US3900920A

US3900920A - Method and apparatus for removing textile fiber from a compacted bale

Info

Publication number: US3900920A
Application number: US409056A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marcus G Whitehurst
Original assignee: Piedmont American Corp
Current assignee: Piedmont American Corp
Priority date: 1973-10-24
Filing date: 1973-10-24
Publication date: 1975-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-26
Also published as: DE2437834A1; FR2249185B1; FR2249185A1; GB1441511A; IT1018920B; JPS5071929A; CH581709A5; BE825957A

Abstract

Textile fiber formed as a compacted bale is loosened, stripped from the bale and rolled into a convolutely wound package in preparation for delivery for subsequent processing. Loosening, stripping and rolling are accomplished by compound motion of the tines of a rake, with the tines having relatively fast movement in a closed path of travel generally about a center of movement and with a lower reach in which the tines move in one direction and the rake having relatively slow movement in the one direction, such that repeated relatively quick strokes of the tines cooperate with the slower movement of the rake for stripping and rolling the textile fiber.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Whitehurst 1 1 Aug. 26, 1975 [75] Inventor: Marcus G. Whitehurst, Gastonia,

[73] Assignee: Piedmont American Corporation, Gastonia, NC.

221 Filed: Oct. 24, 1973 21 1. App]. No.: 409,056

Primary E.raminerDorsey Newton Attorney, Ager rl, 0r FirmParrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT Textile fiber formed as a compacted bale is loosened, stripped from the bale and rolled into a convolutely wound package in preparation for delivery for subsequent processing. Loosening, stripping and rolling are accomplished by compound motion of the tines of a rake, with the tines having relatively fast movement in a closed path of travel generally about a center of movement and with a lower reach in which the tines move in one direction and the rake having relatively slow movement in the one direction, such that repeated relatively quick strokes of the tines cooperate with the slower movement of the rake for stripping and rolling the textile fiber.

15 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAUGZS 1915 EQUI PNENT picking. The supply of fiber from compacted bales to these or similar process steps has usually been accomplished manually. in that an operator is assigned the task of manually removing fiber from compacted bales and delivering the fiber to chute feeds or the like by which the fiber is introduced into the manufacturing process.

It has heretofore been proposed that the manual process of removing textile fiber from a compacted bale and delivering the fiber for subsequent processing be avoided by reliance upon mechanical means. A range of such mechanical devices have been proposed but yet none has been well received within the industry. Typically. the apparatus proposed heretoforehas presented difficulties due to reliance upon flowing streams of air and/or relatively uniform motion of members which engage compacted fiber to be removed from a bale. Neither such air fiovv nor such regular movement (such as for example straight relative movement be tween a bale and teeth such as on a chain or the like) is effective to loosen fiber in thecompacted bale and remove the fiber from the bale while delivering ascertainably repeatable quantities as is important in blending of fibers. Particularly with linear relative movement. the desired stripping action often fails due to accumulation of fibers on the teeth or tooth member which is intended to remove fiber from the bale.

Having in mind the difiiculties heretofore encountered in attempting to mechanize the removal of textile fiber from a compacted bale. it is an object of the present invention to accomplish such removal while loosening the fiber in preparation for further processing thereof. In accomplishing this object of the present in vention. fiber is not only delivered for subsequent processing, but a first step toward such processing is accomplished during such removal and delivery.

Yet a further object of this invention is to avoid the difficulties and deficiencies heretofore encountered in efforts to accomplish removal of the textile fiber from a compacted ball by use of mechanical means. In accomplishing this object of the present invention, a particularly distinctive compound motion is imparted to the tines of a rake. By moving the tines relatively quickly along a closed pathof travel generally about 'a center of movement while at the same time moving the rake relatively slowly in the same direction that the tines move, repeated strokes of. the tines relative to an adjacent bale of fiber loosen fiber in the bale. strip a layer of loosened fiber from the bale, and roll the stripped layer into a generally convolutcly wound package, all while avoiding accumulation of fiber on the tines of the rake.

