Patent ID: 6260239
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: D01G

Abstract:
An apparatus for making a fiber lap from a mass of fiber tufts, comprising(a) a generally vertically extending feed chute having relatively wide first and second walls facing one another and relatively narrow third and fourth walls facing one another; a distance between said third and fourth walls defining a width of said feed chute; each said first and second wall having, as viewed parallel to said width, a mid region and flanking edge regions;(b) means for charging said feed chute with fiber tufts at a top portion thereof;(c) means for withdrawing the fiber tufts from said feed chute as a fiber lap at a bottom portion of said feed chute;(d) means for providing air outlet apertures at a bottom portion of at least one of said first and second walls; and(e) a plurality of side-by-side arranged elements positioned in a series on said first wall at a bottom portion thereof; said series extending along said width; a distance between any given said element and said second wall defining a depth of said feed chute at said given element; said elements in said mid region having a first dimension measured parallel to said width and said elements in said edge regions having a second dimension measured parallel to said width; said first dimension being greater than said second dimension; and said elements in said mid region being at a greater distance from said second wall than said elements in said edge regions of said first wall.