US3687607A - Method for continuous treatment of bundles of filaments and yarns with steam - Google Patents

Abstract

A HIGH SPEED HIGH TEMPERATURE TREATING PROCESS SUCH AS DYEING, BLEACHING AND SCOURING, FOR ELONGATED FIBROUS STOCK COMPRISING CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS OR YARNS THE PROCESS COMPRISING, BEFORE INTRODUCING THE FIBROUS STOCK INTO A HIGH TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE SATURATED STEAMING ZONE THROUGH PRESSURE SEALING MEANS, SUBJECTING THE STOCK TO A PREPARATORY MECHANICAL FLATTENING AND STRAIGHTENING STEP TO REMOVE IRREGULARITIES IN THE STOCK, STEAM STRETCHING THE FIBROUS STOCK WHEREIN THE CONSTITUENT FILAMENTS OR YARNS ARE ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY IN PARALLEL CONDITION OR YARNS, AND PREFERABLY STEAM STRETCHING BEYOND THE MECHANICALLYSTRAIGHTENED LENGTH OF THE STOCK TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY REMOVE RESIDUAL SLIGHT IRREGULARITIES IN THE STOCK, PASSING THE STROCK IN A SIMILAR CONDITION AS ABOVE THROUGH A PADDING BATH, SQUEEZING EXCESS LIQUID FROM THE PADDED

STOCK, AND CONCENTRATING THE FLATTENED FIBROUS STOCK INTO A ROUND TOW FORM.

Description

Aug. 29, 1972 M E A A 3,687,607

.METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF BUNDLES 0F FILAMLNTS AND YARNS WITH STEAM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1971 FIG/I (A) ll7- 205 L FIG. 1(8) TTTF'TT E 89b Hlu 3,687 MENTS g- 29, 1972 ASAHIDE YAZAWA v NUOUS TREATMENT OF BUNDLES 0F FILA METHOD FOR CON'lI AND YARNS WITH STEAM Filed Feb. 8, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2( A) FIG. 2(8) FIG. 2(C) Aug. 29, 1972 MASAHIDE YAZAWA 3,687,607

METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF BUNDLES OF FILAMENTS AND YARNS WITH STEAM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 8, 1971 FIG. 7

I ll

FIG. 3

Aug. 29, 1972 MASAHIDE YAZAWA METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF BUNDLES OF FILAMENTS AND YARNS WITH STEAM Filed Feb. 8, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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FIG. 6

STEAM INLET United States Patent F 3,687,607 METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF BUNI LES OF FILAMENTS AND YARNS WITH STEAM Masahide Yazawa, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Kabushiki Kaisha Kobunshi Kalro Kenkyujo, Tokyo, Japan Continuation-impart of abandoned application Ser. No. 811,560, Mar. 28, 1969. This application Feb. 8, 1971, Ser. No. 113,413

Claims priority, application Japan, June 5, 1968-, 43/38,852 Int. Cl. D06e 1/00, 3/16 US. Cl. 8-1491 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A high speed high temperature treating process such as dyeing, bleaching and scouring, for elongated fibrous stock comprising continuous filaments or yarns the process comprising, before introducing the fibrous stock into a high temperature and pressure saturated steaming zone through pressure sealing means, subjecting the stock to a preparatory mechanical flattening and straightening step to remove irregularities in the stock, steam stretching the fibrous stock wherein the constituent filaments or yarns are arranged substantially in parallel condition or yarns, and preferably steam stretching beyond the mechanicallystraightened length of the stock to substantially completely remove residual slight irregularities in the stock, passing the stock in a similar condition as above through a padding bath, squeezing excess liquid from the padded stock. and concentrating the flattened fibrous stock into a round tow form.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is a continuation-in-part application of copending US. application Ser. No. 811,560, entitled Process for the Continuous Steaming of Elongated Fibrous Material, filed Mar. 28, 1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to improvements in a process for the continuous steam processing of filament tows or yarns, spun yarns and like elongated fibrous stock. These filaments or yarns may be partially warped under certain circumstances.

Description of the prior art It is the main object of the present invention to provide a process of the above kind which is capable of providing a highly stabilized even-treating elfect upon the processed fibrous material, yet within a time period as short as possible, for example, one minute, in the case of performing at least a specific processing step, such as for instance scouring, bleaching, dyeing or the like of elongated fibrous stock.

The process proposed by the present invention can be most advantageously applied to the dyeing of elongated fibrous stock. Thus, by way of example, the description of the present invention is based in this specification primarily on such a dyeing process.

It is commonly known that when dyeing a fibrous material, an even dyeing is the most predominant factor for improving the commercial value of the processed stock.

Another requirement for the dyeing is to carry it out at the highest possible operating speed. Both of these requirements are in contradiction to each other.

3,687,607 Patented Aug. 29, 1972 The processing time period required for dyeing by the conventional hank dyeing process generally amounts to about 1-2 hours per each batch of the fibrous stock being dyed. It will consume 56 hours when taking the subsequent soaping, oiling, drying and the like after-processing periods into consideration. This will apply substantially to the cone or cheese dyeing technique. In addition to this lower processing efiiciency, that is, lower productivity, it should be noted that this kind of prior art can provide only defective products from the point of view of even coloring.

Top dyeing techniques assure better quality dyed products in comparison With other conventional dyeing techniques. However, this kind of dyeing process also has a drawback of low processing efliciency similar to those mentioned above. In addition, this processing mode cannot be utilized for the continuous dyeing of filaments.

In order to obviate the aforementioned conventional drawbacks, various modern high speed, high temperature machines have been proposed wherein an elongated and large-size steaming stationary autoclave is employed and the elongated fibrous stock is guided along a zigzag passage within the autoclave' space, so as to reduce the overall dimensions of the apparatus.

I have found, however, that a steam treating process of an elongated fibrous stock at a high travel speed, such as 50-100 meters per minute, can be carried out in a saturated steam atmosphere at a specific high temperature selected according to the nature of the constituent fibers of the stock to be processed, when done with care to avoid otherwise possible damage to the fibers which are naturally highly sensitive to mechanical stresses at such a high temperature as above-mentioned.

