Importance

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Abstract

A fabric accumulation apparatus including a housing defining a fabric entrance, a fabric exit and a generally vertical fabric storage area therebetween. A gate is located along the fabric housing, being moveable between a closed and an open position. First sensors are located along the path of travel of the gate and are operatively associated with apparatus for opening and closing the gate. Second sensors are located along the path of gate travel and are operatively associated with fabric feed to control the rate of fabric feed dependent upon the height of a fabric column in the housing. Initially, in a filling mode and with the gate closed, fabric is fed into the housing at a high rate of speed relative to fabric withdrawal speed and a fabric bundle is produced thereabove, which ultimately forces the gate to start to open. The gate is then rapidly fully opened and closed, permitting the fabric bundle to drop into the fabric storage area. When fabric builds up adequately in the storage area, the gate will not fully close and is sensed in the partial open position, at which point the sensor signals fabric feed reduced to a slow rate mode which remains so long as the fabric column interferes with opening and closing of the gate.

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First Claim