JPS58191240A - Method and apparatus for processing continuous tow - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the processing of fibrous tow, in particular, but not exclusively, in the production of filter tow for the tobacco industry.

The usual process for manufacturing cigarette filters is to draw a filter tow containing a continuous bundle of fibers from a source, such as a bale, and spread the tow laterally to cause misalignment or "blooming."
feeding the tow through a tow opening device configured to cause the tow to be compressed to form a stream having the cross-section of the finished filter. Plasticizers such as triacetin are typically sprayed onto the fibers as they are unrolled. The compressed stream of fibers may be wrapped in a continuous wrapper and cured with steam or other heat source to form a continuous rod, which is then rolled into the final cut at regular intervals to produce filters.

Tow opening devices generally include a device for laterally separating the fibers of the tow and for drawing the fibers.

For example, a newly developed threaded roller configured to stretch and pull in the longitudinal direction can be used.

The roller and associated tow opening device are disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,062,829, referenced for details.

The threaded rollers are Amsel 106 and Morinth TO5.
used in tow opening units.

The tow opening device is particularly intended to separate the strands of tow that have undergone shrinkage. Materials such as acetylcellulose from which cigarette filters are made are generally subjected to pre-shrunk operations, which increases the effectiveness of the filtration action.

However, to fully realize the benefits of foreshortening,
It is desirable to separate (or mismatch) shrunken fibers so that the shrinkage of adjacent fibers does not match. One problem with conventional tow opening equipment is the amount of tension the fibers are subjected to in order to achieve satisfactory misalignment, so there is a risk of permanently eliminating at least some shrinkage. do. The object of the present invention is to achieve an effective tow opening process without excessive tensioning of the fibers.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a plurality of preferably substantially continuous fibers, preferably crimped single M#! providing a method for processing continuous tow having a structure in which the tow is moved through a conveyor having a plurality of relatively sharp protrusions at least partially penetrating the tow; The tow and the tow are separated by the relative movement between the toe and the tow.
and controlling at least one speed of the conveyor. When fibers are crimped, they are made non-aligned by separation. Preferably, the tow is maintained at a controlled speed and under controlled tension.

The projections must be sufficiently widely spaced to allow adequate penetration of the tow, but preferably so that as many fibers across the width of the tow as possible are in contact with, or at least influenced by, the projections. Arranged in staggered rows. Therefore,
The width of the tow can be effectively divided into a number of parts by the projections. The protrusions provide anchor points for the fibers of the tow, and relative movement of the tow with respect to the protrusions causes a contraction misalignment.

The conveyor may be a roller or band carrying an array of bottles or needles. The tows are preferably fed along a circumference K or part of the surface of the conveyor. The tow may pass between a pair of opposing conveyors mounting the projections, such as passing through the interlocking portion between the interlocking projections.

The relative velocities of the tow and protrusions and the nature of the protrusions must be such that there is little chance of fiber breakage.

Generally, the greater the relative speed between the protrusion and the tow, the more likely it is to break. Similarly, if the nature or orientation of the protrusion is determined to be particularly effective in resisting relative movement, breakage is also likely to occur in this case. Thus, for example, if the protrusion is a pin, the pin may be inclined in the direction of movement of the tow with respect to the conveyor on which it is mounted, in which case possible breaks in the fibers can be reduced; The girder may be tilted in the opposite direction, in which case the fracture is more likely to occur.

It should be noted that if the relative velocity of the protrusion and tow is increased and the nature and direction of the protrusion are determined to provide a more effective toe grip, the misalignment of the tow will cause fiber breakage. What you get can be even more effective. Reduces the risk of breakage,
Moreover, to maintain complete and effective separation or misalignment, the tow may be processed in stages, ie, moved through a plurality of conveyors arranged in series, each carrying a protrusion. Good too. Therefore, in the first stage, the effective action of the protrusion of the first conveyor is that the velocity of the conveyor tow y
By driving at a speed close to c and arranging the pin so that it tilts backwards, it can be slightly lower. However, at later stages, when the tow is already partially misaligned and can thus withstand even more severe effects, the relative speed f of the conveyor may be increased and the direction of the protrusion becomes It has been changed so that it can be gripped more effectively. The number, density and length of protrusions on the conveyor surface may be increased as the fibers of the tow are partially separated.