For this purpose, a steaming autoclave, which is designed 'with care to impart the least possible damage to the fibers, can be used. Such an autoclave is, for instance, an elongated straight-line pipe autoclave, an autoclave having inside rollers, over which the stock travels to and fro along the straight passages between them to get the necessary dwelling time for processing, the autoclave shown in FIGS. 2 or 3 of US. Patent No. 3,213,470, or in FIGS. 1 or 2 of U.S. Patent No. 2,954,687 both issued to the present inventor, or the like, which are well known among those skilled in the art. It is preferable that the fibrous stock s guided through the autoclave in a flattened state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a high speed, high temperature treating process such as dyeing, bleaching and scouring, for elongated fibrous stock comprising continuous filaments or yarns, the process comprising, before introducing the fibrous stock into a high temperature and pressure saturated steaming zone through pressure sealing means, subjecting the stock to a preparatory mechanical flattening and straightening step to remove irregularities in the stock, steam stretching the fibrous stock wherein the constituent filaments or yarns are arranged substantially in parallel condition or yarns, and preferably steam stretching beyond the mechanically-straightened length of the stock to substantially completely remove residual slight irregularities in the stock, passing the stock in a similar condition as above through a padding bath, squeezing excess liquid from the padded stock, and concentrating the flattened fibrous stock into a round tow form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are schematic side views of a processing plant embodying the principles of the present invention wherein the partial views (A), (B) and (C) are shown separately and in succession from A to C and the mutual joining lines are shown at 8-8 and T-T',

respectively, several constituents being shown in partial section for clear representation of the inner parts.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are schematic plan views of the plant shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C in a series oi partial views in a similar manner as above, wherein the mutual joining lines are shown at UU', V-V, and W-W', respectively.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic top plan view of a steam stretching cylinder assembly employed in the plant shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a substantially sectional yet somewhat reduced view of the cylinder assembly shown in FIG. 3, together with a schematic arrangement view of several related stock-guiding and feeding rollers.

FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B) are enlarged plan views of an elongated straight line steaming piping, especially its sketches, the joining line of which is shown at X-X.

FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) are elevational views of the steaming piping, the main working parts thereof being shown in section or as partially broken away.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the delivery means for the fibrous stock to be processed which means may be replaced by a corresponding part of the plant shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or additionally fitted to the processing plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For processing the stock in a high pressure saturated steam atmosphere and yet economizing the processing steam, the inlet and outlet ends of the steaming autoclave must be eitectively sealed 011? relative to the traveling fibrous stock. It is therefore further proposed according to this invention to pass the fibrous stock in the form of a round tow or the like concentrated state of the continuous fibers or yarns, as the case may be, through both ends of the steaming autoclave. The term round tow indicates a. tow or tow-like elongated bundle of filaments or yarns, which has a round, elliptical or roundish rectangular crosssection. In this way, the fibrous stock per se is utilized effectively as a moving stufiing material for avoiding a substantial leakage of the processing steam from the steaming autoclave. This stufiing function is naturally controlled for the purpose of sealing the high pressure steam without injuring the stock and economizing the processing steam by appropriate pressurizing'and compacting of the round tow of fibrous stock at the sealing means on both ends of the steaming autoclave. In this way, the necessary pressure and temperature of the processing steam are realized with minimum possible leakage in order to drive out the air entrained within the stock and to steam the fibrous stock almost instantly, that is to say, within 30-60 seconds.

For carrying out a liquid treatment, such as a dyeing step, of the elongated fibrous stock, it is necessary to bring the constituent filaments or yarns into the most even contact with and to provide the most even take-up of the liquid dyeing solution as is possible. In order to realize this requirement, it is an essential procedure in this invention to remove crimps, bends, occasional partial slacking and the like disordered arrangements of the fibers of the filaments or the yarns from their true straight line configuration to the highest degree possible. For this purpose, the fibrous stock is first subjected to a mechanical straightening step by passing the stock through one or more creels or more specifically groups of zigzag-arranged straightener bars. When the starting elongated fibrous material is in the form of one or more tows, the straightener bar group or groups serve as broadening means which act to broaden the tow or tows into the respective fibrous layer stocks so as to arrange the constituent fibers or yarns in a substantial parallel condition. According to any practical experiments, such mechanical straightening step or steps do not completely remove the aforementioned disorders which provide residual irregularities in the stock,

leading to uneven take-up of the treating liquid such as a dyeing solution at a later stage of the process and resulting in correspondingly uneven dyeing or like undesired effects.

The mechanically straightened and (in addition) broadened fibrous stock then undergoes a steam stretching step to substantially completely remove residual irregularities, by subjecting it to a stretching under elevated temperature, preferably beyond the mechanically-straightened length of the stock. This procedure is the most important one in this invention and by introducing this procedure otherwise unattainable substantially evenly-processed products can be obtained.

Upon being thus treated, the fibrous layer stock with its constituent filaments or yarns arranged in a substantially parallel and flattened condition is passed through a treating bath such as liquid vat or the like dyeing solution, and then squeezed. In advance of squeezing, the vatted stock is preferably passed through one or more creeling stages as in the case of the foregoing straightening step, for evenly distributing the vatted solution among the flattened layer of filaments or the like fibrous material. This is another important procedure in this invention.

At the time of squeezing, the liquid take-up quantity by the filament stock is preferably regulated to be at a possible minmurn so that a transfer of the taken-up solution among the filaments or yarns in the subsequent steaming procedure cannot take place to any appreciable degree.

This is a further important procedure in this invention to avoid otherwise possible uneven treatments.

As above-mentioned, the taken-up liquid quantity in the fibrous stock is less than the conventional liquid treating processes so that the concentration of treating chemical, for instance a dyestuff, in the treating bath should be ad justed to a value at which the predetermined amount of the treating chemical can be caught among the fibrous stock after squeezing.

Then, the vatted and squeezed fibrous stock is concentrated from its broadened layer state into a round tow-like state so as to be easily introduced into the steaming autoclave through its reduced and pressurizing inlet means, as above described in detail.

