US2247389A

US2247389A - Processing of thread or the like

Info

Publication number: US2247389A
Application number: US61956A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter F Knebusch; Alden H Burkholder
Original assignee: Industrial Rayon Corp
Current assignee: Industrial Rayon Corp
Priority date: 1936-02-01
Filing date: 1936-02-01
Publication date: 1941-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 1958-07-01

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 1, 1936 7 9 H 0 5 3 6 8 I z z 8 w b n M I m I III 4 A R 8 J W 6 w Z x w "(I m v a 4 v 0 Z F 7 I J 8 i 4 9 l u H \ll mHHH Wfi 7 u o u n 7 n 9 w. l lh MW 1 m w n a m 9 6 3 w M Z INVENTORS 49 WALTER F. KNEBUSCH BY ALDEN H. BURKHOLDE'R ATTORNEY y 1941- w. F. KNEBUSCH -ETAL 7,389

PROCESSING OF THREAD OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 1, 1936 INVENTORS WALT ER I. KNEBUSCH 3%:1EN H. BURKHOLDER ATTOR N EY Patented July 1, 1941 UNITED STATES Walter F. Knebusch, Dayton,

and Alden H. Burkholder, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Gleveland, Ohio, 2. corporation of Delaware Application February 1, 1936, Serial No. 61,956

Renewed 9 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for the continuous processing of filaments, threads, ribbons, bands, tapes, etc., hereinafter referred to as thread or the like.

For convenience, the invention will be described March 29, 1940 in connection with the continuous processing of thread or the like on .apparatus of a type generally similar to that shown, described and claimed in a prior application for patent entitled Manufacture of artificial silk, Serial No. 7,114, filed February 13, 1935, by W. F. Knebusch and A. H. Burkholder. In the present application, as in said prior application, the apparatus shown comprises a plurality of thread-storage, threadadvancing devices disposed in processing sequence on each of which the thread or the like is subjected to one or more processing steps. Liquid processing treatments are applied to the thread or the like on certain of the earlier thread-storage, thread-advancing devices, after which the thread or the like is dried, preferably, but not necessarily, on another thread-storage, threadadvancing device. Thereafter the thread or the like is collected, as, for example, on cap-twisting apparatus.

The present invention provides certain im provements over prior processing practices.

For instance, the invention provides immediately prior to the drying operation a. stage in which no processing liquid is applied to the thread or the like, but in which, on the other hand, the liquid carried over by the thread or the like from the preceding liquid processing stage or stages is allowed to drip oil the thread or the like. During this step, the thread or the like is preferably stored on a thread-storage, thread-advancing device: inasmuch as a relatively long length of thread or the like may be stored on such a device, it is possible thereby to efiect the removal of a large part of the excess liquid carried by the thread or the like. The invention further provides apparatus comprising a chamber to which drying medium is supplied and, enclosed within it, advancing device on which the drying of the thread or the like may be eiiected. The use of a drip stage in conjunction with drying apparatus of this kind makes possible rapid, efficient and economical processing of the thread or the like,

The invention will be illustrated herein as applied to the processing of multiple filament viscose artificial silk thread.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, from line I--l of Figure 2 of apa thread-storage, thread-' paratus embodying the invention. Figure 2 is a corresponding front elevation. Figure 3 is a slightly enlarged elevation of a portion of the machine comprising one of the thread-storage, thread advancing devices with its associated apparatus for applying processing liquid. Figure 4 is a sectional elevation to a larger scale, along line 4-5 of Figure 5, of one form of threadstorage, thread-advancing device capable of being employed in the drying operation. Figure 5 is an end elevation thereof, parts being shown as broken away. Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of another form of thread-storage, thread-advancing device, which may, if desired, be employed in the wet processing steps. Figure 7 is a plan of the drying apparatus of Figures 4 and 5.

