US3198663A

US3198663A - Method of cleaning surfaces in textile mills

Info

Publication number: US3198663A
Application number: US211746A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sohler Hubert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-07-23
Filing date: 1962-07-23
Publication date: 1965-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-03

Description

Aug. 3, 1965 H. SOHLER METHOD OF CLEANING SURFACES IN TEXTILE MILLS Filed July 23, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HUBERT SOHLE-R. BYWfig/ A! irll.

ATTORNEYS Aug. 3, 1965 H. SOHLER METHOD OF CLEANING SURFACES IN TEXTILE MILLS Filed July 25, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HUBEET SoH LER ATTORNEYS Aug. 3, 1965 H. SOHLER METHOD OF CLEANING SURFACES IN TEXTILE MILLS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 23, 1962 INVENTOR: I90 usezr Son-n52 BYgMJIf'j HQ ML ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1965 H. SOHLER METHOD OF CLEANING SURFACES IN TEXTILE MILLS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 23.

INVENTOR BYW WAQh/Q ATTORNEYS Aug. 3, 1965 H. SOHLER METHOD OF CLEANING SURFACES IN TEXTILE MILLS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 23, 1962 5 n. aw m a a Wm m w .U Q m mm 2 m w & W

mm m

m m a I. 9 m m Aug. 3, 1965 H. SOHLER METHOD OF CLEANING SURFACES IN TEXTILE MILLS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 23, 1962 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,198,653 METHQD 0F CLEANHNG SURFAE IN TEXTILE MELS Hubert Solder, Maschlnenfabrik, Wangen, Allgau, Germany Filed July 23, 1962, Ser. No. 211,746 4 Claims. (Cl. 13421) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 42,381, filed July 12, 1960, now US. Patent No. 3,045,274, issued July 24, 1962, and entitled Traveling Suction Cleaner for Textile Mills.

This invention relates to a method of disposing of accumulations of lint and other loose foreign matter which normally accumulate on the floor and on parts of textile machines and other surfaces in a textile mill.

As is well known, in most textile operations, fly is generated by the textile material being processed on various machines and is suspended in the air and/or settles as lint on various parts of the machines, on the floor and on other surfaces Within the mill. Various methods, utilizing blowing devices or suction devices, or combinations thereof, have been used which involved blowing air onto the machines and other surfaces and/ or sucking air therefrom at points adjacent the machines and floors of the mill to remove lint and the like therefrom. More recently, traveling suction cleaning equipment has been provided with collection means movable with the traveling cleaner for collecting lint sucked thereinto while filtering the lint from the air during the collection thereof.

While such prior types of traveling suction cleaning devices have performed quite well in many respects, the filtering and collecting devices thereof have created somewhat of a problem because of lint becoming matted against, and restricting the flow of air through, the filtering device. Whenever the flow of air is restricted, it is apparent that this reduces the force of the suction current. Also, efficient removal of lint from collecting devices of this character has been hampered because of the tendency of textile fibers to coalesce and cling to the walls of the collection devices.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved method for disposing of lint and other foreign matter in a textile mill which comprises creating one or more traveling air suction currents adjacent textile machines and/ or the fioor thcrebeneath, moving the suction currents along predetermined paths to attract and entrap foreign matter in the suction currents, conveying the suction currents and foreign matter entrapped thereby to a filtering surface moving generally with said currents and wherein the air passes through the filtering surface while the lint is entrapped thereagainst, wiping the entrapped lint from the filtering surface into a collection chamber moving with the filtering surface, and periodically opening the collection chamber to empty the contents therefrom.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method of the character described and including the additional step of producing a blast of air in the collection chamber to assist in the removal of the contents therefrom.

in its preferred embodiment, apparatus disclosed herein for carrying out the present method comprises an overhead, rail mounted traveling suction fan having one or more suction tubes or conduits communicating with the inlet thereof. A filter, carried by the fan, entraps lint received from the conduits as the air flows through the filter. Wiping means moves against the filter, continuously or intermittently, and wipes the lint from the filter intoa collection chamber which is also carried by the fan, and means is provided for periodically opening said chamber to remove the collected lint therefrom.

