web Sheet
Assymetric Condensation
If the web is collected Centrally,
the piecing lines form the curves.
With assymetric condensation,
The piecing lines are positioned
Diagonally, thus partially
Compensating the
“Piecing Wave’
Fig. 15

37. Web Take-Off
Table
C. R.
Coiler Tube
Into
Card Can
Trumpet Web Pan
Coiler
C. R.
Fig. 16 Coiling
Into Can
B. Sliver
Table

38. Formation of Sliver
R – Detaching Rollers
V – Web Pan
Z – Withdrawal Roller
T – Trumpet
K – Deflecting Volute
It is adjustable so
that the pieced-up
portions on the
Comber table can
be adjusted in
small amounts,
thus shifting the
relative positions
of head slivers.
This mutual
shifting partially
compensates for
piecing irregularity
Fig. 17

39. Sliver on Comber Table
Comber Heads
Sliver from Each Head
Comber Table
S = Drafting
Fig. 18

40. Formation of Sliver
The sliver from the trumpet is condensed and after
turning through 900, laid on the long sliver table. The
slivers from individual heads run parallel on the sliver
table. Finally, when all the slivers are combined on the
table, they are passed to the draw box.
The drafting system 3/5 with two drafting zones –
Main draft between I & II and Break draft between III
& IV.
It may be seen that the V roller merely collects the
material at the start of back zone, whereas it is the IV
roller which takes the active part in drafting in the
back zone.
The break draft distance is fixed while the main draft
distance can be easily varied without changing the

41. Drafting System
Trumpet
Delivery
Rollers
1
2
3
I II
III
IV
V
1,2,3 – Top Rollers
I, II, III, IV & V
Bottom Rollers
T – Trumpet
A – Delivery Rolls
B – Sliver Table
Fig. 19
Angle 600

42. Sliver to Coiler
Guide Rollers
To Coiler
From
Delivery
Rollers
Fig. 20
T – Trumpet
A – Delivery
Rollers
Narrow Conveyor Belt
S – Stepped Discs
to compress the
Sliver
Sliver
Guiding
Aprons
Fig. 21

43. Drafting System
gears and can be done centrally on all heads. The
maximum loading on the rollers is 70 N per roller.
The draft can be varied from 9 to 18
At the end of the drafting system, a trumpet collects
the drafted web, condenses it and leads it into
delivery rollers.
Coiling into Comber Can :
The high delivery rates in modern comber, require
some kind of guiding system for the weaker comber
sliver (weaker owing to excess of parallelization &
piecing joints) after they emerge from delivery rollers.
In Rieter machine, a narrow conveyor belt (Fig.21)
has been provided for this purpose.
Two stepped discs (Fig. 21) are positioned above the
rotating coiler table to make the sliver compact before
coiling into comber can

44. Coiling into Comber Can
Cycloidal coiling of
Sliver into Can.
F – Narrow
Conveyor Belt
D – Rotary Table
S – Coiler C.R.
Fig. 21

45. Coiling of Sliver
The stepped discs used to coil the sliver into comber
can also perform measuring of sliver length coiled into
can. The Hank Meter is connected to these disc to
measure this.
The sliver formed is coiled into can cycloidally. The
rapidly rotating tube, coils the material into can which
is made to rotate at much slower speed and the same
time has a translatory motion.
This helps to accommodate more quantity of sliver
material into can.
The can-change is done automatically when for a
short time the delivery is stopped.
Waste Removal :
The cylinder needle, after removing the impurities,
short fibre and tangled neps retain all till they move
around. These are cleaned by a rotating brush.

46. Waste Removal
The action of the brush is effected when the needle
segment (or saw-tooth wire segment), after combing
comes in contact wit the brush bristles. The surface
speed of the brush is much higher than that of
cylinder which results into stripping of impurities,
short fibres and tangled neps.
The brush, in turn is cleaned owing to a powerful
suction (Aspirator), in old combers, & is effected by a
slow rotating cage-like drum separator or a central
waste collecting plant (modern comber).
The action of the brush is, many a time, inadequate
to completely clean the cylinder and hence when
some portion of impurities are still stuck to the
cylinder needles, their action deteriorates, thus
affecting quality of combing.

