US3034181A - Automatic distributor - Google Patents

Description

y 1962 L. H. SMITH 3,034,181

AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i P i i 24 2\.

gig}! INVENTOR. LOF TON H. SMITH y 5, 1962 L. H. SMITH 3,034,181

AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LOFTON H. SMITH May 15, 1962 L. H. SMITH 3,034,181

AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 22, 1959 4 Sheets Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. LOFTON H. SMITH May 15, 1962 L. H. SMITH 3,034,181

AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Machinery To Preceding IN V EN TOR.

LOFTON H. SMITH undesirable.

United States Patent' 3,034,181 AUTGMATEC DISTREUTfiR Lofton H. Smith, 2164 Collins Drive NW., Atlanta 18, Ga. Filed June 22, 1959, Ser. No. 821,770 19 Claims. (Cl. 19-404) This invention relates generally to feeding machines, and more particularly to an automatic distributor for mechanically carrying cotton stock from a line of processing machinery and distributing it automatically as needed to a number of pickers or the like.

There are several types of automatic distributors now in use in the cotton industry, almost all of which have the one great disadvantage of allowing excess cotton to be fed to the hoppers of the following machinery, such as pickers, which excess is either forced into the picker hopper or recirculated to the inlet side of the distributor. Thus, in either case, a large amount of mechanical action and agitation is given to the cotton stock which has already been opened, which results in the cotton being rolled, compressed, and twisted, thus destroying any benefits which would otherwise be derived from the previous cleaning and opening operation.

In a customary type of cotton mill installation, a number of pickers are fed by a single cleaning line of machinery. Since almost all opening machinery handles a minimum of 1000 pounds of cotton per hour, and an average picker production is 300-400 pounds per hour,

' it will be realized that at least three pickers will be needed for each line of opening machinery, and in many cases 7 more are required. In the systems of automatic distribution now in use the cotton from the opemng machinery line is fed onto a single conveyor, which extends above and transversely to the picker hoppers, and distributes the cotton to the hoppers through any suitable means, such as rakes on an endless belt which carry the cotton along the conveyor housing which has openings in the bottom thereof above each picker hopper.

Although there are other methods of feeding cotton stock, basically the same system is used, whereby, regardless of the demands of the second, third and other pickers, the demands of the first picker are satisfied first before cotton will be carried to the next picker in the line. This has the obvious disadvantage that if two or three pickers should require cotton at once, the first or second pickers will initially receive the cotton and by the time the stock is supplied to the third picker it will have already created large variations in the picker lap, which, of course, are Such laps must be reworked by the picker machinery and this is not only expensive but lowers the quality of the cotton.

Another disadvantage of this type of distributing system is that if all of the picker hoppers are full and an excess of cotton stock is supplied by the distributor, this excess the picker hoppers again requires a supply of cotton stock. Obviously this constant agitation of the cotton through the distributor and recirculation means has a tendency to roll the cotton into a ball and thus negate all of the previous opening operations which have been performed. With these defects of the prior art in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an automatic distributor for pickers which will immediately feed any one or all of the pickers in the line almost immediately upon demand, and at the same time, so that the pickers will be fed concurrently and the second, third, and other pickers need not wait until the first picker hopper is full before receiving the cotton stock which they are demanding.

3,034,181 Patented Ma 15, 1962 Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein as the feeding is taking place a cleaning operation is also performed which is not at the expense of any extra time or space than would be required for the feeding alone.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic distributing device which properly integrates the feeding of cotton stock from the opening line to the distributor, and again from the distributor to each of the pickers individually, so that there will be neither extra mechanical handling or agitation of the cotton when there is an excess of stock, nor a substantial waiting period before feeding a hungry picker hopper.