The speed of the tow relative to the conveyor applying the projections may be controlled by an independently driven conveyor, such as a conventional drive roller, or by another conveyor applying the projections. Accordingly, the tow may be moved past two or more conveyors mounting the projections, the conveyors comprising:
arranged in series and driven at different speeds. This device
Or in a device where only a single conveyor mounting projection is used, the tow is under tension with the applied tension.

With the present invention, it is contemplated that the amount of tension required to be applied to the tow is somewhat less than with at least some conventional devices. For example, in a known tow opening device,
The ratio of the controlled velocity of the inlet to the outlet of the device is typically within the range of 1.3-1.8:1. This ratio is a measure of the tension applied to the tow. In the device of the invention, the tow preferably has a ratio of 1.1-1.3:1
It appears possible to successfully process the corresponding operating ratios within the range of 1.1:1 or even less than 1.1:1.

According to another aspect of the invention, a conveyor mounting projections is used to attach a tow passing through a fluid additive, such as a plasticizer. Accordingly, the conveyor may include an internal manifold fed with plasticizer and a series of passageways for conveying the plasticizer to the tow. In a preferred device, at least some of the protrusions are hollow vials or needles through which the plasticizer is not only deposited on the tow surface contacting the conveyor but also at a level somewhat beyond this. It is therefore also deposited in layers of tow that do not directly contact the conveyor surface.

The pinless needles may be of different lengths so as to deposit the fluid additive in different layers of the tow.

According to another aspect of the invention, a tow processing conveyor includes a rotatable surface having a tow engagement device and at least one hole for supplying a fluid additive to an internal manifold P-a-ra-tow; and an internal stopper screen that prevents passage of fluid additive to the outside 11111 side of the conveyor except in the vicinity. Accordingly, the conveyor may be a pin ram fitted with hollow needles, and the shield is arranged around which the tow passes.
It may also be partially cylindrical with a hole adjacent to the ram section.

The protrusions attached to the conveyor of the present invention may be arranged at an angle, for example, so as to widen the protrusions.

Alternatively, the conveyor itself may be constructed to produce this effect, for example having a crowned surface, or perhaps a ciTm surface that is forced to move in a toe-spreading manner.

For example, an OT flexible cylindrical roller rotating about a curved axis is use-1 capable.

Although the present invention has been described primarily in connection with the processing of tow suitable for embodying cigarette filters, it is generally applicable to the separation process, whether in the manufacture of continuous rods or in other ways. is applicable in principle for processing tow when desired.

The present invention also relates to the relative speed of the tows and protrusions, and the relative speed of the tows so that the tows move past a series of protrusions that pass through the tows, causing the fibers to become misaligned without much of a break in the fibers. By determining the tension applied to the material, a method for continuous tow processing is provided. In a preferred device, the tow is
The crimp has fibers and the motion and tension are controlled such that a significant portion of the crimp is retained in the tow after processing. When the tow includes fibers with viscoelastic properties, such as acetyl cellulose, the method comprises may be implemented.

The present invention also provides, for example, at least one
The method is extended to continuous tow processing by feeding the tow through a fibril forming device having two driven bin rollers.

The invention also encompasses, in particular, an apparatus for opening or flowering the tow for preparing the tow during the production of filterronds and carrying out any of the methods of the invention.

