Method and apparatus for conveying and breaking apart fiber modules

Claim 1

An apparatus for conveying and breaking apart fiber modules comprising in combination: means for supporting at least one fiber module in a generally horizontal position, said support means having a fiber module receiving zone at one end thereof, and a fiber module delivery zone, spaced from said receiving zone; means for breaking apart a fiber module, said breaker means located adjacent the fiber module delivery zone of said support means; first drive means for conveying a fiber module along said support means from said receiving zone to said breaker means, wherein the first drive means includes a plurality of sets of power driven rollers, one of said sets being generally located at said fiber module delivery zone and at least one of said sets being generally located intermediate said fiber module delivery zone and said fiber module receiving zone, each of said sets having associated therewith at least one gear box for rotating said sets of power driven rollers; one set of said power driven roller sets, generally located at the fiber module receiving zone, having associated therewith two gear boxes of different gear ratios capable of operating said one set of power driven rollers at a first speed being equal to the speed at which said set generally located at said delivery zone operates, and at a second speed which is substantially greater than said first speed; and clutch means, associated with said set generally located at said receiving zone and with said set generally located intermediate said receiving zone and said delivery zone, for enabling said set generally located at said receiving zone to convey a fiber module along said support means at said second speed until the fiber module abuts a fiber module, which has previously been conveyed along said support means, at a location beyond said set generally located intermediate said receiving zone and said delivery zone; means for removing the broken apart fiber module from said breaker means; a shuttle carriage for transferring a fiber module from a first location laterally displaced from the support means to a second location which is axially aligned with the receiving zone of said support means, said shuttle carriage including a frame and a generally horizontal fiber module receiving surface; and second drive means for conveying a fiber module from said shuttle carriage to the receiving zone of said support means, said second drive means including a plurality of rotatably mounted power driven rollers comprising said generally horizontal fiber module receiving surface, said rollers being operable to convey a fiber module from said shuttle carriage to the fiber module receiving zone of said support means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for conveying and breaking apart fiber modules comprising in combination: means for supporting at least one fiber module in a generally horizontal position, said support means having a fiber module receiving zone at one end thereof, and a fiber module delivery zone, spaced from said receiving zone; means for breaking apart a fiber module, said breaker means located adjacent the fiber module delivery zone of said support means; first drive means for conveying a fiber module along said support means from said receiving zone to said breaker means, wherein the first drive means includes a plurality of sets of power driven rollers, one of said sets being generally located at said fiber module delivery zone and at least one of said sets being generally located intermediate said fiber module delivery zone and said fiber module receiving zone, each of said sets having associated therewith at least one gear box for rotating said sets of power driven rollers; one set of said power driven roller sets, generally located at the fiber module receiving zone, having associated therewith two gear boxes of different gear ratios capable of operating said one set of power driven rollers at a first speed being equal to the speed at which said set generally located at said delivery zone operates, and at a second speed which is substantially greater than said first speed; and clutch means, associated with said set generally located at said receiving zone and with said set generally located intermediate said receiving zone and said delivery zone, for enabling said set generally located at said receiving zone to convey a fiber module along said support means at said second speed until the fiber module abuts a fiber module, which has previously been conveyed along said support means, at a location beyond said set generally located intermediate said receiving zone and said delivery zone; means for removing the broken apart fiber module from said breaker means; a shuttle carriage for transferring a fiber module from a first location laterally displaced from the support means to a second location which is axially aligned with the receiving zone of said support means, said shuttle carriage including a frame and a generally horizontal fiber module receiving surface; and second drive means for conveying a fiber module from said shuttle carriage to the receiving zone of said support means, said second drive means including a plurality of rotatably mounted power driven rollers comprising said generally horizontal fiber module receiving surface, said rollers being operable to convey a fiber module from said shuttle carriage to the fiber module receiving zone of said support means.