The steamed fibrous stock taken out in the form of a round tow or the like concentrated state from the steaming autoclave is passed again through a zigzag-shaped guide passage as in the preparatory stage for respreading it into a layer state wherein the constituent filaments or yarns are arranged substantially in parallel condition and after being subjected to various kinds of necessary aftertreatments, the products may be wound-up on a core bobbin or the like winder means.

When crimped products are desired, the padded, broadened, steamed, after-treated and rebroadened fibrous layer stock may be introduced into a conventional stutter.

With modern conventional high-speed high-temperature dyeing machines, continuous filament tows or yarn bundles may be dyed and steamed within a short time period such as 2-3 minutes. However, on account of the lack of efficient sealing means, the temperature of the treating steam is limited to about C. However, if it is desired to dye and steam polyester fibers within the above specified short period, say, within a minute, use of high temperature steam such as at C. or so, is necessary and therefore this is impracticable to realize with the use of conventional machines.

The thickness of the broadended layer of fibrous material from the supplied tow at the preparatory mechanical straightening step may generally amount to 4-6 mm. and the layer at this step contains from 10,000 to 30,000 denier of fibrous stock per 10 mm. of width. After the steam stretching step, prior to the main steaming process, the thickness of the layer stock may generally amount to 1-2 mm. After squeezing, it will be reduced to 0.2-0.3 mm. This broadening is another very important procedure in this invention.

When the process according to this invention is applied to the dyeing of continuous fibrous material, for instance, using an elongated straight line pipe autoclave, the preparatory treating and padding and after-treating appliances, except the steaming autoclave or autoclaves, are mounted and arranged above the elongated straight line steaming pipe autoclave, which extends generally for a distance of 50-60 meters. By employing this procedure, the overall space requirement of the plant can be reduced to a possible minimum.

On account of the usage of higher steaming temperatures after padding employed in the present process, the dyestuif used must naturally have a heat resisting nature. It is required, of course, to use dyestuffs which are durable at the steaming temperature, specifically determined by the properties of the fiber stock to be treated; for instance in polyesters, as high as 170 C., when a possible maximum processing speed is to be realized.

As examples of suitable dyestuffs, conventional cationic dyestuffs such as Sevron (Du Pont), Astrazon (Bayer A. G.), Cathilon (Hodogaya Chemical Works, Hodogaya, Japan) may be used for dyeing acrylic fibers or yarns. For polyester fibers or yarns, conventional dispersed dyes may well be used.

When tows of non-twisted filaments are processed according to the conventional technique, considerable difficulties will be encountered by the very presence of substantial fiutfs and frequent filament breakage which are normally brought about during the processing, take-out and rearrangement stage of the tow. When relying upon the present improved process, the above problems may be substantially obviated.

According to the present invention, the quantity of liquid take-up by the filament stock after squeezing is regulated to be at a possible minimum so that a transfer of the taken-up solution among the filaments or yarns during passage through the several processing steps does not take place to any appreciable degree which leads to the suppression of generation of otherwise possible uneven dyeing as hereinbefore mentioned.

Although in the foregoing description, the present invention has been directed toward a dyeing technique, in practice, however, the invention is not limited only thereto. The present process may equally be applied to other various treatments such as scouring, bleaching, and/ or the like processing modes, so far as a liquid treatment as well as steaming of continuous fibrous stock is to be performed.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of substantially one embodiment by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a plant where the straight line pipe autoclave is adapted as an example of the autoclaves available for use in this invention for carrying out the process of the present invention and constituting part of the present specification,

as well as the several preferred numerical examples to be set forth hereinafter.

Referring now to the drawings, especially FIGS. 1A- IC and 2A-2D, an embodiment of a line processing plant adapted for the practice of the present process will be described in detail.

In this plant, there is provided an elongated base frame, generally shown at 10, on which two series of corrugated and openable carton board containers 11-16 and 17-22 are slidably mounted. For simplicity purposes in the drawing, only the exterior configuration of these containers is shown in chain-dotted lines, except that the configuration denoted in FIG. 1B which is in operating position together with its companion container 21 which belongs to the container series adjacent the series including container 15, the latter being shown in FIG. 1B in a more concrete form and partially in section. Containers 11-15 and 17-21 each contain a crimped filament tow, while those shown at 16 and 22 are empty since the tows originally 6 contained therein have been removed for the processing according to this invention.

A tow is being taken out from container 15 from its packaged mass 15', said tow being shown only by a single line at 23 although its practical overall denier amounts generally to 300,000-500,000 denier. Naturally, a similar tow is being taken out from companion container 21. Of course, the number of tows being simultaneously and parallely processed can be increased to any selected more numerous value, such as ten, In the following description, only one tow, taken from container 15, will be referred to for simplicity of description and without prejudice to a better understanding of the present invention.

The upwardly drawn-out tow 23 is passed around a plurality of (five such guide bars being used as an example) zigzag-arranged stationary guide bars 24-28, each having, for example, a diameter of 20 mm., said bars being supported between a pair of separately and rigidly mounted supporting plates 29 and 30 (see FIG. 2C) on the upper part of an overhead frame, generally shown at 31 in FIG. 1C. In FIG. 1B, the front supporting plate 29 has been omitted from the drawing for a clear representation of said bars.

There are provided two separated groups of stationary guide bars 32-34 and 35-37 rigidly mounted on supporting plates 40, 41 and 42, 43 on the upper part of frame 31 (see FIG. 2D) respectively, each group of said guide bars being zigzag arranged in a similar way to the first guide group 24-28. It has been found that by passing the tow through these guide bar groups, each time in a zigzag and alternating way, the tow is transformed into or developed into a flattened fibrous layer of about 10,000- 30,000 denier per 10 millimeters of width, whereby the original crimps are substantially straightened, as is supposed from the schematic representation at 38 in FIGS. 2A-2'D upon passage through the first tow flattening and straightening stage using the guide bars 24-28. The second guide bar group 32-34 and the third group 35-37 naturally constitute, respectively, further tow flattening and straightening stages. As described above, guide bars 32-34 and 35-37 are rigidly mounted on respective pairs of mounting plates 40, 41 and 42, 43, as shown in FIG. 2D. In 'FIGS. LB and 1C, however, side mounting plates 29, 40 and 42 have been omitted for a clearer representation in the drawing. Each group of guide-bars used to flatten and straighten the fibrous stock may be replaced by an assembly of bars capable of changing their arrangement.

