US2338722A - Manufacture of rayon - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 11, 1944.

A. L. JACKSON 2,338,722

MANUFACTURE OF RAYON Filed Feb. '3, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jrlwrl. Jaclyn];

Jan. 11, 1944. A. JACKSON MANUFACTURE OF RAYON Filed Feb, 3, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan, 11, 1944. A. L. JACKSON 'MANUFACTURE OF RAYON Filed Feb. 5, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 11, 1944 Arthur L. Jackson,

West Asheville, N. 0., assignor to American Enka Corporation, Erika, N. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application February 3, 1943, Serial No. 474,576

Claims.

This application constitutes a continuation-inpart of my applications Serial No. 350,215, filed August 3, 1940, and Serial No. 397,793, filed June 12, 1941.

The present invention relates to the production conjunction with the manufacture of rayon by the bobbin spinning process.

In the manufacture of rayon according to the bobbin spinning process, freshly formed filaments are led directly from a spinning bath to a spinning bobbin on which they are wound in successive layers until a package of suitable size has been prepared. Ordinarily the bobbin is rotated and the yarn i laid up thereon in longitudinal courses by a traverse mechanism. Rayon yarn, after having been so prepared in package form is not yet, however, in finished condition, but must be later subjected to a number of aftertreatments such as washing, desulphurizing. bleaching and drying. According to conventional practice anyor all of these after-treatments may be accomplished while the yarn is still in package form as originally wound on the bobbin, a hollow perforated spinning bobbin being employed so that the package of yarn may be placed in either a pressure or vacuum system in which treating liquids are forced radially through the perforations in the bobbin and through the yarn body wound thereon.

In commercial practice of the above process, two problems are continuously present. One of these is the production of a package having satisfactory washing qualities, while the other i concerned with the weight and diameter of the package. Since the character of the finished product largely depends upon the uniformity of aftertreatment, it is evident that the washing qualities of .the package cannot be sacrificed in the interest of greater weight despite the fact that a heavy package involves the inherent advantage of reducing the amount of handling per pound of yarn produced.

In my said application Serial No. 350,215, many of the'washing problems encountered in bobbin spinning of rayon are satisfactorily solved even where the thread is collected in package form under high tension. However. the process and apparatus of said application is particularly concerned with the production of a package havin conical ends.

It has long been recognized that enormous savings could be effected in the production of rayon if it were possible to produce and efficiently aftertreat a large diameter package of truly cylindrical form, the ends of which would lie in a plane normal to its axis. Such packages, however, have not heretofore been deemed feasible since'there is a tendency of the thread to tahgleat the pack age ends where the traverse change direction in substantially the same radius of the bobbin throughout the entire winding on period. In addition to the tangling difliculty, imperfections in the cam and follower mechanisms which operate the traverse cause the occurence of humps adjacent the end of the package, these humps being of greater diameter than the remainder of the package and consequently requiring a longer washing time. It is evident that the additional time required for washing the humps is wasted as regards the remainder of the package and is consequently inefficient. These humps also contribute to the production of thread of non-'uniform denier and therefore lower quality.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to overcome all of the foregoing difficulties-and to produce wound thread packages having superior washing qualities and the thread per se, havin a more uniform denier, said packages being characterized by a cylindrical shape and ends lying substantially in a plane normal to the package axis.

In accordance with the concept of the present process it is contemplated that a wound package of yarn or thread having ends substantiall vertical with respect to its axis will be produced and will be characterized by considerable density while being uniformly permeable throughout to facilitate any fluid treatment deemed necessary or desirable.

The provision of readily adjustable apparatus for producing wound packages of uniform permeability under either high or low tension is also an object of this invention, while the apparatus is contemplated for use in ordinary bobbin spinning, in two bath spinning, or in other winding operations requiring the production of a dense package of controlled permeability throughout its axial length.

