Flock fiber feeding apparatus having a plurality of impellers and a venturi flow tube

摘要

Apparatus for feeding flock fibers comprising an upwardly open flock-receiving hopper. The hopper has a bottom discharge passage under which is mounted metering apparatus providing a plurality of discharge openings of controllably variable size. An upper impeller having a plurality of downwardly angled blades is rotatably driven within the hopper passage to urge the flock fibers to fall downwardly through the discharge openings into a cylindrical pump chamber. A lower impeller is rotatably driven within the pump chamber to sweep falling flock fibers into a pump throat in communication with a venturi flow tube through which a supply of air is passed. The air flowing through the venturi flow tube creates suction to draw the fibers within the throat into the venturi flow tube for entrainment with the air stream.