US3147579A - Apparatus for and method of producing relaxed packages of textured yarn - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8,, 1964 c. c. M! ALEK 7,

'APBARATUS FOR AND METH 0F PRODUCING RELAXED PACKAGES 0F TEXTURED YARN Filed July 26, 1963 INVENTOR. CHARLES: C. MICHALEK ATTORNEKS United States Patent APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF PRODUCING RELAXED PACKAGES 0F TEXTURED YARN Charles C. Michalek, Nanticoke, Pa, assiguor to The Duplan Corporation, Winston-Salem, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 26, 1963, Ser. No. 297,792 4 Claims. (CI. 57-34) This invention relates generally to an improved apparatus for and method of producing relaxed packages of textured yarn in which the yarn is at least partially relaxed when it is Wound to form the package. The improved apparatus and method are particularly directed to producing a relaxed package of false twisted stretch yarn wherein the yarn is false twisted and then overfed onto the take-up bobbin in a continuous operation.

It is the usual practice to maintain the yarn in tensioned condition during a false twisting operation and while the yarn is wound to form the take-up package so that the latent crimp or curl which has been heat-set in the yarn does not have an opportunity to develop. When the false twisted yarn is wound onto the take-up package under tension, the crimp of the yarn is pulled out and if the yarn remains on the take-up package in this tensioned condition for a prolonged period of time, much of the latent crimping characteristics of the false twisted yarn are temporarily lost. Also, when the yarn is wound onto the take-up package under tension the innermost layers of yarn are subject to more tension and compression than the outermost layers, making it impossible to uniformly treat the tightly wound package of false twisted yarn, such as by steaming and subsequent dyeing. Further, when the tensioned yarn is subjected to heat during the steaming and/ or dyeing operations, a certain amount of the latent crimping characteristics of the yarn is lost.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for and method of producing false twisted yarn in which the yarn is wound onto the take-up package in a partially relaxed condition and wherein a large portion of the latent crimp is developed so that the resulting relaxed package may be uniformly treated, such as by steaming and/ or dyeing.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for and method of producing a relaxed package of false twisted yarn wherein a takeup collar is supported on one end of the take-up tube and the yarn is initially wound on the take-up collar and drawn through the false twist spindle at the proper speed by rotation of the collar, and then the yarn is transferred to'-the main body of the take-up tube as the feed rolls are put into action to draw the yarn through the false twist spindle so that the false twisted yarn is then wound on the take-up tube at a slower rate than it is drawn through the false twist spindle and in at least a partially relaxed condition.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accomanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is a somewhat schematic isometric view of one station of a false twisting machine of the type manufactured by Leesona Corporation and known as their Model No.55 3, showing the yarn moving from the supply bobbin to the take-up tube, and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 22 in FIGURE 1, but omitting the tube supporting mandrel and illustrating the manner in which the enlarged take-up collar is removably secured to one end of the take-up tube.

While only one false twisting station is shown in the 3,147,579 Patented Sept. 8, 1964 drawings, it is to be understood that this type false twisting machine is provided with false twisting stations closely spaced along each side of the machine frame. The false twisted yarn from alternate spindles is usually taken up on a lower deck, as shown in the drawing, while the yarn from intervening spindles is taken up on an upper deck so that the false twist spindles may be closely spaced. The thermoplastic yarn Y, such as multifilament nylon, is withdrawn from a supply bobbin 10 which is in turn suitably supported on a creel 11. The yarn Y is drawn over a pair of guide rods 12 and 13, through a pigtail guide 14 and suitable tension disks 15 which are suitably supported on a plate 16.

The yarn Y is passed several times around a pair of lower feed rolls 17a and 17b and then upwardly and through a suitable slots in an elongated heater plate 18. The lower feed roll 17a is provided with a drive gear 20 which at times engages a gear 21 that is fixed on a drive shaft 22. The feed rolls 17a and 17b are rotatably supported in a conventional bracket, not shown, which may be moved to separate the gears 20 and 21 so that the feed rolls 17a and 1711 will rotate freely when the yarn Y is moved. When the bracket is moved to bring the gear 20 into engagement with the drive gear 21, the feed roll 17a is driven to withdraw the yarn Y from the supply bobbin 10 at a predetermined speed. a

As the yarn Y leaves the heater plate 18, it passes upwardly through a conventional false twisting spindle 24 which is suitably mounted for rotation in a pivotally supported bracket 25. The bracket 25 may be swung by the operator to cause the body of the spindle 24 to engage or to move out of engagement with a spindle driving belt 26.