The foregoing objects and others ancillary thereto are accomplished according to a preferred embodimentof the invention, wherein the automatic distributor is enclosed within a'housing, the upper portion of which constitutes a hopper which feeds a plurality of distributing units; each feeding a separate picker. Within the hopper proper and above each distributing unit is disposed a feeler for assuring that a suflicient supply of cotton stock is in the hopper. Cotton will continue to feed to the hopper until all of the feelers in the hopper, that is,

. the feelers of each distributing unit, have been deactivated by the cotton stock therein.

Each distributing unit comprises a pair of slow moving feeding rollers which carry the cotton stock in a mass to a high speed cylinder which grasps and removes tufts of cotton from the slowly moving mass of cotton. This cotton is then tossed against a grid section or screen which surrounds the cylinder so as to remove some of the trash which the preceding line of machinery failed to remove. The fast moving cylinder creates a draft which, together with the draft from the picker condenser, carries the cotton through an outlet provided adjacent the cylinder and carries it tln-ough suitable means such as pipes or tubes to the picker.

A cutoff bar is provided downstream of the outlet to remove any cotton which may adhere to the cylinder. A plurality of air vents are provided in the general vicinity of the downstream side of the grid, so that the suction created by the quickly rotating cylinder will create a draft which increases the draft caused by the picker condenser. If these vents were located in any other position, difficulty would be encountered since the air flowing therethrough would blow the trash falling through the grid bars back against the cylinder and little or no trash' could be removed from the cotton.

Suitable drive means for the feed rollers are provided, such as an individual motor for the drive rolls of each unit, or an individual clutch for the drive rolls of each unit, which motor or clutch is controlled by a feeler motion in the picker fed by the distributor unit.

If desired, a hopper feeding mechanism may be provided to properly distribute the cotton stock in the hopper over the feed rolls of the respective units. This mechanism includes a movable gate and an endless conveyor adjacent thereto which is constantly moving and is disposed above each distributing unit but the last, which will be fed by the conveyor of the preceding unit. A feeler motion is provided to'open each gate when the supply of stock above its unit falls'below' a predetermined level. Control means are also provided to assure that no gate opens on a lar unit is being fed.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best preceding-unit while any particube understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection withthe' accom- 'panying drawings, wherein like reference characters in matic distributor which is in turn fed by a condenser at the end of a cleaning line;

FIG. 2. is a side elevational view of the system illus trated in FIG. 1 illustrating a finisher picker being used with. the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the automatic distributor illustrating the essential elements thereof;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 4--.4 of FIG. 3 with parts of the cylinder broken away for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of one side of the distributor illustrating part of the drive means for the cylinder and feed rolls;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the other side of the distributor illustrating additional drive means for the cylinders and the feed rolls;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through another embodiment of the invention wherein a hopper feeding mechanism is provided;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 7, illustrating the control gate, and

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram for the apparatus of FIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more par- ,ticularly, to FIGURES 1 and 2, an arrangement of three finisher pickers P1, P2 and P3, is shown cooperating with the automatic distributor 10. It is to be understood,

however, that any number of pickers may be used-with cleaning line or ablending and mixing unit is drawn through conduit 14 by condenser 12 and is deposited through outlet 15 to distributor which is open at the top. The distributor 10 feeds the three pickers P1, P2 and P3, through conduits 16, 18and 20, respectively, by means of condenser's'22, 24 and 26, respectively, which draw cotton through the conduits and deposit the stock into. the hoppers of the pickers.

The automatic distributor proper, as seen more clearly in FIGURES 3 and 4, is constructed of vertical end walls 28 and 30, and vertical side walls 32 and 34, which may be joined together and reinforced by any suitable reinforcing structure. The top of distributor 10 is open and the upper interior portion thereof is free and clear so as to provide a hopper 36 into which cotton stock from condenser outlet may be deposited. Disposed in the medial portion of the distributor are a series of batlles forming an arrangement 38 which assures feeding of cotton stock to the feeding sections- 40a, 40b, and 400 one being provided for each of the pickers P.

