Apparatus for sorting fibers

An apparatus for sorting fibers and separating them into fractions with desirable and undesirable properties comprising a housing provided with a first chamber:

• introducing means for introducing fibers to be sorted into said first chamber, said introducing means comprising a carding machine doffer;
• a rotary element revolvably supported in said first chamber and provided with means for receiving said fibers and for applying a fast rotary movement thereto, in an area of engagement with said doffer;
• a guiding surface positioned adjacent the area of engagement between said rotary element and said doffer for guiding the trajectory of fibers received from said doffer at an angle of less than 80.degree. relative to their original trajectory along the surface of said doffer;
• a multiplicity of material-receiving channels leading from said first chamber, a first of said material-receiving channels being provided with a first window adjacent to said rotary element for the reception of trash of relatively greater mass than the remaining material, a second material-receiving channel being provided with a second window for the reception of nep and undesirable fibers of intermediate mass and a third material receiving channel being provided with a third window adjacent to said rotary element for the reception of desired fibers;
• said materials-receiving channels being in fluid communication with means for applying varying degrees of air pressure therethrough;
• wherein said fast rotary movement results in a centrifugal force, which in combination with the degree of air pressure applied in each of said material-receiving channels is sufficient to cause separation of trash of relatively greater mass than the remaining material as well as the separation of nep and undesirable fibers from fibers having desirable properties.

An apparatus for sorting fibers and separating them into fractions with desirable and undesirable properties comprising

• a housing provided with a first chamber;
• means for introducing fibers to be sorted into said first chamber;
• and
• separation means for separating trash of relatively greater mass than remaining material and for the separation of nep and undesirable short fibers of intermediate mass from fibers having desirable properties, said separation means comprising
• a rotary element revolvably supported in said first chamber and provided with means for receiving said fibers and for applying a fast rotary movement thereto,
• a multiplicity of material-receiving channels leading from said first chamber, a first of said material-receiving channels being provided with a first window adjacent to said rotary element for the reception of trash of relatively greater mass than the remaining material, a second material-receiving channel being provided with a second window for the reception of nep and undesirable short fibers of intermediate mass and a third material receiving channel being provided with a third window adjacent to said rotary element for the reception of desired fibers, and
• means for applying varying degrees of air pressure through said material-receiving channels.