IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0947111
(2010-11-16)
|
등록번호 |
US-8171601
(2012-05-08)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
A system and method for cleaning fiber utilizes interchangeable panels having different screen grid sizes. The panels are selectively installed on a fiber cage frame pivotally coupled to a tumbler frame for rotation of the fiber cage frame. A user selects a set of panels having a grid size suitable
A system and method for cleaning fiber utilizes interchangeable panels having different screen grid sizes. The panels are selectively installed on a fiber cage frame pivotally coupled to a tumbler frame for rotation of the fiber cage frame. A user selects a set of panels having a grid size suitable for a fiber to be tumbled. The selected panels are installed on the fiber cage frame and the fiber is inserted into a space within the fiber cage frame through an opening in the fiber cage frame made available by a not-yet-installed panel. The fiber cage frame is rotated after installing the final panel. The resultant tumbling thereby causes particles to fall from the tumbler cage frame. At least one installed panel is removed from the fiber cage frame, and the fiber is removed from the fiber cage frame through the resultant opening in the fiber cage frame.
대표청구항
▼
1. A fiber tumbler for tumbling a plurality of fiber types, the fiber tumbler comprising: a tumbler frame;a fiber cage structure, the fiber cage structure including: a cage frame pivotally coupled to the tumbler frame for rotation of the fiber cage structure about a rotational axis;at least one remo
1. A fiber tumbler for tumbling a plurality of fiber types, the fiber tumbler comprising: a tumbler frame;a fiber cage structure, the fiber cage structure including: a cage frame pivotally coupled to the tumbler frame for rotation of the fiber cage structure about a rotational axis;at least one removable first cage panel, wherein the first cage panel covers an exterior portion of the cage frame when installed on the cage frame, the removable first cage panel including a plurality of first openings sized large enough to permit particles to exit the fiber cage structure while yet sized small enough to substantially retain a first type of fiber within the fiber cage structure; andat least one removable second cage panel, wherein the second cage panel covers the exterior portion of the cage frame when installed on the cage frame, the removable second cage panel including a plurality of second openings sized large enough to permit particles to exit the fiber cage structure while yet sized small enough to substantially retain a second type of fiber within the fiber cage structure, wherein a user selects at least one cage panel from the at least one removable first cage panel and the at least one removable second cage panel suitable for use on the cage frame when tumbling a selected fiber, wherein the user inserts and removes the selected fiber into and from the fiber cage structure by removing at least one selected cage panel and reinstalling the removed at least one selected cage panel prior to rotating the fiber cage structure, wherein the selected fiber tumbles within the fiber cage structure upon rotation of the fiber cage structure, and wherein particles are removed from the selected fiber upon rotation of the fiber cage structure;a power unit for rotating the fiber cage structure, wherein the cage frame comprises one of: a round cylinder; an octagonal cylinder; a hexagonal cylinder; and a square cylinder, wherein each face defined by the cage frame parallel to the rotational axis of the one of the octagonal cylinder; the hexagonal cylinder; and the square cylinder is adapted to receive the selected cage panel, wherein each end of the round cylinder comprises a circular end frame, and the end frames are connected to each other by at least two cage frame members parallel to the rotational axis, the cage frame members defining surface segments of the round cylinder such that each surface segment is adapted to receive the selected cage panel, and wherein the fiber cage structure rotates when the power unit is turned on by the user and stops when the power unit is turned off by the user; andan automatic controller for controlling operation of the power unit, the automatic controller comprising: a Run Set Time control whereby the user programs a run time corresponding to a desired total rotation time of the fiber cage structure;a Reverse Set Time control whereby the user programs a reverse time corresponding to an amount of time to rotate in a first direction before reversing and rotating in a second direction;an Initial Direction control whereby the user programs a direction of rotation corresponding to the first direction, wherein the fiber cage structure will not reverse direction of rotation and will rotate only in accordance with the Initial Direction control if the Reverse Set Time control is programmed to a zero setting;a Run Time display;a Reverse Time display;a Set Time control, wherein the programmed run time and the programmed reverse time are respectively displayed in the Run Time display and the Reverse Time display when the Set Time control is activated momentarily;a Start control for starting rotation of the fiber cage structure;a Stop control for stopping rotation of the fiber cage structure;wherein each of the Run Time display and the Reverse Time display count down on a timely basis while the fiber cage structure is rotating, the Run Time display showing a remaining total rotation time, and the Reverse Time display showing a remaining rotation time for the current direction of rotation;wherein, if the Reverse Set Time control is programmed to a zero setting, the fiber cage structure rotates only in the direction programmed with the Initial Direction control;wherein, if the Reverse Set Time control is programmed to a non-zero setting, when the Reverse Time display has counted down to zero, the power unit paused by deactivating for a period of time sufficient to allow rotation of the fiber cage structure to stop, after which the power unit is reactivated in the opposite direction and the Reverse Time display redisplays the time programmed with the Reverse Set Time control; andwherein, when the Run Time display has counted down to zero, rotation of the fiber cage structure is stopped by deactivating the power unit. 2. The fiber tumbler as set forth in claim 1, wherein, after the Run Time display has counted down to zero and rotation of the fiber cage structure has stopped for a first tumbling operation, the Run Time display and the Reverse Time display automatically redisplay the times programmed with the Run Set Time control and the Reverse Set Time control so that the user may activate the Start control after loading a subsequent batch of fiber in the fiber causing the fiber tumbler to operate identically to the first tumbling operation. 3. The fiber tumbler as set forth in claim 1, wherein the Run Time display and the Reverse Time display are configured to display minutes. 4. The fiber tumbler as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a warning device; wherein the warning devise comprises at least one of an audible tone device, an illuminated display, a voice synthesizer, and a recorded voice playback device; andwherein the automatic controller is configured to activate the warning device for a first short period of time prior to starting rotation of the fiber cage structure and when the power unit is paused. 