To this end it is contemplated to continuous- 1y wind packages of yarn according to a predetermined fixed pattern such as the basket weave" and to relatively axially displace successively wound portions of the pattern to produce a dense cylindrical wound package of controlled permeability.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view oi a portion of a winding machine illustrating an assembly including a gear train for driving the bobbins and traverse mechanism in synchronism and an automatic tripping coupling for effecting intermittent axial displacement of the winding pattern;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation in partial section of the traverse control mechanism;

Figure 3 is a view taken along line 3-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a view taken along line'11 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a view in longitudinal section of a thread package wound according to the teachings of this invention illustrating the effect of intermittent displacement of successively wound portions thereof; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic representation of axial displacement of the traverse path.

Referring to the winding machine shown in Figure 1, it will be seen that a series of yarns l issuing from a spinning bath, not shown, are wound on perforated bobbins II supported and driven by shafts l2. The yarns III are laid up in successive courses, axially of bobbins II, by a reciprocating traverse bar I3 of conventional form which as shown, is driven at a rate of speed directly proportional to the speed of rotation of the bobbins.

When it is desirable to effect this synchronism as regards the operating speeds of traverse bar l3 and bobbins ll, each is driven indirectly from a single source of power, namely gear I I which is attached to shaft l of a variable speed power source diagrammatically indicated at l5.

To effect a' driving connection between each bobbin II and gear I4, the respective shafts I 2 of bobbins I l are provided with identical gears l1, gears 11 meshing with identical gears I 8 attached at spaced intervals along a shaft l9. Shaft i5 is driven by gear 14 through gear 20 consequence, will cause all of the bobbins II to rotate in the same direction at a constant speed determined by the speed of rotation of shaft l5 and the relative diameters of gears II and 20.

. It will be recognized that although only two bobbins are shown in Figure 1,' a large number of such bobbins will be employed simultaneously in commercial spinning.

The traverse bar l3 which operates in synchronism with bobbins H is also driven from gear I 4 although the intermediate driving connections are somewhat more complex. It will be noted that traverse bar I3 is supported at spaced intervals by arms 21 depend from a rocker shaft 22 suitably journaled ina manner not shown. Upon oscillation of rocker shaft which are attached to and causing traverse bar I! to reciprocate and by means of suitable guides lay up yarn 10 in superimposed courses extending axially of each bobbin.

To efl'ect the oscillation of shaft 22 an arm 23 is keyed thereto, this arm being provided with a cam follower 24 movable in response to rotation of a heart-shaped cam 25. Heart cam 25 is mounted for rotation with a shaft-26 which is provided at one end with a driving gear 21.

Since the rotation of shaft 26 is impartedto cam 25 which controls the reciprocation of traverse bar 12, shaft 26 is driven from gear I! through gear 21 in order to bring about the synchronism discussed above. However, it is desirable that the speed of traverse bar I! be considerably less than, although proportional to, the speed of rotation of bobbins II also driven from gear ll. Tothis end, a speed reduction gear train, including gears 28 and 29, is interposed between gear I and gear 21 to reduce the speed of shaft 25 with respect to that of shaft I9.

It will be understood that each of the shafts for the various gears is suitably supported in a Journal not shown. Thus by rotation of shaft 15, movement will be imparted to shaft is through gear 20 and to shaft 26 through gears 21, 28, and 29. While but a single gear train for shafts 25 and I9 is illustrated in Figure 1, it is contemplated that a commercial installation include a second shaft, such as IS, on the opposite side of the machine, for driving another group of bobbins, said second shaft also being driven from shaft l5 through a gear train. or course, on a two sided machine traverse bar l3, rocker shaft 22 and arm 23 are also duplicated.

The spinning machine as thus far described, if operated, would cause superimposed courses of yarn to be built up on the bobbins according to a fixed pattern determined by the speed ratio between traverse bar l3 and the periphery of bobbins H. Each course of yarn would, however, exactly correspond to every other course in length. However, during the entire winding on period, the speed of shaft I5 is gradually reduced by operation of variable speed transmission It so that the takeup or peripheral speed of the bobbins II is maintained constant. also driven, albeit indirectly, from shaft l5 of variable speed transmission l6, it is evident that the speed of operation of traverse bar I: Will be likewise continuously reduced during the winding on period, the speed ratio between bobbins II and traverse bar I! being maintained at a constant value predetermined by the characterand, as a 22, arms 2| will also oscillate thus istics of gear train 20, 21, 28, and 29. This sy chronism, without more, would produce in theory a basket weave in which each course of the yarn body would directly overlie each preceding course and the yarn body as a whole would be truly cylindrical having ends lying in planes normal to the bobbin axis. Due to the fact that the development of cam one, however, a lag at the changes of direction would result in humps" adjacent the ends of the package.