The invention will be described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a tow preparation device in which, for example,
A band or stream of tow 10 having crimped and nearly continuous filaments is drawn from a bale or similar source by a pair of driven rolls 12.14. The upper roll 12 has a rubber surface and the lower roll 14 has a ground steel surface. The biting pressure between the rolls 12,14 may be adjustable, for example by the use of hydraulic or pneumatic devices to urge the rolls together. Downstream of the rolls 12,14, the tow stream 10 passes partially around a driven drum or roller 16 equipped with an array of bins 18 projecting from its surface. Beyond the bin roller 16, the tow is passed over a delivery roll 20 to another processing device. An opposing upper roll (not shown) may cooperate with roll 20. If the tow 10 is of a filter material, such as for example acetyl cellulose fibers, the further processing equipment t may comprise a continuous filter material P production machine.

The circumferential speed of the bin roller 16 may be somewhat higher than the circumferential speed of the rolls 12.14, so that the bin 18 passing through the tow 10 moves relative to the fibers of the tow and drives them forward. This acts to pull the tow. The amount of pull depends on the speed of the loaf 16 as well as the density of the bin 18;
It depends on the distribution, properties (eg snout, diameter or width) and slope.

FIG. 2 shows one preferred arrangement of gins 18 around rollers 16. The bins lie in rows 22 that are inclined at a small angle to their direction of interlocking (indicated by arrow 24). Additionally, bins in adjacent columns are staggered with respect to each other. Each side of the roller 16 has its light surface aligned with the bin 1.
8 has a radially projecting flange 26 (only one shown) of matching height. The width of the rollers 16 (between the flanges) may be approximately 200 m to 250 m to accommodate the typical width of the tow 10 flow. The diameter of the roller 16 may typically be 150 mm. bottle 18
The average spacing between may range from 1101 to 10■. The roller 16 may not include the flange 26.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the peripheral portion of the roller 16 that spills one bin 18. In particular, the figure shows that each bin 18 is tilted forward relative to the direction of rotation of the roller 16. The axis of the bin 18 makes an angle a with the adjacent surface of the roller 16. Note that in this preferred arrangement, the sloped front face of the outer end of the bin 18 is also sloped relative to the surface at an angle of less than 90°. Only one bottle roller 16
In the apparatus of FIG. 1, angle a is generally preferably less than 90°, but may typically range from 45° to 165° depending on the desired bin action on the tow.
Thus, the bin may be arranged at right angles to the surface or inclined backwards. The bin 1B may typically protrude 2 to 101 meters from the surface of the roller 16.

The material of the roller 16 may be aluminum.

The cylindrical part of the pin 18 may be adhesively fixed in a corresponding cylindrical hole in the roller 16, or in the manner disclosed in British Patent No. 1,298,561. The inner end of the pin 18, which may protrude beyond the peripheral inner surface of the roller 16 as shown, may be housed in a molded sleeve (not shown) of resin material. Instead of being embedded directly in the surface of the roller, the pin 18 may be attached to a sleeve plate attached to the outer surface of the carrier roller or to a belt wrapped around the roller.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the filter tow processing machine.

The processing machine may be arranged to deliver the processed tow to a machine for making continuous rod filters, such as, for example, Molins PM5N. Tow 30 is fed from a bale or other source between control rolls 32, 34, which are not permanently driven, to a first pair of opposing cooperating ginning rollers 36,38. The roller 36°38Fi may be the same as the roller 16. However, the pins are interlocked with the rollers 3
6,38. A similar and effective pinning action on the tow is therefore obtained with reduced bin density at each roller. Note, on the other hand, that the length of the area of the tow in contact with the pin is, of course, the length of the area of the tow that contacts the pin, unless the tow is partially wrapped around one roller of a pair of opposing bin rollers (in which case The tow is much shorter between a pair of opposing bin rollers than in the case where the tow is partially wrapable around the rollers.

