US3548461A

US3548461A - Textile fiber web forming and feeding apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: US3548461A
Application number: US750316A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ferdinand Reiterer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-08-05
Filing date: 1968-08-05
Publication date: 1970-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-22

Description

F. REITERER Dec. 22, 1970 TEXTILE FIBER WEB FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 5, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: FEEINNAND Ra fERE-R F. REITERER TEXTILE FIBER WEB FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 5-, 1988 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOE: E\TERER Dec. 22, 1970 R R 3,548,461

TEXTILE FIBER WEB FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug." 5, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inn "r :1 0E2": VIA /4 FEI2D\NAN[ RElTEEE-R Dec. 22, 1970 n- 3,548,461

TEXTILE FIBER WEB FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 5, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FERNNANB PEH'EYZER I NVENTOR.

Dec. 22, 1970 Q F. REITERER TEXTILE FIBER WEB FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 1 968 5 SheetsSheet 5 Pworz. ART

' 'INVENTOR FEl2b\N/-\Nb REH'ERER H4, HW

. Pmoxz ART 9 United States Patent US. Cl. 19-105 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLDSURE An apparatus for and method of feeding textile fibers as they are introduced into the upper end of an upright chute whose open bottom is positioned closely above a pair of rotary calender rolls, wherein a pair of shutters defining the bottom portion of the chute are oscillated laterally at such amplitude and frequency as to repeatedly squeeze the fibers therebetween while forcing a substantial portion thereof upwardly and then to permit them to fall so as to intermix and form them into a lightly compacted mass of substantially uniform density as they approach the calender rolls. A vertically reciprocating packer may be provided for imparting an intermittent downwardly yielding force to the fibers between the shutters to aid in improving the uniformity of the density of the fibers as they are delivered to the calender rolls.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 422,633, now abandoned, filed Dec. 31, 1964, and entitled Textile Fiber Web Forming and Feeding Apparatus and Method.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for feeding fibers and which is particularly, but not exclusively, adapted for use in feeding fibers from opening machinery directly to carding machines.

The use of upright rectangular tubular chutes or deposit shafts for feeding fibers to textile machines, such as carding machines, is well known. Heretofore, fibers have been conveyed to such tubular deposit shafts by a pneumatic conveyor or by slat-type aprons. Such conveying circuits are usually very long and therefore the fibers are discharged very irregularly into the deposit shafts.

It is known that it is essential that the web issue from a carding machine very evenly, the regularity of the issuing web depending upon the regularity in the weight per unit length and width of the fibrous mass fed into the carding machine. It is therefore necessary to do everything possible to minimize the unfavorable effects which result from irregular discharge of the fibers or tufts into the deposit shafts. Thus, prior art deposit shafts had to be of considerable height so the level of the fibers therein could be maintained at a height such that the fibers in the lower portion of the shaft would be under relatively heavy pressure effected by the weight of all the fibers in the shaft. In this manner, the density of the mass or Web of fibers issuing from the deposit shaft could be rendered uniform within certain limits. However, since the pressure exerted by the weight of the fibers maintained at a constant level in the shaft constituted the only control for the density of the fibers, the regularity of the mass was constantly influenced by the extent of uniformity to which the fibers were disentangled by the opening machinery.

In practice, it is practically impossible to achieve a uniform degree of disentangling, since there may be considerable differences in the characteristics of the fibers; particularly when waste material is blended with new fi- 3,548,461 Patented Dec. 22, 1970 bers, which is nearly always the case and, when cotton fibers are used, they frequently form into balls which are more or less compressed, depending upon their origin.

As heretofore stated, the pressure exerted upon the fibers in the lower portion of the shaft depends upon the height of the level of the fibers therein so that it has been necessary that the shafts or tubular chutes be of considerable height. Consequently, their use with a conveying circuit is possible only in buildings with a sutiiciently high ceiling, which are not always available. Further, the prior art type of feeding device with a large capacity deposit shaft necessarily had to be operated continuously to avoid irreparable irregularities caused by the unavoidable packing of fibers resulting from shutting down the plant or other stoppage of the feeding device over extended periods of time. In practice, when the prior type of feeding device was stopped for any material length of time, it has been necessary to completely empty the deposit shaft, with a resultant loss of time and production.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a chute-type feeding apparatus and method which overcomes the aforementioned difficulties inherent in conventional feeding devices of this type.