To avoid the production of humps resulting from imperfections in the cam 25 and the follower linkages driven therefrom, and to avoid tangling of thread at the end of the package, it is proposed according to this invention to intermittently bodily displace cam 25 in a vertical sense thereby to axially displace portions of the wound thread with respect to thereof. To this end a novel .clutch arrangement is provided for driving cam 25 continuously Since cam 25 is 25 is not truly a straight line of increased diameter preceding portions,

from shaft 26, while intermittently vertically displacing the same without alteration of its eccentricity.

Referring now to Figure 4, it will be seen that cam 26 is provided with a vertically elongated central aperture so that it is wholly out of direct contact with shaft 26. Within the elongate opening of cam 25 an arm 30 is disposed, this arm being entirely free of cam 26 but keyed to shaft 26 and extending radially therefrom. The end of arm 36, remote from the point of attachment to shaft 26, has therein a small aperture receiving a bolt 3| held in position by a nut 32. Bolt 3| extends from the end of arm 36 to the right side of the machine as viewed in Figure 2 passing through a vertical slot 33. (Figure 5) in a spider 34, said bolt 3| being held by a nut- 36 on the other side of spider 34 as may be seen in Figures 2 and 5. Spider 34 is mounted for rotation about a cylindrical cam 36 having an eccentric interior bore through which shaft 26 passes. It can now be seen that spider 34 will turn about cam 36 as a bearing at a speed corresponding to the speed of rotation of shaft 26. the rotation being imparted through arm 36and bolt 3|. Spider 34 serves to drive heart cam 25 and to this end four bolts 31 are provided. Each bolt 31 is threaded at both ends and is provided with an intermediate polygonal shank portion of increased cross-sectional area. One end of each bolt 31 is passed through an aperture 38 in'cam 25 and through a registering aperture in spider 34. The end of each bolt on the other side of the polygonal shank portion is passed through an aperture at 39 in a spider -46. Nuts 4| and 42 are then threaded on opposite ends of each bolt 31 to draw spider 34 against cam 26 and to draw cam 25 and spider 46 toward one another against the shoulders defined by the portions of bolts 31 which are of increased crosssection area, see Figures 2 to 5, inclusive.

From the foregoing, it is evident that arm 30 through bolt 3| drives spider 34, which, through the four bolts 31, drives cam 25 and so causes displacement of follower 24 and traversing movement on the part of bar l3. While cam 25 is driven from shaft 26, it should be noted that it rotates about the outer surface of cam 36 as an axis. It is likewise evident that if cam 36 were to be displaced in an angular sense 180 from the position shown in Figure 5, cam 25 would be raised vertically with respect to shaft 26, while its eccentricity with respect to cam 36 would remain the same. Such a movement will cause the traverse to begin and end its stroke of uniform length in axially offset radii of bobbins Ii.

The apparatus for effecting intermittent angular displacement of cam 36 for 180 is best illustrated in Figures 2, 6 and 7 to which reference is noW made. In Figure 2 it will be noted that cam 36 in spider 34 is integrally attached to sleeve 43 fitting concentrically over shaft 26 but not connected thereto in any way. This portion 43 of cam 36 constitutes a bearing surface for a sleeve 44 which latter carries an integral worm gear 45 and an integral cam 46 at its opposite ends. Sleeve 44 is freely rotatable about sleeve portion 43 of cam 36 and is held against axial displacement in one direction by a collar 41 and in the other direction by hub 48 of a disk 49 which is also mounted on sleeve portion 43 of cam 36 albeit keyed thereto. Near the margin of disk 49 it is provided with a boss 56 having an internal aperture through which a pin 6| is passed. Keyed to pin 5| at 6,2 is a cam follower lever 63 disposed in a position to be engaged and acted upon by cam 46. At the other end of pin 6| a dog 641s keyed thereto at 66. Dog 64 coacts with the surface of a cam 66 which is integral with and constitutes one end of a sleeve 61. The other end of sleeve 61 consists of a gear 66 which meshes with and is driven by a gear 69. Gear 69 is mounted on a stub shaft which also carries a gear 69 keyed to its opposite end. Gear 66 meshes with and is driven by a gear 6| which is keyed to shaft 26. The stub shaft which supports gears 69 and 66 is mounted in a bearing 62 supported by a bracket 63 from any convenient portion of the machine frame. While gear 6| is keyed to shaft 26, sleeve 61 including the integral cam and gear is mounted for free rotation on shaft 26. Sleeve 51 is held against axial displacement in one direction by a collar 64 and in the other direction by the end of sleeve portion 43 of cam 36.

