US2748998A - Discharge door construction for a fiber conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1956 F. A. BusALD 2,748,998

DISCHARGE DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR A FIBER CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l ZETZVEWTET' Frazzw's A. Busa/a Jun 1956 F. A. BUSALD 2,748,998

DISCHARGE DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR A FIBER CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl q Z a ETYEZTZET Francis A. Busa/a June 5, 1956 F. A. BUSALD 2,

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo OR AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA us Filed May 1, 1952 5 ssssssssss at s fizz 5 772227? b 72M; 2... @GHZZHE Unite tates DISCHARGE DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR A FIBER CONDITIONING APPARATUS The present invention relates generally to fiber conditioning apparatus and more particularly to an improved discharge door construction which will provide improved flow characteristics at the region of a discharge opening in a fiber feeding and Weighing machine.

According to the general features of the present invention, a fiber feeding and weighing machine of the type having a casing providing a hopper receiving an accumulation of fibers is equipped with an endless belt-type spiked conveyor apron which carries fibers to a discharge opening positioned superjacent a weigh box. The discharge opening is controlled by a two element valve, one element of the valve comprising a plate pivo'tally hinged on one end and movable from a substantially vertical open position to an inclined closed position. The other element of the valve comprises a second plate pivotally hinged on one end and movable from an open position adjacent and parallel to one leg of the conveyor apron to a closed position substantially in coplanar alignment with the first valve element, thereby to form a complete closure for the valve opening as well as an acutely inclined ramp tending to recirculate the fibers away from the discharge opening towards the conveyor apron for recirculation to the hopper.

The proximity of the second valve element closely adjacent the spiked conveyor belt precludes the accumulation of fibers in the locale of the discharge opening so that the fiber feeding and weighing machine may enjoy improved sensitivity and accuracy during operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved door construction for the discharge opening of a fiber feeding and weighing machine which will improve fiow characteristics at the region of the discharge opening.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door apparatus for the discharge opening of a fiber conditio'ning machine which will improve the sensitivity and accuracy of the machine during operation.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example only.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view with parts removed to show additional details of construction showing a fiber feeding and weighing machine incorporating the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view with parts shown in elevation and with parts removed for the sake of clarity taken substantially on line 11-11 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view with parts shown in section taken substantially on line III-III of Figure 2.

As shown on the drawings:

A fiber conditioning apparatus taking the form of a fiber feeding and Weighing machine is indicated generally iQQ at 10 and comprises a sheet metal casing 11 suitably rein= forced by angle iron supports 12. The casing 11 provides a hopper 13 receiving a supply of fibers. As one illustration of use, the fiber feeding and weighing machine 10 could be used in the opening room as one machine of a battery each receiving a different type of fiber and each of the fiber feeding and weighing machines being used to pre-condition the fibers and to proportion the fibers preparatory to blending of the fibers and delivery of the blended fibers to the picker room.

Adjacent the hopper 13 the casing 11 is provided with a projecting portion having a generally horizontally disposed discharge opening 14.

An endless belt-type spike conveyor apron 16 carrying a plurality of pins 1'7 is used to break up the fibers in the hopper l3 and to carry a steady stream of fibers towards the discharge opening 14. One end of the conveyor apron 16 is trained over idler rollers carried by an idler shaft (not shown) supported by the casing 11 adjacent the lower portion of the hopper 13 and the other end of the conveyor apron 16 is trained over a drive roller 18 carried by a drive shaft 19. A plurality of support members 20a are carried in firm assembly with the casing 11 and support a baffle 20 in parallel spaced alignment to one leg 16a of the conveyor apron 1'6 so as to form a recirculation passage 21 for returning fibers to the hopper 13. In normal operation, the drive roller 18 is rotated clockwise, as indicated by the arrow 22 so that the leg 16a of the conveyor apron 16 moves downwardly and the leg 16b of the conveyor apron 16 moves upwardly to carry the fibers out of the hopper 13.

As shown in the drawings, the conveyor apron 16 is preferably inclined at an angle of approximately 6080 to horizontal.

The fiber feeding and weighing machine it) is further provided with a rotary comb indicated generally at 23 and comprising a comb shaft 24 mounting a support spider 26 at longitudinally spaced intervals along the shaft 24 which carry pin frames 27 each having a plurality of projecting pins 28 or comb teeth for engaging the fibers carried on the conveyor apron 16. In order to strip fibers from the teeth or pins 28, a plurality of rings 29 are carried on a rod framework 30 and are interposed between respective pairs of the teeth in eccentrically disposed relationship with respect to the comb shaft 24 so that rotation of the shaft 24 will result in a relative radial movement between the pins 28 and the disks or rings 2% whereupon any fibers caught on the pins 28 will be stripped therefrom. It will be understood that the cooperation of the rotary fiber comb apparatus 23 with the conveyor apron 16 assists in separating the fibers and properly conditioning same prior to delivery thereof to the discharge opening 14.

