Abstract: A device for opening and mixing fibers according to a predetermined mixture ratio with a pincer-like gripper device. A carriage transports the pincer-like gripper pass bales of different fibers so that the pincer-like gripper device can remove fibers from said bales according to desired ratios for making up a predetermined mixture ratio. The width that the gripper device is opened is variable so that small amounts of fibers can be picked up from the bales when a small ratio is desired and when a large ratio is desired for making up the mixture ratio, the grippers can be opened wider for making the device more efficient.

Abstract: Pressure roller with a non-rotatably mounted axial support about which a roller shell can rotate which is supported in a supporting plane on the support by hydrostatic supporting elements and is mounted to be rotatable and is guided axially and also radially at both ends by means of a guide ring arranged at each roller shell edge, the said guide ring being non-rotatable relatively to the support but capable of displacement axially and along the supporting plane; for holding the guide rings in a desired axial position relatively to the support there is situated at each end of the roller shell a device, at the side of the guide ring, the said device elastically pressing the guide ring in the axial direction towards the respective adjacent edge of the roller shell.

Abstract: In a drawing device for sliver comprising two endless moving elements having cooperating working runs between which the sliver passes, at least one of the elements is constituted by a plurality of bars extending between a pair of parallel carriers (e.g. chains) and each bar has a convexly curved outer working surface from which penetration members, (e.g. needles) extend.

Abstract: A batt is produced by cross lapping a web onto a conveyor moving laterally to the direction of web laydown to form partially overlapping folds. The length of the cross lapping motion is varied in a programmed cycle to produce a modified basis weight profile in cross sections of the batt. The conveyor speed is adjusted to provide a uniform basis weight profile along any section taken lengthwise of the batt. The process is useful for improving batt lengthwise uniformity while providing different basis weights at different distances from the sides of a batt.

Abstract: A plurality of ring members each having a hard metal inner ring portion, a concentric elastomeric outer ring portion and a layer of elastomeric material bounding at least one radial face, are held by a cylindrical member in a stacked relation with the open centers of the ring members aligned. A pair of end plates, each having a wire rope aperature aligned with the open centers of the ring members, are secured together by a plurality of fasteners thereby retaining the cylindrical member between them. When a tensioned wire rope or the like passing through the open centers of the ring members bears sideways against the hard metal inner ring portions, the elastomeric outer ring portions distort to allow a bending line of contact between the wire rope and the hard metal inner ring portions.

Abstract: An air knife having at least one lip which is slidable relative to its body via a plurality of cam plugs which are interposed between the slidable lip and the body member to adjustably extend and locate the lip tip relative to the other lip tip periodically as the lips become worn and the gap between them increases. The adjustable lip is secured to the body member by a plurality of cap screws which alternate with the cam plugs across the width of the air knife.

Abstract: A nonwoven uniform web is formed from particulate material and a binding agent in a moving conveyor belt. The material is fed to the belt through a cowl in a random fashion and air is removed from the material; the layer of material is subsequently thinned by a peak removal device and is precalendered, rolled and then heated to activate the binding agent. The resulting web has similar mechanical properties in length direction and width direction, and has a high elastic recovery.

Abstract: Cutting hard fibrous material using a gap between cutting elements of a multiplicity of fiber thicknesses.

Abstract: Apparatus for humidifying lint cotton in a cotton gin has a lint slide arranged for receiving a batt of cotton from a battery condenser and controlling movement of the batt over a grid made of longitudinally disposed tubular members placed inside the lint slide. Warm humit air introduced through the floor of the lint slide passes upwardly through the grid and, thus, through the cotton, and escapes into the ambient air after raising the moisture content of the cotton. A retarder device is provided on the slide for holding the cotton on the grid for longer exposure times, while the entire operation of the apparatus is controlled responsively to the action of the battery condenser of the gin.

Abstract: A wheel unit for being mounted in a suitcase comprises a housing which, when installed, has a rectangular chamber that opens to the outside, within which a wheel is retracted under the force of a spring. The wheel is carried on a wheel bracket which is secured to a bearing block suitably movably retained in the housing. To place the same in use, the wheel is pulled against the force of the spring out of the housing, thus correspondingly moving the wheel bracket and bearing block. Assuming a horizontal wheel axis, the wheel and wheel bracket are turned 90.degree. about a vertical axis, and in this extended position, the wheel bracket is received in locking recesses in the housing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for blending textile fibers which includes simultaneously depositing a plurality of predetermined fiber loads onto a continuously moving conveyor at spaced locations thereon, providing a suction conduit at the delivery end of such conveyor for accepting the fiber loads and transporting them separately and serially to a receiver unit where the fiber loads are caused to be stacked on top of one another as separate layers on a second conveyor, and then pressing the stacked layers of fiber loads against the second conveyor while operating the second conveyor to feed the stacked layers of fiber loads edgewise against a rotating beater which simultaneously separates portions of fiber from each separate layer in the stack to provide a substantially homogeneous blend of the separated fibers.

