GB1151706A - Fiber Processing System - Google Patents

Abstract

1,151,706. Feeding fibres. CURLATOR CORP. 8 Aug., 1966 [27 Aug., 1965], No. 35462/66. Heading D1N. A number of fibre processing machines e.g. carding engines 11, 12 are supplied from a main duct 14 via by-pass conduits 16, 17 by air streams carrying the fibres. A rotatable foraminous condenser 20 collects fibres passing down each by-pass conduit while allowing the air to return to the duct 14. Means such as a rotary doffer 26 strips the fibres from each condenser and allows them to pass to the feeding unit of each machine. At the entrance to, each by-pass conduit there is means such as a valve 75 to stop the airstream flowing along the conduit. In the form shown the means comprises a valve 75 which blocks duct 16 once a sensor 94 indicates that a reserve box 30 for the machine is filled but moves to block duct 14 and direct fibres down duct 16 when a lower sensor 92 indicates that the fibres level has fallen therebelow. Fibres from reserve box 30 are fed by rollers 46 into a conveyor 40, into an apron 42, over an air bridge 50 into a condenser 52 where they pass over rollers 54, under a roller 56 and onto a feed plate 58, where they pass to the lickerin 62. The fibres on conveyor 40 displace an arm 38 which can operate a switch to stop rollers 46 should the quantity of fibres on conveyor 40 become too great. When all reserve boxes are filled the opener which feeds duct 14 (see Fig. 1, not shown) may be switched off and remain so until the next signal from one of the sensors 92. In Fig. 5, not shown, a circuit is shown in which cam operated timer switches activate the upper sensors during fixed periods only. In this case the lower level sensor 92 is omitted. In the embodiment of Figs. 6-10, not shown, the main duct has an outer run (214) and a return run (232) leading back to the opener (15) which supplies the duct. The by-pass conduit for each machine runs from the outgoing duct through the appropriate condenser and into the return duct. The baffle (228) for cutting off the flow through each by-pass conduit is in the section (216) leading to the return duct. Thus several machines can be fed simultaneously from the main duct and the speed of supply of the opener is varied in accordance with the number of machines being supplied.