GB2147619A - Friction spinning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve the spinning results the yarn formation zone (121) is separated from a yarn consolidation zone (123). The yarn consolidation zone (123) is situated in the line of closest mutual approach of the friction elements (5, 6) or in a triangular space commencing at the line of the closest mutual approach. The yarn formation zone (121) is situated closest to the entry point of the material in its flow through the system and extends outside the longitudinal axis of the yarn consolidation zone (123). Between the yarn formation zones (121) and the yarn consolidation zone (123) there is a curvilinear transition zone (43). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Friction spinning apparatus The invention relates to a friction spinning apparatus in accordance with the specification of claim 1.

In known friction spinning apparatus, the possibility of exerting influence is confined to the yarn structure and to the overall spinning result The object of the invention isto improve the spinning result and to create conditions for better influencing oftheyarn structure.

This object is achieved by the characteristic features ofclaim 1.

Feeding ofthefibrestakes place, as a general rule, in the yarn formation zone. This does not exclude, however, that part of the fibres can be fed into the transition zone and/or into the yarn consolidation zone, in ordertoform the structure of the outside layers of the yarn there. On principle, however, the formation ofthe yarn, and particularly the beginning ofthe formation of the yarn end, should be separate from the actual consolidation of the yarn, so that influence can be exerted separately on the areas of yarn formation and on the areas of yarn consolidation, and furthermore also on the transition area.

A description of preferable forms of the invention is given in the sub-claims.

For example, the suction apertures are preferably directed at the yarn formation zone and at the yarn consolidation zone. The result of this is that the yarn in process of formation in the yarn formation zone is held pneumatically and kept in contactwith the friction element. The same thing happens in the subsequent yarn consolidation zone to the yarn which has yet to be consolidated and improved. The suction apertures can have the form of elongated slits, a row of individual slits, or a row of individual holes. A proven and simple form ofthe suction apertures is the form of an elongated slit.

For the purpose of separately influencing the different zones of yarn formation and of yarn consolidation it is of advantage for the suction aperture or apertures of a first suction device to be directed at the yarn formation zone, and forthe suction aperture or apertures of a second suction deviceto be directed at the yarn consolidation zone. This arrangement pro vides fortwo suction devices which are separate from each other so that the vacuum can be set and adjusted differently.

The efficiency of the friction spinning machine can be improved considerably and the yarn production can be doubled without any appreciable additional expenditure if, in accordance with a further form ofthe invention, a yarn formation zone, a transition zone and a yarn consolidation zone are provided on each side of a pairffriction elementssothattwoyarnsare formed. One of these yarns is then formed on the one sicte,the other yarn on the other side of a pair of friction elements. In this system, a fibre feeding device is provided for each of these yarns. Asa general rule, separate withdrawing devices will also have to be provided for each ofthe yarns thus produced; however these yarns can also bewithdmwn together and can, for example, be twistedtogether at the same time.

As a variation of the idea set forth last herein before, a yarn formation zone and a transition zone can be provided on each side of a pair of friction elements, with the two transition zones, however, passing into one common yarn consolidation zone forforming one yarn from two yarn ends that have already been formed separately. The aim of this is the formation of one yarn, the component yarn ends of which can be influenced separately before they are combined, while it is also possible to influence the final yarn itself and the way in which it is formed. For example, the yarn can be composed of different fibre components having different colours.According to the length of theyarn formation zone in relation to the length of the transition zone and oftheyarn consolidation zone, the yarn formed is more in the nature of a single yarn or more in the nature of a plied yarn.

The invention offers the advantage that the forma- tionoftheyarncan begin at point,wherethe adjacent friction element does notyet participate in its formation orthe twisting-in of the fibres. Thus, the feeding ofthefibres can be carried out remote from narrow places in the system, and therefore there is more room for accommodating yarn feeding devices.

The yarn produced in the new apparatus need not necessarily be formed exclusively from fibres fed to it in opened condition. It is also possible to use a core yarn round which the fibres are wrapped.

The core yarn can be a spun yarn or a yarn consisting of one or several filaments. The term "core yarn" should not be interpreted too narrowly; what is meant is a yarn to which in one way or other can be added fibres additionally fed into the system. To make this possible,thefriction spinning device is preferably provided with at least one core yarn feeding device for at least one ofthe yarns.

