Abstract: An apron drafting arrangement for fibrous material comprising a pair of back rolls, a pair of intermediate rolls, a pair of front rolls, the intermediate pair of rolls including a top roll and bottom roll. Deflecting elements are arranged to each side of such top roll and a top apron is loosely placed about the top roll and about such deflecting elements. The deflecting elements, viewed in the direction of material flow, are located upstream and downstream of the top roll of the intermediate pair of rolls. A top apron guide cage takes up the top intermediate roll and the deflecting elements and a bottom apron is loosely guided about a respective deflecting element located upstream and downstream of the bottom roll of the pair of intermediate rolls. The intermediate pair of rolls is arranged closer to the downstream located deflecting elements.

Abstract: A pivoted stop motion particularly adapted for each of a plurality of ends of sliver or the like is operatively associated with a rotatable guide for sliver having little tensile strength to stop the drawing frame if an end of sliver breaks or becomes slack. An electrically charged contact rod extends over a row of pivoted sensors perpendicularly to the path of the sliver, the several ends of which are separated from each other by discs fixed to a rotatable shaft. Breakage of an end of sliver causes its corresponding sensor to engage the contact rod to stop the machine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fluid-forming (e.g., air-forming) a fibrous structure, such as a fibrous web, employs a conveying duct through which a stream of fluid-entrained fibers is directed, and a foraminous surface intercepting the downstream end of the duct to collect the fibrous structure on its surface. The improvement resides in establishing an oblique orientation between the foraminous surface and the direction of fiber flow through the duct so that the width of the foraminous surface intercepting the open end of the duct is greater than the width of the downstream end of the duct, as measured between laterally spaced sidewalls in a direction generally normal to the direction of material flow through the duct. In accordance with this invention the width of the fibrous structure deposited on the foraminous surface is greater than the width of the stream of fluid-entrained fibers confined within the conveying duct.

Abstract: A compressed batt of fibers is fed against a rotating toothed roll for dispersion of the fibers from the batt and this dispersion of fibers is fed through the point of closest clearance between the toothed roll and a feed roll rotating in the opposite direction. Downstream of this point of closest clearance, a stationary shoe is provided spaced from the surface of the toothed roll to permit the dispersion of fibers to follow the surface of the toothed roll. The shoe is closely fitted to the surface of the feed roll which has the effect of forming a pinch point where the feed roll enters beneath the shoe. In accordance with the invention, the shoe is equipped with passages for the flow of air to exit at the pinch point to prevent fibers from entering the pinch point, i.e., between the feed roll and shoe.

Abstract: A method for forming a fibrous structure from a fibrous feed by: (1) directing the feed into engagement with projections on a rotating fiberizing drum for separating fibers from the feed; (2) directing the separated fibers to a release zone at which they are released from the periphery of the drum for subsequent conveyance to a foraminous forming surface upon which the fibrous structure is formed; and (3) sealing the outer periphery of the drum in a region between the fiber release zone and the region in which the fibrous feed is directed into engagement with the fiberizing drum by directing a gas against the outer periphery of the drum with a force component in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the drum and at a static pressure of at least about two atmospheres to provide a gas velocity which is sufficiently high to remove air trapped between the projections of the drum as the drum is being rotated.

Abstract: In a high production card, a taker-in undercasing without slits or apertures is disposed beneath a taker-in roller of a card and a suction device is disposed above the taker-in roller. A taker-in cover is mounted atop the taker-in roller and defines therebetween a sealed space in communication with the suction device, which suction device controls the air pressure in said space between the taker-in roller and the taker-in undercasing, so that impurities such as trash are mainly removed from the supplied fibers at a free space below the taker-in roller formed at a position upstream from the taker-in undercasing, and short fibers are separated from successive fibers mainly by the action of the suction device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating fibers from a stack of fibrous sheets, either in roll or bale form, by directing the stack of sheets into engagement with a fiberizing means employs a differential feed system for directing the bottom sheet, or sheets, of the stack into engagement with the fiberizing means at a different speed relative to other sheets of the stack. Preferably the bottom sheet of the stack is fed into the fiberizing means at a slower speed relative to other sheets of the stack to minimize clump generation in the fiberizing operation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for fixing an image formed by a colorant upon an image support body is described. A fluid, binder material contacts a heated transport surface. The heated surface comprises an elastomeric material which is positioned on a tubular body formed of a material having a relatively high coefficient of thermal conductivity. The transport surface advances the heated binder material to a nip formed with an adjacent pressure contact surface which is transported in moving engagement with the heated surface. The binder material at the nip temperature exhibits a viscosity which exceeds the surface energy of the elastomeric transport surface while the surface energy of the support material and the imaged surface is greater than the surface energy of the elastomer. The binder is thus transferred to the imaged surface for fixing the image thereon.

Abstract: A fluidized bed system characterized by a fluidized bed chamber for coating objects dipped therein, the chamber having a bottom surface through which pressurized air is diffused uniformly throughout the cross sectional area of the chamber, and means for controlling the volume of air to effect a smooth suspended powder condition within the chamber during operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing flaked or nubbed yarns wherein the method is carried out by altering the draft effect on the sliver of the yarn through providing, in the rubber roller of a draft apparatus of a conventional textile machine, grooves or depressions so that a flaked yarn section is obtained with a stronger resistance to traction due to a thicker accumulation of textile material.