Fatenttecl Au 3, 19135 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 FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a first embodiment of an improved combination traveling suction and blowing cleaner for carrying out the method of the present invention and showing the same mounted upon a track located above a row of textile machines, with portions of the fan housing broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the traveling cleaner looking at the right-hand side of the upper portion of FZGURE 1, but omitting the dependent tubes from the other side thereof and also omitting the textile machine;

FIGURE 3 is a view looking at the opposite side of the traveling cleaner from that shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged isometric view of the improved traveling cleaner with the dependent suction and blowing conduits being omitted, with parts being broken away at the suction compartment and collection chamber, and showing a portion of a stationary receptacle adjacent the front end of the trackway;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the traveling cleaner, showing the track and carriage in elevation, and being taken substantially along line 5--5 in FIGURE 1;

FEGURE 6 is a front elevation of the traveling cleaner, with parts broken away, looking at the opposite end thereor" from that shown in FIGURE 1 and also looking at the left-hand side of FIGURES 3 and 5;

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view similar to FIGURE 4, but showing a second embodiment of the traveling cleaner for carrying out the method of the present invention including modified forms of door means for the traveling collection chamber and closure means between said chamber and the suction compartment;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 88 in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is another isometric view similar to FIG-- URE 4, but showing a third embodiment of the traveling cleaner;

FIGURE 10 is a front end elevation of the structure shown in FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 11 (sheet 3) is an enlarged side elevation similar to FIGURE 3, with parts broken away, but showing a further embodiment of the traveling cleaner, wherein the filter wiping means is intermittently driven.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the first form of apparatus for etlecting the method of this invention is shown in FIGURES 16 in the form of a traveling combination suction and blowing cleaner which, in FIG-' URE l, is movable along a trackway or rail constructionltl suitably supported above a row of textile machines 11, only one of which is shown in the form of a roving frame. It is apparent that the traveling cleaner may be used for disposing of lint generating and settling upon the floor as a result of any textile operation and for cleaning many different types of textile machines, such as spinning frames, carding machines, looms, draw frames, twisters, Winders, knitting machines, etc.

The trackway It? comprises a pair of spaced parallel rails or tracks l2, 12 supported on brackets 13 suitably mounted upon posts 14, only one of which is shown. A

wheeled carriage l5 movable along trackway it includes a gear housing 16 in which pairs of wheels 2t), 22 are mounted.

Wheels

28, 22 are suitably driven by means such as that disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,011,763 granted to W. B. Hodge et al. on Aug. 20, 1935. In order to reverse the direction of rotation of

wheels

20, 22, a shifting rod 23 projects from opposite ends of gear housing 16.

Carriage 15 also includes an electric motor 24 which I drives the mechanism within housing 16 in substantially the manner disclosed in said patent, and which also carries and drives an impeller or fan disposed within a main fan housing broadly designated at 26. Fan housing 26 includes

opposed side walls

27, 28, upper and

lower walls

31, 32 and opposed end walls 33, 34. End walls 33, 34 may be termed as respective front and rear walls for orientation purposes.

Fan housing 25 is divided into a blowing compartment 35 and a suction compartment 35 by means of a filtering medium embodied in a substantially horizontally disposed and substantially flat filter or screen 37, the frame of which is suitably secured to opposed side walls 27, 28 (FIGURES 1, 2 and 3) and end walls 33, 34 (FIGURE 5). Thus, impeller 25 is enclosed only within the lower, blower, compartment 35. The top wall 31 of fan housing 26 has a relatively large ingress opening 43 therein which establishes communication between suction cornpartment 36 and a manifold or duct 41 overlying and being suitably secured to top wall 31. Manifold 41 may be considered as a part of suction compartment 36. This suction compartment may be termed as an overhead filtering zone.

Opposed side portions of manifold 41 extend beyond the main fan housing 26 and are provided with downwardly and outwardly directed air inlets 42;, 43, 44 to which the upper ends of respective suction tubes, sleeves or

conduits

45, 46, 47 are communicatively connected. The lower portions of

opposed side walls

27, 25 of main fan housing 26 are provided with respective pairs of

air outlets 5t

51 and 52, 53 to which respective blowing tubes, sleeves or

conduits

54, 55, 56, 57 are communicatively connected.