Yet a further object of this invention is to facilitate the blending oftcxtilc fiber from a plurality of bales. by coordinating delivery of relatively uniform weights of such fiber from a plurality of bales. In accomplishing this object of the present invention, a plurality of rakes are provided and arranged for cooperation one with another. Furthcr. bales from which fiber is loosened. stripped and rolled are moved relative to thecorresponding rakes in increments of movement. As a result. layers of fibers of generally known and uniform vveight are removed and delivered from a plurality of bales in a particular sequence. By controlling materials of the corresponding bales, the resulting blends of fibers may be determined.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proeeeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective viewof an arrangement in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bale supporting an rangement in the apparatus of FIG. 1;,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view, partly in section and partly schematic, illustrating the compound motion of the ti es of a rake in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view, partly in section and partly schematic, of a portion of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view taken generally along the line 66 in FIG. 4 and illustrating a portion of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view, partly in section and partly schematic, illustrating portions of the bale handling elements of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and V along the line s s in FIG. 6; 1

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 on a reduced scale, illustrating one portion ofa drive means for the tines of a rake in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, illustrating a second portion of the drive means for the tines of the rake in accordance of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a plan view, partly in section, taken gener ally along the line III1 in FIG. 7;

' FIG. 12 is an elevation view, partly, in section, taken generally along the line l212 in FIG. 11;

FIG. I3is an elevation view taken generally along the line 13 -13 in FIG. 5; y I

FIG. I4 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagramof electrical wiring arrangements for the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 4-14.

The accompanying drawings and the description which follows and which refers to those drawings are intended to set forth the best mode. contemplatedfor broadly and are not to be taken as limitations upon the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, persons skilled in the art of manufacturing textiles will be familiar to the packaging of textile fiber in compacted bales such as the bales B. As is known, it is conventional for fiber from such bales FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevation view taken generally i to be delivered into a hopper (indicated in phantom lines to the right in FIG. 1) or the other means by which the fiber is delivered for subsequent processing steps. Such subsequent processing steps, which may include steps known as opening and/or picking. are well known to persons skilled in the textile arts. form no part of the present invention, and will not be here described in detail. It is believed that an adequate understanding of these processes. if necessary, may be gained from prior patents and publications relating to the textile field generally.

In accordance with the present invention, textile fiber is raked from a compacted bale B while being loosened in preparation for further processing in accordance with a method which includes the steps of moving the tines ofa rake with a compound motion and relative to the bale of fiber. The compound motion of the tines, as will be described more fully hereinafter. includes a relatively fast movement of the tines in a closed path of travel generally about a center of movement, the closed path having a lower reach in which the tines move in one direction. At the same time, there is a relatively slow movement of the rake in the one direction. As a result, raking across the face of the bale causes loosening, stripping and rolling of the fiber as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The path of movement followed by the tines of the rake. in accordance with this invention, is indicated generally in FIG. 3, where a range of positions of a tine is indicated in phantom lines. As will be noted, the tine 20 depends from a generally horizontal rake bar 21, which extends across the lower ends of two pivoting members 22, 24 (FIGS. 5, 13) which form portions of a moving or drive means described hereinafter. As will be noted, the points 25 describe a generally ovoid path (indicated by arrows in FIG. 3) about a center of movement generally indicated at 26. The generally ovoid path is such that the points 25 move along a lower reach of the path in one particular direction (to the left in FIG. 3). At the same time, there is a relatively slow movement of the center of movement 26 in the same direction.

