US3258823A - Apparatus for pre-processing tow - Google Patents

Apparatus for pre-processing tow Download PDF

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Publication number
US3258823A
US3258823A US174517A US17451762A US3258823A US 3258823 A US3258823 A US 3258823A US 174517 A US174517 A US 174517A US 17451762 A US17451762 A US 17451762A US 3258823 A US3258823 A US 3258823A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
tow
rolls
roll
rods
jet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US174517A
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English (en)
Inventor
Joel B Stevens
Robert C Yantz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Eastman Kodak Co
Original Assignee
Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to NL289200D priority Critical patent/NL289200A/xx
Priority to BE628591D priority patent/BE628591A/xx
Application filed by Eastman Kodak Co filed Critical Eastman Kodak Co
Priority to US174517A priority patent/US3258823A/en
Priority to GB6158/63A priority patent/GB1006871A/en
Priority to CH211763A priority patent/CH400884A/fr
Priority to ES285285A priority patent/ES285285A1/es
Priority to FR925397A priority patent/FR1363910A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3258823A publication Critical patent/US3258823A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D02—YARNS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; WARPING OR BEAMING
    • D02J—FINISHING OR DRESSING OF FILAMENTS, YARNS, THREADS, CORDS, ROPES OR THE LIKE
    • D02J1/00—Modifying the structure or properties resulting from a particular structure; Modifying, retaining, or restoring the physical form or cross-sectional shape, e.g. by use of dies or squeeze rollers
    • D02J1/18—Separating or spreading
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
    • A24D3/0295—Process control means
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06B—TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS, GASES OR VAPOURS
    • D06B3/00—Passing of textile materials through liquids, gases or vapours to effect treatment, e.g. washing, dyeing, bleaching, sizing, impregnating
    • D06B3/04—Passing of textile materials through liquids, gases or vapours to effect treatment, e.g. washing, dyeing, bleaching, sizing, impregnating of yarns, threads or filaments

Definitions

  • This invention relates to process and apparatus for the pre-processing of tow. More particularly, this invention concerns process and apparatus for treating tow whereby the tow is rendered in an improved condition for manufacture into a rod-like structure or element for tobacco smoke filters or other products and uses.
  • plugs or elements are made from continuous multitilament tow.
  • Such tow is received at the factory of the plug manufacture usually in the form of a compacted package, such as a bale or container or other unit carrying the tow. That is, for efficiency of shipping and the like the filaments are usually substantially compacted.
  • the laments are withdrawny from the compacted package or other supply Source.
  • the Withdrawn filaments are then passed through various devices including pigtail guides, large rol1s,fjets and other means to open up the bundle of tow filaments -prior to forming ythe filaments into the rod-like form or other configuration for cigarette lter use as well as other uses.
  • rods of a weight in grams in excess of approximately .82 have in some instances been more uniform than somewhat comparable rods of a weight below .8.
  • rods of somewhat increased weight in some instances seemingly have possessed better uniformity still further increasing the rod weight does not better the uniformity but on the other hand adds to the cost and may unduly increase the pressure drop of the rod.
  • This invention has for one object to provide process and apparatus for pre-processing, as illustrated by pretensioning of tow.
  • a particular object is to provide process and apparatus as aforementioned which enhances the tow in a manner whereby the tow makes up into a more uniform cigarette filter.
  • Still another object is to provide process an-d apparatus of the type referred to which is relatively simple, economical and lends itself to incorporation into currently used setups for manufacturing rod-like plugs and elements.
  • Still another object is to provide an improved rod-like element wherein any deviation from element to element is relatively negligible and of a low standard deviation value.
  • Still another 3,258,823 Patented July 5, 1966 ICS object is to provide a novel roll arrangement which may be interconnected and correlated with other parts for accomplishing the foregoing objects. Other objects will appear hereinafter.
  • This pre-tensioning of the present invention preferably is applied by apparatus means that produces a constant tension on the tow and is sensitive to changes in length and weight of tow delivered to the further apparatus parts making up subsequent steps of the process.
  • apparatus means that produces a constant tension on the tow and is sensitive to changes in length and weight of tow delivered to the further apparatus parts making up subsequent steps of the process.
  • This can be accomplished in several Ways.
  • This can be accomplished by a tension gate consisting of two rows of rods, one stationary and one movable, between which the tow passes at an angle of approximately to the axes of 4the rods.
  • the movable rods are spaced as to fit in between the stationary rods and are weighted so that the tension is applied by the tow being pulled over the surface of the rods.
  • tension gate means as just mentioned may be used and have been referred to for illustrating the broader scope of the present invention, we prefer preatensioning by means of an arrangement of two relatively small rolls as will be described in detail hereinafter and will comprise the principal further description of apparatus means. That is, we have found lthat the pre-tension which we have discovered and which is particularly useful in operations of the class under discussion, may be applied by pulling the tow through the bite of two rubber covered rolls, or one rubber covered and one steel roll,A to which a brake has been applied preferably to one roll.
  • this small'roll embodiment which is particularly preferred, in size and appearance resembles to some extent the structures associated with the now regarded as old-fashion wringer rolls on domestic washing machines used in the past.
  • the brake may be of any number of known braking procedures such as a weighted shoe on a drum, an electromagnetic brake, a hydraulic dynamometer or a spring or weight loading one roll against the other.
  • FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic representation somewhat in the nature of a ow sheet of the overall method in accordance with this invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a semidiagrammatic top view, also somewhat in the nature of a ow sheet, showing an apparatus arrangement and positioning of some of the principal parts, involving our preferred small roll construction in an illustrative setup.
  • FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus parts as shown in FIGURE 2, together with other parts, showing in more detail a preferred apparatus arrangement in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGURE 4 is a semidiagrammatic side elevation View on a somewhat enlarged scale for better illustrating our small roll construction and the means associated therewith for interconnecting its operation with subsequently positioned devices and steps of the process.
  • FIGURE 2 is somewhat of the same general type as FIGURE l, but is in more detail in that specic apparatus parts have been indicated and their relative location pointed out.
  • the legends on FIGURE 2 are thought to adequately eX- plain.
  • the tow is withdrawn from a package, bin or other source of tow supply. It passes, preferably vertically upward, through twist removal as shown by the legend which is a device in accordance with the disclosure of the abovementioned Patent 2,908,045 to one of the herein named inventors.
  • the tow is then passed over the roll noted as first cylindrical guide.
  • This guide is suitably supported and positioned by one or more apparatus mounts and may be rotated by the tow.
  • the rolls in a number of instances, as will be noted, are interconnected in a certain manner, are power driven by suitable motors; but extended discussion of such details at this point appears unnecessary.
  • the withdrawn tow then passes to the pre-tensioning rolls of the present invention.
  • the pre-tensioning will be described in detail with respect to FIGURE 4.
  • the pre-tensioned tow is then passed through feed rolls, plasticizer applicator and jet as generally illustrated in FIGURE 2, finally reaching a roll or plug maker as will be diagrammatically noted and referred to in FIG- URE 3.
  • the exact construction of the rod or plug maker is not a limitation on the present invention.
  • first cylindrical guide 1 As shown in FIG- URE 3, this first cylindrical guide 1 is preferably posi- 4- tioned somewhat above the bale by using any suitable amount 2. Likewise, this mount may alsol -be adapted to hold twist removal device 3.
  • this pre-tensioning roll assembly is equipped with pneumatic means associated with the upper roll, which means is interconnected with the gas supply to jet 6.
  • the pre-processed tow goes through feed roll assembly 4 which is positioned relatively close to the smaller pretensioning rolls.
  • these rolls 4 are substantially larger in diameter than the pre-tensioning rolls and may be of the order of 3 to l0 times larger than the pretensioning rolls.
  • the roll assembly 4 is driven by sprocket 16.
  • This sprocket 16, as well as the drive on several of the other parts, is interconnected by belts, chain drives or the like to obtain correlated operation.
  • suitable choice of the size of the sprocket or drive on the feed rolls 4, with reference to the jet and delivery roll assembly 7, the desired speed of passage of the tow through the jet may be obtained.
  • roll assembly 7 usually is operated .at a lower speed than roll assembly 4. This permits the jet 6 to better function on the pretensioned tow.
  • the tow from feed roll assembly 4 passes to plasticizer applicator assembly 5.
  • the particular construction of this applicator is not a limitation on the present invention. It is suicient to indicate that suitable means should be provided so that liquid plasticizer or other treating agent may be applied to both sides of the tow before the tow enters the jet.
  • the applicator may be conveniently mounted on supporting means 19 and 20. By this arrangement, the stand 20 may be moved to the best operating position on the tow, namely at any desired position between the feed rolls 4 and jet 6.
  • the tow after having been treated with plasticizer or other liquid by applicator 5 passes into jet 6 supplied with air or other fluid or gas by conduit 2S.
  • This -gas supplying conduit 25 is equipped with a gauge as at 17 for noting the pressure and with an automatic valve 18.
  • This valve 18 may 'be the valve which is interconnected with certain parts on the pre-tensioning rolls 21 as will be discussed with respect to FIGURE 4.
  • the jet may be suitably held and positioned by a stand 9 comparable to stand Ztl just referred to.
  • FIGURE 4 there is shown in greater detail the pre-tensioning polls of the present invention.
  • These rolls are mounted in a frame designated over-all as 31.
  • This frame There are several ways to construct this frame.
  • a similar type bearing would, of course, Ibe on the opposite side; hence, there is no need to discuss such features in detail since conventional bearing structures may be used.
  • the lower roll 36 which rides in the bearings just mentioned may be constructed of a steel core with rubber covering or it may be covered with other pliable materials comparable to rubber. Or, the roll may be entirely of metal, as steel.
  • the roll diameter is relatively small and preferably is less than 5 inches in diameter.
  • this roll Positioned a-bove this roll is another roll 37 of similar size and construction. As shown, this upper roll is designed to ride on the lower roll. Likewise, this upper roll would be carried in suitable bearing means for easy rotation such as the illustrative bearing indicated at 38.
  • This roll likewise may comprise a steel core, rubber covered or otherwise of similar construction to the lower roll. Or, it is satisfactory to have one steel roll and one rubber roll operating in combination.
  • this upper roll 37 rather than being a fixed roll as is 36 is arranged to move up and down depending on pressure applied thereto.
  • This pressure may be applied as by conventional bellows conta-ined within housing 39.
  • This bellows housing is mounted on a suitable plate by means of cap screws 41.
  • a similar construction 42 on the opposite edge of the frame is provided so as to transmit pressure to the other end of roll 37.
  • the exact mechanical linkage and the like means used for transmitting the pressure from bellows chambers 39 and 42 to the ends of roll 37 is not a limitation on the present invention.
  • the housing for bellows 39 and 42 are suitably connected to air line 43.
  • This air line is desirably equipped with gauges and pressure reducers as indicated at 45 and 46.
  • the air supply 43 is preferably connected into the air supply to 25 of FIGURE 3. Therefore, when the air supply is cut off to jet 6, the supply is also cut off to the bellows releasing the downward pressure on roll 37.
  • the a-ir supplied to the jet also enters line 43 and applies pressure through the bellows mechanism to the pre-tensioning roll 37
  • the amount of pressure is relatively low and merely sufficient to press down on the tow so that by operating feed rolls 4 at their desired rotating speed will provide pre-tension-ing and pre-processing in the tow before the tow is fed to jet 6.
  • tension in the tow to the magnitude of -80 lbs. to cause the tow bundle to move and straighten out is satisfactory.
  • FIGURE 4 may 4be provided with access bolts as exemplied by bolt 48 for holding on partial side plates. This permits access to the interior of the frame to install roll 37.
  • Example 1 Ithe tow employed was commercially available continuous filament crimped acetate tow. As is known, this tow is in a relatively highly crimped state of 10 to 20 crimps per inch. Hence, the feed product was somewhat non-uniform in length per unit weight and vice versa.
  • This compacted tow was withdrawn from the package in which it was received at the factory. It was then passed through our preferred form of apparatus as illustrated in detail in FIGURE 3.
  • the tow in this particular example was run through Ithe twist removing device 3 as shown in detail in said Stevens Patent 2,908,045, already referred to above.
  • the tow was then subjected to the pre-processing of the present invention by means of the small rolls as illustrated in detail in FIGURE 4 and shown at 21 in FIGURE 3.
  • the pre-processed tow was then ⁇ conducted through the larger feed rolls 4 of FIGURE 3, through the plasticizer applicator 5, and through the jet and other parts and devices shown in FIGURE 3 into the plug maker to obtain rods or plugs for test.
  • the particular plasticizer applied in applicator 5 in this example was material known as glycerol triacetate. However, other plasticizers compatible with the filaments could be used. For the purposes of the comparisons of the present example, as long as the same plasticizer is used in both runs to eliminate introducing a variable, the comparative results would be unaffected.
  • the pneumatic arrangement associated with our small roll device is advantageous as follows. If the process is stopped and the rapid passage of the tow therethrough stopped, our pneumatic arrangement automatically functions to relieve roll pressure on the tow. This not only eliminates possibility of filament flattening or damage but prevents flat spots developing on the rolls which might later contribute to non-uniformity.
  • tow used in the present process and apparatus was, ⁇ as mentioned, crimped cellulose acetate tow.
  • other high quality tows may be processed in a comparable manner in the apparatus above described with improved results.
  • various kinds of plasticizers or other treating liquids or the like may be used as well as various conditions of pressure on the jet and the like operating conditions.
  • An apparatus for producing an opened tow having a substantially uniform weight per unit length comprising in order from the direction of the feed:
  • the improvement which comprises a pair of pretensioning rolls ⁇ adapted to turn countercurrently while applying a pretension to tow passing through a nip formed therebetween and a pair of mechanically driven feed rolls in juxtaposition with said pretensioning rolls, said feed rolls being of the order of 3 to 10 times larger than said pretensioning rolls and adapted to conduct tow passed through the nip formed between said pretensioning rolls to further treatment means, said pair of pretensioning rolls being operatively connected to and equipped with pneumatic means associated with one of ysaid rolls, said pneumatic means being interconnected with gas supply to a jet for opening tow positioned for passage of tow therethrough after being conducted through the nip formed between the feed rolls, and said pneumatic means being responsive to changes in air supply to said jet whereby pressure may be relieved from the pretensioning rolls when said jet is not operating, thereby minimizing at spots and excessive pressure on said pretensioning rolls.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Yarns And Mechanical Finishing Of Yarns Or Ropes (AREA)
  • Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
US174517A 1962-02-20 1962-02-20 Apparatus for pre-processing tow Expired - Lifetime US3258823A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL289200D NL289200A (en)van) 1962-02-20
BE628591D BE628591A (en)van) 1962-02-20
US174517A US3258823A (en) 1962-02-20 1962-02-20 Apparatus for pre-processing tow
GB6158/63A GB1006871A (en) 1962-02-20 1963-02-15 Conditioning crimped, continuous filament tow
CH211763A CH400884A (fr) 1962-02-20 1963-02-20 Procédé de conditionnement d'une filasse crêpée de filaments continus, appareil pour la mise en oeuvre et application de ce procédé
ES285285A ES285285A1 (es) 1962-02-20 1963-02-20 Un método de acondicionar una masa de filamentos continuos rizados
FR925397A FR1363910A (fr) 1962-02-20 1963-02-20 Procédé et machine pour le traitement d'un cordon de filaments, en vue de la fabrication de filtres pour la fumée de tabac

