GB2182957A

GB2182957A - Web former

Info

Publication number: GB2182957A
Application number: GB08627047A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Gooding
Original assignee: SMITH ENG PROJECTS Ltd
Current assignee: SMITH ENG PROJECTS Ltd
Priority date: 1985-11-12
Filing date: 1986-11-12
Publication date: 1987-05-28
Also published as: GB8627047D0; GB8527887D0; GB2182957B

Abstract

There is disclosed apparatus for forming a web W from loose stock textile fibre or like material comprising a volumetric hopper 10 closed at its lower end by a pair of perforated nip rollers 11, fan means 13 for blowing said fibre into said hopper 10, means for rotating said rollers 11 to draw a web W of fibre from the base of the hopper 10 and means switches 15, 16 for maintaining the height of the fibre mass within said hopper 10 substantially constant whereby the web W drawn from the hopper 10 is of uniform density. The upper switch 16 controls the fan 15 in a manner which depends on the level of the fibres relative to that of the switch 16. The lower switch 15 controls the drive motor 17 which transmits drive to the rollers 11 in accordance with the fibre level relative to that switch. The web W is guided through a tube 20, coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, to a dye padder 21. Alternatively it could be forwarded for bleaching or for making into a non-woven composite. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Web former This invention concerns apparatus for forming a web from loose stock textile fibre or the like, particularly, though not exclusively, for feeding to a dye padder.

It is well known that results of dyeing in a dye padder improve with improvement in the uniformity of rate of feed of material to the padder.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for converting loose stock textile fibre into a web of high uniformity and at fast speeds.

According to the present invention apparatus for forming a web from loose stock textile fibre or like material comprises a volumetric hopper closed at its lower end by a pair of perforated nip rollers, fan means for blowing said fibre into said hopper, means for rotating said rollers to draw a web of fibre from the base of the hopper and means for maintaining the height of the fibre mass within said hopper substantially constant whereby the web drawn from the hopper is of uniform density.

The hopper may have two vertically spaced level sensing switches above the nip rollers, the means for rotating said nip roller being disenabled whenever the top of the fibre mass within the hopper is below the lower switch and said fan means being disenabled whenever the top of the fibre mass within the hopper is above the upper switch.

The height of such level sensing switches may be adjusted to control the density of the web produced.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing, which shows, by way of example only, a diagramatic sectioned side elevation of one kind of web forming apparatus embodying the invention and supplying a dye padder.

Referring now to the drawing it will be seen that the apparatus essentially comprises a volumetric hopper 10 of constant rectangular cross-section.

The lower end of the hopper 10 is closed by a pair of perforated nip rollers 11, whilst its upper end communicates with a duct 12 extending from a fan 13.

Loose stock textile fibre F is supplied to the fan 13 by a conveyor 14 to become entrained in a current of air and blown into the volumetric hopper 10.

Two level sensing devices 15 and 16 controlling switches are located at vertically spaced locations on the wall of the hopper 10.

The lower sensing device 15 is adapted to operate its associated switch means to start a drive motor 17 for the nip rollers 11 whenever the level of fibre within the hopper is at or above the level of the device 15 and to stop drive of the nip rollers 11 if the level of fibre should fall below the device 15.

The upper sensing device 16 is adapted to operate its associated switch means to cause the fan 13 to run whenever the level of fibre within the hopper 10 is below the level of device 16 and to stop the fan 13 if the level of fibre within the hopper should rise above the level of device 16.

In one possible use, the nip rollers 11 draw a web W of fibre from the fibre mass within the hopper 10 and lay it in an inclined tube 20 of rectangular section, advantageously coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, which forwards the web for processing in a dye padder generally indicated at 21. The tube 20 has a depth only slightly greater than the web thickness and extends right to the nip between the rollers of the dye padder.

It will be understood that level sensing devices 15 and 16 operate to ensure that the web W is always drawn from a fibre mass of substantially constant height and therefore constant density at the base of the hopper 10. This results in a web of uniform density particularly suited for treatment in a dye padder.

The density of the fibre mass at the base of the hopper 10 and hence density of web W can be adjusted by adjusting the height, but not necessarily vertical spacing, of the devices 1 5 and 16 on the wall of the hopper. The devices 15 and 16 may be mounted adjustably on a slide support 22 for this purpose.