Upon reference to Figure 6 it will be noted that disk 49 is provided with two marginal notches 65 and 66 disposed 180 apart. These notches are for the reception of a catch 61 urged radially inwardly of disk 49 by a spring 66 supported at its end remote from the catch from any suitable portion of the machine frame. The function of catch 61 is to prevent rotation of disk 49 brought about by frictional engagement with adjacent elements which may be driven. In other words, catch 61. serves to prevent creepage on the part of disk 49 or the cam. 36 to which it is keyed.

It will be noted that worm gear is in mesh with a worm 69 which continuously drives it in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6. Worm 69 is driven from a source, not shown. which may be a gear train connecting it to shaft 26. Sleeve 51, and consequently cam 56, is continuously driven from shaft 26 through gears 6|, 63, 59, and 58. The motion of cam 56, however, is not nonnally imparted to disk 49 due to the fact that dog 54 is held in its broken line position of Figure 7 by the action of cam 46 on cam follower 53. In other words, while follower 53 is in engagement with the surface of cam 46 it is raised to the broken line position of Figure 6. Being keyed to shaft 5|, this position of follower 53 results in a corresponding position on the part of dog 54. Ultimately, however, cam 46 will be displaced by worm gear 45 so that cam follower 53 will drop inwardly off edge 16 of cam 46 under the action of spring 1| which is anchored to stud 12 extending from disk 49.

,When this occurs, dog 54 will'be moved to its full line position of Figure '1. It will then be engaged by edge 13 of cam 56 and the-rotation of the latter will be imparted to the disk which will be caused to rotate in the direction of the outer arrow shown on the disk in Figure 6. Of course, when disk '49 is rotated cam follower 53' and dog 54 move with it. Thus, cam follower 53 is brought into engagement with edge 14 of cam 46 and is moved radially outwardly by the cam. This restores dog 54 to its broken line position and catch 61 arrests movement of disk 49. Since disk 49 is keyed to the sleeve portion 43 of cam 46, it is evident that the latter will turn only when the former turns. Furthermore, it is evident that the amplitude ofangular displacement will be when cams 46 and 56 are arranged as in Figure 2.

By properly locating edges 19 and 14 of cam 46 and by driving that cam at a proper predetermined speed the position of the pattern on parting from the spirit and scope of the present invention, e. g., it is not necessary to drive the bobbin and traverse in synchronism if large square packages are to be produced and aftertreated in accordance with the teachings of my application Serial Number 433,099, filed March 2, 1942 In such a case the traverse mechanism may be driven independently from the bobbin.

It is further contemplated to build packages wherein the type of crosswind varies throughout the winding period. More explicitly, the bobbin and traverse may be driven in synchroniam to produce a pattern during the initial stages and then at predetermined periods their ratio changed or they may even be driven independently to produce random winding. The essential end in View is to provide a package which is suificiently permeable in those portions that otherwise could not be properly washed and aftertreated. As a further method of changing the density of portions of the package, the displacement of superimposed layers may be efiected for only apart of the winding period.

