US2730757A

US2730757A - Method and apparatus for producing novelty yarn

Info

Publication number: US2730757A
Application number: US327875A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hofmann Hugo
Original assignee: Beaunit Mills Inc
Current assignee: Beaunit Mills Inc
Priority date: 1952-12-24
Filing date: 1952-12-24
Publication date: 1956-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 1973-01-17

Description

a.. MTV 1956 H, HoF-MANN W METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NOVELTY YARN Filed Dec. 24, 1952 2 SheebS-Sheei l METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NOVELTY YARN .INI/ENOR..

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-i-'L HOFMAN N Filed Dec. 24, 1952 United States Patent() METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NOVELTY YARN Hugo Hofmann, Eliznbethton, Tenn., assigner to leaunit Mills, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December' 24, 1952, Serial No. 327,875

11 Claims. (ci. ls-s) The present invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for the production of novelty yarns of synthetic filamentary material having improved strength and softness.

Silk thread which is obtained from imperfect or freak cocoons, or from cocoons of wild or uncultivated silk worms has an imperfect texture and is characterized by having thickened portions or nubs spaced at irregular intervals. It was early discovered that such yarn could be utilized in the production of fabric having a pleasing appearance, since the nubs occurred at irregular intervals and therefore did not tend to produce a pattern effect.

Producers of synthetic tilamentary material have striven to simulate the imperfections occurring in such silk, and to produce an articial yarn which would be acceptable as a substitute for the product produced by the silk worm. While the patent literature is replete with methods and apparatus for making an acceptable nubby yarn, much of this art falls short of its goal due to the difficulty of obtaining nubs on articial filaments in a completely irregular and indeterminable fashion. One such funnel spinning method which has proven successful isset forth in U. S. Patent 2,251,247, assigned to the present assignee. According to the process of this patent, a synthetic iilamentary bundle is extruded in a normal manner, but instead of being taken up from the funnel outlet as is normal, the iilamentary bundle is caused to impinge upon a tilted glass plate disposed beneath the funnel, causing the partially coagulated filaments to pile up and in so doing nubs are produced at irregular intervals. The slubby filaments are taken up and combined with a normally spun filament bundle from a spinning funnel disposed adjacent thereto; This process is carried out with the conventional single spinning funnels in their normal spinning positions.

In the production of synthetic filaments by the funnel spinning process, it has been discovered that smaller spinning funnels are capable of rendering a more uniform thread which may be doubled with another thread bundle similarly produced. By doubling filament bundles so produced to make a required denier, it has been found that the yarn is rendered more uniform, not only owing to the doubling, but also because the individual multiple threads have a more uniform structure as regards physical properties and dyeing characteristics.

p It has been further proven that a thread comprising two or more lamentary bundles doubled or tripled possesses a special structure, due to the fact that the filaments of the multiple bundle, during the spinning process, stick to one another 'and impart to the filaments and fabric made therefrom an entirely different characteristic feel.

While the method and apparatus as set forth in Patent 2,251,247 previously referred to `has proven fairly satisfactory for the production of a higher denier composite yarn, the apparatus employed is of the conventional type inthat the individual filament bundles are spun from 2,730,757 Patented Jan. 17, 1956 ICC tunnels of standard construction corresponding in number to the winding up points.

The principal object, therefore, of the present invention is to produce synthetic filaments having a novel slubby effect at indeterminable intervals from a multiple of small spinning funnels, each of which is intended to produce only a thin component filament bundle. As desired, two or more such component filament bundles, at least one of which is slubbed at irregular intervals by means of a novel funnel arrangement, are brought together to form a composite slubby filament bundle.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce a composite filament yarn having a novel slubbed effect and which is characterized by having increased strength and softness.

A further object is to provide a method and apparatus for producing a novel slubby yarn of artificial origin wherein the maximum utilization of machine space and productivity is obtained without requiring an increase in the number of machine operators.

A stiil further object resides in the provision of a method and apparatus whereby the frequency and size of the slubs produced can be varied to a degree at the will of the operator but without producing a pattern effect.

Further objects and advantages over the prior art discussed will be apparent from the description of the irivention which follows.