It is to be noted that the lower reach of the path of movement described by the points 25 of the tines 20 includes a relatively horizontal portion (to the right in FIG. 3) and a portion which departs from the relatively horizontal plane so defined by withdrawing or moving away from such a plane (as the tines move to the left in FIG. 3). The importance of this characteristic of the ovoid path will be pointed out hereinafter, when the particular cooperation of the tines with the layer of fiber in a bale B will be more particularly described. In accordance with this invention. the rake means including the tines 20 is supported by a frame means which assures a particular cooperative relationship between the rake means and a bale B from which fiber is to be removed. The frame means, generally indicated in FIG. I at 30, includes structural elements which define a generally upstanding housing having corner posts 31, 32, 33, 34. Extending between the corner posts are

horizontal support members

36, 37, 38, 39.

As is more clear from FIG. 4, the apparatus of this invention contemplates the use of a pair of rake means moving in coordination. However. for purposes of simplifying the present initial description. reference will be made only to that rake means 20, 21, 25 indicated in the right portion of FIG. 4, in an attitude generally similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 3, 9 and 10. The rake means is supported on a carriage subframe defined by side members 41, 42 and ends 43, 44 and forming a portion of the moving or driving means. The carriage subframe is moved relative to the

horizontal support members

36, 37 on which the subframe is mounted as will be described more fully hereinafter. The carriage subframe mounts a first drive motor 47, for imparting relatively fast movement to the tines as described hereinabove. and a second drive motor 48, for imparting relatively slow movement as mentioned hereinbefore. By means of appropriate driving interconnections, such as chains 49 and a cross shaft 50, the first drive rotates a pair of

eccentric disks

54, 55.

A first eccentric disk 54 is connected, at a point spaced from its center of rotation about the drive shaft 50, with a driving link 56 which is pivotally connected to a first pivoting member 58. The pivoting member 58 constitutes a subframe formed by side members 59, 60, supported for pivotal movement relative to the carriage subframe about a pivot shaft 61. As will be pointed out hereinafter, the pivotal movement of the member 58 about the axis defined by the shaft 51 imparts vertical movement to the tines 20 of the rake means, thereby determining the extent of vertical displacement between the lower reach of the ovoid path illustrated in FIG. 3 and the highest point thereof.

Mounted of the first pivoting member 58 for movement therewith about the pivot axis 61 are the

members

22, 24 to which tines 20 are connected. The

members

22, 24 function as second pivoting members, and move about an axis defined by a pivot shaft 62. The second pivoting members are driven by a link which connects one member 24 with the other eccentric disk (FIGS. 5 and 10).

By coordination of the relative rotational positions of interconnection of the

links

56, 64 with the respective

eccentric disks

54, 55, the particular path described by the points 25 of the tines 20 may be determined and may be optimized for the textile fiber being handled. It is contemplated that the preferred form of path for handling cotton and polyester fibers would be as indicated in FIG. 3.

Yet another factor involved in proper movement of the tines 20 of the rake means is counter balancing of the various moving elements. which is accomplished in the apparatus illustrated by the provision of a weighted cross member 65 extending between the side members 59, of the oscillating subframe which mounts the rake means.

Mounted atop the

horizontal support members

36, 37 are chains 68, 69 which are engaged by

support sprockets

70, 71 72, 73. The support spoekets are in turn mounted on support shafts 76. 77, by which the carriage subframe is suspended from the horizontal members. In order to move the rake means relatively slowly in one direction. the second drive motor 48 is connected through suitable transmission means including

chains

80, 81 and a reducing gear 82 for driving one support shaft 76 in rotation. With such rotational driving of the support shaft 76, the corresponding sprockets 70. 71 are displaced along the corresponding chains 68, 69 and the carriage subframe is slowly moved rela tive to the frame of the apparatus. During loosening, stripping and rolling of fiber as described more fully hereinafter. such motion is in the same direction as the rriotion of the points of the tines 20 along the lower reach of the path illustrated in FIG. 3.

