Title: Apparatus for plucking and delivering fiber to a feeder with automatic dust control

Abstract: Apparatus having an elevated trackway and a pick-up head arranged thereon for automatically plucking increments of fibers from one or more bales, delivering such increments of fiber to a position above a hopper feeder, and dropping such increments of fiber therein, all in a predetermined cycle and in response to a fiber demand signal from the hopper feeder. Such apparatus includes a suction conduit disposed above the hopper feeder and adjacent the path of travel of the fiber increments as they are dropped into the hopper feeder, with such suction conduit being connected to a continuous vacuum source. A valve is disposed in the suction conduit, and is opened when the pick-up head commences its cycle and closed when the pick-up head completes its cycle.

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Inventors: Keller, Alex J. (Gastonia, NC, US)

Application Number: 758590
Filing Date: 1977-01-12
Publication_date: 1978-05-09
Assignee: Automatic Material Handling, Inc. (Bessemer City, NC)
Primary Class(es): 15/301 15/319, 19/81
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2924062	Feb, 1960	Sutcliffe	15/301.
2976556	Mar, 1961	Reiterer	15/301.
3628213	Dec, 1971	Ramo	15/301.
3777908	Dec, 1973	Keller	214/16.

Other Refs: 2337528

Feb, 1974	DT

Primary Examiner: Moore, Christopher K.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Richards, Shefte & Pinckney