The term "course as employed in the specification and claims is intended to define the laying up of yarn axially of the rotating bobbin for a distance determined by the length of the stroke of the traverse bar. Axial displaced or axially displacing? means shifting the traverse bar axially of the bobbin or shifting the bobbin axially of the traverse bar, for a predetermined period to efiect laying up of a number of courses, all superimposed but displaced with respect to courses therebelow. However, the amplitude of the traverse stroke remains the same so that if the traverse and bobbin are driven in synchronism the pattern per se will not be altered although portions thereof throughout the body of the package will be axially displaced.

Having now described the invention in its preferred form, it is understood that variations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is desired that the scope thereof be limited only by the spirit of the appended claims.

What-is claimed is:

1. A freshly spun cross-wound package of rayon threads and the like, the package being characterized by a plurality of layers of thread,

all of the layers constituting the body of the package being of the same axial length and throughout the body thereof at predetermined, spaced, radial points, a group of layers of threads axially displaced with respect to a group of layers therebelow whereby a cylindrical package is formed having overlapping layers which provide self-supporting endslying substantially in a plane normal to the axis of the package.

2. A freshly spun permeable cross-wound package of rayon threads, each thread composed of substantially untwisted filaments, the package being further characterized by a plurality of superimposed layers of thread of the same axial length wound according to a fixed pattern and throughout the body of the package at predetermined points therein, a group of layers of thread axially displaced with respect to a group of layers therebelow whereby a cylindrical package is formed having overlapping layers which provide self-supporting ends lying substantially in a plane normal to the axis of the package and the overall axial length of the package being greater than.

5 the layers constituting the body thereof.

3. A method for'the preparation of cylindrical rayon cross-wound packages having ends lying substantially in a plane normal to the axis thereof which comprises winding freshly spun rayon threads onto a bobbin and throughout the winding period guiding the thread transversely a uniform distance across the surface of the package to form successive courses of equal axial length and at predetermined intervals axially displacing a plurality of courses to form overlapping layers having self-supporting square ends.

4. A method for the preparation of cylindrical rayon cross-wound packages having ends lying substantially in a plane normal to the axis thereof which comprises collecting a freshly spun thread on a bobbin and guiding it transversely a uniform distanc across the surface of the package to form successive courses of equal axial length, iorming a permeable package by superimposing '25 a plurality of layers'oi thread on the bobbin according to a predetermined fixed pattern and, throughout the winding period, axially displacing a group of layers at intervals to form overlapping layers having self-supporting square ends. v

5. A method for the preparation of large crosswound packages of freshly spun rayon which comprises collecting such thread on a bobbin at a substantially constant linear speed and guiding it transversely a uniform distance across the surface of the package to form successive courses of equal axial length, maintaining a constant ratio between the rotational speed of the bobbin and rate at which the thread is laid transversely 0 thereof to produce a predetermined pattern and axially displacing a group of layers at intervals throughout the winding period to form a cylindrical package of greater axial length than the layers constituting the body thereof, said layers overlapping to provide self-supporting square ends.

6. An apparatus for winding threads andthe like into cylindrical cross-Wound packages having ends lying substantially in a plane normal to the axis thereof which comprises a driven bobbin, a traverse mechanism including a thread guide moveable transversely of the bobbin, means for driving the traverse mechanism so that the stroke amplitude of the guide is maintained constant throughout the winding period and means for axially displacingthepath of the traverse guide to displace the windings on the package to provide overlapping layers having self-supporting square ends.

'7. An apparatus for cross-winding thread in package form which comprises a bobbin, a traverse mechanism, means for driving said bobbin and said traverse mechanism in synchronism to produce a pattern wind and means for axially displacing the path of the traverse guide to displace the windings on the package, without altering the pattern per se, to provide a permeable cylindrical package having ends lying substantially in a plane normal to the axis of the bobbin.

8. An apparatus for cross-winding thread in package form which comprises a. bobbin, 9. traverse member, means for driving said bobbin and said member in synchronism-and for maintaining the stroke amplitude of the traverse member constant throughout the winding period to prosaid cam and bobbin in synchronism.

duceapatternwindofuniiormaxiallengthand meansiorasiallydisplacingthepathcfflietraverseguidewdlspiaccthewindinssonthepackage whereby a permeablccylindricslpacksgs havingendslyingsnbstantiallyinaplanenormal totheasisofthebobbinisformed.

