US2647037A

US2647037A - Mercerization

Info

Publication number: US2647037A
Application number: US341A
Authority: US
Inventors: William F Luther
Original assignee: Dixie Mercerizing Co
Current assignee: Dixie Mercerizing Co
Priority date: 1948-01-02
Filing date: 1948-01-02
Publication date: 1953-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1970-07-28

Description

July 28, 1953 4 w.-F. LUTHER 2,647,037

MERCERIZATION Filed Jan. 2, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheel 1 s 'I E 7/- l2 33 7o `3/ 69* 25' :8-, V 6a 68 'f7/7 23 66 /lf 26 59' c 7 42 #s u FIG. E

Wiliam F.' Lui/7er At torney 4 3mm/m W. F. LUTHER MERCERIZATION July 28, 1953 j 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1948 Hita/mcg July 28, 1953 w. F. LUTHER 2,647,037

-MERCERIZATION Filed Jan. 2, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Il ,vll

5l 5IQ\` l m52 5% mi, ma ,mmc

Attorney Patented .ul'y 28, Q

UNITED y MERCERIZATION William F. Luther, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignor to Dixie Mercerizing Company, Chattanooga, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application January 2, 1948, Serial N o. 341

4 Claims.

This invention relates to mercerization of cotton yarns or threads and more particularly toa process for the continuous mercerization of a single yarn as it is being advanced.' The invention is of especial utility for mercerizing two ply yarns.

In the usual apparatus and process for mercerizing cotton yarns, a large number of yarns, often several hundred in number, are brought together in a bundle or rope and this bundle of yarns is advanced through the mercerizing bath in order to process them. This is generally referred to as the warp process for the mercerization of cotton yarns. The mercerization of yarns in warp form, however, involves certain disadvantages, Iand in particular it may be mentioned that the yarns are not uniformly memorized. This is principally because the yarns at the interior of the bundle do not receive the same mercerizing treatment as the yarns at the outside of the bundle, inasmuch as the mercerizing liquid does not come into as free contact with these inner yarns.

In addition, in advancing the yarns in warp form, it is impossible to make certain that all of the yarns are under the same tension throughout the mercerizing process, and this also necessarily brings about a variation in the mercerizing action. Also, in handling two-ply yarns, it has not been possible to apply as great a tension as has been desired, due to the frail character of these yarns and the necessity of making certain that one or more yarns which are under an increased tension are not stretched beyond their breaking strength.

It has consequently been impossible to so closely control the mercerization of the yarns being handled in warp form that a uniformity of treatment results. Because of this the threads have not received uniform dyeing properties Iand they have not attained their maximum strength or luster.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a process for mercerizing a single yarn strand in such a manner that uniform mercerization occurs throughout the entire length of the yarn. Because of this the yarn has a greater dye uniformity.

Another object of the invention is to obtain the mercerization of yarn under conditions which can be closely controlled so that variations in the mercerization of the yarn can be avoided.

A further object of the invention is to mercerize a single yarn strand at high speed so that although it is being handled in single end form,

the process will be economical. Additional economy is achieved due to the elimination of the creeling, warping, splitting, quilling and other winding operations.

A still further object of the invention is to obtain a greater degree of mercerization and to produce a yarn having a greater luster and also a greater strength due to the ability of applying a greater tension without breakage.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine contemplated by the invention for carrying out the mercerization of a single end of cotton yarn,

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an end elevational view as indicated by the line 4 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 5--5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a sectional View on the line 6 6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the rear side of the machine, and

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the machine as indicated by the line 8 8 of Figure 2.

The framework for the apparatus includes a pair of spaced horizontal members I I, herer shown as angle irons. The members II should be fastened downwardly to a suitable supporting surface, such as an elevated platform or table top, and this serves to maintain the members II in their proper spaced relationship. Attached to the horizontal members II are upright members I3 and I 4 and as here shown, these members I3 and I4 are of channel construction in crosssection. The uprights I3 and I4 may be attached to ythe horizontal members II by any suitable means, such as by welding. To brace the upper ends of the upright members I3 and IB they are connected by a spacing bar I2.

