US2251886A

US2251886A - Apparatus for the manufacture of thread

Info

Publication number: US2251886A
Application number: US261434A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jannell William
Original assignee: Industrial Rayon Corp
Current assignee: Industrial Rayon Corp
Priority date: 1935-09-20
Filing date: 1939-03-13
Publication date: 1941-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1958-08-05
Also published as: US2260251A

Description

1941- w. JANNELL 2,251,886

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THREAD Original Filed Sept. 20, 1935 HH P: 3

I 35 3 35 v 42 L J /4j Z7 33 3 W45;

Patented Aug. 5, 1941 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THREAD William Jannell, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware Original application September 20, 1935, Serial Divided and this application March 13, 1939, Serial No. 261,434

9 Claims.

This application, which is a division of application Serial No. 41,447, filed September 20, 1935, relates to apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like, hereinafter referred to as thread.

The invention is capable of use in the manufacture of various kinds of thread, such as artificial silk thread produced by the cuprammonium, nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, or viscose processes. For convenience but in no sense of limitation, the invention will be described in connection with apparatus for the manufacture by a continuous process of multiple filament viscose artificial silk thread. On such apparatus, the thread is formed and continuously but temporarily stored in the form of an advancing helix on one or more thread-advancing thread store devices upon which any desired processing treatments may be applied to the thread.

In the drawing, in which is illustrated one form of apparatus embodying the invention, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of apparatus comprising a series of thread-advancing thread store devices. Figure 2 is an end elevation of said apparatus. Figure 3 is a plan of said apparatus showing somewhat more clearly the arrangement of the thread-advancing thread store devices. Figure 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of one form of thread-advancing thread store device which may be employed in apparatus embodying the invention. Figure 5 is an end elevation corresponding to Figure 4.

In the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, each multiple filament viscose artificial silk thread I is formed by extrusion of viscose from spinneret 2 into coagulating bath 3 contained in trough 26, the thread being drawn through a thread guide 4 by the thread-advancing thread store device 5. The latter is the first of a series of such devices so disposed as to form a rectilinear bank in which the individual devices are arranged with their axes parallel, in the same horizontal or substantially horizontal plane, but obliquely to a vertical plane paralleling the longitudinal axis of the coagulating trough 26. The thread I passes in turn to each device in the series, each of said devices advancing the thread lengthwise thereof in a plurality of closely spaced, generally helical turns.

Each thread-advancing thread store device other than the first is so positioned that the thread-receiving end thereof is adjacent the thread discharge end of the preceding device, the devices being further disposed as shown in Figure 3, so that a thread passing to each of the devices in turn advances in a plurality of generally helical turns toward the operating face of the series as a whole. Various processing treatments may be applied to the thread while stored on the thread-advancing thre'ad store devices, one or more processing operations being performed on the thread on each of said devices. Any necessary or desirable number ofdevices on which the desired processing steps are carried out may be provided in the series.

In the illustrated apparatus, after the thread leaves the last device of the series it passes through a guide I2 to a suitable collecting device, as, for example, the cap-twister l3.

A form of thread-advancing thread store device which may be employed to advantage in apparatus embodying the invention is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the same comprising a threadadvancing reel operating on the principle of the reel shown, described and claimed in application Serial No. 652,089, filed January 16, 1933, by Walter F. Knebusch. 0n the surface of such reel a predetermined length of thread may be stored in a large number of closely spaced, generally helical turns. The thread turns are caused by the action of the elements of the reel to advance lengthwise of the reel until they are removed at the discharge end thereof. Instead of the reel herein illustrated, other forms of thread-advancing thread store devices may be used.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the reel shown comprises two rigid members l4 and I5 each of which is generally circular in cross section and has its periphery composed of longitudinally extending bars. Member M, which may be termed the concentric member because it is mounted, as by means of set screw IS, with its axis concentric with that of the drive shaft I1, is provided with a spider (8 on which bars l9 are mounted. Member l5, which may be termed the eccentric member, is provided with a spider 20 supporting bars 2|. The peripheries of each of members 14 and I5 are provided with an equal number of bars, which number is preferably as large as practicable, the bars of each member being disposed alternately to and longitudinally of the bars of the other member.