9. Appsratuslorcross-windingthreadinpackageiormwhichcompriseaabobbimtraverse meansforproducingreclprocatingstrukesina ,patholconstantunplitudameansactingcnssid traversemesnstoperiodically displace axially thepathofreciprocationodthelattensndmemn fordrivingsaidtraversemeansandsaidbohbin insynchronmwherebyapermeablecylindrical packagehavingitsendslyingina planenormal-totheaxlsofthebobbinmaybe lmapparahisiorcross-windingthreadsand thelikemtoacylindricalpackagehavlngends lying substantiallyinaplanenormaltctheaxis thereofwhichcomprises,abobbin,athreadguide,

a bell crank linkage for reciprocating said guide lengthwiseofthebobbimacamfor operatingsaid linkagetocontrolthecharacterandlengthof stroke of the guide, means defining a bearing for saidcam,saidcambeingiixedwithrespect-to said bearing means for rotation thereabout as an axis,meansiorperiodicallyverticallydisplacins' saidbearingmeansto axiallydisplaee thepath of reciprocation oftheguide,andmeans for drivinssaidcamandbobbininsynchronism.

11. Apparatus forcross-windingthreadandthe likeintoacylindrical package havingendslying substantiallyinaplanenormal'totheaxisthereof which comprises, a bobbin,'a thread guide, a

bell crank linkage for reciprocating said guide lengthwise of the bobbin, a cam for operating saidshafttoaxiallydisplacethep hofredvmcationoitheguide,and-meansfordrivingthe camandbobbinmsynchronism.

13. Apparatus for orn-winding thread and thelike into a cylindrical having ends lyingsubstantiallyinaplanenormaltotheaxis thereof whichcomprises, abobbimathread guide,

abellcranklinkageforreciprocatingsaidguide lengthwiseoithebobbimacamioroperating said linkage to control the character snelmgth synchronism therefrom and means including a speedreductiongeartrainfordrivingsaidcam means from said power source.

14; Apparatus for crowwinding thread and the likeintoacylindricalpackagehavingendslying substantially in a planenormal to the axis'thereof which comprises, a bobbin, a thread guide, a bell crank linkage ior reciprocating said guide lengthsald linkage to control the character and length of stroke of the guide, a sleeve constituting a bearing surface for said cam, a shaft, said sleeve being eccentrically mounted on said shaft,- said cam being mounted to rotate about said. sleeve with the center of the latter as an. axis, means for periodically. angularly displacing said sleeve about said shait to axially displace the path of reciprocation of the guide, and means for driving 12. Apparatus for cross-winding thread and the like into a cylindrical package having ends lyingsubstantiallyinaplanenormaltotheaxis thereof which comprises, a bobbin, 9, thread guide, a bell crank linkage for reciprocating said guide lengthwise of the bobbin, a cam for operating said linkage to control the character and length of stroke of, the guide, a sleeve constituting a bearing surface tor-said cam, a shaft, said sleevebeing eccentrically mounted on said shaft. said cam being mounted to rotate about said sleeve withthecenterofthelatterasanaxiameans for periodically turning said sleeve'180' about wiseotthebobbimacamforoperating aidlinkage to control the character and len h of stroke of the guide, a sleeve constituting a bearing surface for-said cam, a shaft, said sleeve being eccentrically mountedon said shaft, said cam being mounted to rotate about said sleeve with the centerofthelatterasanaxis,adisk,saiddisk being keyed to sairl sleeve'for rotation therewith, a clutch element, means for driving said clutch element from said shaft, a coacting clutch element carried by said disk, resilient means biasing said last named element to engaged position, a

second cam acting on said last named element in opposition to said spring means to bias the clutch to diseng ged position, a portion of said second cam being of configuration to release said last named element to permit the resilient means to engage the clutch so that the disk and the sleeve to which it is keyed may be turned, a power source, means for driving said cam and bobbin in synchronism, and independent means for continuously rotating said second cam at a reduced speed."

15. Iii-apparatus as claimed in claim 14, resil ient means for holding said disk against creepage.

L. Jackson.

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