Abstract: A circular textile fiber bale opener with a goosenecked transition from separately chambered dual plucker rolls provide for larger laydown area and greater production. The transition causes uniform air velocity at the top of the fiber bales across the full length of the plucker rolls. Plucked fibers from the transition are delivered through a centrally disposed hollow shaft for delivery downstream. The shaft carries electrical collector rings with which are associated brushes which rotate with the opener for completing connections between the external and internal wiring required for the apparatus.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for forming webs from textile fibers entrained in an air stream in a conduit with a perforated plate dividing the interior of a housing into first and second chambers so that the entrained fibers fall to the bottom of the first chamber and the air passes through the plate while a portion of the plate is oscillated. The passage between the conduit and first chamber increases in cross-section from conduit to first chamber to reduce the velocity of the air and entrained particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an electrical output signal which varies as a function of sliver thickness with a trumpet having a bore through which the sliver passes and a port opening into the bore, and a sensor with a housing defining an inner space sealingly divided by a flexible diaphragm into an upper compartment and a lower averaging compartment. The lower compartment is connected to the trumpet port and to a pressure source via a metering valve having an air escape port. A shaft is fixed for movement vertically with the diaphragm and has a weight on the end within the lower compartment and a magnetic portion in the upper compartment. Vertical movement of the diaphragm caused by a change in back pressure caused in turn by a change in sliver thickness produces an electrical signal in a coil wound about the shaft in the upper compartment as the coil interacts with the magnetic portion.

Abstract: An improved web former for feeding a fiber web of dense material or the like to subsequent textile processing machinery. The web former disclosed incorporates an offset cam means comprising an eccentric sleeve concentrically rotatably journalled in a bearing assembly. The offset cam means oscillates a shaker plate between horizontal positions so that a web of uniform density and thickness may be compressed and moved downwardly through a chute defined by the shaker plate and a vertically extending wall to a plurality of fluted aluminum delivery rolls. The delivery rolls further assist in forming a web and transporting a web of fiber material to other textile equipment.