Adjacent the end of the conveyor apron i5 is provided a dofiing apparatus indicated generally at 31 and comprising a dofiing shaft 32 rotatably supporting a doffing drum 33 having a plurality of flexible doffer elements 34 con nected thereto and which are adapted to remove the fibers carried by the conveyor apron 316 for discharge through the opening 14.

As is more specifically shown in Figure l, the casing 11 carries suitable reinforcement means 36 thereby to support end bearings for journalling the various rotative elements previously described, the comb shaft 24 being journalled in a bearing structure 37 and the doifer shaft 32 being journalled in a bearing structure 33. A drive sheave 39 is connected to the dolfer shaft 32 and is rotatably driven by a belt 40 trained over a pulley 51 connected in driven assembly with a motor 42 mounted atop the casing 11 on a'platform 43.

The drive shaft 19, in turn, is driven from the dofi'er shaft 32 by a drive arrangement (not shown) and the greases comb shaft 26 is, in turn, driven from the drive shaft 19 by means of a pair of pulley wheels 44 and 46 having a pulley belt 47 trained thereover and connected to the drive shaft H and the comb shaft 24-, respectively.

According to the principles of the present invention, the discharge opening 14 is controlled by an improved door or valve assembly so as to provide improved flow characteristics at the region of the discharge opening 14 Positioned subjacent the discharge opening 14 is a weigh box 4-8 which, in this preferred embodiment, is pendulously supported from a pair of spaced weigh bars, one of which is shown at 49, by means of thin metal suspension straps, one of which is shown at 59.

The weigh bars 49 are, in turn, pendulously supported on the casing 11 by means of brackets, one of which is shown at 51 firmly connected to the casing l1 by a pinrality of fasteners 52, by means of thin metal suspension straps, one of which is shown at 53.

The spaced weigh bars 49 are connected by means of a cross rod 54 which extends through appropriate openings 55 formed in the casing 11 and made suficiently large to accommodate the movement thereof. The weigh bar mechanism is of the beam balance type and includes adjustable weight means 56.

in order to control the regulation of electrical circuits in response to the functioning of the weigh bar mechanism, a Mercoid switch 57 is assembled on the weigh bar 49 shown in Figure l by means of an adjustable bracket 53. Thus, movement of the weigh bar 49 in response to the accumulation of a predetermined weight of fibers in the weigh box 48 will close the switch 57.

A particular feature of the present invention resides in the location of the cross rod 5 between the parallel legs 16a and 16b of the conveyor apron 16. The weigh bars 4%, of course, extend toward the discharge opening 14 adjacent the sides of the apron 167 Therefore, by effectively utilizing the space between the legs 16:: and 16b of the apron 16, the cross rod 54 is more or less concealed and does not interfere with the functioning of any of the components or the discharge flow of fibers passing through the discharge opening 14.

The door or valve means controlling the flow of fibers through the discharge opening 14 is particularly adapted to preclude the accumulation of fibers in the locale of the discharge opening 14 so that the fiber feeding machine may enjoy improved sensitivity and accuracy during operation.

To that end, a first pivot rod 66 is journaled in a pair of bearing brackets 61 carried by the casing fill and supports a first valve plate 62 which is connected to the pivot rod 60 by a plurality of support brackets 63. It will be understood that the support brackets 63 may be placed in firm assembly with the valve plate 62 in any convenient manner, for example, by spot welding or the like.

It will be noted that the first pivot rod 61} is located below the level of the discharge opening 14 and on one side thereof. On the opposite side of the discharge opening 14 and above the level thereof is located a second pivot rod 64 which is journalled in a pair of bearing brackets 66 carried by the casing it? A plurality of support brackets 67 are firmly connected to a second valve plate 6% and are connected for corotation with the pivot rod 64.

A first crank arm 69 is connected to the first pivot rod 60 and a second crank arm 76 is connected to the second pivot rod 64. The crank rods 69 and 76 are interconnected for unison movement only by means of a lever arm 71 pivotally connected to the crank arms 69 and '70 by means of pivot pins 72.