It is important that at least one of the suction tubes terminates in close proximity to the floor F upon which the lint and other waste material settles as it is generated by the textile manufacturing operation. The free ends or openings of the remaining tubes may terminate adjacent various parts of the machines past which the traveling cleaner moves. In this instance, suction tube 47, which is preferably of a flexible material, terminates in the form of a nozzle 60, closely adjacent the floor F.

The

remaining tubes

45, 46 and 5457 are provided with respective nozzles or nozzle openings d16 at or adjacent their free ends, which are positioned so as to travel adjacent various surfaces to be cleaned.

In this instance, suction nozzle 61 moves in a path above a sliver feed roll 76 suction nozzle 62 moves in a path closely adjacent the delivery rolls of a drafting zone 71, blowing nozzle opening 63 moves in a path above and rearwardly of the drafting zone 71, and nozzle opening 64, which is in the form of an elongate slot provided in the lower portion of tube 55, directs air downwardly toward sliver guide rolls 72 and feed rolls 74 of machines 11. Nozzle opening 65 is formed in the inner surface of blowing tube 56 and directs air inwardly toward yarn packages 73 and adjacent elements of machines 11, and blowing nozzle opening 66 directs air downwardly toward the fiyers 74 of the machine, for example.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that, as the traveling cleaner moves along trackway ltl, the rotary impeller 25 creates a continuous suction current at each suction nozzle 60, 61, 62 while creating a continuous blowing current at each blowing nozzle 6366. Thus, blowing nozzles 63-66 dislodge lint and other light material from corresponding parts of the machines 11 over which carriage15 moves, while the suction current at the floor nozzle causes lint and other light material upon the floor F to be drawn thereinto through the tube 47, inlet 44, manifold 41 and into suction compartment 36.

The suction nozzles 61, 62 draw lint thereinto from the respective machine parts embodied in the feed rolls 76 and the drafting zone 71, from whence it is conveyed through the

respective suction tubes

45, 45,

inlets

42, 43 and manifold 41 into the suction compartment 36 of main fan housing 26. A medial portion of manifold 41 is preferably provided with a transverse partition 81') (FIGURE 1) therein to assist in directing lint and other light material from manifold 41 into suction compartment 36. It is apparent that lint and other light material drawn into suction compartment 36 is drawn against the upper surface of filter 37 where it is filtered from the air before the air is exhausted through air outlets 50-53 and the respective blowing tubes 54-57.

In order to clean the filter, to maintain efiicient suction in the

suction tubes

45, 46, 47, and to collect and store the lint and other light material during movement of the traveling cleaner, and to also facilitate subsequent disposition of the lint and other light material, the present method includes the step of mechanically wiping or rub bing the lint off the upper surface of filter 37, either continuously or intermittently, during travel of the traveling cleaner. To this end, there is provided at least one wiper element 81 (FIGURES 1, 4, 5 and 6), shown in the form of an elongate brush, extending from one side to the other of the upper surface of filter 37. Brush 81 engages, and thus applies a mechanical wiping action to, filter 37. Brush S1 is suitably secured to a pair of endless pliable elements or belts 82, 83 supported on respective pairs of rollers or pulleys 84, 85 disposed closely adjacent

respective side walls

27, 28 of main fan housing 25 within suction compartment 36.

The front pulleys 84, 85 are mounted on a shaft 86, and rear pulleys 84, 85 are mounted on a shaft 87. Shafts $6, 87 may be journaled in

side walls

27, 23, but are shown journaled in suitable bearings which may be carried by the frame of filter 37 or by

side walls

27, 23. It should be noted that brush 81 may be in the form of a flexible plastic, rubber, leather or other sheet material or it may be provided with bristles, as shown.