The pins of the rollers 36, 38 are preferably oriented and inclined rearward, ie their angle a is greater than 90'. roller 3
6.38 downstream, the tow 30 passes between a second pair of opposing cooperating bin rollers 40, 42,
．． 42 is the roller 36, except that the pin is preferably inclined forward, i.e. the angle a is less than 90°.
It is the same as 38. A conventional plasticizing chamber 44 for soaking the processed tow 30 with plasticizer is provided beyond the rollers 40,42. A pair of driven delivery rolls 46, 48#i, which may be provided with opposing steel surfaces, pull out the tow 30 from the plasticizing chamber 44 and use another processing device (for example, a morin
M5N manufacturing machine).

Rolls 46, 48, rollers 40, 42, and roller 36
．． 38 are preferably driven at slightly different speeds. If the tow 30 is to be delivered to a continuous rod V filter machine, the rolls 46,48 are preferably driven at a speed V equal to or slightly faster than the line speed of the rod machine. The gin roller 36.3B is generally driven at a slightly slower peripheral speed than the other side, so tension at the tow 30 is maintained between the roll 46.48 and the bin roller 36.38-. Bin roller 40.4
2 is typically 1.2 faster than the bin rollers 36, 3B.
v and thus the bin rollers 36, 38 and 40
．． There is a temporary tension on the tow 30 between the pin and the tow 42, which applies tension to the tow that promotes slippage between the pin and the tow so as to cause the desired misalignment of the tow curl. increases the effective action of each roller.

Note that the rearwardly sloping pins on rollers 36, 38 and the forwardly sloping pins on rollers 40, 42 are helpful in this regard. The tension applied to the tow between the bin rollers 36, 38 and 40.42 is generally less than that applied with conventional equipment, so more curling of the tow is maintained in the final filter rond.

As in conventional equipment, the rolls 32,34 are preferably not driven and the applied biting pressure forces the tow 32,34
0, which acts to provide a more uniform tow to the first pair of bin rollers 36,38.

The six pairs of bin rollers 36, 38, 40, 42 must be separable for regular cleaning of the tow fibers from the bits and pins.

FIG. 5 shows part of another processing machine that processes filter tow and sends the tow to a continuous LoP filter manufacturing machine. A stream of filter tow 50 is drawn from the 1-'7 m 52 via a pair of rolls 54, 56 by a first pin roller 58 and a second pin roller 60. Roll 54.
Upstream of 56, the tow stream 50 is spread laterally and partially unaligned with conventional banded air jets 62,64.

From the rolls 54,56 the tow 50 is transferred to the first bin roller 5
8 and then partially around the roller above the second pin roller 60. Each of pin rollers 58 , 60 may be similar to bin roller 16 . However, the angle aI/i of the pin of the roller 58 is preferably greater than or equal to 90°;
Angle a at roller 60 is preferably 90° or less. The interval between the bins of the roller 60 is the same as that of the roller 604.
The spacing may be slightly smaller than the spacing at roller 58 since the tow 50 reaching C has already been acted upon by roller 58 and is already partially misaligned. Similarly, the pins of roller 60 may protrude more than the pins of roller 58. roller 60
Downstream of the tow 50, the tow 50 is formed into a continuous rod on a nitrogen filter 68 and sealed with a continuous paper filter rod 66, where it is sent to a continuous filter rod making machine with a nitrogen filter 66. It will be done. The tow 50 is received by a unit 72 having a convergent but idly-containing unit 72 which preferably includes one or more air transfer jets that transport the tow 50 and maintain tension between the unit 72 and the bin roller 60. may be provided. The unit 72 may be similar to the unit 40 disclosed in British Pestle No. 1,588,506, for example.

The bin roller 58 is driven via a transmission train 74 leading from the drive of the garniture Chizoro B (ie from the drive of the rod making machine). The line train 74 is equipped with a continuously variable transmission (PIIT6) (or other transmission) that operates reliably. The transmission ratio is generally constant for a particular device and a particular tow type, and is approximately 1=1.
This takes place via a transmission train 78 with IV80. The ratio of the peripheral speed of roller 60 to the peripheral speed of roller 58 is PI
V80, typically 1.2:1.