From the false twist spindle 24, the yarn Y is passed several times around a pair of upper feed rolls 27a and 27b. The upper feed roll 27a is provided with a drive gear 28 which at times engages a drive gear 29 that is fixed on a drive shaft 30. The upper feed rolls 27a and 27b are rotatably mounted in a conventional bracket, not shown, for swinging movement whereby the gear 28 may be moved into and out of engagement with the drive gear 29. After leaving the upper feed rolls 27a and 2712, the yarn passes up and over a guide roll 31 and then downwardly and engages an auxiliary yarn guide which is known as a transfer tailing wheel 32 which is fixed on a rotatable tailing shaft 33. The wheel 32 is spirally grooved and with slow rotation of the shaft 33, a yarn which is initially placed in the groove at the right-hand side of the wheel 32 will be moved to the left-hand side and after several rotations of the wheel 32, the yarn will be moved off of the wheel 32 and onto the shaft 33.

The yarn Y extends from the wheel 32 and, in accordance with the present invention, is wound onto an enlarged annular take-up ring or collar 34. As shown in FIGURE 2, the enlarged take-up collar 34 is provided with a peripheral yarn receiving groove 35 and a bore 36 which frictionally engages the outer periphery of one end of a take-up tube 37. The take-up tube 37 is supported on an expandable tube holder 38 that is supported for rotation on the upper end of a package holder arm 40, the lower end of which is pivotally supported on a rod 42. The upper end of the package holder arm 40 is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 1 by conventional spring means, not shown,

so that the outer periphery of the take-up tube 37, or the outer surface of yarn wound thereon, is drivingly engaged by the surface of a cork roll 44 which is fixed on a drive 7 3 threading yarn guide which evenly distributes the yarn Y on the take-up tube 37 as the bar 48 is reciprocated back and forth. The take-up tube 37 may be moved out of engagement with the cork roll 44 by means of a lever 43 which is connected at one end to the support arm 40.

All of the parts heretofore described except the enlarged take-up collar 34 are conventional parts of a Model No. 553 false twisting machine. In this type machine, the upper and lower feed rolls control the speed that the yarn passes through the false twist spindle 24 and maintain uniform tension on the yarn as it passes therethrough. The speed of the cork roll 44 is usually coordinated with the speed of the feed rolls so that the yarn is wound on the take-up tube 37 under tension. In the present instance, the drive gears of this machine have been changed so that the speed of the cork roll 44, relative to the speed of the feed rolls, is reduced and the yarn is overfed onto the take-up tube 37 by about 100 to 125%. Thus, the false twisted yarn is wound onto the take-up tube 37 in at least partially relaxed condition.

To start the false twisting operation, the yarn is threaded in the manner shown in FIGURE 1, but the upper and lower feed rolls, the false twist spindle 24, and the take-up tube are each in an inactive position. The leading end of the yarn is wound around the take-up collar 34 and the yarn is placed in the groove at the right-hand side of the auxiliary guide or tailing wheel 32. Then, the take-up tube 37 is moved against the cork roll 44 to begin drawing the yarn through the system at a relatively fast speed, due to the large diameter of the take-up collar 34. As the take-up tube 37 and the enlarged take-up collar 34 rotate, the yarn Y is withdrawn from the supply bobbin 10, around the freely rotatable lower feed rolls 17a and 17b through the false twist spindle 24, around the freely rotatable upper feed rolls 27a and 275, over the tailing wheel 32, and taken up on the take-up collar 34.

