FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of textile industry. Particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning the textile fibers for supply to carding operations in textile industry, and more particularly it is related to an apparatus used in the method of separating impurities from textile fibres arranged in a conveying duct during the transport movement of fibre between the opening and cleaning machines arranged in a textile fibre processing lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the textile industry such as cotton processing industry, tufts of textile fiber are pneumatically conveyed from point to point as the fiber moves through certain processes.
The cotton fibre is processed to remove foreign materials such as dust, stalks, stems, trash fragments, , metallic and non-metallic materials, and other foreign or debris material having high density (hereinafter collectively called impurities). As part of the processing, the cotton fibres and associated impurities are transported through duct from one part of a processing facility to the other. Further, it is very necessary to remove most of the associated impurities like stones, small steel pieces which have high density in nature from the cotton fibres during its pneumatic transport through duct, before the cotton fibres leave the opening and cleaning machines line.

In the state of the art literature, the removal of impurities include passing an air stream entrained with cotton fibres containing impurities over or through a grid of bars, or directing such an air stream into a screen, rotating cylinder, or other obstacle, with the cotton fibres changing direction along with the air flow. In the above mentioned method, due to the lower density of the cotton fibres and the higher density of the impurities, impacting the obstacle and being removed from the air stream. Other known methods consists of directing cotton fibre and impurities between spiked rollers and a plate or grid of bars, with the spikes on the rollers contacting the cotton fibres, and forcing the cotton fibres to an exit while the higher density impurities is directed to a separate exit as shown in Figure! The above methods impose a force on the cotton fibres, which may damage the cotton fibres and resulting in the loss of cotton fibre material from processing as the fibres are forced against a wall, grid bars, or spikes and also they require additional energy.

From the foregoing, it becomes clear that there exists a need for an efficient and cost effective apparatus to remove most of the associated heavy foreign materials from the textile fibres before it leave the opening and cleaning machines line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for separation of impurities from the textile fibers such as cotton fibers using the density variation between the cotton fibers and the impurities in the fibre processing line .

Accordingly, the present invention describes an apparatus for separating impurities from the textile fibers which includes an outer shell consisting flange rings at the ends, an inner shell which is coaxially arranged at the center of the outer shell, a baffle plate which is coupled in between the outer shell and the inner shell and a collection box which provides the housing for the outer shell for the storage of collected impurities.

A method for separating impurities from the textile fibers includes passing the air stream entrained with the fibers through the chamber created between an outer shell and an inner shell wherein the fibers flow in a spiral or helical path , introduction of a cyclonic effect in the chamber, separation of impurities from the fiber due to variation in densities between the impurities and the fiber, forcing the impurities to flow along the periphery of the outer shell and discharged through the perforated grids due to gravitational force and collected in a collection box, and continually flow of the fiber which is substantially free from the impurities for the further fiber processing.

It is advantageous that the apparatus used for removing impurities from the textile fibers in the duct chamber as described in the present invention does not require any additional energy.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the ensuing detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the apparatus, in accordance with the prior art.

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic outer view of the apparatus, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a detailed schematic perspective view of the apparatus, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating both the inner and outer shell of the apparatus, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a baffle plate and a helical path provided by the baffle plate, in accordance with the present invention.

Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood however that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The following description and figures are not to be construed as limiting the invention and numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. However in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention in detail.

The present invention describes an apparatus and method for separating the impurities having high density from the textile fibers (the cotton fiber is taken as an example for textile fibers through out the document, however all other textile fibres are also included in the scope of this invention) using the density variation between the cotton fibers and the impurities during the transportation through the duct chamber that fits into the existing duct work of cotton processing facility.

