ES344634A1 - Textile crimping - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of folding textile fibres comprises continuously holding and advancing an unfolded strand or layer of textile fibres at a first speed to a folding zone and continuously holding and conveying the folded strand or layer between a pair of spaced surfaces away from the folding zone at a second speed slower than the first, the location of release of the unfolded strand or layer being so close to the intake to the spaced surfaces, and the folding zone being thereby so small, that the strand or layer is folded at the intake to the spaced surfaces into simple folds or waves having an amplitude determined by the spacing between the spaced surfaces, the second speed being related to the first speed in accordance with the amplitude and pitch of the folds or waves. The fibres may be fed to the folding zone between a conveyor belt and a second belt or a plate, the belt or each belt passing around a roller or guide of small radius at the entry to the folding zone. Similarly the spaced surfaces may be formed by two belts or one belt and a plate which may be a continuation of the feed plate. The spaced surfaces may pass the fibres through a steaming zone followed by a drying zone to set the folds. A setting agent, e.g. an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or ammonium sulphite or bisulphite, may be applied to the folded or unfolded fibres. The strand may be a sliver, or a plied yarn which receives a sinusoidal crimp or the plies of which may separate and form helices or become kinked. The fibres may be of wool, or nylon, cellulose acetate or polyethylene terephthalate. A pile fabric may be formed by passing a crimped strand or a spaced array of strands onto the surface of a backing fabric coated with latex adhesive, or between two such fabrics and slitting the sandwich thus formed to form two pile fabrics.