US2947241A - Tow baling method - Google Patents

Description

1960 E. G. GUENTHER ETAL 2,

TOW BALING METHOD v Original Filed July 20. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 PRIOR ART Edgar G. Guenllzer JohnW Smiih IN VEN TORS Aug. 2, 1960 E. c. GUENTHER ET AL 2,947,241

- TOW BALING METHOD Original Filed July 20, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 EdgarGGuenlher Johan. Smifh INVENTORY Aug. 2, 1960 Tow BALING METHOD Original Filed July 20, 1955 Fig 7 E. G. GUENTHER ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Edgar Gfiuenllzer J ohnw Smith jNfl-INTORS 1960 E. G. GUENTHER ET AL 2,947,241

' TOW BALING METHOD Original Filed July 20. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 EdgarGGuenlher J ohnH. Smith INVENTORS United e MQ *TOW BALINGMETHOD Eager G. Guenthermuohn w. Smith, Kingsport, Term, ass'ignors to Eastman Kodak' Company, Rochester,

N.Y., a corporation of- New' Jersey Griginal" applicatiom July 20, 1 955, Ser. ,No.; 523,270; Dividedand this-applicationJan. 4-, 1957, Ser.- No.'

The present invention relates tothe' packaging and using of yarn, and more particularly to the packaging of artificialyarn of the -contiriiidits filament types that are formed'into tow ww'hrcn acrirnp has been-added. This af division of the applicants cop'ending. application 523,270, fil'edJuly'ZO, 1"955. a

- In'the' tradetheword 'tow describes a'product comprised or several ends of continuous"filaments broilght 'togth'erfto form a ropelike ,mass. The size 'of-the' tow is usually 'from"25, to 2,000,000 denier. In the process of manufacturing tow, a crimp is-usually. imparted to the tow. This crimp is formed in such amanner as tocause thetow to conform to a ribbon shape of re'ctangular cross-section, eg. x 2" for 100,000 denier;

' The method of packaging, with which the present invention'is concerned may be best described as baling. V The general idea is todirect thetow into-a conventional haling press in such a manner as torform a square prism package or bale acceptable-as a supply package for subsequent tow usage. I s

, The present invention has as its. principal object the provision of a new and improved tow bale and .a mechanism for the formation thereof.

"Yet another object of thewinvention-is the provisionar a; baled tow in which the tow is packaged under zero tension so that there is .no change in the crimp of the tow.

'Still another object of the invention is an arrangernent by which the tow is traversed in its passage to the baler to vprovidea uniform pattern in tow bales so that the-tow may be withdrawn from the bale under low tension arid without tangling. V 1

And yet another object of the invention is the provision of a.high density tow bale. And another object of the invention is the'provision of a tow. bale in which the tow can be drawn from the bale without the use ofcreals or mandrels.

0 And still another object of the invention is thezforma tion of' a baled tow in which twist is not added to the tow duringpackaging or withdrawing. I

. A further object of'the invention is the provision of an arrangement which permits continuous flowof the tow yet allowing intermittent operation of thebalingpress to bale layersoftow into a high density bale. During the pressing-out operation the continuously movingtow is stored in=- properly arranged layers ready 'to be delivered tothe press atthecompletion of the previous,pressing-out operalion; 7 i

a still-further object'of the invention is the' provisionof an'ovel means to "secure the tow pattern in the bale. 1

Finally, another object of the invention is the provision of a bale-forming mechanism which is simple in structure, comprisesfew parts of ruggeddesigmeasy to operate and highly eiiectivein-use;

To theseand otherendsthe invention resides in certain improvementswand combinations of parts, all as willbe hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed outzin ;theclaims at '=the;-en'd ofthespecificationn Inthe drawings: a V 2 Fig. 1 isa ball' warpedarrangeme'nt' of windingftownsed' Patented. Aug. 2, 19.60

prior to the present invention;

desired pattern in thebale, and balingthe patterned I v Fig.4 is aside elevation view ofthe' spreader bin.) and the mechanism for oscillatingthelaft'er. v Fig.5 is a side view of'the spreader bin showing the location of the freely movable depending deflector lips,

and the manner in'which the latterdeflect the tow;

' Fig. 6 shows how the 'tow will'be laid unevenly in the.

