An extract taken with kind permission from the article "Inchlines Show the Way" in Knitting International Magazine (February 2007) by Mike Steele:

The concept behind the re-designed input wheel was two-fold: the design must enable the operator/technician to quickly and simply remove/replace the wheel; and it must be easy to thread/confirm rotation. In addition the brief included a degree of self cleaning and static discharge.

To achieve this novel concept Inchlines have used an advanced copolymer with correlated dielectric properties for the casting material. A new mold has been manufactured to facilitate the integral rotor, the purpose of which is to create a vortex during the wheel run and thus discharge the short staple yarn through turbulence in the air flow surrounding the wheel.

In addition, the dielectric properties of the wheel itself will inhibit lint attraction to the wheel, bearing and axle. The wheels are printed to provide a focal point for confirmation of rotation, both visually and with a strobe for greater accuracy. It’s even possible to print the company name into the wheel. Bearings are plain and integral, and the wheel is a push lock fit onto the axle, facilitating easy and rapid removal when elastomeric yarn is not required.

For greater security from lint residual, a guard is available. This forms the basis of a shield which prevents lint ingress into the bearing surface, again cast in the same copolymer as the wheel. Featuring slide on/off technology it offers a useful and purposeful compliment to the wheel.

Push lock technology offers precise fitting of guards and wheels, due to preset axle limiters that provide the correct alignment with the feeder. This is a real plus point when refitting the wheels and requiring the assurance that a first shot fabric with no misplaiting is all but guaranteed.

The quality is of the highest standard, and in production the wheels have been run up to 14,000rpm on both jersey and rib machines in an industrial environment for a trial period in excess of 6 months. As the supervisor of these tests, I can personally warrant that all Inchlines’ claims hold true. The wheel represents a quantum leap forward in self-cleaning technology and also offers very straightforward maintenance. The major differences between the new rotor wheel and previous fitments are found in the dielectric material and cast-in rotor.

Fan Elastomeric Wheel
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