The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 04, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 15, 2000
Frederick M. Shofner, Knoxville, TN (US);
Christopher K. Shofner, Knoxville, TN (US);
Shofner Engineering Associates, Inc., Knoxville, TN (US);
Abstract
Machines for ultra-rapidly conditioning cotton fiber. In one embodiment, a machine includes a conditioning chamber for receiving cotton fiber formed into a sheet-like body. The conditioning chamber is defined on one side by an impervious plate and on an opposite side by a perforated plate. The sheet-like body of cotton fiber is pressed between the impervious and perforated plates. An air conditioner is connected for driving a conditioned gas flow through the perforations and then laterally through the sheet-like body of cotton fiber. In another embodiment, a conditioning chamber is defined on one side by an impervious plate and on an opposite side by a distribution plate having a series of alternating passages connected for respectively delivering gas flow to the cotton and for allowing gas flow to exit from the cotton. As a result, relatively short path lengths are achieved. An air conditioner is connected for driving a conditioned gas flow through the passages for delivering gas flow.