Unlike the spinning fibres, the core yarn which is added need not necessarily pass through the yarn formation zone and the transition zone. It can possibly be fed directly into the yarn consolidation zone.

The idea underlying the invention makes it now possible to design the friction elements in such a way that ample space is availableforfibrefeeding devices and, possibly, core yarn feeding devices. Preferably, the friction elements of a pair of elements, for example, can be designed bottle-shaped, with the yarn formation zone situated atthe bottleneck, the yarn consolidation zone at the bottle belly and the transition zone in the region ofchange-overatthe part from bottleneck to bottle belly. As the circumferential speed ofthe bottleneck is different from that of the bottle belly, the twisting-in ofthe fibres starts slowly, whereas the actual twisting of the yarn is carried out at asomewhatgreaterspeed in the yard consolidation zone.

In consistent pursuance oftheidea underlying the invention, the different zones can also be situated on separate pairs of friction elements. According to a furtherform of the invention, a first pair of friction elements therefore contains the yarn formation zone ond a second pair of friction elements the yarn consolidation zone.

Each pair offriction elements can contain part ofthe transition zone on each element. Each ofthesepairs of friction elements can operate at different circumfemn- tial speeds.

Following on from this concept, a furtherform ofthe invention provides that an aggregate of three friction elements is used, comprising a left-hand friction element, a middlefrictionelementanda right-hand friction element The yarn formation zones are then assigned to this aggregate of three friction elements.

In this arrangement, a first yarn formation zone can preferably be situated between the left-hand and the middle friction elements, and a second yarn formation zone between the middle and the right-hand friction elements.

Whilethisarrangementwouldseemto becompli- cated, it constitutes in actual fact a simplification, and moreover, as all three friction elements revolve in the same direction, so that they can conceivably be operated from a common drive. This aggregate of three friction elements can preferably be combined with a subsequent pair of friction elements situated closest to the exit point of the material in its flow through the system, and which containthoyarn consolidation zone, or consolidation zones if two yarns are required to be produced.

Preferably, the friction elements of the friction spinning apparatus should have their respective axes longitudinally aligned, if such is feasible. Provision for this is made in a furtherform ofthe invention, in which the left-hand friction element ofthe aggregate of three friction elements and the left-hand friction element of the pair of friction elements are rotatable about the same axis, and the right-hand friction element ofthe aggregate of three friction elements and the righthand friction element ofthe pair of friction elements are rotatable about the same axis.

Here it is preferablethatthefriction elements of the pair offriction elements have a larger outside diameterthan the two outerfriction elements ofthe aggregate of three friction elements. For one thing, such arrangement allows that the three friction elements of the aggregate ofthreefriction elements are co-planar; for another, it is of advantage anyway thatthose friction elements which contain the yarn consolidating zone lies, rotate ata highercircumferential speed than the elements, which contain the yarn formation zones.

Following on from the concept of designing the individual friction element in the shape of a bottle, the bottle-shape is of advantage even when two friction elements, which can be operated from separate drives at different circumferential speeds, are arranged one behind the other in the direction oftheir axis. The overall contour of the two elements together can also have the advantageous shape of a bottle.Accordingly, afurtherform of the invention provides that the friction elements that are rotatable about the same axis are cylindrical for most of their length and that the parts ofthe friction elements adjacent to one another are shaped according to a transitional curve so that the two elements together have the overall shape of a bottle with the transition zone being in the region of the neck, partly on the friction element of the pair of friction elements and partly on the friction elementof the aggregate ofth ree friction elements.

Embodiments ofthe inventions are illustrated in the drawings.Adetailedexplanation and description of the invention by reference to these embodiments is given hereinafter.

Fig. 1 shows schematically an example of a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view ofthe friction element of the example of a first embodiment ofthe invention.

Fig. 3 shows an example oaf second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view af an example of a third embodiment ofthe invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of details ofthe example of a third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view the example of a fourth embodiment ofthe invention.

Fig. 7 is a sideelevation of the example of afifth embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a friction spinning apparatus 1 with juxtaposed rotation-symmetrical friction elements 5,6 which rotate in the same direction. The friction elements are mounted in such a way that they are rotatable,the method of mounting not being illustrated here, and are provided with belt pulleys 13,14 forthe purpose of rotational drive. As shown in Fig. 2, driving belt 19 goes round the belt pulley 13 and a driving belt 20 goes round the belt pulley 14. The friction element 5 has a surface 23 which is perforated all round,thefriction element 6 has a surface 24 which is perforated all round.

