US3552801A - Staple fiber feeder for baling press - Google Patents

Abstract

AN AIR-STAPLE SEPARATOR HAVING AN INLET LINE FOR PNEUMATICALLY CONDUCTING STAPLE TO A SEPARATOR CHAMBER. THE INLET LINE INCLUDES A SPOUT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SEPARATOR AND OSCILLATABLE TO DISTRIBUTE STAPLE UNIFORMLY IN SAID SEPARATOR CHAMBER.

Description

Jan. 5, 1971 E. w. GILBRETH I v 3,552,301

STAPLE FIBER FEEDER FOR BALING PRESS Filed Nov. 27, 19 68 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. E. w. GI LBRETH A T TORNE VS Jan. 1971 E. w. GILBRETH' I STAPLE FIBER FEEDER FOR BALING PRESS 2 sheetssheet .2

Filed Nov. 27, 1968 INVENTOR. E. W. GILB RETH BY W W A T TORNE i s United States Patent O 3,552,801 STAPLE FIBER FEEDER FOR BALING PRESS Eual W. Gilbreth, Greenville, S.C., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 27, 1968, Ser. No. 779,494 Int. Cl. B6Sg 53/40 US. Cl. 30261 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An air-staple separator having an inlet line for pneumatically conducting staple to a separator chamber. The inlet line includes a spout pivotally mounted on said separator and oscillatable to distribute staple uniformly in said separator chamber,

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the baling of staple fibers and more particularly to the feeding of staple fibers into the baler.

Natural and man-made fibers are available in a wide variety of physical forms such as filament yarn, tow, and staple. Through conventional processes, the fibers may be chemically and/ or physically changed to convert the yarn into tow and to reduce the tow into staple. The tow (many parallel continuous filaments grouped together in a rope life form) is processed by a cutting up operation to form the staple (short lengths of filaments). The staple is then packed into bales for shipment to the spinning mill.

The present invention is concerned with the baling operation. One method for reducing the tow to staple provides for the dry cutting of filaments into definite set lengths by a rotary cutter and then blowing the staple into a separator. The function of the separator, as the name indicates, is to separate the staple from the conveying medium and to gravity feed the staple into the baler. Heretofore, the separator has been provided with a fixed inlet and a fixed outlet so that the air passing from the inlet to the outlet assumes a fixed pattern. A considerable amount of air is required to convey the staple to the separator and the resulting currents have a pronounced effect on the accumulation therein. Because of the fixed nature of the air currents, it has been found that the staple tends to accumulate unevenly in the separator. It has further been found that the effect of the uneven distribution in the separator results in irregular bales. For example, in the typical baler the separator gravity feeds the staple into a receiving compartment whence it is pushed and tramped into the baling chamber. When the chamber has received a predetermined amount of staple, hydraulic rams operate to compact the staple to the desired volume and density. With the use of the conventional separator and its associated feeding apparatus, the resulting uneven distribution produces a wedge shaped bale having spaces of low density. For purposes of transportation, it is desirable that the bales have a uniform density and regular geometric form to facilitate stackability. Furthermore, the uneven distribution in the baling chamber results in nonaxial stresseson the ram which frequently causes misalignment and damage to the baling press.

In recognition of the effect of the uneven distribution, the present invention provides for a novel feeding apparatus for uniformly delivering staple within the separator. It has been found that if the staple fibers are distributed evenly in the separator, the problems of irregular bales and misalignment of the baler packing parts are substantially eliminated. The present invention provides a movable discharge spout that angularly distributes the staple and air in the separator. The air currents thus are controlled, mitigating their effect on the accumulation of the staple in the separator.

While the present invention is described as handling polypropylene staple fibers, the principles exemplified therein are equally applicable to other natural and man made staple fibers.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a conventional staple separator provided with a novel distribution apparatus of this invention with portions cut away for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a view of the separator and apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and as viewed from the plane indicated by the line 22 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, a separator 10 is shown mounted on a conventional baler, a portion of which is shown as 11. The separator 10 includes an outer rectan gular box 12 of sheet metal construction and an inner box 13 concentrically mounted in the outer box. The inner box 13 is of perforated sheet metal construction supported by corner angles, one shown as 14 and provides an air-staple separator chamber. An inlet line 15 which leads from a conventional blower (not shown) is swivelly connected to a spout 16 having a discharge end 16a disposed internally of the inner box 13. An air outlet port 17 is formed in the outer box 12 and leads to the air outlet line 18. The lower end of 19 of the inner box 13 is open and is in communication with the baler inlet. Thus, as air and staple fiber are 'blown through the inlet line 15, the flow is directed downwardly into the inner box 13. The air indicated by the arrow A flows through the screen of the inner box 13 and enters the outlet line 18 through port 17 while'the staple indicated by the arrow S gravitates downwardly within the confines of box 13 through the open end 19 into the baler 11.

