US1865234A - Method of and apparatus for treating mohair, wool, and the like - Google Patents

Description

June 2%, 1932, w. CHESHIRE 198659234 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOHAIR, WOOL, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 28, 1932. c sH 1,865,234

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOHAIR, WOOL, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1931 3 SheetsSheet 2 June 28, 19332. w. CHESHIRE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOHAIR, WOOL, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet fiz J 'ncnnnnnunnnnnunr ,HYIHHIHIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIII led .le 2&, 1932 WILL! CHESEIRE QF RR-ISTQL, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGHOR Hi0 GOLLINS & I

' CORFQRATIGN, A. CORPORATEON OF DELAWE nmrnfon or errant rue: non ,rnnsrnve Mortars, WQGL, ann rm '1 Application filed February 5, rear. Serial no. erases.

My invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for treating mohair, Wool, cotton and like material, specifically in the method oil and apparatus for opening, dusting, sorting, Weighing and/or storing said mohair or lilre material.

lt has been the practice in the art in sorting mohair to have a skilled mohair sorter do a lot of manual labor which can he read- ;ro ily done by unskilled labor in the actual sort ing of the mohair. The skilled mohair sorter takes the original material Whether it he di rectly from the hale or from a suitable receptacle therefor andplaces it in front of him on a single large hoard tahle. Hethen individually takes the mohair and selectively sorts out the qualities into piles. The skilled laborer then must transfer the piles into proper receptacles and move them to the desired place for further treating of the select ed grades of mohair. "l have realized therefore that it is possible to substitute. a large amount of the manual lahor done by these skilled mohair sorters hy unslnilled labor at a relatively less price and also to appreciably lessen the amount of lahor necessary in the handling and transmission of the mohair, To this end I provide a continuously moving perforated, preferably woven Wire conveyor having a surface thereof moving in a suhstantially horizontal plane. I provide means such as modified picker means to open up and feed a substantially even preferably relatively thin layer of material on said continuouss ly advancing conveyor surface. l'n order-to remove dust and other minor impurit es which come with the mohair therefrom, 1 provide means to continuously draw a gaseous stream through said continuously moving layer of material and surface to remove dust and other small impurities therefrom.

Whereas in the prior art each individual mohair sorter has had to continuously pick over the mohair in front or" him Wl'llCl is in the form of a pile to select the difierent qualities therefrom, l have. found that by spreading out the mohair in a relatively even layer in a continuously moving stream the sorting may be more readily accomplished. In addition to this l have divided the stream of mohair intoso-called zones, and provided stands for sorter-s at spaced points along said conveyor for a sorter to stand at the most convenient height for sortin adjacent said moving stream, and l provi e recep'tacles such as hins or removable baskets spaced at correspondingly predetermined distances along said conveyor, each adapted to receive a diilerent class of graded qualities from said main stream. I thus divide the efficient in the sorting out of that one quality from thesubstantially small layer of original material, than said sorter would he in sorting out a large plurality of different qualities and continuously picking over the mo hair in the pile in "front of him. I thus in a manner substantially revolutionize the present-day sorting of mohair byfirst spreading ill) the mohair out on a continuously moving a conveyor in a thin layer so that all types of quahties may he readily seen by the Sorters Without plching over piles in front of them and secondlyl educate individual Sorters so as to look for single classes or grades and thereby enable each individual sorter to hecome more proficient in the sorting of his specific quality.

it is apparentthat in place oftreating mohair, other fibres, such as Wool, cotton, etc., Waste, rags, or any other suitahle; type of similar products may he similarly treated.

'While the usual bale of mohair contains a certain amount of grades most of the mohair will come through of a single grade and thus in one embodiment of my improved apparatus and process, there emerges from the end of the conveyor a single grade of sorted mohair or like material, and on each side of the conveyor are receptacles, each containing an expertly sorted sin le class or grade which may he added to other groups to make up a sufficiently large standard grade for its individual later treatment.

Further objects of my invention relate to the substantially automatic moving of the mohair or other material while it is being dusted, opened, sorted and weighed. I thus may drop the mohair from one floor into the picker, have it automatically moved from the picker on to the conveyor, have it automatically moved from the conveyor on' to a Weighing machine and having it automatically moved from the weighing machine into storage bins on a lower floor.