The friction elements 5,6 are symmetrical with respectto rotation. In the examples presented here, the friction elements are cylindrical or roller-shaped.

The friction elements could, however, also be of conical or hyperbolical shape, although the cylindrical form offers decisive advantages with respect to manufacture.

The friction elements 5,6 have parallel axes and consequently define between them a straight line of closest mutual approach. As shown in Fig. 2, there are two triangular spaces, one on each side of the line of closest mutual approach, and limited bythe surfaces ofthefriction elements.

The friction elements include stationary suction devices which are provided with suction apertures directed atthe perforated surfaces.Thefriction element 5 includesthe suction device 35 with the slit-shaped suction aperture 43, the friction element 6 includes the suction device 36 with the slit-shaped suction aperture44.The suction aperture44runsina straight line, the suction aperture 43 follows the line of a helix which, in the direction of the material flow comes into proximity of the line of closest mutual approach of the friction elements 5,6. Fig. 1 shows the helical course of the suction aperture 43. Considered in the direction of material flow, the suction aperture 43 starts its course parallel to the axis of rotation 51 of the friction element 5, then follows a helix aBd finally runs again parallel to the axis of rotation 51. The yarn formation zone 121 lies on the surface 23 over the straight initial part ofthe suction aperture 43. Then follows the transition zone 122 over the helical part.

Adjoining the transition zone is the yarn consolidation zone 123 which is situated in thetriangular space 31.

In front ofthe yarn foimationzone 121 is the mouth of a fibre feeding device in the form of a fibrefeed duct 53 issuing from a fibre opening device 57.

A needle covered opening roller 63 revolves in the fibre opening device 57 in the direction shown by the arrow 65. It opens a strand of material 67 fed to it, into individual fibres which are conveyed through the fibre feed duct 53 to the yarn formation zone 121.

The suction device 35 and its slit-shaped suction aperture 43 are so shaped and arranged thatthe yarn from the beginning of the process of yarn formation is pneumatically held against and in contact with the surface 23 of the friction elementS whereby the yarn is rotated. The suction device 36, on the other hand, is only of limited length.

For the sake of clarity ofthe illustration, the suction devices 35 and 36 are shown in section in the drawing.

They are supplied with suction airthrough a pipe system connected to them. The suction device 35 is connected to the pipe 69, the suction device 36 to the pipe 70.

The two friction elements 5 and 6 revolve in the same direction. The friction element 5 revolves in the direction shown bythe arrow 73, the friction element6 in the direction shown by the arrow 74. The yarn 76 is withdrawn in the direction shown bythe arrow 75 by means of a yarn withdrawing device not illustrated here.

It can be seen from Fig. 1 that a core yarn 78 is added to the yarn 76, the core yarn being supplied from a core yarn feeding device 81 through a yarn guide 84.

During the spinning process, the yarn 76 being formed is rotated on the surface 23 with its end tapering to a thin point. Due to the frictional forces it is held in the yarn formation zone 121, in the transition zone 122 and in the yarn consolidation zone 123. The frictional forces result from the suction effect, and to these are added, in the places where the yarn has already come into contact with the neighbouring friction element 6, the mechanical forces ofthe friction elements 5 and 6 rotating in the same direction.

In the example of the second embodiment of the invention, which is similarto the example of the first embodiment, Fig. 3 shows a friction spinning apparatus 2 with rotation-symmetrical friction elements 7, 8. The friction elements are mounted in such a way that they are rotatable, the method of mounting not being illustrated in detail here, and are provided, for the purpose of rotational drive, with belt pulleys 15, 16. The friction element 7 has a surface 25 which is perforated all round, the friction element 8 has a surface 26 which is perforated all round.

Thefriction elements intheseexamplesarecylin- drical or roller-shaped. They are arranged with their axes parallel and consequently define between them a straight line of closest mutual approach. There are two triangularspaces,oneofeach side of the line of closest mutual approach, similarto those shown in Fig. 2, and limited by the surfaces ofthefriction elements.

