DEVICE FOR ALLOWING NARROW COLLAR MATERIAL TO BE PROCESSED THROUGH A STANDARD FABRIC COMPACTOR

Abstract

A device that attaches to a standard fabric compactor and allows narrow collar material to be processed through the standard fabric compactor. The device includes a pair of air openers. Each air opener includes an air inlet assembly and an air outlet assembly. The air inlet assembly of each air opener pulls air therein to form pulled air and pressurizes the pulled air to form pressurized air. The air outlet assembly of each air opener fluidly communicates with the air inlet assembly of an associated air opener, receives the narrow collar material therethrough, receives the pressurized air from the air inlet assembly of the associated air opener, and directs the pressurized air onto the narrow collar material, simultaneously from above and below, and in doing so, suspends the narrow collar material allowing the narrow collar material to be processed through the standard fabric compactor.

Claims

1. A device for attaching to a standard fabric compactor and for allowing narrow collar material having a path to be processed through the standard fabric compactor, comprising a pair of air openers; wherein each air opener comprises: a) an air inlet assembly; and b) an air outlet assembly; wherein said air inlet assembly of each air opener is for pulling air therein to form pulled air; wherein said air inlet assembly of each air opener is for pressurizing said pulled air to form pressurized air; wherein said air outlet assembly of each air opener fluidly communicates with said air inlet assembly of an associated air opener; wherein said air outlet assembly of each air opener is for receiving the narrow collar material therethrough; wherein said air outlet assembly of each air opener receives said pressurized air from said air inlet assembly of an associated air opener; and wherein said air outlet assembly of each air opener directs said pressurized air onto the narrow collar material, simultaneously from above and below, and in doing so, suspends the narrow collar material allowing the narrow collar material to be processed through the standard fabric compactor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said pair of air openers are identical to each other; wherein said pair of air openers oppose each other; wherein said pair of air openers are inline with each other; wherein said pair of air openers are for attaching transversely to the standard fabric compactor; wherein said pair of air openers are for positioning transversely to the path of the narrow collar material; and wherein said pair of air openers are for allowing the narrow collar material to be processed through the standard fabric compactor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said air inlet assembly of each air opener comprises a blower assembly; and wherein said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener comprises an inlet housing.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener includes: a) an impeller housing; and b) a motor housing.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener is disk-shaped.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener communicates with said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener; wherein said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener has an inlet opening therebelow; and wherein said inlet opening of said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener is for pulling in said pulled air.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein said motor housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener is cylindrical-shaped.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein said motor housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener extends coaxially upwardly from said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of an associated air opener; and wherein said motor housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener communicates with said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of an associated air opener.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener comprises: a) a motor; and b) an impeller.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said impeller of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener is disposed in said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of an associated air opener.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said motor of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener is disposed in said motor housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of an associated air opener; and wherein said motor of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener is operatively connected to said impeller of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of an associated air opener.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein when said motor of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener is activated, said impeller of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of an associated air opener spins pulling in said pulled air through said inlet opening of said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of said associated air opener and pressurizes said pulled air to form said pressurized air that exits said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of said associated air opener and enters into said air outlet assembly of said associated air opener for further processing.

13. The device of claim 4, wherein said air outlet assembly of each air opener comprises a bifurcated housing; and wherein said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener includes: a) a lower finger; and b) an upper finger.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener extends communicatingly from said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of an associated air opener.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener is parallel to said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener; wherein said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener is spaced above said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener so as to form therebetween a collar material-advancing through slot; and wherein said collar material-advancing through slot of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener is for receiving the narrow collar material therethrough.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein each of said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener and said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener is straight; wherein each of said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener and said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener is flat; wherein each of said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener and said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener is shallow; and wherein each of said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener and said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener is as wide as said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of said associated air opener.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein each of said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener and said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener contains a conduit; and wherein said conduit of each of said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener and said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener has a shape.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said conduit of each of said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener and said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener communicates with said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of said associated air opener.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein said conduit of each of said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of each air opener and said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener extends outwardly therealong, as an outer leg, and then reverses 180 to extend back inwardly therealong, as an inner leg, that is adjacent to, and communicates with, said collar material-advancing through slot of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of said associated air opener.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said pressurized air exits said impeller housing of said inlet housing of said blower assembly of said air inlet assembly of each air opener, flows outwardly through said outer leg of said conduit of each of said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of an associated air opener and said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of said associated air opener, and then automatically reverses 180by virtue of said shape of said conduit of each of said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of said associated air opener and said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of said associated air openerto flow back inwardly through said inner leg of said conduit of each of said upper finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of said associated air opener and said lower finger of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of said associated air opener fluidly communicating with said collar material-advancing through slot of said bifurcated housing of said air outlet assembly of said associated air opener to direct said pressurized air onto the narrow collar material, simultaneously from above and below, and in doing so, suspends the narrow collar material allowing the narrow collar material to be processed through the standard fabric compactor.