The Ifibrous layer emerging at 39 from the third stage is then conveyed downwards to the nip line formed between a pair of pinch rollers 143 and 44, having each an outside diameter of 225 mm., for example, and being forcedly driven at a common rotational speed between -95 r.p.m., by way of example.

The driving means for the pinch rollers 143 and 44 comprises an independent electric motor 48 and conventional transmission means 49 as schematically shown in FIG. 2D.

The fibrous layer 45 is then conveyed upwardly as shown in FIG. 1C to further stationary guide bars 46 and 47, preferably of 30 mm. diameter, and rigidly mounted on the overhead part of frame 31, and then introduced into the top of a hollow steaming cylinder 50 which is rigidly mounted on the frame 31.

As is schematically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the steaming cylinder or stretcher 50 has a rectangular configuration when seen in plane view ('FIG. 3) and is provided with a diverging inlet piece 51 and a converging outlet piece 52 at its upper and lower ends, respectively. In close proximity to the lower end, the cylinder 50 is connected with steam pipe 53 fitted with an adjustable valve 54, a drain discharge pipe 55 outgoing from the bottom of said cylinder and an on-off control valve 56 titted in discharge pipe 55, as is schematically shown in FIG. 4.

The fibrous layer 45 is introduced under tension into cylinder 50 through inlet piece the interior space of said cylinder being filled with steam at atmospheric pressure and at nearly 100 C. The fibrous layer is stretched substantially by 3-10% during steaming within the cylinder to remove residual crimps and bends, and taken out from the cylinder through outlet piece 52. The condensate of the treating steam condensed on the inside cylinder wall is accumulated in the bottom part of the cylinder space and finally discharged through drain pipe 55 to a certain drainage, not shown. At this step, care must be paid not to contaminate the stock too much with the condensate.

The thus-steamed fibrous layer stoc-k at 5 7 is then passed over a stationary guide bar 58 which is rigidly mounted on the frame 31, and conveyed through a nip line between a further pair of pinch rollers 59 and 60 rotatably mounted on bed frame 178. These rollers may be of similar design and arrangement as rollers 143 and 44, yet being driven at a common rotational speed of preferably 88-98 r.p.m. The delivered stock is then dipped into a vat bath contained within container vessel 63 (see FIG. 1C) upon passage around stationary bar 61 and by passage around a further guide bar 62 which is rigidly supported in the vessel and dipped in the bath. .This vessel is rigidly mounted on base frame 178, although the mounting means have been omitted for simplicity. The bath liquid may be of any kind of treating liquid as occasion may desire, but in the present embodiment the bath consists of a pool of a dyeing solution prepared for padding.

The thus-vetted fibrous layer stock 64 is passed upwardly and in a zigzag way through two groups of stationary bar guides, 65-69 and 70-75, each being preferably of 20 mm. diameter. The uppermost bars 69 and "75 may be, however, replaced by freely rotatable rollers, each being preferably of 100 mm, diameter, and freely rotatable, the rotating speed being from 200 to 216 r.p.m.

The thus-evenly padded fibrous stock is then passed around a freely rotatable roller 76 which may be of 100 mm. diameter and fed to the nip line formed between a pair of powerful squeezing rollers 77 and 78 which each have a diameter of 300 mm., for example, and are forcedly driven at 66-73 r.p.m. The squeezing pressure is so regulated that the fibrous stock having passed through said nip line may take up the predetermined quantity of the treating liquid.

The squeezed-out liquid is conveyed inversely along the traveling fibrous stock back into the vat bath in a counter flow mode and generally in the form of a stream and mixed with the liquid which is being conveyed by the upwardly traveling fibrous stock. Therefore, in advance of the squeezing operation, the stock is supplied with a sufiicient quantity of the treating liquid for assuring an even and sufiicient supply of the liquid to the traveling stock which is, upon squeezing, conveyed in a zigzag way through a plurality of stationary guide bars 79-84 arranged generally in a horizontal line on the upper part of mounting frame 87 (see FIG. 1C) which may be, however, united into one common frame with that denoted 31, if necessary. The frame 87 mounts said several constituent members 61, 65-84. Several preferred guide bars such as at 80-82 may be replaced by freely rotatable rollers called dancer rollers each of which generally has a diameter of 100 mm. and a rotational speed of 200- 216 r.p.m. These stationary guide bars are bent longitudinally to a certain extent so as to converge the constituent fibers of the fed fibrous stock from the squeezing rollers 77 and 78 and arranged in the form of parallel continuous filaments, into a tow-like fiber bundle.

This bundle at 88 is conveyed substantially vertically downward and then turned in its traveling direction substantially 90 by passage through a pair of guide rollers and 86, each having a diameter of 20 mm. and being driven preferably at 100-110 r.p.m., and finally fed to the inlet or right-hand end 891: of a steam-processing pipe autoclave 89, having a considerable length such as 50 meters and being arranged horizontally and preferably along the longitudinal axis of base frames 10 and 178 which may be united into a common frame when necessary.

The steam-processing pipe autoclave 89' is shown more in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, especially at its inlet and outlet ends. At the inlet, a converging mouth piece 90 is rigidly connected with the outer end of an inlet pipe -91, the inner end of the latter being connected with a stock pressurizing and sealing device, generally shown at 92. This device 92 is a kind of nozzle valve such as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,954,687, granted Oct. 4, 1960 to M. Yazawa and M. Arakawa. Therefore, reference should be had to the disclosed prior US. patent, especially in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively thereof, and the related parts of the specification, when necessary. Although only one inlet nozzle valve 92 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the number may be increased to 3-5, as exemplarily represented at the end of the autoclave 89 concerning the stock pressurizing and sealing means -102 for stock outlet. The cross-sectional configuration of the pressure sealing means may be elliptical or flattened-rectangular, but it is more preferable that it be circular.

