US2340985A - Production of staple fiber yarns and like products - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1944. w, POOL 2,340,985-

PRODUCTION OF STAPLE FIBERYARNS AND LIKE PRODUCTS Filed May 21, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. POOL Feb. 8, 1944.

PRODUCTION OF STAP E FIBER YARNS ,AND' LIKE PRODUCTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G. 6

Filed May 21, 1941 F/G. 5

W-POOL Feb. 8, 1944. w POOL 2,340,985

PRODUCTION OF STAPLE FIBER YARNS AND LIKE PRODUGTS' Filed May 21. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 W P00 L palm- 704 Patented Feb. 8, 1944 PRODUCTION OF STAPLE FIBER YARNS AND LIKE PRGDUCTS William Pool, Spondon, near Derby, England, as-

signor to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application May 21,' 1941, Serial No. 394,424

In Great Britain June 11, 1940 31 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of staple fiber yarns and like products, and is particularly concerned with the manufacture of staple fiber yarns and like products from continuous filaments.

U. S. Patents Nos. 2,227,911 and 2,258,661 describe methods for manufacturing staple fiber yarns or like products from continuous filaments, in which a succession of fiat wide groups of separated fibers are fed to the tail of'a staple fiber yarn being produced in a direction across the axis of said tail, said tail being rapidly rotated whereby the ends of the groups of fibers are taken up by said tail, the staple fiber yarn being formed being constantly built up at the tail by the addition, in this manner, of new groups of fibers, and being drawn away as fast as it .is formed. In each of the two cases referred to, the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced is rapidly rotated by applying to it a frictional torque, U. S. Patent No. 2,227,911, describing a method of applying such a torque by means of a rapidly rotating twist tube engaging the staple fiber yam being produced near the end of the tail, and U. S. Patent No. 2,258,661 describing the rotation of the tail by means of a gaseous vortex induced about said tail as an axis of rotation. In each case the torque is applied at or close to the end of the tail, where the staple fiber yarn being produced is being built up by th tion of new fibers.

According to the present invention, a process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarns and like products comprises feeding a succession of fiat wide groups of separated fibers to the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced in a. direction across the length of said tail, applying to said tail at a point at or near the end-thereof, and at a second point removed from the end thereof frictional torques in opposite directions, to bring about rapid rotation of said tail, bringing an end of each group of fibers into engagement with said tail as it reaches said tail, whereby said groups of fibers are successively taken up by said tail to form a new tail, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn as it is formed by the successive taking up of said groups of fibers. B these means a staple fiber product may be produced in which, while the appearance of any definite degree of twist in the product is obscured, the fibers are securely interlaced in a more complex fashion than is involved by a mere twisting together of the fibers.

The torque, which is applied in accordance with the invention at two points on the tail of the e addistaple fiber yam being produced, is preferably applied at both points by inducing a gaseous vortex having said tail as its axis of rotation. If desired, however, other means may be'employed for applying the torque at either or both of these points. For example the twist tube whose use is described in U. S. Patent No. 2,227,911 may be used at one or both points, and if at one point, preferably at the point removed from theend of the tail of the product.

The invention may be employed as a modification of any of the specific methods described in either of the specifications mentioned above.

Thus for example the additional means described in U. S. Patent No. 2,258,661 for the mechanical separating of the fiat wide groups of fibers may be employed in conjunction with the present invention, or again the means described in the same specification for themixing of groups ofings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation, partly in section on the line 22 of Figure 1, of a part of the mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3 to 6 are detail views of the mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figures 7 and 8 are a side elevation and a front elevation respectively showing a particular adasptation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to Figure 9 is a side elevation of a further form of apparatus according to the invention; and

Figures 10 and 11 are details of the apparatus shown in Figure 9.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in the apparatus shown therein a supply of continuous filament yarn l is drawn from a large package 2 which is rotated by means of a friction wheel 3 engaging with the under side of its lower flange it so as to control the rate of delivery of the continuous filament yarn i. The yarn is drawn from the package 2, as fast as it is delivered, by means of an air ejector device 5, which is supplied with compressed air by means of a pipe 5 from a compressed .air header 7 and delivers the filaments from a flat wide nozzle 8. On its Way from the package 2 to the ejector device 5, the yarn I is drawn over a roller 9 surfaced with material suitably removed in the electrostatic series from the substance of the filaments. the roller 9 being 5 positively driven at a peripheral peed difierent fromthat of the filaments so as to make rubbing contact with them. The rubbing contact of the roller 9 has the eifect of electrifying the continuous filaments I, which assists the ejector device 5, with its flat jet 8, to separate the filaments from one another.