In order to drive pulleys 84, 85 and the respective belts 82, 83, the rear shaft 87 has one end of a suitable flexible cable or Bowden wire 90 attached thereto, whose other end is connected to the shaft on which one of the carriage wheels 20 is loosely mounted. As is clearly shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 12 of said U.S. Patent No. 2,011,763, the shafts on which pulleys 29 are mounted may each rotate continuously in one direction during movement of the traveling cleaner in either direction along trackway It), so that wiper element 81 may be driven in one direction throughout operation of the traveling cleaner.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, it will be observed that the upper portion of the front end wall 33 is normally open and the front upper portions of side walls 2'7, 28 extend forwardly to support a collection chamber 92 which extends downwardly, forwardly of blowing compartment 35, and is provided with a discharge opening 93 at its lower end which is normally closed by a door means 94. It will be observed in FIGURE 4 that discharge opening 93 is of substantially lesser width, with respect to the lateral axis of the traveling cleaner, than the bottom Wall of collection chamber 92 and, preferably, an inclined false bottom or platform 96 extends upwardly from one edge of the opening 93 to the opposite side wall of collection chamber 92. Thus, as wiper element 81 moves in a clockwise direction in FIGURES 4 and 5, lint and other light material collected upon filter 37 falls off the front end of the frame of filter 37 and is deposited upon the inclined false bottom 96 and the normally closed door means 94.

The present method also includes the steps of automatically periodically opening and emptying the traveling collection chamber while transferring collected lint and the like into a suitable receptacle. Accordingly, means are provided for automatically opening door means 94 to empty the contents of collection chamber 92 into a receptacle 169 which is preferably stationary. In this instance, trackway 19 is double-ended and receptacle 1% is suitably supported adjacent the front endof trackway it). Receptacle 160 may be in the form of a closed container whose upper wall is provided with an opening 1991 which preferably corresponds in size to the egress opening 93 of collection chamber 92.

The front wall of receptacle 153% may be provided with a suitable door (not shown) to facilitate subsequent removal of the contents of the stationary receptacle 1% from time to time. Of course, if so desired, receptacle 1% may be connected to a suitable suction conduit system for carrying the lint and other light material deposited therein from the traveling collection chamber 92 to points remote from the textile machines 11 or other textile manufacturing operation.

In order to open door means 534 of collection chamber 92, it will be observed in FIGURE 6 that one side edge of door means 94 is hingedly connected, at 193, to one side wall of collection chamber 2, this particular side wall being formed as a portion or" the side wall 27 of main fan housing 26. In order to operate door means 94, it is provided with an extension res (FIGURE 4) to which an arm 1595 is connected. The free end of arm 7&5 has cam follower 1% mounted thereon.

As carriage approaches the front end of tracliway 10, follower 166 engages a fixed cam plate 107, of sinuous form, so that movement of follower res in engagement with plate 107 moves door means 94 to open position. A suitable spring 114 assists in returning door means 94 to closed position, in a manner to be later described, during reverse movement of the traveling cleaner and during corresponding movement of the follower 1% out of engagement with cam plate 1&7. The weight of follower 196 and arm 135 also assist in closing door means 94.

In order to assist in removing and discharging lint and other light material from collection chamber 92 whenever door means 94 is opened, means are provided for closing off communication between suction compartment 36 and collection chamber 92, and for directing a blast of air into collection chamber 12. it will be observed in FIGURE 4 that one embodiment of the means for closing off communication between suction compartment 36 and collection chamber 92 comprises a curved closure member, valve or gate iii? which is normally positioned adjacent the front wall of collection chamber 92 and at the upper portion thereof.

Gate 116 is fixed to a shaft ill journaled in the upper front portions of

side walls

27, 28, and one end thereof has a crank 112 fixed thereon to which the upper end of a link 1133 is pivotally connected. Link 113 preferably has tension spring 114 interposed therein, and the lower end of link 113 is connected to one side of door means 94, as at 115. Thus, as door means 94 swings downwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 4, it is apparent that gate 116 is moved to closed position so that its lower portion moves against the frame of filter 3'7, thus substantially closing the upper end of collection chamber 92 with respect to suction compartment 36.

Also, when door means 94 is moved to open position, compressed air is admitted into collection chamber 92. through an opening or slot 116 (FIGURE 6) formed in that portion of side wall 23 defining collection chamber 92 and immediately above the uppermost portion of inclined false bottom 96. To this end, it will be observed that the front portion of a conduit 112% communicates with slot 116, and this conduit 12% extends rearwardly and is communicatively connected to an auxiliary blowing chamber 121 which is closed with the exception of communicating with the main blowing chamber 35 through a suitable opening 122 (FIGURE 3) formed in the bottom wall 32 of main fan housing 26.

