GB924998A - Improvements in or relating to stuffer crimpers - Google Patents

Abstract

924,998. Crimping yarns and fibres. JOSEPH BANDCROFT & SONS CO. Aug. 19, 1960 [Sept. 23, 1959], No. 28808/60. Class 120 (3). A stuffer crimper comprises rolls feeding fibres into one end of an elongated chamber and forcing the mass of crimped fibres therealong to a discharge point, and a control wheel the periphery of which projects into the chamber, e.g. adjacent the bite of the rolls. The wheel and rolls are driven at a predetermined speed ratio so as to control the back pressure in the zone therebetween. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, rolls 10 and 11 are loaded by a spring 16 to grip tow or yarn 20 and feed it into the chamber formed by a tube 4, the entry end of which is shaped to the contour of the feed rolls. Control wheels 30, 31, having smooth, serrated or toothed surfaces, and the former retractable against a spring 36, restrict the feed of the fibrous mass in the tube so as to control the feed in the zone between wheels 30, 31, and the nip of rolls 10, 11. The pressure in this zone may be higher or lower than the pressure in the setting zone wherein heat is applied through a block 2 by heating rods 54 and the pressure is determined by the relative speeds of wheels 30, 31 and delivery rolls 52 and by the weight of a plug 50. The rolls 10, 11, are driven from a pulley 23 through intermeshing gears 21 and 22, shafts 12 and 13 and constant torque mechanical or magnetic clutches as at 24a. The wheels 30, 31 are driven from shaft 12 by a worm 40, worm-wheel 41, pinion 42, idler shaft 43, gear 44 on shaft 33 and intermeshing gears 37. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, pairs of control wheels 30, 31 and 60, 61, and 62, 63, independently control the pressure in crimping, heating and cooling zones of the chamber 4a, the crimped fibre being withdrawn by rolls 81 through a tensioner 82. Adjustable, variablespeed transmissions 73, 77, 78 provide separate drives from a common source. In another apparatus, Fig. 6, a control wheel 95, having ratchet teeth 96 and co-operating with a stripper plate 98 for removing fibres therefrom, projects into the exit end of chamber 4b which is curved around the periphery of the wheel. Crimped fibre is withdrawn through a tensioner 82 by rolls 100. Wheel 95 is driven from shaft 12 by gear train 101, 102, 103, 104.