In closed position, the valve plates 62 and 68 extend towards the opposite pivot rods 64 and 6%, respectively, thereby lying in generally coplanar relationship and together forming a complete closure for the discharge opening 14. In closed position the valve plates 62 and 68 also form an inclined ramp which, as is shown in the drawings, is inclined at an angle of approximately to to the horizontal and which directs fibers discharged in the locale of the opening 14 towards the recirculating passage 21 formed between the baffle 20 and the leg 16a of the conveyor apron 16. The included angle between the ramp and the recirculating passage will be approximately 25 to 30, as is shown in the drawings. The fibers slide down the ramp and are engaged by the pins 17 on the leg 16a of the conveyor apron 16 moving adjacent the discharge opening 14 so as to preclude accumulation of fibers in the discharge zone adjacent the opening 14. If the machine it) is of the type wherein the drive motor is stopped upon closing of the valve plates 62 and 68, the coasting action of the conveyor apron 16 is sufficient to clear fibers off the ramp.

In order to permit flow of fibers through the discharge opening 14, the valve plate 62 is pivotally displaceable upwardly into generally parallel spaced alignment relative to the leg 16a of the conveyor apron 16 while the valve plate 68 is generally pivotally displaceable downwardly into a substantially vertical position. In other words, the valve plates 62 and 68 are movable towards a generally parallel alignment, thereby providing a full open throat through which the fibers may be discharged. It will be understood that the provision of the crank arms 69 and 7t linked by the lever arm 71 will insure unison movement of the valve plates 62 and 68-.

in order to counterbalance the mechanism, the crank arm 69 is provided with an extension 73 having a counterweight 74- adjustably positionable thereon.

The marginal edge of the valve plate 68 is reinforced by a reversely turned flange indicated at 76 and the cut off characteristics of the valve mechanism are improved by providing an acutely inclined flange '77 on one margin of the valve plate 62 underlying the margin of the valve plate 68, Thus, in closed door position, the apex between the flange 77 and the valve plate 62 lies below the flange 68 so that fibers will pass off the valve plate 68 onto the valve plate 62, but none will pass through the opening 14. A stop member 78 is connected to the casing 11 by a plurality of fasteners 79 and engages the valve plate 62 when moved to the open position (dotted lines Figure 3). In this position, the flange 77 acts as a baflle to assist in preventing the accumulation of fibers in the locale of the discharge opening 14.

Automatic operation of the control mechanism is achieved by providing a solenoid motor 80 or some other suitable form of prime mover to rotatively drive the pivot rod 64, the motor fill having a driving connection with the pivot rod 64 as is indicated at 81. Rotation of the pivot rod 64 will result in the unison rotation of the pivot rod 60. It will be understood that energization of the sole-Z noid motor or other form of prime mover may be regulated by means of the switch 57 on the weigh bar 49 so that the discharge flow of fibers will be immediately cut off upon attainment of a certain predetermined weight of fibers in the weigh box 4-8.

Because of the improved operation of the control apparatus, a cyclic operation of the fiber feeding and weighing machine 10 involving very minute quantities of fibers may be readily effected.

By way of summary, the operation of the invention is as follows. The belt-type spiked conveyor apron 16 carries fibers to the discharge opening 14 controlled by the two-element valve including the valve element 68 pivotally hinged at one end and movable from a substantially vertical open position to an inclined closed position and the valve element 62 which comprises a second plate pivotally hinged at one end and movable from an open position adjacent and parallel to one leg of the conveyor apron to a closed position substantially in coplanar alignment with the valve element 63, thereby to form a complete closure for the valve opening as well as an acutely inclined ramp tending to recirculate the fibers away from the discharge opening 14 towards the conveyor apron 16 for recirculation to the hopper 13. By virtue of such arrangement, accumulation of fibers in the locale of the discharge opening is precluded.

It should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all that reasonably and properly comes within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fiber feeding machine having a discharge opening, the improvement of a two piece valve controlling the fiow of fibers through the discharge opening, one piece of said valx e comprising a plate pivotally hinged on one margin at one pivot axis and movable upwardly from a substantially vertical open position to an inclined closed position, the other piece of said valve comprising a second plate pivotally hinged at one margin at a second pivot axis below said first axis and movable from an open displaced position downwardly to a closed position in general co-planar relation with said one piece of said valve, said two valve pieces forming together with one another a complete closure for said opening and forming in closed position a continuous planar surface providing an inclined ramp to direct fibers away from said opening.