The. eccentric member I5 is so termed because it is mounted on bushing 22, which is in turn rotatably supported on member 23, in such manner that the axis about which member I 5 rotates is inclined to and offset from the axis of rotation of member M. Member I5 is driven by contact of bars 2| with bars l9 of member M. The offset and inclined relationship of members l4 and l5 causes, during rotation thereof,-the thread to advance in the manner explained in the afore- 'mentioned Knebusch application. The reel here-v in shown is of cantilever form in that it is supported from one end only thereof, the other end being unobstructed by anything impeding the discharge of thread from the reel.

Because the reel is made up of interdigitating sets of bars; 1. e., because it is of unitary construction, it is self-threading. That is, if the leading end of a thread having a sufficient degree of adhesion to cling to the bars, as a wet thread, is brought into contact with the reel, the reel will automatically wind and advance the thread in spaced, generally helical turns during rotation of the reel. This arises from the fact that, due

to the interdigitation of the bars of the reel mem-- bers, the thread cannot wind itself about one reel member only, but must wind about both in generally helical turns. This feature provides important advantages in starting the thread on the reel.

Among other things, the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 provides convenience for the operator; accessibility for repairs, control, and maintenance purposes; and economy of floor space, construction, etc. Figures 1 to 3, however, show portions of only one unit of a series of units which may be disposed at suitable intervals along a central structure 25 on each side of which are mounted longitudinally extending troughs 26 containing coagulating baths 3. Each unit consists of a housing 21 on the opposite sides of which the reels are mounted as shown in Figure 3. In the illustrated apparatus, there are four such series of reels to each unit, each series of reels, together with its auxiliary apparatus, comprising all the processing equipment necessary to handle each thread.

.Power for allunits is supplied by the main drive shaft 28 which is driven by some suitable means such as an electric motor. 29 mounted for rotation with shaft 23 mesh with helical gears 30 which rotate

reel drive shafts

32 and 33 through clutches 34. Each pair of

shafts

32 and 33 drives the reels on one side of the housing 21 through gears 35. By means of the corresponding clutch 34 actuated by associated lever 35, any series of reels may be disengaged from the main drive shaft and stopped as desired without the necessity for stopping the entire machine.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, no processing liquid other 7 than that carried up by the thread from the co-' agulating bath 3 is applied on the first reel 5, which is used as a set-up reel. On reel 5, a considerable length of thread is stored for a period of time sufiicient to permit substantially complete regeneration of the cellulose content of the viscose to occur before the thread passes to the subsequent reels. with its axis oblique to the longitudinal axis of the trough 26, its thread-receiving portion at the supported end of the reel being directly above the trough. The portion at which the thread leaves the reel at the unsupported end thereof is dis! posed beyond the working face of the trough. In the apparatus shown, moreover, the threadreceiving portion of the reel 5 is substantially directly above the corresponding spinneret 2 so that the thread I passes in an approximately vertical direction to the reel.

In the manufacture of multiple filament viscose artificial silk thread, it may be desirable, by

supply pipe 42.

the use of suitable reagents, to desulphurize, wash, bleach, wash, soap and dry the thread on succeeding reels before it is collected. In such case, the liquid treatment administered to thread on the reels following reel 5 may be applied by means similar to that shown in connection with reel 6. For example, the treating liquid may be applied by showering it on the thread on reel 6 by means of reagent distributor 31. A collecting trough 38 and drain pipe 39 may be provided to collect the reagent liquid as it leaves the reel.

Since reels in the corresponding positions on opposite sides of the housing 21 may be devoted to the same processing operations, the reagent liquid distributorsfor corresponding reels may be interconnected, as by pipe 4| connected to Likewise the drain pipes 33 for like troughs 38 on opposite sides of the housing 21 may be connected by a cross pipe 43 communicating with drain pipe 44. In the case of liquids such as wash water which are usedonly once, drain pipe 44 may lead to a sewer. In a case'of a reagent which it may be desirable to recirculate, the drain pipe 44 may lead to a storage tank and recirculating pump which will cause the treating liquid to circulate back to reagent'distributor 31.

The last reel II of each series may be provided with means for drying the thread such as chamber46, to which chambe .heated air is supplied Helical gears The reel 5 is disposed as shown 'as through pipe 41, as sh '111 Figure 2.

Cap-twister [3, provided as the collecting means for the thread, may be actuated by mechanism such as that illustrated in Figure 2. The end of the housing 21 is supported by standard 48 on the frames 49 which support the twister mechanism. The lifting rail 5| on which are mounted the rotatable bobbin-supporting whirls 6| of the cap twisters l3 isslidably mounted on frames 49. Each twister whirl 6| is rotated by a belt 62 which passes over'tension pulleys 63 and is driven by pulley 64 mounted for rotation with the shaft 65 driven by suitable means (not shown).

