GB2178302A - Dust removal apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for removing dust and loose fibrous material from cut textile piece goods, comprises a rotatable, preferably inclined drum (15) located within a chamber (12) having inlet door (13) and outlet door (14). Air is drawn into the chamber (12) through port (17) and extracted via outlet (18) by air extraction, filtration and separation means (20). Goods to be treated are weighed in bin (30) which is pivotable to load the goods into the drum (15). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dust Removal Apparatus This invention concerns dust removal apparatus to which cut textile or like piece goods may be fed to remove dust and loose fibrous material therefrom.

The invention has particular application in the manufacture of upholstery in which pieces of upholstery fabric are cut to the required shape and size priorto being made up into the finished product. Certain fabrics, when cut, tend to leave loose fibres at the cut edges which, upon subsequent handling are released into the atmosphere creating an environmental hazard for sewing machine operators and their machines.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dust removal apparatus through which such piece goods may be passed before being taken into the sewing room, and which is adapted to remove dust and other loose fibrous material from the goods.

According to the present invention there is provided dust removal apparatus comprising a perforated drum rotatably mounted within a closed chamber, reversible drive means for rotating the drum, and means for passing a current of air over and through the drum, characterised by a chamber inlet door providing an entrance for goods to one end of the drum, a chamber outlet door providing an exit for goods from the other end of the drum, and means to assist the passage of goods towards the chamber outlet door.

Preferably, the rotational axis of the drum is inclined downwardly towards said chamber outlet door to assist the passage of goods towards same.

Alternatively or in addition, a number of blades projecting inwardly from the internal wall surface of the drum may be arranged in a helical array to assist the passage of goods towards the chamber outlet door during rotation of the drum in one direction.

As a further preferred feature, a loading bin is pivotally mounted adjacent the chamber inlet door and associated with a weighing device to detect a pre-selected load of goods to be admitted to the drum, means being provided to open and close the doors and to rotate the drum in opposite directions in accordance with a predetermined operating cycle.

Still further, it is preferable that each of the helically arranged blades has projecting from its inner edge, one or more brush strips to assist in releasing dust and fibres from goods tumbling within the drum during rotation.

The closed chamber preferably includes an air inlet port and is connected to an extraction fan to draw air through the inlet and over and through the drum, the fan being associated with means for separating the dust from the extracted air and collecting same for disposal.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates the operational features of the apparatus in elevation; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a tumbler mechanism forming part of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a view taken generally along section line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2.

The apparatus comprises a tumbler mechanism generally indicated at 10 and an air extraction system generally indicated at 11.

Closed chamber 12 having an inlet door 13 and an outlet door 14 houses a perforated drum 15 which is rotatably mounted within chamber 12 at an inclined angle as can be seen clearly from Figs. 1 and 2. The drum 15 is supported for rotation within chamber 12 and is driven by a reversible motor 16 (see Fig. 3) sequentially in opposite directions as will be described.

An air inlet port 17 is provided in the wall of chamber 12 near its base, and an air outlet port 18 at the top communicates with ducting 19 connected to the extraction system 11 which includes filtration and separation means 20.

Within the drum 15 there are attached to the inner wall surface thereof a plurality (in this case four) of blades 21 extending radially inwardly and arranged in a helical array as can be seen from Fig. 2. Also, with reference to the detail in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the drum 15 is supported within bearings 22 at its end adjacent inlet door 13, and by a plurality of rollers 23 at its end adjacent outlet door 14. Rollers 23 bear on a toothed drive band 24 which, as can be seen from Fig. 3, meshes with a toothed pulley 25 driven by motor 16.

An inlet chute 26 connects inlet door 13 with the interior of drum 15, whilst outlet chute 27 connects the other end of drum 15 with outlet door 14.

A number of brush strips are provided within the interior of the drum which are for the purpose of assisting the release of loose fibres from goods being treated. In particular, an annular brush strip 28 is connected to inlet chute 26 and projects axially into the drum, whilst each blade 21 carries along its inner edge a brush strip 29.

The apparatus further includes a weigh bin 30 pivotally attached at 31 to the housing 12 and adapted by means of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 32, to be swung through 90 degrees to deposit its contents into the drum 15 when door 13 is opened. A trolley 33 is provided to receive goods from the drum and to transport them to a further work station.

In operation, bin 30 is loaded with piece goods such as bundles of cut fabric pieces until a preselected load of goods is established, whereupon chamber inlet door 13 is raised by any suitable means such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder (not shown), and cylinder 32 operates to swing the bin 30 over thus to deposit its goods via chute 26 into drum 15.

Typically, during a 3-minute cycle, the drum is rotated in opposite directions for periods of say 1 minute each, the final rotation, by the assistance of helical blades 21, causing the goods to move towards chamber outlet door 14. During the final stages of rotation of drum 15, or if preferred, after the drum has stopped, door 15 is raised by means (not shown) similar to that used to operate door 13, to permit the goods to be dispensed into trolley 33.

During the operating cycle air is drawn by system 11,20 through chamber 12 to carry dust and loose fibrous material from the chamber for disposal. The agitation created by rotation of the drum and by blades 21 and brushes 28 and 29 ensures the release of the contaminant particles adhering to the goods.

It is envisaged that the operating cycle will be carried out automatically according to a timed sequence by an automatic control system, and the cycle can be initiated either manually by an operator filling weigh bin 30, or automatically with goods being delivered to the bin 30 by, for example, a conveyor belt, the sequence commencing once the pre-selected load in bin 30 is achieved.

Typically, a load will be in the region of 12 to 30 kilograms, the drum 15 will have a diameter in the region of 0.75 metres, it will be rotated at a speed of about 100 r.p.m., and its angle of inclination from the horizontal will be between 10 degrees and 15 degrees.

In some cases, the helically arranged blades 21 alone are sufficient to cause the goods to move towards outlet door 14, so that the drum 15 can be mounted with its rotational axis horizontal.

Furthermore, for convenience, a pair of dust removal units may be provided side-by-side but with a common air extraction and filtration unit interposed between them.

Claims (9)

1. Dust removal apparatus comprising a perforated drum rotatably mounted within a closed chamber, reversible drive means for rotating the drum, and means for passing a current of air over and through the drum, characterised by a chamber inlet door providing an entrance for goods to one end of the drum, a chamber outlet door providing an exit for goods from the other end of the drum, and means to assist the passage of goods towards the chamber outlet door.

2. Dust removal apparatus according to Claim 1, further characterised in that the rotational axis of the drum is inclined downwardly towards said chamber outlet door to assist the passage of goods towards same.

3. Dust removal apparatus according to Claim 1, including a number of blades projecting inwardly from the internal wall surface of the drum and arranged in a helical array to assist the passage of goods towards the chamber outlet door durinn rotation of the drum in one direction.

4. Dust removal apparatus according to anv preceding claim, including a loading bin pivotally mounted adjacent the chamber inlet door and associated with a weighing device to detect a preselected load of goods to be admitted to the drum, means being provided to open and close the doors and to rotate the drum in opposite directions in accordance with a predetermined operating cycle.

5. Dust removal apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said means for passing a current of air over and through the drum comprises dust extraction, filtration and separation means connected to the chamber, and an air inlet port in the chamber wall.

6. Dust removal apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the rotational axis nf the drum is inclined downwardly from the horizontal at an angle of between 10 degrees and 15 degrees.

7. Dust removal apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said reversible drive means for rotating the drum comprises a toothed drive band on the outer surface of the drum and a meshing toothed pulley connected to a reversible drive motor.

8. Dust removal apparatus according to any preceding claim, including control means for opening and closing said chamber inlet and outlet doors and for rotating the drum sequentially in opposite directions, all in accordance with a predetermined operating cycle, said control means initiating said cycle when a pre-selected weight of goods is available for loading into the drum.

9. Dust removal apparatus according to any preceding claim, and substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.