' press without the use 'ofthe deflecting lips of the spreader bin, the hold-up doors being omitted on the hold -up bin for thepurpose of clarity;

f Fig. 7 shows. an evenly laid tow in the press when the deflecting lips are used on the spreaderbin, the hold-up doors being omitted for the purpose of clarity;

Fig Q8 shows one arrangement for operating the holding,

doors at the bottom of-thehold-u-p bin;

Fig. 9 shows a modified arrangement for operating thehold up doors "for the hold up bin;

'Fig. 1.0 shows the means fortraversingfthe :tow inthe direction of the length of thebale :or in thedirection. of

the axes ofthe feedrolls;

Fig. 11 shows the pattern of one layer, the top layer...

offthe tow .in the tow bale and illustratesthe ease with which the tow may be withdrawn from the hale under low tension without tangling,,the left end of the layer being connected to the underlying layer, whilethe right end ofithe layer has a tag connected thereto to facilitate finding the free end of the tow in the bale; and,

Fig. 12 is a partial view of a completed tow bale.

Similar reference numerals throughout the various views indicate the same parts.

Fig. .1 of the drawings shows a ball warp arrangement 20 for winding tow or similar yarn, prior to the presentinvention; while Fig. .2 shows a cardboard container 21". in whichapair of ball warps were packaged for shipping; Thedensity of the ball warp is 9.35 pounds per cubic:

foot. 'In order to form a more compactpackage, the tow bale of the present invention wasdeveloped. This bale arrangement has a density of 28.4 pounds per .cubic foot. It is thus seen that the baled tow permits the storing and/ or shipping of approximately 200% more towincany given area. Also, the packaging and labor :costs' are re duced considerably in the case of a baled tow.

The essentialfeatures of the present invention include: (1) the feed rolls with the tow transverse" mechanism; (2) the spreader bin with its .freely swinging deflector lips; (3.) the hold-up bin with its rockable or movable trap doors; (4) the conventional 'baling press,

all of which Referring now' to Fig. 3, the tow, in-tlhei'ormeta ribbon, is drawn from a previous 'pro'c'essingnnit liy means of "a pair of rotating draw or feedrolls 23. ahead of the rolls, the tow 22 passes through aslbt zil in a traversing guide 25. The latter is rigidly'conneoted -'l -he' latter-passes over 'a :pair of spaced; sprocketsniill. eachof which is rigidly connectedto shaft v31,, -.-at least. one of which is rotated by means not' shown. -%'lihe-. sprockets .30. spaced from each; other to; obtain? ig. 2' shows a cardboard container in which the 15511 warp ofiFig. l" was positioned for shipping. or delivering,

- 1 3 desired traverse distance for the guides 24, namely, the length of the tow bale 32, see Fig. 12.

As the tow 22 is discharged from the nip of the draw rolls 23, the tow falls into a downwardly tapered spreader bin, generally indicated by the numeral 35. Due to the reciprocation of the guide 25 the tow will be discharged or laid in folds along the length of the bin 35, or to the right and left as viewed in Fig. 3. Thus, the guide 25 will serve to distribute the tow lengthwise of the bin 35. However, to provide the desired lay or pattern of the successive superimposed layers 36, see Fig. 11, of the tow in the bale 32, it is necessary also to move or reciprocate the tow 22 in a direction normal to that provided by the reciprocating guide 25. To secure this result, the spreader bin 35 is mounted for rocking or pivoting movement about a pair of aligned shafts 37 which project laterally from the opposite end walls 38 of the bin 35. The supporting means for the shafts 37 are not shown, but may be of any suitable construction and does not form a part of the present invention. Thus, the guide 25 reciprocates the tow in a direction parallel to the axes of the rolls 23, while the rocking of bin 25 reciprocates the tow in a direction normal to the roll axes. This dual movement of the tow serves to lay the latter in reversing folds, as shown at 36 in Fig. 11. The rocking of the spreader bin 35 about shafts 37 is obtained by means of a link 39, one end 40 of which is pivotally connected to an end wall 38 of the bin 35 below shaft 37. The other end of link 39 is rotated about point 41 by a crank 42 of a gear reducer 43 driven by a belt 44 from a motor 45. The above mechanism serves to rock bin 35 about 15 each side of its vertical position.