The friction element 7 includes a suction device 37 with the slit-shaped suction aperture 45, the friction element 6 a suction device 38 with the slit-shaped suction aperture 46. The suction apertures 45, 46 are staggered, the single suction aperture being directed at that triangular space in which the feeding of the fibres takes place. Each system of suction apertures is situated along a helix which, in the direction ofthe material flow comes into proximity with the line of closest mutual approach of the friction elements 7,8.

The suction aperture 45 follows a helix from the start and, in its position closest to the exit point of the material, runs parallel to the axis of rotation 95 of the friction element 7. Likewise, the suction aperture 46 follows a helix from the start and ends in a course parallel to the axis of rotation 96 of the friction element 8.

Each ofthetwo triangular spaces is provided with a fibre feeding device in the form of a fibre feed duct issuing from a fibre opening device. The fibre feed duct 97 assigned to the triangular space situated in front has its mouth at a distance from the surface 25 overtheyarn formation zone 55 which lies on the surface 25 over the suction aperture 45.

Similarly, thefibre feed duct98 assigned to the triangular space situated at the back has its mouth at a distance from the surface 26 over the yarn formation zone 46, which lies on the surface 26 over the suction aperture 46.

The fibre feeding device, orfibrefeed duct 97, issuing from a fibre opening device 59. In the fibre opening device 59 a needle-covered opening roller revolves in the direction shown by the arrow 99. This opening roller opens a strand of fibres 101 fed to it, into individual fibres which are then conveyed through thefibre feed duct 97 to the yarn formation zone 55.

The other fibre feed duct 98 issues from a fibre opening device 60, wherein revolves an opening roller in the direction shown by the arrow 100. It opens a strand of material 102 fed to it into individual fibres, which are then conveyed through the fibre feed duct 98to the yarn formation zone 56.

In thetriangularspace situated in the front, the yarn formation zone 55 isfollowed byan adjoining transition zone 124, which in turn is followed by an adjoining yarn consolidation zone 126. In the triangular space situated at the rear, the yarn formation zone 56 is followed by an adjoining transition zone 125 which in turn is followed by an adjoining yarn consolidation zone 127.

Forthe sake of clarity of the illustration, the suction devices 37 and 38 are shown in section. They are supplied with suction airthrough pipes connected to them. The suction device 37 is connected to the pipe 71 and the suction device 38 is connected to the pipe 72.

Thetwofriction elements 7 and 8 rotate in thesame direction. The friction element 7 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow 105,thefriction element 8 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow 106.

Thetwoyarns 107 and 108arewithdrawn in the direction shown by the arrow 109 by means of a yarn withdrawing device not illustrated here.

It can be seen from Fig. 3, that a core yarn 79 is added to the yarn 107, the core yarn being supplied from a core yarn feeding device 82 through a yarn guide 85.

During spinning, the yarns 107 and 108 in process of being formed are rotated on the respective surfaces 25 or 26 with their ends tapering to thin points. Due to the frictional forces they are held in the said zones which are situated over the suction apertures 45,46. The friction forces resultfrom the suction effect, to which are added, in the places where a yarn has already come into contactwith the neighbouring friction element, the mechanical forces ofthe friction elements 7 and 8 rotating in the same direction.

The example of an embodiment according to Figs. 6 and 7 shows a friction spinning apparatus 3 comprising juxtaposed, rotation-symmetrical friction elements 9,10which rotate in the same direction. The friction element 9 is mounted on a suction device 39, aboutwhich it rotates, by means of a roller bearing 128 and a support 130 connected to a base plate 131.

Likewise, the friction element 10 is mounted on a suction device 40 by means of a roller bearing 129. The friction elements 9, 10 are provided, forthe purpose of rotational drive, with belt pulleys 17,18. Belt pulley 17 goes round the belt 21 and belt pulley 18 goes round the belt 22. The friction element 9 has a casing 27 which is perforated all round, the friction element 10 hasa casing 28, which is perforated all round.

The two friction elements 9, 10 are bottle-shaped, the yarn formation zone 1 32 of the friction element 9 being situated atthe neck ofthe bottle and the yarn consolidation zone 136, which the two friction elements have in common, being situated atthe belly of the bottle. The transition zone 134 of the friction element 9 lies in the region ofthe change-over ofthe bottleneck passes to the bottle belly, and this applies likewise to the transition zone 135 ofthe friction element 10 which also has its yarn formation zone 133 also atthe bottleneck.