In order to control the flow of air from blowing chamber 35 into collection chamber d2, conduit 12% has a butterfly valve 124 journaled therein, whose shaft 125 projects outwardly from conduit 126 and has a crank 125 fixed thereon. Crank 126 is normally urged upwardly, to urge valve 124 to closed position, by a spring 127. A

pliable cable 130, connected to the free end of crank 126,

extends downwardly beneath and in engagement with a pulley 131 suitably journaled on the side wall 2%, and then extends inwardly and is connected, as at 132 (FIGURE 4), to the opposite side edge of the door means 94 from that to which link 113 is connected.

Cable 139 preferably has a tension spring 133 interposed therein so that, when valve 124 has been moved to fully opened position with downward movement of door means 94, door means 94 may be moved further to fully opened position while valve 124 remains stationary. In order to limit the movement of valve 124, a suitable stop member or abutment 135 (FIGURE 3) may be provided within conduit 12% which abutment is engaged by the butterfly valve 124. g

It is apparent that, since impeller 25 rotates continuously and directs air downwardly and outwardly, whenever butterny valve 124 is opened in the manner heretofore described, air flows through the auxiliary blowing chamber 121, through conduit 12% and through opening 116 and thus flows into collection chamber 92. Therefore, each time the traveling cleaner approaches the end of each forward movement thereof, door 94 is opened automatically, gate 116 is closed, and valve 124 is opened so that a blast of air is directed into chamber 2, along the upper surface of the inclined false bottom 96, to assist in removing collected lint and other light material from collection chamber 92, from whence it falls through opening iii into stationary receptacle 1%.

It is apparent that gate lit) is provided so that the blast of air flowing through opening 1H does not reduce the effectiveness of the suction created in the suction cornpartment Also, gate lit prevents fan 25 from drawing l mit from collection chamber 92 back into suction compartment 36 when door means 9d is open. This further assists in keeping the filter 37 clean.

As heretofore stated, gear housing 16 of carriage 15 contains a driving and reversing mechanism for the wheels 25?, 22 of carriage 15, which reversing mechanism is operated by shifting rod 23, as disclosed in said U.S. Patent No. 2,011,763. In order to move shifting rod 23 relative to carriage 15 at the end of each stroke of carriageli, each end of trackway It is provided with an abutment 134, only one of which is shown in FIGURES 3, 5 and 6, which is engaged by the corresponding end of shifting rod 23 so that further movement of carriage 15 causes shifting rod 23 to move in the opposite direction from that of the direction of movement of carriage 15, thus reversing the direction of travel of the traveling cleaner.

Second embodiment of the traveling cleaning apparatus The second embodiment of apparatus for effecting the method of the present invention shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 has many parts which are similar to those parts of the first embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 through 6. Therefore, where applicable, the parts shown in

FZGURFS

7 and 8 shall bear the same reference characters as like parts shown in FIGURES 1 through 6 with the small letter a afiixed thereto, in order to avoid repetitive descripticn.

The second embodiment of the apparatus differs from the first embodiment in that air is exhausted from the blowing compartment downwardly toward the machines below the track without using tubes extending to the various machine parts, although such tubes may be used, if desired. Further, the structure of FIGURES 7 and 8 includes door opening and closing means for the collection chamber, and gate means between the collection chamber and the suction compartment, which differ from the struc ture shown in FIGURES 1 through 6, and which will now be described in detail.

It will be observed in FIGURES 7 and 8 that the discharge opening 93a for collection chamber 92a extends throughout the width of collection chamber 2a, and door means 94a is hingedly connected, as at lil3a, to the 7 rear wall of collection chamber 92a. Hinge pin M311 (FIGURE 8) has a crank 149 which projects outwardly with respect to door means 94a and has a follower 141 thereon.