The yarn or thread which is to be mercerized may be supplied from any desired source and preierably it is provided in a package form from which it may be readily withdrawn. As here shown, the yarn is in the form of a cone, as shown at I5, and this conical package of yarn is carried upon a horizontally extending larm i3d which is secured -to the upright member I 3. As it is preferable to withdraw the yarn from such a `cone in an axial direction, a pigtail guide I6 3 is disposed axially above the cone I5 and this pigtail guide is attached to an upright rod I'I which is fastened at its lower end as by welding, to the upright member I3.

From the pigtail guide I6 the yarn passes forwardly to another' pigtail guide I8 which is attached to a rod I9 which projects laterally from and is secured4 to the upright rod I'I. From the pigtail guide I8 the yarn passes downwardly through a tension guide 2I and this tension guide is carried by an arm 22 which is attached, as by welding, to the upright member` I3. This tension guide 2|, may `for example, be of the revolving disc type. l

After passing through the tension guide 2l, thev yarn progresses to one end of a yarn-storage, yarn-advancing device which includes the two spaced

rollers

23 and 24. The front roller 23 is attached to a shaft 25 and this shaft is-rotatably mounted in bearings 26 which are fastened to the front faces of upright members I3 and I4. The rearward roller 24 is attached to a shaft 2T and this shaft is rotatably mounted. in bearings 28 which are fastened to the rear faces of the channeled upright members I3 and I4. The axes of the

rollers

23 and 24 are disposed to lie in parallel planes, but their axes are at an angle, or are askew with respect to each other. To adjust this latter angularity between the axes of the two rollers, one of the bearings 26 may be provided with an adjustment as indicated at 29,l so that this end of the shaft 25 can be raised or lowered.

Due to the relationship between the axes of

rollers

23 and 24, a yarn which is delivered to them will be advanced by them in generally helical turns from the end of the rollers to which the yarn is supplied, to the other end of the rollers. After properly fixing, by means of adjustment 29, the angularity between the axes of the

rollers

23 and 24, while maintaining the axes in their parallel planes, the spacing between the generally helical turns can be established. It is desirable that the turns be close together so that a maximum length of yarn will be on the rollersy at any time but it is desirable that the spacing between the helical turns be maintained so that. the turns do not overlap. Inevitably, the maximum length of yarn which can be put on the rollers at any one time without overlap will be a generally helical pattern with adjacent coilsv touching.

As here shown, the

rollers

23 and 24 are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction when the machine is viewed from the right, as appears from Figures fl and 5. It will be understood that the yarn is withdrawn from the

spaced rollers

23 and 24 at their ends to which the yarn is being advanced, at the same rate that it is beingv supplied to the receiving ends of the rollers plus the amount of stretch produced by the tapered rolls, as will be explained. Thus, the yarn is being continuously advanced to the rollers, is being continuously stored in generally helical` turns while being advanced along these rollers and is being continuously withdrawn from the rollers so that it may be collected in package form. While the yarn is being thus progressed along the yarnstorage, yarn-advancing device it is subjected to a mercerizing solution, in a manner which will hereinafter be described.

The

shafts

25 and 21 may be rotated in unison in any desired manner. As here shown, they are connected by means of a chain 3I which passes over sprockets attached to the projecting ends of the two

shafts

25 and 21. The shafts may be driven in any desired manner as by means of a cha-in 32 passing over another sprocket 33 on the 4 shaft 2, and this chain 32 may be driven by any' prime mover.

To apply the mercerizing solution to the yarn as it is being progressed in closely spaced, generally helical turns along the yarn-storage, yarnadvancing device, a padding roller 34 is provided. This roller 34 is attached to a shaft 35 and shaft 35 is rotatably mounted inbearings 36? which are secured to the front sides of upright members I3 and I4. The padding roller 34 is rotated by means of a pulley 31 attached to its shaft 35, and a driving belt 38 passes over this pulley 3l and the shaft 25. It is preferable that the pulley 3l be of large. size so that the padding roller 34 will turn relatively slowly as this will reduce the tendency of thisv roller tofthiow ofi the liquid on its surface.