From theejector device 5 the filaments proceed to a conduit l leading them to a second ejector device I! similar in form to the ejector device and also supplied with compressed air from the header I. The ejector device It is contained in a round casing I2, being secured to the inner wall or lining I3 of the casing l2, and the fiat nozzle M of the ejector device I I extends just through said inner wall; Between the inner wall [3 and the outer casing I2 is disposed a disc I5 rotated by means of a sprocket Hi and carrying, at diametrically opposite .points, two pins lying in the annular space between the inner wall l3 and the outer casing l2 and adapted, during the rotation of the disc I5, to pass repeatedly across the mouth of the nozzle I4. The.

outer casing I2 is interrupted to accommodate a cutter I8 of the hair-clipper type which is continuously and rapidly driven by means of a belt |9 engaging with the driving pulley 20 of the cutter. The teeth of the cutter l8 are disposed just outside the range of the two pins I1, and each'time the pins I! pass the mouth of the nozzle l4 they deflect the continuous filaments emerging from the nozzle l4 into the teeth of the cutter I8, whereby the continuous filaments are periodically severed.

Just outside the teeth of the cutter l8 and parallel to theaxis of the casing I2 is disposed the tail of the staple fiber yarn 2| being produced, together with the means provided according to the invention for applying frictional torques to said tail, one at a point near the end thereof and the other at a point removed from the end. These means comprise a vortex tube 22, a curved duct 23 associated with the vortex tube 22, a suction ejector 24 having a tail tube 25, and a twist control tube 26. These parts are 7 shown separately in greater detail in Figures 3 to 6.'- Compressed air is supplied to the parts 22, 24 and 26 respectively by means of the pipes 21, 28 and 29 communicating with the compressed air header 1. As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the vortex tube 22 is in the form of a rectangular block containing a conical passage 30 along the whole length of which communicates V-sectioned passage 3|, one side of the V being tangential to the conical passage along its whole length. In addition, there is a chamber 32 on the opposite side of the conical passage to the v shaped passage 3|, the chamber 32 being fed with compressed air by the pipe 21 and being connectedto the conical passage by small passages 33, also tangential to the surface of the conical passage 30,- and inclined towards the wider end thereof. The suction ejector 24 is in the form of a rectangular block spigoted to the rectangular block of the vortex tube 22 at the wide end of the conical passage 39. The feed pipe 28 communicates with an annular space 35 into which projects the end 36 of the tail pipe 25. Extending into the end 36 of the tail pipe 25 is a flared tube 31 forming a continuation of the conical passage 30 of the vortex tube 22. The compressed air entering through the pipe 28 enters the tail tube 25 by passing between the tubes, 31 and thereby induces suctlonin the conical passage 30, and the air entering the conical passage through the passages 33 and through the V-sectioned passage 3| (in the latter case under the influence of the induced suction) forms a rapidly rotating vortex with an axial component in the direction of the tail ipe 25.

The air enters the V-shaped passage 3| through the curved duct 23, which is open only on the side opposite the nozzle I4 and the blades of the cutter l8. Thus the ends of the continuous filaments emerging fromthe nozzle |4 sweep round the curve of the duct 23 under the influence of the air. When a suificient length of the filaments has emerged from the'nozzle l4, the filaments are severed by being deflected into the blades of the knife I8 by the deflector pins H. In addition, the freshly cut rear ends of the fibers so severed are brought into engagement with the tail of the yarn 2| being formed, which tail extends through the twist control tube 26, past the mouth of the curved duct 23 and into the conical passage 30 of the vortex tube 22. The tail of the yarn 2| is rapidly rotating so that the freshlycut and deflected ends of the fibers are entangled in the tail, while the leading ends of the fibers sweep sideways through the V-sectioned passage 3| into the conical passage 30, so forming a new tail to the yarn 2|. The rapid rotation of the vortex in the tube 30 also twists the newly added fibers to form them into the yarn. The twist control tube 26 effects the rapid rotation of the part of the yarn 2| that receives the freshly cut fibers by applying a vortex of air rapidly rotating in the-apposite direction to the vortex in the conical passage 30. For this purpose, as shown in Figure 6 the end of the tube 26 is surrounded by an annular space 39 supplied with compressed air through the pipe 29, the compressed air passing through oblique passages 40 through the wall of the tube 26 and substantially tangential thereto. The circumferential direction in which the passages 40 point is such as to induce a vortex rotating in the opposite direction to that in the conical passage 30. The yarn 2| emerging from the orifice 4| in the end of the twist control tube 26 proceeds to a stationary guide 42, and thence to a take up device 43 by means of which it is drawn away and collected at a constant linear speed.