Similarly as shown in the preceding examples of embodiments, the suction devices 39 and 40 project into the interior of the friction elements.

Their suction apertures 147 and 148, in Fig. 6 sketched out in a broken line, followthe bottle-shape ofthesurfaces and are directed atthe said zones. The two suction devices 39 and 40 are connected to a common source ofvacuum. It can be seen from the drawings that on each side ofthe pair of friction elements 9,10 are situated a yarn formation zone 132 or 133, and a transition zone 134 or 135, and thatthe two transition zones pass into one common yarn consolidation zone 136. Fig. shows thatthe yarn formation zone 132 lies above, and the yarn formation zone 133 below, the central plane 137. The yarn 138 is continuously being withdrawn in the direction shown bythe arrow 139 byyarn withdrawing means not illustrated here. It is formed from the two yarn ends 140 and 141.Ayarn separator 143 is provided before the junction point 142 of the two yarn ends, and is designed to preventtheyarn endsfrom being lifted away from the transition zones 134 and 135.

The friction elements 9,10 are arranged with their axes parallel and consequently define between themselves a straight line of closest mutual approach. On each side ofthe line of closest mutual approach there are atthe belly parts ofthefriction elements, triangular spaces, an upper one and a lower one, confined by the surfaces ofthe friction elements.

In front of the yarn formation zone 132 is the mouth of a fibre feeding device in the form of a fibre feed duct 5Zwhich issues from a fibre opening device 61. In front ofthe other yarn formation zone 133 isthe mouth of a furtherfibre feeding device in the form of a fibre feed duct 54 coming from below and issuing from a fibre opening device 62.

The two fibre opening devices 61 and 62 are connected to the base plate 131 by a supporting structure 144. Needle-covered opening rollers revolve in the fibre opening devices 61,62, opening the fibre material strands 66 and 68, which are fed to them, into individual fibres, which are conveyed through the fibre feed ducts to the yarn formation zones. In Fig. 7, the opening roller 64 is sketched out in a broken line.

Fig. 6 shows the opening roller64and, in addition, the opening roller 77, also sketched out in a broken line, belonging to the fibre opening device 61.

It can be seen particularly in Fig. 7 that a core yarn 80 is added to the yarn 138. Forthis purpose, a tubular core-yarn feeding device 83 is provided. The core-yarn 80 coming from below is fed into the end of the tubular core-yarn feeding device 83 and comes out of it through an aperture in the yarn separator 143. A supporting structure 145 connects the core-yarn feeding device 83, and the yarn separator 143 attached to it, to the base plate 131.

In the example of an embodiment according to Figs.

4 and 5, thefriction spinning apparatus 4 comprises a pair offriction elements consisting ofthe friction elements 11, 12, and also an aggregate of three friction elements consisting of a left-hand friction element 146, a middle friction element 147 and a right-hand friction element 148. The pair of friction elements 11, 12 is arranged behind the aggregate of three friction elements 146,147, 148. The left-hand friction element 146 of the aggregate of three friction elements is rotatable about the same axis as the left-hand friction element 11 of the pairoffriction elements.

The right-hand friction element 148 of the aggregate ofthreefriction elements is rotatable about the same axis as the right-hand friction element 12 of the pair of friction elements. The two friction elements 11,12 of the pair offriction elements have a larger outside diameterthan the two outerfriction elements 146,148 ofthe aggregate ofth ree friction elements. The friction elements 11,146 and 12,148 respectively, which are rotatable about the same axis, are cylindrical for most oftheir length, while the parts ofthe two friction elements which adjoin one another follow an S-shaped transitional curve Sand are shaped in such a waythat the whole takes the form of a bottle.

Afirstyarn formation zone 151 lies between the friction elements 146 and 147, and a second yarn formation zone 152 lies between the friction elements 147 and 148. Between the two friction elements 11 and 12 ofthe pair of friction elements lies a common yarn consolidation zone 155. The two transition zones 153, 154 are each situated in the S-shaped neck regions, partly on the friction element 146 and partly on the friction element 11, orpartlyonthefriction element 148 and partly on the friction element 12, respectively.

The suction devices are arranged in pairs on the left-hand and on the right-hand side, as shown in Fig.