The battle arrangement '38 includes longitudinally extending, downwardly projecting bafiles 42 of relatively short width, and attached to side Walls 32 and 34 for the purpose of urging cotton away from the side walls 32 and 34 which house the axles for the various rolls, and in this manner cotton stock is kept frominterfering with the rotation thereof. Each of the units '40 has transversely extending and downwardly projecting baffles 44 and 46 at either side of the unit 40 to direct the cotton properly toward the feed'rolls.

Each of the units 40' comprises a pair of feed rolls 48 and 50 rotating in opposite directions to receive the stockdirected thereto by the bafiie arrangement and feed it downwardly toward a quickly rotating cylinder 52.

cleaning of the cotton may take place during the feeding operation. An outlet is provided between enclosure 54 and grid bars 58 so that the cotton stock which is now in the form of tufts of fiber can be removed from the vicinity of unit 40. A clearer roll 62 is disposed adjacent the feed roll 50, and rotates in the same direction, and at a faster speed to assure that the fibers do not lap about the roll 50 which would destroy the grasping action of the feed rolls.

Any type of grippingsurface may be provided on the feed rolls 48 and 50, such as by making them fluted. However, as shown in FIGURE 3, the rolls areprovided with conventional metallic card clothing as are the clearer rolls 62. The main cylinders 52 are also constructed having card clothing thereon. A cutoff'bar 64 is provided in' the downstream portion of outlet 60, so as to assure removal of tufts of cotton fibers from the pins of the clothing on the cylinders 52, so the cotton will be forced into outlet 60 both by centrifugal force and the current of air which is created by the quickly rotating cylinder and suction from the condenser over the picker. The cylinder 52 extends the full width of the distributor, and therefore so does the outlet 60.

A duct 66 extending the full width of the distributor connects outlet 60 with a transistor 68, which connects each of the units with its respectiveconduit 16, 18 and 20.

That portion of the distributor 10 which is disposed below the grid section 58 comprises a trash chamber having a bottom '70, side walls which are the same as the sidewalls for the distributor, that is 32 and 34, and end walls which are the walls of ducts 66 or may include an end wall of the distributor 28 or 30. The top of the chamber is formed by a portion 67 of duct 66, the grid section 58, and a horizontal plate 69 extending from the junction of (grid section 58 and enclosure 56, to duct 66 of an adjacent unit or an end wall. The side walls of the chambers are provided with large openings 72 which are closed by doors 74 so that access may be gained to the chamber to remove the trash therefrom.

Disposed in the vicinity of the downstream portion of the grid section 58 and outlet 60, is a plurality of vents 76, which are formed throughthe side walls 32 and 34 ofthe distributor, so that the suction created bythe fast moving cylinder 52 and suction from the picker condenser will create a draft which will conduct the cotton through the outlet 60. These. vents must be disposed near the downstream portion of grid section 58, so that the currents of air will flow through the downstream portion of the grid and then directly to the outlet 60 which is located in close proximity thereto. In this manner, there will be as little air disturbance as possible in the trash chamber and through the grid bars 58. Otherwise, the current of air entering through vents 76 would blow the trash back through gn'd bars 58 and little cleaning could be performed. 7

Each of the main cylinders is constructed of a steel shell or tube 78 fitted with end flanges 80. An axle 82 is fixed in the end flanges, and the ends of each axle are journaled in bearings 84 supported on angle members 86 which are, in turn, fixed to the side walls 32 and 34 of the distributor. The axle of the center cylinder 52 of unit 401) has a pulley 88 fixed to one end and two pulleys 90 fixed to the other end thereof. Pulley 88 has a belt 92 disposed therearound the other loop of which is disposed about pulley 94 on motor 96, so that the motor 96 drives the center cylinder 52. As seen in FIGURE 6, a pulley 98 is fixed to the end of each axle 82 of the other cylinder 52 and projects on the same side as do pulleys $0. Belts 100 are disposed about pulleys 90 and 98, so that all three of the cylinders rotate at the same speed and in the same direction,since all of the pulleys are of the same diameter.