While described to this point with reference to the movement of the tines of one rake with respect to one bale, it will be noted from FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 that the present invention contemplates having first and second rake means mounted from the carriage for removing textile fibers from corresponding first and second bales. For ease of reference, corresponding elements of the second rake means and the drive means therefor have been identified by reference characters applied to the elements of the first rake means in the description above, with the addition of prime notation. Thus, the tines 20' of the second rake means are moved with a compound motion through the cooperation therewith of linkage members 58, 24' and eccentric disks 54', 55'. In accordance with the present invention, and as will be clear from the interconnection of the

shafts

50, 50 by a drive chain 85, (FIG. 5), the compound movement of the first and second rakes are coordinated.

Further, the carriage from which the first and second rakes are mounted alternates in movement (from side to side in FIGS. 4 and 5). Thus, the fibers in a layer adjacent one face of one bale are loosened, stripped and rolled by engagement with the corresponding one of the rake means while the fibers of the other bale are loosened in preparation for subsequent stripping and rolling. This operation is made more clear in FIG. 4, where the second rake (to the left in FIG. 4) is shown loosening, stripping and rolling a layer of the fibers from the corresponding bale while the first rake has delivered a convolutely wound layer of fiber L onto a hor izontal run of an endless conveyor belt 86 interposed between the bales B.

The conveyor belt 86 is supported by the

appropriate frame members

87, 88 and has an uprising trough formed by spaced walls 90, 91 to aid in guiding rolled fiber layers onto the surface of the belt 86. The belt 86 delivers the rolled layers L into a hopper or other suitable rcceiving means for a subsequent fiber processing apparatus.

In order to alternately deliver layers L of fiber from alternate bales, the carriage from which the first and second rakes are mounted is moved in alternate directions. Movement of the carriage is controlled in accordance with the position of the rakes, so that carriage to a position at which the first rake is beyond the corresponding first bale is sensed and the direction of the carriage is reversed in response to such sensed movement. In this manner, alternate loosening, stripping and rolling of layers from the first and second bales is continued while the alternate rolled, stripped layers are delivered to the conveyor. It is noted that the relatively quick movement of the tines in a closed path of travel continues during relatively slow movement of the rake in the direction opposite to the directions of the tines along the lower reach of the closed path. Such compound reverse movement may be employcd, in certain embodiments of this invention, to preloosen fiber in a layer adjacent the face of the bale.

In order to deliver layers ofgcnerally known and uniform weight, this invention contemplates further relative movement between the ral-tcs and the bales from which fiber is to be removed. In particular, this invention contemplates periodic displacement of a bale toward a corresponding rake. In the particular embodiment illustrated. bales are lifted from a position underlying the rake. Further, the arrangement of this invention which accommodates such relative movement is constructed in such a manner as to facilitate loading of bales into the apparatus of this invention.

As will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 2, bales B to be supplied to the apparatus in accordance with this invention are mounted upon bale platform means generally indicated at 95, which in turn are received upon hand trucks generally at 96. The hand trucks 96 facilitate movement of the platforms and bales B by an operator tending the apparatus in accordance with this invention.

Each bale platform means 95 is constructed for particular cooperation with elevator means mounted adjacent the vertical frame members of the apparatus in accordance with this invention. Referring more particularly to FIGS. 4, 6 through 8, 11 and 12, adjacent pairs of corner posts 31 and 34, 32 and 33 are provided with lifting frame means defined by horizontal and

vertical members

100, 101, 102, and 103. The vertical members 102, 1.03 each have a pair of wheels which enter into corresponding vertical

corner channel members

31, 34. Preferably, the wheels are grooved and engage

round'edfillets

106, 107 which are secured within the channel frame members to positively locate and guide the wheels '105. The vertical position of the lifting frame is determined by a lifting chain 110, which is moved by interconnection with an appropriate drive motor 111. The lifting chain 110 is given a looped configuration, having a fixed upper end and passing about a sprocket 112 at the upper horizontal member 101 of lifting frame. As lifting of the frame occurs. chain is delivered into a-storage bin 113 (FIGS. 6 and 8). Coupling ofa bale platform 95 to the lifting frame is accomplished by a side standard defined by

vertical members

116, 117 and upper member 118. Each of the

vertical members

116, 117 has a hanger bracket 120 adjacent the upper end thereof, which is adapted to be slipped over and engage a hanger hook 121 on a corresponding

vertical member

102, 103 ofa lifting frame. Further, a horizontal member 124 of the bale platform 95 is adapted to rest against the lower horizontal member 100 of the lifting frame when the hanger hook and hanger bracket are interengaged. Thus, an operator loading bale B into the apparatus of this invention may use a hand truck 96 to position the bale platform 95 generally within the apparatus and may then roll the bale platform 95 into position for engagement with the corresponding lifting frame.