Thus, the reciprocation of guide 25 and the rocking of the bin 35 imparts a zigzag motion to the tow as the latter is discharged from the bin 35 so that the tow will be distributed in superimposed layers 36, each of which -lies substantially in a plane and is in no way interlaced or intermeshed with adjacent layers. This arrangement permits easy and ready withdrawal of the tow from the bale at low tension and without tangling.

The tow is discharged from the bin 35 and is laid in the above-described pattern in a stationary hold-up bin 50. The successive layers 36 are built up on the holdup bin while previously formed layers are being pressed in a hydraulic press, generally indicated by the numeral 51, and later to be more fully described. The hold-up bin 50 thus serves to collect the layers 36 of the tow, and also enables the latter to be fed continuously yet permits intermittent operation of the press 51 to bale the tow.

As the tow is discharged into the hold-up bin 50, it is desirable to have the layers arranged in flat relation, as shown in Fig. 7, rather than in concave relation as shown in Fig. 6. To obtain more positive control over the tow lay, the spreader bin 35 is provided with a pair of spaced vertical lips 52 which swing freely about bearing 53. The lips 52 are free to rotate about bearing 53 so the lips will always hang vertically as shown in Fig. 5, irrespective of the angular position of the bin 35. Referring to Fig. it is seen that when the bin 35 is in its extreme displaced position, the tow 22 discharged from rolls 23 slides down the left inclined side 54 of the bin 35 and is then deflected downward vertically by the lips 52, as shown in the solid lines of Fig. 5. This arrangement gives the desired pattern to the lay as illustrated in Fig. 7. However, if the lips 52 are not used, the tow path would assume the position shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 5 and would provide the pattern lay as shown in Fig. 6. This latter condition inevitably results in trapped ends as the high side periodically falls inward.

The two layers accumulate in the hold-up bin 50 while the previous group is being baled in the press 51. In order to enable the tow layers to accumulate in bin 50, the bottom of the bin is closed bya pair of'trap doors 57 hinged at 58 on the bottom of bin 50, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3, 8 and 9. When the previously baled package 32 is removed from the press 51, the upper platen 59 of the press is moved to the dotted position, Fig. 3, by means to be later described. This movement of the platen 59 opens the top of the press 51. The doors 57 are then moved to their open or dotted position, shown in Fig. 3, allowing the laid layers in the hold-up bin to fall into the press 51. At this time sufficient tow has not been accumulated to form the desired size bale. However, the tow continues to be discharged from the spreader bin and falls through the hold-up bin 50 and builds up in the previously described layer patterns 36 in the press 51 until the desired bale weight has accumulated in thepress 51'. At that time the doors 57 are again moved to closed position to cut off further supply of the tow to the press 51, and the tow layers then start to accumulate in the hold-up bin 50. Thus, the latter provides a temporary storage for the accumulation of the tow while the previous bale of tow is being baled in the press, after which the doors 57 are opened and the tow is delivered directly to press 51.

