Patent ID: 6161441
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: D01G

Abstract:
An apparatus for individualizing fibers within a feed stream without breaking the fibers, comprising:a first stage having first pinch rollers, for receiving the feed stream and providing the feed stream to a second stage, the first pinch rollers applying a pressure to the feed stream sufficient to prevent the fibers of the feed stream from slipping between the first pinch rollers and for releasing each of the fibers to the second stage when a trailing edge of each of the fibers exits from between the first pinch rollers,the second stage for receiving the feed stream from the first stage and providing a thinned stream to a third stage, and having,second stage apron belts for drawing the feed stream from the first stage under tension into the second stage, for receiving the feed stream between the second stage apron belts, and the second stage apron belts applying a pressure to the feed stream, where the pressure applied by the second stage apron belts to the feed stream induces the tension and the tension is not sufficient to break the fibers within the feed stream, and the tension is sufficient to accelerate the fibers released from the first pinch rollers past fibers that have not been released from the first pinch rollers, andsecond pinch rollers for drawing the feed stream from the second stage apron belts under tension and providing the thinned stream to the third stage, the second pinch rollers spaced from the first pinch rollers by a distance that is greater than an anticipated length of the fibers in the feed stream, the second pinch rollers applying a pressure to the feed stream sufficient to prevent the fibers of the feed stream from slipping between the second pinch rollers and for releasing each of the fibers to the third stage when the trailing edge of each of the fibers exits from between the second pinch rollers, andthe third stage for receiving the thinned stream from the second stage and providing individualized fibers, and having:third stage apron belts for drawing the thinned stream from the second stage under tension into the third stage, the thinned stream received between the third stage apron belts, and the third stage apron belts applying a pressure to the thinned stream, where the pressure applied by the third stage apron belts to the thinned stream induces the third stage tension and the third stage tension is not sufficient to break the fibers within the thinned stream, and the third stage tension is sufficient to accelerate the fibers released from the second pinch rollers past fibers that have not been released from the second pinch rollers, andthird pinch rollers for drawing the thinned stream from the third stage apron belts under tension and providing the individualized fibers, the third pinch rollers spaced from the second pinch rollers by a distance that is greater than the anticipated length of the fibers in the thinned stream, the third pinch rollers applying a pressure to the thinned stream sufficient to prevent the fibers of the thinned stream from slipping between the third pinch rollers and for individually releasing each of the fibers when a trailing edge of each of the fibers exits from between the third pinch rollers.