Pneumatic dust collecting system for fiber processing machine

A pneumatic dust collecting system for a fiber processing machine comprising a plurality of beams adapted to rest on a floor and support a fiber processing machine above the floor, a tank for the collection of dust and fibrous material, a chamber within said tank adapted to receive and collect separate streams of said dust and fibrous material, at least one wall of said chamber being adapted to function as a filter for said dust and fibrous material, an air expansion compartment within said tank adjacent said receiving and collecting chamber, at least said filter wall of said chamber being common to said chamber and compartment, a blower assembly positioned within said tank adapted to apply suction to said compartment and to draw air therefrom, an air pressure stabilizing chamber, means for connecting said stabilizing chamber with said tank so as to convey a stream of pressurized air thereto from said tank, an air manifold having a plurality of linearly spaced discharge nozzles connected to said stabilizing chamber and positioned beneath one end of said machine, said nozzles being adapted to discharge a blanket of air beneath said fiber processing machine from a first location adjacent said one end of said machine to a second location adjacent the opposite end of said machine, a waste material receiving receptacle being positioned at said second location, said discharge nozzles and receptacle extending transversely of said machine and said receptacle including a transversely extending inlet, said receptacle being in communication with said receiving and collecting chamber for supplying a stream of air and dust thereto, conduit means being provided for connecting said receiving and collecting chamber with at least one location of said machine where waste fibrous material tends to accumulate, and means for effecting operation of said blower assembly, whereby waste material on the floor beneath said machine is acted upon by air streams discharged from said nozzles and suction forces emanating from the inlet of said receptacle and thereby is advanced in a unidirectional manner to said receptacle for conveyance to said receiving and collecting chamber.