4. On the left-hand side, the suction aperture 160 of a first suction device 156 is directed at the yarn formation zone 151. On the same side, the suction aperture 161 of a second suction device 157 is directed at the yarn consolidation zone 155. On the right-hand side, the suction aperture 162 of a first suction device 158 is directed atthe yarn formation zone 162 and the suction aperture 163 of a second suction device 159 is directed atthe common yarn consolidation zone 155.

The friction element 147 possesses a suction device 41 of its own, which has its suction apertures 49 and 50 directed at the yarn forming zones 151 and 152 respectively. The ends of all the suction devices, which are tubular and bent downwards, are connected to a base plate 164. Moreover, they carrythe friction elements in a manner, which is shown in principle in Fig. 5.

As shown in Fig. 5, the stationary suction device 41 ends in a conical taper 165, which carries a roller bearing 166. A second roller bearing 167 is provided onthetubularhorizontal part ofthe suction device 41.

The roller bearing 166 carries a disc 175, and the roller bearing 167 carries a disc 176. The two discs 175,176 support the perforated casing 172 of the friction element 147. Atubular core-yarn feeding device 180, which has its outlet at the conical taper 165, is provided in a horizontal longitudinal bore of the suction device 41.

The horizontal part of the suction device 158 carries two roller bearings 168 and 169. The roller bearing 168 carries a ring 177, the roller bearing 169 carries a disc 178. The perforated casing 173 of the friction element 148 extendsfrom the ring 177to the disc 178.

The horizontal part of the suction device 159 carries two roller bearings 170,171,which in turn carry discs 179 and 181 respectively.

The perforated casing 174 of the friction element 12 extends between the discs 179 and 181.

A driving belt 182 goes round the front part ofthe ring 176, and a driving belt 183 goes round the front part of the ring 177.The dise 181 has an annular extension 187 round which goes a driving belt 184.

Correspondingly, the friction elements 11 and 146 are driven by driving belts 185 and 186 respectively. The friction elements 11 and 146 rotating aboutthe rotation axis 149 have the same design as the friction elements 12 and 148, illustrated in Fig. 5, which rotates aboutthe rotation axis 150. Accordingly, the suction devices 156 and 157 are symmetrical to the suction devices 158 and 159 respectively.

As shown in Fig. 4,forthe production of the fibres are to be fed into theyarn formation zone 151 from above, whereas the fibres are fed into the yarn formation zone 152 from below. All the friction elements rotate here in the same direction, namely in the direction shown by the arrows 188 to 192. The componentyarn ends produced in the yarn formation zones 151 and 152 are combined into a single yarn 193 which is continuously withdrawn by withdrawing means not illustrated here. A core yarn can be added by means ofthe core-yarn feeding device 180.

It is of advantage during spinning to adjustthe circumferential speeds ofthe friction elements 146, 147 and 148to the same values. While the circum- ferential speeds ofthe friction elements 11 and 12 of the pairoffriction elements are reciprocallythesame, these need not necessarily accord with the circumferential speeds of the friction elements of the aggregate of three friction elements; they can, for example, be greater. This has an influence on the yarn strength, the appearance of the yarn and the yarn structure. Moreover, there is a possibility of feeding fibres also into the common yarn consolidation zone 155, and these fibres can then form the outer layers of the yarn 193.

The invention is not limited to the examples of embodiments, illustrated and described hereinbefore except bythefollowing claims.

Claims (16)

1. Friction spinning apparatus comprising juxtaposed rotation-symmetrical friction elements with perforated surfaces, which rotate in the same direction and define triangular spaces, one on each side, between them and adjacent to the line of closest mutual approach and which include stationary suction devices with suction apertures directed at the perforated surface, and also comprising a fibre feeding device for feeding fibres into a yarn formation zone, and a yarn withdrawing deviceforwithdrawing the yarn which is continuously being formed in the yarn formation zone, characterized in that a) the yarn formation zone (121; 55,56; 132,133; 151, 152) is separate from a yarn consolidation zone (123; 126,127; 136; 155), b) the yarn consolidation zone (123; 126,127; 136; 155) is the zone closest to the exit point ofthe material in its flowthrough the system, either in the line of closest mutual approach ofthefriction elements (5,6; 7,8; 9,10; 11,12) or in a triangular space (31) commencing at the line of closest mutual approach, c) the yarn formation zone (121; 55,56; 132,133: 151, 152) is the zone which is closest to the entry point ofthe material in its flow through the system and extends outside the longitudinal axis of the yarn consolidation zone (123; 126,127; 136; 155), d) between the yarn formation zone (121; 55,56; 132,133; 151,152) and the yarn consolidation zone (123; 126,127; 136; 155)there is a curvilinear transition zone (122; 124,125; 134,135; 153,154).