47. Waste Removal
In Modern Comber, therefore, there is so-called
“Slow Cycle” operation. At a predermined setting &
interval, movement of the machine parts is slowed
down to 1/5 of the normal speed. The brush,
however, continues its full speed, thus cleaning the
cylinder intensively.
In Fig. 22, the arrangement is shown where the
brush bristles are shown to penetrate the cylinder
needles. The strip close to brush top helps in
effectively cleaning the cylinder, by directing the air
currents.
In fig. 23, removal of the waste with the help of
Drum Separator (Aspirator) is shown, while in fig. 24
the central waste removal plant is shown.

48. Cleaning by Brush
Cylinder
Half Lap
Brush
Air
Cleaning
2
1
1. Control Strip – Helping
stripping by brush.
2. Air Currents directed
towards the Aspirator.
Fig. 22

49. Drum Separator (Aspirator) in Old Combers
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 – 8 Comber Heads
Air Suction
Drum
Separator
Fig. 23

50. Central Waste Removal System
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Waste
Removed
Common
For a group
Of Combers
Fig. 24 –Central Waste Removal
Coiler
A
A
A – Path for
Waste

51. Periodic Cleaning of Modern Comber-Cylinder
Conventional Comber
RUNNING TIME OF MACHINE
% Noil
% Noil Modern Rieter’s Comber –E 7/5
SLOW-SPEED CLEANING AT 10 min. INTERVAL
In conventional comber, the
Clogging of impurities,
Deteriorates the action of
Main cylinder.
This leads to increase in the
Noil extracted
In Rieter’s comber, at
Certain intervals, the whole
Machine Except the brush
shaft is Slowed to
1/5 speed.
The brush, thus moving at a
Much Faster speed is able
To clean the cylinder more
Thoroughly.
After each such cleaning,
the noil level drops back.
Fig. 25

52. Rieter Comber – E 7/5
No. of Heads per machine – 8
No. of deliveries – 1
Nips per minute – Up to 300
Noil level – 5 – 25%
Efficiency – 90 – 94%
Production – Up to 60 kg/h
Can Size – 500-600 mm (20-24 inches dia.)
x 1200 mm (48 inches height)
Hank Fed – 50 – 80 ktex
Delivered Hank – 5-7 ktex
Type of Feed – Concurrent (forward) & Counter
(backward) – either can be set.

53. Index Cycle in Modern Comber
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 20 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 1 335 37 39
Fig. 26

54. Transport Automation in Modern Comber
With higher lap weights, the lap transportation
becomes an important aspect. This involves the
material transported within the combing preparation
stage and finally to comber.
Rieter has excellent transportation system to cater this
need. It involves overhead transportation system with
one separate closed circular path for (1) Sliver Lap to
(2) Ribbon Lap.
The second circular path is between Ribbon Lap (or
Sliver Doubling - UNILAP-3) and Comber.
The lap lifting station raises the lap delivered by Sliver
Lap machine and puts them into circulation system.

55. Automatic Lap Transportation
Lap from S/L
Machine lifted.
Laps inserted
in circulation
system.
Brought to R/L
Machine.
Lowering of Laps
at R/L machine.
Full Laps replace
the empty
spools.
Empty spools
put in circulation
and brought
back to S/L m/c
Sliver Lap Machine
Closed loop between S/L machine
& R/L machine
Ribbon Lap Machine
Fig. 27

56. Loading from Sliver Lap Machine
Circulating
System
Closed Loop
Lap
Lifting
Station
Sliver Lap
Machine
Fig. 28

57. Transport of Laps
With one lap spacing, all the laps are pushed forward
along the path. When all the lap holders are occupied
with lap, the installation of putting the laps turns off.
More or less in the same manner, the laps from Ribbon
Lap machine are brought to comber. The laps are
collected on holder carriages into groups of 4 or 8 and
are drawn along the overhead rails of circulation path
to the comber.
This movement is generated manually by the operating
personnel pulling the draw-lines. Similarly the empty
spools placed at the comber are drawn manually back
to Ribbon Lap machine.