In the operation of the device, the continuous described in U. S. Patent No. 2,224,923 in which the yarn varies in denier from the inside of the package to the outside so that by rotating the package at a constant annular speed the yarn is delivered therefrom at a constant rate in terms of weight. After passing over the electrifying roller 9 the filaments I are drawn through the ejector device 5 by means of whichthey receive a preliminary separation from one another, aided by the electrification induced by the roller 9. They then pass to the second ejector device H and emerge from the nozzle'l4 thereof in the form of afiat wide band of separate filaments. The ends of the continuous filaments emerging from the nozzle l4 pass round the curved duct 23 and, when they reach an appropriate length, are severed by being deflected.

into the blades of the cutter l8 by one or other of the deflector pins l1. At the same time they are brought into contact with the rapidly rotating tail of the yarn 2| whereby the rear 2,340,985 ends of the fibers are entangled, while the leading ends are swept sideways through the V-sectioned passage 3! into the conical passage 30 to form a new tail to the yarn 2|. The yarn 2! is being constantly drawn away by the take up device 43 so that the new tail, each time it is formed, is drawn forward into a position to receive further fibers to constitute a further new tail. The denier or count of the staple fiber yarn 2| produced depends directly on the constant rate of take-up imposed by the device 43, and the constant rate at which the delivery package 2 is rotated,

The apparatus described above is capable of working at very high speeds, and for this reason is suitable for the conversion into a staple fiber yarn of continuous artificial filaments continuous'ly' with their production. Figs. .7 and 8 show how the apparatus can be adapted for this purpose. The continuous filament yarns or bundles I are produced in a dry spinning apparatus indicated at M, from which they are drawn by means of a series of constantly rotating godet rollers t5.

From the rollers 45 the filaments proceed direct- 1y to the cutting devices, indicated at l2, which are driven by means of belts 46 from the rollers 45. Emerging from the twist control tubes 26 associated with the devices l2 the finished yarns 29 are collected on take-up devices Q3 particularly adapted for high speed winding. The tail tubes 25 of the several devices H are all connected to a suction conduit 41'! while the compressed air supply pipes 21, 28 and 29 feeding the devices I2 are connected to a header 48. As indicated in Fig. 8, the dry spinning apparatus M produces a number of bundles of filaments, each of which is dealt with by its own cutting device l2, the compactness of the whole device enabling the requisite number to be disposed side by side in front of the apparatus M.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 9-11 is a modification of that described in U. S. Patent No. 2,258,661 for the production of a staple fiber product containing fibers cut from a bundle of continuous filaments in admixture with fibers from another source I The continuous filaments 50 from which staple fibers are to be cut to form the basis of the staple yarn 50 emerges from the ejector devices 55, 51 are of flat cross-section, so as to bring about the separation of the filaments into a fiat wide band 66 this separation being assisted by the electrification of the filaments caused by drawing them in contact with the roller 55.

Emerging from the second ejector device 51 in theform of a fiat and diverging band 66, the filaments pass over a constantly operated cutter 61 similar to the cutter I 8 of Fig. 1, and driven by the band 58. The flat wide band of filaments 66 emerging from the second ejector device are pressed at uniform intervals into engagement with the cutter 61 by means of a deflector 69 operated by a rocker arm Hlwhose other end is actuated by the crank 62, deflection occurring immediately after the opening of the valve 6!.