Although the feed rolls 48 and 50, and clearer roll 62, may be driven by a mechanism connected to motor 96, they are illustrated as being driven by small motors 102 fixed to brackets 104- on walls 32. The motors have sprockets 106 driving sprockets 110 fixed to -axles'112 of rolls 50 by means of a chain 108. On the other side of the axles 112 are fixed other sprockets 114 which by means of chains 116 drive sprockets 118 which are much smaller than sprockets 114. Since sprockets 118 are attached to axles 62' of clearer roll 62, it may be seen that the clearer rolls will rotate in the same direction as rolls 50, but at a much greater speed. Gears 120 and 122 are fixed to the shafts of rolls 48 and 50, are intermeshed, and have the same number of teeth so that the rolls rotate in opposite directions and at the same speed.

In order to properly program the passage of cotton through the system, various feeler motions are provided which will be described below in connection with the general operation of the automatic distributors 1 In operation, cotton stock is drawn through'conduit 14 by means of condenser 12 and is then deposited through condenser outlet 15 into the hopper 36. This flow of cotton continues until all three of the feeler motions 126a, 126b and 1260, are depressed. Each of the feelers is disposed directly above the feed rolls of a corresponding unit, so that should the cotton stock level in the hopper drop below a desired minimum quantity, the feeler 126 actuates the preceding line-of machinery to feed to conduit 14. Thus, depending upon the amount of cotton in the hopper 36, the flow of cotton stock through conduit 14 is controlled, such as by having the feelers 126 operate relays 128 which may control the feed to the preceding line of machinery or completely stop this machinery.

The cotton stock within the hopper 36 is conducted toward feed rolls 48 and 50 of the respective units 40a, 40b, and 40c, by the baffle arrangement 38, including bafies 42 which prevent the cotton from gaining access to the ends or the rolls where it may become lapped about the axles of the rolls and cause ditficulty. A large mass of slowly moving cotton is conveyed by feed rolls 48 and 50 toward the quickly moving cylinder 52 which grasps small tufts of cotton therefrom. Clearer roll 62 keeps feed roll 50 clean by preventing the cotton from lapping therearound. The tufts of cotton on cylinder 52 are thrown against grid section 58 so that trash may be removed through the grid bars, and then the cotton is removed through outlet 60, and any stubborn tufts of cotton which cling to the cardclothing on the cylinder are positively removed by cutofi bar 64.

Since vacuum would be created by the quickly rotating cylinder 52 and the picker condenser, vents 76 are pro vided to allow sufiicient airto enter the unit so that the cotton may be conducted by means of the air currents, to outlet 60 and through duct 66, to the transition 68, and thence to the respective conduits 16, 18 and 20, which are fed by units 40a, 40b and 40c respectively. The cotton in the ducts 66, the transitions 68 and the conduits, is aided in its passage therethrough by the respective picker condenser 22, 24, and 26. The cotton stock is then fed into hoppers 129 of the pickers. Each of the hoppers contains a feeler mechanism 130, which assures that each picker contains a sufficient supply of cotton stock. I

If the cotton stock should fall below the level of feeler 130, then the motors 102 will be energized. However, should the supply of cotton be suflicient to depress feeler 130, then an arrangement is provided whereby the motors 102 will be deenengized in response to the particular picker with which this motor is associated. If desired,

1 this feeler 130 may open and close a switch to control in a hopper feed or distributing mechanism 140 isprovided so as to more evenly distribute cotton stock in the hopper, and assure that this stock is disposed above the feed rolls of the respective distributing units 40A, 40B

and 40C. The hopper 36 is fed by an outlet 142 which is disposed at one end of the hopper 36, as dilferentiated from the preceding embodiment wherein the outlet extended the whole length of the hopper.