It is a further object to provide a method and apparatus for feeding and condensing loose fibers to form a web of substantially uniform density irrespective of the mass of the fibers being fed, and wherein a substantially upright open bottomed chute is employed with a pair of calender rolls adjacent the open bottom of the chute. The invention includes method and means for repeatedly applying a lateral compressive force to the mass of fibers in the lower portion of the chute and then substantially releasing such compressive force at frequent intervals, wherein the compressive force is so applied and is of such amplitude as to thrust a substantial proportion of the fibers upwardly in the chute so that each time the compressive force is released, the thus upwardly thrust fibers will fall so that their own weight and the kinetic energy thus produced in the fibers produce a gradually increasing compacting of the fibers from the top to the bottom of the mass, thereby ensuring that the fibers are delivered to the calender rolls at substantially uniform density at all times during the repeated application and release of such compressive force.

In other words, the intermittent lateral compression; which is of progressively increasing amplitude from an upper portion of thefibrous mass to the open bottom of the chute, causes vertical upward elongation of the mass by the lifting movement applied to the column of fibers. Thus, upon the mass of fibers being suddenly released, the column of fibers moves downwardly by gravity. Such vertical movement or agitation of the fibers applies an evening action to the mass and results in improved uniformity and density of the mass of fibers, without twisting or balling the fibers, as the cross-sectional area of the mass is reduced adjacent the calender rolls.

The invention also includes method and means in the form of a vertically reciprocating partition or packer for intermittently applying a predetermined downward yielding force to an elongate relatively narrow area of fibers in a medial portion of the chute adjacent and above the calender rolls, and for simultaneously applying an intermittent lateral squeezing force to the mass of fibers adjacent opposite sides of said area while progressively reducing the thickness of said mass of fibers as it advances toward and is withdrawn from the chute by the calender rolls.

Another object of the invention is to provide at least one shutter, and preferably two opposed shutters, located adjacent the lower end of an upright chute, each of the shutters being pivoted at its upper portion so the two shutters may converge downwardly toward each other, and wherein means are provided for substantially simultaneously oscillating the shutters inwardly and outwardly about their respective substantially horizontal axes so as to repeatedly compress and release the fibers at their zone of action and progressively reduce the thickness of the mass in its course toward a pair of compressing cylinders located adjacent the open lower end of the chute.

Although the aforementioned vertically reciprocating partition or packer aids in improving the uniformity of the density of the fibers as they gravitate through the chute, very favorable results are achieved by utilizing the aforementioned shutters without the vertically reciprocating partition or packer therebetween, depending upon the nature of the fibers and the end result desired. It is important that the shutters move inwardly sufficiently to compress or squeeze the mass of fibers sufficiently to cause the aforesaid vertical elongation or lifting movement of the mass to achieve the desired evening action.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which 'FIG. 1 is a partially schematic side elevation showing a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention adapted for feeding fibers to a carding machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken substantially along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial side view of the chute shown in the left-hand portion of FIG. 1 and showing, in particular, the means for operating the movable partition and the oscillating shutters;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the carding machine and fiber feeding apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing the driving mechanism for the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken substantially along line 55 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 66 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 3, showing a modified form of the chute and associated calender rolls;

FIGS. 8 and 8A are schematic views related to the theory of operation of the present invention; and

FIGS. 9 and 9A are schematic views related to the theory of operation of a typical prior art upright fiber feeding chute.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in FIG. 1,

1 designates the main cylinder or swift of a carding machine, 2 is the dotfer cylinder, 3 is the lickerin, 4- is the feed apron of a feeder or conveying apparatus F with its removing cylinder 5, and 6 is a distribution shutter which discharges fibers from the feeder into the open upper end of a tubular fiber feeding conduit, chute or shaft S which is preferably substantially rectangular in plan (FIG. 2) and is a component of the improved fiber feeding unit A of the present invention. Chute S is open at its top and bottom and may be suitably supported in fixed relation to the carding machine.