5. The fiber tumbler as set forth in claim 4, wherein the automatic controller is configured to activate the warning device for a second short period of time when the Run Time display has counted down to zero. 6. The fiber tumbler as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first short period of time and the second short period of time are at least 2 seconds and not more than 5 seconds. 7. A method of cleaning fiber in a fiber tumbler, comprising: selecting a set of panels having a grid size suitable for a fiber to be tumbled;installing the selected set of panels on a fiber cage frame which is pivotally coupled to a tumbler frame for rotation of the fiber cage frame about a rotational axis, leaving at least one panel not installed;inserting the fiber into a space within the fiber cage frame through an opening in the fiber cage frame made available by the not installed panel;installing the at least one not installed panel on the fiber cage frame;rotating the fiber cage frame, wherein the fiber thereby tumbles within the fiber cage frame, causing particles to fall from the tumbler cage frame through the panel grid during rotation of the fiber cage frame;removing at least one installed panel from the fiber cage frame;removing the fiber from the fiber cage frame through the opening in the fiber cage frame made available by removing the at least one installed panel; andprogramming an automatic controller for automatic rotation of the fiber cage frame, wherein the programming includes: programming a total rotation time;programming an initial direction of rotation of the fiber cage frame; andprogramming a reversal time such that the direction of rotation of the fiber cage frame reverses periodically at the programmed reversal time. 8. The fiber tumbler as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of first finger bars;wherein each of the plurality of first finger bars is configured to be removably mounted on the cage frame;wherein each of the plurality of first finger bars includes a plurality of first fingers mounted to the first finger bar; andwherein each of the first fingers comprises a rod configured to lift and pick the fiber during rotation of the fiber cage structure when the finger bar is mounted on the cage frame. 9. The fiber tumbler as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of second finger bars;wherein each of the plurality of second finger bars is configured to be removably mounted on the cage frame;wherein each of the plurality of second finger bars includes a plurality of second fingers mounted to the second finger bar;wherein each of the second fingers comprises a rod configured to lift and pick the fiber during rotation of the fiber cage structure when the finger bar is mounted on the cage frame; andwherein the plurality of second fingers is configured differently than the plurality of first fingers. 10. An apparatus for tumbling fiber, the apparatus comprising: a tumbler frame;a fiber cage structure pivotally coupled to the tumbler frame for rotation of the fiber cage structure about an axis;at least one access panel for providing an opening for insertion of the fiber into the fiber cage structure and removal of the fiber from the fiber cage structure, wherein the fiber tumbles within the fiber cage structure upon rotation of the fiber cage structure. and wherein particles are removed from the fiber upon rotation of the fiber cage structure; andan automatic controller for controlling operation of the power unit, the automatic controller comprising: a Run Set Time control whereby the user programs a run time corresponding to a desired total rotation time of the fiber cage structure;a Reverse Set Time control whereby the user programs a reverse time corresponding to an amount of time to rotate in a first direction before reversing and rotating in a second direction;a Start control for starting rotation of the fiber cage structure; anda Stop control for stopping rotation of the fiber cage structure, further comprising:an Initial Direction control whereby the user programs a direction of rotation corresponding to the first direction, wherein the fiber cage structure will not reverse direction of rotation and will rotate only in accordance with the Initial Direction control if the Reverse Set Time control is programmed to a zero setting;a Run Time display;a Reverse Time display;a Set Time control, wherein the programmed run time and the programmed reverse time are respectively displayed in the Run Time display and the Reverse Time display when the Set Time control is activated momentarily;wherein each of the Run Time display and the Reverse Time display count down on a timely basis while the fiber cage structure is rotating, the Run Time display showing a remaining total rotation time, and the Reverse Time display showing a remaining rotation time for the current direction of rotation;wherein, if the Reverse Set Time control is programmed to a zero setting, the fiber cage structure rotates only in the direction programmed with the Initial Direction control;wherein, if the Reverse Set Time control is programmed to a non-zero setting, when the Reverse Time display has counted down to zero, the power unit paused by deactivating for a period of time sufficient to allow rotation of the fiber cage structure to stop, after which the power unit is reactivated in the opposite direction and the Reverse Time display redisplays the time programmed with the Reverse Set Time control; andwherein, when the Run Time display has counted down to zero, rotation of the fiber cage structure is stopped by deactivating the power unit. 11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the access panel comprises at least one of a hinged access panel and a removable first cage panel. 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further comprising at least one removable second cage panel having first openings; wherein the removable second cage panel includes a plurality of second openings sized differently than the first openings such that the first cage panel is suitable for tumbling a first type of fiber, and the second cage panel is suitable for tumbling a second type of fiber. 13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein: the first cage panel comprises a first wire grid defining a plurality of first openings; andthe second cage panel comprises a second wire grid defining a plurality of second openings. 14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, further comprising: at least one removably mounted finger bar including a plurality of fingers mounted to the finger bar, wherein the fingers are configured to lift and pick the fiber during rotation of the fiber cage structure. 15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein: the first cage panel further comprises a first panel frame supporting the first wire grid; andthe second cage panel further comprises a second panel frame supporting the second wire grid. 16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein: the first cage panel comprises a first wire grid defining a plurality of first square openings approximately ½ inch square; andthe second cage panel comprises a second wire grid defining a plurality of second square openings approximately 1 inch square.
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