Air curtain nep separation and detection
US5822972A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
- CPC primaryD01G31/003
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A nep separator and detector for presenting a fiber sample having fibers, neps, and trash. A toothed rotating cylinder receives the fiber sample at a fiber sample receiving point, and impacts and propels at least a portion of the trash and neps along an ejection path. An air curtain is directed toward and passes across a portion of the toothed surface of the rotating cylinder, at a location rotationally after the fiber sample is received by the toothed rotating cylinder. The air curtain crosses and is oriented transverse to the ejection path, and draws at least a portion of the neps out of the ejection path and onto the surface of the toothed cylinder as it rotates. The trash propelled by impact with the toothed rotating cylinder has sufficient momentum to pass through the air curtain along the ejection path. A dead air space is positioned in the ejection path and disposed adjacent the air curtain and across the air curtain from the fiber sample receiving point. The trash propelled by the toothed rotating cylinder passes through the dead air space. A nep air stream draws the neps on the surface of the toothed cylinder off the surface of the toothed cylinder at a nep release point, …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.