The inlet pipe 91 is connected at its inlet end, having inserted therein nozzle valve 92, with an extension 91a which extends into the interior space of the steaming piping 89, and an inlet for steam supply is positioned at 103. Due to the pressurizing and sealing means at the inlet, the steam leaking through the sealing means in countercurrent mode to the fibrous stock being introduced drives out the air entrained in the stock almost completely, and the steam inside the autoclave becomes substantially in the saturated condition. This fact enables one to regulate the temperature of the processing steam by only the regulating pressure thereof inside of the autoclave. At the inner end of pipe element 89a there is provided a group of drawing rollers 104, and 106 (see FIG. 1C) for receiving the fibrous stock in the form of a tow and for delivering the latter to the next pipe element 89b. Then, the fibrous round tow is delivered further through an expansion joint 107 (FIG. 1B) and an inspecting hole chamber with a steam trap valve 108 to the outlet end of the final piping element 89d after passage through pipe element 890 and 89d. Drawing rollers 104-106 are driven from an independent electric motor 109 and a transmission means 110, as schematically shown in FIG. 2. Rollers 104-106 each have a diameter of 225 mm., as an example, and are rotated at 88-98 r.p.m. and contained in the housing 111 from which the accumulated drain is drawn out through a drain discharge valve 112. The number of expansion joint housings with an inspecting hole and a steam trap valve, such as chamber 108, may be equally increased as desired, although not shown.

At the outlet end of piping 89, there is provided a converging mouth piece 11C: (FIG. 6) within the interior space of the piping for receiving the delivered tow-like stock in an optimum manner, the converging end of piece 113 being connected with the inner end of outlet pipe 114 which extends from inside of piping 89 through end flange 11% and a plurality of stock pressurizing and sealing devices 100-102. The design and function of these devices are similar to those of the corresponding inlet device 92.

The thus-steam-processed fibrous stock shown at 115 in FIG. 1A is conveyed to the nip line formed between a pair of take-out rollers 116 and 117 and then passed around stationary guides 118 and 119, alternately, and conveyed to overhead stationary guide '120 mounted on the top of mounting frame 121 mounted in turn on base frame 10. The rollers each have a diameter of 200 mm.,

for example, and are driven at 95-104 r.p.m. by an independent electric motor 122 through a suitable gearing 123 (FIG. 2A).

From the guide 120, the fibrous stock is delivered substantially vertically downward into a soaping bath contained in reservoir 124 fixedly mounted on frame 121, the bath liquid consisting of an aqueous mixture of a soaping agent with Water, as is commonly employed. The soaped stock 145 is passed around two stages of stationary guide bars 125-128 vertically upwards in an alternating or zigzag way and then through guides 129-132 vertically downwards in a similar way. The soaping bath may be replaced by a certain medicament solution such as that of a reducing agent, an oxidizing agent or the like. Then the fibrous stock is passed successively through a number of cleaning baths with water, said baths being contained in corresponding containers 133-135. Although only three of these baths are shown, the number may be increased as desired.

There are also provided squeezing roller pairs 140, 141; 142, 144; and 146, 147. Each roller 140, 141; 142, 144 has a diameter of 20 mm. and is driven at 95-104 r.p.m. In a similar way, each roller 146 and 147 has a diameter of 225 mm. and is driven at 84-92 r.p.m. As shown in FIG. 1A the fibrous stock is guided alternately through a number of zigzag-arranged and freely-rotatable guide rollers generally shown at 154 representatively for the cleaning bath 133.

During passage through guide bars 118-120, the fibrous stock is broadened into a thin layer of filaments so as to receive an even soaping, cleaning and the like liquid treatments. The thus-treated and cleaned fibrous layer 150 is conveyed from the final squeezing roller pair 146, 147 over a stationary guide bar 151 into oiling bath 159 by passing around guide bars 152 and 153 in the bath.

Then, the oiled fibrous layer is passed through the nip line formed between pinch rollers 148, 149 and around stationary guide bars 155-157 in a zigzag way. These members 148, 149, 155-157 are mounted on a rigid frame 158, although the mounting means have been omitted for simplicity. Bars 155-157 may be replaced by respective rollers called dancer rollers.

The fibrous layer stock thus-treated is subjected to a drying step by alternately passing around a series of steamheated drums 160-167 substantially under a constant tension. For this purpose, the drums 160-167, each having a diameter of 571.5 mm., are driven at successively reduced rotational speeds 35-31 r.p.m., in order to compensate for the developed thermal shrinkage of the fibrous stock under treatment. For comparison, it may be mentioned, the takeout rollers 116, 117, each being of 200 mm. diameter, are driven at 95-104 r.p.m. Squeezing rollers 140, 141 and 142, 144, each having a diameter of 200 mm., respectively, are driven at 95-104 r.p.m., and roller pair 146, 147, each having a diameter of 225 mm., are driven at 84-92 r.p.m., respectively. Guide bars 155-157, each having a diameter of 100 mm., may be replaced by respective similar rollers which will freely rotate at 191-207 r.p.m.

The fibrous stock thus dried is passed around freely rotatable guide rollers 168 and 169, preferably of 100 mm. diameter, and let into a humidity controlling chamber 170 vertically upwards, said chamber being shaped into a steaming cylinder in a similar manner to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The steamed fibrous layer stock is then taken out from the chamber 170 by means of a pair of pinch rollers 171 and 172, having each a diameter of 200 mm. and being driven at 85-95 r.p.m., for example, and then concentrated into a round-like tow shape by passing around a series of freely rotatable guide rollers 173-175 (FIG. 2B), each having a diameter of 100 mm. Finally, this processed round tow is Wound up by a widing roll 176. There is provided a further winding roll 177 for another parallel product.

The horizontally arranged elongated steaming pipe autoclave 89 may preferably have a diameter of 150-180 mm. for the processing of a tow having 300,000-500,000 overall denier. The processing steam is supplied preferably at both ends thereof as schematically shown at 103 and 203 in FIGS. 1C and 1A, respectively. Exhausting chambers serving to remove leaking steam and the like are schematically shown at 204 and 205 in FIGS. 1C and 1A, respectively. Alternatively, the steam may be supplied to the elongated processing autoclave substantially at the central point measured from both ends thereof, although this embodiment is not shown.