During normal travel of the traveling cleaner, the weight of crank arm 14%? and follower 141 is sufficient to maintain door means 94a in the closed position shown in FIGURE 7. If so desired, a suitable spring, such as a torsion spring 142 (FIGURE 8), may be provided to assist in maintaining the door means 94a in closed position. The front end of trackway 19a has a stop or abutment 14d projecting upwardly therefrom and disposed in the path of travel of follower 141.

As the traveling cleaner moves forwardly, from right to left in FIGURES 7 and 8, with the door means 4a in the normally closed position, the follower 141 engages abutment 144, thus swinging door means 94a to the open position (FIGURE 8) for emptying the contents thereof into the stationary receptacle liltla. As the abutment 144- is engaged by follower 14-1, shifting rod 23a engages abutment 134:: to reverse the direction of movement of the traveling cleaner as door means 94a reaches fully opened position. It is apparent that door means 94a returns to closed position as the reverse movement of the traveling cleaner is effected.

As is the case in the first embodiment of the traveling cleaner, gate means is provided for closing the upper end of collection chamber 92a each time door means 94a is opened. In this instance, said gate means comprises a pair of gates, valves or

closure members

145, 146 whose distal edges are suitably secured to respective hinge rods or shafts 1427, 143 journaled in side walls 27a, 25a of collection chamber 92a and disposed on substantially the same level as filter 37a. Corresponding ends of hinge shafts 147, 143 extend through wall 23a and have

respective cranks

151, 152 fixed thereon.

Pliable cables or

cords

153, 154 are connected to the

cranks

151, 152. The

cables

153, 154 pass beneath

respective pulleys

155, 156, then pass inwardly toward each other and over

respective pulleys

157, 153. Pulleys 155-158 may be suitably supported and journaled on side wall 28a.

Cables

153, 154 extend downwardly from

pulleys

157, 153 and are suitably connected to one side edge of door means 94a, as at 169. Cables 153), 154 may be interconnected in the form of a single cable, if desired.

It is apparent that, when door means 94a is swung from closed to open position, the

cables

153, 154 are pulled downwardly therewith and swing the

gates

145, 146 from the opened position of FIGURE 7 to the closed position tion, although suitable spring means maybe provided for this purpose, if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In FIGURES 7 and 8, it will be noted that, instead of providing means for connecting blowing conduits to opposed sides of the main fan housing for communication with the blowing compartment, the lower rear portion of main fan housing a is provided with one or more air outlets 165 which are connected to rear wall 34a of housing 25a for communication with blowing compartment a. As shown in FIGURE 8, outlets may terminate above the level of trackway 10a, although it is to be understood that they may also be provided with blowing tubes of substantially the type disclosed with respect to the first embodiment of the traveling cleaner.

There may be instances in which the size of the suction tubes communicating with suction compartment 36a or with the suction compartment of any of the embodiments of the apparatus may undesirably restrict the inward fiow of air through the screen or filter 37a and through the blowing compartment. Accordingly, the second embodiment of the apparatus includes a regulator valve construction (FIGURES 7 and 8) broadly designated at 167 and which is shown in the form of a plate or valve member 171 guided for sliding movement against the upper surface of top wall v1a by suitable guide members or angle clips 171. The top wall 31a of main fan housing 26a has an elongate transversely extending slot or opening 173 therein and over which the valve plate 179 may be removed to regulate the effective size of the slot 1'73. Thus, in the event that the amount of air which may flow through main fan housing 26a is too restricted, valve member may then be moved to increase the size of the opening 173, as desired.

The remaining parts of the second embodiment of the traveling cleaner shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 may be identical to or substantially the same as corresponding parts of the first embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 through 6. Therefore, a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Third embodiment of the traveling cleaning apparatus Referring to FIGURES 9 and 10, a third embodiment of traveling cleaner is shown in which the manifold of the first and second embodiments is omitted, and means are provided to assist in supporting the belts which support the wiper element or brush. Further, the suction conduits are connected to the main fan housing in a manner somewhat different from that disclosed with respect to the first and second embodiments of the traveling cleaner. In all other respects, the traveling cleaner of FIGURES 9 and 10 may be identical to or substantially the same as the traveling cleaner of FIGURES 1 through 6, and, therefore, those parts in FIGURES 9 and 10 which correspond to parts shown in FIGURES 1 through 6 shall bear the same reference characters with the small letter b" added, in order to avoid repetitive description.

