Automatic fiber bundle testing apparatus

A fiber testing apparatus comprising:

• an elongated frame;
• sample holding means mounted within the frame at a first location therealong for movement relative to the frame and adapted to hold a quantity of fibers out of which a fiber specimen is to be gathered for testing;
• means for moving the sample holding means relative to the frame between two positions of movement, the sample holding means having a foraminous surface which moves along a predetermined path as the sample holding means is moved relative to the frame between the two positions of movement and including a hopper section for holding the quantity of fibers so that a portion of the quantity of fibers protrude out of the hopper section through the foraminous surface;
• a comb positionable at a first station adjacent the sample holding means for gathering a fiber specimen from the quantity of fibers held thereby so that as the foraminous surface is moved along the predetermined path, a fiber specimen sample is gathered by the comb;
• card means associated with the sample holding means for carding the gathered fiber specimen as the sample holding means is moved between its two positions of movement;
• a brush rotatably supported by the frame at a second location therealong for brushing the fiber specimen sample when the comb is moved relative to the frame to a second station adjacent the brush and the brush is rotated in engagement with the gathered fiber specimen;
• means connected to the brush for rotating the brush;
• testing means supported by the frame at a third location therealong for testing the fiber specimen when the comb is moved relative to the frame to a third station adjacent the testing means;
• and
• a carriage movably mounted upon the frame for movement therealong and for supporting the comb along the frame;
• and
• means associated with the carriage for moving the carriage along the frame so that the comb is positionable at the first location adjacent the sample holding means for gathering a fiber specimen from the quantity of fibers held by the holding means as the holding means is moved relative to the frame, is positionable at the second station adjacent the brush means for brushing of the fiber specimen by the brush as the brush is rotated, and is positionable at the third station adjacent the testing means so that the fiber specimen is positioned in registry with the testing means for performing a test upon the fiber specimen.

An apparatus for testing a specimen of fibers comprising;

• sample holding means for holding a specimen of fibers;
• a sampler for engaging the specimen of fibers, removing a sample of fibers from the specimen and holding the sample;
• drive means for moving the sample holding means past the sampler while the sample is stationary so that the sampler removes a sample of fibers from the specimen in the holding means;
• means for testing at least one characteristic of the sample;
• and
• means for automatically moving the sampler between a first position at which the sampler is in a position for engaging and removing a sample of fibers from the specimen as the sample holding means is moved past the sampler and a second position means at which the sample of fibers held by the sampler is in a position to be tested by the testing means.

An apparatus for testing a specimen of fibers comprising:

• sample holding means for holding a quantity of fibers from which a fiber specimen is to be gathered for testing;
• testing means for performing at least one test upon the specimen of fibers when the specimen is positioned in registry with the testing means;
• sampling means for gathering a specimen of fibers from the quantity of fibers held by the sample holding means and for holding the specimen during testing operations performed upon the specimen;
• and
• transport means associated with the sampling holding means for automatically moving the sampling means from a position adjacent the sample holding means at which a specimen of fibers is gathered from the quantity of fibers to a position adjacent the testing means at which the fiber specimen held by the sampling means is positioned in registry with the testing means for performing a test upon the specimen.

An apparatus for testing a specimen of fibers comprising:

• sample holding means for holding a specimen of fibers;
• a sampler for engaging the specimen of fibers, removing a sample of fibers from the specimen and holding the sample;
• drive means for moving the sample holding means and sampler relative to one another so that the sampler removes a sample of fibers from the specimen held by the sample holding means;
• and
• means for testing at least one characteristic of the sample;
• and
• the sample holding means includes a drum within which the specimen of fibers is positionable and includes a curved face and an axis, means for supporting the drum for movement relative to the sampler, a foraminous plate forming part of the curved face of the drum, and presser means mounted inside the drum for pressing the specimen of fibers against the inside surface of the foraminous plate so that portions of the specimen protrude through the foraminous plate and so that as the sample holding means and sampler are moved relative to one another, the sampler engages the fibers protruding through the foraminous plate for removal of a sample of fibers therefrom.