Description

3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

[0021] The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

[0022] FIG. 1 a diagrammatic perspective view of the device of the embodiments of the present invention allowing narrow collar material to be processed through a standard fabric compactor;

[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the areas generally enclosed by the dotted ellipses identified by ARROWS 2 in FIG. 1 of each of the pair of air openers of the device of the embodiments of the present invention; and

[0024] FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 3-3 in FIG. 2.

4. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

[0025] A. Introductory. [0026] 10 device of embodiments of present invention for attaching to standard fabric compactor 12 and for allowing narrow collar material 14 to be processed through standard fabric compactor 12 [0027] 12 standard fabric compactor [0028] 14 narrow collar material [0029] 18 pair of air openers for attaching transversely to standard fabric compactor 12, for positioning transversely to path of narrow collar material 14, and for allowing narrow collar material 14 to be processed through standard fabric compactor 16

[0030] B. Overall Configuration of Pair of Air Openers 18. [0031] 20 air inlet assembly of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 for pulling air therein to form pulled air 24 and for pressurizing pulled air 24 to form pressurized air 26 [0032] 22 air outlet assembly of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 for receiving narrow collar material 14 therethrough [0033] 24 pulled air [0034] 26 pressurized air

[0035] C. Specific configuration of air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener 18. [0036] 27 blower assembly of air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 [0037] 28 inlet housing of blower assembly 27 of air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 [0038] 30 impeller housing of inlet housing 28 of blower assembly 27 of air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 [0039] 32 motor housing of inlet housing 28 of blower assembly 27 of air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 [0040] 34 inlet opening of impeller housing 30 of inlet housing 28 of blower assembly 27 of air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 for pulling in pulled air 24 [0041] 36 motor of blower assembly 27 of air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 [0042] 38 impeller of blower assembly 27 of air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18

[0043] D. Specific Configuration of Air Outlet Assembly 22 of Each Air Opener 18. [0044] 40 bifurcated housing of air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 [0045] 42 lower finger of bifurcated housing 40 of air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 [0046] 44 upper finger of bifurcated housing 40 of air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 [0047] 46 collar material-advancing through slot of bifurcated housing 40 of air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 for receiving narrow collar material 14 therethrough [0048] 48 conduit of each of upper finger 44 of bifurcated housing 40 of air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 and lower finger 42 of bifurcated housing 40 of air outlet assembly 22 of associated air opener of pair of air openers 18 [0049] 50 outer leg of conduit 48 of each of upper finger 44 of bifurcated housing 40 of air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 and lower finger 42 of bifurcated housing 40 of air outlet assembly 22 of associated air opener of pair of air openers 18 [0050] 52 inner leg of conduit 48 of each of upper finger 44 of bifurcated housing 40 of air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener of pair of air openers 18 and lower finger 42 of bifurcated housing 40 of air outlet assembly 22 of associated air opener of pair of air openers 18

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0051] A. Introductory.

[0052] Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 1, the device of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 10 for attaching to a standard fabric compactor 12 and for allowing narrow collar material 14 having a path to be processed through the standard fabric compactor 12.

[0053] The device 10 comprises a pair of air openers 18.

[0054] The pair of air openers 18 are identical to each other, oppose each other, are inline with each other, are for attaching transversely to the standard fabric compactor 12, are for positioning transversely to the path of the narrow collar material 14, and are for allowing the narrow collar material 14 to be processed through the standard fabric compactor 16.

[0055] B. Overall Configuration of the Pair of Air Openers 18.

[0056] The configuration of each air opener 18 can best be seen in FIG. 2, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0057] Each air opener 18 comprises an air inlet assembly 20 and an air outlet assembly 22. The air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener 18 is for pulling air therein to form pulled air 24 and for pressurizing the pulled air 24 to form pressurized air 26. The air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener 18 fluidly communicates with the air inlet assembly 20 of an associated air opener 18, is for receiving the narrow collar material 14 therethrough, receives the pressurized air 26 from the air inlet assembly 20 of the associated air opener 18, and directs the pressurized air 26 onto the narrow collar material 14, simultaneously from above and below, and in doing so, suspends the narrow collar material 14 allowing the narrow collar material 14 to be processed through the standard fabric compactor 16.