A movable separating partition 7 is shown positioned in a medial portion of and divides chute S into two compartments 8, 8'. Opposed oscillating shutters 9, 9' form therebetween the outlet of chute S. In practice it has been determined that the vertical length of

shutters

9, 9 may be about one-fifth the total height of chute S. De pending upon the type of fibers being fed, chute S may be from about 3 inches to 7 inches wide between its front and rear walls, and the height of the shutters 9, 9' should be at least about twice the thickness of the chute between its front and rear walls. 10, 10 are suitable overflow detectors adjacent the open upper end of chute S and 11, 11 are compressing cylinders or calender rolls which cooperate with a primary web feed roll or conveying cylinder 12 therebeneath. Partition 7 is guided,

by guides 14, 14', for vertical movement between opposed side walls of chute S and parallel to the longitudinal or vertical axis of chute S. Preferably, partition 7 is in the center of chute S so the two

compartments

8, 8 are the same size. Only one movable partition 7 and two oscillating shutters 9, 9' are shown. It is apparent, however, that the apparatus may include several vertical partitions which may be interconnected or may operate independently of each other, as well as several other oscillating shutters.

The longitudinal or vertical reciprocation of partition 7 may be effected by means of a gear 15 fixed on the axis of doffer cylinder 2 (FIG. 1) and connected, through the intermediary of gears 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, shaft 22 and gears 23, 24 to a sprocket wheel 25, the latter being connected by means of an endless chain 26 to a sprocket wheel 27. Sprocket wheel 27, a cam or eccentric 28 and sprocket wheels 29, .29 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are suitably journaled for rotation in fixed relationship on a medial portion of one side wall of chute S.

:Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, it is seen that eccentric 28 is engaged thereabove by a roller or follower 30 journaled on a support 31 suitably secured to a portion of partition 7 projecting through the suitably slotted Wall of chute S. In this manner, upon each revolution of eccentric 28, partition 7 is pushed upwardly and then returns to its starting position, through the force of its own weight.

Shutters 9, 9' (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5) may be located inside chute S adjacent its open lower end or the lower edges of the front and rear walls of chute S may terminate adjacent the upper portions of shutter 9, 9'. Shutters 9, 9' have respective outwardly extending or

offset portions

9a, 9a which in turn are journaled or hinged adjacent their upper or outer edges, as at 32, 32', adjacent the front and rear walls of chute S with such offset portions assuring a vertically upward movement being imparted to opposing faces of the shutters during their inward movement towards each other as best illustrated in FIG. 7. The distal surfaces of

shutters

9, 9 are engaged by respective cams or eccentrics 33, 33' fixed on shafts 33a. Shafts 33a have sprocket wheels 34, 34' fixed thereon which are connected to sprocket wheels 29, 29' by endless chains 35, 35 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The

cams

33, 33 should be shaped so that they will move shutters 9, 9' inwardly from substantially vertical positions substantially in alignment with the fixed front and rear walls thereabove of chute S to angular positions wherein opposing faces of the shutters have moved vertically upward and such that the lower edges of

shutters

9, 9 each move through a distance at least about 15% to 20% of the total internal width of chute S during each oscillation thereof, depending upon the nature of the fibers being fed. However, assuming the shutters are moved simultaneously and that both shutters have the same amplitude of movement, as is preferred, the lower edge of each shutter may have a range of movement up to about or more of the total internal width of the chute, depending upon the nature of the fibers being fed. It follows that, collectively, the lower edges of

shutters

9, 9 should move through a distance equal to at least about 30% to 40% of the total distance therebetween when they occupy fully outward positions, and preferably the lower edges of the shutters should have a collective amplitude of movement up to about or more of the total distance between their open positions.

It is preferred that the speed of cams 33, 33' is such that about to 200 oscillations per minute are imparted to shutters 9, 9'. The return of the shutters 9, 9' into their open or apart, substantially vertical position is obtained on the one hand through their own weight, and on the other hand through the pressure exerted upon their proximal surfaces by the fibers contained in chute S.

It is apparent, therefore, that

shutters

9, 9 apply an intermittent relatively slow, large amplitude lateral squeezing force and lifting movement to the mass of fibers therebetween. The relative positions of

eccentrics

28, 33, 33' is such that, when partition 7 is up or moving to its relatively high position, shutters 9, 9' are positioned near each other, and vice versa, when partition 7 is down, or moving toward its lowermost position, shutters 9, 9' occupy their outermost or most spread-apart position. Additional driving elements, corresponding to

elements

28, 29, 29', 31, 33, 33', 34, 34', 35, 35' may be provided adjacent the opposite side of chute S from that shown, if desired.