The hopper feeding mechanism is constructed of a horizontalbaflie 144 which is disposed between the outlet 142 and one end wall of the hopper. Directly below the outlet 142 is a control gate 146 which is normally in its closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and is disposed above distributing unit 40C. Immediately adjacent this control gate 146 is an endless conveyor 148 mounted upon rolls 150 and 152 respectively. This conveyor 148 is constantly rotating so that if control gate .146 is in its closed position, the cotton stock falling from outlet 142 will be carried by conveyor 148 to a position above distributing unit 40B and if the control gate 154 of this unit is open, as shown in FIG. 7, this unit will receive a sufficient supply of cotton stock. However, if gate.154 is also closed, then the cotton stock will be carried to distributing unit 40A by means of another conveyor 156 which is disposed about'rolls 158 and 160.

As seen more clearly in FIG. 8, the roll 152 of conveyor 148 is journaled in bearings attached to the walls of the hopper, and has a projecting shaft 162 onto which two pulleys are dried, one of these pulleys being connected by a belt to the corresponding roll 160 of the adjacent unit, and the other belt being driven by a pulley on shaft 82 which is the center main cylinder shaft.

' Thus, the drive for the mechanism is supplied by the main motor 96.

Each of the gates 146 and 154 are supplied with control solenoids S1 and S2, respectively, which are connected to the axles or shafts upon which the gates are pivotally connected. Although there is no gate for unit 40A, this unit may control its own feed, the operation of which will be explained in connection withthe circuit diagram of FIG. 9. Each of the feeler motions 126 -are supplied with corresponding switch units 128A,

128B and 1280.

Referring now more particularly to the circuit diagram of FIG. 9, it may be seen that a power line is supplied which may feed the control circuit when switch S is closed. For safety purposes, fuses F are supplied. Relays 170A, 170B and 170C are connected in series with also be found that by starting with the same grade of cotion as was used previously, the present ma hin Wil i e is controlled by toggle switch D3, switch 128A (actuated by feeler motion 126A), and contacts 182 and 171.

When relay 170C is actuated, contact 173 is closed and solenoid S1, controlling gate 146, is energized to open the gate. Also, contact 174 closes to set the time delay relay T which controls the preceding line of machinery through relay 200 and normally open contact 201, so that relay 200 is energized. In fact, when any relay 170 is energized, the time delay relay is also energized. Relay 200 does not open when all the relays 170 open, but has a slight delay to prevent the preceding line of machinery from stopping when the feed is switching from one unit to another, at which time all of the relays 170 may be open'for an instant. Thus, the time delay relay T prevents this undesired stopping of the preceding machinery. When relay 1703' is actuated, contacts 183 and 184 close to energize both the solenoid S2 controlling gate 154, and the time delay relay T. Relay 170A, when actuated, closes contact 193 to energize the time delay relay.

The operationis as follows: After each section of the hopper has been properly filled, the switches 128 will be open and some element of the preceding line of machinery will be controlled by contact 201 to cease flow of stock to the hopper.

Assume that unit 40B is demanding cotton .because the level of cotton stock has fallen below the feeler motion'126B and'thus switch 128B closes. It is assumed that all toggle switches D have been manually closed previously. Upon the closing of switch 128B, relay 170B a'higherquality cotton in the'end because of the fact that the cotton stock inthe hopperswill constantly be maintained at a substantially: uuifprmleyel therein so that the same pressure is 1 9011 iall the cotton, passing through the'hopper;

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is notto be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

. What'I claim is:

1. In combination, an outlet for eiriting fiber stock from a line of processing machinery, a plurality of hoppers to be fed fiberstock, and automatic distributing means receiving fiber stock from said outlet and immedibe actuated through toggle switch D2, switch 128B,

and contacts 191 and 172. Relay 170B simultaneously opens contacts 181 and 182, and closes contacts 183 and 184. Thus, open contact-181 prevents relay 170C from being energized even if its switch 128C closes.

Similarly, contact 182 prevents relay A from be- 1 ing energized. Unit '3 must, therefore, receive a full supply of cotton stock and cannot be robbed of 'stock by the demands of units 40A or 40C. The closing of contact 183 energizes solenoid S2 to open normally closed gate 154. At the same time, contact 184- closes to energize time delay relay T. The operation of the other relays should now be apparent and a detailed explanation thereof is not thought necessary.