2. Friction spinning apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe suction apertures (43; 45, 46; 147,148; 160,161,162,163) are directed at the yarn formation zone (121; 55,56132,133; 151,152) and atthe yarn consolidating zone (123; 126,127; 136; 155).

3. Friction spinning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the suction aperture(s) (160, 162) of a first suction device (156, 158) islare directed at the yarn formation zone (151, 152) and the suction aperture(s) (161, 163) of a second suction device (157, 159) islare directed at the yarn consolidation zone (155).

4. Friction spinning apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized by the provision, on each side of a pair of friction elements (7,8), of a yarn formation zone (55,56), a transition zone (124, 125) and a yarn consolidation zone (126, 127)forthe formation oftwoyarns (107,108).

5. Friction spinning apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that there is on each side of a pair of friction elements (9,10) a yarn formation zone (132, 133) and a transition zone (134, 135), and that said two transition zones pass into one common yarn consolidation zone (136)forforming one yarn (138) from two yarn ends (140,141) that have already been formed separately.

6. Friction spinning apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 5, characterized bythe provision of at least one core yarn feeding device (81,82,180) for at leastoneoftheyarns(76,107,193).

7. Friction spinning apparatus according fo any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the friction elements (9,10) are bottle-shaped and that the yarn formation zone (132,133) lies at the bottleneck, the yarn consolidation zone (136) atthe bottle belly, and the transition zone (134,135) in the region of change-overfrom bottleneck to bottle belly.

8. Friction spinning apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a first pair of friction elements (146, 147; 147, 148) contains the yarn formation zone (151,152) and a second pair offriction elements (11,12) containstheyarn consolidation zone (155).

9. Friction spinning apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the two pairs of friction elements (146,147; 147, 148; 11,12) each contains a partofthetransition zone (153,154).

10. Friction spinning apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by the provision of an aggregate ofthreefriction elements (146,147, 148) which has two yarn formation zones (151, 152) and which comprises a left-handfriction element(146),a middle friction element (147) and a right-hand friction element (148).

11. Friction spinning apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that a firstyarn formation zone (151) lies between the left-hand (146) and the middle (147) friction elements, and a second yarn formation zone (152) lies between the middle (147) and the right-hand friction element (148).

12. Friction spinning apparatus according to claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the aggregate of three friction elements (146,147, 148) is combined with a subsequent pairoffriction elements (11,12), which is situated closestto the exit point of the material in its flowthrough the system and which contains the yarn consolidating zone(s) (155).

13. Friction spinning apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the left-hand friction element (146) of the aggregate of three friction elements (146, 147,148) is rotatable aboutthe same axis asthe left-hand friction element (11) of the pair of friction elements (11,12), and thatthe right-hand friction element (148) ofthe aggregate ofthree friction elements (146,147,148) is rotatable aboutthe same axis asthe right-hand friction element (12) of the pair of friction elements (11,12).

14. Friction spinning apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in thatthefriction elements (11, 12) of the pairoffriction elements have a larger external diameter than the two outer friction elements (146, 148) ofthe aggregate ofthreefriction elements (146, 147,148).

15. Friction spinning apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in thatthefriction elements (11, 146; 12,148) rotating about the same respective axes are of cylindrical shape for most of their length, and that the parts ofthetwo friction elements (11,146; 12,148) adjacent to one another are shaped according to a transitional curve (S) in such awaythatthewhole takes the shape of a bottle, the transition zone (153, 154) being situated in the neck region ofthe bottle, part of it lying on the friction elements (11, 12) ofthe pairoffriction elements part of it lying on the friction elements (146, 148) of the aggregate of three friction elements (146,147,148).

16. Friction spinning apparatus substantially as described by way of example with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3, Figures4and 5, Figure6orFigure7 of the accompanying drawings.