US3774782A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machinery for handling synthetic filament
Assignee: TUCEL IND INC US
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Filing: 1971-10-29
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1991-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are presented for aligning and orienting cut-to-length synthetic filaments or the like in parallel relationship for use directly in brushmaking or tufting machines, or for packaging or bundling. The apparatus of this invention includes a housing through which nonaligned filaments are allowed to fall. A conduit extending diagonally into a central portion of the housing selects oriented filaments and conveys them to an aligning groove. In the aligning groove the filaments are aligned longitudinally in parallel relationship and allowed to settle into a straightening section. In the straightening section the filaments surround a plurality of pins extending from a trim plate disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of the filaments. Vibrating means vibrates the trim plate and the pins mounted thereon to further align the filaments in parallel relationship and to align the ends thereof in a common plane. The straightening section may feed directly to a stock box for use in a brushmaking or tufting machine, or to conventional bundling or packaging apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 J Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
An apparatus for orienting and stacking randomly disposed, cut-to-length synthetic filaments or the like comprising: an upstanding housing having an entrance port in the upper portion thereof and an exit port at the bottom thereof; means disposed at the entrance port for conveying randomly disposed, cut-to-length synthetic filaments therethrough whereby said filaments will be allowed to free-fall through said housing toward the bottom thereof; selection means disposed within a central portion of said housing for selecting only a portion of those randomly disposed filaments falling therethrough, having longitudinal axes oriented approximately parallel to the vertical axis of said housing; a vertical stacking frame having front, back and side walls disposed externally to said housing, said frame adapted to confine a plurality of oriented, cut-to-length filaments disposed longitudinally between the front and back walls thereof; means connecting said selection means and said stacking frame for conveying the selected, oriented filaments from said selection means through said housing to said stacking frame and for stacking the selected filaments in said frame.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
An apparatus for orienting and stacking randomly disposed, cut-to-length synthetic filaments or the like comprising: an upstanding housing having an entrance port in the upper portion thereof and an exit port at the bottom thereof; means disposed at the entrance port for conveying randomly disposed, cut-to-length synthetic filaments therethrough whereby said filaments will be allowed to free-fall through said housing toward the bottom thereof; selection means disposed within a central portion of said housing for selecting only a portion of those randomly disposed filaments falling therethrough, having longitudinal axes oriented approximately parallel to the vertical axis of said housing; a vertical stacking frame having front, back and side walls disposed externally to said housing, said frame adapted to confine a plurality of oriented, cut-to-length filaments disposed longitudinally between the front and back walls thereof; means connecting said selection means and said stacking frame for conveying the selected, oriented filaments from said selection means through said housing to said stacking frame and for stacking the selected filaments in said frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising means disposed at the exit port of said housing for collecting the randomly disposed filaments falling therethrough and for conveying said filaments to the entrance port for readmittance to said housing through said entrance port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the distance between the entrance port and the exit port of said housing is at least twelve inches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the internal distance between the front and back walls of said stacking frame is no more than one and one-half the length of the cut-to-length filaments to be stacked therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said means for conveying the selected filaments comprises a conduit extending upwardly from the upper portion of said stacking frame and into a central portion of said housing, the longitudinal axis of the terminal portion of said conduit extending into said housing at an angle to the vertical axis thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said conduit is a tube and a terminal portion of the walls thereof describe an entrance opening substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, said opening adapted to receive only those randomly disposed filaments falling through said housing which are oriented longitudinally parallel to the vertical axis of said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the terminal portion of the conduit distal to said housing has a closed end and an elongated exit opening in the lower portion of the conduit wall adjacent said closed end, the exit opening and the longitudinal axis of the terminal portion of said conduit surrounding the opening being aligned over said stacking frame between the front and back walls thereof so that filaments passing through said conduit will encounter the closed end thereof and drop through the exit opening therein into said frame, oriented between the froNt and back walls thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the elongated exit opening is a slit extending longitudinally along the lower portion of the wall of said tube from the closed end thereof toward said housing a distance greater than the length of the filament passing therethrough, but less than one and one-half times the length of said filament.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the lower portion of said conduit is mounted on the upper portion of said stacking frame, the interior of said conduit in communication with the interior of said frame through an elongated exit opening in a wall thereof, the side walls of said frame converging at a central portion thereof to form a constricted filament aligning section, and diverging at a lower portion thereof to form a filament stacking section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the side walls of said frame converge at a central portion thereof to form a filament aligning section and diverge at a lower portion thereof to form a filament stacking section.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
