US2020762A - Treatment of twines, cords, and the like made of hard fibers - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 12, 1935. H. BAUMHUTER 2,020,762

'IREATMENT OF TWINES, CORDS AND THE LIKE MADE OF HARD FIBERS Filed Jan. 31, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [/1 l rzzan- 1%422'4 bi ,Bazzm 542/21 2;

NOV 12, 1935. H, BAUMHUTER 2,020,762

TREATMENT OF TWINES GORDS AND THE LIKE MADE OF HARD FIBERS Filed Jan. 31, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES TREATMENT OF TVVINES, CORDS, AND THE LIKE MADE OF HARD FIBERS Heinrich Baumhiiter, Batenhorst, Germany Application January 31, 1934, Serial No. 709,240 In Germany March 18, 1932 8 Claims.

This invention relates to the smoothing and polishing of twines, cords and the like made of hard fibers, particularly sisal.

Twines and cords made of hard fibers are someties freed from projecting fibers by coating these fibers with a mass comprising a volatile solvent and an adhesive substance which remains elastic after the solvent has been evaporated. Conjointly with this operation the product so treated is smoothed by rubbing. Apart from the cost of the solvent and adhesive it is scarcely possible permanently to polish hard fibers by this method. Experience has shown that the ordinary rubbing in use, or even the balling or winding, causes the projecting fibers totear away from the body of the twines or cords.

A better method consists in pulling the twines or cords through stationary trimming members comprising foldable plates the distance apart whereof is'adjustable and which are provided with a rough coating. If a plurality of pairs of plates are disposed in succession and the twine or cord, dressed with size, is pulled successively through the individual pairs of plates, some of the projecting fibers will be laid in the direction of the pull and will stick to the twine or cord body owing to the dressing, while loose fibers will be torn out during the operation. After this preparation the twines or cords are subjected to the usual polishing process on the polishing rollers of a polishing machine.

In the case of hard fibers, particularly sisal, the results obtained with this method are no more satisfactory than with the first, mentioned method. Moreover, the work is very slow. Even then it is customary to select the softest varieties of sisal fibers, to hackle these carefully and to cut off the projecting fibers several times in preparatory operations. It will be seen therefore that elaborate machinery is required for carrying the method into effect.

A feature of the present invention consists in that the twines, cords or the like of hard fibers, particularly sisal (hereinafter referred to for convenience as twines) are drawn under tension in a helical path over frictional smoothing means at a very high speed, 80 metres per minute or more (that is, about 10 to 15 times the speeds heretofore employed) while dressing is applied at spaced intervals in said path, whereby the projecting ends of fibers are removed, and under the developed heat the twines acquirea closed, wire-like, shining surface.

A further feature of the invention consists in drawing the twines under tension in a helical or the like.

path repeatedly over frictional smoothing means, and over drying means, such as a heated cylinder or roll, while dressing is applied at spaced intervals in said path, at a very high speed, 80 metres per minute or more, whereby the twines are smoothed (by removal of the projecting ends of fibers), and under the developed heat acquire a closed, wire-like, shining surface.

A modification consists in drawing the twines under tension and at high speed in a helical path in repeated succession about frictional smoothing means and drying means, and periodically (sayat every third or fourth lap) over means applying dressing, preferably between the dryin means and the smoothing means.

A machine for carrying out the invention is illustrated in the attached drawings by way of example.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a lateral elevation, partly in section, as seen from the driving end.

Fig. 3 is a similar View, as seen from the other end.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a modified embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, a hollow drying cylinder b, which is adapted to be heated, is mounted in a frame a. and is arranged to be driven through gearing c, d by a drive belt a shiftable to engage fast and loose pulleys e 2 In the 30 vicinity of the periphery of the drying cylinder b there are two or more guide rolls f, g as well as a number of smoothing members h covered with rough material, such as drill, cocoanut fiber These cylindrical smoothing members are usually held stationary during'the operation of the machine, by means of pinions 70 (Fig. 3) secured to the shafts of the said members and meshing with a gear wheel 10, which, being loosely mounted on a trunnion b of the 40 cylinder b, is engaged by a pawl 11. mounted on a lever 11.. The smoothing. members may occasionally be given a slow rotation for the purpose of assuring even wear thereof. On disengagement of the pawl u the running twines are able to rotate the members h. The rotation can be initiated or aided by repeatedly rocking the lever u. Smoothing members i, which are also stationary during operation, are elongated in cross section, as shown in Fig. 2. A rocking handle m IS provided for the purpose of liberating the twines, which have been found to stick during stoppages of work, or even after a certain time of operation, depreciating the roughness of the smoothing members as well as the quality of the work produced thereby;

In order to assure the faultless passage of the twines in helical lines over the rolls and smoothing members, a known toothed rack 12 is disposed at a suitable point on the machine.

Furthermore, a device is provided on the front of the machine for the application of a dressing, such as size, paste, paraffin or other wax comprising a trough q and rolls 0 and p, driven by pinions o 0! and p from the gear wheel c.

The smoothing rollers h are radially adjustable in their bearings by means of adjusting screws 8 for the purpose of assuring uniform smoothing effect in spite of the wear of the smoothing members and for treating twines. of different diameters.

For the purpose of assuring uniform twine tension the drying cylinder b as well as the guide rolls and g are made slightly conical, in a known'manner, so that the diameters of the rolls increase as the twine proceeds through the machine in accordance with the stretching of the twine. The same effect may alternatively be obtained with conical smoothing members or by disposing the axes of the operating rolls or of the smoothing members at an angle relatively to each other.