The top wall 31b of the main fan housing 261) in FIG- URES 9 and 10 need not have an opening therein for ingress of air from the suction conduits. However, the top wall 311) is equipped with a regulator valve mechanism 167b which may be identical to the regulator valve 167 of FIGURES 7 and 8. Accordingly, the valve mem- 1763, guides 1'71b and opening 17312 of FIGURE 9 correspond to the valve member 1'70, guides 171 and opening 173 of FIGURE 8.

Since the traveling cleaner of FIGURES 9 and 10 is devoid of a manifold such as that indicated at 41 in FIGURE 1, conduits 136, 131 are connected to and extend through opposed side walls 27!), 28b of main fan housing 255 for communication with suction compartment 3617. Although

suction conduits

189, 181 may be the same as suction conduits 45, 4'5, 47 of FIGURE 1, their upper ends in FIGURES 9 and 10 are shown in the form of flared, elongate and relatively narrow hollow members whose proximal or inner portions are disposed between the upper and lower runs of the respective

endless belts

82b, 83b. The proximal portions of the

conduits

189, 181 within suction compartment 36b are preferably of the same vertical height or thickness as the diameter of the pulleys 34b, 85b to thus assist in supporting the upper and lower runs of the

belts

82b, 83b between the respective pulleys 84b, 8512.

In all other respects, the structure shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 may be the same as the structures shown in FIGURES 16 and, therefore, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Fourth embodiment of the traveling cleaning apparatus Referring to FIGURE 11, a fourth embodiment of the traveling cleaner for effecting the method of the present invention is shown which, with the exception of the means for driving the wiper element or brush for the filter, is identical to the first embodiment and, therefore, those parts in FIGURE 11 corresponding to like parts in FIGURES 1 through 6 shall bear the same reference is n 9 characters with the small letter c avoid repetitive description.

in the first three embodiments of the traveling cleaner, the wiper element for cleaning the filter is moved continuously. if so desired, the wiper element of each of said three embodiments of the invention may be moved intermittently, in steps of a partial revolution, a complete revolution or more than a revolution by means of mechanism such as is shown in FIGURE 11, for example, and which will now be described in detail.

As disclosed in said US. Patent No. 2,011,763, the shaft on which the front wheels of carriage are mounted rotates continuously in one direction while the rear shaft, on which the rear wheels of the carriage are loosely mounted rotates continuously in the opposite direction. Accordingly, it will be observed in FIGURE 11 that the front shaft 189 on which corresponding wheel 22c is mounted, has a crank 19% fixed thereon which has an eccentric pin 191 projecting outwardly therefrom. As crank 190 rotates with shaft 189, it moves into engagement with successive arms 192 of a spider wheel 193 journaled on one side of carriage 150. Spider wheel 193 has one end or" a flexible cable or Bowden wire 194 connected thereto and Whose other end is connected to the shaft 87 on which the rear roller 840 is fixedly mounted.

Thus, each time disk or crank 190 engages one of the arms 192 of spider wheel 193, this transmits rotation from the continuously rotating crank 190 to spider wheel 193 which, in turn, imparts intermittent or step-by-step rotation to the belts which move the wiper element or brush 81c. It is apparent that each step in movement of wiper element 51c may include a complete revolution or partial revolution and, during each such step, the fan may be slowed down so as to reduce the fiow of air inwardly through filter 370, although the traveling cleaner may continue to move.

It is thus seen that I have provided several embodiments of a novel traveling cleaning apparatus for carrylog out my novel and improved method of cleaning textile machines and/ or floors therebeneath and wherein lint and other light material is conveyed from the various parts of the machines and from the floor into a suction compartment, where it is deposited upon a filter as the air passes through the filter. Also, it is seen that I have provided a novel means for cleaning the filter by wiping the lint and other light material off the filter and into a collection chamber adjacent one side or one end of the filter, along with means for automatically opening and closing the collection chamber for emptying the contents thereof into a stationary receptacle at the predetermined intervals.

