US3296680A

US3296680A - Apparatus for treating and advancing filamentary material

Info

Publication number: US3296680A
Application number: US396176A
Authority: US
Inventors: Iwnicki Kurt; Thomas James Frederick
Original assignee: British Nylon Spinners Ltd
Current assignee: British Nylon Spinners Ltd
Priority date: 1963-09-26
Filing date: 1964-09-14
Publication date: 1967-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-10
Also published as: IL22112A; GB1082452A; LU46987A1; BE653627A; CH429012A; NL6411128A; FI41984B; DE1966793U; AT255637B; NO119190B; ES304434A1; FI41984C

Description

1967 K. IWNICK! ETAL. 3,296,630

APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND ADVANCING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Sept. 14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorneys Jan. 10, 1967 K. lWNlCKl ETAL APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND ADVANCING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1964 EEEE:EEEEZ :2.: LL

lnvenlora 1 /57 fiv/v/ari/ M A itornv '5 Jan. 10, 1967 K. lWNlCKl ETAL 3,296,680

APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND ADVANCING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Sept. 14, 1964 5 Sheets-$heet 5 Ettes The invention concerns an apparatus for treating and advancing filamentary material.

In our co-pending application filed on even date hereto, we have described a process for treating filamentary material comprising the steps of positively forwarding said material continuously and at least substantially tangentially to one end of a treatment zone constituted by an annular space bounded by an outer and an inner cylindrical member, at least one said member being rotatable about its axis in a direction such that it is travelling in the same direction as the forwarded filamentary material at the point of initial contact therewith, of advancing said material in the axial direction of said members towards the other end of said treatment zone in the form of contiguous helical coils between said members, and of removing said material from said other end of said treatment Zone.

The present invention is concerned with specific apparatus for carrying out the above process.

According to the invention, apparatus for treating and advancing filamentary material comprises an inner cylindrical member and an outer cylindrical member, said members defining between them an annular space and at least one such member being adapted for rotation about its axis, means closing one end of said annular space and providing an internal, filamentary material-contacting cam surface of helical nature.

Preferably, the member or members adapted for rotation are driven; but if one member is driven, it is a matter of choice whether the other member be fixed, rotatable by frictional drive from the filamentary material within the annular space, or driven.

If both are driven, normally they will be driven at the same rotational speed.

The means closing one end of the annular space can take the form of a flange-like member, the inwardlyfacing surface of which is shaped to provide the cam surface of helical nature. The object of this cam surface is to cause the filamentary material structure to be axially deflected by a small amount, to cause it to take up a helical formation around the inner cylindrical member within the annular space, so that contiguous coils of the structure are formed and advanced axially along the space.

Means for treating the filamentary material within the annular space may take, for instance, any of the usual forms of heating device, such as electric resistances in contact with one or both cylindrical members, the electrical supply to which is fed through slip rings in the case of such member or members as are rotatable. Alternatively, the cylindrical members, being of conductive material may be heated by induction from a surrounding coil carrying an electric current. Or, again, steam or other hot gas may be introduced into the annular space to heat the filamentary material therein.

Alternatively, the filamentary material may simply be conditioned during the period of its axial advance along the annular space.

Preferably, a yieldable closure member is provided for the opposite end of the annular space to the flange-like member enclosing one end thereof. Conveniently, such member may comprise a spring-loaded bell-shaped atet plunger, around the rim of which the filamentary material may be withdrawn by a positive withdrawing action.

In one embodiment of the invention, in which embodiment the apparatus for treating and advancing filamentary material is mounted to receive compacted crimped yarn directly on its forced emergence from a stuffer-box crimper, as described in a second co-pending patent application filed on even date hereto, co-axial inner and outer right cylindrical members of chromium plated brass or steel are each mounted for rotation about their axes, the inner such member comprising a roller on a shaft, being rotatably driven by an electric motor, and the outer Such member, comprising a cylindrical shell surrounding the roller being either fixed or else mounted for rotation within three spaced bearing rollers the cylindrical shell being then driven solely by frictional contact of filamentary material with its inner surfaces whilst said material is rotatably advanced along the annular space defined between said cylindrical members. When the apparatus of the embodiment is used for heat-setting crimped bulked nylon yarn for use in carpets, the dimensions of said members can conveniently be 1 /8 for the outer diameter of the inner roller and 2 /8" for the inner diameter of the outer shell, providing a radial annular space for the filamentary material. The length of the annular space is 3" in such case.