For introducing the processing fibrous stock such as that at 88 in FIG. 1C into the processing autoclave 89, it is sufficient to provide a triple roller assembly such as shown at 104-106 in FIG. 1C, which assembly is housed in the roller housing 111 which is arranged preferably at a distance of 3-10 meters measured from the inlet end. The autoclave 89 is so designed and arranged that it can expand towards both ends thereof, upon being heated by the processing steam.

It is preferable to provide a stationary bent guide bar transversely to the pipe autoclave 89 and directly at the front or behind of the roller group 104-106 to re-broaden the fibrous stock, although not shown. In case of warped yarns, a comb plate may be provided in the similar manner. For the introduction of the tow-like fibrous stock 88 into the autoclave 89, a guide wire or the bar-like member is attached to the initial end of the stock to be processed after passing through the groups of bars or roller means in the feed side and then introduced into the inlet pipe 91 through mouthpiece 90.

The roller housing 111 is fitted with an openable cover 206 which is opened in advance of said introduction. When the guide wire or rod is seen as appearing at the inside chamber of the housing, the operator grips and draws it by hand to let it pass along the steaming autoclave and let it as it goes. Then, the operator can finally catch it at the outlet end. It is further preferable to attach a somewhat elongated guide cloth band or the like more pliable guide means between the guide wire and the tow-like stock. For easy threading for this purpose, the middle feed roll is preferably arranged in a manner similar to a pivotable pinch roller as is frequently used for feeding a magnetic tape in conventional tape recorders.

When the operator can grip the tow-like stock at the roller housing 111, he must broaden the tow into the parallel arrangement of continuous filaments. Then, the opened cover 206 can be closed again.

By passing the fibrous stock made into a flattened layer from the supplied tow-like configuration through the steaming autoclave 89, the fibrous stock can be processed more evenly and more quickly than is otherwise possible. According to our experiments, the steam-processing through autoclave 89, having a travelling passage length of 50-60 meters, can be performed within about one minute which means a remarkable progress in the art.

An inspecting hole device 108, similar to that of the housing 111 and fitted with an openable cover, may be provided between the housing 111 and the outlet end of autoclave 89.

When the guide cloth band and the initial end of the fibrous stock appear at the outlet end of autoclave 89, all the supply quantities and temperatures of the supply steam at the various points of the whole plant are properly adjusted and then the regular operation thereof is initiated.

In the autoclave, along a distance several meters from the inlet where the fibrous stock is not completely processed, it is preferable to provide a long, steeply topped roof over the travelling stock for the purpose of preventing the stock from other possible contamination which is caused by drops of steam condensate occasionally falling down from the upper inside wall of the autoclave,

although not shown. A large number of guide bars having regular interval distances, preferably such as 1-2 meters, are provided transversely within the autoclave and near the bottom thereof for avoiding possible contact of the fibrous stock under treatment with the steam condensate accumulated underneath. These guide bars may be of about 3 mm. in diameter. When such contact should occur, the fibrous stock may be considerably con- Laminated.

It may frequently happen that partially warped filaments or yarns are processed in place of a tow. In this case, the filaments or yarns are taken out from rolled stock 207, 207, as shown schematically in FIG. 7 through any one of guide bars or rollers 208 by a pair of feeding pinch rollers 209, 210, thence being conveyed to the pinch roller pair 143, 44, in FIG. 1C. Further processing may be carried into effect as in the aforementioned way. hi this modified processing, however, most of the guide bars may preferably be replaced by corresponding warping combs and the whole processing steps then completed, the processed products being in the form of partially warped filament layers.

In the position of small exhausting chambers 204 and 205, corresponding hoods may be arranged so as to discharge unpleasant gases which may develop during the processing through the autoclave 89 leaking at the inlet and outlet ends thereof. These gases may comprise gases of acetic acid used as dyeing additive, or from a bleaching agent such as NaClO Although not shown for simplicity, the padding bath vessel 63 is fed with a metered quantity of dyeing solution from a conventional metering pump.

For removing fouling deposits from the working parts of the plant shown in case of, for instance, color changing, it is preferable to pass a cleaning cloth band therethrough several times after impregnating them with a cleaning liquid and water. In this Way, the fouling deposits can be effectively removed, especially from the elongated steaming pipe autoclave 89.

In the steaming cylinder shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the introduced steam impinges upon the outer peripheral surface of the cone-shaped outlet mouthpiece 52, so that any steam condensate formed is not directly sprayed upon the outgoing fibrous stock. Due to this feature, the filaments can be processed with the quality of the products being superior.

Additionally, the travelling direction may equally be reversed, or more specifically, the fibrous stock may be conveyed vertically upwards. The degree of stretching realizable during passage through the cylinder 50 may vary from 3% to 10% in the case of tows, yet the stretching may be 2-5% in the case of treatment of partially Warped continuous filaments. The steaming temperature may be 100 C., or so under atmospheric pressure.

In the processing in cylinder 50, caution must be paid to prevent any contact of steam condensate with the processing stock, as was briefly referred to hereinabove. For this purpose, cone-shaped inlet piece 51 is provided to prevent this contact to a substantial degree. The condensate deposited on this piece is guided to flow along the inside and outside cone surfaces to the upper part of the cylindrical inside wall surface of the steaming stretcher 50, and then therealong to the condensate pool formed in the inside bottom of the processing cylinder, together with the newly deposited steam condensate on the inside cylinder surface. As was referred to above, the accumulated condensate is discharged through drain pipe 55 upon opening of the on-off control valve 56.

The stretcher cylinder 50 may be arranged horizontally if a certain modification has been employed. However, in this case, caution is necessary to avoid the occasional deposit of steam condensate on the processing stock. As an example, the fibrous stock travelling through the cylinder may be guarded with a steep cover plate arranged substantially horizontally and above the stock so as to guide any developed condensate on the cylinder, although not shown. A minor quantity of condensate adsorbed by the fibrous mass to raise the temperature thereof does not adversely affect the fibrous mass to an appreciable degree. However, a considerable amount of condensate deposited on and adsorbed by the fibrous stock will deteriorate the composition of the dyeing solution at the very spot where the absorbed water is remaining, resulting in an uneven coloring of the products.