The differential speed of the rollers 58 and 60 with respect to the tow 50;
Relative slippage causes tow misalignment and tow adjustment as embodied in filter rod P. Additionally, rollers 58, 60 impart plasticizer tow. tank 82
The plasticizer contained in the rod-making machine is sucked by a pump 84 driven by a transmission 87 leading from the drive of the rod-making machine (
Therefore, the plasticizer is sucked in at a rate related to the production rate of the filter rod P). Ponude 84 delivers plasticizer to conduit 86, which in turn supplies plasticizer under pressure to branch conduit 90.92, which in turn supplies plasticizer under pressure to a branch conduit 90.92.
8 and 60 into chambers 94 and 96, respectively. pump 8
4 is preferably of positive displacement type.

The surfaces of the pin rollers 58, 60 may be provided with holes intermediate the pins that can supply plasticizer to the outer surface of the rollers for impregnation of the tow 50. Thus, roller 58 can supply plasticizer to the upper region of tow 50 and roller 60 can supply plasticizer to the lower region.

Another possible arrangement is shown in FIG. 6, in which the surface of the roller 60 is provided with a modified vial 98 having pores 100 and thus resembling a hypodermic needle.

The outer end of the bottle 98 is preferably sloped away from the leading surface as shown, thus reducing the tendency for the pores 100 to become clogged and facilitating penetration of the bottle 98 into the tow 5o.

The length of pin 9B may be varied to ensure that different layers of tow are supplied with plasticizer flowing through pores 100.

Either or both of the rollers 58, 60 may be provided with conventional solid bottles and/or bins 98 usable in conjunction with holes 101 in the surface of the rollers.

The amount of plasticizer applied to the area of the roller that contacts the tow 50 is
This is accomplished with the use of a stationary sleeve or shield 102 having holes 104 where plasticizer delivery is required, as shown in FIG. The pressure drop of the plasticizer at the pins 98 (and/or holes 101) is useful to ensure an even distribution of flow between the pins (and/or holes), but not at an adequate flow rate in the environment. To obtain K, it may be necessary to heat the plasticizer to reduce its viscosity and thereby reduce the fluid pressure in the system.

All plasticizer delivered by rollers 58, 60 is not captured by the tow. This is in part because the width of the tow stream 50 varies so that at least some of the outer pins or holes in the rollers 58, 60 do not necessarily contact the tow. A collection device for uncaptured iTJ plastic is shown schematically at 104 in FIG. roller 5
Additional shielding around 8, 60 may be necessary to direct plasticizer thrown out from the respective rollers or tows to the collection device. The collected plasticizer may be filtered and returned to plasticizer tank 82.

The rollers 5B, 60 may be equipped with needles similar to those disclosed in British Patent No. 1,582,262 for feeding the plasticizer tow.

As a different device from that shown in FIG.
Basically similar to rollers 58, 60, but without an internal plasticizer supply device and with a normal plasticizer chamber located between the bin roller 60 and the unit 72 of the rod making machine, it is fed around the bin roller. It's okay.

FIG. 7 shows that a stream of filter tow 110 is drawn from a source (not shown) at a pair of pretension rolls 112, 114 (similar to rolls 12.14), first, second, sixth and third. 4 pin rollers 16° 118, 120, 122 shown alternately above and below the device. Downstream of the fourth bin roller 22, the tow 110 is transferred to a delivery roll 124.
, 126 (also similar to roll 12.14).

The pins of the rollers 16, 118, 120, 122 differ in type, orientation and spacing thereof. in general,
The pin spacing, protrusion length and diameter of the rollers 16, 118, 120° 122 decrease in this order. The pin is angled rearwardly at rollers 16° 118, more angled at roller 116, forwardly angled at rollers 120, 122, and more angled at roller 122. Typical values for the pin spacing, angle a, and protrusion length are as follows.

