GB1029872A - Method and apparatus for the treatment of fibres - Google Patents

Abstract

Wool fibres are aged by applying heat and/or moisture e.g steam, to at least one continuously moving sliver or top e.g. as delivered from a carding-engine, gill-box or combing machine, collecting the treated sliver under controlled tension and storing it to obtain a desired stress relaxation or strain recovery in the fibres. The sliver may be collected in a ball under sufficient tension to maintain a low crimp level, or under minimum tension in a can wherein it is stored for sufficient time to permit contraction of the fibres. In one apparatus, Fig. 1 (not shown) oil and combed wool top A is fed by back rollers 1 into fallers 2 of an intersecting gill-box and emerge through front drafting rollers 3 one of which is covered by a leather apron 4 tensioned by roller 5. The normal passage under a guide bar 6, through trumpet condenser 7 to winding rollers 8 which form a crosswound cylindrical package or ball, is interrupted by passage of the sliver through a guide 11 (which narrows the sliver) and a curved guide 12 on to, and one or more turns or paths over or around, a rotating perforated drum 10 through which air and/or steam is passed radially inwards or outwards and through the sliver. A fan (not shown) may circulate air through the drum and sliver, its path being restricted by a baffle plate 15. The precise speed of the drum is adjusted so that the sliver between rollers 3 and the drum is maintained under a constant low tension. The drum &c. is housed in a box 16 which retains the hat humid air in the fan circulating system and from which condensate is drained. Sliver led off the drum by a guide 13 is adjustably tensioned. The apparatus of Fig. 2 (not shown) may be substituted for the drum 10 and comprises a trumpet (replacing trumpet 7 shown in Fig. 1) the portion 21 of which is rotated. A, or the, stationary ring(s) 22 or/and 23 is/are supplied with steam &c. from pipe(s) 24 or/and 25 and comprise passages 26 and 27 to allow manifold access to the sliver. Adjustable tension control is effected by a spring clip 32 exerting pressure on a slidable block 28 pressing on sliver A which passes over a fixed block 31.