System and method for packaging cotton sliver
AssigneeMagnolia Manufacturing Company, Inc.
InventorAnderson Warlick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for packaging cotton sliver for efficient transport includes the steps of laying the sliver in a uniform-density pattern onto a bottom cap, placing a top cap on the sliver, applying pressure to the top and bottom caps to compress the sliver to a higher second density at which the compressed sliver is rigid, and strapping the compressed sliver and caps in order to form a rigid package for handling and transport. A packaging system includes an oblong can that receives the sliver, a compression baler for compressing the sliver to a high density, and a strapping apparatus for strapping the compressed sliver and caps to retain the compression.
Claims26
A method of packaging cotton sliver for transport thereof, comprising the steps of:
- laying the sliver in a pattern having a substantially uniform first density onto a bottom cap disposed inside a substantially oblong sliver can;
- placing a top cap atop the laid sliver;
- applying pressure to the top and bottom caps to compress the sliver to a second density substantially higher than the first density, whereat the compressed sliver is substantially rigid;
- and
- strapping the compressed sliver and caps to form a substantially rigid package.
A method of packaging a continuous length of cotton sliver for transport thereof, comprising the steps of:
- drawing the sliver from a draw frame;
- laying the sliver in a pattern having a substantially uniform uncompressed density into a can having a lengthwise dimension and a widthwise dimension, the lengthwise dimension being substantially longer than the widthwise dimension;
- delivering the can to a compression baler;
- pressing the sliver upward from the base of the can to compress the sliver and to remove the sliver from the can;
- and
- applying straps to the sliver to form a sliver package and to retain the package at a desired compressed density selected to enable handling of the package.
A system for efficiently packaging cotton sliver for transport thereof, the system comprising:
- an oblong sliver can having a widthwise dimension and a lengthwise dimension substantially greater than the widthwise dimension, the can being configured to receive the sliver deposited through an open top in a uniform density and to permit a pile of accumulated sliver to be pushed upwardly therethrough during packaging;
- a baler apparatus including at least one ram configured to compress the sliver to a desired density through application of a selected pressure to a bottom surface of the sliver pile, and including means for applying counter pressure to a top surface of the sliver pile;
- and
- a strapping apparatus for applying one or more straps to the compressed sliver pile to retain the compressed sliver pile in a compressed condition as a sliver package.
A sliver package suitable for efficient transport, comprising:
- a substantially continuous length of cotton sliver, accumulated into a pile having an oblong footprint and a substantially uniform initial density, the pile being compressed to a substantially higher, substantially uniform compressed density;
- a top cap disposed on top of the pile and having a footprint substantially the same as the footprint of the pile;
- a bottom cap disposed on the bottom of the pile and having a footprint substantially the same as the footprint of the pile;
- and
- a plurality of straps disposed about the compressed pile and the caps for retaining the pile in a compressed state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.