Method and apparatus for the continuous feeding of palletized fiber materials

Claim 2

Apparatus for removing fibers stacked on a pallet comprising: a generally horizontal bed means having a supporting surface for at least one pallet, having a loading zone at one end thereof and having a discharge zone; breaker means for breaking loose fibers stacked on a pallet, said breaker means disposed above said bed means to allow pallets on said supporting surface to pass under said breaker means; means supported by said bed means for supporting and translating a pallet from said loading zone to a position on the opposite side of said breaker means, whereby fibers stacked on the pallet are engaged by said breaker means and broken away from the rest of the fibers carried on the pallet as the pallet passes under and beyond said breaker means; and discharge means above said bed means, said discharge means for conveying fibers removed from a pallet by said breaker means to subsequent fiber handling apparatus.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said means for translating includes a feed conveyor which is driven at one predetermined speed for translating pallets from said loading zone to said discharge zone of said bed means at a uniform speed in abutting, end-to-end relationship.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said means for translating includes a transition conveyor disposed within said loading zone of said bed means, said transition conveyor operable at variable speed for loading a pallet onto said feed conveyor in end-to-end abutting relationship with a previously loaded pallet for subsequent uniform translation by said feed conveyor.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: said feed conveyor includes a plurality of power rollers transversely disposed in relation to said bed means, said power rollers spaced longitudinally of said bed means; and said power rollers including an engagement means for driving engagement with the bottom of a pallet.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 including: a loading conveyor operating at a second speed for moving pallets to said transition conveyor; and a positioning conveyor for moving pallets to said loading conveyor; said positioning conveyor and said loading conveyor disposed within said loading zone of said bed means.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said means for removing includes three upright walls, two upright walls being side walls arranged substantiaLly longitudinally of said bed means and the third upright wall being arranged substantially transverse to said bed means and connected to said two side walls such that a chamber is defined therebetween above said bed means; one of said side walls provided with a fiber egress opening; and said discharge means including a transverse conveyor which removes fibers from said chamber through said opening in said sidewall, said transverse conveyor disposed transverse to said bed means, said transverse conveyor spaced above said bed means such that a palllet moves along said bed means but below said transverse conveyor.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: said transverse conveyor includes an endless belt; said endless belt including a top moving surface and a bottom moving surface, said top moving surface and said bottom moving surface being vertically spaced to allow a pallet translating on said bed means to move therebetween.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: said breaking means includes a rotary sweeper for removing fibers disposed adjacent the surface of a pallet, said rotary sweeper disposed transversely of said bed means with said chamber, such that said rotary sweeper engages the pallet before the pallet encounters said transverse conveyor.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said breaking means includes a plurality of horizontal, vertically-spaced, rotary augers, said augers supported be said two side walls above said bed means, said augers positioned such that fibers carried by a pallet are engaged by said augers before the pallet encounters said rotary sweeper.

Claim 11

Apparatus for removing fibers from pallet means comprising: a generally horizontal bed means having a supporting surface for at least one pallet, said bed means having a loading zone at one end and having a discharge zone; a plurality of powered rollers each having an engaging means for engaging the bottom of a pallet, said powered rollers disposed transverse of said bed means and positioned longitudinally therealong, said powered rollers rotating at one predetermined constant speed; a power-driven endless chain disposed within the loading zone of said bed means, said chain disposed longitudinally of said bed means and operable at variable speed for positioning a pallet in end-to-end abutting relationship with a previously positioned pallet for subsequent uniform translatory motion relative to said bed means; a plurality of upright walls disposed above said bed means and attached thereto, said upright walls defining a chamber having an opening for receiving a fiber-laden pallet, one of said walls including an opening for discharging an empty pallet, and one of said walls including an opening for discharging fibers removed from a pallet; a plurality of rotary members having a roughened surface for breaking up fibers, said rotary members horizontally disposed transversely of said bed means and vertically spaced thereabove within said chamber; a rotary sweeper horizontally disposed within said chamber and transverse of said bed means, said rotary sweeper being longitudinally spaced from said rotary members, said rotary sweeper supported by said upright walls in vertically spaced relation to said bed means for allowing a pallet to pass between said rotary sweeper and said bed means such that said rotary sweeper removes any fibers from a pallet not removed by said rotary members; a transverse conveyor for moving fibers removed from a pallet transversely of said bed means, one end of said transverse conveyor protruding from said chamber through said opening for discharging fibers, said transverse conveyor spaced above said horizontal bed such that an empty pallet may pass therebetween; and suction means disposed adjacent said protruding end of said tranverse conveyor whereby fibers removed from a pallet are conveyed for subsequent processing.

Claim 12

Apparatus for removing fibers from pallet means comprising: a generally horizontal bed means having a supporting surface for at least one pallet, said bed means having a loading zone at one end and having a discharge zone; a plurality of powered rollers each having an engaging means for engaging the bottom of a pallet, said powered rollers disposed transverse of said bed means and positioned longitudinally therealong, said powered rollers rotating at one predetermined constant speed; a power-driven endless chain disposed within the loading zone of said bed means, said chain disposed longitudinally of said bed means and operable at variable speed for positioning a pallet in end-to-end abutting relationship with a previously positioned pallet for subsequent uniform translatory motion relative to said bed means; a plurality of upright walls disposed above said bed means and attached thereto, said upright walls defining a chamber having an opening for receiving a fiber-laden pallet, one of said walls including an opening for discharging an empty pallet, and one of said walls including an opening for discharging fibers removed from a pallet; a plurality of rotary members having a roughened surface for breaking up fibers, said rotary members horizontally disposed transversely of said bed means and vertically spaced thereabove within said chamber; a rotary sweeper horizontally disposed within said chamber and transverse of said bed means, said rotary sweeper being longitudinally spaced from said rotary members, said rotary sweeper supported by said upright walls in vertically spaced relation to said bed means for allowing a pallet to pass between said rotary sweeper and said bed means such that said rotary sweeper removes any fibers from a pallet not removed by said rotary members; a transverse conveyor for moving fibers removed from a pallet transversely of said bed means, one end of said transverse conveyor protruding from said chamber through said opening for discharging fibers, said transverse conveyor spaced above said horizontal bed such that an empty pallet may pass therebetween; and suction means disposed adjacent said protruding end of said tranverse conveyor whereby fibers removed from a pallet are conveyed for subsequent processing.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 10 including: a hydraulic system which powers and controls the rotary speed of said rotary members, said transverse conveyor, said rotary sweeper, said powered rollers and said power-driven endless chain.