Referring to the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan View of one of the multiple spinning funnels according to the present invention along with its respective uniting and guide means and the collecting reel therefor.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. l showing one form of the apparatus according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative filament slubbing receptacle which may be used in place of the tilted tiat `surface shown in Fig. 2.

Fi g. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through a multiple spinning funnel constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line S--S of Fig. 4 and looking up toward the spinnerette.

Fig. 6 shows a spinnerette constructed in accordance with the present invention with the extrusion holes being magnified to more clearly indicate difference in hole size.

in the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts, 10 generally designates a spinning head constructed in accordance with the present invention. The head 10 comprises a head piece 12 which encloses a multiple spinnerette 14 (Fig. 6). Head piecel12 is provided with a depending iiange 16, into whichthe upper end of a glass cylinder 18 is cemented.

A spinning solution manifold 20 (Fig. 2), delivers spinning solution to the space 11 above spinnerette 14 through the lead tube 22 as is customary in the funnel spinning process. Glass cylinder 18 is cemented to the head piece 1i as shown at 24. A bottom funnel piece 26 is cemented to cylinder 13 at the point 28. The bottom funnel piece 26 is provided with an annular coagulating liquid receiving and distributing passage 30 at its lower end. t

A coagulating liuid inlet opening 34 leading to the passage 30 serves to supply the spinning head 1U with a constant ow of coagulating iiuid which is distributed from the passage 30 through openings`31 and iiows upwardly within the area 27 of funnel 18 until it overflows into the multiple spinning funnels which will now be more fully described.

Spinning

funnels

36 and 38 are comprised of tapered, tubular members which are held in position by means of the.. cement 3.3., which is appliedbelow the bottomy funnel piece 26.

The

upper ends

36 and 38 of funnels 36 and 3S, which extend within the cylinder 18, are flattened on one side and abut each other as shown in Fig. 5. The upper ends of funnels 36' and 38 are open andfterminate just below the surface of spinnerette 14 in position to receive the filaments in separate bundles according to denier as they issue from the spinnerette.

Attached to the lower. free ends of each of the funnels t'ivand. 38v are the flexible coupling members rif and 42.

-Suitable clamps 44 and 46 hold these members in liuid tight engagement with the funnels. The coupling members. in. turn hold the

funnel nipples

48 and 50 by means of

clamps

45 and 47. It will bev noted that nipple 50 is longer than nipple 48 and that the nipple opening 49 is less restricted than is the nipple opening Sl. The purpose of this arrangement will be more fully explained subsequently. It will be further observed that this arrangement permits the `funnel nipples to be removed and replaced withonly a momentary interruption in the manu facturing process.

Referring to Figures l and 2, the improved novel yarn of the present invention is produced as follows. Spinning solution, which, for illustrative purposes, will be described as being cellulosic cuprammonium, is delivered under suitable pressure from the manifold 26 through `lead-in tube 22 to the head space 11 above the spinnerette 1.4A (Fig. 4).. Spinnerette 14 has two sets of orifices therein, with oneside 13 having orifices of larger diameter t than the other side 15 (Fig. 6) so that the filaments issuing through holes 13 will be of larger denier. As the filamentsV issue from the spinnerette, coagulating liquid from the. manifold is delivered to the opening 34 by means of thetube54 and is distributed by means of the passage 30 and rises around the upper funnel sections 36 and 3.8: until it overflows the top thereof. The pressure and volume.. flow of this liquid in large measure controls the Speed of-extrusion of the filaments in their passage down the funnels.

The coagulating duid is moved through the spinning funnels 3.6 and 38 by means of a siphoning action which isa fairly. standard technique employed in the funnel spinning art. However, particular advantage is made of this siphoning action in the present invention to achieve theobiects thereof. Funnel 38 being longer than funnel 36, and having a larger nipple opening causes more coagulating fluid to be siphoned through this funnel to handle the larger denier filaments. being extruded in this funnel. Alsothe increased flow is necessary in order to deposit the larger denier filaments beneath nipple 50 in a manner to be. hereinafter described.

It. shouldy be emphasized that the same coagulating Huid flows through both funnels, so that the larger denier filaments issuing from funnel 38 are less coagulated than arefztghejlaments from. funnel 36, since, the composition ofthe liquid is adjusted-for the smallerdenier filaments.

