US2788562A

US2788562A - Strand treatment testing

Info

Publication number: US2788562A
Application number: US530825A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold B Wagner; Albert M Lavan
Original assignee: American Viscose Corp
Current assignee: Akzo Nobel UK PLC
Priority date: 1955-08-26
Filing date: 1955-08-26
Publication date: 1957-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-16

Description

April 16, 1957 Filed Aug. 26, 1955 H..B. WAGNER ET AL STRAND TREATMENT TESTING 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 16, 1957 H. B. WAGNER ETAL STRAND TREATMENT TESTING I Filed Aug. 26, 1955 f2 Sheets-Sheej; 2

l4 Y Y I3 22 STRAND TREATMENT TESTING Harold B. Wagner and Albert M. Lavan, Lewistown, Pa.,

assignors to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application August 26, 1955, Serial No. 530,825

14 Claims. (Cl. 28-22.)

Our invention relates to a method and apparatus for simultaneously determining the receptive quality of a plurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent.

In weaving textile fabrics, the warp yarns to be incorporated into the fabric are fed to the weaving apparatus from a beam having layers or sheets of yarn ends wound thereupon. Each yarn layer contains 800 to 1000 yarn ends. After the warp or yarn ends have been woven into a finished fabric, the fabric is then dyed and shipped to customers. A common customer complaint which has proved most bothersome to the yarn producers, dyers and fabric finishers is that certain of the yarn ends in the woven fabrics, for one reason or another, did not absorb enough or absorbed too much of the dye solution. These imperfectly dyed fabrics usually have to be scrapped or sold at reduced prices as inferior goods. Heretofore there has been no simple, eflicient and desirable method or apparatus for accurately determining the receptivity of the warp ends to a dye treatment before the Warp ends are incorporated into a fabric.

Yarn producers, dyers and weavers have been searching for a method and apparatus which is simple in form and which will accurately determine the receptivity of each individual yarn or warp end used to treatment with a dye before the ends are woven into a fabric. If such a method and apparatus were available, the woven fabric could be dyed with assurance that the final fabric would be uniformly dyed since any yarn ends which failed to satisfactorily receive the dye could be discarded before the weaving operation.

It is therefore one object of our invention to provide a new and novel method which is simple and inexpensive for testing the receptivity of a plurality of yarn ends to treatment with a dye solution or other treatment before the ends are woven into fabrics.

Another object of our invention is to provide a new and novel method for simultaneously determining the dye receptivity factor of continuous yarn or warp ends before they are collected on a yarn beam or spool.

A further object of our invention is to provide a new and novel apparatus which is simple and inexpensive for simultaneously determining the receptive qualities of a plurality of yarn ends to treatment with a dye solution or other treating agent.

' Other objects and advantages of our invention will become more apparent from a study of the following description and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of our dye testing apparatus; and

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are views showing the steps, in sequence, of the method for simultaneously testing the receptive quality of a layer or sheet of yarn or warp ends to dye treatment.

Referring now to the drawings, our preferred method and apparatus will now be described in detail. As seen in Figure 1, our testing apparatus for determining the receptivity characteristics of strands or yarn ends to treatment with treating agents comprises a supporting stand or frame A supported on coasters 4, 4. A drum 6 is journaled in bearings 8 which are mounted on cross braces it i i of frame A. A pair of rotatable cylindrical surfaces or

rods

13 and 14 of smaller diameter than the drum 6 are supported on the top of the frame A on either side of the drum 6 by bearing

members

16, 16 secured to the frame corner legs 18, 18. A pair of

bars

22, 23 one on each side of the frame A are atlixed to the corner legs l8, 18 of the stand

A. Spring clips

25, 25 are secured at spaced points to the outer face of each of the

bars

22, 23. Tensioning rolls or

weights

27, 27 are sup.

ported in cantilever fashion on arms 27', 27' whichin turn are pivotally supported on a fixed shaft 29 mounted in

bearings

31, 31. As mentioned above, the yarn or warp end dye tester as described above represents the preferred form. Without substantially departing from the preferred structure described above, the tester may be easily modified should operating conditions require such modification.

The method for testing or determining the dye receptivity characteristics of the yarn ends using the above described apparatus will now be described. As seen in Figure 1, the continuous yarn ends, Y, Y which may be yarns of the regenerated cellulose type are supplied from a creel (not shown) and passed through a reed aligning assembly 33 to form a sheet of the yarn ends.

The sheet of ends is then passed over the guide roll 35.-

Before the sheet of continuous yarn ends Y, Y is Wound onto the beam 37, the individual yarn ends are tested on the tester A to determine their receptivity characteristics to treatment with certain treating agents such as a dye solution. The tester A is rolled into position in front of the beam 37 and, as seen in Figure 2, a portion of the sheet of yarn ends Y, Y is drawn by the operator over rod 13%, drum n and rod 14 to a position beyond the rod i l. The yarn ends Y, Y are then grouped by the operator at a point beyond the rod 14. The operator must exercise care when grouping the ends to prevent the yarn ends overlying the

rods

13 and 14 and the drum 6 from overlapping. The grouped ends are then snubbed around one of the spring holding clips 25 secured to the bar 23.

The operator next narrows the sheet of yarn ends to bring the yarn ends overlying the rollers and drum into closer relation whereby the ends will, in a manner of speaking, simulate a fabric. Figure 2 also depicts the first step in the narrowing of the sheet of yarn ends which overlie the

rods

13, 14 and the drum 6. As seen therein, the yarn ends overlying and adjacent the rod 14- are brought into a closer relationship with one another by rotating the bar M. After the sheet of yarn ends overlying and adjacent the roller 14 has been narrowed, the operator then moves around to the opposite side of the tester A and manually groups the yarn ends of the sheet at a point below the rod 13 and at the same time applies a slight tension to the yarn ends. To bring the yarn ends overlying and adjacent the rod 13 into a closer side by side relationship, the operator then rotates the rod 13 (see Figure 3). Still holding the grouped ends, the operator then rotates the drum 6 to bring the yarns overlying and adjacent the drum 6 into a more intimate re lationship (see Figure 4). The yarn ends Y, Y are now formed into a tight band B which now, in a manner of speaking, simulates a fabric.

The band B of yarn ends is then snubbed on spring clip 25 secured to bar 22 (see Figure 5). Care must be taken by the operator during the narrowing operation in maintaining tension upon the sheet of yarn ends Y, Y since the sheet lengthens as it is narrowed.

The band B of yarn ends Y, Y is now ready for testing to determine the receptivity of the individual yarn ends to. treatment with a dye solution or such other treatment as;

may be desired. Before the dye matter isapplied to the Patented Apr. 16, 7

band, that portion of the band overlying the drum 6 is wetted with water. The wetting step is important to the test dyeing operation since it serves to magnify any imperfecions in dyeing. Prior to the wetting operation, a tensioning roll or weight 27 is swung into place (Figs. 1 and against the band B to maintain the band B under proper tension since during the water application and during the application of the dye solution, the yarns will elongate as they absorb the applied liquids. The tensioning roll 27 resting against the band B will gradually swing. downward by force of gravity to eliminate any slack in the band during the wetting, dye application and testing. The water may be applied with a brush or other suitable applicator. The operator then applies a dye solution with a dye applicator as (Fig. 5) to the wetted portion or that portion of the band B overlying the drum 6. Before the band of yarn ends with the water and the dye applied thereto has dried, the dyed portion of the band B is carefully examined by the operator to determine whether or not any of the yarn ends have failed to pick up or absorb the dye or whether certain of the ends have absorbed too much of the dye. Should the operator discover that certain of the yarn ends have not absorbed the dye matter or that certain of the ends have absorbed too much of the dye, he then separates these defective ends from the band B and they are eliminated from the beam winding operation.

It should be pointed out here that the above process may be successfully carried out without the water wetting step when treating agents other than dyes are to be applied to the yarns or other type strands wherein water Wetting is not required to magnify the receptive qualities of the strands to the treating liquid.

Although Figures 2 through 5 show only the preparation and treatment of one group or portion of the entire sheet of yarn ends Y, Y passing over guide roll 35, the operation described above is repeated from the remainder of the yarn ends Y, Y. As seen in Figure l, the entire number of yarn ends passing over guide roll 35 have been formed into four separate bands B on the dye tester A.

From the above description it is seen that we have provided a method for dye testing yarn ends which is simple in execution, inexpensive, and which may be carried out with a minimum amount of interruption in the beaming operation. Our preferred dye testing apparatus is simple in structure, inexpensive to construct, and may easily be moved about as described within the beaming plant.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the/present invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of a plurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent comprising the steps of forming a sheet of strands, drawing the strand sheet over at least one cylindrical rotatable surface, grouping the strands of the sheet together at a point beyond the cylindrical surface over which the strands are drawn, anchoring the grouped strands of the sheet, maintaining the strand sheet under tension and in contact with the rotatable surface, narrowing the sheet of strands into a one layer band by rotating the surface, anchoring the band of strands on the opposite side of the surface, applying a treating agent to a portion of the band, and inspecting the band of strands to determine whether or not the individual strands of the band were satisfactorily receptive to the treating agent.

2. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of a plurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent comprising the steps of forming a sheet of the strands, drawing the strand sheet over a plurality of spaced'apart cylindrical rotatable surfaceagrouping the s'trand'si-ofithe' sheet together at a point beyond the cylindrical surfaces over which the strand sheet is drawn,

anchoring the grouped strands of the sheet, maintaining the strand sheet under tension and in contact with the rotatable surfaces, narrowing the sheet of strands into a one layer band by rotating the surfaces, anchoring the band of strands on the opposite side of the surfaces, applying a treating agent to a portion of the band, and inspecting the band of strands to determine whether or not the individual strands of the band were satisfactorily receptive to the treating agent.

3. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of a plurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent comprising the steps of forming a sheet of the strands, separating a portion of the strand sheet from the remainder of the sheet, drawing the separated portion of the strand sheet over a plurality of spaced apart cylindrical rotatable surfaces, grouping the strands of the sheet together at a point beyond the cylindrical surfaces over-which the strand sheet is drawn, anchoring the grouped strands of the sheet, maintaining the strand sheet under tension and in contact with the rotatable surfaces, narrowing the sheet of strands into a one layer band by rotating the surfaces, anchoring the band of strands on the opposite side of the surfaces, applying a treating agent to a portion of the band, and inspecting the band of strands to determine whether or not the individual strands of the band were satisfactorily receptive to the treating agent.

4. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of a plurality of strands to'treatment with a treating agent comprising the steps of forming a sheet of the strands with the strands lying in spaced apart relationship with respect to one another, drawing the strand sheet in succession over a first cylindrical rotatable surface of small diameter, a second cylindrical surface of a large diameter, and a third cylindrical rotatable surface of a diameter equal to that of the first surface, said surfaces lying in spaced apart relationship, grouping together the strands of the drawn sheet at a point beyond the third surface, anchoring the grouped strands at a point beyond and below the third surface, rotating the third surface to narrow that portion of the strand sheet overlying and adjacent the third surface into a band of closely related strands, applying tension to the sheet of strands, rotating the first surface to narrow that portion of the strand sheet overlying and adjacent the first surface into a band of closely related strands, rotating the second surface of larger diameter to narrow that portion of the strand sheet overlying and adjacent the second surface into a band of closely related strands, anchoring the one layer band of strands at a point prior to and below the first surface, applying a treating agent to that portion of the band overlying the second surface, and inspecting the band of strands to determine whether or not the individual strands of the band were satisfactorily receptive to the treating agent.

5. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of a plurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent according to claim 4 comprising the step of applying additional tension to the band of strands during the application of the treating agent to the strands.

6. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of a plurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent according to claim 4 wherein the strands comprise continuous yarn ends.

7. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of a plurality of yarn ends to treatment with a dye solution comprising the steps of forming a sheet of the yarn ends, drawing the yarn end sheet over at least one cylindrical rotatable surface, grouping together the yarn ends of the sheet at a point beyond the cylindrical surface over which the yarn ends are drawn, anchoring the grouped yarn ends of the sheet, maintaining the yarn end sheet under tension and in contact with the rotatable surface, narrowing the yarn end sheet into a one-layer band by rotating the surface, anchoring the band of yarn ends on the opposite side of the surface, applying a wetting agent to a portion of the band, applying a dye solution to the wetted portion of the band, and inspecting the band of yarn ends to determine whether or not the individual yarn ends of the band were satisfactorily receptive to the dye solution.

8. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of a plurality of yarn ends to treatment with a dye solution according to claim 7 wherein the yarn ends comprise regenerated cellulose yarns.

9. An apparatus for preparing a plurality of strands for simultaneously testing the receptive quality of the individual strands to treatment with a treating agent comprising a frame, at least one rotatable cylindrical surface journaled to the top of the frame and over which the strand sheet is drawn, and at least one clamp affixed to each side of the frame at points below the cylindrical surface for anchoring the strand sheet on both sides of the surface whereby when the surface is rotated the strand sheet is narrowed into a compact band to which the treating agent is applied.

10. An apparatus for preparing a plurality of strands for simultaneously testing the receptive quality of the individual strands to treatment with a treating agent in accordance with claim 9 comprising a strand tensioning device for maintaining the narrowed anchored band of strands under tension during the application of the treating agent.

11. An apparatus for preparing a plurality of strands for simultaneously testing the receptive quality of the individual strands to treatment with a treating agent comprising a frame, a first rotatable cylindrical surface of small diameter journaled to the top of the frame adjacent one edge thereof, a second rotatable cylindrical surface of large diameter journaled to the top of the frame adjacent the center thereof, a third rotatable cy lindrical surface of the same diameter as the first surface iournaled to the top of the frame adjacent the edge opposite to that edge supporting the first surface, and a plurality of strand holding clamps aflixed to each side of the frame at points below the first and third surfaces, whereby when strands are drawn over the surfaces and the surfaces are rotated the strands are narrowed into a compact band to which the treating agent is applied.

12. An apparatus for preparing a plurality of strands for simultaneously testing the receptive quality of the individual strands to treatment with a treating agent in accordance with claim 11 comprising a strand tensioning device for maintaining the narrowed anchored band of strands under tension.

13. An apparatus for preparing a plurality of strands for simultaneously testing receptive quality of the individual strands to treatment with a treating agent in accordance with claim 11 wherein the periphery of the second surface mounted adjacent the center of the frame top lies above the periphery of the first and third surfaces.

14. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of a plurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent comprising the steps of forming a sheet of strands, drawing the strand sheet over at least one substantially cylindrical rotatable surface, grouping together the strands of the sheet on both sides of the rotatable surface, maintaining the strand sheet under tension and in contact with the rotatable surface, rotating the surface to narrow the sheet of strands into a one-layer band, applying a treating agent to a portion of the band, and inspecting the band to determine whether or not the individual strands of the band were satisfactorily receptive to the treating agent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,721,628 Ingham July 23, 1929