The underside of the padding roller 34 dips into the mercerizing solution which is carried in a trough 4 I. rPhe mercerizing solution may be supplied to the trough 4I by any suitable means as through the supply conduit 42. A sufficient amount of solution must be maintained in the trough I so that the constant rotation of the padding roller 34 will carry some of thissolution upwardly against the yarn being advanced along the

rollers

23 and 24.

It will be observed that the padding roller 34 contacts thev helical turns of yarn. in their span between the

rollers

23 and 24. This is preferable to having the padding roller 34- contact the yarn at a point directly on either roller 23101` 24 inasmuch as a more certain contact with the yarn can be established by engaging itatA the yieldable portion of the yarn in its movement between the two roller surfaces. Preferably, the roller 34 contacts the yarn just after it leaves the roller 23 in its movement to roller 24.`

Also, it will be observed that the padding roller 34 is of narrow width. It has been found that this padding roller 34 need be only so wide as to make certain that the mercerizing solution will be positively applied to and absorbed by every increment of length of the yarn. Ity has been foundthat the solution which remains in the yarn will continue the mercerizing action upon the yarn after the yarn passes beyond the padding roller 3G. By making the padding roller 34 of this narrow width, it is easier to wash the solution from. the yarn inasmuch as an excess of the mercerizing solution will not be present by the time the subsequent washing step is reached. Moreover, there is less loss of the solution by prevention of the excess being squeezed into. the subsequent water section.

This washing of the yarn is accomplished by means of a secondroller 43, which is attached to thef saine shaft 35 which carries the padding roller 34. The washing roller 43 dips into a trough 44' containing wash water and the roller 43 serves tocarry this wash water upwardly into contact with the yarn. It will be noted that the washing roller G3', like the padding roller 34, contacts the yarnturnsin their passage between the surfaces of the two rollers where they a-re out of contact with these rollers 23V and 26. Also, it will be observed that the washing roller Sis considerably longer than the padding roller 34 to obtain a prolonged washing action and make certain that a major amount of the mercerizing solution is removed from the yarn.

Fresh wash water is continuously delivered to the trough 44 through supply conduit a5, T0 constantly remove the contaminated wash water from trough ffii, an overflow pipe 49 is provided.

The troughs il and 44may, for convenience of manufacture; be formed from a single shallow 5. receptacle which is divided by means of a partition 45 so as to thereby provide these two troughs. These troughs, or the shallow receptacle from which they are formed, may be held in position by any desired means and as here shown, this includes a forward supporting rod 4l which extends between and is carried by the upper ends of vertical support 48. These supports 48 are attached as by welding to the horizontal frame members I The forward edge of the receptacle constituting the troughs 4I and 44 is merely flanged over to form a lip to rest upon the supporting rod 4`|.

The rearward end of each of the troughs 4| and 44, or of the receptacle of which they are made, is supported upon a cross rod 5| and this cross rod passes through aligned openings in horizontal bars 52. These horizontal bars 52 are slightly above the horizontal frame members II and are attached as by welding at their forward ends to the upright frame members I3 and I4. The cross rod 5I is preferably provided with a bent end as shown at 5| a to form a handle for the cross rod 5I, so that the cross rod may be withdrawn by an endwise movement away from the horizontal bars 52 by which it is carried. This withdrawal of the cross rod 5| upon which the rearward portion of the receptacle constituting the troughs 4I and 44 rests, makes it possible to lower this receptacle below the applying

rollers

34 and 43 s-o that this receptacle can thereby be removed from the front supporting rod 47 and then be withdrawn from the machine.

The troughs 4| and 42 should be large enough to underlie at least a major portion of both rollers, and it will be apparent that they may be of the same depth throughout their length. However, it is preferable that the troughs or the receptacle providing them be of shallow depth except beneath the applying

rollers

34 and 43 so that a smaller quantity of the mercerizing solution and of the wash'water will be present. To carry out this latter purpose, the receptacle from which the troughs 4| and 44 are formed may merely be a pan beneath the rearward roller 24 and this pan slopes downwardly to the deeper portion beneath the applying

rollers

34 and 43.