Rotation of the calender rolls or compressing

cylinders

11, 11 and the conveying cylinder 12 (FIGS. 3 and may be effected conveniently by means of their coupling to the driving mechanism of the conventional lickerin feeding cylinder or secondary feed roll 37 (FIG. 4) on the carding machine. To this end, a pinion 38, fixed to one end of roll 37 (FIG. 4) is connected by means of

gears

39, 40 to a gear 41 in fixed axial relation to conveying cylinder 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Cylinder 12 carries also a sprocket wheel 42 connected by means of an endless chain 43 to a sprocket wheel 44 in fixed axial relation to one end of compressing cylinder 11 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

The connection between cylinders 11 and 11' may be effected by

sprocket wheels

45, 46 connected by an endless chain 47 held taut by an idler 48. For the purpose of giving a certain flexibility to the pulling of the mass of fibers, each bearing of cylinder 11 may be held in its seating or housing by means of an adjustment screw 50 and springs 49, 49'. In this manner, cylinder 11' may, within certain limits, come closer to or be moved further away from cylinder 11 by the fibers.

METHOD OF OPERATION The fibrous stock removed by cylinder 5 from conveying apron 4 (FIG. 1) is distributed by shutter 6 into the two

compartments

8, 8 of deposit shaft or chute S. When the level of the fibers has reached the position of feeling shutters 10, the latter topple or rock and stop the driving motor, not shown, of conveyor 4, thus avoiding clogging of the shaft S. The operation of the overflow detector is not explained in detail herein, since such detectors are well-known in the textile industry.

Even though the chute may be filled with fibers, the pressure exerted by the column or mass of fibers therein is practically insignificant insofar as compacting and intermixing the fibers to achieve uniformity of weight per unit length of the lap or web is concerned. For example, assuming that opened cotton fibers weigh about 34 pounds per cubic yard and that a typical chute S is about 78 inches high x 39 inches wide x 4 inches thick, the volume of the mass is then 13,168 cubic inches or about .282 cubic yard, and the cross-sectional area of the chute is 156 square inches. Thus, the total weight of the column of fibers in the chute would be about .282 34=9.58 pounds and the pressure exerted by the column of fibers would be about 9.58/156=.060 pounds per square inch. It can be appreciated, therefore, that the Weight of the fibers, in the absence of substantial motion or agitation, is practically ineffective to impart uniform density to the mass. Even though prior art chutes have been equipped with rapidly quivering side walls of low amplitude motion heretofore in attempts to prevent the fibers from adhering to such side walls, such quivering side walls have very little effect in improving the density throughout the mass of fibers in the chute.

According to this invention, however, the relatively slow oscillation of the

shutters

9, 9 and, more importantly, the relatively large amplitude of oscillation of the shutters improves the uniformity and density of the fibers in the chute to an extent heretofore unattainable to my knowledge. That is, during each oscillation of

shutters

9, 9, the lower edges thereof move inwardly a distance equal to at least about to of the total internal width of the chute. In so doing, the shutters apply a compressive force to the fibers which is of gradually increasing amplitude toward the bottom of the mass because of the pivotal mounting of the upper portions of the shutters. This compressive force and associated vertical movement of the opposing faces of the shutters thrusts fibers upwardly thereby vertically elongating the fibrous mass, with most of the elongation being effected in the upward direction. Such inward movement of the

shutters

9, 9 also progressively reduces the thickness of the fibrous mass in its course to the calendar rolls or cylinders 11, 11'.

As shutters 9, 9' are permitted to move outwardly by

cams

33, 33, they quickly substantially release the lifted fibrous mass therebetween so that most of the fibers gravitate or fall downwardly. Thus, by this process, the potential energy of the fibers stored in the chute is augmented by a kinetic energy which is a function of the amplitude and the frequency of the vertical motions of the fibers in the chute. This vertical movement or agitation of the fibrous mass contributes greatly to the uniform weight or density of the fibrous mass emerging from between the loWer edges of the shutters 9, 9'.

Although satisfactory results have been achieved by use of the shutters 9, 9' alone for operating upon the fibers in the chute S, the feeding of the fibers and the density of the mass may be augmented by the novel partition 7. In operation, through its up-and-down motion, the partition 7 serves as a ram and packs the fibers and pushes them toward the exit formed by the nip of the two compressing cylinders 11, 11'.