269 words
An apparatus for orienting, stacking and aligning randomly disposed cut-to-length synthetic filaments or the like comprising: an upstanding housing having an entrance port in the upper portion thereof and an exit port at the bottom thereof; means disposed at the entrance port for conveying randomly disposed cut-to-length filaments therethrough whereby said filaments will be allowed to free-fall through said housing toward the bottom thereof; selection means disposed within a central portion of said housing for selecting only a portion of those randomly disposed filaments falling therethrough which have longitudinal axes oriented approximately parallel to the vertical axis of said housing; a vertical stacking frame having front, back, and side walls disposed externally to said housing, the front wall of said frame having an opening therein in a central portion thereof, said frame adapted to confine a plurality of oriented, cut-to-length filaments disposed longitudinally between the front and back walls thereof; means connecting said selection means and said frame for conveying the selected filaments from said selection means through said housing to said frame, said means adapted to stack said filaments in said frame longitudinally between the front and back walls thereof; means disposed within said frame for orienting said filaments longitudinally between the front and back wall thereof with the longitudinal axes of said filaments in parallel relationship at a central portion of said frame adjacent the opening in the front wall thereof; vibrating means disposed at the opening in the front wall of said frame for vibrating said filaments against the back wall thereof until the ends adjacent said back wall are aligned in a common vertical plane.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
269 words
An apparatus for orienting, stacking and aligning randomly disposed cut-to-length synthetic filaments or the like comprising: an upstanding housing having an entrance port in the upper portion thereof and an exit port at the bottom thereof; means disposed at the entrance port for conveying randomly disposed cut-to-length filaments therethrough whereby said filaments will be allowed to free-fall through said housing toward the bottom thereof; selection means disposed within a central portion of said housing for selecting only a portion of those randomly disposed filaments falling therethrough which have longitudinal axes oriented approximately parallel to the vertical axis of said housing; a vertical stacking frame having front, back, and side walls disposed externally to said housing, the front wall of said frame having an opening therein in a central portion thereof, said frame adapted to confine a plurality of oriented, cut-to-length filaments disposed longitudinally between the front and back walls thereof; means connecting said selection means and said frame for conveying the selected filaments from said selection means through said housing to said frame, said means adapted to stack said filaments in said frame longitudinally between the front and back walls thereof; means disposed within said frame for orienting said filaments longitudinally between the front and back wall thereof with the longitudinal axes of said filaments in parallel relationship at a central portion of said frame adjacent the opening in the front wall thereof; vibrating means disposed at the opening in the front wall of said frame for vibrating said filaments against the back wall thereof until the ends adjacent said back wall are aligned in a common vertical plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 11 wherein the internal distance from the front wall of said frame to the back wall thereof above the opening in the front wall is no greater than one and one-half the length of the cut-to-length synthetic filaments to be aligned therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 12 wherein the internal distance from the front wall of said frame to the back wall thereof below said opening is approximately equal to the length of the cut-to-length filaments to be aligned therein for retaining said aligned and oriented filaments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 11 wherein the opening in the front wall of said frame extends from one side wall to an opposite side wall thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said vibrating means comprises a trim plate assembly having a face adapted to be disposed at the opening in the front wall of said frame, perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the filaments to be aligned therein; electromagnetic vibrator means coupled to said assembly for causing said face to vibrate toward the back wall of said frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device of claim 15 wherein the face of said plate assembly mounts a plurality of mutually spaced probes extending perpendicularly therefrom toward said baCk plate, said probes adapted to vibrate with said assembly and to transmit vibratory motion thereof to the longitudinal surfaces of filaments adjacent thereto when said filaments are received in said frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |