US2499405A - Thread treating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1950 H. K. MARTIN THREAD TREATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 50, 1944 March 7, 1950 MARTlN 2,499,405

THREAD TREATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O Mam 1% IN VEN TOR.

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 THREAD TREATING APPARATUS Harold K. Martin, Elizabethton, Tenn., assignor to North American Rayon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 30,1944, Serial No. 570,633 3 Claims. (Cl. 28-715) This invention relates to improvements in thread treating apparatus and more particularly to a treating unit upon which freshly formed synthetic thread is continuously after-treated and dried ready for spooling, twisting or packaging in any desired form.

Thread treating equipment of the general type above referred to has taken several difierent forms, such, for instance, as the thread advancing reel disclosed in United States Patent No. 34,494 issued February 25, 1862, to Heilmann, the thread advancing reel disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 1,052 212 and 1,052,125, issued February 4, 1913, to Boos, and the thread treating apparatus disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,983,221, issued December 4, 1934, to Furness. Another type of thread advancing device involving askew rollers isdisclosed in United States Patents Nos. 1249,677, issued December 11, 1917, to Seeley; 1,820,621, issued August 25, 1931, and 1,849,983, issued March 15, 1932, to Junkers, and the apparatus disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,002,995, issued May 28, 1935, to Hartmann et al.

The present invention is particularly directed to the latter type of thread advancing device in which two rollers mounted in inclined or askew relationship constitute the thread advancing unit and has for its object to improve the operation of such thread advancing devices when the complete processing of the thread is to be accomplished on a single unit as illustrated in Furness Patent No. 1,983,221 above referred to.

For short thread advancing units, such as are disclosed in the Junkers patents above mentioned r or in Knebusch Patent 2 225,641, issued December 24, 1940, the necessity of supporting the components of the thread advancing device at both ends is of little importance, but when a plurality of thread treating processes is to be accomplished on a single unit involving a plurality of separate treating zones, as, for instance, in the process disclosed by Furness, it becomes evident that the cantilever support of such long rollers upon their shafts places such a shear on the shafts and their bearings that accuracy of rotation of the rollers is difficult of accomplishment.

The primary object of this invention is to assure accurate rotation of the cantilever supported thread advancing rollers of a thread treating device irrespective of the number of thread treating zones embodied in the unit.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features a horizontally disposed supporting arm rigidly supported from one end and carrying at its opposite end vertically spaced bearin s in which are mounted shafts that aid in supporting rollers divided into treating zones through which thread may be advanced from its freshly coagulated state to completion, including drying.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a thread treating unit embodying this invention, and

Fig. 2 is a side view of a spinning machine showing a plurality of such units mounted in operative position thereon.

Referring to the drawings, a spinning machine designated generally by I0 comprises a frame composed of standards I I carrying in spaced parallel relation horizontally disposed rails I2 and a spinning trough I 3. Supported above the uppermost rail l2 on the side of the standards opposite that to which the rails are attached is a plurality of horizontally extending liquid supply pipes It for the conduction and distribution of the various treating liquids to which the thread is to be subjected. A main drive shaft l5 carried in suitable brackets (not shown) supported on the standards, extends horizontally to the rear of and between the rails I2 and carries at spaced intervals bevel pinions I6. Supported below the lowermost rail I2 to the rear of the standards are horizontally disposed liquid receiving pipes I6 into which the used treating liquids are discharged. A spinnerette I1 carried by the usual goose neck I8 attached to a spinning pump I9 which is supplied with spinning solution in the usual manner, is disposed in the trough l3 through which the spinning solution is extruded into the spin bath contained within the trough I3 to form a thread 20. The thread may of course be stretched by means of godets, etc. and passed through one or more baths, such as hot water, etc., before being led to a thread advancing device hereinafter discussed more in detail. A gas supply main 2I runsholizontally of the machine and is provided at spaced intervals with branch pipes 22 for the distribution of fuel to gas burners to be more fully hereinafter described. Instead of heating the drying zone with gas it may be heated by electrical meanssteam, hot water, etc.

Removably secured as by bolts 23 at spaced intervals to the rails I2 are thread treating units designated generally by 24. Each unit 24 comprises a bed plate 25 having rigidly attached thereto and extending horizontally therefrom a supporting arm designated generally by 26. Each such arm comprises a pair of trussed bars 21 of identical construction each 7 one end an attaching flange -28 and-at its opposite end a semi-circular member which coopmating bar in forming a socket 29 for receiving an internally screw-threaded sleeve 30. As illusvtrated,.the attaching flangesv 28 areattached as a by bolts 3 l to the bed plate and when the parts are thus assembled a rigid hollow box-like supporting arm 26 results. Otherwise described, and

'. as shown in the drawing, the arm 26 may be re; 1 garded as a two-part bifurcated structure with ;'.the arms or members thereof joined. in converg-.

of which carriesat ply the proper treating liquid to the proper chamber, a f; In operationthe rollers are set in motion and erates, with the semi-circular member on the.

the thread llh formed by the introduction of a spinning solution through the spinnerette l1 into the bathin the spinningtrough i3, is preferably I led upwardly. and'over the uppermost roller near its outer end, i. e., the end farthest'from the bed plate. of course the thread can also be led 'downwardly to the thread advancing device or I sideways thereto. The thread is given a few ing fashion at-the front or. free end which carries the socket '30, 'Entering the socket 30 from opposite ends are screw threaded rods 3| carrying at their opposite endshousings 32 preferably errclosing ball "hearings in "which shafts 33 are;

mounted. The opposite ends of these shafts pass through openings formed in the-bed plate 25 in which are mounted ball bearings similar to those carried by the housings 31'.v Each shaft 33 carries adjacent the end which projectsthrough the about both rollers, and upon being discharged from the rollers isfcollected as waste until the loops have worked backwardto the *position'shown in Fig. 1.5The distance between the loops may be regulated by turning the threaded rods 3| in the sleeve 30 so as to move the outer ends of the shafts 33 toward or away from each other and thus change the angularity bed plate a drive sprocket 34 and an endless chain 35 runs over these sprockets so that .bothshafts will rotate in unison. Secured to the 'end' of the lowermost shaft 33 adjacent its sprocket 34 is a bevel pinion 34' which meshes with one of-the bevel pinions IS on the drive shaft IS. The rollers may of course be driven in unison by other equivalent mechanical means not shown.

Mounted for rotation with each shaft is a roller. each of which comprises a plurality of cylindrical sections 36 preferably separated endwise from each other by liquid separator elements such as are shown and described in the copending application of Herbert O. Naumann filed July 14, 1942, Serial Number 450,934, now United States Patent No. 2,416,533, entitled Process and apparatus for the manufacture of synthetic yarns. Bridges span the spaces between the cylindrical sections 36 and where necessary the cylindrical sections may be provided in their peripheries with liquid distributing grooves such as those disclosed in the Naumann application above identified.

Secured to the bed plate 25 below the lowermost roller is a pair of spaced parallel outwardly extending brackets 38 for the support of a liquid collecting tray 38 which is divided by partitions 40 into a plurality of separate liquid collecting basins to each of which a drain pipe H is connected. These drain pipes are in turn connected by unions 42 to drain pipes 43 carried by the bed plate which in turn are connected by unions 44 to branch pipes 45 leading to the liquid receiving pipes I6 above mentioned. Mounted on the upper edges of the arms 21 is a liquid collecting tray 46 which is identical in construction to the tray 39. The liquid collecting basins of the tray 46 are connected by drain pipes 41 to branch pipes 48 which in turn are connected to the drain pipes 43 as shown in Fig. 1. Thus it will be seen that the liquids collected in the basins will be directed to their respective liquid receiving pipes for discharge or recirculation and re-use.

Pivoted at 49 to a bracket 50 mounted on the bed plate 25 near the upper most roller is a liquid distributor 5| which is divided into separate chambers each of which is provided with liquid outlet jets 52 arranged to distribute liquid over the respective cylindrical sections 36 of the upper roller. The chambers are connected by flexible pipes 53 with outlets in the horizontally extending liquid supply pipes 14, it being understood that the connections are made so as to supor axial inclination of the rollers upon which I the thread is being advanced suitably pivoted bearings not shown, being of course used at the "bed plate end to permit of such inclination. Upon completion of this operation treating liquids are admitted to pipes 14 and distributed over their respective cylindrical sections 36 preferably in theform of, thin continuous films. The thread advancing in-the form of a horizontally travelling helix isbathed'by the liquid films and finally passes to a point near the outer end of the de- -vice where it encounters a cylindrical drying surface of the endmost section 36 which is heated any suitable manner as by a gas burner 54 connected by pipe-55 with the gas main 2|. As

