GB1477520A - Method and apparatus for producing blended textile fibrous materials - Google Patents

Abstract

1477520 Blending, feeding and opening fibres CROMPTON & KNOWLES CORP 15 July 1974 [23 Oct 1973] 31292/74 Headings D1F and D1N In a fibre-blending operation, each batch of fibres is independently opened, uniformly distributed and formed, as by stuffer rollers, into a batt: tufts pulled, as by rotary beaters, from both or all the batts pass successively into a common duct wherein negative air pressure is maintained to entrain the tufts and effect uniform blending thereof within a common stream. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, two similar or identical machines 10 and 12 and a chute-fed opener 14 (receiving cleaned fibres through an air duct 70) supply tufts from batts of opened and uniformly distributed fibres into a blending duct 16 wherein all the fibres are intimately mixed prior to passage through a transport duct 18 to further processing e.g. sliver and/or lap forming. In each machine such as 10, Fig. 2, slabs 22 of a single fibre are loaded onto a feed apron 20 which carries them underneath a spring-loaded holding roll 24 to a spiked apron 26 which pulls tufts from the slabs and conveys them to a chute 42. Excess fibre removed from apron 26 by a comb roll 28 forms a reserve ball 30 in a hopper defined by spring-loaded wall 32: when mounting pressure from the ball closes a switch 38 it arrests the drive for apron 20 and roll 24 and allows apron 26 to reduce the size of the ball until switch reopens and normal advance of slabs, 22 is resumed. Fibres doffed from apron 26 by roll 40 fall into a chute 42 wherein they are compacted by the action of a spanker plate 46: an excess of accummulated fibre as detected by a photo-electric cell 50 causes interruption of feed apron etc. movement until the excess is cleared. Stuffer rolls 54 advance compacted fibre towards delivery rolls 56 and 58, the speed of which is controlled, Fig. 3 (not shown) to maintain uniform density of mat-erial therebetween, which form a batt from which tufts are removed by a rotary toothed beater 60 and entrained by air currents entering through openings 63 and passing into duct 16.