A non-rotatable, flange-like member closes the annular space at the end thereof directly in line with the crimping chamber of the stutter-box crimper. Such flange-like member, also of chromium-plated brass or steel, has an internal cam surface comprising a helix.

Both the roller and the outer, cylindrical shell may be heated by electric resistance heaters secured thereto on the non-yarn-contacting sides of their peripheral surfaces. A heater for the roller can be fed through slip ring-s on the driving shaft of the roller; and a heater for the cylindrical shell can be fed through slip rings on a cylindrical projection thereof surrounding the yarn-discharge end of the apparatus.

At that discharge end, the last coil of compacted crimped yarn is urged axially inwardly by a spring-loaded bell-shaped plunger whose spindle is slidably mounted within the shaft of the roller and co-axially therewith.

Instead of having smooth surfaces, the yarn-contacting surfaces of either the roller or the cylindrical shell, depending on which is being driven, may be axially fluted or ribbed, so as to provide a series of recesses into which the yarn is packed. Such an expedient overcomes any tendency of the yarn to slip relatively to the surface of the cylindrical member that is being driven.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagram of a combined drawing and crimping lay-out in which the invention is employed;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal partly sectional view, through XX of FIGURE 3 of crimping and advancing apparatus embodying the principle of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view, through YY of FIGURE 2, of the said crimping and advancing apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a flange-like member employed in the said crimping and advancing apparatus;

The undra-wn yarn is then forwarded under tension to the drawing stage comprising feed roll 11, with its separator roll 13, and draw roll 17, with its separator roll 19. Between the feed and draw rolls the yarn is wrapped around snubbing pin 15 to locate the point of draw. The pin may be heated by internal electric resistance means (not shown).

On departure from the draw roll 17 the yarn is fully drawn, and it is now directly submitted to crimping in the compression crimping stage.

The compression crimping apparatus comprises feed roll 21, whose periphery is directly driven by that of crimper roll 23, and

crimper rolls

23 and 25. The drawn yarn is passed under feed roll 21, through the nip between it and crimper roll 23, and thence drawn through the nip of

crimper rolls

23, 25 into the crimping chamber generally indicated at 27.

From the crimping chamber, the crimped yarn passes directly into the annular treating chamber generally indicated at 29.

Both said crimping apparatus and said annular treating chamber will be more specifically described with reference to FIGURES 2 and 3; but in FIGURE 1 it is shown that a rotary part of said annular treating chamber includes driving wharl 35 fixed to a shaft rotatable in axially spaced bearings 33. Slideable axially of said shaft is spindle 37 of bell-shaped plunger 31, the latter serving as closure member for the discharge end of the annular treating chamber 29.

The yarn on withdrawal from the annular treating chamber 29 is crimped, and is now designated Y Withdrawal is effected by rotation of wind-up roll 57 carrying package 55 by the surface drive of said package from the periphery of drive roll 53. Crimped yarn Y, is passed through thread guide 43 on the axis of the annular treating chamber, and thence around tensioning bollards 45 for imparting a low tension to the yarn so that it is in even condition when passed around the periphery of magnetic particle yarn brake 47. Finally, the yarn is passed over pin 49 and thence through reciprocating thread-guide 51 for traversing the yarn on to the wind-up package 55.

The regulation of the amount of yarn within the annular treating chamber 29 is performed by the function of the bell-shaped plunger 31 and the yarn brake 4-7. The plunger 31 is spring-loaded and hence its axial position with respect to the chamber 29 will give an indication of the amount of yarn compacted within the chamber. Movement of the plunger 31 and its spindle 37 is arranged to be transmitted, via the lever 39 and a cam fixedly mounted to the pivot thereof, to roller 41 on the springarm of a micro-switch.