Inasmuch as a superior mercerization action is obtained if the yarn is stretched during the mercerizaton reaction and the washing out operation, the

rollers

23 and 24 are of gradually enlarging diameter from their yarn receiving ends to their yarn discharging ends. As the yarn turns progress along these tapered rollers, the yarn is subjected to an increasing degree of stretch and this imparts a greater luster and strength to the yarn.

It is desirable that a squeeze or wringer roller bear against one of the yarn-advancing

rollers

23 or 24 to remove excess solution or water from the yarn so that these liquids will not be thrown away from the machine. To effect this result, a squeeze roller 53 is provided and it is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 54. Shaft 54 is rotatable in arms 55 which are fixed to and project from a rock shaft 55. The rock shaft 56 is rotatable within upright arms 51 which are attached at their lower ends to the horizontal frame members I|. It may be noted that the rear ends of the horizontal bars 52 are secured to upright arms 5l for strengthening purposes.

To press the squeeze roller 53 against the rearward roller 24, a lever arm 58 is attached to the rock shaft 56 and to the free end of the lever arm 58 may be suspended weight 59. It is evident that the downward force of the weight 59 6 will tend to rock the shaft 55 and forcibly bring the squeeze roller 53 against the rearward yarnadvancing roller 24. By varying the weight 59, the pressure exerted by squeeze roller 53 can be regulated.

The squeeze roller 53 should be as long as the yarn-storage, yarn-advancing device so that all of the yarn turns thereon will be subjected to the wringing action of the squeeze roller. As has been noted, the applying

rollers

34 and 43 preferably are beneath the front roller 23 so that these applying rollers deliver their respective liquids to the yarn immediately after it leaves the front roller in its movement toward the rear roller. As the squeeze roller 53 bears against the rearward roller 24, the liquids applied by the padding roller 34 and washing roller 43, have an appreciable amount of time to come into contact with the yarn to make sure that the yarn is adequately treated before it is subjected to the wringing action of squeeze roller 53.

The mercerizing solution which is pressed from the yarn after having been applied to the yarn by roller 34, drops down into the shallow, rearward part of trough 4| and flows to the deeper part of the trough. As this returned solution is reapplied to the yarn, the mercerizing solution is conserved.

Inasmuch as the wash water which is squeezed from the rearward roller 24 by means of the roller 53 contains some of the mercerizing solution, and it is therefore of value, the invention contemplates the recovery of this removed liquid. To accomplish this, a catch pan 6| is located beneath the rear thread-advancing roller 24 in such position that the liquid squeezed out of the f yarn by roller 53 above this catch pan 5| will be collected in the pan. This recovered liquid can be continuously removed from the catch pan 6I by means of a drain conduit 62 and this recovered liquid may be reconcentrated for reuse.

The catch pan SI may be supported by merely fastening it in place upon the bottom of the receptacle providing the troughs 4| and 44. As here shown, the catch pan 6| extends to the end of roller 24 from which the yarn is delivered and consequently all of the wash water which is squeezed out by roller 53 is recovered. However, the catch pan 6| can be shortened so that only the initially applied wash water is collected, so that only the stronger solution will drop into the pan 6|. Thus, the concentration of the diluted caustic liquor which is recovered, may be controlled by varying the length of the catch pan 6|.

Inasmuch as liquid may accumulate at the point of contact between roller 53 and roller 24 and be carried by the yarn to the takeoff end, itmay be desirable to surround this end with a shield 63. This shield 63 may be supported by attaching it to the arms 55 which rotatably support the shaft 54. From the shield 63, the liquid runs down into trough 44.

After leaving the yarn-storage, yarn-advancing device which includes the

rollers

23 and 24, the yarn passes through a pigtail guide 64. This guide 64 is carried by a bracket 65 which is attachedl to one of the upright arms 51. From the guide 64 the yarn passes over a universal winding cam roller 66 and rests in the groove in this cam roller 68. rIhe cam roller 66 is attached to a shaft 67 and this shaft is rotatably mounted in bearings 68 which are secured to the upright frame members I3 and I4. To rotate theshaft 6.1 a pulleyis fastened .thereto and this pulley-is driven by means off'a belt 'lllv which also passes around a driving pulley 1I. The driving pulley 1I is secured to shaft 2;'I.

The collecting spool or tube 'I3 is frictionally mounted upon a rotatably mounted arbor 'I4 which is carriedv at one end to a; Swinging, arm l5, and this swinging arm 'l5 is pivotable about a fixed pin 16 projecting laterally from the upright frame member I4. It isv preferable that the collecting spool be in the form of the usual tube having perforations therethrough so that the yarn which is collected on this spool may be further washed and soured and otherwise finished by passage of liquid through the opening in the tube and radially through the package of yarn. The winding tube or spool may be mounted upon the arbor 14 by merely passing it over the free end of this arbor, and the winding tube or spool can then rest downwardly against the surface of the winding cam roller 65 under the influence of its own weight.

Rotation of the winding cam roller 66 by means of the belt le will, in known manner, serve to frictionally rotate the winding tube or spool 13 so that the yarn delivered thereto will be collected upon this tube or spool. Also, this yarn which is collected upon the spooll or tube 13 will be advanced from end to end thereof in building up the package by the action of the cam groove in roller 66.

Rotation of the

rollers

23 and 24 will cause the turns of yarn thereon to advance in regular order, but it has been found that by bringing to bear a tensioning rod upon the yarn in its passage between the rollers the yarn will advance with the loops in closer proximity without entanglement. As here shown, this tensioning rod has a horizontal portion il which bears upon the yarn passing between the top sides of the

rollers

23 and 24.

To assure passage of the yarn beneath the teng1 sioning rod 1l, its entrance end maybe upwardly turned at 78. The other end of the rod is turned upwardly as shown at 19 to serve as a hanger or support. attached to a bracket 80 projecting from upright member I4. The end at 18 of tensioning rod I1 is supported by a vertical rod 8| welded at its lower end to rod l1, and attached by adjustment collar 82 at its upper end to cross rod I2.

By adjusting this rod 'I'I up or down at either end, the yarn loops are kept from separating or shifting in an unruly manner on the rolls. This prevents entanglement or breakdown of the yarn and also allows more loops to be put on the rollers. The fact that more loops can be accommodated on the

rollers

23 and 24 if the tensioning rod I1Y is employed, means that the mercerization process is speeded up for a given length of rolls. The tensioning rod also serves to remove and lay the fuzz or projecting fibers on the yarn, giving a yarn of smoother appearance and higher luster. It will be realized that the path of the thread between the rollers 23 and 24l is not truly helical due to the fact that the rollers are spaced apart horizontally as can be clearly seen in Figure 1. Thus, if the angular disposition of the

rollers

23 and 24 is such as to produce ahelix angle equal to the diameter of the thread, it is still not possible to ciose up the space between adjacent coils running on the machine. This is due to the fact that the thread which defines the helix extends beyond the cylindrical surface of one roller to get to the other roller which is horizontally spaced from the rst. This projection interrupts the formation of a true helix and causes some spacing This vertical portion 'I9 is adjustably g ofthe coils of thread even when the relative inclination of the rollers has been reduced to a minimum. On the other hand, the squeeze roller is less effective in its operation if therev are spaces between the coils of thread on which it bears. Thisy is because the roller bears on the threads and not on the actual surface of the roller 24. The tensioning bar 11 can be used to overcome this difficulty by disposing it at an angle such that the thread coils bearing against the under surface, of it are caused to progress toward the threadv receiving end of the device and so to contact the next adjacent coil in that direction. This results in the maintenance of a solid thread body on the device which can and does enhance the effectiveness of the squeeze roller 53.

To make certain that the yarn is delivered to the roller 23 at a uniform point, a guide arm 83 may have its free end disposed close to this roller at the point where the yarn initially contacts the roller. This guide arm 83 is supported by fastening it to the upright frame member I3. A similar guide arm 84, attached to upright member I4, is close tothe delivery end of

rollers

23 and 24 to prevent the yarn turns from accidentally passing off the ends of these rollers.

Although it is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be clear from the foregoing description, a summary of this operation may here be set forth. In setting the machine into operation the yarnis partly withdrawn from the cone I5 andr after passing itv through eyes IS and I8 and tension guide 2|, it is passed around the rollers 23 and 24 a few times and the free end is preferably tied to an adjacent turn. Rotation of the

rollers

23 and 24 will cause this initial turn to advance axially along these rollers and in so moving the yarn will' be formed in closely spaced turns throughout the` entire length of the rollers.

'When the initial few turns have reached the far end of the

rollers

23 and 24 the yarn is withdrawn and passed around the collecting spool or tube 73 and this spool is then brought into frictional engagement withv the winding cam roller. Thereafter, continued driving of themachine Will serve to withdraw the yarn continuously from the supply cone I-5 and advance it along the yarnstorage, yarn-advancing device, during which time. it is. subjected rst to the action of the mercerizing solution and then to the action of the wash Water, yand thereafter the yarn is co1- lected upon the spool 1,3.

The loops are almost instantaneously wet out by the mercerizing solution and the contained mercerization penetrant, which is applied by the padding roller 34 and this wetting isgreatly aided by the pressing action of the squeeze roller 53. After the loops passv the padding roller 34, they contain only somewhat more than their weight of the mercerizing solution and the mercerizing action continues. until the yarn reaches the water applying roller 43. The rate of washing of the yarnris greatly increased by a well-fitting squeeze roller 53. The wet. yarn leaving the rollers 23 and4 2.4 willl contain approximately equal its weight ofwater and from l to 2% of its weight of the mercerizing. solution. The wet yarn is` collected, upon the perforated spool 13 in which form itis finished and dried before being wound onto cones for shipment.

Any suitable mercerizing solution may be used and this may be av caustic solution of about 30 Baume. The mercerizing solution should also preferably contain a suitable penetrant or mercerizing assistant, such as Tergitol 08 and a de- 7-5 foaming agent, such as Octyl alcohol.

One operating form of the machine contemplated by the invention has yarn-storage, yarnadvancing rollers which are twelve inches long, and are 5.83 inches in diameter at the small end, increasing to 5.98 inches at the large, or take ofi, end. This gives a pitch of approximately 3% which in turn gives a yarn stretch of 3%. The padding roller 34 is 1/2 inch wide and is set in approximately 1A, inch from the thread receiving` end of the yarn loops to prevent caustic migrating to the end of the rollers and flying off. There is a space of approximately three and one-half inches left between the caustic padder 34 and the water applying roller 43. The yarn may be handled by this machine at a rate of 400 yards per minute, or better, which means that the yarn is mercerized in approximately 60 seconds.

The short period of time in which the yarn is mercerized according to the process of this invention may be accounted for by the fact that the yarn is repeatedly subjected to the application of the mercerizing liquid and to the wringing action oi the squeeze roller. The repetition of these successive treatments serves to bring about a more thorough penetration of fresh mercerizing soluti-on into the yarn. Thus, the padder-squeezer roll combination speeds up the process by bringing about a quicker and more thorough penetration of the fresh mercerizing solution, followed by quick displacement of the caustic in the washing step.

What is claimed is:

1. The method for continuously mercerizing cotton thread that comprises moving succeeding portions of a single cotton thread through a generally helical path having arcs and connecting runs therebetween in which the thread is supported in the arcs and unsupported in the runs between them at a speed above about 400 yards per minute, repeatedly subjecting succeeding portions of the thread so moving to a cycle of operations including a rubbing application of a mercerizing liquid on an unsupported run in said generally helical path and a squeeze on the next arc in the direction of movement of the thread.