It maynow be seen that an automatic distributor ha been shown anddescr-ibed which obviates all of the preiously mentioned disadvantages of the distributors of the prior art, and which accomplishes all of the funcdeveloped which will control the flow of cotton stock into lions set forth. Thus, an automatic distributor has been its ownhopper, will feed a plurality of picker hoppers a supply of cotton almost immediately upon demand of the pickers, and which also performs a cleaning action.

In manner, at least one of the machines in the cleaning line may be eliminated since cleaning may take place the distributor, and the usual three sections of the conventional picker need not be used since the cotton is in such lofty and clean condition that merely a finisher picker is requiredto produce a proper-uniform and even lap. for the succeeding carding operation.

By the use of this machine, production will be increased and a higher quality cotton may be produced, since there distributors. In using this automatic distributor, it will .is much less wasted mechanical action given to the cotton, such as the recirculation performed by conventional least a p r on f 83 enclosure between Said feed r0115 performed during feeding.

3.. .lna distributing assembly, a housing having a number of distributingunits, a single hopper above said units ndzfe i g S ock dire tly he to. sa h unit i d g a high speed main cylinder, .21 pair of low speed rolls feeding cotton stoch-fromsaidhopper to said cylinder, an enclosure surrounding said cylinder, an outlet formed in sa'idenclosure for. directing cotton stock away from said unit, and means for starting and stopping the feeding rolls of ,each unit independently of the feeding rolls of the pother units. 40

4. A distributing assembly comprising a housing havingenumber of distributing units, each unit including a high speed main cylinder, a pair of low speed rolls feeding cotton stock to said cylinder, an enclosure surrounding said cylinder, an outlet formed in said enclosure for directing cotton stock away from said unit, means for starting and stopping the feeding rolls of each unit independently of the feeding rolls of the other units, and means adapted to be attached to a picker hopper for controlling the starting and stopping means in response to the cotton stock level in the picker hopper.

5. A distributing assembly comprising a housing having a number of distributing units, each unit including a highspeed main cylinder, a pair of low speed rolls feeding cotton stock to said cylinder, an enclosure surrounding said cylinder, an outlet formed in said enclosure ,for directing cotton stock away from said unit, means for starting and stopping the feeding rolls of each unit independently of the. feeding rolls of the other units, a hopper in said housing directing cotton stock to said feed rolls, and means in said hopper for stopping the preceding line of machinery feeding said hopper when it contains a sufficient amount of cotton stock.

1 '6. A feeding and cleaning assembly comprising a housing having a plurality of independent and separately operable units, a single hopper containing and feeding stock to all-the units, each unit including a constantly rotating high speed cylinder, an enclosure surrounding the major portion of said cylinder, a pair of low speed rolls feeding a massof stock from the hopper to said cylinder -which removes tufts of cotton from the stock, an outlet in said enclosure spaced more than degrees angularly in the direction of stock flow from said feed rolls, at

and outlet constituting a cleaning surface, and means driving said feed rolls independently of the cylinder and of the feed rolls of adjacent units.

7. The assembly of claim 6 comprising a cut-E bar mounted closely adjacent said cylinder and the downstream side of said outlet for aiding in removing tufts of cotton from the cylinder and depositing them in said outlet.

8. The assembly of claim 7 comprising air inlet means formed through said housing substantially in the vicinity of the downstream side of said cleaning surface so that the vacuum formed by the fast rotation of the cylinder will be relieved and a draft created which carries the tufts of cotton through said outlet.

9. The assembly of claim 8 comprising a clearer roll operative upon the downstream one of said pair of feed rolls and rotating at a faster speed and in the same direction to prevent the cotton stock from Wrapping around said one feed roll.

10. The assembly of claim 6 comprising a feeding device in the hopper for properly distributing the cotton stock through the hopper.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said hopper feeding device includes a constantly moving conveyor disposed above and between adjacent units, and a movable gate adjacent the feed end of each conveyor and disposed above a unit for feeding cotton stock thereto when open.