Abstract: A fiber module, or block of compacted fiber material, is conveyed and broken apart, or separated, into many loose uncompacted fibers. In the method a fiber module is removed from a carrier and moved upon a shuttle carriage, which is moved laterally into axial alignment with a horizontal bed. The fiber module is conveyed onto the bed and then conveyed along the bed to a breaker device, wherein the fiber module is broken apart.The apparatus useful for carrying out the above method includes, in combination, a shuttle carriage capable of lateral movement with respect to a generally horizontal bed, the bed having a plurality of sets of power driven rollers disposed within it; and a breaker device having a plurality of rotary breaker tubes located within it.

Abstract: An improvement for collecting waste in a carding machine beneath the feed and lickerin rolls having a plenum chamber and duct with an inlet nozzle and a downwardly sloping collecting chute, and side doors enclosing a lickerin waste-collecting chamber provided with an opening through which air flow currents are induced to flow transversely and downwardly to remove and cause the flow of waste downwardly to the inlet nozzle of the plenum chamber.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for supplying water or moisture to the surfaces of fuser members comprising water-degradable silicone rubbers. The water or moisture produces a degradation product of the silicone rubber which is a release material for electroscopic resin toners used in xerographic copiers.

Abstract: An apparatus for making sheets of fibrous material in a chamber having perforated top and side inner walls into which an air stream mixture with fibers therein is introduced through a nozzle over a travelling screen conveyor on which the fibers are settled to form a mat thereon. The chamber has solid outer walls defining a space over the chamber and on the sides thereof into which air under pressure is introduced to keep the fibers in the chamber from contacting the inner walls and becoming electrostatically charged. The apparatus is provided with mechanism for applying a vacuum through the air-permeable conveyor to settle the fibers thereon and for forming a sheet of fibrous material thereon.

Abstract: Stripping apparatus for stripping copy sheets from oil wetted fuser roll surface. Apparatus including stripping finger supported on oil film through dynamic generation of pressure under bottom pad surface of stripping finger in contact with fuser roll by rotational motion of fuser roll. The pad surface is formed with a tapered channel on the undersurface thereof with the maximum depth at the rear thereof. The channel is connected with a comb-like arrangement of channels on the front surface of the stripping finger. At least one notch extends transversely to the stripping direction to inter-connect the comb-like channels.

Abstract: A process of producing slivers for open-end spinning of wool or synthetic yarn and being characterized by eliminating the necessity for repeated doublings and draftings of the sliver while providing the desired uniform fiber distribution and weight in the sliver and yarn. Stock material is carded, then cross-lapped to reorient the fiber distribution, and again carded for producing a fiber web. This web is divided into relatively narrow rovings or strips of fibers and oriented into groups containing alternate strips of fibers from across the width of the fiber web. The respective strips of fibers from each such group are combined and formed into a sliver.

Abstract: A fiber condenser is illustrated having a strand guiding and delivery opening for feeding fiber forwardly into a nip formed by a pair of superposed rolls wherein a flange is carried by the condenser and extends rearwardly therefrom for engagement by a bracket carried adjacent the rolls for limiting transverse movement of the condenser in either direction. The bracket may be carried by a transverse bar which also supports a cradle assembly for alignment. Normally, a tendency of the condenser to move laterally in relation to the rolls is limited or restrained by the presence of the fiber strand but when such becomes broken, there is a tendency for the condenser to become dislodged from the nip and fall to the floor of the mill.

Abstract: A drive for a textile carding machine is illustrated wherein a direct current motor is provided for returning the doffer to operating or production speed, following a run at slow speed as for putting an end up, independently of the other driven card components which is de-energized after the doffer has attained operating speed. A drive connection provided between the licker-in and the barrow pulley thereafter drives the doffer at operating speed. The method thus contemplates driving the doffer from slow to operating speed independently of the usual driving components of the card and then when the doffer is at operating speed, utilizing the usual driving components of the card to drive the doffer after discontinuing independent driving of the doffer.

Abstract: A contact fuser assembly for use in an electrostatic reproducing apparatus including an internally heated metal core cooperating with a resilient backup roll to form a nip through which substrates carrying toner images are moved with the toner images contacting the metal core. The fuser assembly is characterized by the provision of a sump of liquid release agent material which material is provided for coating the surface of the fuser roll structure. In order to apply the liquid release agent material to the surface of the fuser roll structure there is provided a cylindrical applicator member which is partially submersed in the release agent material. A ratchet wheel and pawl arrangement is provided for periodically indexing or moving the applicator member in response to disengagement of the backup roll from the fuser roll through pivoting of an arm supporting the backup roll.

Abstract: A liquid pick-up, transfer and deposit system achieves controlled thickness, reproducible deposits of viscous liquid, such as epoxy, on a substrate, for subsequent attachment of microscopic size dies, by maintaining a layer of uniform, thickness of the viscous coating in a receptacle and moving an applicator stamp, back and forth between the receptacle and a substrate constituting the workpiece. The deposit area and thickness of coating on the tip of the applicator is kept uniform by a gravity actuated plunger yieldable rearwardly opposed only by its own weight. The plunger tip accommodates itself to the surface it contacts.