Abstract: Apparatus for removing underwound yarn wraps from the spindle of a spinning frame, including a carrier member mounted for driven movement along the spinning frame, and a pair of rotating brushes which are independently driven and independently arranged for movement toward and away from the spindles. A non-rotatable brush may also be associated with the carrier member, behind the rotatable brushes, to remove any wraps not removed by the rotatable brushes. A suction source is provided for collecting removed yarn wraps. The carrier member includes floor engaging wheels, and means for engaging rails extending along the spinning frame, and the carrier member permits vertical adjustment of the rail engaging means to facilitate mounting the carrier member on the rails. The apparatus is designed so as not to interfere with the movement of the traverse ring of the spinning frame, or with the fixed structure of the spinning frame during operation of the apparatus or during mounting of the apparatus on the rails.

Abstract: Multiple head drum clamping attachment for attachment to a lifting device such as a lift truck for lifting and transporting barrels or drums and particularly lightweight fiber drums having beads extending about each end thereof. The clamping attachment comprises a transverse bar having clamping heads pivotally mounted on each end for limited pivotal movement about parallel vertical axes to conform the clamping head to the contour of the drum. The transverse bar may be supported on the vertical mast of a lift truck on pairs of parallel spaced links attached to a universal support, supporting the transverse bar for limited movement in vertical and horizontal planes relative to the links to conform the clamping attachments to a selected drum and its top bead. The links are biased outwardly with respect to the mast and the clamping attachments each include a casing and clamping jaws carried in the casing.

Abstract: Apparatus having an elevated trackway and a pick-up head arranged thereon for automatically plucking increments of fibers from one or more bales, delivering such increments of fiber to a position above a hopper feeder, and dropping such increments of fiber therein, all in a predetermined cycle and in response to a fiber demand signal from the hopper feeder. Such apparatus includes a suction conduit disposed above the hopper feeder and adjacent the path of travel of the fiber increments as they are dropped into the hopper feeder, with such suction conduit being connected to a continuous vacuum source. A valve is disposed in the suction conduit, and is opened when the pick-up head commences its cycle and closed when the pick-up head completes its cycle.

Abstract: Apparatus movable along a spinning frame to doff full bobbins from the spindles thereof and to don empty bobbins onto such spindles. Low pressure pneumatic sensors are provided for emitting a stream of low pressure air into the path of movement of selected elements of the apparatus and generating a pneumatic signal each time a stream of low pressure air is interrupted by the movement of such elements, and a low pressure pneumatic control system receives the pneumatic signals and operates the selected elements of the apparatus in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: Equipment including a pick-up head arranged on an elevated trackway for automatically picking up increments of fiber from a plurality from fiber bales, and serially delivering such fiber increments to a feeder unit which feeds the fiber to a hopper. The hopper may become choked when an excess quantity of fiber is fed thereto, and a control system is provided which automatically energizes and de-energize the feeder unit after a predetermined number of fiber increments have been delivered to the feeder unit, the total quantity of fiber in such predetermined number of fiber increments, when added to the quantity of fiber in the hopper it signals for more fiber, being less than that which will cause the hopper to become choked. A fiber guide arrangement is also included in the hopper to prevent fibers fed thereto from taking a path of movement which could choke the hopper.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly automated agricultural production system which comprises, as essential components:1. A sensing subsystem comprising direct and indirect sensing means in an agricultural production area. The direct sensing means are generally ground or plant mounted. The indirect sensing means are remote from the area being sensed. The direct and indirect sensing means are adapted to jointly generate data on all important parameters in the homogeneous agricultural production area;2. A data transmitting subsystem for forwarding data generated by the direct and indirect sensing means to computing means and for transmitting instructions from the computing means via interfacing means (controllers) to various devices (field effectors) in the agricultural area to perform various functions;3. A computing subsystem linked by way of said data transmitting subsystem to said indirect and direct sensing means in a pattern of many feedback loops.

Abstract: For use with fiber feeding machines having a plurality of fiber bales arranged in two rows extending from each machine, and a fiber plucker device that moves along such bales to pluck fibers therefrom and transport the plucked fibers to such machines, a control system by which the fiber plucker device is selectively operable to pluck fibers from a predetermined number of bales in one bale row of each machine and to then automatically proceed directly to pluck fibers from a predetermined number of bales in the other bale row of such machine. A control system is also disclosed for causing the fiber plucker device to pluck fibers sequentially from both bale rows behind one or more of the fiber feeding machines, and to pluck fibers, alternatively, from only one of the two bale rows behind other fiber feeding machines. Additional control means are provided for selectively determining the number and combination of bales which are plucked from any row of bales by the fiber plucker device.

Abstract: A plurality of safety devices associated with apparatus for picking-up fibers from bales and delivering such fibers to a hopper or the like, such safety device acting to warn the operator of such apparatus of a variety of malfunctions of the apparatus when they occur, and to activate controls for preventing damage to such apparatus or injury to personnel upon the occurrence of such malfunctions.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus are described for removing the wrapping from a bale of cotton, or other fibrous material, and precisely positioning the bale in a predetermined location for further processing with greater accuracy than heretofore possible and without the necessity of heavy manual labor heretofore required.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing mixtures of moldable plastic and a suitable amount (generally a minor amount) of additive material to be dispersed throughout the moldable plastic, which mixtures are intended for subsequent use in a plastic molding process, by a method which permits separation or re-classification of the mixture into its moldable plastic and additive material components in the event that the mixture turns out to be incorrect or obsolete. The method includes the steps of obtaining small pellets of a moldable plastic having a first shape, these pellets being substantially free of the additive material. These small pellets of moldable plastic are then mixed with small pellets of moldable plastic into which has been incorporated one or more additives, these pellets having a second shape which is classifiably different from the shape of the other plastic pellets.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing mixtures of moldable plastic and a suitable amount (generally a minor amount) of additive material to be dispersed throughout the moldable plastic, which mixtures are intended for subsequent use in a plastic molding process, by a method which permits separation or re-classification of the mixture into its moldable plastic and additive material components in the event that the mixture turns out to be incorrect or obsolete. The method includes the steps of obtaining small pellets of a moldable plastic having a first shape, these pellets being substantially free of the additive material. These small pellets of moldable plastic are then mixed with small pellets of moldable plastic into which has been incorporated one or more additives, these pellets having a second shape which is classifiably different from the shape of the other plastic pellets.