It is seen further that I have provided means whereby the Wiper element may move continuously or intermittently across the upper surface of the filter wherein the fan may be stopped while the filter is being wiped and also, wherein I have provided means for closing the suction compartment with respect to the collection chamber whenever the collection chamber is opened for emptying the contents therefrom. Further, it is seen that I have provided means for admitting air under pressure into the collection chamber from the blowing compartment of the traveling cleaner whenever the door means of the collection chamber is opened for emptying the contents therefrom.

In the drawings and specification there 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 disposing of fiber Waste generated as an incident of a textile manufacturing operation and settling on the floor of a textile mill which comprises added, in order to (a) applying a. confined area of suction air currents at the floor level,

(b) moving said area of suction currents along a predesignated path adjacent the floor and adjacent one side of a row of textile machines to attract and entrap the fiber waste,

(c) conveying said suction currents and entrapped fiber waste upwardly above said textile machines to an overhead zone traveling in unison with said confined area, while (d) directing the suction current through a filter in said traveling overhead zone and entrapping the fiber waste against said filter,

(e) simultaneously applying a mechanical'wiping action against the filter by moving a wiper element, traveling with the overhead zone, across and in contact with said filter to wipe and remove fiber Waste from said filter, while (i) utilizing said wiping action for moving the fiber waste from said filter into a collection chamber moving with said overhead zone, and

g) periodically emptying the collected fiber waste' from said collection chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, including the step of forming a substantially air-tight barrier between said filter and said collection chamber prior to said emptying of said collection chamber to prevent air from entering said collection chamber as a consequence of the how of air through said filter.

3. The rnethod of claim 2 which includes the further step of introducing air into said collection chamber to aid in removing said collected fiber Waste therefrom.

4. A method of disposing of fiber waste generated as an incident of a textile manufacturing operation and settling on the fioor of a textile mill which comprises (a) applying a confined area of suction air' currents at the fioor level,

(0) conveying said suction currents and entrapped fiber waste upwardly above said textile machines to an overhead zone traveling in unison with said confined area, while (d) directing the suction currents through a filter screen in said traveling overhead zone and entrapping the fiber waste against said filter screen,

(e) simultaneously applying a mechanical wiping action against the filter screen by moving a brush, travcling with the overhead zone, across and in contact with said filter screen to Wipe and remove fiber waste from said filter screen, while (f) utilizing said Wiping action for moving the fiber waste from said filter screen into a collection chamber moving with said overhead zone, and

(g) periodically emptying the collected fiber waste from said collection chamber.

References tilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,656,031 1/28 Aalborg 55--297 1,791,574 2/31 Pauly 55-297 X 1,993,231 3/35 Tunstall 15352 X 2,939,408 6/60 Greenberg 15-345 X 2,976,558 3/61 Fain 153l2 3,011,925 12/61 Holtzclaw 134-21 3,053,700 9/62 Kulp 134-21 X 3,055,038 9/62 Black 15--312.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,143,925 4/57 France.

MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner.

DQNALL H. SYLVESTER, Examiner.

Claims

1. A METHOD OF DISPOSING OF FIBER WASTE GENERATED AS AN INCIDENT OF A TEXTILE MANUFACTURING OPEATION AND SETTLING ON THE FLOR OF A TEXTILE MILL WHICH COMPRISES (A) APPLYING A CONFINED AREA OF SUCTIONAIR CURRENTS AT THE FLOOR LEVEL, (B) MOVING SAID AREA OF SUCTION CURRENTS ALONG A PREDESIGNATED PATH ADJACENT THE FLOOR AND ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF A ROW OF TEXTILE MACHINES TO ATTRACT AND ENTRAP THE FIBER WASTE, (C) CONVEYING SAID SUCTION CURRENTS AND ENTRAPPED FIBER WASTE UPWARDLY ABOVE SAID TEXTILE MACHINES TO AN OVERHEAD ZONE TRAVELING IN UNISON WITH SAID CONFINED AREA, WHILE (D) DIRECTING THE SUCTION CURRENT THROUGH A FILTER IN SAID TRAVELING OVERHEAD ZONE AND ENTRAPPING THE FIBER WASTE AGAINST SAID FILTER.