The operator than moves the false twist spindle 24 into driving engagement with the drive belt 26 to begin rotating the same and applying false twist to the yarn Y. Next, the operator swings the upper feed rolls so that the gear engages the drive gear 29 and then swings the lower feed rolls so that the gear 20 engages the drive gear 21. The speed of the upper and lower feed rolls is coordinated to maintain uniform tension in the yarn between the feed rolls as the yarn is false twisted. It is preferred that the upper and lower feed rolls move the yarn at about-the same speed that the yarn is initially drawn through the system by the enlarged take-up collar 34. The yarn Y moves off of the tailing wheel 32 at about the time that the operator swings the lower feed rolls into driving engagement with the drive gear 21, so that the yarn Y is picked up by the traverse thread guide 47 as it reaches the right-hand end of its stroke. The traverse thread guide 47 then distributes the yarn on the medial portion of the take-up tube 37 to build up a relaxed package of false twisted yarn, as indicated in dash-dot lines at 50 in FIGURE 2.

After the size of the take-up package has reached the desired diameter, the tube 37 is removed from the machine by reducing the diameter of the mandrel 38 and then the take-up collar 34 may be pulled from the. end of the take-up tube 37. Since the yarn has been overfed onto the take-up tube, it is in a partially relaxed condition and a large percentage of its crimp has been developed before it is wound. This developed crimp will not be lost even though the yarn may be stored on the take-up tube 37 for an extended period of time before it is further processed.

It is preferred that the take-up collar 34 be large enough to initially draw the yarn through the false twist spindle 24 fast enough that the yarn will not be overtwisted and break. In most instances, the conventional take-up tubes are formed of built-up layers of spirally wound paper strip material to form a wall thickness of approximately V of an inch and an outside diameter of 3 and W inches. The take-up tube 37 is normally 6 and /2 inches long and the take-up collar 34 is of an inch wide.

In order that the take-up collar 34 may be removably secured on one end of the take-up tube 37 by a pressed fit, the bore 36 is preferably the same diameter as the outside diameter of the tube 37. If desired, the bore 36 may be slightly tapered to make it easier to press the collar 34 on the end of the tube 37. It has been found that if the diameter of the yarn engaging periphery of the collar 34 is about one and one-half times as large as the diameter of the take-up tube, the yarn will be initially drawn through the false twist spindle 24 at a sufficient speed. In the present instance, the diameter of the yarn engaging periphery of the collar 34 is 5 inches, however, it is to be understood that this can be varied, in accordance with different false twist spindle speeds, yarn sizes, variations in the feed roll speeds, etc.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the false twisted yarn is initially drawn through the system by the take-up collar 34 at a relatively fast rate to prevent breaking and over-twisting of the yarn by the false twist spindle 24 until the upper and lower feed rolls are put into operation. Also, the cork roll 44 is driven at a slower than normal speed, relative to the speed of the false twist spindle 24 and the upper and lower feed rolls, to allow the yarn to relax and at least a portion of the latent crimps to develop in the yarn before it is wound onto the take-up tube 37 in partially relaxed condition.

It is preferred that alternate false twist spindles 24 of the machine are rotated in one direction to apply an 8 false twist while intervening false twist spindles are rotated in an opposite direction to apply a Z false twist to the yarn. While only one false twisting station of the machine is shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that adjacent false twist spindles can be rotated in opposite directions by positioning the false twist spindles 24 on alternating sides of the spindle drive belt 26. If desired, the yarn from alternate stations can be taken up on one deck and the yarn from intervening stations can be taken up on the other deck so that the S and Z yarns are taken up on the tubes of separate decks. The S and Z yarnsare then combined to produce a balanced yarn in a separate operation by winding one end of yarn from an 8 false twist take-up tube 37 and one end of yarn from a Z twist take-up tube 37 onto a single take-up bobbin.

However, it is preferred that the alternating S and 2 false twisted yarns be taken up together on the same takeup tube 37 on the false twisting machine. This can be easily accomplished on the false twisting machine by using only the lower deck of take-up tubes and guiding the S and Z yarns from adjacent false twist spindles onto a single take-up tube.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for producing a relaxed package of textured yarn from a supply package of thermoplastic yarn, said apparatus comprising the combination of (a) first driven feed roll means engaging the yarn and being movable between inactive and active positions, said first feed roll means being freely rotatable by the yarn when in said inactive position and being drivingly rotated when in said active position to withdraw the yarn from the supply package at a predetermined speed,