Beyond the cutter 61 are disposed a pair of Y rollers 1!, 12 disposed one above the other and carrying a band 73 of woven fabric, the left hand run of the band '13 engaging with a run of another band 14 mounted on rollers 1B, 11, having a number of projecting ,ribs 55 formed on its surface and extending across its surface at intervals along its length. The bands 13, M are maintained close to one another by means of a cam plate 49 engaging the band 14. The rollers H, T2, l6, 71 carrying the bands 13, It are driven so that the engaging runs of the two bands move upwards. Into the nip of the bands 13, M between the lower rollers '12, H is fed intermittently a sliver T8 of wool fibers, the sliver 18 being fed continuously by a high draft device 79, 80. The intermittent feed of the fibers between the bands 13, it is brought about by the intermittent firm contact of the ribs 15 of the band '14 against the band 13 at a point where the band 13 is firmly supported by its lower roller 12. As the result of this action. groups of wool fibers are pulled from the sliver 18 at intervals and pass up between the engaging runs of the two bands The upper roller H carrying the fabric band 13 is perforated over the part of its periphery with which the band comes intocontact, and suction is applied b means -of a suction pipe 8| to a chamber 82 inside the band 13 and comfiber product 5| being produced are supplied from a large drum-like package 52 rotated at a constant angular speed, about a horizontal axis by two pairs. of friction wheels 53' on which the flanges 54 of the package 52 rest. As in Fig. 1, the package 52, is of the kind formed by the method described in U. S. Patent No. 2,224,923 in which the yarn varies in denier from the inside of the package to the outside so that by rotating the package at a constant angular speed the yarn is delivered therefrom at a constant rate in terms of weight per unit time. Leaving the package 52, the continuous filament yarn 5B is drawn in frictional contact with a roller 55 covered with a material such as rubber, gutta percha or the like, suitably removed in the electro-static series from the basic material of the filaments in the yarn 50. 'On leaving the roller 55 the yarn 50 passes in series through two ejector devices 56, 51, similar in form and function to the ejector devices 5, ll of Fig 1 except that the device 51 is supplied with compressed air intermittently instead of continuously. Air issupplied by the pipes 58, 59 from the header 60. the pipe 59 passing through a valve 6| operated by means of a crank 62 and communicating with the ejector 51 by a pipe 63. The nozzles 64, 65 by which the municating with the roller H. As a consequence of the suction, the wool fibers rising between two bands 13, 14 are caused to adhere. as the bands separate at the upper end of their run, to the fabric band 13. At the same time the leading ends, and subsequently the whole length of each group of fibers cut from the end 66 of the continuous filament yarn 50 are drawn down on the fabric band 13 over the wool fibers already adhering to the band. In this way the downward run of the fabric band 13 carries with it a distributed layer of mixed fibers, some of the fibers being wool fibers and the others being fibers cut from the continuous filament yarn. The wall 83 of the chamber 82 adjacent to the downward run of the band 13 is perforated. so that the suction applied within the chamber 82 prevents the fibers falling away from the downward run. A guard 84 is provided close to the downward run of the fabric band.

Close to the lower roller 12 carrying the fabric band 13, and parallel to the axis of the roller near the lower end of the downward run of the band, is the tail 85 of the staple fiber yarn 5| being produced, the end of the tail 85 extending as shown in Fig. 10 a short distance beyond the flat side, or end face, of the roller 12. The tail protrudes into an assembly 86,.24, 25, 26, similarto the assembly 22,23, '24, 25, 26. described,

with reference to Figs. 1-6. The vortex tube 86 differs from the vortex tube 22 of Fig. 3 in that,

instead of the curved duct 23, a flat passage 8.! is provided, open on the side adjacent to the band 13, and communicating with the V sectioned passage 88,'whic'h, as shown in Fig. 11, is narrower in section than the passage 3! of Figs. 3 and 6. In addition a curved gauze guard 89 is provided between hte vortex tube 8.6 and the twist control tube 26. The suction applied to the wide end of the conical passage 30 in the vortex tube 86 is intermittent, being applied each time the-leading ends of a group of cut fibers reach, and are taken up by, the tail 85 of'theyarn 5|, so that the.

trailing ends of said fibers are s'wept'sideways through the fiat passage 81'into the conical pas- Having described my invention, what I desire sage 38 and are held along its length by means of the suction. Small pipes 99 similar to the pipes 33 communicate tangentially with the conical passage 30, the pipes being inclined towards the wide end of the passage, and through these pipes compressed air is supplied by the pipe 9|. Compressed air is supplied to the ejector device 24 bythe pipe 92, the pipes 9| and 92 coming from a valve 93 intermittently opened by means of a crank 94 timed to open the valve each time the leading ends 'of a group of, fibers reach the tail 85. Compressed air is also supplied from the header 60 by a pipe 95 to a chamber 96 adjacent to the chamber 82 and having a slit 91 through which blows a narrow stream of air, penetrating the fabric band 13 and causing the ends of each group of fibers to engage the tail 85. The yarn 51, as it is built up bythe addition of successive groups of mixed fibers to its tail 85, is drawn away through the twist control tube 26 by means of nip rolls 98, and lead to a take up device 99 by means of which it is wound into a package I 00. The apparatus described above with reference to Figs. 9-11 may be used, in the manner described, for the production of yarn consisting throughout its length of a substantially uniform mixture of staple fibers cut from continuous filaments and other fibers, such as wool, or, by providing for an intermittent feed of either or both types of fiber; various efiect yarns may be pro- I duced. Again; if desired, bydiscontinuin' the feed of either type of fiber, a yarn consisting wholly of fibers of the other type may be pro duced. v