A further object of my invention is to provide means to automatically weigh the sorted stream of material.

A further object of my invention is to pro vide an apparatus in which the speed or" the conveyor may be readily regulated for different classes, kinds, grades, or material so as to run the conveyor at the most efiicient s eed for the most efficient selective sorting t ereof.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 and Fig.1 broken between Figs. 1 and 1 for lack of space in the sheet represent a side elevation, partly shown in section of an embodiment of my invention mounted for most efficient automatic handling of the material on three different floors of a factory.

Figs. 2 and 2 are corresponding diagrammatic plan views thereof,- the individual floors having been removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view looking towards the feeding end of the conveyor,

taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the feeding end of the conveyor taken along the broken line 4-4.- of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout,

10 generally indicates a continuously moving surface constructed in accordance with my invention.

In the preferred embodiment shown, said .moving surface 10 preferably includes the upper surface of a continuously moving conveyor 12 preferably perforated as at 14, preferably by being made of spaced woven wire moving in a substantially horizontal plane. In the embodiment shown, the conveyor 12 comprises a continuous moving conveyor revolving around the drums 16 and 18. As.

shown in Fig. 2 the drum 18 is suitably driven through the medium of the gearing 20 which is suitably driven by means of the stepup pulley 22 so that the speed of the conveyor may be adjustably varied.

I provide means to open up and feed a substantially even layer of material on said conconvenience of automatic handling to dispense with the amount of unskilled labor formerly thought necessary my invention is preferably constructed on three floors. The upper floor A is provided with a chute 24 through which the original unbaled material is led into the picker means 26. Said picker means includes a usual horizontal conveyor 28, a continously revolving oblique conveyor 30 provided either with card clothing or suitable material to pick up even layers of mohair or other material thereon and a suitable dofiing comb 34 to keep the material caught on the card clothing or other projections in a thin even layer across the upwardly moving material advancing surface 36 of said conveyor 30. The material from said conveyor may then be dropped on another oblique delivery belt 38 and dropped from there in a substantially even layer 40 on the continuously moving conveyor 10. It is thus apparent that the mohair or other material will be fed in a' substantially even layer 40 on the upper surface 10 of the continuously moving conveyor 12.

I provide means to continuously draw a gaseous stream. preferably downward through the continuously moving layer 40 of material and surface 10 to remove dust, or other small impurities therefrom. While any suitable type of means may be provided for this urpose, I preferably provide the suction an 42 suitably connected by the pipe 44 which is individually connected at spaced intervals by means of the pipes 46 to the troughs 48 which extend at spaced intervals underneath the upper surface of the conveyor 12 so that each end thereof will be substantially adjacent to provide a substantially continuous suction along the entire surface of the material being treated. The pipe 44 may be also connected by means of the pipe 50 to the picker apparatus to remove floating dust particles therefrom in addition. A suitable waste discharge pipe 52 leads from the suction fan to discharge the waste in any suitable place.

The entire conveyor is thus located on the floor B and I provide means to continuously weigh the graded stream of material 40 after it has been discharged from the conveyor 10. The storage bins 54 for said graded stream of material are preferably placed on a lower floor C and means are provided to continuously lead said graded stream of material to said storage bins. The weighing apparatus 56 is preferably located intermediate the said floors B and C in said factory, extending through the floor B. Automatic weighing machines are well known in the art and I may insert one of any standard ty e. Said machinecomprises a hopper 58 a apted when it has been filled to the desired amount to automatically open up and discharge into the exhaust pipe 60 below it. The hopper 58 will thus discharge when the redetermined amount of material has been put therein and will immediatelyclose up, thereby permitting a continuous automatic weighing of the stream oi sorted material. lhe pipe 60 leads to the respective storage bins 5d and for ease of moving the material maybe provided with a pressure fan 62. ll employ the word storage bin, however, to include any type of permanent or movable storage receptacle. In order to remove the material fromthedischarge end of the conveyor 12 I provide a suitable delivery belt or which as shown is i. arranged at an oblique angle to lead the continuous stream of sorted and graded material to from the discharge end or the conveyor and drop it into the hopper 5% of weighing machine 56.