Abstract: A cotton lint cleaner having a number of new and unique features. The lint cleaner uses a common air stream laden with cotton to be cleaned through a moving screen and then through feed rollers to a cylindrical saw, where a centrifugal air flow doffing impeller doffs the cleaned cotton from said saw, for discharge from the device. Special spring biased feed bars are also a part of this invention. Additional features include special grid bars, special settling and collection chambers, guide vane structure, a rotating paddle wheel vacuum lock, an adjustable vacuum valve control, and filtering and discharging of the exhaust air flow through a cover over the operating drives for the overall machine in order to exclude contamination from the outside air of said drive components. Special tension mountings for the grid bars are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices for placing sliver in a can and can be effectively used in high-speed draw frames with sliver delivery speeds as high as 200 m/min and even higher. The device comprises a rotatable can with a movable bottom that can be lifted and lowered by means of a flexible rod made up of several portions. The upper portion of the rod includes the rotatable base for the movable bottom, the intermediate portion thereof is a flexible and has with bearing abutments, while the lower portion of the rod is a carriage coupled with the rotatable support via a flexible but non-stretchable tensioned member which is kept in permanent engagement with the bearing abutments, to provide for an adequate rigidity of the flexible rod portion when the latter either lifts or lowers the movable bottom.

Abstract: A simple, adjustable roller assembly for supporting sliding track doors and windows and comprising a U shaped bracket which journals a roller and includes a corner opposite from the journaled roller which engages the intersection between the stile and rail of a door frame. An adjusting screw passes through the stile or rail and engages the U shaped bracket whereby tightening of the screw pivots the bracket and roller into increasing downward movement by pivoting the bracket with respect to the inside corner defined by the junction of the stile and rail. In one alternate embodiment, a single screw adjusts a pair of side by side rollers journaled on a common shaft. In another embodiment the U shaped member includes a tap member extendable outward and securable at a spaced point on the door rail or sill. Tightening of this screw serves to bend the tab member and adjust the roller position. The bendable tab actually provides a degree of spring support for the door.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a uniform textile fiber sliver which is removed from a sliver supply device, for instance a card, and taken-up by a driven take-up or receiving device, wherein the fiber sliver removed from the sliver supply device is guided through a regulation drafting arrangement having a pair of measuring rolls and a driven pair of drafting rolls. One roll of the measuring roll pair is driven by the sliver supply device, and the other measuring roll is deflected as a function of a change in thickness of the fiber sliver traveling through the measuring rolls. The drive speed of the pair of drafting rolls and the receiving or take-up device is regulated as a function of the deflection of said other measuring roll, and the drive speed of the take-up device additionally is regulated as a function of the length of the fiber band between the pair of drafting rolls and the take-up device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for obtaining a blend of fibers from a plurality of fiber bales, such as bales of cotton, in which a fiber removing device repeatedly moves along a row of fiber bales while removing fibers from uppermost portions of the bales and depositing the fibers into a fiber collection hopper moving with the fiber removing device along the row of bales. The fiber bales are preferably positioned with the fiber layers in the bales extending longitudinally of the row of bales and oriented in a vertical plane and the fiber removing device removes fibers from all of the exposed layers of the bale to thereby achieve a highly uniform blend of fibers from all of the bales. The fiber bales are supported in a chute which is oriented at an incline with respect to the path of movement of the fiber removing device and the entire row of bales is advanced along the chute to thereby move the upper surfaces of the bales upwardly closer to the fiber removing device.

Abstract: A bushing for use with an underground storage tank, consisting of a wall having inner and outer screw threads, the outer thread being a standard taper of 1.degree. 47' and the inner thread being a non-standard taper of between 1.degree. - 48' and 16.degree. - 47'.

Abstract: Fuser apparatus for utilization in a xerographic reproducing apparatus for fixing toner images adhered to substrates wherein the fuser apparatus comprises a heated fuser roll and a backup roll cooperating therewith to form a nip through which the substrates pass with the toner images contacting the heated fuser roll. A non-contact silicone oil applicator is provided together with a metering blade for applying a uniformly thick coating on the surface of the fuser roll which coating serves to minimize effect of toner.

Abstract: A handle or knob is connected to laterally position parallel sheet edge guides so that the distance between the guides is equal to the width of a sheet to which a toner image is to be fixed by pressure rollers. The handle or knob is also connected to an adjustable spring assembly which presses the rollers together in such a manner that the spring force acting on the rollers is a function of the sheet width.

Abstract: A web is formed from particulate material, for example wood fibres, by depositing the fibres on a movable deposition surface in a chamber. The particulate material is carried to the surface in an air stream to form a composite material flow which is caused to oscillate across the surface by impulses from separate control means preferably disposed on opposite sides of the stream. The control means is preferably opposed control flows which are caused to vary alternatingly between a minimum and a maximum impulse by use of one or more fluidistors. The fluidistors may be controlled by self-oscillation or by measuring the evenness of the particulate material deposited on the deposition surface. The control may also be effected by adjusting the walls of the chamber to utilize the coanda-effect. The particulate material may be admixed with additives from the control flow and may be charged electrostatically.