The micro-switch is contained in an electrical circuit fed from the alternating current mains via two-tap transformer '59. Depending on whether the switch is made or broken alternating current at either a high or a low voltage is supplied from the thus selected tapping of the transformer to rectifier circuit 61. The direct current output of said rectifier, at either the high or the low voltage, is fed to magnetic particle yarn brake 47, whereby more or less braking effect is imparted to the crimped yarn. The more the yarn is braked, the higher will be the tension in the yarn between the brake and the wind-up; and, as the crimped yarn is extensible, the higher the tension the less amount, in weight, of yarn will the wound in unit time. Hence, the amount of yarn withdrawn from the annular treating chamber in unit time can be controlled by these means.

The crimping and advancing apparatus shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3 embodies the principle of the invention wherein yarn or the like is treated in an. annular chamber whilst being advanced in contiguous coils axially of that chamber.

In the embodiment depicted in these two figures, yarn Y is fed by feed roll 21 into the nip of crimper rolls 2- 3, 25, as already described with respect to FIGURE 1.

The crimping chamber 27 of the stulfer-box type of compression crimper comprises back wall 70, front wall 77 and side walls 67, 69. These walls are shaped at their lower ends to fit closely against the outer cylindrical shell 71 of annular treating and advancing chamber 29.

The inlet end of the chamber 29 is closed by flange-like closure member 63 having an inwardly-facing helical cam surface 79-81 extending over at least 360 of an arc, which will be described in greater detail with respect to FIGURES 4-7, in which it alone is depicted.

The crimped yarn is forced in a compressed column from the crimping chamber directly downwardly into the annular treating chamber, around which it is advanced in contiguous coils 75 of compressed yarn nature.

The annular chamber is formed by the fixed outer cylindrical shell 71 and the inner rotatable roller 73. The surface of the roller 73 is corrugated longitudinally, i.e. in the axial direction.

The discharge end of the annular chamber is provided with a closure member in the form of bell-shaped plunger 31, around the rim of which the crimped yarn Y is withdrawn through guide 43. The plunger 31 is lightly held in contact with the furthermost coil of compressed yarn by reason of compressed spring 65 by which its spindle 37 is urged in the leftward direction of FIGURE 2.

As shown partially in FIGURES 2 and 3, and fully in FIGURES 4-7, the flange-like member 63 has an inwardly-facing helical cam surface 79-81 of some 405 in arcuate extent. By such means the first coil of compressed yarn is formed and is kept separate from the succeeding coil so as to avoid entanglement of the filaments of the respective coils. This is best understood from a consideration of FIGURE 6; the compressed mass of crimped yarn is forced into the rectangular space bounded by the flange 66 on one side, the end 811 of the helical cam surface on the opposite side, a flat surface 78 cut in the cam surface support and the back wall 70 of the crimping chamber (not shown in FIGURE 6).

As described with reference to FIGURE 1, the rotatable roller 73 of the annular treating chamber is positively driven from wharl 35, and its shaft is supported in axially spaced bearings 33. The spindle 37 of plunger 31 is slideable within said shaft against the force of spring 65.

If it is desired positively to treat, e.g. to heat-set, the yarn in the annular chamber 29, and not merely to condition it therein during its axial advance the outer cylindrical shells 71 may have an electrical resistance heater jacket attached exteriorly thereof. Alternatively, or in addition, the interior of roller 73 may be provided with electric cartridge heaters, the electric supply to which can be via slip-rings on the shaft between bearings 33.

The invention will now be described, by -way of example only, by the specific operating conditions of processes for crimping yarns of polyhexamethylene adipamide.

Example I Three ends (single yarns) of drawn 1040 denier/68 filament continuous-filament yarn of polyhexarnethylene adipamide were withdrawn from draw-twist packages by means of rolls as illustrated in FIGURE 2, and a tension of 200 grams was applied to each end by pulling the yarn through a tension-imparting device.