As with the rake means, the elements described hereinabove which cooperate for recieving and displacing a bale from which fibers to be removed are duplicated in the apparatus of this invention. In order to reduce the length of the present description, prime notation has been added to reference characters used hereinabove where structure has been duplicated and such primed reference characters will be noted where appropriate in the drawings.

The present invention provides an electrical control for coordinating the various movements described hereinabovc. Referring now more particularly to FIG. 15, one form of a control to accomplish the desired functions for the apparatus and method of this invention has there been illustrated and will now be described.

As indicated, the

drive motors

47, 48 are mounted upon the reciprocating carriage described hereinabove from which the rake means are mounted. and the carriage is indicated by a dash line enclosure in FIG. 15. Inasmuch as the pivot drive motor 47 which moves the tines of the rake in relatively fast movement is driven constantly in the same direction of rotation, no special interconnection of that motor is required. However. as to the second drive motor 48, provision is made for reversing the direction of rotation of that motor upon sensed movement of the rake means beyond the corresponding bales. This is accomplished by first and second direction control relays 140, 141. In the operating condition illustrated, the first direction controlling relay 140 is energized, to close the associated contact sets 14011, 14012 and cause movement of the carriage in the direction indicated by the arrow (to the right in FIG.

Reversal of the direction of movement occurs through the operation of the reversing switch 144, moving with the carriage and arranged to engage appropriate actuating stop members at opposite extremes of the movement of the carriage. That is, upon movement of the carriage to the extreme position desired (such to the right in FIG. 15), an operating rod of the reversing switch 144 engages a stop and is pushed to alternate position (to the left in FIG. 15), deenergizing the first direction control relay 140 and energizing the second direction control relay 141. As a result, the contact sets 141a, [4112 of the second direction control relay 141 are closed and the direction of rotation of the drive motor 48 is reversed. I

At the same time that the carriage moves to a position in which the state of the reversing switch 144 is changed, the carriage engages one of a pair of first and second elevator control switches 145, 146 which are mounted on the frame. By way of example, movement of the carriage to an extreme position to the right in FIG. 15 closes the first elevator control switch 145, energizing a first elevator control relay 147. The first elevator control relay 147 has associated therewith a timer (schematically illustrated in FIG. 15) which permits the contacts of the relay to be maintained in closed condition for a known interval of time. Closure of the contact set [47a of the relay applies electrical current to a first elevator drive motor 11], resulting in raising the corresponding bale platform 95. Thus, the bale from which a layer of fiber has just been rolled is raised by an incremental distance determined from the time during which the contact set 147a of the relay are maintained closed and the rate at which rotation of the drive motor 111 is transmitted into lifting movement.

A second elevator control relay 148 and contact set 148a are similarly associated with the second elevator control switch 146, to control the operation of the ele' vator drive motor 111' at the opposite end of the apparatus.

In order to avoid the possibility of damage to the apparatus of this invention as a bale is depleted, a safety interrupt switch 150 is interposed between the contacts 147a of the control relay and the elevator lift motor 111. The safety switch 150 is normally closed, and is provided with an actuating member 151 which responds to lifting of the bale platform 95 to an extreme upper position by opening the safety contacts 150 and precluding automatic energization of the corresponding drive motor 111. Manual control over the drive motor 11 1 is accomplished by a manual control switch indicated at 154, which may be manually operated to either raise or lower the corresponding elevator means.