In each of the forms of apparatus described above with reference to Figs. 1-11, the tail of the staple fiber yarn 2| or- 5| being produced is held under tension against the pull of the take up devices by the axial components of the two vortices, and is rapidly rotated by the vortex in. the twist control tube 26 near to the take-up device, the other vortex inthe tube 22 or 86 actingto restrain the extreme end of the yarn from rotatingin this direction, and evento rotate it, or at least the free fiber ends projecting from it, in the opposite direction. By reason of the fact that the'fibers are twisted first-in one direction and then in the other, any definite degree of twist in the resulting product isobscured. Nevertheless the fibers are securely interlaced with one another in'a more complex fashion than a mere twisting together, and form a staple fiber product of great coherence. Moreover since the complex interlacing holds the fibers firmly into the yarn, the yarn may be given a loose structure rendering it suitable for the manufacture of fabrics such as blankets that are subjected to a raising or napping operation after weaving.

to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber yarns and like products, said process comprising feeding a succession of fiat wide groups of sepsaid tail, bringing an end of each group of fibers into engagement with said tail as said end reaches said tail, whereby said groups of fibers are successively' taken up by said tail to form a new.

tail, and continuously drawing away said staple fiber yarn as it is formed by the successive taking up of said groups of fibers.

, 2. Process according to claim 1, comprising inducing a gaseous vortex about the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced so as to apply a frictional torque to said tail near the end there'- of.

3. Process according to claim 1, comprising momentarily inducing a gaseous vortex about the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced each time a group of fibers is taken up by said tail so as to apply a frictional torque to said tail near the end thereof.

4. Process according to claim 1, comprising inducing two, gaseous vortices rotating in opposite directions'about the staple fiber yarn being produced, one near the endv of said tail and the other at a point removed from said end, so as to apply frictional torques in opposite directions to said tail.

5. Process according to claim 1, comprising inducingv two gaseous vortices, one intermittent and the other continuous, rotating in opposite tail.

6. Process according to claim 1, comprising inducing a gaseous vortex'about the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced so as to apply a frictional torque to said tailnear the end thereof, said vortex having an axial component in a r a direction contrary to that in-which the staple fiber yarn being produced is drawn away. 7

'7. Process according to claim 1, comprising inducing two gaseous vortices, one intermittent and the other continuous, rotating in opposite directions about the staple fiber yarn being produced,- the first'of said vortices being applied near the end of said tail each time a group of duced, and repeatedly severing the filaments at the end of said bundle to form successive fiat wide groups of separated fibers.

9. Process according to claim 1, comprising feeding a bundle of continuous filaments in the form of a fiat wide ribbon of separated filaments to the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced, repeatedly severing the filaments at the end of said bundle to form successive fiat wide groups of separated fibers and mixing. with said fiat wide groups, preformed groups of fibers from another source.

7 10. Process according to claim 1, comprising feeding a bundle of continuous filaments in the form of a fiat wide ribbon of separated filaments to the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced and repeatedly severing the filaments at the end of said bundle to form successive fiat wide groups of separated fibers, and inducing two gaseous vortices, one intermittent and the other continuous, rotating in opposite directions about the staple fiber yarn being produced, the first of said vortices being applied near the end of said tail each time a group of fibers is taken up by said tail and the other at a point removed from said end, so as to apply frictional torques in opposite directions to said tail, each of said gaseous vortices having an axial component in a direction contrary to that in which the staple fiber yarn being produced is drawn away.