(b) second driven feed roll means engaging the yarn in spaced relation from said first feed roll means and being movable between inactive and active positions, said second feed roll means being freely rotatable by the yarn when in said inactive position and being 5 drivingly rotated when in said active position at a predetermined speed corresponding with the speed of said first feed roll means to maintain uniform tension in the yarn between said first and second feed roll means,

() texturing means engaging the yarn between said first and second feed roll means and imparting latent crimping characteristics thereto,

(d) a yarn take-up tube supported for rotation and on which the textured yarn is normally wound,

(e) drive means for rotating said take-up tube to take up the textured yarn at a slower rate than it is fed thereto by said second feed roll means when in active position,

(7) main yarn guide means adjacent said take-up tube for evenly distributing the yarn thereon during normal winding thereof,

(g) an enlarged yarn take-up collar mounted on one end of said take-up tube for rotation therewith and having a peripheral groove therein for reception of several initial windings of the yarn thereon for drawing the yarn from the supply package and through said texturing means upon rotation of said take-up collar and before said first and second feed roll means are moved to active position, and

(h) auxiliary yarn guide means positioned adjacent said enlarged take-up collar for initially guiding said yarn into the peripheral groove thereof for several revolutions of the take-up collar and for then moving the yarn into position to be received by said main yarn guide means for normal winding thereof on said take-up tube.

2. An apparatus for producing a relaxed package of false twisted yarn from a supply package of thermoplastic yarn, said apparatus comprising the combination of (a) first driven feed roll means engaging the yarn and being movable between inactive and active positions, said first feed roll means being freely rotatable by the yarn when in said inactive position and being drivingly rotated when in said active position to withdraw the yarn from the supply package at a predetermined speed,

(b) second driven feed roll means engaging the yarn in spaced relation from said first feed roll means and being movable between inactive and active positions, said second feed roll means being freely rotatable by the yarn when in said inactive position and being drivingly rotated when in said active position at a predetermined speed corresponding with the speed of said first feed roll means to maintain uniform tension in the yarn between said first and second feed roll means,

(0) a false twist spindle engaging the yarn between said first and second feed roll means,

(:1) heater means positioned between said first feed roll means and said false twist spindle and providing a heated zone through which the yarn passes and imparting latent crimping characteristics thereto,

(e) a yarn take-up tube supported for rotation and on which the false twisted yarn is normally wound,

(f) drive means for rotating said take-up tube to take up the false twisted yarn at a slower rate than it is fed thereto by said second feed roll means when in active position,

(g) main yarn guide means adjacent said take-up tube for evenly distributing the yarn thereon during normal winding thereof,

(it) an enlarged yarn take-up collar mounted on one end of said take-up tube for rotation therewith and having a peripheral groove therein for reception of several initial windings of the yarn thereon for drawing the yarn from the supply package and through said false twist spindle upon rotation of said takeup collar and before said first and second feed roll means are moved to active position, and

(i) auxiliary yarn guide means positioned adjacent said enlarged take-up collar for initially guiding said yarn into the peripheral groove thereof for several revolutions of the take-up collar and for then moving the yarn into position to be received by said main yarn guide means for normal winding thereof on said takeup tube.

3. A method of starting up and operating a yarn texturing machine to produce a relaxed package of yarn, the texturing machine having spaced apart first and second feed roll means engaging the yarn and being movable between inactive and active positions, a false twist spindle engaging the yarn between said first and second feed roll means, said false twist spindle being movable between an inactive position and an active position in which the spindle rotates at a predetermined speed, and heater means for imparting latent crimping characteristics to the false twisted yarn, said method comprising the steps of (a) pulling the yarn from a supply package and through the inactive false twist spindle at a predetermined speed while winding several convolutions of the yarn in unrelaxed condition with the feed roll means in inactive position,

(b) moving the false twist spindle to active position for imparting latent crimping characteristics to the yarn,

(0) moving each of the feed roll means to active position to draw the yarn from the supply package and through the false twist spindle at said predetermined speed, and

(d) winding the false twisted yarn at a slower speed than the speed at which the yarn was initially drawn through the false twist spindle by the first and second feed roll means wherein the false twisted yarn is wound onto the take-up tube in partially relaxed condition.