2. The method for continuously mercerizing cotton thread that comprises moving succeeding portions of a single cotton thread through a generally helical path having arcs and connecting runs therebetween in which the thread is supported in the arcs and unsupported in the runs between them at a speed above about 400 yards per minute, repeatedly subjecting succeeding portions of the thread so moving to a cycle of operations including a rubbing application of a mercerizing liquid on an unsupported run in said generally helical path and a squeeze on the next arc in the direction of movement of the thread and then repeatedly subjecting succeeding portions of the same thread to a cycle of operations including the rubbing application of a washing liquid to an unsupported run, and a squeeze at the next arc.

3. 'I'he method for continuously mercerizing cotton thread that comprises moving succeeding portions of a single cotton thread through a generally helical path having arcs and connecting runs therebetween in which the thread is supported in the arcs and unsupported in the runs between them, rubbing the thread in the unsupported runs opposite to the direction of progression of the helix to bring about rotary and lateral movements of the coils and a scrubbing of the thread while repeatedly subjecting the thread so moving to a cycle of operations including a rubbing application of a mercerizing liquid on an unsupported run in said generally helical path and a squeeze on the next arc in the direction of movement of the thread.

l4. The method for continuously mercerizing cotton thread that comprises moving a single thread in a generally helical path having arcs and upper and lower generally horizontal connecting runs therebetween, the centers of the arcs being spaced apart more than the sum of their radii, rubbing the thread in the upper connecting run of its helical path opposite to the direction or' progression of the helix to impart rotary and lateral movement to succeeding lengths of the thread and to close adjacent coils of thread into mutual contact, rubbing a mercerizing liquid onto succeeding portions of the thread during its passage through lower connecting runs of its helical path near the beginning thereof, rubbing a washing liquid onto succeeding portions of the thread during its passage through lower connecting runs of the remainder of its helical path and squeezing the thread between each lower run and the next succeeding upper run.

WILLIAM F. LUTHER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l Number Name Date 43,053 Clarke June 6, 1865 242,045 Reilly May 24, 1881 351,946 Turnbull Nov. 2, 1886 1,165,896 Palmer Dec. 28, 1915 1,554,532 Stead Sept. 22, 1925 1,962,424 Brownell June 12, 1934 2,002,995 Hartmann May 28, 1935 2,106,311 Whitehead Jan. 25, 1938 2,108,285 Forrest Feb. 15, 1938 2,142,043 Boyd Dec. 27, 1938 2,145,019 Backup Jan. 24, 1939 2,173,998 Camp Sept. 26, 1939 2,194,684 Gulbrandsen Mar. 19, 1940 2,219,582 Tarbox Oct. 29, 1940 2,272,182 Burkholder et al. Feb. 10, 1942 2,294,871 Sellner Sept. 1, 1942 2,294,902 Gram Sept. 8, 1942 2,303,274 Herrstrom Nov. 24, 1942 2,308,576 Kornegg Jan. 19, 1943 2,317,747 Ewing Apr. 27, 1943 2,320,956 Turcotte June 1, 1943 2,346,696 Moritz Apr. 18, 1944 2,358,427 Traill Sept. 19, 1944 2,416,534 Naumann Feb. 25, 1947 2,513,381 Truitt et al. July 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 27,871 Great Britain of 1904 101,960 Austria Dec. 10, 1925 300,254 Germany Apr. 22, 1913 OTHER REFERENCES Journal of Textile Institute, January 1948 (Proceedings), pages P10 to P20.

Claims

4. THE METHOD FOR CONTINUOUSLY MERCERIZING COTTON THREAD THAT COMPRISES MOVING A SINGLE THREAD IN A GENERALLY HELICAL PATH HAVING ARCS AND UPPER AND LOWER GENERALLY HORIZONTAL CONNECTING RUNS THEREBETWEEN, THE CENTERS OF THE ARCS BEING SPACED APART MORE THAN THE SUM OF THEIR RADII, RUBBING THE THREAD IN THE UPPER CONNECTING RUN OF ITS HELICAL PATH OPPOSITE TO THE