Methods for aeromechanical and electrodynamic release and separation of foreign matter from fiber

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising transporting the fiber to a treating station and subjecting the fiber at said treating station to a combination of outward impact forces balanced against inward aerodynamic drag forces to achieve controlled release and separation of foreign matter in particle sizes of predetermined classifications.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising transporting the fiber to a treating station and subjecting the fiber at said treating station to a combination of aeromechanical forces to achieve controlled release and separation of foreign matter in particle sizes of predetermined classifications the foreign matter being separated into particle sizes of predetermined aerodynamic equivalent diameter (AED) classifications of

• (a) <50 .mu.m, and
• (b) >50 .mu.m.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising transporting the fiber to a treating station and subjecting the fiber at said treating station to a combination of aeromechanical forces to achieve controlled release and separation of foreign matter in particle sizes of predetermined classifications, the foreign matter being separated into particle sizes of predetermined aerodynamic equivalent diameter (AED) classifications of

• (a) <500 .mu.m, and
• (b) >500 .mu.m.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising:

• transporting the fiber including foreign matter to a treating station and subjecting the fiber at said treating station to a combination of outward centrifugal forces balanced against inward aerodynamic drag forces to achieve controlled release and separation of foreign matter and fiber in particle sizes of predetermined classifications, the predetermined classifications including a component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively larger aerodynamic equivalent diameters and a component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively smaller aerodynamic equivalent diameters;
• and
• transporting the component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively smaller aerodynamic equivalent diameters to a region proximal to a surface having perforations through which a transport gas flow is drawn for further separation of the foreign matter from the fiber according to passage or nonpassage through the perforations.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising:

• transporting the fiber including foreign matter to a treating station and subjecting the fiber at said treating station to a combination of outward impact forces balanced against inward aerodynamic drag forces to achieve controlled release and separation of foreign matter and fiber in particle sizes of predetermined classifications, the predetermined classifications including a component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively larger aerodynamic equivalent diameters and a component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively smaller aerodynamic equivalent diameters;
• and
• transporting the component of fiber and including foreign matter having relatively smaller aerodynamic equivalent diameters to a region proximal to a surface having perforations through which a transport gas flow is drawn for further separation of such that the foreign matter from the fiber is separated into predetermined classifications according to passage or nonpassage through the perforations.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising transporting the fiber to a treating station and subjecting the fiber at said treating station to a combination of aeromechanical forces to achieve controlled release and separation of foreign matter and fiber in particle sizes of predetermined classifications the predetermined classifications including a component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively larger aerodynamic equivalent diameters and a component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively smaller aerodynamic equivalent diameters;

• and
• transporting the component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively smaller aerodynamic equivalent diameters to a region proximal to a surface having perforations appropriately sized and through which a transport gas flow is drawn for further separation of the foreign matter from the fiber in predetermined particle sizes smaller or larger than 50 .mu.m according to respective passage or nonpassage through the perforations.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising transporting the fiber to a treating station and subjecting the fiber at said treating station to a combination of aeromechanical forces to achieve controlled release and separation of foreign matter and fiber in particle sizes of predetermined classifications the predetermined classifications including a component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively larger aerodynamic equivalent diameters and a component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively smaller aerodynamic equivalent diameters;

• and
• transporting the fiber including foreign matter to a region proximal to a surface having perforations appropriately sized and through which a transport gas flow is drawn such that the foreign matter is separated into predetermined particle sizes smaller or larger than 500 .mu.m according to respective passage or nonpassage through the perforations.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising transporting the fiber to a treating station and subjecting the fiber at said treating station to a combination of aeromechanical forces to achieve controlled release and separation of foreign matter and fiber in particles sizes of predetermined classifications the predetermined classifications including a component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively larger aerodynamic equivalent diameters and a component of fiber and foreign matter having relatively smaller aerodynamic equivalent diameters;

• and
• transporting the fiber including foreign matter to a region proximal to a surface having perforations appropriately sized and through which a transport gas flow is drawn such that the foreign matter is separated into predetermined particle sizes smaller or larger than 1500 .mu.m according to respective passage or nonpassage through the perforations.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising transporting the fiber including foreign matter to a first treating station and subjecting the fiber at said first treating station to a combination of aeromechanical forces to achieve controlled release and separation of foreign matter in particle sizes of predetermined classifications;

• and
• transporting the fiber including foreign matter to a region proximal to a stationary wall having perforations through which a transport gas flow is drawn such that the fiber and foreign matter are separated into predetermined classifications according to passage or nonpassage through the perforations.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber, comprising:

• providing a treating element for imparting aeromechanical forces to the fiber including foreign matter for releasing the foreign matter from the fiber, which forces tend to throw at least foreign matter particles outwardly from the treating element;
• and
• causing a transport gas flow towards the treating element in a direction counter to the direction of particles thrown outwardly from the treating element so as to achieve controlled separation of foreign matter in particle sizes of predetermined aerodynamic classifications.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising transporting the fiber to a treating station and subjecting the fiber at the treating station to a combination of aeromechanical forces to achieve controlled release and separtion of foreign matter in particle sizes of predetermined classifications, there being provided least one treating element which causes released particles to move counter to a first, inward gas flow for distances according to their size, such that aerodynamically larger particles move larger distances than small particles, and such that predetermined particle sizes are separated upon travelling to or beyond a region of a second gas flow wherein the gas flow direction changes, such that particles reaching the second gas flow region are caused to move in the direction of the second flow and are thereby separated and collected.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising:

• transporting the fiber to a treating station and subjecting the fiber at the treating station to a combination of aeromechanical forces to achieve controlled release and separation of foreign matter in particle sizes of predetermined classifications;
• and
• further subjecting the fiber to electrodynamic forces.

A method for treating fiber for release and separation of foreign matter from the fiber comprising transporting the fiber to a first treating station and subjecting the fiber at said first treating station to a combination of aeromechanical forces to achieve controlled release and separation of foreign matter in particle sizes of predetermined classifications, wherein the fiber is carried about a circular path at the treating station and subjected to a radially inward aerodynamic force for separation of mirodust and respirable dust particles of <50 .mu.m AED.