In order to properly coordinate the delivery of textile fiber from the apparatus ofthis invention, it is desirable to have the electrical control illustrated in FIG. 15 interconnected with an arrangement for sensing the ope rating condition of the next following process. By way of example, where fiber is delivered by the apparatus of this invention to a hopper, the hopper may include a sensing switch connected with a drive motor for the conveyor 86 and with the carriage and rake

drive motors

47, 48 so that removal and feeding of fiber is interrupted when the requirement of the next succeeding process has been temporarily satisfied.

As used herein, the phrases compacted bale and bale refer to packaged textile fiber generally. It is to be understood that the degree of compaction is not necessarily distinctive of the package here referred to as a bale and that this invention is contemplated as having wide usefulness in removing fiber from a number of types of packages.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment 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.

That which is claimed is:

1. A method of removing textile fiber from a compacted bale comprising the steps of raking across a face of a bale while loosening a layer of fibers of the bale with repeated, relatively quick short strokes and while stripping the layer from the bale and rolling the layer into a convolutely wound package, and then repeating the steps of raking while loosening while stripping until the bale is substantially depleted.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the stop of stripping the layer from the bale includes delivering the layer for transport to a subsequent manufacturing process.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of repeating raking while loosening while stripping includes intermittently moving the bale toward the face being raked for successive stripping therefrom of relatively uniform layers.

4. A method of removing textile fiber from a compacted bale comprising the steps of raking across a face of a bale while loosening a layer of fibers of the bale with repeated, relatively quick short strokes and while stripping the layer from the bale and rolling the layer into a convolutely wound package, delivering the layer for transport to a subsequent manufacturing process, and then repeating the steps of raking while loosening while stripping and rolling and also intermittently moving the bale toward the face being raked for successive stripping therefrom of relatively uniform layers until the bale is substantially depleted.

5. A method of removing textile fiber from a spaced apart pair of compacted bales disposed with a face of one bale generally in a common plane with a face of the other bale comprising the steps of raking across the faces of the bales while loosening a layer of fibers at least one of the bales with repeated, relatively quick short strokes and while stripping a layer of fibers from one of the bales and rolling the layer into a convolutely wound package. then repeating the steps of raking while loosening and while stripping a layer of fibers from the other of the bales and rolling the layer into a convolutely wound package. and then repeating the 9 steps of raking while loosening while stripping from alternate bales until the bales are substantially depleted. 6. A method of removing textile fiber from a spaced apart pair of compacted bales disposed with a face of one bale generally in a common plane with a face of the other bale comprising the steps of raking across the faces of the bales while loosening a layer of fibers of at least one of the bales with repeated, relatively quick short strokes and while stripping the losened layer of fibers from the one bale and rolling the stripped layer into a eonvolutely wound package, delivering the rolled layer from the one bale for transport from a location between the two bales to a subsequent manufacturing process, then repeating the steps of raking while loosening and while stripping a loosened layer of fibers from the other bale and rolling the stripped layer into a eonvolutely wound package, delivering the rolled layer from the bale for transport from the location between the two bales to a subsequent manufacturing process, and then repeating the steps of raking while loosening while stripping from alternate bales and also intermittently moving the bales toward the faces being raked for successive stripping from each of the bales of generally uniform weight layers until the bales are substantially depleted.

7. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from a compacted bale comprising: rake means having times for engaging fibers, frame means for supporting said rake means adjacent a face of a bale,

means for moving said rake means across the face 0 the bale, and

means for moving said tines in repeated short strokes along a closed path of travel while said rake means moves across the face of the bale for loosening a layer of fibers of the bale and stripping the loosened layer from the bale.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for moving said rake means comprises carriage means mounted on said frame means for movement relative thereto, said carriage means mounting said rake means for movement therewith between positions adjacent rcmote sides of the face of the bale. I

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for moving said rake means further comprises means for sensing movement of said carriage means to a position at which said rake means is adjacent one side of a bale and for responding to sensed movement of said carriage means to such a position by reversing the direction of movement of said carriage means and moving said carriage means towards a position at which said rake means is adjacent to the other side of the bale.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for moving said tines comprises linkage means for passing said tines along a generally ovoid path having a lower reach in which the tines move in one dircction for rolling the layer being stripped from the bale into a eonvolutely wound package.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said linkage means comprises a first member mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and a second pivotal member mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first member about a second pivot axis spaced from said first pivot axis and mounting said rake means,

whereby pivotal movement of said first and second members causes said tines to describe a generally ovoid path in which said lower reach withdraws said tines from engagement with the face of the bale as the tines move in the direction that the layer is being rolled.

12. Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising means for moving the bale toward the rake means for stripping therefrom of successive, generally uniform weight layers.

13. Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising conveyor means mounted adjacent said frame means for receiving fibers loosened and stripped from the bale and for transporting received fibers to a subsequent manufacturing apparatus.

14. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from a compacted bale comprising:

rake means having tines for engaging fibers, frame means for supporting said rake means adjacent a face of a bale,

means for moving said rake means across the face of the bale and between positions adjacent remote sides of the face of the bale, means for moving said tines in repeated short strokes along a closed path of travel while said rake means moves across the face of the bale from one position to one side of the face toward another position to the other side of the face for loosening a layer of fibers of the bale and stripping the loosened layer from the bale while rolling the layer toward the other side and into a eonvolutely wound package, and a means for moving the bale toward the rake means for stripping therefrom of successive, generally uniform weight layers.

15. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from a pair of compacted bales comprising:

first and second rake means each having tines for engaging fibers,

frame means for supporting said rake means with said first rake means adjacent a face of a first bale and said second rake means adjacent a face of a second bale, the faces of the bales being spaced apart and lying generally in a common plane,

means for moving said rake means across corresponding faces of corresponding bales and between positions adjacent remote sides of the corresponding faces,

means for moving said tines in repeated short strokes along corresponding closed paths of travel while said rake means move across the faces of the bales for loosening corresponding layers of fibers of the bales and for stripping a loosened layer from one of the bales while rolling the stripped layer toward the other bale and into a eonvolutely Wound package,

said means for moving said rake means and said means for moving said tines cooperating for rolling stripped layers alternately from first one bale and then the other, and

means for moving the bales toward the rake means for stripping therefrom successive. generally uniform weight layers.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. I 3 900 92 DATED August 26, 1975 |NVENTOR(S) Marcus G Whitehurst It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, Line 8, after "controlling" insert -the-; Column 2, Line 18, after"arrangement" insert --incorporated--; Column 2, Line 58, "best" should be --to be--; Column 3, Line 35, after "25" insert -of the tines 20--; Column 3, Line 52, after "tines" insert --20--; Column 4, Line 34, after "link" insert --64-; Column 5, Line 46, after "that" insert movement of the Column 5, Line 54, before "noted" insert --to be--; Column 7, Line 3, "pivot" should be -first-; Column 7, Line 25, before "alternate" insert an Column 8, Line 35, "stop" should be --step--; Column 8, Line 60, after "fibers" insert --of-; Column 9, Line 18, after "the" insert --other--; Column 9, Line 28, "times" should be tines-; Column 9, Line 52, delete "to" Signed and Sealed thlS sixteenth D3) 0f December 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ofParents and Trademarks

Claims

4. A method of removing textile fiber from a compacted bale comprising the steps of raking across a face of a bale while loosening a layer of fibers of the bale with repeated, relatively quick short strokes and while stripping the layer from the bale and rolling the layer into a convolutely wound package, delivering the layer for transport to a subsequent manufacturing process, and then repeating the steps of raking while loosening while stripping and rolling and also intermittently moving the bale toward the fAce being raked for successive stripping therefrom of relatively uniform layers until the bale is substantially depleted. 5. A method of removing textile fiber from a spaced apart pair of compacted bales disposed with a face of one bale generally in a common plane with a face of the other bale comprising the steps of raking across the faces of the bales while loosening a layer of fibers at least one of the bales with repeated, relatively quick short strokes and while stripping a layer of fibers from one of the bales and rolling the layer into a convolutely wound package, then repeating the steps of raking while loosening and while stripping a layer of fibers from the other of the bales and rolling the layer into a convolutely wound package, and then repeating the steps of raking while loosening while stripping from alternate bales until the bales are substantially depleted.