58. Transport Automation
Sliver Lap Machine
Circulation System
Ribbon Lap System
d
d
d – Stand-by
Position for
Ribbon Lap or
Sliver lap
Machine for
Empty Spools.
Fig. 29

59. Number of Draw Frame Passages
Comber with four slivers doubled and two deliveries
(Equipped with two delivery heads), usually requires
two draw frame passages after combing. However,
there is often deterioration in the quality apart from
associated higher cost.
Owing to high degree of parallelization, the fibre
adherence in the sliver is so low that false draft
(stretching) is induced in the post comb process on
roving frame at the creel.
With new generation combers (i.e. 8 doublings and 1
delivery), one draw frame passage can usually be
eliminated. This is because of suppression of piecing
wave owing to asymmetric condensation and quality
piecing of web. However, a single post-comb drawing

60. Number of POST-COMB Draw Frames Passages
passage should invariably have a short term ‘Autoleveller
to even out any irregularity due to effects of piecings
during combing operation. Variations in thickness on
lengths of at least 17 mm are effectively levelled out with
Rieter Auto-levelling Draw Frame.
Piecing Period
Comber (mm)
Minimum
Correcting
Length
PIECING PERIOD OF COMBER LEVELLED-OUT
M/min
mm mm mm
mm
mm
mm
Fig. 30

61. Post Comber Draw Frame
Post D.F.
Sliver
Rieter’s auto-levelling Draw Frame
can deal with high input CV values.
Irrespective of C.V.% of
combed sliver, the post D.F.
Irregularity is almost the same
Combed
Sliver
Combed
Sliver
Post D.F.
Sliver
Fig. 31

62. POST COMBER DRAW FRAME
1 PASSAGE
RSB
SB +
RSB
Only one Finisher Draw Frame with Auto levelling (RSB) is
Quite adequate Comber. Advantages – Higher sliver adhesion,
Lower space & cost & improved yarn CV.
Fig. 32
SB + RSB
RSB

63. Lap Lifting
System
h
3
3. Sliver Doubling or
UniLap Machine
h – Empty Formers/Spools
The Lap formed is lifted up
while the empty former
replaces the full lap by
taking its position for the
starting of a New lap
Fig. 33

64. Features of Modern Comber
Over the number of years, tough lot of changes have taken
place in structuring and redesigning of parts of Comber, the
basic operation like lap feeding, combing by cylinder or
detachment of combed fleece have remained the same.
However, restructuring & redesigning of the parts have
enabled removal of complicated driving mechanisms and
made them into fewer simple parts.
The maintenance of the comber is simplified, oiling and
greasing procedures are made easy by using non-oil &
sintered bushes, centralized oil pumps and plastic pipe
connections from it to various different parts of head stock.

65. Features of Modern Combers
For greasing, nipples are provided and with grease gun,
even a tenter can carry-out the operation during running.
For the machine operator, the work-load has been
considerably reduced and his mind is made free due to
provision of various stop motions. Thus, with the same or
more number of machines, his operating efficiency is
improved.
The basic aims & objectives in all these, are to enable the
machine operator to carry-out machine work at higher
production rate.
The comber machines are capable of working with heavier
laps (from 20 g/m to 70 g/m) and at a much higher speed
(from 90 nips/min to 300 nips/min) .

66. Features of Modern Comber
The number of heads are increased from 6 to 8. Some
modern machines (Marzoli) are double sided.
All this, has helped to increase the production from 30
kg/shift to about 250 kg/shift.
However, it is equally important to note that in spite of these
tremendous improvements in production rate, the quality of
the product has either remained the same or improved.
All this, has helped to increase the production from 60
kg/shift up to about 350 kg/shift.
However, it is equally important to note that in spite of these
tremendous improvements in production rate, the quality of
the product has either remained the same or improved.

67. Features of Modern Comber.
Apart from tension compensator provided to ease out the
tension in the lap during backward & forward motion of
nippers, the changing over from backward to forward feed
has been made easy
In Lakshmi Rieter comber, the ratchet pawl is removed and
the rotation of feed roller is effected by toothed segment
fastened to nippers. In some other combers, a separate
lever which guides a pin on the ratchet assembly needs to be
changed. In some other combers a continuous feeding is
provided.
Nipper Action :
In place of usual motion given to nippers in conventional
comber from hinged support, two rock-arms, loosely
fulcrumed on cylinder shaft give forward & backward motion
to nippers. With this there is concentric motion in arch. The
nipper plate is reduced in size & weight.