12. The assembly of claim 11 comprising means for preventing the opening of a preceding gate While any unit is being fed.

13. A feeding and cleaning assembly comprising a housing having a plurality of independent and separately operable units, a single hopper containing and feeding stock to all the units, each unit including a constantly rotating high speed cylinder, an enclosure surrounding the major portion of said cylinder, a pair of low speed rolls feeding a mass of stock from the hopper to said cylinder which removes tufts of cotton from the stock, an outlet in said enclosure, means driving said feed rolls independently of the cylinder and of the feed rolls of adjacent units, and a hopper distributing mechanism for properly supplying stock to the units.

14. A feeding and cleaning assembly comprising a housing having a plurality of separately operable units, a hopper for receiving stock and feeding it to each unit, each unit including a constantly rotating high speed cylinder, an enclosure surrounding the major portion of said cylinder, a pair of low speed rolls feeding a mass of stock from the hopper to said cylinder, an outlet in said enclosure spaced angularly in the direction of stock flow from said feed rolls, at least a portion of said enclosure between said feed rolls and said outlet constituting a cleaning surface, and means driving said feed rolls independently of the cylinder and of the feed rolls of adjacent units.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said stock distributing means includes a constantly moving conveyor disposed above and between adjacent units, and a movable gate adjacent the feed end of each conveyor and disposed above a unit for feeding cotton stock theretowhen 0 en.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said stock distributing means further includes means for'preventing the opening of a preceding gate while any unit is being fed.

17. In a fiber stock conveying mechanism, a plurality of conveyors arranged in line and spaced'apart, each conveyor having a receiving end and a discharge end, movable gate members arranged in closed positions between said conveyors to receive stock from the discharge end of the preceding conveyor and release such stock onto the receiving end of the next conveyor, and automatic means for independently moving each of said gate members to an open position whereby the stock discharged from the preceding conveyor will drop into an associated receiver device, said automatic means comprising an electric circuit including a solenoid for operating each of said gate members, relays for energizing said solenoids, each of said relays being energized through a normally closed contact of another relay whereby to prevent energization of two relays and their associated solenoids simultaneously.

18. A fiber stock feeding assembly comprising a housing having a plurality of independent and separately operable units, a single hopper containing and feeding stock 'to all the units, each unit including a constantly rotating high speed cylinder, a pair of low speed rolls feeding a mass of stock from the hopper to said cylinder which removes tufts of fiber from the stock, an outlet receiving fiber from said cylinder, means driving said feed rolls independently of the cylinder, distributing means in said hopper including a plurality of constantly moving and spaced conveyors disposed above and between adjacent units, movable gates between said conveyors and respectively disposed above an associated unit for feeding fiber stock thereto when open, and means for automatically operating said gates one at a time in response to the need for replenishing fiber stock in each of said units and for stopping a preceding line of machinery, said last named means including time delay means operable to prevent instantaneous stopping of the preceding line of machinery upon simultaneous satisfaction of the needs of all of said units for fiber stock.

19. The assembly according to claim 18 wherein said last named means comprises an electric circuit including a solenoid for operating each of said gates, relays for energizing said solenoids, each of said relays being energized through a normally closed contact of another relay whereby to prevent energization of two relays and their associated solenoids simultaneously, and a time delay relay energized with each of said other relays operable when deenergized to break the circuit of said preceding line of machinery.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 397,849 Gates Feb. 12, 1889 850,107 Wolever Apr. 9, 1907 1,407,500 Thomas Feb. 21, 1922 1,544,964 Wooldridge July 7, 1925 1,875,356 Shaw Sept. 6, 1932 1,886,713 Mitchell Nov. 8, 1932 1,971,421 Mackenzie Aug. 28, 1934 2,360,583 Riehl Oct. 17, 1944 2,879,905 Beech et a1 Mar. 31, 1959

Images