can be seen from both figures of the drawing, the thread 20 passes over the rollers but does not rub-or contact with the rigid roller-supporting arm' 26 or any portion thereof, the width of the latter-being less than the diameter of either roller. 'Leaving the heated end of the endmost section 35 the thread is led in dried condition to a suitable-collecting device such as a ring twister 56 where it is collected'in package form ready for distribution and use in textile operations. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the rollersupporting bearings at the free or outermost end as well as the means used for adjusting the inclination of the rollers and designated by numerals 29, 30, 3|, 32, do not extend beyond the confines of the thread-bearing periphery of the unit, i. e. in the embodiment illustrated, the top of the upper roller and the bottom of the lower roller, nor do they extend out laterally to cause obstruction. The benefits accruing from the cantilever mounting of the unit are therefore retained and no obstruction is interposed to manipulations that may be carried on at the free, outermost, unsupported end of the unit, which is thus left unencumbered.

The process herein disclosed is primarily that adapted to be used in the manufacture of rayon from viscose, but it is to be understood that this apparatus is also suitable, with minor modifications, for use in the production of rayon thread from other spinning solutions, such as cupram- -monium cellulose, casein, cellulose esters, cellulose ethers, etc. Stretching of the thread where desired during processing may be attained by making one or more of the roller sections 36 in tapered form and likewise compensation for shrinkage of the thread during processing may be accomplished by using a reverse taper on one or more of the roller sections 36. It is to be noted that each thread advancing and treating device is a unit in itself and as many units may be and for the ring twister 56 herein disclosed there may be substituted a cap twister, a centrifugal pot, a skein collector or a spooling device, depending on the textile operations to follow. Thus the thread may be collected in twisted, untwisted,

wet or dry form. The apparatus is subject to many modifications, it being understood that the fundamental invention resides in adjustably supporting a pair of askew rollers on a rigid arm so that the shafts upon which the rollers are mounted will be relieved of shear and the rollers can be made to run true and accurately without wobble or eccentricity. Modifications and variations of this invention will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is desired to include all modifications and variations coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A thread treating unit comprising a bed plate, a pair of thread advancing rollers defining a thread-bearing periphery, a rigid rollersupporting arm fixed to and extending perpendicularly and substantially horizontally from said bed plate said rollers extending substantially parallel to said rigid arm but being adapted to be inclined axially and being supported by said rigid arm and said bed plate said arm being disposed intermediate said rollers, means carried by said rigid arm for inclining said rollers, the width of said arm being less than the diameter of either roller and the means on said arm for supporting the rollers and for inclining said rollers not extending beyond the confines of said thread-bearing periphery whereby to relieve the roller mounts from shear, prevent contact of thread with said arm, and avoid obstructing the unattached ends of said rollers.

2. A thread treating unit comprising a bed plate, a pair of thread-advancing rollers defining a thread-bearing periphery, a rigid rollersupporting arm fixed to and extending perpendicularly and substantially horizontally from said bed plate, said rollers extending substantially parallel to said rigid arm but being adapted to be inclined axially and being supported by said rigid arm and said bed plate, said arm being disposed intermediate said rollers and comprising essentially a plurality of members joined together at the free end of said arm, means carried by the joined together portion of the members of said arm for supporting said rollers, means carried by said joined together portion for adjusting the inclination of said rollers, the width of said arm being less than the diameter of either roller and the means carried by said arm for supporting the rollers and for inclining said rollers not extending beyond the confines of the aforesaid threadbearing periphery, whereby to relieve the roller mounts from shear, prevent contact of thread with said arm and avoid obstructing the unattached ends of said' rollers.

3. 'A thread treating unit comprising a bed plate, a pair of thread-advancing rollers defining a thread-bearing periphery, a rigid rollersupporting arm fixed to and extending perpendicularly and substantially horizontally from said bed plate, said rollers extending substantially parallel to said rigid arm but being adapted to be inclined axially and being supported by said rigid arm and said bed plate, said arm being disposed intermediate said rollers and comprising essentially a bifurcated structure including a plurality of trussed members convergingly joined at a point beyond the unsupported ends of said rollers, means carried at the joined end of said bifurcated structure for supporting said rollers, means carried at said joined end for adjusting the inclination of said rollers, the width of said bifurcated structure being less thanthe diameter of either roller and the means carried at the joined end of said structure for supporting and for adjusting the inclination of said rollers not extending.

beyond the confines of the aforesaid threadbearing periphery whereby to relieve the roller mounts from shear, prevent contact of thread with said bifurcated structure and avoid obstructing the unattached ends of said rollers.

HAROLD K. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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