The air of the current in which the fibre F is entrained for supply to the hopper 10 is exhausted from the base of the hopper through the perforate walls of the nip rollers 11.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

The web W need not be supplied to a dye padder. It could be forward for bleaching or for making up into a non-woven structure such as a composite for example.

1. Apparatus for forming a web from loose stock textile fibre or like material comprises a volumetric hopper closed at its lower end by a pair of perforated nip rollers, fan means for blowing said fibre into said hopper, means for rotating said rollers to draw a web of fibre from the base of the hopper and means for maintaining the height of the fibre mass within said hopper substantially constant whereby the web drawn from the hopper is of uniform density.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the hopper has two vertically spaced level sensing switches above the nip rollers, the means for rotating said nip roller being disena

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Web former This invention concerns apparatus for forming a web from loose stock textile fibre or the like, particularly, though not exclusively, for feeding to a dye padder. It is well known that results of dyeing in a dye padder improve with improvement in the uniformity of rate of feed of material to the padder. It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for converting loose stock textile fibre into a web of high uniformity and at fast speeds. According to the present invention apparatus for forming a web from loose stock textile fibre or like material comprises a volumetric hopper closed at its lower end by a pair of perforated nip rollers, fan means for blowing said fibre into said hopper, means for rotating said rollers to draw a web of fibre from the base of the hopper and means for maintaining the height of the fibre mass within said hopper substantially constant whereby the web drawn from the hopper is of uniform density. The hopper may have two vertically spaced level sensing switches above the nip rollers, the means for rotating said nip roller being disenabled whenever the top of the fibre mass within the hopper is below the lower switch and said fan means being disenabled whenever the top of the fibre mass within the hopper is above the upper switch. The height of such level sensing switches may be adjusted to control the density of the web produced. The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing, which shows, by way of example only, a diagramatic sectioned side elevation of one kind of web forming apparatus embodying the invention and supplying a dye padder. Referring now to the drawing it will be seen that the apparatus essentially comprises a volumetric hopper 10 of constant rectangular cross-section. The lower end of the hopper 10 is closed by a pair of perforated nip rollers 11, whilst its upper end communicates with a duct 12 extending from a fan 13. Loose stock textile fibre F is supplied to the fan 13 by a conveyor 14 to become entrained in a current of air and blown into the volumetric hopper 10. Two level sensing devices 15 and 16 controlling switches are located at vertically spaced locations on the wall of the hopper 10. The lower sensing device 15 is adapted to operate its associated switch means to start a drive motor 17 for the nip rollers 11 whenever the level of fibre within the hopper is at or above the level of the device 15 and to stop drive of the nip rollers 11 if the level of fibre should fall below the device 15. The upper sensing device 16 is adapted to operate its associated switch means to cause the fan 13 to run whenever the level of fibre within the hopper 10 is below the level of device 16 and to stop the fan 13 if the level of fibre within the hopper should rise above the level of device 16. In one possible use, the nip rollers 11 draw a web W of fibre from the fibre mass within the hopper 10 and lay it in an inclined tube 20 of rectangular section, advantageously coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, which forwards the web for processing in a dye padder generally indicated at 21. The tube 20 has a depth only slightly greater than the web thickness and extends right to the nip between the rollers of the dye padder. It will be understood that level sensing devices 15 and 16 operate to ensure that the web W is always drawn from a fibre mass of substantially constant height and therefore constant density at the base of the hopper 10. This results in a web of uniform density particularly suited for treatment in a dye padder. The density of the fibre mass at the base of the hopper 10 and hence density of web W can be adjusted by adjusting the height, but not necessarily vertical spacing, of the devices 1 5 and 16 on the wall of the hopper. The devices 15 and 16 may be mounted adjustably on a slide support 22 for this purpose. The air of the current in which the fibre F is entrained for supply to the hopper 10 is exhausted from the base of the hopper through the perforate walls of the nip rollers 11. It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof. The web W need not be supplied to a dye padder. It could be forward for bleaching or for making up into a non-woven structure such as a composite for example. CLAIMS

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the hopper has two vertically spaced level sensing switches above the nip rollers, the means for rotating said nip roller being disena bled whenever the top of the fibre mass within the hopper is below the lower switch and said fan means being disenabled whenever the top of the fibre mass within the hopper is above the upper switch.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the height of said level switches is adjustable.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim having a delivery tube which receives the web and forwards it for further processing.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said tube is of rectangular section having a depth only slightly greater than the web thickness.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the interior walls of the tube are coated with polytetrafluoroethylene.