In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, thread I from some suitable source, such as a preceding thread-storage, thread-advancing device, proceeds in sequence to each of a plurality of thread-storage, thread-advancing

devices

2, 3, 4 from the last of which it proceeds :to captwister 5. The thread-storage, thread-advancing devices shown are of cantilever form; 1. e., supported and driven from one end only. They are disposed in stepped arrangement with the thread discharge end of each thread-storage, thread-advancing device adjacent the thread receiving end of the succeeding thread-storage, thread-advancing device, this arrangement providing important advantages in allowing access to the thread-storage, thread-advancing devices for starting the thread thereon, inspection, repair, etc. The earlier thread-storage, thread-advancing devices may be devoted to the wet processing of the thread while thread-storage, thread-advancing device 4 may be devoted to drying of the thread.

The thread-storage, thread-advancing devices employed in the practice of the invention may conveniently take the form of reels of the kind illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

By reference to Figures 4 and 5 it can be seen seen that each reel comprises two rigid, generally cylindrical members 6 and l. Member 6, which may be termed the concentric member, is mounted concentrically upon and for rotation with drive shaft 8 and has its periphery comprised of a plurality of bar members 9. Member 1, which may be termed the eccentric member, is rotatably mounted with its axis slightly oifset from and inclined to that of the concentric member and has its periphery comprised of bar members it,

a preferably reinforced at their outer ends by an annular rib I l, disposed alternately with bar members 9 of concentric member 6. Eccentric member 1 forms part of a generally cylindrical cage-like member H mounted, as by bolts i=3, on an annular supporting member l2. Annular supporting member I? is rotatably supported in offset and inclined position with respect to the axis of concentric member 3 by being suitably mounted on frame member it, the shaft 8 being journalled in or otherwise supported in correct relationship Wlth frame member i5. A bushing it may be provided in annular supporting member if to act as a bearing, if desired.

The reel of Figures 4 and 5 is particularly adapted to the application of a processing medium from the interior of the reel. In the embodiment illustrated, the means for accomplishing this function comprises a hollow drive shaft 8 communicating through ports ll with a chamber H3 in the body portion of concentric member 6. A plurality of holes l9 which may be spaced between the bar vmembers 9 of concentric member 8 provide communication between the chamber I8 and the periphery of the reel. which is shown as closing the end of hollow shaft 8, holds concentric member 6 against the pin 2| in shaft 8, which pin serves to locate member 5 longitudinally of the shaft and also may drive member 6, since the projecting ends of pin 2! may be positioned in a slot 22 in member 6. Sealing means 23 may be provided, if desired, to prevent the escape of processing medium past shaft 8. To prevent the entrance of processing medium into that portion of the reel mechanism at the junction of concentricmember 6 and eccentric member 1 and to prevent the escape of lubricants which might stain or soil the thread on the reel, flexible sealing means Mare provided.

Rotation of the drive shaft 8 causes concentric member 5, fixed thereto, to rotate, whereupon contact of bar members 9 of concentric member 6 with bar members I!) of eccentric member 1 causes said eccentric member to rotate at the same angular speed. During such rotation, the offset relationship of the generally cylindrical members 6 and '1 causes the thread to transfer from the bar members of one generally cylindrical member to the bar members of the other generally cylindrical member. At the same time, the inclined relationship of said generally cylindrical members causes the thread to advance in a plurality of spaced, generally helical turns. With a reel of this general type, any desired length of the thread within reasonable limits may be temporarily continuously stored in a plurality of advancing turns, without tangling or excessive tension on the thread.

The reel of Figure 6 is of the same general type as the reel of Figures 4 and 5, the only difference being that no provision is made for supplying processing medium to the thread from the inte rior of the reel.

As in the previously described reel, the reel of Figure 6 comprises two generally cylindrical members to and la mounted in offset and inclined relationship. Eccentric member la may be identical with the corresponding member of the previously described reel. The body portion of concentric member 6a is preferably formed with an annular wall 28 supporting the bar members 9. The hub 29 on which member 6a. is supported on the shaft 8a is-recessed so the endof the shaft 8a and thenut 3!, by means of which Plug bolt 20,

the concentric member Ea is mounted on said shaft by being held between the nut 3| and shoulder 32 on said shaft, are contained within the body of member 6a and this protected from processing liquids. To drive member 6a from the shaft 8a, which may be solid, a pin Zia through shaft 8a may be provided, the projecting ends of said pin fitting in the slots 22 in the member 6a. Since the manner in which the thread is stored and advanced on this reel is identical to that of the previously-described reel, no further description is necessary.