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic outer view of the apparatus, in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus comprises a outer shell (1) wherein the ends of the outer shell (1) is provided with flange rings (2) comprising fixing holes (3) corresponding to the dimensions of the fixing holes provided in the flange ring (2) of the conveying duct (4) to facilitate connecting the apparatus in the material flow pipe line at the predetermined location. Additionally, the outside diameter of the outer shell (1) is advantageously constructed according to the required diameter and can be connected to the conveying duct (4) which connects the apparatus to the other processing machines. The housing for the outer shell (1) is provided with a collection box (5) for the storage of collected impurities. The detailed perspective view of the apparatus is illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 3 illustrates a detailed schematic perspective view of the apparatus, in accordance with the present invention. An inner shell (6) is coaxially arranged at the center of the outer shell (1). Further, the ends (7) of the inner shell (6) are closed by the suitable means. The collection box (5) is provided with a door (9) wherein the impurities can be exited manually from the collection box (5) or automatically through suitable means. The cross sectional view of the outer shell (1) and the inner shell (6) is illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating both the inner shell (6) and outer shell (1) of the apparatus, in accordance with the present invention. The bottom portion of the outer shell (1) is provided with means such as plurality of perforated holes / linear grids (10) so as to separate the impurities present in the cotton fibers and the separated impurities are collected in a collection box (5) by the gravitational force. The air stream entrained with the cotton fiber is passed through the chambers created by the outer shell (1) and the inner shell (6) through the spiral or helical path as illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 5 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a baffle plate (11) which is arranged in the form of spiral and a helical path (12) provided by the baffle plate (11), in accordance with the present invention. In between the inner shell (6) and the outer shell (1), the baffle plate (11) is arranged so as to provide a spiral or helical path (12) therein for the passage of the mixture of cotton fibres and air stream , resulting cyclonic effect in the chamber created between the inner shell (6) and outer shell (1).

In operation, the air stream entrained with the cotton fibers which includes impurities having high density is allowed to flow through the inlet end (7) into the chamber created between the outer shell (1) and the inner shell (6) in a spiral or helical path (12). Further, the cyclonic effect is introduced in the chambers and with the variation in density between the impurities and the cotton fibers, the separation of the impurities takes place. The impurities present in the cotton fibres is forced to travel along the periphery of outer shell (1) and discharged through the perforated holes / grids (10) due to the gravitational force. Alternatively, in place of the perforated holes / grids (10), a suitable opening can be made and an adjustable grid assembly can be positioned for the separation of the heavy particles. The air stream with the cotton fibers which is free from the heavier impurities will continually move through the outlet end (8) of the impurities separating apparatus to the next area of the cotton processing facility and the impurities collected in the collection box (5) is exited manually through the door (9) or automatically through suitable means.

It is advantageous that the present invention is more effective as the number of exposure of heavy particle onto the extracting zone is more than one. Hence, the heavy particle which escapes in the first beating, as it is concealed inside the fiber tufts, will get exposed itself when the same reaches the perforated holes or grid subsequently, as the fiber material flows in a spiral or helical path introduced by the typical baffle plate. Also, the method described in the present invention does not require any additional energy.

While the invention is particularly describe an apparatus and method of separation of heavy particles present in the textile fiber taking example of a cotton fiber, it is to be appreciated that the present invention can also be adopted by varying the number of units, the effective length of the heavy particle separating apparatus, area of porous portion, perforated holes sizes or grids pitch according to quality or performance requirement.

WE CLAIM

1.An apparatus for separating impurities from the textile fibers comprising:
an outer shell (1)and ;

an inner shell (6) which is arranged inside the outer shell (1).

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle plate (11) is disposed in between outer shell (1) and the inner shell (6).

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner shell (6) is coaxially arranged at the centre of the outer shell (1).

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of outer shell (1) is provided with means such as plurality of perforated holes / linear grids (10).

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle plate (11) is in the form of spiral.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer shell (1) is provided with flange rings (2) comprising fixing holes (3) corresponding to the dimensions of the fixing holes provided in the flange ring of the conveying duct.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing for the outer shell (1) is provided with a collection box (5) which consists of a door (9).

8. A method for separating impurities from the textile fibers comprising steps of:

passing the mixture of cotton fibres and air stream entrained with the fibers through an inlet end (7) into the chamber created between an outer shell (1) and an inner shell (6)

wherein the mixture of cotton fibers and air stream flow in a spiral or helical path (12);
introduction of a cyclonic effect in the chamber;

separation of heavy particles from the mixture of cotton fibers and air due to variation in densities between the heavy particles and the fiber;

forcing the heavy particles to flow along the periphery of the outer shell (1) and discharged through the perforated grids (10) due to gravitational force and collected in a collection box (5);

continually flow of the mixture of cotton fibres and air which is free from heavy particles for the further fiber processing from an outlet end (8).

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the heavy particles collected in the collection box (5) can be exited manually through the door (9) or automatically.

10. An apparatus and method for separating heavy particles from the textile fibers substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.