6. A method of removing textile fiber from a spaced apart pair of compacted bales disposed with a face of one bale generally in a common plane with a face of the other bale comprising the steps of raking across the faces of the bales while loosening a layer of fibers of at least one of the bales with repeated, relatively quick short strokes and while stripping the loosened layer of fibers from the one bale and rolling the stripped layer into a convolutely wound package, delivering the rolled layer from the one bale for transport from a location between the two bales to a subsequent manufacturing process, then repeating the steps of raking while loosening and while stripping a loosened layer of fibers from the other bale and rolling the stripped layer into a convolutely wound package, delivering the rolled layer from the bale for transport from the location between the two bales to a subsequent manufacturing process, and then repeating the steps of raking while loosening while stripping from alternate bales and also intermittently moving the bales toward the faces being raked for successive stripping from each of the bales of generally uniform weight layers until the bales are substantially depleted.

7. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from a compacted bale comprising: rake means having times for engaging fibers, frame means for supporting said rake means adjacent a face of a bale, means for moving said rake means across the face of the bale, and means for moving said tines in repeated short strokes along a closed path of travel while said rake means moves across the face of the bale for loosening a layer of fibers of the bale and stripping the loosened layer from the bale.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for moving said rake means comprises carriage means mounted on said frame means for movement relative thereto, said carriage means mounting said rake means for movement therewith between positions adjacent remote sides of the face of the bale.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for moving said tines comprises linkage means for passing said tines along a generally ovoid path having a lower reach in which the tines move in one direction for rolling the layer being stripped from the bale into a convolutely wound package.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said linkage means comprises a first member mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and a second pivotal member mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first member about a second pivot axis spaced from said first pivot axis and mounting said rake means, whereby pivotAl movement of said first and second members causes said tines to describe a generally ovoid path in which said lower reach withdraws said tines from engagement with the face of the bale as the tines move in the direction that the layer is being rolled.

14. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from a compacted bale comprising: rake means having tines for engaging fibers, frame means for supporting said rake means adjacent a face of a bale, means for moving said rake means across the face of the bale and between positions adjacent remote sides of the face of the bale, means for moving said tines in repeated short strokes along a closed path of travel while said rake means moves across the face of the bale from one position to one side of the face toward another position to the other side of the face for loosening a layer of fibers of the bale and stripping the loosened layer from the bale while rolling the layer toward the other side and into a convolutely wound package, and means for moving the bale toward the rake means for stripping therefrom of successive, generally uniform weight layers.

15. Apparatus for removing textile fiber from a pair of compacted bales comprising: first and second rake means each having tines for engaging fibers, frame means for supporting said rake means with said first rake means adjacent a face of a first bale and said second rake means adjacent a face of a second bale, the faces of the bales being spaced apart and lying generally in a common plane, means for moving said rake means across corresponding faces of corresponding bales and between positions adjacent remote sides of the corresponding faces, means for moving said tines in repeated short strokes along corresponding closed paths of travel while said rake means move across the faces of the bales for loosening corresponding layers of fibers of the bales and for stripping a loosened layer from one of the bales while rolling the stripped layer toward the other bale and into a convolutely wound package, said means for moving said rake means and said means for moving said tines cooperating for rolling stripped layers alternately from first one bale and then the other, and means for moving the bales toward the rake means for stripping therefrom successive, generally uniform weight layers.