US2019309454A1PendingUtilityA1

Felt production

43
Assignee: COATES PHILIPPriority: Nov 30, 2016Filed: Nov 28, 2017Published: Oct 10, 2019
Est. expiryNov 30, 2036(~10.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Philip D. Coates
D04H 1/08D04H 17/12D04H 1/736D04H 17/00
43
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A felting apparatus including a carrier for externally carrying precursor material to rotate with the carrier. A drive is for driving the carrier and the precursor material to rotate. One or more agitators agitate the rotating precursor material. Each agitator is a non-driving agitator.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A felting apparatus including:
 a carrier for externally carrying precursor material, wrapped about the carrier, to rotate with the carrier;   a drive for driving the carrier and the precursor material to rotate; and   one or more agitators to agitate the rotating precursor material,   wherein each agitator is a non-driving agitator.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each agitator is associated with a biasing mechanism by which that agitator is relatively biased towards the carrier; and against which that agitator is relatively movable. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the agitators is mounted to follow a path inclined so that the weight of the at least one agitator biases the at least one agitator towards the carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  including a mechanism by which the path is adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . A felting apparatus including:
 a carrier for externally carrying precursor material to rotate with the carrier;   a drive for driving the carrier and the precursor material to rotate; and   one or more agitators to agitate the rotating precursor material,   wherein each agitator is associated with a biasing mechanism by which that agitator is relatively biased towards the carrier; and against which that agitator is relatively-movable;   at least one of the agitators is mounted to follow a path inclined so that the weight of the at least one agitator biases the at least one agitator towards the carrier; and   the apparatus includes a mechanism by which the path is adjustable.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drive is configured to periodically reverse the rotation of the carrier and the precursor material. 
     
     
         7 . A felting apparatus including:
 a carrier for externally carrying precursor material to rotate with the carrier;   a drive for driving the carrier and the precursor material to rotate; and   one or more agitators to agitate the rotating precursor material,   wherein the drive is configured to periodically reverse the rotation of the carrier and the precursor material.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the drive is configured to periodically reverse after not more than three revolutions of the carrier and the precursor material in each direction. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the number of revolutions after which the drive reverses is user-selectable. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the number of revolutions in each direction after which the drive reverses is separately user-selectable. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including:
 a user-interface by which the drive is adjustable to vary at least one of:
 a number of rotations to be completed prior to automatic deactivation; 
 a speed of rotation; and 
 a number or rotations to be completed prior to reversing direction. 
 
 
     
     
         12 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a portion carrying the carrier and the agitator(s) and from which a module including the drive and a or the user interface is separable. 
     
     
         18 . A felting apparatus including:
 a carrier for externally carrying precursor material to rotate with the carrier;   a drive for driving the carrier and the precursor material to rotate;   one or more agitators to agitate the rotating precursor material; and   a portion carrying the carrier and the agitator(s) and from which a module including the drive and a user interface is separable.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the module is toollessly connectable to and separable from the portion carrying the carrier and the agitator(s). 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein each end of at least one of the agitators is carried by a respective pivotally mounted agitator-carrier. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein each of the pivotally mounted agitator-carriers has a mechanism by which an effective length of that agitator-carrier is variable. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein each of the pivotally mounted agitator-carriers includes a two or more upwardly open formations into which a respective end portion of an agitator can be selectively dropped to select an effective length of that agitator-carrier. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the agitators is mounted to be toollessly swapped out whilst the apparatus is in motion. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drive includes a motor co-axial with the carrier. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the agitators are rollers. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the carrier is a roller. 
     
     
         27 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the drive includes a motor co-axial with the carrier. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the drive includes a motor co-axial with the carrier.

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