US3663993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for plucking a dense mass of fibers
Assignee: Crompton and Knowles Corp
•
Filing: 1971-02-22
•
Granted: 1972-05-23
•
Expires: 1991-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A fiber bale plucker in which the bale is maintained in plucking engagement with a plucking cylinder by a hydraulically operated lifting platform while the plucking cylinder, containing plucking pins traverses along the contacting surface of the bale in a plucking stroke. The plucking cylinder is operated from an air cylinder which can reverse the direction of the plucking cylinder for a return stroke. There are valves which are operated at the end of each stroke to change the operating direction of the air cylinder and to operate a hydraulic cylinder to move the bale away from the plucking cylinder at the end of a plucking stroke and to move the bale toward the plucking cylinder at the end of the return stroke of the plucking cylinder. Aerodynamic flow means are used to doff fibers from the plucking pins and to convey the fibers to their destination.
Inventors
- 👤 James H Roberson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:06
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01G; D01G7/00; D01G7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for plucking a bale of fiber comprising: a. rotary plucking means; b. a pair of elongated spaced guide members for supporting said plucking means; c. means for rotating said plucking means; d. means for traversing said rotary plucking means along the longitudinal axes of said guide members in one direction at a first rate of speed and in the opposite direction at a second rate of speed greater than said first rate of speed; and e. means for presenting a bale of fiber in contact with said plucking means while said plucking means traverses in said one direction and for moving said bale Out of contact with said plucking means while said plucking means traverses in the opposite direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for plucking a bale of fiber comprising: a. rotary plucking means; b. a pair of elongated spaced guide members for supporting said plucking means; c. means for rotating said plucking means; d. means for traversing said rotary plucking means along the longitudinal axes of said guide members in one direction at a first rate of speed and in the opposite direction at a second rate of speed greater than said first rate of speed; and e. means for presenting a bale of fiber in contact with said plucking means while said plucking means traverses in said one direction and for moving said bale Out of contact with said plucking means while said plucking means traverses in the opposite direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for plucking a bale of fiber comprising: a. a bridge having a plurality of spaced members; b. rotary plucking means disposed adjacent one side of said bridge and having a plurality of spaced pins adapted to pass between said spaced members; c. means for rotating said plucking means; d. means for traversing said rotary plucking means along the longitudinal axes of said members in one direction at a first rate of speed and in the opposite direction at a second rate of speed greater than said first rate of speed; e. means for presenting a bale of fiber in contact with the other side of said bridge at a substantially constant pressure while said plucking means traverses in said one direction and for moving said bale out of contact with said bridge while said plucking means traverses in the opposite direction; and f. means for doffing and collecting tufts of fiber from the pins of said plucking means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for plucking a bale of fiber comprising: a. a bridge having a plurality of spaced members; b. rotary plucking means disposed adjacent one side of said bridge and having a plurality of spaced pins adapted to pass between said spaced members; c. means for rotating said plucking means; d. means for traversing said rotary plucking means along the longitudinal axes of said members in one direction at a first rate of speed and in the opposite direction at a second rate of speed greater than said first rate of speed; e. means for presenting a bale of fiber in contact with the other side of said bridge at a substantially constant pressure while said plucking means traverses in said one direction and for moving said bale out of contact with said bridge while said plucking means traverses in the opposite direction; and f. means for doffing and collecting tufts of fiber from the pins of said plucking means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The bale plucking apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said traversing means comprises: a. means for supporting said plucking means for rotation, said supporting means being mounted for traversal along the longitudinal axes of said bridge members; and b. a first fluid operated means for traversing said supporting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The bale plucking apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first fluid operated means comprises: a. a fluid cylinder; b. a piston reciprocable within said cylinder; c. a piston rod connected to said piston and operatively connected to said supporting means; d. means for selectively injecting fluid at either end of said fluid cylinder; and e. means for selectively venting fluid from either end of said fluid cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The bale plucking apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said supporting means for said plucking means comprises: a. a carriage having a pair of spaced depending arms for rotatably mounting said plucking means therebetween; b. roller means mounted on said depending arms; and c. track means for supporting and guiding said roller means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
The bale plucking apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for injecting fluid into said fluid cylinder comprises: a. a source of pressurized fluid supply; b. a first fluid line connected to one end of said fluid cylinder; c. a second fluid line connected to the other end of said fluid cylinder; d. a traverse valve connected to said source of pressurized fluid and operable to connect either said first fluid line or said second fluid line to said source of pressurized fluid; and e. means for operating said traverse valve at the end of each traverse of said plucking means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The bale plucking apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fluid venting means comprises a flow control valve in each of said first and second fluid flow lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bale plucking apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spaced pins move in a direction opposite to said one direction of traverse when passing between said spaced members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
The bale plucking apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bale presenting means comprises: a. a bale supporting platform mounted for moving said bale toward and away from said bridge; b. a second fluid operated means for moving said platform; and c. means responsive to the position of said platform for controlling the contact pressure between said bale and said bridge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The bale plucking means set forth in claim 9 wherein said position responsive means comprises: a. a reservoir containing fluid; b. adjustable pump means for pumping said fluid from said reservoir to said second fluid operated means at variable pressures; and c. means for controlling said pumping means in accordance with the position of said platform.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
The bale plucking apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wHerein said means for controlling the pumping means comprises: a. a cam slider affixed to said platform; b. a cam bar pivoted at one end and having a cam surface for engagement with said cam slider; and c. a pressure regulator having a biased plunger extending therefrom and positioned for yieldingly forcing said cam bar into engagement with said cam slider, said pressure regulator being adapted for controlling the pumping pressure of said pump in accordance with the position of said plunger and said cam surface being so disposed that movement of said platform toward and away from said bridge will cause said cam bar to vary the position of said plunger.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
The bale plucking apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said doffing and collecting means comprises: a. aerodynamic doffing means for creating an air flow across said pins when they are in the portion of their rotation furthest away from said bridge, said air flow being in the same direction of movement as said pins when they are in said furthest position for doffing tufts of fibers from said pins and; b. conveyor means located on the side of said plucking means toward which said air flows for collecting tufts doffed from said pins.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bale plucking apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said aerodynamic doffing means is a suction fan located adjacent said conveyor means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3239888A
Cited
US3389435A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |