US3149944A

US3149944A - Method and apparatus for forming and processing linear bodies of heat-softenable material

Info

Publication number: US3149944A
Application number: US87813A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold E Leaman
Original assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Corp
Current assignee: Owens Corning
Priority date: 1961-02-08
Filing date: 1961-02-08
Publication date: 1964-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-22
Also published as: GB972473A

Description

3,149,944 FORMING AND PROCESSING LINEAR Sept. 22, 1964 H. E. LEAMAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BODIES 0F HEAT-SOFTENABLE MATERIAL Filed Feb. 8, 1961 nvmvron HAROLD E. LEAMAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 5,149,944 METHQD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND PROCESSING ILWEAR EGDHES OF HEAT-SOFTENAELE MATERIAL Harold E. Learnan, Newark, Ohio, assignor to Owens- Corning Fiberglass Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Fitted Feb. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 87,813 13 Claims. (Cl. 65-4) This invention relates to novel method of and apparatus for forming and processing heat-softened attenuable material into linear bodies, fibers or filaments, and more especially to a method of and apparatus for attenuating heat-softened mineral material into linear bodies, fibers or filaments and concomitantly collecting the same in the form of a twisted sliver, yarn or filamentous product.

Various methods have been employed in forming filamentous products such as slivers, threads or yarn from organic fibers or filaments and from synthetic resinous materials but difficulties have been encountered in collecting linear bodies, fibers or filaments of heat-softenable mineral materials such as glass formed or attenuated through the employment of centrifugal means.

The invention embraces the provision of a method of collecting attenuated linear bodies, fibers or filaments directly from the forming or attenuating region into a twisted sliver, yarn or filamentous product.

An object of the invention is the provision of a method of influencing linear bodies, fibers or filaments of heatsoftened material delivered from a rotating surface to converge the linear bodies, fibers or filaments into a unitary twisted bundle, yarn or filamentous product.

Another object of the invention resides in a method of delivering bodies of heat-softened mineral material from a rotating chamber and attenuating the bodies to form the same into fine fibers or filaments and establish ing a zone of reduced pressure in the chamber to influence or bias the fibers or filaments into converging relation to form a filamentous product, in the formation of which a twist is imparted to the fibers or filaments as they are oriented into the filamentous product.

Another object of the invention resides in an apparatus inclusive of a hollow rotor having an orificed peripheral region through which heat-softened fiber forming material is delivered by centrifugal forces of rotation of the rotor to form elongated or linear bodies, the rotor being associated with a convergently arranged surface rotatable therewith provided with an open area in combination with means arranged to establish a reduced pressure within the rotor and adjacent the open area to effect a convergence of the linear bodies at the region of reduced pressure.

Another object of the invention resides in an apparatus inclusive of a hollow rotor having a peripheral wall region provided with orifices through which heat-softenable material delivered into the rotor is discharged in a plurality of linear bodies or primary filaments, the apparatus including means for engaging the linear bodies with an attenuating blast effective to attenuate the bodies to fine fibers or filaments and converging the fibers or filaments toward the axis of rotation of the rotor under the influence of reduced pressure within and adjacent a perforated wall region of the rotor to compact the fibers or filaments as they are converged and formed into a twisted 'ice linear bundle of fibers or filaments suitable for textile uses.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a hollow rotor structure having a circular cylindrical wall region provided with orifices through which heatsoftened mineral material delivered into the rotor is discharged in the form of linear bodies from the orifices by centrifugal forces, the rotor being equipped with a hollow cone-shaped element provided with a perforate wall region in combination with tubular means interiorly of the rotor connected with a source of suction or reduced pressure whereby to establish a differential pressure zone at the perforated region of the rotor to converge the bodies of material to foster their formation into a linear bundle.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economics of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view illustrating a form of apparatus of the invention for carrying out the method, and

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

While the apparatus of the invention has been illustrated as particularly usable in forming, processing and collecting fibers, filaments or linear bodies of mineral materials such as glass, it is to be understood that the method and apparatus may be employed for forming and collecting fibers of other heat-softena-ble materials.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURES l and 2 illustrate a form of apparatus of the invention for carrying out or performing the steps of the method. In the arrangement illustrated, the heat-softened, fiber-forming material is discharged outwardly through orifices in a rotating surface to form elongated linear bodies which are attenuated by the centrifugal forces and the drag of the ambient air on the bodies and which may be further attenuated by an attenuating blast.

A stream 12 of heat-softened material, such as molten glass is flowed from'a supply contained in a feeder or forehearth 14 as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Disposed beneath the feeder 14 is a rotating surface or hollow rotor 16 fashioned with or connected to a quill or hollow sleeve 18 which is journally supported in anti-friction or ball bearings 20 carried by a suitable support. The quill 13 and the rotor 16 are adapted to be rotated in a conventional manner by an electrically energizable motor or other suitable motive means (not shown).

The rotor or rotating surface is fashioned with a circular cylindrical peripheral wall portion 22 provided with a comparatively large number of small orifices, openings or outlets 24 through which the heat-softened or molten glass within the hollow rotor is discharged in the form of linear bodies or primary filaments 26 moving outwardly and being attenuated under the influence of centrifugal forces of rotation of the rotor or rotating surface.

The sleeve or quill portion 18 of the rotor is connected with the circular cylindrical wall portion 22 by an annular portion or ledge 28. While the annular portion 28 is illustrated as being integral with the quill 18, it is to be understood that the quill 18 may be an independent component and the portion 28 secured to the quill by suitable means. Means is provided for distributing or dispersing the glass of the stream 12 within the hollow rotor to project or direct the heat-softened or molten glass onto the inner surface of the circular cylindrical orificed wall portion 22.

In the embodiment illustrated, a tube 30 extends downwardly through the hollow quill or sleeve 18 and is provided with a nozzle or orifice construction 32. The tube 30 is adapted to be connected to a supply of compressed air or other gas under pressure and a jet of the air or gas under pressure delivered from the orifice 32 against the glass of the stream 12 whereby the glass is diverted and conveyed by the air or gas stream into engagement with the interior surface of the circular cylindrical wall 22 of the rotor to provide a film 27 of the molten glass on the wall.

The nozzle 32 may be disposed at the most advantageous position to attain eflicient delivery and distribution of the glass onto the interior surface of the rotor wall providing a continuous quantity of molten glass adjacent the orifices 24 for the formation of the elongated bodies or filaments 26. While an air jet is illustrated as a means for projecting, conveying and distributing the glass of the stream 12 toward the rotor wall, other suitable conventional means may be employed for the purpose.

Surrounding the quill or sleeve 18 is a means for directing a high velocity gaseous blast of annularly-shaped cross-section which is adapted or arranged to engage and further attentuate the bodies or primary filaments 26 into fine fibers of discontinuous character where fibers or filaments of this character are desired for producing a filamentous product or yarn of staple fibers or filaments.

The annular gaseous blast may comprise intensely hot products of combustion moving at high velocities sufficient for attenuating purposes, or the attenuating blast may be steam, compressed air or other gas moving at high velocities to attenuate or draw the elongated bodies to infinitely small diameters.

In the embodiment illustrated, the blast producing means is inclusive of a housing 36 of annular shape defining an annularly shaped chamber 38 in which a combustible mixture such as fuel gas and air is ignited and substantially completely burned within the chamber 38. The bottom wall or floor 40 of the chamber 38 is provided with a generally annularly shaped restricted orifice or passage 42. The annularly shaped orifice 42 is disposed with respect to the rotor whereby the burned gases in the chamber 38 are projected along and adjacent the rotor wall 22 into engagement with the outwardly moving elongated bodies or primary filaments 26.

The velocity of the gases of the blast abruptly divert the bodies 26 downwardly and the material of the bodies attenuated by the velocity of the gases of the blast into fine discrete fibers or filaments. Disposed above the housing 36 and surrounding the quill or sleeve 18 is a walled member 46 defining an annularly shaped manifold 48. The manifold is provided with a hollow boss portion 50 into which extends a tube 52, the latter arranged to be connected with a supply of fuel and air mixture which is conveyed by the tube into the manifold 48.

Arranged between the

members

36 and 46 is an annu-' larly shaped region 54 in which is disposed a member 56 having a plurality of comparatively small channels or passages establishing communication between the manifold 48 and the chamber 38 and through which the combustible mixture is conveyed under comparatively low pressure into the chamber 38. The gases are ignited and are burned within the chamber 38 and the member 56 fashioned with the small channels provides a fine screen to prevent ignition of the mixture in the manifold 48.

Where the blast, projected through the orifice 42, is of intensely hot burned gases, the combustible mixture ded livered through the tube 52 into the manifold 48 is under comparatively low pressure of approximately 5 pounds per square inch. The mixture, burning within the chamber or confined zone 38 effects great expansion of the burning gases so that the gases of combustion projected through the annular orifice 42 are moving at substantial velocities sufficient to further attenuate the elongated bodies 26 to fibers, filaments or linear bodies of small diameters.

Where steam or compressed air is employed as an attenuating blast for forming fine fibers or filaments, steam under comparatively high pressure or compressed air may be directly introduced into the chamber 38 through a tube (not shown) connected with the housing 36. Through the use of a blast of annular character where further attenuation of the elongated bodies is desired, the blast attenuated bodies or fibers 60 normally move downwardly in directions substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the rotor 16 in the form of a substantially hollow beam or hollow cylinder of fibers.

A salient feature of the invention resides in a method of and means for forming a filamentous product by converging the attenuated linear bodies, fibers or filaments into a continuous twisted sliver or linear bundle. In the method utilized in forming blast attenuated fibers, the attenuating operation inherently fosters a natural orientation of the fibers or linear bodies in the hollow beam whereby they are generally in parallelism. The fibers or linear bodies of the beam may be converged to form a continuous twisted sliver or linear bundle without material modification or impairment of the parallel orientation in the beam.

The arrangement of the invention embodies means for converging the fibers or linear bodies into a linear bundle or filamentous product. The rotor construction 16 is provided with an axially arranged depending cone-shaped member or portion 62 which is joined with the rotor Wall 22 by an annularly shaped ledge 64. In the embodiment illustrated the cone-shaped member or portion 62 is integrally formed with the connecting ledge 64 but it is to be understood that the cone portion 62 may be an independent component secured to the rotor 16 by suitable conventional securing means.

The cone-shaped member 62 terminates in an apex 66 which is preferably on the axis of rotation of the rotor. The lower region of the cone 62 and preferably a distance of from one-third to one-half the length of the cone upward from the apex 66 is fashioned with an open area which, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a plurality of openings or perforations 68.

The perforations 68 are preferably arranged circumferentially and lengthwise of the cone in a symmetrical pattern so that the zones of open areas are arranged uniformly peripherally of the cone.

Extending downwardly through the quill or sleeve 18 and through the orificed wall region 22 providing the rotor 16 and terminating adjacent the open area 68 of the cone is a tube or tubular means 70 adapted to be connected with a suction blower (not shown) or other means for establishing reduced pressure in the tube 78. The tube 78 is of a cross-sectional area to admit a substantial volume of air per unit of time to be drawn upwardly through the tube from the perforated region or open area 68 of the cone 62.

Through the provision of reduced pressure interiorly of the rotor construction, air exteriorly of the rotor is drawn through the open area 68 and upwardly through the tube 70. The flow or movement of air into the interior of the cone biases or draws the attenuated bodies, fibers or filaments toward the apex region of the cone as shown in FIGURE 1. Disposed beneath the apex 66 of the cone and preferably in alignment with the axis of the rotor is a compacting device 72 of conventional character wherein a bushing or member 74 journaled in a cD housing 75 is rotated by compressed air or other means admitted to the casing 75 through a tube 76.

The compressed air is impinged against turbine blades (not shown) formed on the rotatable member 74 within the housing 75. The fibers, filaments or attenuated linear bodies 60 are drawn from the apex of the cone to form a twisted sliver, yarn or filamentous product 78. A pull roll 80 mounted upon a shaft 32 is rotated by a motor (not shown) or other suitable means in the direction of the arrow, viz., in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1 to exert a pulling action on the product 78.

The filamentous product may be collected upon a roll or spool 84 mounted upon a shaft 86 which is rotated by suitable conventional means to effect collection of the product. Where the linear bodies are attenuated as staple fibers or fibers of various lengths, they are entrained in the downwardly moving blast and, under the influence of the suction or reduced pressure differential at the open area or perforated zone 68 of the cone 62, are biased toward the end region of the cone and are oriented in generally parallel relation with the innermost fibers engaging the exterior surface of the cone.

The pulling wheel 80 exerts draft or tension on the filamentous product 78 and continuous twist is imparted to the product under the influence of the rotation of the cone 62. The compactor 72 serves to fold in any loose fibers so as to form a smooth production.

In instances where the elongated bodies of glass or other heat-softened material projected through the rotor orifices 24 are attenuated to fine continuous filaments under the influence of centrifugal forces of rotation of the rotor and the frictional drag of the air on the elongated bodies or filaments, such continuous filaments move outwardly and downwardly away from the orificed region of the rotor and, at a short distance therefrom, are biased or drawn toward the perforated or open area region 68 of the rotating cone 62.

Such continuous filaments or linear bodies are drawn off of the apex region 66 of the cone 62 by means such as the pull wheel 80, forming a filamentous product comprising a twisted multi-filament sliver, strand or yarn of continuous filaments or linear bodies.

As the linear bodies, filaments or fibers are formed from streams of heat-softenable material projected through orifices arranged throughout the entire circular periphery of the rotor wall 22, the linear bodies, fibers or filaments are uniformly distributed peripherally of the cone 62 which condition fosters the formation of the textile product 78 having a comparatively smooth exterior surface and endowed with a substantially uniform twist.

In the formation of continuous linear bodies or filaments the combustion burner 36 may be utilized to provide hot gases of combustion from the chamber 38 moving through the annular orifice 42 at a very low velocity for the purpose of establishing a heated environment in the region of the centrifugally projected bodies or filaments of a temperature above the softening temperature of the glass or other mineral material to maintain the projected bodies adjacent the rotor in a softened condition to enhance their attenuation to fine continuous filaments under the influence of centrifugal forces and the frictional drag of the ambient air.

Under such conditions of operation, the low velocity intensely hot gas stream from the orifice 42 assists in deflecting or diverting the continuous linear bodies or filaments downwardly along the cone 62. The effectiveness or degree of reduced or differential pressure set up interiorly of the perforated or open area region 68 of the cone 62 may be varied by employing an air suction tube of different diameter or by modifying the position of the inlet region of the suction tube 7t) lengthwise of the cone portion of the rotor and relative to the open area 68. If desired, the entrance region of the tube 70 may be flared outwardly to vary the effectiveness of reduced pressure interiorly of the apex region of the cone.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

I claim:

1. The method of forming and processing linear bodies of heat-softenable material including delivering heat-softened material onto an orificed surface, rotating the surface at a speed to project the material outwardly through the orifices by centrifugal forces to form linear bodies, establishing subatmospheric pressure by suction effective in a region of the axis of rotation of the surface spaced from the orifices to influence the linear bodies to converge toward the axis of rotation, and twisting the converged linear bodies into a linear bundle.

2. The method of forming and processing filamentous bodies of heat-softenable material including delivering heat-softened material onto an orificed surface, rotating the surface at a speed to project the material outwardly through the orifices by centrifugal forces to form filamentous bodies, establishing reduced pressure air in a region of the axis of rotation of the surface spaced from the orifices by withdrawing air from said region to influence movement of the filamentous bodies toward the axis of rotation, converging the filamentous bodies into a linear bundle at the axis of rotation, twisting the linear bundle of bodies, and moving the twisted linear bundle away from the zone of convergence of the bodies.

3. The method of forming and processing filamentous bodies of heat-softenable material including delivering heat-softened material onto an orificed surface, rotating the surface at a speed to project the material outwardly through the orifices by centrifugal forces to form filamentous bodies, engaging the outwardly moving bodies by a gaseous blast to attenuate the bodies to fibers, continuously withdrawing air from a region of the axis of rotation of the surface spaced from the orifices to influ-- ence the attenuated fibers to converge toward the axis of rotation, and twisting the converged attenuated bodies into a linear bundle of fibers at the axis of rotation.

4. The method of forming and processing filamentous bodies of heat-softenable material including delivering heat-softened material onto an orificed surface, rotating the surface at a speed to project the material outwardly through the orifices by centrifugal forces to form filamentous bodies, directing hot gases into the region of the outwardly moving bodies to establish a heated environment for the bodies, continuously withdrawing air from a region of the axis of rotation of the surface spaced from the orifices to influence the filamentous bodies to converge toward the axis of rotation, and twisting the converged filamentous bodies into a linear bundle.

5. The method of forming and processing linear bodies of heat-softenable material including delivering heat-softened material onto an orificed chamber, rotating the chamber at a speed to project the material outwardly through the orifices by centrifugal forces to form linear bodies, engaging the bodies with a high velocity gaseous blast moving normal to the paths of the outwardly moving bodies from the orifices to attenuate the bodies to fibers, continuously withdrawing air from the interior of the chamber at a zone spaced from the orifices to influence the attenuated fibers to move toward the axis of rotation and out of the gases of the blast, converging the attenuated fibers into a linear bundle, twisting the linear bundle, and collecting the twisted linear bundle.

6. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a support, a hollow rotor journaled on said support, means for rotating the rotor, said rotor having a cylindrical peripheral wall formed with a plurality of orifices and equipped with a hollow cone-shaped element provided with an open area adjacent the apex region thereof,

aaaaeaa means for delivering heat-softened material to the interior surface of the cylindrical wall whereby the material is discharged through the orifices by centrifugal forces of rotation of the rotor in elongated bodies, tubular means extending into the cone-shaped element arranged to be connected with a source of reduced pressure to continuously establish a zone of reduced pressure within the cone-shaped element at the region of the open area whereby the elongated bodies of material are influenced to engage the cone-shaped element, and means arranged to engage and withdraw the bodies from the cone-shaped element.

7. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a support, a hollow rotor structure journaled on said support, means for rotating the rotor, said rotor having a circular cylindrical wall formed with a plurality of orifices, said rotor structure having an axially arranged hollow cone-shaped extension provided with an open area spaced from the circular cylindrical wall, means for delivering heat-softened material to the interior surface of the cylindrical wall whereby the material is discharged through the orifices by centrifugal forces of rotation of the rotor in elongated bodies, tubular means extending into the hollow extension arranged to be connected with a source of reduced pressure to establish a zone of reduced pressure within the hollow extension at the open area thereof whereby the bodies of material are engaged with the extension, and means arranged to draw off the bodies axially from the extension.

8. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a support, a hollow rotor structure journaled on said support, means for rotating the rotor, said rotor structure having a circular cylindrical wall formed with a plurality of orifices and provided with a cone-shaped element provided with a perforated area adjacent the apex region thereof, means for delivering heat-softened fiberforming material to the interior surface of the cylindrical wall whereby the material is discharged through the orifices by centrifugal forces of rotation of the rotor in elongated bodies, tubular means extending into the cone-,

shaped element arranged to be connected with a source of reduced pressure to establish a zone of reduced pressure within the perforated area of the element whereby to engage the bodies of material with the element, and means arranged to draw off the bodies from the apex of the cone-shaped element as a twisted linear bundle.

9. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a support, a hollow rotor journaled on said support arranged to be rotated, a hollow cone rotatable with the rotor, said rotor having a circular wall provided with a plurality of orifices, means for delivering heat-softened material into the interior of the rotor, means in the rotor directing the material to the circular wall, said rotor adapted to rotate at a speed to etfect outward delivery of the material by centrifugal forces in a plurality of streams, means for directing an annularly-shaped gaseous blast into engagement with the material of the streams to attenuate the material to filamentous bodies, said cone being formed with a perforated open area adjacent the apex region thereof, tubular means arranged to be connected with a source of reduced pressure to effect a reduction in pressure interiorly of the cone at the perforated open area for diverting the filamentous bodies into engagement with the cone whereby the bodies are influenced to rotate with the cone and converged to form a twisted linear bundle of the attenuated bodies, and means for continuously withdrawing the twisted bundle from the cone.

10. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a support, a hollow rotor structure journaled on the support, said rotor structure having a peripheral wall provided with a plurality of orifices, means for delivering heat-softened material into the rotor structure, means for directing the material in the rotor toward the wall provided with the orifices, said rotor being provided with a hollow walled conically-shaped extension having an open area at a region spaced from the orifices in the peripheral wall said rotor being adapted to be rotated at a speed sufficient to project the material through the orifices by centrifugal forces to form a plurality of filamentous bodies, tubular means extending into the rotor arranged to be connected with a source of suction for establishing a region of reduced pressure at the zone of open area in the extension for influencing the filamentous bodies to engage the hollow walled extension and converge the bodies toward the axis of the rotor whereby the bodies are assembled and twisted into a linear bundle at the axis of rotation of the rotor, and means for continuously withdrawing the linear bundle away from the rotor structure. 11. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a support, a hollow rotor structure journaled on the support, said rotor structure having a circular wall provided with a plurality of orifices, means for delivering heat-softened material into the rotor structure, means for directing the material in the rotor toward the wall provided with the orifices, said rotor being provided with a hollow walled extension having a cone-shaped perforated area spaced from the orifices in the circular Wall, said rotor being adapted to be rotated at a speed sufficient to project the material through the orifices as a plurality of filamentous bodies, tubular means extending into the rotor and arranged to be connected with a source of suction for establishing a region of reduced pressure at the cone-shaped perforated area of the extension for influencing the filamentous bodies to converge toward the axis of the rotor whereby the bodies are assembled and twisted into a linear bundle adjacent the apex of the cone-shaped area on the axis of rotation of the rotor.

12. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a support, a hollow rotor structure journaled on said support, said rotor structure including a peripheral wall and an axially arranged cone, the peripheral wall being provided with a plurality of orifices, the apex region of the cone being provided with perforations, means for delivering heat-softened fiber forrning mineral material to the interior of the rotor, means for directing the material in the rotor toward the interior surface of the cylindrical wall whereby the material is discharged through the orifices by centrifugal rotation of the rotor to form elongated bodies, means for establishing an annularly shaped gaseous blast arranged to project the gases of the blast generally axially of the rotor and adjacent the peripheral wall, the gases of the blast adapted to engage the elongated bodies and attenuate the same to discontinuous fibers, tubular means extending into the rotor structure adapted to be connected with a source of suction, said tubular means having an entrance adjacent the perforated region of the cone to establish a zone of reduced pressure within the cone for influencing the attenuated fibers for movement toward and into engagement with the cone whereby the fibers tend to rotate with the cone as the fibers are converged at the apex region of the cone, the rotation of the cone effecting a twisting of the attenuated fibers into a linear bundle, and means for withdrawing the twisted linear bundle of fibers away from the apex region of the cone.

13. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a support, a hollow rotor structure journaled on said support, said rotor structure including a peripheral wall and an axially arranged cone, the peripheral wall being provided with a plurality of orifices, the apex region of the cone being provided with perforations, means for delivering heat-softened material to the interior of the rotor, means for directing the material in the rotor toward the interior surface of the peripheral wall whereby the material is discharged through the orifices by centrifugal rotation of the rotor to form elongated filamentous bodies,

means for directing intensely hot gases in an annular re gion surrounding the rotor to provide a heated environment for the filamentous bodies, tubular means extending into the rotor structure adapted to be connected with a source of suction for establishing a zone of reduced pressure within the cone effective through the perforations for influencing the filamentous bodies to converge into engagement with the cone whereby the bodies tend to rotate with the cone, the rotation of the cone effecting a collection of the filamentous bodies into a twisted linear bundle, and means for withdrawing the twisted bundle away from the cone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thomas Mar. 12, Peyches Feb. 14, Snow Dec. 26,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 2, Switzerland May 16, Germany Dec. 18, Germany Apr. 10, France Oct. 11,

Claims

1. THE METHOD OF FORMING AND PROCESSING LINEAR BODIES OF HEAT-SOFTENABLE MATERIAL INCLUDING DELIVERING HEAT-SOFT ENED MATERIAL ONTO AN ORIFICED SURFACE, ROTATING THE SURFACE AT A SPEED TO PROJECT THE MATERIAL OUTWARDLY THROUGH THE ORIFICES BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCES TO FORM LINEAR BODIES, ESTABLISHING SUBATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE BY SUCTION EFFECTIVE IN A REGION OF THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE SURFACE SPACED FROM THE ORIFICES TO INFLUCE THE LINEAR BODIES TO CONVERGE TOWARD THE AXIS OF ROTATION, AND TWISTING THE CONVERGED LINEAR BODIES INTO A LINEAR BUNDLE.