The doors 57 may be opened and closed by any suitable mechanism; for example, Fig. 8 shows an arrangement in which each hinged connection 58 has secured thereto one end of a lever 60 the free end of which is pivotally connected at 61 to a crosslink 62. One of the hinges 58 also has secured thereto an operating lever 63, the free end of which is provided with an operating handle 64. It will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 8 that an upward movement of the handle 64 and lever 63 will rock both hinges in the proper direction to swing the doors 57 downward from their closed position, shown in the solid lines of Figs. 3 and 8, to their open position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Another mechanism for operating the doors 57 is shown in Fig. 9, in which each hinge 58 carries a wormgear 65 which meshes with a worm 66 carried by shaft 67 supported in bearing 68. The shaft 67 carries an operating wheel 69. By rotating the latter, the hinges 58 may be rocked in the proper direction to open and close the doors 57.

When the upper platen 59 is moved to the dotted position, Fig. 3, the tow is fed directly to the press 51. After the required amount of tow has been accumulated in press 51, the platen 59 is then moved to its full line position shown in Fig. 3, and the new bale started in the hold-up bin 50. The tow extending between the bin 50 and the press 51 is cut, and each end is placed in its respective bale. However, the end in the press has attached thereto an identifying tag 76 to facilitate ready and easy location of the free end of the tow in the bale, when the latter is opened by the user. After the free end is tagged, and placed in the bale in the press, a hydraulic piston 85 at the bottom of the press is moved upward and cooperates with the stationary platen 59 to compress the tow layers to form the high density bale. The latter, as is common practice, is enclosed in any suitable wrapper which is placed in the press prior to the opening of doors 57. However, as this feature forms no part of the invention, details thereof are not deemed' necessary. Also, as is common practice with baled materials, the !bale may have a plurality of metal toenforcing bands 77 which also do not form a part of the present invention. After the bale has been pressed to the proper size in the press, a door 78 hinged at 79 is opened and the pressed bale removed. The proper bale covering is then placed in the press and the platen 59 withdrawn and the doors 57 opened to discharge the accumulated laid layers in bin 50 into the press 51 for the next baling operation.

The platen 59 may be arranged in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7, which shows the platen fastened by suitable fastening means to the lower member 81 of a U-shaped yoke which is mounted so that it is free to move in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7. Four anti-friction rollers 82 support the upper mem-- ber 83 of the yoke 80 to permit the yoke tobe moved.

by hand power. A similar arrangement, not shown, is connected to the opposite ends of the platen 59.

Thus, the tow has imparted thereto a dual reciprocating motion which serves to lay the tow in a zigzag pattern or layers in the hold-up bin 50, the tow strip being folded upon itself, at the edges of the bale, as shown at 84, Fig. 11. After the previous baling operation has been completed, the accumulated layers in hold-up bin 50 are dropped into the press 51, and the laying operation continues until the proper bale weight has been accumulated in press 511. The tow in the press is then compressed to form the baled tow 32, see Fig. 12. The various layers 36 lie substantially in separate planes and are not intermeshed or interengaged with adjacent layers. On the contrary, the layers, even of the compressed bale, are in laminated relation so that when each layer is uncovered it may be easily and readily removed Mth very little tension and without tangling. The various layers are connected at their ends to adjacent layers, the top and bottom layers each of course having only one end connected to an adjacent layer. The free end of the tow in the top layer is provided with an identification tag of facilitate locating the free end when the bale is opened. The described mechanism for forming the layers enables the tow to be packaged under zero tension and without causing any change in the tow crimp. Also, the arrangement of the layers in laminated form permits the tow to be withdrawn easily and readily from the bale in a continuous strand under low tension and without tangling.

The present invention thus provides a new and im proved baled tow, and the mechanism for building up the bale. Furthermore, the tow is fed continuously while the baling operation is intermittent, means being provided to store a portion of the baled material during a pressing-out operation. The mechanism for forming the bales is simple, easy to operate, rugged and highly effective in use.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the precise details described herein, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of baling tow comprising, feeding a strand of tow continuously, collecting the tow in super imposed loose layers of uniform pattern at one position until a portion only of a bale of loose layers has accumulated at said one position, transferring the accumulated portion of loose layers as a unit to a compressing point, laying additional loose layers on said portion at said point until a predetermined amount of tow has been accumulated at said point, then compressing the predetermined amount into a bale at said point while simultaneously collecting succeeding lengths of said tow in loose layers at said one position to form a succeeding bale portion.

