GB547298A - Improved method of and means for disintegrating and reclaiming fabrics of jute and the like for re-use - Google Patents

Abstract

547,298. Opening or unravelling woven fabrics; cutting fabrics. TAIT, J. D. Feb. 22, 1941, No. 2428. [Class 120 (i)] [Also in Group VIII] Woven fabric of jute &c. is disintegrated by cutting it into strips of predetermined width at an angle to the warp and weft and then unweaving the strip or strips by successively and angularly drawing out the warps and wefts so that separate sets of threads of the same or different uniform length are obtained; the separated threads may be opened up by agitating them in a water or other bath or by mechanically treating them and may then be dried and picked, carded or otherwise treated to form a loose mass of fibres or a sliver or roving. As shown the fabric is fed by rollers 17, Fig. 4, to pairs of circular cutters 16 adjustably mounted on shafts 30, 30a for varying the width of the cut strips the fabric 19, Fig. 1, being presented to the rollers so that it is cut at an angle to the warp and weft threads which may be of the same or different length in the strips 20 or 21; the fabric is guided and controlled before and after it is cut by endless bands 41 passing around the rollers 17 and rollers 21, by which the cut strips are fed from the cutters, and running in contact with flanges on the cutters. The rollers 24 feed the parallel strips over supporting members 27 to a pair of rollers 26 having radial spikes which are relatively staggered in the two rollers and from the rollers 26 the strips pass to a pair of nip rollers 29, preferably formed as twin elements 29, 29a, Fig. 8, which rotate faster than the rollers 26 and draw out the weft and warp threads which have been penetrated, and held back, by the spikes 28 of the rollers 26. The nip rollers are carried on an adjustable frame 49 pivoted at its lower end so that the rollers may be set at any desired distance from the spiked rollers and are each formed with a series of undercut sockets carrying strips 68, Fig. 8, of rubber or other frictional material. The pairs of nipping rollers may be replaced by discs 70, 70a, Fig. 10, having ratchet-like teeth of curved undercut form which catch the threads and drag them downwards; the teeth on adjacent discs may be relatively staggered and a sloping or horizontal shelf 74 recessed opposite the discs to form shoulders 76 may be arranged at the level of the disc shaft to support the threads as they are dragged out of the strip. A partition may be arranged to separate the drawn out warp and weft threads and lead them to separate containers with the assistance of air pressure or a vacuum. The nip rollers 29 or discs 70 may be driven from the cutting means or independently by a separate drive and the rotary cutters may be replaced by a guillotine.