Abstract: A shaft mixer is disclosed having a number of shaft to which fibers are simulatneously supplied and drawn off again from the individual shafts at differing speeds. The drawn-off fibers are supplied collectively to a connected machine.

Abstract: The profile of a measurement roll is stored in a computer during a calibration revolution. On revolution with fiber mats to be measured, the computer reduces the measured values exactly by the measured values of the corresponding calibration profile. The measurement result obtained does not depend on the production quality of the measurement roll.

Abstract: A bale of fibrous material bundled by metal hoops is pressed against an elongated guide, with at least one sensor disposed at the guide for producing signals in response to the presence of metal, a parting device adapted to sever a hoop being displaceable along the guide, and a control system operatively connected to the parting device and receiving signals from the sensor and in response to analyses of the signals, positioning and triggering the parting device to sever a hoop.

Abstract: The presence of extraneous materials such as polypropylene strings or strands in textile fiber material is detected at the bale shaver or plucker in which tufts of the textile fiber are removed from the bale by a rotary plucker head. The plucker head is received in a suction removal hood so that a strand which tends to be wound on the head will impact upon the hood and the frequency of such impact is automatically detected and, if found to be related to the frequency of rotation of the head, automatically causes shut down of the machine to enable clearing of the extraneous fiber or string from the head.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for cutting a tying member of a bale of raw material by a cutting blade movable at a high speed against the tying member of the bale comprises a cutting blade with a cutting element having a length which is equal to a small fraction of the width of the bound surface of the bale substantially parallel to the length of the cutting blade and a cutter carriage device on which the cutting blade is mounted by which the cutting blade is movable toward the bale with a speed which is at least 3 m/sec on impact on the tying member.

Abstract: A uctting mechanism for an apparatus for cutting and mixing fibers from a plurality of fiber bales arranged in a row includes a grid between the fiber bales and a cutting member having at least one cutter roller mounted at one of its ends, wherein the grid surrounds the cutting member at least up to the height of the axis of each of the cutter rollers provided.

Abstract: A fiber-bale mill comprises a cutting device which is movable over a row of fiber bales. A collector passage is open on top below the cutting device which travels to and fro. An air passage in a cutting device through which the cut fibers are drawn from the vicinity of the cutting mechanism communicates with the passage. A cover strip at least partially covers the top of the collector passage to maintain a reduced pressure therein. Guide rollers for the cover strip are provided on the cutting device, to lift the cover strip from the collector passage at the location, at which the air passage opens into the collector passage and guide the cover strip over the portion of the air passage opening into the collector passage.

Abstract: The opening device for opening pressed fiber bales, e.g. cotton bales or the like comprises opening rollers containing opening disks or needles to coact with a grate. If the opening device and the fiber bales contact each other in movement, the teeth of the opening disks or the like engage the fiber bales. To this effect, the grate rods (22,39,43) comprise an offset portion (32,40,43) extending transversely to the direction of travel (5) of the opening device (1), at least one opening disk (28;29) being arranged ahead of and/or behind the offset portion. Thus, an equalizing effect is achieved for the removal of flocks from the fiber bales.

Abstract: In the opening device for reducing fiber bales, e.g. cotton and staple fiber bales or the like, the opening rollers are arranged in a housing. The detached fibers or flocks are carried away in direction of the longitudinal axis of the opening rollers by means of a vacuum current in the housing. At the air discharge side of the housing (7) of the opening device, an air-conducting surface (17) projecting into the housing (7) is mounted above the opening rollers (8,9) and beneath the suction piece (12).

Abstract: A feeding device for flocculent fiber material, e.g., cotton, synthetic fibers, etc., to processing machines, such as carding engines, etc., including an inlet which feeds fiber material through an intake roller and an opening roller into an inlet end portion of a duct, the duct having an outlet end portion at which are located take-off rollers for feeding the fiber material from the duct, the opening roller having a width corresponding to the predetermined width of the duct inlet end portion, and a transverse air current blower extending the predetermined width of the duct inlet end portion and the opening roller, the transverse air current blower being positioned above the duct inlet end portion and having an outlet directed downwardly into the duct inlet portion, and the transverse air current blower being operative at low air pressures and high air throughput.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a web of fibers has an upright and horizontally elongated supply duct having an upper end, an open lower end, and a foraminous side wall. Fibers are fed to the upper end of the supply duct so that they descend in this duct as a ribbon-shaped web. An upright and horizontally elongated forming duct has an upper end receiving the fiber web from the supply duct, a lower end, and a foraminous side wall. Gas is made to flow down in the ducts and through the foraminous side walls thereof to shape the web and advance it to the respective lower ends. Rollers are provided at the lower end of the forming duct for withdrawing the web therefrom. One or more sensors measure the thickness of the web at a plurality of sensing locations spaced transversely along the web downstream of the lower end of the forming duct. Respective individually operable flow-adjusting means can vary the gas flow in one of the ducts at respective zones spaced transversely across the web like the sensing locations.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for reducing the material of rows of fiber bales by means of a milling device reciprocating between two rows of bales. The milling device can be rotated 180.degree. to transfer the milling device between the rows of bales whereby fibers can be removed selectively from two rows of bales.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing fiber bales arranged in a row which includes a plurality of spaced generally vertically disposed supports, a pair of spaced generally parallel rails carried by these supports at positions spaced above a surface upon which the fiber bales are arranged in a row, an elongated vertically disposed carriage having upper and lower end portions, the carriage being suspendingly supported by rollers in its vertically disposed position, one of these rollers being driven to move the carriage along the rails, a slide vertically reciprocated upon the carriage, a generally horizontally disposed bracket carried by the slide, the bracket being in overlying relationship to a fiber bale therebeneath, and grabbing fingers carried by the bracket for grabbing fiber from the fiber bale therebeneath.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus for conveying material as it is removed from rows of bales for subsequent utilization during a spinning operation, the apparatus including a generally elongated channel having an elongated longitudinally disposed slot, a frame movable along rails on opposite sides of the channel, the frame carrying a carriage pivoted thereto along with a telescopic tube for delivering material removed from bales to the channel, a flexible belt, a first end of the flexible belt being secured to an end of the channel, a second end of the flexible belt being entrained about a drum such that the flexible belt can be placed in overlying relationship to the slot upon movement of the frame along the rails whereby material delivered into the channel is covered by the belt and a drive mechanism for appropriately rotating the drum to wind and unwind the belt during movement of the frame along the rails.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a control device for opening fiber bales arranged in a row including a carriage movable along a horizontal rail and carrying a slide which is vertically reciprocal with the slide carrying grabbing fingers which can both grab and release a fiber bale, such as a pressed bale of cotton, and a pneumatic control circuit for pneumatically oscillating the carriage, operating the grabbing fingers and moving the slide up and down, the pneumatic control system also including a program wheel carrying a plurality of contact cams which operate a valve to initiate the cycling of the device and a pneumatically operated ratchet for indexing the program for appropriately cycling the control device and moving the fiber bales as desired.