116 8m+ 135° 6m1
18 6 mm 110° 5 m
120 5m 80° 4=12
241o17003Im The diameter of the pin may be reduced from about 1.5 mm at roller 116 to about 1 m or less at roller 122.

The overall diameter of each of rollers 116, etc. is approximately 150 mm, and the tow length between the rollers is typically within the range of 100 mm to 500 mm.

The drive for the rolls 112, 114, 124, 126 and the pin rollers 116, 118, 120, 122 is provided by downstream equipment (e.g. a continuous rod making machine) and by the PIV
13Q. PIV
The output of 130 is transmitted through the respective transmissions 132 of rolls 124, 126, bin roller 122, and bin roller 120.
, 134° 136, and the second PIV 13 to the transmission devices 140, 142, 144 of the bin roller 11B, the bin roller 116, and the rolls 112, 114.
8. Therefore, roll 124
, 126 and rollers 122, 120 are relative speeds of rollers 118, 116 and rolls 112, 114.
(transmissions 140, 142, 14)
4), configured as a group (transmission 13
2,134°136). The speed ratio between these groups is controllable with PIV 138 and the overall speed ratio to the main drive is controllable with PIV 130. One possible combination of speeds is: O rolls 124, 126 V pin rollers 12
2 1.6V bin roller 120
L2V bin roller 118 0.7V bin roller 116 0.6V roll 112 , 11
4 0.9 V where ■ is determined by the tow type and filter structure, and tl is the linear velocity of the downstream processing machine (ie, the rod making machine).

Therefore, rolls 112, 114 and rolls 124°126
The overall tensile ratio between is small (1,1:1). However, each roller 116, 118° 120.1
A slight relative slippage occurs between pins 22 and toe 11.
This creates the effect of carding and misalignment to zero and separation of the fibers of the tow. The placement and orientation of the pins is such that the width of the tow is approximately maintained. As the tow becomes increasingly misaligned as it passes through the upstream rollers, it is possible to increase the pin density and speed of the downstream rollers and reduce the pin angle a without permanently removing curl from the tow. It is.

Transmission gear*132, 134, 136, 140°142.1
By placing one or more additional PIVs on one or more of 44, it is possible to provide increased control of the relative speeds of the various rolls and rollers. Alternatively, it is conceivable that only one PIV is essential, in which case the transmission 132,
134, 136 may be driven from transmission 128 via a fixed ratio transmission replaced by PIV 138 (HC);
is maintained as if changing the speed. Another possibility is that P.I.
V 13 f3 is omitted and prv13Q2>; is retained to provide a different filter specification.

A conventional plasticizing chamber, such as that shown at 146, may be located downstream of pin roller 122. Unlike this,
One or more of the rollers 116, 118, 120° 122 move the tow 110 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG.
<1T plasticizer may be supplied as attached to the surface.

Conventional banded air jets that spread the tow laterally may be provided in one or more spaces between the bin rollers 116, 118, 120, 122, or other locations adjacent to the tow stream 110.

One of the banded air jets is shown at 148 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the protruding length of the pin is
, 118, 120, 122.

For tows that require significant bin action to obtain the required misalignment of the fibers, the protrusion lengths of the roller pins may be the same or increased in the order 116.118, 120.122. good. This allows more gradual misalignment to be achieved. Similarly, the speed of at least the 10th 116 and the 20th 118 may be closer to the tow speed. Of course, more bin rollers may be provided if a more gradual processing of the tow is required.

Referring to FIG. 8, the flow of tow 150 is
6,158, the pan r is fitted with a series of slats or sleeves 160 having rows of protruding pins 162. This type of conveyor, known in the textile industry as a grid conveyor, has the advantage of a potentially long area of contact with the tow. A conveyor similar to conveyor 152 is
One or more of the bin rollers of the previously described embodiments may be replaced. Other possible types of usable bin conveyors include one or more sleeve plates fitted with pins;
The sleeve plate moves in a path that brings it into intermittent contact with the tow. For example, the sleeve plate may follow a square path of motion, and element 601 as shown in British Patent No. 278,489.
It may be given the same motion as one.