Reels of both types are shown, described, and claimed in copending application Serial No. 61,954.

In the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, the earlier thread-storage, thread-advancing devices may be devoted to wet processing treatments and thus it may be advantageous to employ reels of the type of Figure 6 for these processing stages. In

cases where it is desired to apply a processing liquid to the thread while it is stored on a reel, as on reel 2, the apparatus illustrated in Figure 3 may be employed. In this apparatus, thread I.

starts on the reel 2 at the rear and is advanced axially ofthe reel until it is discharged at the front end thereof. Processing liquid may be showered down on the thread stored on the reel from a suitably positioned reagent distributor 33 supp-lied by a pipe 34 which may extend longitudinally of the machine and serve all the reels in a horizontal series devoted to the same processing treatment. The processing liquid may be collected in a trough 35 of suitable design which may also extend longitudinally of the machine and serve all the corresponding reels in a horizontal series. The liquid collected in trough 35 may be passed to sewer or, if desired, may be recirculated by suitable means through pipe 3 3.

As previously mentioned, it is desirable in continuous processing apparatus of the type described to provide a drip stage after the last of the liquid processing stages. Thus in the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, a processing liquid such as wash water may be applied to the thread on reel 2 in which case reel 3 may constitute a drip stage; that is, a stage in which no processing liquid is applied to the thread but in which, on the other hand, the liquid carried over by the thread from the preceding stage is allowed to drip off into the collecting trough 35 below. Thus a substantial portion of the excess moisture is removed before the thread is subjected to the drying operation. Therefore a large saving is effected in the amount of drying medium required and a less intense drying treatment is necessary, since much less moisture must be removed from the thread;

In the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, the thread is dried on thread-storage, thread-advancing device 4, which may be a reel of the type of Figures 4 and 5. As shown in the last-mentioned figures, gaseous drying medium is applied from the interior of the reel to the thread stored thereon. To aid in the drying of the thread by intensifying the action of the drying medium, to reduce the amount of drying medium required, and to. permit more accurate control over drying conditions in the immediate vicinity of the reel, it has been found desirable to enclose the drying reel in a chamber 36. As shown, chamber 36 virtually completely encloses reel l: this is advantageous in that it prevents escape of the drying medium. As can be readily seen, the cantilever construction of the reel described lends itself to virtually complete enclosure of the reel and also to a design of the enclosing chamber providing ready access to the reel for threading up, inspection, repair, etc.

The chamber 36 includes a wall adjacent the unsupported end of the reel, the wall in this case taking the form of a cover 31, hingedly mounted on side wall 38. The cover 3? supports or is formed integral with the portion 39 of the wall 4!, in this case the top wall, through which the thread enters the chamber as it starts on the reel. A slot 42, through which the thread passes when entering the chamber, may be provided at the juncture of the movable portion 39 of the top wall and the stationary portion 43 of the top wall of the chamber. If the slot 42 is formed in the movable portion 33, it may be suitably formed as shown in Figure 7 to prevent interference with the thread when the front wall 37 and the portion 39 of the top wall are swung open to provide access to the reel. Since the thread leaves the reel at the free Or front end thereof, a slot it may be provided in a wall opposite this point through which the thread may leave the chamber.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the slot it is in the bottom wall 15 of the chamber and may be substantially closed by an extending lip it carried by the front wall 37. Latch il may be employed to keep the chamber closed. When access is desired to the reel 4 in the chamber 36, the front wall 3'11 together with the top portion 39 and extending lip 56 are swung back on the hinges 48, exposing the reel. Threading up of the reel is therefore a simple matter, the thread I being led on the reel at the rear, caused to progress along the reel during rotation thereof, and led oif the reel at the front thereof through the slot it in the chamber. The chamber may then be closed, the slot 52 eliminating any interference between the swingable portion 39 and the thread starting on the reel.