68. Features of Modern Comber
The pressure on the nipper is made more powerful through
springs which automatically are compressed when the
nippers move back for combing action, thus exercising
adequate and uniform pressure on either side of top nipper.
Cylinder :
The cylinder, if provided with needles, has only 17 rows.
However, in most of the modern combers, ‘Unicomb’ or ‘Hi-
comb’ segment if fitted in place of conventional half-lap.
Top Comb :
The top comb is carried by an additional bracket mounted
on the nipper framing. It thus moves along with the nipper
assembly.

69. Features of Modern Comber
The circular concentric path of nippers around cylinder
automatically ensures that top comb comes into operation
when the nippers move forward. This avoids any additional
motion to be given to the comb.
Detaching Rollers :
Unlike in conventional comber, there is no swinging back of
back top D.R.. The differential motion of bottom D.R. in
forward & backward direction is achieved through
Differential Mechanism. With this, therefore, the D.R. are
hardly stationary (for a very short interval). They slowly
move forward while delivering the fringe; while they move
quickly backwards to bring back already combed fringe.
Special helical flutings are made on bottom steel D.R. for a
firmer gripiing.

70. Features of Modern Comber
The top D.R. cots are specially developed to take care of
both, its hardness and anti-static nature. This, while
improving their grip, also avoids lapping tendencies.
The weighting on top D.R. are spring type or pneumatic. The
weight-releasing handle or switch is provided for roller
cleaning operation.
Some combers have smaller diameter D.R. (closer
detachment distance) which facilitates combing of shorter
staple and makes the machine more versatile.
Web Condensation & Sliver Table :
The coiler trumpet after web pan is situated asymmetrically
so as to reduce the effect of piecing wave.

71. Features of Modern Comber
The calender rollers are heavy and have coarser flutes for
better gripping.
As there are 8 heads, the slivers have to pass over a longer
surface over the table. The surface, therefore is made quite
smooth by plating. This helps the sliver to pass over the table
without any stretching. An additional calender roller is
provided half-way along the table length to avoid dragging of
sliver.
Draw Box :
The drafting system is either 3/5 or 4/5 type. The top rollers
are weighted with top arm system or pneumatic weighting.
The gauges are provided in the latter case to read the
pressure.

72. Features of Modern Comber
In the draw-box too, the bottom rollers are provided with
special flutes and are equipped with needle bearing bushes.
The slivers are fed to draw-box in groups of 4 slivers. There
can be bi-coiling or twin coiling. The draw-box draft is
reduced to deliver coarser sliver.
Coiler:
With high production rates, the coilers are designed for
bigger diameters to accommodate larger cans. The hank
meters provided on machine registered the length coiled
into can. The on-line systems also provide the speed, hank
even piecing wave etc.
Automatic can-changing reduces the work-load of a tenter
who either puts the empty can or takes out the one with
full sliver.

73. Features of Modern Comber
Head Stock :
It is placed in a closed box with the detaching roller
differential gears totally enclosed in an air-tight chamber and
invariably immersed in an oil bath.
Master gauges are provided for step gauge settings on all
heads simultaneously.
On Rieter comber, slow motion is provided for all parts
except brush, for periodic cleaning of cylinder. A timer switch
does this and this is expected to reduce neps in the web.
Safety door locks, stop motions for ‘lap exhaust’, ‘lapping at
feed roller & detaching rollers’, ‘choke-ups at trumpet’,
‘lapping & breaks at coiler’, ‘indicator lamps’, full length
indicators’ – all are provided
All these ease-out operative’s pressure and this helps in
improving operating efficiency.

74. Features of Modern Comber
In short, increase in production is made possible on High
Speed Modern Comber through the followings :
1. Higher nips per minute
2. Heavier Lap Feed
3. Higher Feed Length
4. More Number of heads per Machine
5. Better efficiency – bigger feed & delivery package
6. Better Operating Efficiency
7. Lesser Maintenance time required.

75. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
Asymmetric Condensation

76. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
General View

77. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
[A]
[B]
[A] Uster Evenness Diagram [B] Uster Spectrogram
A better uniformity coupled with less periodicity.

78. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
Feed Lap
Feed Rollers
20
Eccentric
Shaft
20 – Compensating
lap tension
during nipper
movement.
18
18 – Feed
Roller
16
16 - Top
Nipper
17
17 – Bottom
Nipper
Lap Feed with Tension
Compensator

79. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
NIPPERS
Nippers are manufactured with
Highest precision work.

80. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
Rear suspension of Nippers to counter-balance the moving mass.
The noil control zone is also shown.

81. Comber – E 7/4 – Doubling Nipping Drafting with Pneumatic Loading
30 Suction Duct
31- - Stripper
32
Top Roller
33Bottom Roll
Pressure
Reducing
Valve for
Drafting
34
34
35
35 –Pressure Gauge
36
36-Distribution Box
38 39
38-Electro-
Pneumatic Valve
Pressure Switch
11
11-Pneumatic Weighting of
Top Detaching Roller
31
37
37-Pneumatic
Weighting-Top
Roller

82. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
Lap Roller
Lap Guide
Aspirator
27 -Nipper
balancing
26
26-Nipper Shaft
Eccentric
Safety
Cover
7/ 8 On-Off Switch
7
8
Top Nipper
11
11 – D.R. pneumatic
weighting
6
6-Sliver Funnel
4
4-Funnel Stop Motion
C.R.
Delivery
Table
1 Push Button

83. Comber – E 7/4
50 50 – Detaching Dist. is
15 mm. This also
facilitate Short staple
processing
51
23
The fibre tufts held by
The nippers are moved
on the needles (51)
first at decreasing &
then at increasing
Clearance there from.
The nipper bite makes
The fibres pressed
Sharply down into the
Needles
Shortest distance of
Bottom Nipper from
Needle tip is 0.3 mm
Yellow – Nipper Movement

84. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
Piecing Diagram –Single Head Sliver-
Uster-graph on 25% Scale

85. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
Pre-positioned sliver Trumpet
With adjustable Calender Rolls

86. E 7/4 – Easily accessible gearing with Change Places

87. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
Push Button
For slow gear
Main Shaft
Index Wheel
Nipper Central Setting
Slow Gear Motor
Flange
Motor

88. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
47 –Crank Gearing
46 GearingDifferential
The drive of
Longitudinal Elements
Readily accessible

89. Lakshmi Rieter Comber – E 7/4
Switch Panel with Electric Control. Separate control for
Automatic Slow Motion located on Left

90. E 7/4 Comber
Lap Weight – 55-70 g/m, Waste – 5-25%, Nips/min – 140-240,
Production – 16-40 kg/h, Eff. – 90%, Two slivers per m/c, Doubling – 4
Sliver Hank – 5.3 ktex, Fibre Length – 26-50 mm, Can – 20x42
Compressed Air – 7 cub.ft/h at 60-90 psi, Fan – 4 HP at 2860 rpm
Machine Space = 4 ft 11 inch x 18 ft 5 inch

91. Toyota Comber – VC 5
1. High Speed
400 Nips/min
2. High Quality- Detachment setting
in proportion to fibre length
3. Economical – Extra gripping due to
PP Nippers.
4. Automatic Lap Transportation.

92. Cam-Less Detaching

93. Optimal Control of Air Flow
Feeble air flow by wider gap
Between Cylinder & Bottom
Nipper
Air Control Piece
To fend of air flow
Generated by
Brush Roll
Air Flow
Changed air flow
Generated by
Top Comb
This helps
to clean
it.
Suction

94. Larger Combing Area & Improved Nipper Locus
VC.5 Others
Cyl. Dia 6” 5”
Pinning Hi-Comb 113.5 mm 102.9 mm
Length Vario 125.5mm 123 mm
Comb

95. PP Nippers – Saving in Raw Material
Without PP Nippers
With PP Nippers
Noil
Reduction
Ratio%
Ne

96. Less Longer Fibre Loss with PP Nippers

97. Simplified Noil Reduction Ratio
One point Adjustment
Height adjustment is not
Necessary. Adjustment is only in
Sliding direction.
Noil reduction ratio is adjusted
By changing Nipper Gauge
Only. The Top Comb is moved
Back & forth to set the gauge.
Nipper pivot gauge need not
be altered.
It also avoids
confirming
Cylinder gauge.