Control of the width of the tow band may be achieved by the use of pins that are inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the bin roller. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, which is a radial cross-section of a portion of a bin roller 200, the pin 202 may be slightly beveled toward the proximal end of the roller so as to diverge from the central cross-section of the roller. This helps to prevent a reduction in the width of the tow pan P, and preferably this width is.

It is maintained approximately equal to the width of the bottle roller. Pin roller 2
Pin 204 at the extreme edge of 00 (or the pin adjacent to flange 26 in FIG. 2) slightly inward to prevent the fibers from riding over the edge, i.e. It may also be tilted away from the edge.

Other possible ways to control the width of the tow on a pin conveyor are to use slightly crowned rollers (such as the one shown at point #206 in Figure 9) or to use a roller as shown in Figure 10. By using a flexible cylindrical roller 210. The roller 210 rotates around a curved axis *212,
Its convex sides 214 engage the tow. The use of flexible curved cylindrical rollers rotating about the curved axis has an advantage over crowned rollers in that the peripheral speed at the face can be the same over the entire length of the roller. .

The flexibility of the roller must be such that it allows sufficient curvature to be effective, but not so great that the pin cannot be firmly fixed and held in the tow with sufficient force to be effective. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram of one form of tow preparation device having a pin roller, Fig. 2 is a partial detailed view of the pin roller, Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of the pin roller, and Fig. 4 is a filter tow preparation machine. Figure 5 is a partial diagram of another filter tow preparation machine,! Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pin roller suitable for use in the machine of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a partial view of another filter tow preparation machine, and Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pin roller suitable for use in the machine of Figure 5. Diagrams of different forms of pin conveyors suitable for
9 shows a partial radial sectional view of another pin roller, and FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal sectional view of another pin roller. 16.36, 38.40, 42, 58, 60°116.
118,120,122.200...Pin roller 18.98,162,202.204...Pin 20.
32,34,54.56,112,114°124,
126...Roll 68...Nature tape 74.128...Transmission train row 76.80, 130.138...Continuously variable transmission 87.1
34,136,140.142...Transmission device 96・Pin roller chamber 100...Pin bore 101...Roller surface hole 102...Stationary shield 104...Shieling hole 152...Pin Conveyor 210...Flexible cylindrical roller 212...Curved axis agent Hajime IbumuraContinued from page 10 Inventor David Bruce Stewart Scotland, UK 13 GDA Dundee Marine・Barrette (no street address) 0 Inventor Gottfrey Allen Wood United Kingdom Pax H.P. 144 G.Y. High Wycombe Sounderton Howe Lane (no street address) Procedural amendment (voluntary) Date: 1982- On the 24th, Mr. Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office, 1. Indication of the case: Patent Application No. 16867, filed in 1982. 3. Relationship with the person making the amendment. Patent applicant address: Name: Molins PLC (name) 4. Agent: Showa year Date 6, Number of inventions increased by amendment. Engraving of the specification (no change in content) Procedural amendment (method) % formula % 1. Indication of the case Patent Application No. 16867 of 1988 3. Case of the person making the amendment Relationship with: Patent applicant 4, agent 5, date of amendment order May 31, 19806, number of inventions increased by amendment 7, details of drawings subject to amendment (no change in content) 8. Contents of the amendment As shown in the attached sheet