2. In a fiber feeding machine, casing means having a discharge opening formed therein, valve means to control the flow of fibers through the opening, comprising a first pivot rod below the level of the opening and on one side thereof, a second pivot rod above the level of the opening and on the opposite side thereof, a first plate connected to said first pivot rod, a second plate connected to said second pivot rod, both of said plates extending towards the opposite of each of said pivot rods in generally co-planar relation, said plates terminating short of engagement but together forming a complete closure for the opening and in closed position forming a ramp to direct fibers away from the opening, and means to open said plates in unison, said first plate pivotally movable upwardly and said second plate pivotally movable downwardly, whereby said plates are moved towards generally parallel planar relation to open said discharge opening.

3. In a fiber feeding machine as defined in claim 2, one of said plates having a flanged leading edge to control the cut-off characteristics of the valve.

4. In a fiber feeding machine, casing means having formed therein longitudinally adjacent one another a storage hopper and a discharge opening respectively, a twoelement door controlling the opening, each element of said door comprising a plate having one marginal edge hinged at different levels for pivotal movement towards and away from co-planar closed door alignment, the opposite marginal edge of one plate underlying the corresponding opposite marginal edge of the other plate when said plates are in closed door position.

5. In a fiber handling machine, a casing having a discharge opening formed therein, said casing having a hopper formed therein adjacent said opening, and means controlling the fiow of fibers through said opening without accumulating fibers in said opening comprising, a first plate hinged to said casing above said opening and depending adjacent one side of said opening, said first plate being pivotally movable into angularly inclined closed position across a portion of said opening, and a second plate hinged to said casing below said opening directly adjacent said hopper and extending adjacent the opposite side of said opening, said second plate being pivotally movable into an angularly inclined closed position across another portion of said opening, said first and second plates closing into a substantially coplanar relation with the margin of said first plate overlying the margin of said second plate and together forming a ramp inclined to direct fibers away from said opening and towards the hopper.

6. in a fiber-handling machine having a discharge opening, the improvement of valve means for said opening comprising a first plate hinged along one margin to said casing and depending along one side of said discharge opening, said first plate being pivotally movable upwardly into an angularly inclined closed position in said discharge zone and across a portion of said opening, and a second plate hinged along one margin to said casing and extending upwardly along the other side of said discharge opening, said second plate being pivotally movable downwardly into substantially co-planar relation with said first plate, the other margin of said second plate underlying the other margin of said first plate when in closed position, said plates together providing an inclined ramp directing fibers away from said discharge zone and precluding accumulation of fibers adjacent said opening.

7. In a fiber feeding machine having casing means providing a storage hopper and a gravity discharge opening adjacent said hopper, a valve assembly controlling the flow of fibers through said opening comprising a first pivot rod supported by said casing means below the level of the discharge opening on the side of said opening immediately adjacent said hopper, a second pivot rod supported by said casing means above the level of the discharge opening and on the opposite side of said discharge opening from said first pivot rod, a first valve plate connected to said first pivot rod, a second valve plate connected to said second pivot rod, both of said valve plates extending towards each other in generally co-planar relation to form a complete closure for said discharge opening and forming an inclined ramp to redirect fibers away from said discharge opening into said storage hopper, a first crank arm connected to said first pivot rod, a second crank arm connected to said second pivot rod, a lever arm pivotally connecting said first and second crank arms, and a motor angularly displacing one of said pivot rods to open both of said plates in unison towards a generally parallel planar relation.

8. In a fiber feeding machine having a casing having upstanding walls forming a hopper and providing a discharge opening adjacent one of said upstanding walls and spaced outwardly of said hopper, the improvement of a two piece valve in said discharge opening for controlling the discharge of fibers comprising a pair of plates arranged in inclined co-planar relation to close the opening and forming a ramp adapted to redirect fibers away from the opening and back into said hopper when in closed position, and support means pivotally supporting said pair of plates on said casing for movement towards a parallel planar relation with one of said plates being angularly aligned in said casing to prevent accumulation of fibers in the locale of the discharge opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 650,025 Schoonmaker et al. May 22, 1900 675,309 Waring May 28, 1901 698,234 Waring Apr. 22, 1902 1,468,303 King et al. Sept. 18, 1923 1,612,590 Lucka et a1. Dec. 28, 1926 1,734,671 Gunn et al Nov. 5, 1929 2,357,475 Kane Sept. 5, 1944 2,362,315 Schultze Nov. 7, 1944 2,380,733 Durning July 31, 1945 2,496,019 Peel Jan. 31, 1950 2,592,070 Slusher Apr. 8, 1952 2,597,831 Willis May 20, 1952 2,660,393 OConnor et al. Nov. 24, 1953 2,702,177 Jee Feb. 15, 1955

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