The admission and discharge of steam to and from the drying cylinder b are effected through hollow trunnions of the cylinder by steam pipes r and t respectively (Fig. 1).

Twines drawn from raw thread spols A and B, in passing through the machine to winding spools C and D, may be wound helically about the drying cylinder 1), the guide rolls and g, and the smoothing members it, and passed through the comb 71, either side by side or separately. That is to say, the two twines from the spools A and B may respectively pass through alternate apertures in the whole length of the comb n, or alternatively each may pass through every aperture over half the length of the comb.

The operation of the machine described is as followsz-Prior to the machine being started up, the twines are threaded into the machine in two helical lines from supply spools A, B in the direction of thearrows shown and are passed with uniform tension alternately over the guide rolls, a dressing roll 0 and the smoothing members, the threads being also passed through the apertures in the comb n and terminating at winding devices D and C.

In the slightly different embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the twines are threaded a number of times over the guiderolls f, g, the drying cylinder b and smoothing members h, i and periodically,

say at every third or fourth lap, passed over the roll 0', for applying the dressing, by way of a further guide roll '0. This embodiment has the advantage that the dressing is applied to the twine with longer intervals for'drying.

The machine is, according to the invention, operated at high speed, say m. per minute (that is about 10 to 15 times the speeds heretofore employed) or at a higher speed, so long as singeing of the twine or the covering of the members is avoided. The twines move in their helical path at high speed over the stationary smoothing members, which are so closely disposed as to be frictionally operative on large portions of their circumferences. The result of twine is heated to a high temperature by the combined effects of the aforesaid friction and contact with the drying drum, which is steamheated to a temperature of about C., so that the dressing is caused to thoroughly impregnate all the fibers of the twine, and the polishing and 5 drying of the twine is rapidly effected.

According to the invention the twine is principally smoothed 'by friction. The subsequent polishing and drying is relatively simple. The operations are repeated many times, so that the 10 whole surface of the twine undergoes treatment.

The method, of operation according to the invention assures, even in the case of very hard fibers, such as sisal or native hemps, a highly polished product. apart from simplifying the whole treatment, results in the further advantage that for the same output per working day it is possible to use a machine very much smaller than the usual size.

,This is conducive to the further advantage that 20 gears k, k and the lever-pawl 11,, 10 30 Other modifications may be made, and the scope of the invention is to be considered as limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

1. Means for smoothing and polishing twine 35 made of hardfibers such as sisal, comprising, in combination, non-rotating frictional smoothing means, dressing means, and means serving to draw the twine under tension and at high speed, at least 80 metres per minute, in a helical path re- 40 peatedly over said smoothing means and at spaced intervals over'said dressing means.

'2. Means for smoothing and polishing twine made of hard fibers such as sisal, comprising, in combination, non-rotating frictional smoothing 45 means, drying means, dressing means, and means serving to draw the twine under tension and at high speed, at least 80 metres per minute, in a helical path repeatedly over said smoothing means and said drying means and at spaced in- 50 tervals over said dressing means.

3. A machine for smoothing and polishing twine made of hard fibers such as sisal, comprising, in combination, non-rotating frictional smoothing means, a heated roll, dressing means, and means 55 serving to draw the twine under tension and at' high speed, at least 80 metres per minute, in a helical path repeatedly over said smoothing means and said heated roll and at spaced intervals over said dressing means. V 60 4. A machine for smoothing and polishing twine made of hard fibers such as sisal, comprising, in combination, a plurality of cylindrical smoothing members, means holding said smoothing members against rotation and manually releasable at 65 will, an ellipsoidal smoothing member reversible at will, dressing 'means and means serving to draw the twine under tension and at high speed, at least 80 metres per minute, in a helical path repeatedly over said smoothing means and said 70 drying means and at spaced intervals over said dressing means. j

5. A machine for smoothing and polishing twine made of hard' fibers such as sisal, comprising, in

combination, a plurality of cylindrical smoothing 15 The high operating speed, 15

members, means holding said smoothing members against rotation and manually releasable at will, an ellipsoidal smoothing member reversible at will, a heated roll, dressing means and means serving to draw the twine under tension and at high speed, at least 80 metres per minute, in a helical path repeatedly over said smoothing means and said heated roll and at spaced intervals over said dressing means.

6. A machine for smoothing and polishing twine made of hard fibers such as sisal, comprising, in combination, a plurality of cylindrical smoothing members, means holding said smoothing members against rotation and manually releasable at will, an ellipsoidal smoothing member reversible at will, a heated roll, a dressing trough, a dressing roll rotatable in said trough, guide rolls serving to pass the twine helically about said members and said heated roll and at intermittent laps over said dressing roll and means serving to draw the twine under tension and. at high speed, at least 80 metres per minute, over the surfaces of said members and said rolls.

7. A machine for smoothing and polishing twine made of hard fibers such as sisal, comprising, in combination, a plurality of elongated frictional smoothing members movable longitudinally to distribute the wear on their surfaces caused by the passage of the twine, drying means, dressing means and means serving to draw the twine under tension and at high speed, at least 80 metres per minute, in a helical path repeatedly over said smoothing members and said drying means and at spaced intervals over said dressing means.

8. A machine for smoothing and polishing twine made of hard fibers such as sisal, comprising, in combination, a plurality of frictional smoothing members, adjustment means serving to vary the relative spacing of said members, drying means, dressing means and means serving to draw the twine under tension and at high speed, at least 80 metres per minute, in a helical path repeatedly over said smoothing members and said drying means and at spaced intervals over said dressing means.

HEINRICH BAUMHUTER.

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