Since partition 7 is not connected integrally with eccentric 28, the extent of its vertical path, therefore, varies according to the density of the fibrous mat being subjected to its packing action. To accentuate the action of partition 7, its lower end may be advantageously provided with a packer or compressor 36 of suitable shape, such as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. The force of the active strokes of partition 7 may be either reduced or increased by modifying the Weight of partition 7.

The rate of production of a carding machine is determined by the circumferential speed of doffer cylinder 2. In case said speed changes, the frequency of the strokes of partition 7 upon the fibers, as well as the frequency of the oscillations of shutters 9, 9', are automatically modified and adapted to the new rate of production since their actuation is effected directly from doffer cylinder 2, as heretofore described. Since cylinders 11, 11' are disposed adjacent the rear portion of the conventional feed table 51 of the carding machine, the fibrous mat or Web, after being condensed as explained above, is finally di rected to lickerin 3 (FIG. 1) by conveying cylinder 12, feed table 51 and feed cylinder 37 (FIG. 4).

The partition and shutters may be made of any type of material, provided, however, that this material be sufficiently rigid to withstand the mechanical stress to which such parts are subjected. As an example, these parts may be made of metal or plastic material with or without a metallic frame. The surfaces of the parts which come into contact with the fibers may be smooth or granular, according to the nature of the fibers being processed on the carding machine. Also, in case it is advantageous that said surfaces not be smooth, it is possible to give to the shutters and partitions a certain longitudinal or transverse ripple or corrugation, either by making them so that the as sembly of all the parts has a certain ripple, or by covering the rigid support of each part with a removable or non-removable surface with said ripple or corrugation thereon.

For example, the shutters and partitions may be composed of rigid flat plates on which corrugated-material sheets are fixed. Also, said surfaces may be made of a material such that it exerts an attracting electrostatic action upon the dust or waste material which is mixed with the fibers to be processed. In this instance, the carding machine may be equipped with an attached device, not shown, which enables for example, by establishing an electric connection between said surfaces, to short-circuit them, which causes the dust or waste material accumulated upon said surfaces to fall. The shape of the vertical partition and oscillating shutters may also be of any type. Square, rectangular, trapezoidal or elliptical shapes, for example, may be used.

It is of course possible to bring many variations and modifications to the embodiment described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention and, although a carding machine is shown, it is contemplated that the present apparatus and method may be used for forming and feeding a fibrous web to other textile machines such as pickers, gilling machines or any other machine for processing a web of uniform density.

The second embodiment of the invention (FIG. 7) is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 and will bear the same reference characters where applicable. Essentially, the embodiment of FIG. 7 shows the rolls 11, 11' spaced further apart than they are in FIG. 3 and a second pair of nip or compressing rolls 60, 60 is spaced below rolls 11, 11' in FIG. 7 and above feed roll 12. Accordingly, as the fibers emerge from between shutters 9, 9' in FIG. 7, rolls 11, 11' aid in guiding the stock away from

shutters

9, 9 and in presenting the stock to the nip of rolls 60, 60' where the stock is compressed into a web and delivered to the feed roll 12.

Also, in FIG. 7, there are shown modified cams 33b, 3312' which may replace cams 33, 33' of FIG. 3. It will be noted that, instead of

cams

33b, 33b being in the form of circular eccentrics as is the case with cams 33, 33' in FIG. 3, each of the cams 33b, 3312' has a lobe thereon providing a slow rise surface 33c and a quick drop surface 33d. Thus, as

cams

33b, 33b rotate in the directions indicated in FIG. 7, the shutters 9, 9' are moved inwardly relatively slowly, As the lobes move outwardly, however, they release

shutters

9, 9 quite suddenly so they may return to open position at a relative fast speed. This further contributes to a quick dropping of the raised fibers and to consequent intermixing and compacting of the fibers.

In the operation of both forms of the invention, 1t 18 to be understood that

cams

33, 33' and 33b, 331) may be formed or positioned so the

shutters

9, 9 will occupy an angular position inwardly of the vertical position when they are fully opened, without departing from the nvention. For example, shutters 9, 9' each may be disposed at an angle of about when they are fully opened and during each oscillation, the lower edge of each shutter may then be moved inwardly a distance at least equal to about to 20% of that distance between the shutters when they occupy fully opened pos1t1on.

In order that the full significance of the invention may be clearly understood, reference is made to FIGS. 8 and 9 wherein a comparison is made between the chute of the instant invention and a typical prior art chute.