The process according to this invention can be applied to various fibrous materials such as artificial and natural fibers. Especially, it is advantageous to treat artificial filaments, especially filament tows, such as those of regenerated cellulose; synthetic fibers of polyester, nylon, polyacrylonitrile, polyolefin, Vinylon, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene, fluorine-containing polymers, acetates or the like; yarns composed of natural fibers, or a mixture of natural and artificial fibers; partially warped filament bundles, split fiber yarn bundles of various synthetic polymers and/ or the like.

The process according to this invention is not limited to the scouring, bleaching and/ or dyeing of fibers, yarns or the like fibrous stock. It is also applicable to other various after-treatments of the aforementioned fibrous stocks.

The main step in the processing of the fibrous stock, i.e., passing it through the steaming autoclave 89, when the fibers are composed of a thermoplastic polymer, may be carried out with the highest possible temperature saturated steam by which the loosening of the molecular orientation which results does not adversely affect the intended practical use of the final products, since the main processing period through the autoclave extends for only a short time, such as 30-60 seconds. For instance, polyester fibers can generally be treated with steam of C. Fibers of a copolymer containing acrylonitrile as its main component may be treated at 130-140 C. Nylon is preferably processed at 130-160' C. The temperature thus specified can be set by regulating only the inside steam pressure of the autoclave, as aforementioned. For the treatment of such thermoplastic fibers as above described, the feed-in rollers 104-106 may be arranged nearer to the inlet end of the autoclave 89 than specified above. This means will allow the treating fibrous stock to pass without substantial adverse effects through the inlet pressurizing and sealing means even with a considerable inlet resistance because it travels into the autoclave against the pressure inside through the limited passage at the inlet while the stock is not heated up as much. The feed-in triple rollers arranged in a trilobate may be naturally replaced by other kinds of feed roller arrangements known per se.

The following several preferred numerical examples are given for a better understanding of the present invention. Parts are given by weight when not otherwise specified.

Example 1.Two series of commercially available packages each of which contains 100 kgs. of a crimped filament tow, 500,000 denier, of acrylonitrile series synthetic fibers named Cashmilon manufactured and sold by a Japanese firm, Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, of Osaka, Japan, were placed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the tows were taken out from the packages and each broadened to a fibrous layer stock in the aforementioned way to a width of 250 mm, viz., 20,000 denier per 10 mm. of width under tension so as to straighten the bearing crimps. Then, the stock was stretched by 4% in the course of passage through the steam stretching cylinder whereby the stock was in a perfectly straightened and parallel condition and then conveyed to the dyeing aqueous bath 63 in FIG. 1, said bath, 10 liters in volume, containing 1.5% of Cathilon Red BLH; 5.4% of Cathilon Red 7BNH: 3.9% of Cathilon Yellow 3GLH; 2.5% of acetic acid; and 1.0% of a conventional tailing agent. These chemical agents were perfectly dissolved. After passage through the padding bath, the fibrous stock was taken out therefrom and then passed in a generally vertical and zigzag shaped guide passage for improving the even distribution of the padded solution among the constituent filaments which were then passed through a pair of squeezing rollers such as those at 77, 78 shown in FIG. 1(C), under a pressure of 100 kgs. per cm. as measured along their nip line. The take-up liquid quantity amounted to about 40% relative to the dry weight of the processing tow. Then, the fibrous stock was gradually concentrated into a round tow form, the travelling direction being changed generally by 180 degrees, and introduced into an inlet pipe provided with an adjustable pressurizing and sealing device. The front half of this inlet pipe had a bore of 13.5 mm., while the rear half thereof had a bore of 12 mm., the overall length of the pipe amounting to about 1 meter. Thence, the round tow was led into an elongated steaming pipe autoclave such as shown at 89 in FIGS. 1 and 2, having a bore of 160 mm. and a length of 60 meters and being arranged horizontally as was referred to above. The piping was fed with steam at 134 C. In close proximity to the triple feed rollers and in advance thereof, a bent transverse bar was provided for flattening the fed round tow to a width of about 120 mm., the introduction speed of the round tow amounting to 63 meters per minute. The steamed fibrous stock was reconcentrated into a round tow in close proximity to the outlet end of said steaming autoclave so as to make the take-out of the stock easier. The take-out rollers such as at 116, 117 in FIG. 1A were driven so as to catch and deliver the outgoing round tow at a speed of 60 meters per minute and in a loosened condition.

The stock was broadened again and then conveyed to a soaping bath such as that shown at 124 in FIG. 1(A), and passed through a zigzag-shaped travelling passage, whereby the tow was flattened to a width of 400450 mm., the general travelling direction being changed substantially by 180 degrees. In this way, the flattened fibrous stock was passed through two successive soaping baths, at 60 C., and through four successive rinsing baths, and squeezed so as to remove excess liquid.

The fibrous stock was oiled, and then dried by passing the same over a plurality of steam-heated drier drums such as those at 160-167 in FIG. 1(A). Then, the humidity of the stock was regulated by passing it through a steaming cylinder such as that shown at 170 in FIG. 1(A).

The thus-processed stock was then wound up by a bobbin while inserting a polyethylene film therebetween so as to provide each time a bundle of the stock consiting of substantially parallel continuous filament layers and amounting generally to 100 kgs. The dyed color tow was scarlet red and brilliant. The fastness of its color was of the fifth class, which means the highest one.

Example 2.Two commercially available crimped tows of polyester filaments, 300,000 overall denier, were taken out from their respective packages and broadened as before so as to have a width of 200 mm. and then subjected to a 4% stretch by passage through a steam stretching cylinder, thus providing parallel-disposed constituent filaments. Then, the fibrous layer stock was passed through a padding vat consisting of an aqueous solution containing:

1 1 Percent Resoline Blue-FBL (disperse dyestuif) 1.8 Amacron Orange LS (disperse dyestufi') 6 Disper TL (dispersant) 0.1

After squeezing, the liquid take-up amounted to 38%. Then, the fibrous stock further treated as before was introduced into an inlet piping, having bores of 13 mm., and mm., respectively, at its front and rear halves, the overall length of the pipe being 1 meter as before.