The crimping rolls were positively driven at a pcripheral speed of 1500 feet/minute; and the fluted roller of the annular treating chamber was rotated at 35 revolutions per minute. Under these conditions, 12 coils of compressed yarn were maintained within the annular chamber, which was heated to 180 C. by means of an electric resistance in an annular jacket surrounding the outer cylindrical shell.

The crimped yarn was withdrawn and wound-up according to the arrangement depicted in FIGURE 1, the wind-up speed being 1300 feet/minute. The magnetic particle brake oscillated between a high setting of 300 grams and a low setting of grams.

The erimped yarn was adequately bulked, having a skein length (15 grams weight) of 12% inches.

Example II Three ends (single yarns) of undrawn 3600 denier/ 68 filament yarn of polyhexamethylene adipamide were withdrawn from spinning cylinder supply packages, and drawn at a draw ratio of 3.7:1 and crimped according to the arrangement depicted in FIGURE 1. The crimped rolls were positively rotated at a peripheral speed of 1500 feet/minute; and the fluted roller of the annular treating chamber was rotated at 42 revolutions per minute. No heat was supplied to the walls of the annular treating chamber, the temperature of which rose at 90 C. due to the heat imparted from the yarn.

12 coils of compressed yarn were maintained in the chamber.

The crimped yarn was bulked to an equivalent skein length value to that of the yarn of Example I, the actual skein length being 15 /2 inches with a weight of 60 grams employed, rather than 15 grams.

Example III The conditions of Example II were the same except that the peripheral speed of the crimping rolls was 3000 feet/minute, and the rotational speed of the roller in the annular treating chamber was 85 revolutions per minute.

Example IV The process described in Example II was repeated for equivalent undrawn yarns of Terylene polyester fibre, but in this instance the snubbing pin was heated and the yarn was forwarded from the draw roll to the stutter-box feed rolls at a low degree of mechanical underfeed, i.e. the feed rolls were rotated at a peripheral speed slightly higher than that of the draw roll.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus of the invention has been described in the examples and with reference to the drawings in connection with the specific embodiment of an annular advancing and treating chamber for use in combination with a stufler box crimper; but such an application of the invention is but one that is presently important.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for treating and advancing filamentary material consisting of (a) inner and outer cylindrical members defining between them an annular space in which filamentary material is to be treated, at least one of said members being adapted for rotation about its axis, and

(b) means closing one end of said annular space, the inwardly-facing side of which means is provided with a filamentary material-contacting and advancing cam surface of helical nature.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 and having a yieldable closure member fitted at the other endof said annular space.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 and having a springloaded bell-shaped plunger fitted as a yieldable closure member at the other end of said annular space.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 and having means positively to drive said inner cylindrical member, the surface of which member is fluted in the axial direction.

5. Apparatus for treating and advancing filamentary material consisting of (a) an inner cylindrical member the surface of which is fluted in the axial direction,

(13) means for rotating said member,

(c) an outer, stationary cylindrical member, defining with said inner cylindrical member an annular space therebetween, in which filamentary material is to be treated, and

(d) a flange-like member closing one end-of said annular space, the inwardly-facing side of which memher is provided with a filamentary material-contacting and advancing cam surface of a helical nature extending over at least 360 of are.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 and having a cam surface on the inwardly-facing side of the flange-like member of a helical nature extending over 405 of are.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,760,252 8/1956 Shattuck 281 3,096,562 7/1963 Russo et al. 2872 3,108,352 10/1963 Haigler et a1 28-1 3,217,482 11/1965 Baer 281 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

L. K. RIMRODT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND ADVANCING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL CONSISTING OF (A) INNER AND OUTER CLYINDRICAL MEMBERS DEFINING BETWEEN THEM AN ANNULAR SPACE IN WHICH FILAMENTARY MATERIAL IS TO BE TREATED, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS, AND (B) MEANS CLOSING ONE END OF SAID ANNULAR SPACE, THE INWARDLY-FACING SIDE OF WHICH MEANS IN PROVIDED WITH