Spindles 54 for the cap-twisters l3 are connected at their lower ends to arms 55 fastened to the frames 43. The required vertical reciprocatory movement is imparted to the lifting rail 5| by chain 56 passing over an idler sprocket carried by shaft 51 which chain is fastened at one end to the lifting rail. The other end of chain 56 is fastened to a sprocket fixed to shaft 53 rotated first in one direction and then in the other by suitable means, such as a cam and lever.

It is apparent that the features of the invention may be applied to apparatus other than that illustrated; also, that various changes and modifications may be made in the illustrated apparatus without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, under certain conditions, as in the processing of thread or thread-like articles of sufliciently high tensile strengths, it is possible to cause the reels to rotate by the action of the thread or the like as it is drawn off, in which case the necessity for posiing a working face on one side thereof; a unitary, self-threading thread-advancing thread store device of cantilever construction mounted above the level of the liquid in said trough with its unsupported end presented to said operating face, said thread-advancing thread store device being disposed with respect to said trough in such fashion that at least a portion of its horizontal projection will lie within the lateral limits of the trough; a spinning nozzle in said trough from which the thread passes to said thread-advancing thread store device without crossing the lateral limits of said trough; and take-up means disposed beyond the lateral limits of said trough to which take-up means the thread passes from said thread-advancing thread store device.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the axis of said thread-advancing thread store device is at an angle to a vertical plane paralleling the longitudinal axis of said trough.

3. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a longitudinally extending trough containing a coagulating liquid, said trough having a working face on one side thereof; a spinning nozzle in said trough; a unitary, selfthreading thread-advancing thread store device of cantilever construction having its unsupported end presented to said working face mounted above the level of the liquid in said trough in such fashion that at least a portion of its horizontal projection will lie within the lateral limits of the trough, the thread passing from said spinning nozzle to the supported end of said threadadvancing thread store device in a substantially verticalpath disposed entirely within the lateral limits of said trough; and, disposed in proximity to said thread-advancing thread store device, take-up means to which the thread passes from the unsupported end thereof.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the axis of said thread-advancing thread store device extends obliquely to a vertical plane paralleling the longitudinal axis of said trough.

5. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprisinga longitudinally extending trough containing a coagulating liquid, said trough having a working face on one side thereof; a spinning nozzle in said trough; a unitary, selfthreading thread-advancing thread store device of cantilever construction to the supported end of which the thread passes from said spinning nozzle, said thread-advancing thread store device being mounted above the level of the liquid in said trough with its thread-receiving portion directly over said trough and its unsupported end presented to the working face of said trough; and take-up means to which the thread passes from the unsupported end of said thread-advancing thread store device.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 in which the unsupported end of said thread-advancing thread store device extends beyond the lateral limits of said trough.

7. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said threadadvancing thread store device extends beyond the lateral limits .of said trough with its axis at an acute angle to a vertical plane paralleling the longitudinal axis of said trough.

8. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a longitudinally extending trough containing a coagulating liquid, said trough having a working face on one side thereof; a spinning nozzle in said trough; a unitary, selfthreading thread-advancing thread store device of cantilever construction to the supported end of which the thread passes from said spinning nozzle mounted above the level of the liquid in said trough with its thread-receiving portion directly over said trough and its thread-discharge portion projecting beyond the lateral limits of said trough on the side thereof on which said working face is located, whereby the path of the thread from said spinning nozzle to said threadadvancing thread store device lies entirely within and the path of the thread leaving said threadadvancing thread store device lies entirely beyond the lateral limits of said trough: and take-up means to which the thread passes from said thread-advancing thread store device.

-9. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a longitudinally extending trough containing a coagulating liquid; a spinning nozzle in said trough; a deck associated with and providing access to said trough; and, mounted above said trough in such fashion that at least a portion of its horizontal projection will lie within the lateral limits of the trough, a unitary, self-threading thread-advancing thread store device of cantilever construction to the supported end of which the thread passes from said spinning nozzle, the unsupported end of said threadadvancing thread store device being directed toward and extending over said deck to facilitate the withdrawal of the thread from the unsupported end of said thread-advancing thread store device.

WILLIAM JANNELL.