If desired, the drying medium may be recirculated. In the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, for instance, the drying medium is exhausted from each chamber 35 through duct 39 which communicates with the exhaust conduit 50 extending longitudinally of the machine and serving all the drying chambers in a horizontal series. The exhausted medium then passes through reheating or other reconditioning apparatus 56, after which it passes to the supply conduit 52 extending longitudinally of the apparatus. From the latter, through ducts 53, the drying medium is supplied to the interior of the reel through hollow drive shaft 8. Air or other gas, which may be heated, if desired, may conveniently be employed as the drying medium.

The cap-twister 5, conveniently comprising the collecting device for the thread after it leaves the last reel i, is actuated by suitable mechanism. A plurality of cap-twisters are mounted on a lifting rail 56 which is supported by the brackets ill. Brackets 57 are designed to guide the lifting rail in its vertical path, each comprising guide surfaces 6. which slide on a rigidly supported guide rod 59. The lifting rail 65 is vertically reciprocated by tension members ll fastened thereto at one end and at the other to the sprockets "i2 rigidly mounted on a rotatable shaft 73 extending parallel to the lifting rail. The shaft 13 is given a suitable oscillatory motion which causes the chain it to wind on and unwind from sprockets 12, thus reciprocating lifting rail 86. This oscillatory motion is imparted to shaft 73 by tension members 14 adapted to wind on and unwind from sprockets l5 rigidly mounted on shaft 13 and actuated by levers Hi from cams 11 mounted on drive shaft 18. Counter-weights may be supplied to counterbalance the weight of the reciprocating parts.

The whirls it of each pair of adjacent captWisteIs 5 are driven by belt 82 from rapidly rotatin drum 83. Guide rollers 84, also adapted to reciprocate vertically by being supported by brackets 57, may be provided to guide the belts 82 on the whirls Til. A belt tightener 85 may also be supplied for each belt. The effect of this captwisting mechanism is to rapidly rotate and vertically reciprocate the bobbins of the several captwisters so that the thread is twisted and at the same time wound in regular form upon the bobbins in the well known manner. To prevent the balloon formed by the thread during the operation of each twister from interfering with those of adjacent twisters, shields 86 may be provided between adjacent twisters. Such shields may conveniently be made part of the supporting means of the chamber 36 and may also support the thread guides 87 through which the thread passes on its way to the twisters 5.

In the apparatus shown, the thread has an approximately straight travel from the drying reel 5 to cap-twister 5, in consequence of which fact the actual twisting of the thread takes place at least as far back as the point at which the thread is discharged from the reel and perhaps even on the reel itself within a short distance of the point at which the thread leaves the reel. In either case, the twist is introduced into the thread in chamber 36; consequently, the thread is twisted while subjected to the processing conditions obtaining in such chamber. This is advantageous in that it is possible by twisting the thread at a temperature substantially above room temperature to eliminate any necessity for a subsequent consequence: the twist ent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatver features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In the processing of thread or the like pursuant to a method in which the thread or the like is passed in sequence to a plurality of independent thread-storage devices on each of which the thread or the like is continuously but temporarily stored in a large number of generally helical turns, the steps of subjecting the thread or the like to processing treatment while it is stored on a first of said plurality of thread-storage devices; passing the thread or the like from said first to a second of said plurality of threadstorage devices on which the thread or the like is stored in a suflicient length so that over at least part of the helix, on which part no processing liquid is applied to the thread or the like,

elevated temperature in immediate proximity to said third of ,said plurality of thread-storage devices.