s As stated, a main feature ol my invention consists of selectively separating the various classes or grades from the main, thin layer or stream of mohair or other material at spaced pointsalong said stream or conveyor,

whereby'said sorted stream may consist entirely of graded material and said classified qualities may form standard grades of material of difierent classes from that of the main stream. For this purpose I provide receptacles arranged at predetermined distances along one side of said conveyor,

each adapted to receive a different class or quality from said main stream. ll'thus in the embodiment shown divide the space along the conveyor in live zones, namely, a, b, 0, cl, and e and I place the receptacles 6%, ill, 64, 6d and 6 respectively along and opposite each respective zone adjacent one side of the conveyor l providestands 66 66", 66, 66 and 66 spaced along the opposite side of said conveyor at corresponding predetermined distances corresponding to the receptacles 64 6d", ti l, 64 and 649'. In the preferred embodiment said stands comprise sections ofthe iioor B and are spaced below the upper surface of the conveyor a suitable height for the eficient working oil the sorters working over the zones at, I"), o, and e of the conveyor, in the preferred embodiment shown for most etficient sorting being substantially halt the height oil a man. It is thus obvious a sorter will provided for each zone,

standing respectively on the stands 66*, 66, bid, 66 and 66 and each sorter will sort a single class or grade out from the main stream and'throw them into the receptacles 6d, 64", dd, 6d and 64! respectively on the opposite side of the conveyor. It is thus obvious that by providing a sorter to sort out a single type or grade from the main stream that he will i become more proficient in the individual job of looking for single types or grades in a substantially thin main stream than was heretoiore possible where Sorters were sorting all types or grades from a pile of mohair.

' It is obvious that the conveyor 12 will be of such a width, that the sorter can readily reach for any type or quality on the furtherrnost side of the conveyor from him and that each individual zone or section will be of a width that a man or sorter standing in the center of each stand 66* may readily reach all material passing by him with his right or left hand. It is thus obvious that l have provided a novel apparatus for, and method of obtaining standard grades oi mohair or like material and in which the entire time ofthe expert mohair or other sorters is employed in actual sorting, in which they are required to do practically no unskilled lavention is particularly adapted for sorting,

dusting, opening up and weighing fibers, it is obvious that it may be readily employed for use in sorting rags, waste and similar products. It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown or method described and that various deviatibns may be made therefrom Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: v w

1. ln a machine for obtaining standard grades oii'mohair or like material, in combination, a continuously moving wovedwire conveyor havin the upper surface thereof moving in a suostantially horizontal plane,

means to open up and feed a substantially 3.

graded qualities from said main stream,

stands spaced along the opposite side of said conveyor at corresponding predetermined dlstances spaced: below said surface, means to continuously weigh the graded stream of material, storage bins for said graded material and means to continuously lead said graded stream of material to said storage bins.

2. In a machine for obtaining standard grades of mohair or like material, in combination, a continuously moving perforatesurface, means to feed a substantially even relatively thin layer of material on said continuously advancing surface to form a continuously advancing main stream of material, means to continuously draw a gaseous stream through said continuously moving layer of material and surface to remove dust and other small impurities therefrom, receptacles placed at pre determined distances along said conveyor, each adapted to receive different graded qualities from said main stream and stands placed along the opposite side of said surface at corresponding predetermined distances spaced below said surface and means to con-' tinuously weigh the graded stream of material. c

3. In a machine for obtaining standar grades of mohair or like material,,in combination, a continuously moving perforate surface, means to feed a substantially even relatively thin layer of material on said continuously advancing surface to form a con-- tinuously advancing main stream of material, receptacles spaced at predetermined distances along said conveyor each adapted to receive different graded qualities from said main stream and stands spaced along the opposite side of said surface at corresponding predetermined distances spaced below said surface, storage bins for said graded material and means to continuously lead the said'graded stream of material to said storage bins.

4. In a machine for obtaining standard grades of mohair or like material, in combination, a continuously moving perforate surface, means to open up and feed a sub stantially even relatively thin layer of material on said continuously advancing surface to form a continuously advancing main stream of material, receptacles spaced at predetermined distances along said conveyor each adapted to receive different graded qualities from said main stream and stands spaced along the opposite side of said surface at corresponding predetermined distances spaced below said surface and means to continuous. ly weigh said graded stream of material.

