Textile recycling machine

An apparatus for reclaiming fibers from a roll of fabric material, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• at least two carding rolls connected to said frame for rotation relative to said frame, said carding rolls defining a nip zone therebetween for drawing in the fabric material and for removing fibers therefrom;
• means for supporting the roll of fibrous material for free rotation as said material is drawn into said nip zone;
• and
• an intake roller rotatably connected to said frame for contacting and guiding the material from the roll of fabric material to said nip zone.

A fiber reclamation machine for reclaiming fibers from fibrous materials, the machine comprising:

• a frame;
• first, second, third, and fourth fiber working rolls carried for rotation by said frame;
• said first and second rolls forming a first nip zone therebetween, said second and third rolls forming a second nip zone therebetween, and said third and fourth rolls forming a third nip zone therebetween;
• drive means connected to said frame for driving said first, second, third, and fourth fiber working rolls;
• and
• a first drive belt connected to said drive means and said first and third rolls for driving said first and third rolls, and a second drive belt connected to said drive means and said second and fourth rolls for driving said second and fourth rolls;
• said first and second drive belts being independent of one another such that the respective drive speeds of said first and third fiber working rolls and said second and fourth fiber working rolls may be selectively varied.

A fiber reclamation apparatus for reclaiming fibers from a roll of fibrous material, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a motor connected to said frame;
• at least one metallic clothed carding roll carried for rotation by said frame, said motor being drivingly connected to said metallic clothed carding roll;
• at least one granular clothed carding roll carried for rotation by said frame, said motor being drivingly connected to said granular clothed carding roll;
• said metallic clothed roll and said granular clothed carding roll forming a nip zone therebetween with an input side for receiving and working fibers to be reclaimed and an output side for outputting the fibers;
• and
• at least one first carding segment connected to said frame and carried adjacent said metallic clothed carding roll for receiving and working therebetween fibers to be reclaimed, and at least one second carding segment connected to said frame and carried adjacent said granular clothed carding roll for receiving and working therebetween fibers to be reclaimed;
• means for rotatably supporting the roll of fibrous material as said material is fed into said input side of said nip zone;
• an intake roller rotatably connected to said frame for guiding the fibrous material from the roll of fibrous material to said input side of said nip zone;
• an elongated member positioned adjacent and having a transverse curvature corresponding to the curvature of said granular clothed carding roll;
• said elongated member defining an air dam with an angled nose surface adjacent said granular clothed roll for reducing air flow between said elongated member and said granular clothed roll;
• a suction chute for removing fibers from said granular clothed roll as the fibers approach said air dam;
• said metallic clothed carding roll having elongated strands of metallic clothing wound thereon in a generally helical angle angled in a first direction;
• and
• said second carding segment having rows of wire clothing thereon angled in a second direction, said second direction being opposite to said first direction.