2. In the processing of thread or the like pursuant to a method in which the thread is passed in sequence to a plurality of independent threadstorage devices on each of which the thread or the like is continuously but temporarily stored in a large number of generally helical turns, the steps of subjecting the thread or the like to processing treatment while it is stored on a first of said plurality of thread-storage devices; passing the thread or the like from said first .to a second of said pulrality of thread-storage devices on which the thread or the like is stored in a sufficient length so that over at least part of the helix, on which part no processing liquid is applied to the thread or the like, processing liquid which has previously been applied to the thread or the like is permitted to drip therefrom; and passing the thread or the like from said second to a third of said plurality of thread-storage devices, on which the thread or the like is dried.

3. In the processing of thread or the like pursuant to a method in which the thread or the like is passed in sequence to a plurality of independent thread-storage devices on each of which the thread or the like is continuously but temporarily stored in a large number of generally helical turns, the steps of subjecting the thread or the like to processing treatment while it is stored on the first of said plurality of thread-storage devices; passing the thread or the like from said first to a second of said plurality of thread-storage devices on which the thread or the like is stored in a sufiicient length so that over at least part of the helix, on which part no processing liquid is applied to the thread or the like, processing liquid which has previously been applied to the thread or the like is permitted to drip therefrom; and thereafter drying the thread or the like.

4. A method of processing viscose artificial silk thread pursuant to which completely coagulated thread is continuously subjected to processing treatment comprising the steps of subjecting the thread to the action of a processing liquid; passing the thread to a unitary thread-advancing reel on which the thread is continuously but temporarily stored in a large number of generally helical turns in a sufficient length so that over at least part of the helix, on which part no processing liquid is applied to the thread, processing liquid which has previously been applied to the thread is permitted to drip therefrom; and thereafter drying the thread.

5. A method of processing viscose artificial silk thread pursuant to which completely coagulated thread is continuously subjected to processing treatment comprising the steps of subjecting the thread to the action of a processing liquid; passing the thread to and removing moisture from the thread on a unitary thread-advancing reel on which the thread is continuously but temporarily stored in a large number of generally helical turns, said thread advancing reel discharging the thread in wet condition; passing the thread to and removing moisture from the thread on another unitary thread-advancing reel on which the thread is continuously but temporarily stored in a large number of generally helical turns, the removal of moisture from the thread on said thread advancing reel being accomplished by heating the thread to a condition of substantial dryness; and twisting the thread while still at an elevated temperature in immediate proximity to said last-mentioned thread-advancing reel.

6. The method of claim 5 in which, in the course of the step of removing moisture from the thread on said first-mentioned thread-advancing reel, liquid clinging to the thread is allowed to drip therefrom.

7. The method of claim 5 in which, in the course of the step of removing moisture from the thread on said last-mentioned thread-advancing reel, the thread is twisted in contact with said threadadvancing reel.

8. Apparatus for the processing of thread or the like comprising a first thread-storage, threadadvancing device on which the thread or the like is stored in a suificient length so that over at least part of said thread-storage, thread-advancing device, on which part no processing liquid is applied to the thread or the like, processing liquid which has previously been applied to the thread or the like is permitted to drip therefrom; a second thread-storage, thread-advancing device on which thread-storage, thread-advancing device the thread or the like is dried; and, associated with said second thread-storage, threadadvancing device, means for introducing a twist into the thread or the like before the thread or the like leaves said thread-storage, thread-advancing device.

9. Apparatus for the processing of thread or the like comprising a first thread-storage, threadadvancing device on which the thread or the like is subjected to processing treatment; a second thread-storage, thread-advancing device on which the thread or the like is stored in a sufiicient length so that over at least part of said thread-storage, thread-advancing device, on which part no processing liquid is applied to the thread or the like, processing liquid which has previously been applied to the thread or the like is permitted to drip therefrom; a third threadstorage, thread-advancing device on which thread-storage, thread-advancing device the thread or the like is dried; and, associated with said third thread-storage, thread-advancing device, means for introducing a twist into the thread or the like before the thread or the like leaves said thread-storage, thread-advancing device.

WALTER F. KNEBUSCH. ALDEN H. BURKHOLDER.