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A continuous tow processing method having a plurality of fibers. moving the tow past a conveyor having a plurality of relatively sharp protrusions at least partially penetrating the tow, such that fibers of the tow are separated by relative movement between the protrusions and the tow; , controlling the speed of at least one of the tow and a conveyor. (2) A method according to claim 1, wherein the relative speeds of the tow and the conveyor are determined so as to cause little tow fiber breakage. (3) The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tow is processed in stages by being moved through a plurality of protrusion attachment conveyors. (4) the tow is moved past upstream and downstream conveyors, such that the speed difference between the tow and the downstream conveyor is greater than the speed difference between the tow and the upstream conveyor; 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the relative speed is controlled. (5) the speed of the tow is controlled at upstream and downstream positions of the conveyor, such that the ratio of the speed of the tow at the upstream position to the speed of the tow at the downstream position is i,6: i
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the method is smaller than . (6) a tow passage and a plurality of relatively sharp protrusions (18,98,162°202,204
) having at least one conveyor (16, 36-42
, 58, 60, 116-122, 152, 200, 21
0) and a device (20, 3) for moving the tow relative to the conveyor such that the protrusion is moved relative to the tow in the passageway.
2゜34.54.56.68.112.114,124
゜126) Continuous tow processing equipment. (7) The moving device (20, etc.) is arranged to move in the path at a first speed. A device (γ6.80°134-1) for moving the conveyor (16 etc.) such that the protrusion moves through the passage at a second speed.
42) The processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: (8) A processing device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the conveyor (16, etc.) is endless and is equipped with an array of protrusions (18%) in staggered rows. (9) The passageway and the conveyor (16, 58, 60° 11
6-122, 152, 200, 210) are arranged to maintain said tow and said conveyor in contact along a substantial length of said path. Processing equipment according to any one of the following paragraphs. al. any one of claims 6 to 9, comprising at least one pair of opposing conveyors (36, 38, 40, 42) having interlocking protrusions, the passageway passing between the conveyors; Processing equipment according to item 1. 0υ A plurality of the conveyors (36, 38, 40, 42, 58°60,
116-122), so that the tow is processed in stages on the conveyor. (6) Conveyor at upstream stage (36, 38, 58°11
The mutual spacing of the protrusions (18, etc.) of the conveyor (40, 42, 60° 118-122) in the downstream stage
12. The processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the range of % permission request is greater than that of . 0 Protrusion (18 etc.) of conveyor (36 etc.) at upstream stage
The special F! penetration into the tow is different from that of the conveyor (such as 40) in the downstream stage! If the processing apparatus according to claim 11 or 12. 04 The average angle sandwiched between the protrusion (111) and the surface of the conveyor extending from the protrusion in the direction of movement of the conveyor is such that the conveyor (such as 36) in the downstream stage is 40 etc.) A processing apparatus according to one or more of claims 11 to 13. The processing device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, comprising a device (74-87, 128-142) for moving the conveyor (36, etc.) at different speeds. (to) a conveyor (200, 210) having laterally inclined protrusions (202, 204) for controlling the width of the tow in the passageway near the conveyor; Processing equipment according to any one of the sections. aη The conveyor has a protrusion (2
The processing device according to the range 16 of the patent claim with a crown with a crown with a crown (200) with a crown. (g) The conveyor has a slightly curved longitudinal axis (
Claim 16, comprising a generally cylindrical flexible member (210) forced to rotate about (212)
Processing equipment described in section. (11) A processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 18, wherein the conveyor (58, 60) is configured to supply fluid additives to the tow in the passageway. ) said conveyor (60) having a plurality of channels (100,1) through which fluid additives can be supplied from an internal manifold (96);
01) The processing apparatus according to claim 19, a stationary shield (102) disposed between the flow path (100, 101) and the manifold (96), the shield connecting the manifold and the flow path in an area corresponding to the passage; 21. Processing device according to claim 20, having holes (104) allowing communication between the two. (a) The processing apparatus according to claim 20 or 21y4, in which at least some of the flow paths (100) pass through the protrusions (98). At least two of the conveyors (58, 60) are arranged at separate locations in the passageway, each conveyor comprising:
23. Processing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22, arranged to supply fluid additives to the tow in said passage. (c) The conveyor (60) has protrusions (98) of different lengths so as to penetrate different amounts of the torsion, as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 26. Processing equipment.