Traveling pneumatic cleaner with electrostatic charge reducing means and method

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 wherein the traveling of a flowing stream of air along the textile strand forming machine comprises moving a traveling pneumatic cleaner along a track extending in predetermined spaced relation to the textile strand forming machine.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 wherein the traveling of a flowing stream of air along the textile strand forming machine comprises inducing air in a room enclosing the textile strand forming machine to flow through a stream directing conduit and emitting the flowing stream with particular direction, volume and velocity from an orifice movable along the textile strand forming machine.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of reducing electrostatic charges by electrically charging the air stream comprises ionizing the constituents of the air just prior to direction thereof toward the strand forming stations.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of reducing electrostatic charges comprises repeatedly and periodically bathing the strand forming stations with ionized constituents of the air stream.

Claim 7

Apparatus for facilitating formation of textile materials into strands at a series of strand forming stations spaced along a textile strand forming machine such as a spinning frame and comprising, in combination, air blowing means for traveling a flowing stream of air along a textile strand forminG machine and sequentially directing the air stream toward the individual strand forming stations in the series and towards strands being formed at the stations, and electrical charging means mounted on said air blowing means for reducing electrostatic charges otherwise accumulated in forming the strands at the stations by electrically charging said air stream so that resistance of the textile material to orderly formation into strands which otherwise results from electrostatic charges present at the strand forming stations is overcome.

Claim 8

Apparatus for facilitating formation of textile materials into strands at a series of strand forming stations spaced along a textile strand forming machine such as a spinning frame and comprising, in combination, air blowing means for traveling a flowing stream of air along a textile strand forminG machine and sequentially directing the air stream toward the individual strand forming stations in the series and towards strands being formed at the stations, and electrical charging means mounted on said air blowing means for reducing electrostatic charges otherwise accumulated in forming the strands at the stations by electrically charging said air stream so that resistance of the textile material to orderly formation into strands which otherwise results from electrostatic charges present at the strand forming stations is overcome.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said air blowing means comprises traveling pneumatic cleaner means supported for movement over said textile strand forming machine.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising track means extending in predetermined spaced relation to said textile strand forming machine for supporting said air blowing means for travel along a predetermined path.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said air blowing means comprises fan means for inducing a flow through said means of air within a mill room enclosing the textile strand forming machine and conduit means communicating with said fan means for directing the induced flow into said air stream.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said electrical charging means comprises air ionizing means for ionizing constituents of said air stream as the same pass through said air blowing means.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said electrical charging means comprises conduit means for passing said air stream through an electrical field having a high voltage gradient just prior to direction thereof toward the strand forming stations.