11. Process according to claim 1, comprising feeding a bundle of continuous filaments in the form of a fiat wide ribbon of separated filaments repeatedly severing the filaments at the end of said bundle to form successive flat Wide groups of separated fibers mixing, with said fiat wide groups, preformed groups of fibers from another source, inducing two gaseous vortices, one, intermittent and the other continuous, rotating in opposite directions about the staple fiber yarn being produced, the first of said vortices being applied near the end of said tail each time a group of fibers is taken up by said tail and the other at a point removed from said end, so as to apply frictional torques in opposite directions to said tail, each of said gaseous vortices having an axial component in a direction contrary to that in which the staple fiber yarn being produced is drawn away.

12. Process according to claim 1, comprising feeding the fibers beyond the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced and causing the trailing ends thereof to engage with said tail.

13. Process according to claim 1, wherein the leading ends of the groups of fibers are engaged with the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced.

14. Process according to claim 1, comprising feeding a bundle of continuous filaments in the form of a fiat wide ribbon of separated filaments to the tail of the staple fiber yarn being produced, repeatedly severing the filaments at the end of said bundle to form successive fiat wide groups of separated fibers mixing, with said fiat wide groups, preformed groups of fibers from another source, the ends of said fiat wide groups and said preformed groups that are brought into engagement with said tail being the leading ends, inducing two gaseous vortices, one intermittent and the other continuous,-rotating in opposite directions about the staple fiber yarn being produced, the first of said vortices being applied near the end of said tail each time a group of fibers is taken up by said tail and the other at a point removed from said end, so as to apply frictional torques in opposite directions to said tail each of said gaseous vortices having an axial component in a direction contrary to that in which the staple fiiber yarn being produced is drawn away.

15. Apparatus for the production of staple fiber yarn, said apparatus comprising means for feeding successive groups of fibers to the tail of a staple fiber yarn being produced in a direction across the length of said tail, means for applying to said tall, at a point close to the end thereof and a second point removed from the end thereor, frictional torques in opposite directions to bring about a rapid rotation of said tail, means for bringing an end of each group of fibers into engagement with said tail so that said groups OI fibers are, successively taken up on said tall by previously fed fibers, and means for continuously drawing away the staple fiber yarn as it is iormed by the successive taking up of said groups of fibers.

10. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a vortex tube having a conical passage into the narrow end of which the tail of the staple narrow slit communicating tangentially therewith over its whole length, and means Ior applying suction to the wide end of said conical passage so as to induce a gaseous vortex in said conical passage.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a vortex tube having a conical passage into the narrow end of which the tail 0! the staple fiber yarn may extend, said conical passage having a narrow slit communicating tangentially therewith over its whole length and narrow passages also communicating tangentially therewith, means I01 applying suction to the wide end or said conical passage so as to induce a gaseous vortex in said com'cal passage and means for supplying compressed air through said narrow passages to assist in inducing the vortex.

1.8. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a vortex tube having a conical passage into the narrow end of. which the tail of the staple fiber yain may extend, said passage having a narrow slit communicating tangentially therewith over its whole length, and means for intermittently applying suction to the wide end of said conical passage was to induce an intermittent gaseous vortex in said conical passage.

19. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a vortex tube having a conical passage into the narrow end' of which the tail of the staple fiber yarn may extend, said conical passage having a narrow slit communicating tangentially therewith over its whole length and narrow passages also communicating tangentially therewith, means for intermittently applying suction to the wide end of said conical passage so as to induce anintermittent gaseous vortex in said conical passage and means for intermittently supplying compressed air through said narrow passages to assist in inducing the vortex.

20. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a vortex tube having a conical passage into a point removed from the end thereof and means for supplying compressed air through tangential passages in the wall of said tube, said passages pointing in such a direction as to induce in said ,tube a gaseous vortex rotating in the opposite direction tothat in the conical passage of the vortex tube.

21. Apparatus according to claim vl5, comprising a vortex tube having a conical passage into the narrow end of which the tail of the staple fiber yarn may extend, said passage having. a narrow slit communicating tangentially therewith over its whole length, means for intermittently applying suction to the wide end of said conical passage so as to induce an intermittent gaseous vortex in said conical passage, 8. tube adapted to surround the tail of the staple fiber yarn at a point removed from the end thereof and means for supplying compressed air through tangential passages in the wall of said tube, said passages pointing in such a direction as to induce in said tube a gaseous vortex rotating in the opposite direction to that in the conical passage of the to the wideend of said conical passage so as to induce a gaseous vortex in said conical passage and means for supplying compressed air through said narrow passages to assist in inducing the vortex.