In order to distribute the staple evenly in the inner box 13, the discharge spout 16 is pivotally mounted on the separator 10 and means are provided for oscillating the spout 16 about a fixed axis. As best seen in FIG. 1, a mounting structure which includes a pair of spaced mounting brackets 21 journally support a straight portion 22 of the discharge spout 16. The straight section 22 has a bell end 23 swivelly connected to the inlet line 15. As illustrated bearings 24 permit angular movement of the straight section 22 relative to the inlet line 15 and a packing gland 25 maintains a seal between the two parts. The straight section 22 of the spout 16 extends into the inner box 13 and is connected to an elbow 26. The elbow 26 diverts the flow downwardly through the inner box 13 in a direction generally toward opening 19. The spout 26 may be constructed of medium gauge, stainless steel parts for field fabrication. In the field fabrication, the straight section 22 is first inserted into the support journals and the individual parts are welded together to form the elbow 26 as illustrated.

In order to impart oscillatory motion to the spout 16, a gear-head motor 27 is operably connected to the straight section 22 by a linkage which converts continuous rotary movement into oscillating movement. More specifically, the motor 27 has an output shaft 28 which carries a crank disc 29. One end of a crank rod 30 is eccentrically mounted on the crank disc 29 and the opposite end is pinned to a yoke arm 31 (see FIG. 2). The arm 31 is welded or otherwise secured to a collar 32 affixed to the straight section 22. Thus it will be appreciated that as the output shaft 28 rotates the spout 16 will be oscillated about the axis of the straight section 22. As shown in FIG. 2 the oscillation imparted by the motor 27 and linkage moves the elbow 26 between the solid line and the broken line positions. The range of angular movement of the elbow 26 should be sufficient to distribute the staple evenly within the confines of the inner box 13. The included angle indicated by the arrow 33 between the two positions can be changed by conventional adjustment means on the linkage. The included angles should include at least the lateral boundaries of the outlet 19 of the inner box 13. In this preferred embodiment an included angle of 58 or 28 on either side of center provides sufficient scope to include the lateral boundaries of the inner box. 13.

Although this preferred embodiment of the invention calls for a crank linkage, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other devices such as a hydraulic ram can also be utilized to impart the oscillatory motion to the spout 16.

The rate of oscillation, of course, will vary according to the flow rate of the material, but for most applications it has been found that oscillation of 13.5 cycles per minute adequately distributes the staple in the inner box 13.

In operation, the air and staple conveyed through line 15 pass through the spout 16 with the spout 16 being oscillated by the motor 27 and the linkage described. The discharge end 16a of the spout 16, oscillating between the solid and broken line positions of FIG. 2, uniformly distributes the staple in the inner box 13. The staple gravitates to the bottom of the inner box 13 and thence through the opening 19 into the baler 11. The air separates and flows through the outlet port 17 to the outlet line 18. Thus by constantly changing the direction of discharge, the air currents are dispersed throughout the scope of oscillation.

While this preferred embodiment has been described in particular detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a separator of the type adapted to feed staple fiber to a baler press, and having an air-staple separator chamber, an inlet line in communication with said chamber for pneumatically conveying staple thereto, an air outlet line, and a staple discharge opening in communication with a receiving compartment of the baler press, the improvement wherein said inlet line includes a spout having a discharge end disposed internally of said separator chamber; and means for angularly moving said spout within said separator chamber whereby staple is distributed uniformly throughout said separator chamber.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said spout includes a straight section journally mounted on said separator and disposed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of said chamber, and an elbow connected to said straight section, said elbow being disposed in said separating chamber and operative to divert flow downwardly therein.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for angularly moving said spout includes power means and a crank linkage interconnecting said power means and said spout, said power means being operative through said crank linkage to impart oscillatory movement to said spout, the direction of said discharge end oscillating in a predetermined range.

4. The invention as recited in claim 3 wherein said linkage provides for a spout oscillation wherein said predetermined range has an included angle which spans said staple discharge opening.

5. The invention as recited in claim 3 wherein said power means includes an electric gear-head motor having a power output shaft, and said linkage includes a disc mounted on said shaft, an arm mounted on said straight section of said spout, and a rod interconnecting said arm and said disc whereby oscillatory motion is imparted to said spout by continuous rotary motion of said output shaft.

6. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said rod interconnects said disc and said arm to provide for a predetermined angle of oscillation as defined by the di rection of said discharge end of said spout, said prede termined angle being sufficient to substantially span said discharge opening of said separator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,087,464 7/ 1937 Ayers 30259 2,449,592 9/ 1948 Daddario 30260XR 2,488,395 11/1949 Goldberg 10091 2,954,730 10/1960 Moser 100215 3,001,830 9/1961 Weichel 30261 3,025,785 3/ 1962 Deerns 10090 3,105,722 10/1963 Thompson 30260 BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 10090, 215

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