98. Noil Collecting Device
NOIL
NOIL
Nylon Filter
From Main Duct
Impeller
Pneumatic Motor
Noil Collection
Top
Noil Collection
Bottom
Exhaust Air (Bottom)
With suction
Impeller, the
Durability is
Greatly
Improved.
Exhaust Air (Top)

99. Selecting Coiler as per Demand
5/4 Drafting
Auto Can Changing
- Single Coiler

100. Selecting Coiler as per Demand – Bi-Coiling
2/2 Drafting
Auto Can
Changing

101. Automatic Lao Transportation
Comber Lap Unit
Comber Lap Unit
C C C C C C C C C C
C C C C
C - Combers
Lay-out - 2
Lay-out - 1

102. Comber VC-5 Technical Particulars
Lap Dimensions – 260 (W) x 650 (Dia) mm
Coiler – 508 (Dia) x 1067-1219 Height) mm
Noil Reduction Ratio – 10 to 25%
Motors – Main (3.7Kw), Pneumatic (2.2 Kw),
Brush (1.5)
Nips per min. – 400 (mechanical possible)
Cylinder Dia. – 150 mm
Brush Dia. – 110 mm
Detaching Roll – Top (25.4 mm –Top)
Bottom 25.4 (front), 25 mm (bottom)
Drafting System – 5/4 or 2/2
Roller Gauge - 119-141 mm (5/4), & 37-55 mm (2/2)
Machine Dimensions – 6901 (L) x 2100 (W) x 1570 (H)

103. Rieter’s E 70 R Comber
Preparation X
Comber X
Preparation X
Comber Rieter
UniLap
Comber Rieter

104. Economical Combing
Fibre Distribution in Noil (15%)
Saving in Raw Material governs Combing
Economics. Improved Combing geometry and
Combing elements lead to reduced noil up to 3%.

105. Lower Waste Extraction Saves Cost

106. State of Art Combing Technology – Higher Production
Ultra light, High Performance Nippers,
Concentric Nipper Motion & Ideal
Combing Geometry help
High Production.

107. Key Elements
Nippers

108. Key Elements
Cylinder Half-Lap
Needle Density varied
In Three Sections

109. Key Elements
TOP COMB

110. Robo Lap Increases Production
Automatic Lap Change & Batt Piecing
reduces machine down-time, thus
Improving Machine Efficiency.

111. Robo Lap Piecing Quality
Piecing Quality with Robo Lap is independent of Operator

112. RoboLap Functioning
Lap changing cycle is
Initiated on all 8 heads.
The machine stops.
The remaining material
Is removed by tubes by
suction which is other
than that used for noil.
Suction for
Removing
material
Tray for empty
Spool.
Spool
A A
A – Lap
Rollers

113. RoboLap Functioning
Batt ends are mechanically
Positioned and new lap rolls-in.
Spool
Old Lap end
Held for
Piecing.
Spool Tray
New Lap
Rolls in &
Old lap end
Held for
Piecing.

114. RoboLap Functioning
Suction searching
The new lap end.
Spool TraySpool
The start-end is prepared with
Suction – ‘Aero Pick System’ and
held just prior to Piecing-up
Operation.
Lap rotated on either
Side in search of
Starting end

115. RoboLap Functioning
Old & New ends
Brought together
Spool Tray
Normal unrolling
Of Lap begins
The old & new lap ends are
Brought together, partially
superimposed and the machine
Operation begins with the
Pre-Set Combing Speed.

116. Another View of Automatic Piecing
New Lap
Feed
Roll
New Fringe
Lap
Roll

117. Lap Transportation – Servo-Lap

118. Technical Data of E 70 R Robo Lap Comber
Production – Up to 60 kg/h
Feed Lap – 60-80 ktex, 650 mm (D) x 300 mm (Width)
Up to 25 kg (Weight)
Feed – Backward / Forward
Noil – 8 – 25%
Speed – Up to 350 nips / min
Efficiency – Up to 94 %
Coiler – One sliver /machine, Doubling of 8
Sliver Hank – 3 – 6 ktex
Fibre Length – 1 1/16 – 2”
Circular Comb – 900 or 1110
Top Comb – 26, 30 needles per cm
Can Size – 600 mm (24”)-D x 1200 mm (48”)-Height
with Casters
Power – 366 kW (350 nips/min), Weight – 5000 kg