23. Apparatus accordingto claim 15, comprising a vortex tube having a conical passage into thenarrow end of which the tail of the staple fiber yarn may extend, said passage having a narrow slit communicating tangentially therewith over it whole length, means for intermittently applying suction to thewide end of said conical passage so as to induce an intermittent gaseous vortex in said conical passage, a tube adapted to surround the tail of the staple fiber yarn at a point removed from the end thereof and means for supplying compressed air through tangential passages in the wall of said tube, said passages pointing in such a direction as to induce in said tube a gaseous vortex having an axial component away from said conical passage and rotating in the opposite direction to that in the conical passage ofthe vortex tube.

24. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments to the tail of the staple fiber yarn and means for repeatedly severing the filaments at the end of said bundle to form a succession of groups of staple fibers.

25. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments to the tail of the staple fiber yarn, means for repeatedly severing the filaments at the end of said bundle to form a succession of groups of staple fibers, and means for supplying a succession of preformed groups of fibers for admixture with the fibers cut from said continuous filament bundle. v

26. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments to the tail of the staple fiber yarn, means for repeatedly severing the filaments [at tail of the staple fiber yarn may extend, said passage having a narrow slit communicating tangentially therewith over its whole length, 4

means for intermittently applying suction to the wide end of said conical passage so as to induce. an intermittent gaseous vortex in said conical passage, 9. tube adapted to surround the tail of the staple fiber yarn at a point removed from the end thereof and means for supplying compressed air through tangential passages in the wall of said tube, said passages pointing in such a direction as to induce in said tube a gaseous vortex having an axial component away from said conical passage and rotating in the opposite direction to that in the conical passage of the vortex tube.

27. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising means for feeding a bundle .of continuous filaments to the tail of the staple fiber yarn, means for repeatedly severing the filaments at the end of said bundle to form a succession of groups of staple fibers, means for supplying a succession of preformed groups of fibers for admixture with the fibers cut from said continuous filament bundle, a vortex tube having a conical passage into the narrow end of which-the tail of the staple fiber yarn may extend, said passage having a narrow slit communicating tangentially therewith over its whole length, means for intermit tently applying suction to the wide end of saidn conical passage so as to induce an intermittent gaseous yortex in said conical passage, 9. tube adapted to surround the tail of the staple fiber yarn at a point removed from the end thereof and means for supplying compressed air through tangential passages in the wall of said tube, said passages pointing in such a direction as to induce in said tube a gaseous vortex having an axial component away from said conical passage and rotating in the opposite direction to that in th conical passage of the vortex tube.

28. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments beyond the tail of the staple fiber yarn, means in the neighborhood of said tail for repeatedly severing the filaments at the end of said bundle to form a succession of groups of staple fibers and means for bringing the freshly cut narrow end of which the tail of the staple fiber yam may extend, said passage having a narrow slit communicating tangentially therewith over its whole length, means for intermittently applying suction to the wide end of said conical passage so as to induce an intermittent gaseous vortex in said conical passage, a tube adapted to surround the tail of the staple fiber yarn at a point removed from the end thereof and means for supplying compressed air through tangential passages in the wall of said tube, said passages pointing in such a direction as to induce in said 'tube a gaseous vortex having an axial component away from said conical passage-and rotating in the opposite direction to that in the conicalpassage of the vortex tube.

30. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprisingmeanstorfeedingabimdleotcontinuousfiiaments to the tail of the staple fiber yarn, means for repeatedly severing the filaments at the end of said bundle to form a succession of groups of staple fibers, said severing 'means being spaced from the said tail by at least a distance equal to the length or the staple fibers to be cut, and means for deflecting the leading ends of the out staple into engagement with said tail.

31. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising means for feeding a bundle of continuous filaments to the tail. of the staple fiber yarn, means for repeatedly severing the filaments at the end of said bundle to form a succession of groups of staple fibers, said severing means being spacedfromthesaidtailby atleastadistance equal to the length of the staple fibers to be cut, means for deflecting the leading ends ot the out staple fibers into e casement with said tail, means for supplying a succession of preformed groupsofflberstoradmixturewiththeflberscut from said continuous filament bundle, a vortex tube having a conical passage into the narrow end of which the tail of the staple fiber yarn may extend, said passage having a narrow slit communicating tangentially therewith over its whole le th. means for intermittently applying suction vortex tube.

WEI-12AM POOL.

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