The opening 4 9 of nipple 50 is in the neighborhood of 5 mm. and nipple opening 51 may be conveniently 4 Y mm. These openings can be varied in proportion to the denier of thefilaments and theflow of coagulating liquid, but must be kept to a sizeso that air does not pass upwardly around the liquid issuing therefrom and interrupt orinterfere with the siphoning action necessary for a constant flow of coagulating fluid and a uniform fiber.

The abutting surfaces of the

funnels

36 and 38 terminatesadjacent the medial portion of the spinnerette 14 so thatthelarge denier filaments 56. issuing from holes 13 aredirected'into funnel 38 and the smaller denier laments 5,8 to funnel36 i The two filament bundles are moved down their respective funnels. at a rate` determined by the flowV of coagulating liquid. Due to funnel 36 being of shorter length, filamentsSS are discharged before. filaments 56. Thecoagulating liquid, together with filaments 56. are Vdischarged under slightly greater pressure than are flinow of liquid plus the increased length of funnel nipple 50, carries the filaments 56 to a flat tilted surface 60 disposed beneath this funnel. The take up rate is selected for the normally spun filament and is such as to permit a momentary pile up 57 of filaments 56, and since they are in a partially coagulated sticky condition, nubs or slubby portions are formed on the yarn at irregular and completely indeterminable intervals.

As an alternative to the fiat surface 60, Fig. 3 shows an adjustable dished receptacle 62 which may be placed beneath funnel nipple 50 to receive the filaments to be slubbed. By the use of this receptacle a somewhat different piling action is achieved in that the pile has a tendency to float in the coagulating liquid deposited with the yarn filaments, so as to render a multiplicity of small slubs rather than a series of larger more distantly spaced slubs, as in the case of the flat surface described. Also the slubbing action may be controlled to a degree by varying the distance of the receptacle 62 from the funnel tip 50. A distance of 2" has been found quite satisfactory for most purposes.

Yarn filament bundle S8 is led under guide rod 62 and both

bundles

58 and 56 are led over guide red 64 and through the uniting guide member 66 where the two partially coagulated filament bundles are united into one composite yarntow. The uniting takesplace inthe ab. sence of regenerating acid, to insure a thorough adhesion ofthe two filament bundles so that a composite bundle results of-increased strength and without any tendency to later separate into their individual component bundles.

From the uniting guide member 66, the composite bundlev is led through the reciprocating guide 68 and thence to the takeup reel 70. As theyarnis taken up on reel 70, it is subjected to an acid regenerating bath. The

acid is allowed to dribble on to` the Vsurface of the skein` being taken up, through the medium of a trough-like tongue member 69 secured beneath guide 68. Acid is .delivered to this member by conventional means normally employed to deliver coagulating acid to the yarn passing through front guide 68.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the use of a cuprammonium cellulose solution, the principles of the invention are applicable to the funnel spinning of viscose as described in U. S. Patents 2,065,175 and 2,154,893 for example. Further the process and apparatus as described may be used in conneetionV with any of the synthetic fibers capable of being wet spun from a funnel.

While only two spinning funnels-have been shown for sake of simplicity it is to be. understood that more than two such small funnels may be used with at least one of the funnels being designed to produce a slubby filament to be combined with the normally spun filaments. Where more than two funnels are to be used the spinnerette will b e modified so as to extrudev the desired filament bundle for each type funnel.

In viewof the foregoing description taken in connection withv the accompanying drawing it is thought the manner and mode of carrying out the process with the apparatus disclosed will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

What I claim is:

l. A process for spinning novel filaments of artificialV originV having improved strength and softness which comprises the steps of extruding at least two separate bundles ofvfilamernts from a coagulable cellulosic spinning solution through the medium of a common coagulating bath,

to pile up briefly beneath their funnel outlet and thereafter bringing all of the filament bundles together by means of a filament uniting means in the absence of regenerating acid, and collecting the composite filament bundle so formed While subjecting said composite bundle to the action of an acid regenerating bath.

2. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cellulosic spinning solution comprises viscose.

3. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cellulosic spinning solution comprises cuprammonium.

4. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lilament bundles of higher denier are discharged from their respective funnels under greater pressure than the other filament bundles.

5. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said higher denier filament bundles are caused to pile up brieiiy upon a flat surface prior to being joined with the other of said filament bundles.

6. A process as claimed in claim l wherein said higher denier filament bundles are caused to pile up briefly in a movable dished receptacle disposed beneath said tunnels, said receptacle having therein a bath of coagulating liquid.

7. A process for spinning a composite cellulosic filament bundle having slubs disposed along said fialments at irregular and indeterminable intervals, with the resulting yarn being characterized by improved strength and softness, which comprises the steps of extruding at least two separate bundles of filaments from a common spinnerette with a part of said filaments being extruded with a greater denier than the other of said filaments, said filaments being extruded into a common coagulating bath, separating the extruded filaments into bundles according to denier and discharging said lamentary bundles through separate funnel outlets, said filaments of higher denier being discharged at a greater pressure than the other of said filaments so as to cause a momentary piling up of said filaments beneath their funnel outlets, thereafter bringing all of the filaments together by drawing said filaments through a uniting means in the absence of regencrating acid, collecting the composite filament bundle so formed while subjecting said bundle to the action of an acid regenerating bath.

8. Apparatus for spinning novel filaments of artificial origin having improved strength and softness comprising means for delivering a cellulosic spinning solution at a predetermined pressure, precipitating apparatus to receive said spinning solution, a spinnerette associated with said precipitating apparatus, with the extrusion holes in said spinnerette being so arranged so as to deliver at least two distinct bundles of filaments of different denier, a plurality of funnels, each of which is disposed to receive one of said bundles of filaments, at least one of said funnels having a length greater than said other funnels, the longer of said funnels having a reduced nipple opening in its free end, means disposed beneath said longer funnels to temporarily receive the laments issuing therefrom in piled relation, means for guiding the filament bundles from said tunnels to a thread uniting means whereby the natural adhesiveness of said filaments causes the formation of a composite filament bundle, collecting means for said composite filament bundle, and means for treating said composite fialment bundle with an acid regenerating bath while being collected on said collection means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means for receiving the filaments in piled relation comprises a at surface.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means for receiving the filaments in piled relation comprises a movable dished receptacle.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the increased length of the longer of said funnels is obtained by means of an adjustable and detachable nipple secured to the free end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

8. APPARATUS FOR SPINNING NOVEL FILAMENTS OF ARTIFICIAL ORIGIN HAVING IMPROVED STRENGTH AND SOFTNESS COMPRISING MEANS FOR DELIVERING A CELLULOSIC SPINNING SOLUTION AT A PREDETERMINED PRESSURE, PRECIPITATING APPARATUS TO RECEIVED SAID SPINNING SOLUTION, A SPINNERETTE ASSOCIATED WITH SAID PRECIPITATING APPARATUS, WITH THE EXTRUSION HOLES IN SAID SPINNERETTE BEING SO ARRANGED SO AS TO DELIVER AT LEAST TWO DISTINCT BUNDLES OF FILAMENTS OF DIFFERENT DENIER, A PLURALITY OF FUNNELS, EACH OF WHICH IS DISPOSED TO RECEIVE ONE OF SAID BUNDLES OF FILAMENTS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FUNNELS HAVING A LENGTH GREATER THAN SAID OTHER FUNNELS, THE LONGER OF SAID FUNNELS HAVING A REDUCED NIPPLE OPENING IN ITS FREE END, MEANS DISPOSED BENEATH SAID LONGER FUNNELS TO TEMPORARILY RECEIVE THE FILAMENTS ISSUING THEREFROM IN PILED RELATION, MEANS FOR GUIDING THE FILAMENT BUNDLES FROM SAID FUNNELS TO A THREAD UNITING MEANS WHEREBY THE NATURAL ADHESIVENESS OF SAID FILAMENTS CAUSES THE FORMATION OF A COMPOSITE FILAMENTS BUNDLE, COLLECTING MEANS FOR SAID COMPOSITE FILAMENT BUNDLE, AND MEANS FOR TREATING SAID COMPOSITE FIALMENT BUNDLE WITH AN ACID REGENERATING BATH WHILE BEING COLLECTED ON SAID COLLECTION MEANS.