GB770897A - Improvements in or relating to textile hopper feeding machines - Google Patents

Abstract

770,897. Hopper feeders. HAIGH & SONS, Ltd., J. Feb. 28, 1955 [Nov. 30, 1953], No. 33141/53. Class 120 (1). [Also in Group XVIII] To compensate for variations in the specific gravity of weighed amounts of fibrous material fed to a carding machine from a hopper-feeder, the latter comprises, in addition to the usual hopper feeding a scale-pan via a spiked endless conveyer, a second hopper feeding the first via a second conveyer. The arrangement is such that the first conveyer is stopped in the usual manner when the scale-pan contains the desired load, and the second conveyer is stopped if the scale-pan " weighs " early in the cycle of the tipping mechanism, but is maintained in motion if the scale-pan " weighs " late in the said cycle. Both conveyers are belt-driven, and are stopped by shifting the belts from " fast " to loose pulleys. Thus, in Fig. 2, depression of the scale-pan 11 under a desired load causes the cranked end 31 of the scale-pan balance arm 27 to disengage a bowl 39 on member 41 fixed to a weighted catch 33, the latter being thus released to engage a belt-driven ratchet wheel 43 (as shown) thereby turning a cranked lever 37 to which catch 33 is pivoted, and releasing a lever 47 fixed to a spring-urged rod 15. The latter then rotates its fork 17 to shift the driving belt 9 of the first conveyer from the "fast" pulley (not shown) to a loose pulley 21. Depression of the scale-pan also permits its pinion 12 to engage with a rotating toothed segment 13, thereby causing tipping of the pan, after which the mechanism is reset by a face cam 49 which coacts with a hammer-headed lever 51 fixed to rod 15 so that the latter rotates fork 17 to replace belt 9 on the " fast pulley"; simultaneously, a cam 55, driven by a belt 57 from the shaft of quadrant 13, coacts with a cranked lever 53 to raise the weighted end 35 of catch 33, thus allowing member 31 to re-engage with bowl 39. A hinged flap 56, Fig. 4, fixed to a member 57 loosely pivoted on rod 15, remains lowered in the path of movement of the hammer-headed lever 51 if the scale-pan " weighs early in the cycle of the tipping quadrant 13 ; member 57 is therefore turned to operate a connecting rod 63 which in turn operates mechanism for stopping the second conveyer. If, however, the scalepan " weighs " late in the cycle, a cam 59 on the shaft of quadrant 13 lifts the flap 56 so that movement of lever 51 does not operate rod 63 to stop the second conveyer. The mechanism for stopping the second conveyer (not shown) is substantially the same as that described, except that a centrally-pivoted slotted lever 61, Fig. 5, replaces the member 41, and catch 33 is retained at its notched end by a roller 69 moving in the upper slot of lever 61. This modified mechanism may also be used for the first conveyer. A brake comprising a series of leather pads retains rod 63 in any position to which it is moved.