The stock was introduced into a steaming autoclave as before and taken out therefrom. The autoclave was fed 14 with saturated steam of C. The taken-out stock was led to a bath containing:

The thus-treated stock was passed through a zigzag passage so as to broaden the stock to a width of about 300 mm., the general travelling direction being changed by substantially degrees, the reducing treatment being carried out by means of two successive reducing baths, thence the stock being passed through two successive soaping baths and four successive rinsing baths one after another. The further necessary treatments such as oiling, drying, humidity-conditioning and winding-up operations were being carried into effect as before.

In this way, a substantially parallel arrangement of continuous polyester filaments was obtained. The color tone was a deep brown and excellent. The dyed quality was the best.

With the use of a modified arrangement shown in FIG. 7, wherein the rotational speeds of several sets of frictionally feeding rollers set such as at 209, 210 in place of a pair of pinching rollers were set to speed higher than the travelling speed of the two employed in FIG. 1, four tows, each being of 300,000 denier, were processed. At first, each set consisting of two tows was connected with each other by a leading cloth strip, respectively. The arrangement was so adjusted that two sets of the thus parallel-connected tows had substantially equal tension at the delivery side of the pinch roller pair 44, 143. Two sets of these tows were mechanically broadened so as to have a width of 300400- mm. Further processing modes were similar as before, except that two parallel steaming pipe autoclaves were employed instead of one and the cross-sectional area of the sealing means was increased about twice in comparison with the foregoing example. The final products delivered from the steaming autoclaves were separated into four stocks as they were before processing. In this way, four wound-up bobbins were provided. The output capacity of the plant was doubled, and no difiiculty was encountered.

Example 3.-500 cotton yarns, count 30, about 180 denier, were partially warped. These yarns had been incorporated with several weft yarns at both ends during the warping operation for preventing the warped condition from being disturbed when unwinding. Six bobbins, each being wound-up with such partially warped yarns, were placed in parallel and the leading part of a lead cloth was cut in an oblong triangle to be easily caught by the nip rollers and joined with the initial end of each of the six warped yarns laid in parallel along the out line of the cloth without disturbing the warped configuration of the yarns. After accomplishing the abovedescribed preparatory operations, the parallel stocks taken out from these bobbins were fed from several pairs of preliminarily processing rollers 208410, and supplied through pinch roller 44, 143 in FIG. 7 into the stretcher cylinder 50. The degree of stretching was selected to 2%. In this way, the yarns were neatly prepared and kept in an equally lined-up condition with each other. Inherent irregularities were removed as much as possible substantially to their ideal condition. The steamed and stretched yarn bands delivered from the cylinder 50 each had a width of 300 mm. Then, they were padded with a solution of NaClO- so as to pick up thereby 1.5% of the chemical agent. One band of the thus-padded yarns was then passed through an elongated and horizontally mounted steaming pipe autoclave heated at 130 C. with saturated steam for carrying out an effective bleaching. All the pipings were made of titanium. The yarn band thus treated was then subjected to broadening, washing and drying steps successively as before.

The broadened and yarn-parallel band was then passed through a padding bath so as to pick up 2% of Sirius Supra Blue-'BRL direct dye relative to the yarn weight After mangling, the padded yarn band was passed through the second steaming pipe autoclave kept at 150 C. Further processing modes were as before. In this way, the yarns were dyed to a brilliant blue color tone. The products were wound up on six separate bobbins, each wound yarn bundle being attached with a polyethylene film as before. The products could be easily warped again.

With the use of NaClO the bleaching was performed simultaneously with scouring. The preparatory treated yarns in the above-mentioned manner were highly ready for dyeing so that the otherwise difficult development of an intermediate or lighter color tone could be easily brought about.

Cotton yarns are generally scoured by means of a NaOH-solution in advance of the padding step. With the use of the aforementioned apparatus shown in the drawings, the yarns may be treated with a S%-NaOH solution preliminarily and then the padded yarns may be steamed at 140-150 C. with the use of the steaming autoclave 80. In this way, the scouring may be carried out, indeed, within only one minute.

In a similar manner as above stated, a continuous operation for scouring and dyeing may be performed in two stages in the same processing plant shown and described hereinbefore.

What is claimed is:

1. A high speed high temperature heating process for fibrous stock in tow form comprising continuous filaments or yarns, said process comprising subjecting said stock successively to the following steps before introducing the stock into a high temperature and pressure saturated steaming zone through pressure sealing means;

(a) broadening and straightening the stock to form an even flat layer consisting of parallel-arranged fibrous stock of 10,000 to 30,000 denier per 10 millimeter of Width;

(b) stretching the fibrous stock in steam to a length beyond the straightened length of the stock under a positive tension, the constitutent filaments or yarns of said stock being arranged in a parallel condition;

() passing the stock in a similar condition as above through a padding bath;

(d) squeezing excess liquid from the resulting padded stock; and

(e) concentrating the resulting flattened fibrous stock into a round tow state.

2. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein fibrous stock consisting of a crimped tow or tows is stretched from 3 to 10% under a positive tension in steam of nearly C. under atmospheric pressure, allowing a minor and an even wetting of said stock by the steam condensate generated during stretching prior to passing the stock through the padding bath.

3. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein fibrous stock consisting of warped yarns is stretched from 2 to 5% under a positive tension in steam of nearly 100 C. under atmospheric pressure, allowing a m'mor and an even wetting of said stock by the steam condensate generated during stretching, prior to passing the stock through the padding bath.

4. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the padding bath is supplied with a dyeing solution in order to dye the stock.

5. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the padding bath is supplied with a bleaching solution in order to bleach the stock.

6. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the padding bath is supplied with a scouring solution in order to scour the stock.

7. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the padding bath is supplied with a chemical reagent solution in order to treat the stock chemically.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,010 12/1953 Emerson 68-5 D 2,954,687 10/1960 Yazawa et al. 68-5 E 3,175,375 3/1965 Yazawa et al. a"--- 685 E 3,213,470 10/1965 Yazawa et a1. 68--5 D. 3,241,343 3/1966 Yazawa 685 E LOUIS K. RIMRODT, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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