2. The method of baling tow comprising, the steps of continuously feeding a strand of tow while imparting a dual horizontal movement to the tow as it is fed so as to lay the tow in superposed loose layers of uniform pattern, accumulating at a first position a quantity of said superposed loose layers sufficient to form only a portion of a bale; transferring said portion of a bale to a second position, continuing the feed and dual movement of said tow to said second position during and after transfer of the bale portion until a predetermined amount of tow has been accumulated at said second position, then transferring the feed of tow back to said first position after cutting the same, between said positions, and compressing the predetermined amount of two deposited at said second position into a finished halo.

3. The method of baling tow comprising the steps of continuously feeding a strand of tow vertically downward while imparting a dual horizontal movement to the tow as it is fed vertically so as to lay the tow in superposed loose layers of uniform pattern, accumulating a quantity of said superposed loose layers to form only a portion of a bale at a first position arranged in vertical alignment with the fed tow, transferring said portion of a bale to a second position'arranged below and vertically aligned with said first position, continuing the vertical feed and dual movement of said tow to said second position during and after the transfer of the bale portion until a predetermined amount of tow has been accumulated at said second position, then transferring the feed of tow back to said first position, cutting the strand between said positions, and finally compressing the predetermined amount of tow deposited at said second position to form a finished compressed bale.

4. Bale packaging method for continuous filament tow comprising the steps of continuously feeding the tow to a lay pattern forming area, moving the tow continuously as a strand running downwardly from the pattern forming area by gravity, while simultaneously continuously changing the position of the longitudinal axis of the downwardly moving tow by compound oscillation of the point of discharge of the tow from the pattern forming area, thereby establishing a bale lay pattern, presenting a stationary, substantially horizontal, temporary supporting surface for reception of the downwardly moving tow in the lay pattern in a position above a baling area, bringing the downwardly moving tow to rest in the lay pattern on said temporary supporting surface, and, by the continued feeding of tow in the lay pattern to said temporary supporting surface, accumulating thereon superposed loose layers of the tow, thereby forming a portion of a bale resting on said supporting surface,

removing the temporary surface from its tow supporting position and away from the accumulated bale portion, thereby dropping such accumulated portion by gravity, presenting a stationary, substantially horizontal, permanent supporting surface for reception of the dropped portion in the baling area, continuing the accumulation of tow in the desired lay pattern in superimposed loose layers during and after the drop of the accumulated portion to the permanent support, until a predetermined amount of tow, sufiicient for a full bale, has been accumulated, thereupon discontinuing the movement of additional tow to the tow accumulated in the baling area by severing the tow at a point adjacent the surface of the tow accumula tion and directing the thus-formed new length of downwardly moving tow to said temporary supporting surface above the baling area, and compressing and baling the accumulated fu-ll bale amount in the baling area while continuing the downward movement of the new length of tow to said temporary support above the baling area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 475,117 Ivens May 17, 1892 715,787 Griifin Dec. 16, 1902 769,692 Davies Sept. 13, 1904 965,561 Butler July 26, 1910 1,857,707 Bell May 10, 1932 2,403,311 Steele July 2, 1946 2,468,834 Nash May 3, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 109,551 Austria May 10, 1928 SE L Arte in ERNEST Wo SWIDER DAVID L, LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,947,241 August 2, 1960 Edgar Go Guenther et al,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the drawings, Sheet 2, in Figs 3, the arrow which illustrates the direction of rotation of the righthand (as one views the drawing) roll of the pair of feed rolls 23 should show rotation in a counterclockwise direction rather than a clockwise direction; in the printed specification, column 2, line 53, ior "transverse" read traverse column 3, line 70, and column 6, line 2, for "two", each occurrence read tow Signed and sealed this 25th day of April 1961.

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