4. A method of producing a relaxed package of textured yarn comprising the steps of (a) initially drawing the yarn from a supply package at a predetermined speed while texturing the traveling yarn and while winding several convolutions of the textured yarn at the same speed and in unrelaxed condition, and

(b) then continuing to draw the yarn from the supply package and texturing the same at said same speed while winding the textured yarn at a reduced speed and in partially relaxed condition to complete the winding of the yarn package.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,898,054 Rea Aug. 4, 1959 2,968,909 Comer et al Jan. 24, 1961 3,003,715 Seigle Oct. 10, 1961 3,035,397 Hammond et al May 22, 1962 3,094,761 Dudzik June 25, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,209,777 France Sept. 21, 1959 755,580 Great Britain Aug. 22, 1956

Claims (1)

1. AN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A RELAXED PACKAGE OF TEXTURED YARN FROM A SUPPLY PACKAGE OF THERMOPLASTIC YARN, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF (A) FIRST DRIVEN FEED ROLL MEANS ENGAGING THE YARN AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN INACTIVE AND ACTIVE POSITIONS, SAID FIRST FEED ROLL MEANS BEING FREELY ROTATABLE BY THE YARN WHEN IN SAID INACTIVE POSITION AND BEING DRIVINGLY ROTATED WHEN IN SAID ACTIVE POSITION TO WITHDRAW THE YARN FROM THE SUPPLY PACKAGE AT A PREDETERMINED SPEED. (B) SECOND DRIVEN FEED ROLL MEANS ENGAGING THE YARN IN SPACED RELATION FROM SAID FIRST FEED ROLL MEANS AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN INACTIVE AND ACTIVE POSITIONS, SAID SECOND FEED ROLL MEANS BEING FREELY ROTATABLE BY THE YARN WHEN IN SAID INACTIVE POSITION AND BEING DRIVINGLY ROTATED WHEN IN SAID ACTIVE POSITION AT A PREDETERMINED SPEED CORRESPONDING WITH THE SPEED OF SAID FIRST FEED ROLL MEANS TO MAINTAIN UNIFORM TENSION IN THE YARN BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND FEED ROLL MEANS, (C) TEXTURING MEANS ENGAGING THE YARN BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND FEED ROLL MEANS AND IMPARTING LATENT CRIMPING CHARACTERISTICS THERETO, (D) A YARN TAKE-UP TUBE SUPPORTED FOR ROTATION AND ON WHICH THE TEXTURED YARN IS NORMALLY WOUND, (E) DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID TAKE-UP TUBE TO TAKE UP THE TEXTURED YARN AT A SLOWER RATE THAN IT IS FED THERETO BY SAID SECOND FEED ROLL MEANS WHEN IN ACTIVE POSITION, (F) MAIN YARN GUIDE MEANS ADJACENT SAID TAKE-UP TUBE FOR EVENLY DISTRIBUTING THE YARN THEREON DURING NORMAL WINDING THEREOF, (G) AN ENLARGED YARN TAKE-UP COLLAR MOUNTED ON ONE END OF SAID TAKE-UP TUBE FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND HAVING A PERIPHERAL GROOVE THEREIN FOR RECEPTION OF SEVERAL INITIAL WINDINGS OF THE YARN THEREON FOR DRAWING THE YARN FROM THE SUPPLY PACKAGE AND THROUGH SAID TEXTURING MEANS UPON ROTATION OF SAID TAKE-UP COLLAR AND BEFORE SAID FIRST AND SECOND FEED ROLL MEANS ARE MOVED TO ACTIVE POSITION, AND (H) AUXILIARY YARN GUIDE MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID ENLARGED TAKE-UP COLLAR FOR INITIALLY GUIDING SAID YARN INTO THE PERIPHERAL GROOVE THEREOF FOR SEVERAL REVOLUTIONS OF THE TAKE-UP COLLAR AND FOR THEN MOVING THE YARN INTO POSITION TO BE RECEIVED BY SAID MAIN YARN GUIDE MEANS FOR NORMAL WINDING THEREOF ON SAID TAKE-UP TUBE.

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