Device for stripping fiber tufts in the picking process

Claim 2

Device for stripping fiber tufts from a mass of fibers in the picking process, comprising an assembly of plural stripping members turnably assembled about a common shaft, a plurality of separation plates each disposed between two adjacent stripping members, a first means for turning half of said stripping members in a clockwise direction about said common shaft, a second means for turning the other half of said stripping members in a counterclockwise direction about said common shaft, each of said stripping members provided with a plurality of saw teeth or pins secured on the working surface thereof, means for supplying said fiber mass to a working position of said assembly of said stripping members, said supplying means disposed in proximity to and above said assembly, means for delivering stripping fibers to a succeeding machine and said delivery means disposed below said stripping members, whereby each combination of said stripping members turning opposite directions to each other impart stripping actions in opposite directions to said mass of fibers at said working position thereof.

Claim 3

Device for stripping fiber tufts from a mass of fiber according to claim 1, wherein said assembly of stripping members comprises plural pairs of stripping members arranged along said common shaft, said stripping members of each pair are turned in opposite directions to each other about said common shaft.

Claim 4

A stripping device according to claim 1, wherein said assembly of stripping members is utilized as a plucking roller of a bale plucking machine, top edges of said separation plates define the position of the under surface of a fiber bale.

Claim 5

A stripping device according to claim 3, wherein half of said stripping members are endless belts turnably mounted on respective drums rotatably mounted on said common shaft, another half of said stripping members are endless belts turnably mounted on said respective drums so as to turn in the opposite direction to said first mentioned half of said stripping members, said endless belts are provided with a plurality of saw teeth or pins planted on the working surface of said endless belts.

Claim 6

A stripping device according to claim 1 wherein said supply means is disposed above said stripping members, a reserve box for supplying fiber to said supply means, the reserve box being positioned above said supply means, said assembly of stripping members comprising an opening roller for opening and cleaning fiber tufts supplied through said stripping members from said supply means.

Claim 7

A stripping device according to claim 1 wherein said common shaft is stationarily supported by a machine frame in horizontal condition, said common shaft being provided with a plurality of guide members secured thereto at respective positions between two adjacent stripping members, each of said stripping members comprising a ring-shaped member having a smooth cylindrical inside surface and having an internal gear cut into a portion of said smooth cylindrical inside surface, a smooth portion of said cylindrical inside surface engaging said guide members, said first and second turning means comprising first and second horizontal shafts extending through a space formed within said assembly of said ring-shaped members in parallel condition with said common shaft, a first group of small pinions secured to said horizontal shaft and a second group of small pinions secured to said second horizontal shaft, said horizontal shafts being driven in opposite directions, the internal gears formed on half of said ring-shaped members being driven by said first group of small pinions and the internal Gears formed on the other half of said ring-shaped members being driven by said second group of small pinions.