[0058] C. Specific Configuration of the Air Inlet Assembly 20 of Each Air Opener 18.

[0059] The specific configuration of the air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener 18 can best be seen in FIG. 2, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0060] The air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener 18 comprises a blower assembly 27. The blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener 18 comprises an inlet housing 28. The inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener 18 includes an impeller housing 30 and a motor housing 32.

[0061] The impeller housing 30 of the inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener 18 is disk-shaped, communicates with the air outlet assembly 22 of an associated air opener 18, and has an inlet opening 34 therebelow for pulling in the pulled air 24.

[0062] The motor housing 32 of the inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener 18 is cylindrical-shaped, and extends coaxially upwardly from, and communicates with, the impeller housing 30 of the inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of an associated air opener 18.

[0063] The blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener 18 further comprises a motor 36 and an impeller 38.

[0064] The impeller 38 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener 18 is disposed in the impeller housing 30 of the inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of an associated air opener 18, and the motor 36 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of the associated air opener 18 is disposed in the motor housing 32 of the inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of the associated air opener 18 and is operatively connected to the impeller 38 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of the associated air opener 18 so when the motor 36 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of the associated air opener 18 is activated, the impeller 38 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of the associated air opener 18 spins pulling in the pulled air 24 through the inlet opening 34 of the impeller housing 30 of the inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of the associated air opener 18 and pressurizes the pulled air 24 to form the pressurized air 26 that exits the impeller housing 30 of the inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of the associated air opener 18 and enters into the air outlet assembly 22 of the associated air opener 18 for further processing.

[0065] D. Specific configuration of the air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener 18.

[0066] The specific configuration of the air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener 18 can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0067] The air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener 18 comprises a bifurcated housing 40, and as such, includes a lower finger 42 and an upper finger 44.

[0068] The bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener 18 extends communicatingly from the impeller housing 30 of the inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of an associated air opener 18.

[0069] The upper finger 44 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener 18 is parallel to, and spaced above, the lower finger 42 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of an associated air opener 18 so as to form therebetween a collar material-advancing through slot 46 for receiving the narrow collar material 14 therethrough.

[0070] Each of the upper finger 44 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener 18 and the lower finger 42 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of an associated air opener 18 is straight, flat, shallow, and is as wide as the impeller housing 30 of the inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of the associated air opener 18.

[0071] Each of the upper finger 44 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener 18 and the lower finger 42 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of an associated air opener 18 contains a conduit 48 having a shape. The conduit 48 of each of the upper finger 44 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of the associated air opener 18 and the lower finger 42 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of the associated air opener 18 communicates with the impeller housing 30 of the inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of the associated air opener 18.

[0072] The conduit 48 of each of the upper finger 44 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of each air opener 18 and the lower finger 42 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of an associated air opener 18 extends outwardly therealong, as an outer leg 50, and then reverses 180 to extend back inwardly therealong, as an inner leg 52, that is adjacent to, and communicates with, the collar material-advancing through slot 46 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of the associated air opener 18.

[0073] The pressurized air 26 exits the impeller housing 30 of the inlet housing 28 of the blower assembly 27 of the air inlet assembly 20 of each air opener 18, flows outwardly through the outer leg 50 of the conduit 48 of each of the upper finger 44 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of an associated air opener 18 and the lower finger 42 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of the associated air opener 18, and then automatically reverses 180by virtue of the shape of the conduit 48 of each of the upper finger 44 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of the associated air opener 18 and the lower finger 42 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of the associated air opener 18to flow back inwardly through the inner leg 52 of the conduit 48 of each of the upper finger 44 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of the associated air opener 18 and the lower finger 42 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of the associated air opener 18 fluidly communicating with the collar material-advancing through slot 46 of the bifurcated housing 40 of the air outlet assembly 22 of the associated air opener 18 to direct the pressurized air 26 onto the narrow collar material 14, simultaneously from above and below, and in doing so, suspends the narrow collar material 14 allowing the narrow collar material 14 to be processed through the standard fabric compactor 16.

[0074] E. Impressions.

[0075] It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0076] While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a fabric modality altering device for attaching to a horizontal frame and for transitioning a roped fabric to a flat web, nevertheless, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0077] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.