In the prior art chute S (FIG. 9), it will be noted that the pressure indicated by arrows 65 (usually an pressure, if any) acting on the fibrous mass M is substantially constant throughout the upper surface of the mass M, and even though opposed walls of the latter chute may be vibrated in the manner suggested by known prior art, such vibration is only effective adjacent the outer side portions of the mass very close to the vibrating side walls. Additionally, as the fibers reach the rolls 11a, 11a of the prior art chute S, the force of the fibers against the rolls tends to resist or oppose the frictional force of the rolls acting upon the fibers, as indicated by the force arrows 66, 67, during rotation of the rolls so that, not only is the fibrous mass of non-uniform density as it approaches the nip of the rolls, but the fibers are also caused to ball up, twist and become entangled with one another, thereby further detrimentally affecting the uniformity of the mass. This is also caused to a substantial degree by the fact that, as shown in the upper portion of 8 FIG. 9A, the mass may have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration in plan, but upon passing through the nip of the rolls 11a, 11a, the mass is abruptly compressed to a narrow strip of relatively small horizontal cross-section as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 9A.

On the other hand, it will be observed in FIG. 8A that, although the mass of fibers on each side of the vertically reciprocating partition 7 (FIG. 8) is of considerable area and is of substantially rectangular configuration in plan, the oscillating lateral squeezing force being applied to the fibers by the

oscillating shutters

9, 9 of the instant invention gradually reduces the horizontal crosssectional area of the mass of fibers P in addition to improving the uniformity in the density thereof. Thus, by the time the fibers reach the nip of the compressing rolls 11, 11', the fibers will have already been condensed substantially and reduced in thickness so that there is no balling or twisting of the fibers in their course downwardly through the chute during the reduction in the cross-sectional area in the mass of fibers as they are received between the compressing rolls. Thus, not only is the mass of fibers of substantially uniform density as it is delivered by the compressing rolls 11, 11' or 60, but it is also substantially free of twists, knots, tangles, wads, balls and other objectionable formations of fibers within the overall mass of fibers as it is being delivered to the corresponding carding machine or the like.

In the drawings and specification their have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I-claim:

1. A method of feeding and condensing loose fibers to form a web of substantially uniform density irrespective f the mass of the fibers being fed, said method utilizing a substantially upright open bottomed chute and a pair of calender rolls adjacent the open bottom of the chute; said method comprising intermittently applying a predetermined downward yielding force to a relatively narrow area of fibers in a medial portion of the chute adjacent and above the calender rolls, and simultaneously alternately laterally compressing and releasing the fibers by applying an intermittent lateral squeezing force to the mass of fibers adjacent opposite sides of said area as said mass of fibers advances toward the calender rolls to vertically agitate the fibers and cause the mass of fibers to move with substantially uniform density to the calender rolls, and withdrawing fibers from the chute between the calender rolls.

2. A method of compacting a column of loose fibers in an upright open bottom chute while feeding the column of fibers away from the bottom of the chute in the form of a condensed mass and wherein the chute is provided with a spaced pair of opposing pivotally suspended oscillatable shutters adjacent the bottom thereof between which the column of fibers pass from the chute, and wherein the shutters have a vertical length substantially less than the height of the chute; said method comprising oscillating the shutters toward and away from each other to compact and reduce the thickness of the mass of fibers in the lower end of the column at least 30 to 40 percent and while causing the opposing faces of the shutters to move vertically upward and to lift the compacted mass of fibers therebetween and the remainder of the column of fibers thereabove, while effecting thereby a lifting and dropping movement to the column of fibers whereby the kinetic energy thus imparted to the fibers in the column increases the compacting thereof.

3. A method according to claim 2 including intermittently applying a predetermined downward yielding force to the mass of fibers in the lower end of the column to thereby increase the compacting of the same.

4. Apparatus for feeding and condensing loose fibers to form a web of substantially uniform density irrespective of the mass of the fibers being fed; said apparatus comprising a substantially upright open bottomed chute, a pair of driven calender rolls adjacent the open bottom of said chute, means for intermittently applying a predetermined downward yielding force to a relatively narrow area of fibers in a medial portion of said chute adjacent and above the calender rolls, and means operatively associated with said first-named means for applying an intermittent lateral squeezing force to the mass of fibers adjacent opposite sides of said area to alternately compress and release the fibers and thereby effect repeated vertical upward elongation and then release of the mass of fibers and cause the same to move with uniform density as said mass of fibers advances toward and is withdrawn from said chute between said calender rolls.