5. In a machine for obtaining standard grades of mohair or like material, in combi nation, a continuously moving perforate surface, means to open up and feed a substantially even relatively thin layer of material on said continuously advancing surface to form a continuously advancing main stream of material, means to continuously draw a gaseous stream through said continuously face, storage bins for said graded material and means to continuously lead said graded stream of material to said storage bins.

6'. In a machine for obtainlng standard grades of mohair or like material, in combination, a continuously moving woven wire conveyor having the upper surface thereof moving in a substantially horizontal plane, means to open up and feed a substantially even relatively thin layer of material on said continuously advancing upper surface to form a continuously advancing main stream of material, means to continuously draw a gaseous stream downwards through said continuously moving layer of material and surface to remove dust and other small impurities therefrom, receptacles spaced at predetermi'ned distances along said conveyor each adapted to receive a difierent class of graded qualities from said main stream, stands spaced along the opposite side of said conveyor at corresponding predetermined distances spaced below said surface and means to continuously weigh the graded stream of material. y

7 In a machine for obtaining standard grades of mohair or like material, in combination, a continuously moving woven wire conveyor having the upper surface thereof moving in a substantially horizontalplane, means to open up and feed a, substantially even relatively thin layer of material on said continuously advancing upper surface to form a continuously advancing main stream of material, means to continuously draw a gaseous stream downwards through said continuously moving layer of material and surface to remove dust and other small impurities therefrom, receptacles spaced at predetermined distances along said conveyor each adapted to receive different graded qualities from said main stream, stands placed along the opposite side of said conveyor at corresponding predetermined distances spaced be low said surface, storage bins for said graded material and means to continuously lead said graded stream of material to said storage bins.

8. In a machine for obtaining standard grades of mohair or like material, in combi-' nation, a continuously moving woven wire conveyor having the upper surface thereof moving in a substantially horizontal plane, picker means to open up and feed a substantially even relatively thin layer of material on said continuously advancing uppersurface to form a continuously advancing main stream of material, means to continuously draw a gaseous stream downwards through said continuously moving layer of material and surface to remove'dust and other small impurities therefrom, receptacles spaced at predetermined distances along said conveyor each adapted to receive a different class of gradedaqualities from said main. stream,

' stands spaced along the opposite side of said conveyor at corresponding predetermined distances spaced below said surface, means to continuously weigh the graded stream of material, storage bins for said graded ma terial and means to continuously lead said.

lgraded stream of material to said, storage lIlS.

9. In a machine for obtaining standard grades of mohair or like material, in combination, a continuously moving woven wire conveyor having the upper surface thereof movthrough said stream of moving material to In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WHJLIAM CHESHIRE.

. ing in a substantially horizontal plane, means 1 to open up and feed a. substantially even relatlvely thin layer of material on said contlnuously advancing upper surface to form a continuously advancing main stream of material', means to continuously draw a gaseous stream downwards through sald cont1nuously moving layer of material and surface to remove dust and other small impurities therefrom, receptacles spaced at predetermined distances along said conveyor each adapted to receive a different class of graded qualities from said main stream, stands spaced along the opposite side of said conveyor at corre-' I sponding predetermined distances spaced below said surface, means to continuously weigh the graded stream of material, storage bins for said graded material, means to continuously lead said graded stream of material to said storage bins and means for adj ustably varying the speed of the conveyor.

10. A method of sorting mohair or like material which comprises spreading a sub stantiallycontmuous layer of said material on a continuously moving perforate conveyor, continuously'movmg sald conveyor and thin layer of said materlal to form a continuous moving thin stream of saidmaterial, passing 1 a continuous supply of gaseous material through said stream of moving material to remove dust and small impurities therefrom and selectively separating single graded.

classes of impurities from said moving stream at spaced fixed points relative to said movlng stream, whereby said sorted stream may consist of graded material and said classified I impurities may form separated standard grades Y of material of different classes from i that of the said stream.

11. A method of sorting mohair or like 7 material which-comprises spreading a layer of said material on a moving perforate conveyor, moving said conveyor and layer of said material to form a moving stream of said material, passing a supply of gaseous material

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