NL11302C - - Google Patents

Abstract

Strands of artificial silk are so operated upon that during the final drying process the individual filaments forming the strand are kept in continuous relative movement, whereby they are prevented from sticking together and assume a more or less crinkled appearance, thus increasing the covering-power of the finished product. The strands in skein form and finished except for drying are supported on rods, or upon a slowly rotating holder of diameter, say, half that of the skein, and are subjected to the action of a strong blast of heated air. When the strands are arranged to be under tension during drying, the supporting-rods are slowly rotated, and the strands are subjected to an air blast after partial drying and after the tension has been partly or wholly released and the filaments are no longer in a hydrated condition. A number of skeins may be treated in a chamber conforming to the shape of the skeins and of such dimensions that the air passes through the skeins. A mechanical movement, effected by revolving the supporting-rods, may wholly or partly replace the direct action of the air upon the filaments. A skein that is already dried may be treated as described above and sprayed with water or steam, so that the relative movement of the filaments is accompanied by a drying action.