5. In a fiber feeding apparatus for textile machines, said apparatus including a substantially upright, walled, substantially rectangular tubular chute adapted to receive opened fibers in its upper portion and having an open bottom, and a pair of driven compressing rolls adjacent the open bottom of said chute; the combination therewith of a pair of shutters having lower edges adjacent said rolls and extending substantially parallel to said rolls, means pivotally supporting the upper portions of said shutters adjacent front and rear Walls of said chute, a substantially vertical partition mounted for vertical movement in said chute with at least a lower portion of said partition being located between said shutters, drive means operatively connected to said shutters and said partition for oscillating said shutters about their respective axes relative to said partition and for imparting vertical reciprocatory motion to said partition so as to pack and push fibers in said chute against said rolls, and said drive means including means for moving said shutters inwardly toward each other during each upward movement of said partition and permitting outward movement of said shutters during each downward movement of said partition.

6. Web forming and feeding apparatus for textile fibers comprising a substantially upright tubular chute open at its opposite ends and adapted to receive loose fibers through its upper end, a pair of driven compressing rolls adjacent the lower end of said chute, at least one partition mounted in and extending parallel to the vertical axis of said chute, means for reciprocating said partition within said chute parallel to said axis with the lower end of said partition moving adjacent said compressing rolls so as to push thetfibers toward said rolls, at least one shutter pivotally suspended for oscillatory inward and outward lateral movement adjacent to and toward and away from one side of said partition, the lower edge of said shutter also being positioned adjacent said compressing rolls, and means for oscillating said shutter to such extent as to repeatedly compress and substantially release the fibers to cause the fibers to move with substantially uniform density beneath said partition as they are pushed toward said rolls by said partition.

7. In a fiber feeding apparatus having a substantially upright tubular chute for receiving fibers in its upper portion and having front and rear walls and an open bottom, and a pair of driven rolls adjacent said open bottom for receiving therebetween, and advancing fibers from said chute; the combination therewith of at least one substantially vertical partition mounted for substantially vertical movement within said chute and dividing the same into at least two-fiber-receiving compartments with the lower end of said partition positioned adjacent said rolls, means for impairing vertical reciprocatory movement to said partition so that it pushes fibers therebeneath toward said rolls, a pair of shutters pivotally mounted at their upper ends adjacent said walls and extending downwardly with their lower edges adjacent said rolls so fibers in said chute are received between said shutters, and means operatively connected to said shutters for oscillating the same inwardly and outwardly relative to each other such that the shutters converge downwardly during each inward movement thereof to compress and vertically elongate the fibrous mass in the upward direction and substantially release the fibrous mass during each outward movement of the shutters to improve the uniformity in density of the mass and maintain fibers beneath said partition while progressively reducing the thickness of the mass of fibers in its course to said rolls.

8. In a fiber feeding apparatus for textile machines, said apparatus including a substantially upright walled, substantially rectangular tubular chute adapted to receive opened fibers in its upper portion and having an open bottom, and a pair of driven compressing rolls adjacent the open bottom of said chute; the combination therewith of a pair of shutters having lower edges adjacent said rolls and extending substantially parallel to said rolls, means pivotally supporting the upper portions of said shutters adjacent front and rear walls of said chute, a substantially vertical partition mounted for vertical movement in said chute with at least a lower portion of said partition being located between said shutters, drive means operatively connected to said shutters and said partition for oscillating said shutters about their respective axes relative to said partition and for imparting vertical reciprocatory motion to said partition so as to pack and push fibers in said chute against said rolls, said drive means including a rotary cam adjacent said partition and being mounted for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis, and a follower carried by said partition and bearing against and being supported, along with the weight of said partition, by said cam so the force applied against the fibers by the lower edge of said partition may correspond to the weight of said partition and its follower.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,070,847 1/1963 Schwab 19204 FOREIGN PATENTS 953,587 12/1956 Germany 19875 6,901 Great Britain 191-161 886,397 l/l962 Great Britain 19-105 117,209 5/1958 U.S.S.R. 19-204 119,461 7/1959 U.S.S.R. 19--105 OTHER REFERENCES Meinicke: German application 1,202,689 printed Oct. 7, 1965.

DORSEY NEWTON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 1997.5, 204