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US174517A US3258823A (en) 1962-02-20 1962-02-20 Apparatus for pre-processing tow

Publications (1)

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US3258823A true US3258823A (en) 1966-07-05

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US174517A Expired - Lifetime US3258823A (en) 1962-02-20 1962-02-20 Apparatus for pre-processing tow

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US (1) US3258823A (en)van)
BE (1) BE628591A (en)van)
CH (1) CH400884A (en)van)
ES (1) ES285285A1 (en)van)
GB (1) GB1006871A (en)van)
NL (1) NL289200A (en)van)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1632184B1 (de) * 1966-09-12 1971-07-01 Celanese Corp Führungs- und Einstellvorrichtung für ein Walzenpaar in einer Anlage zur Herstellung von Zigarettenfiltersträngen
US4435239A (en) 1982-03-19 1984-03-06 Eastman Kodak Company Pneumatic tow blooming process
US4468845A (en) * 1982-03-19 1984-09-04 Eastman Kodak Company Jet and bustle tow blooming apparatus for a tow blooming process
US6253431B1 (en) 1999-10-25 2001-07-03 Celanese Acetate Llc Air opening jet apparatus
US6543106B1 (en) 1999-10-25 2003-04-08 Celanese Acetate, Llc Apparatus, method and system for air opening of textile tow and opened textile tow web produced thereby
US8623248B2 (en) 2011-11-16 2014-01-07 Celanese Acetate Llc Methods for producing nonwoven materials from continuous tow bands

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2794480A (en) * 1952-12-05 1957-06-04 Eastman Kodak Co Apparatus for the manufacture of filters composed of cellulose acetate
US2828752A (en) * 1954-08-16 1958-04-01 Eastman Kodak Co Fibrous tobacco smoke filters
US2999503A (en) * 1953-12-23 1961-09-12 Olin Mathieson Filter
US3017309A (en) * 1957-02-21 1962-01-16 Eastman Kodak Co Method for the manufacture of filters composed of cellulose acetate
US3032829A (en) * 1958-02-11 1962-05-08 Celanese Corp Processing tow
US3050430A (en) * 1959-11-12 1962-08-21 Eastman Kodak Co Jet and method of filter manufacture
US3099594A (en) * 1960-05-05 1963-07-30 Eastman Kodak Co Method for blooming filter tow
US3120690A (en) * 1960-12-05 1964-02-11 Eastman Kodak Co Process and apparatus for preparing tobacco smoke filtering elements

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2794480A (en) * 1952-12-05 1957-06-04 Eastman Kodak Co Apparatus for the manufacture of filters composed of cellulose acetate
US2999503A (en) * 1953-12-23 1961-09-12 Olin Mathieson Filter
US2828752A (en) * 1954-08-16 1958-04-01 Eastman Kodak Co Fibrous tobacco smoke filters
US3017309A (en) * 1957-02-21 1962-01-16 Eastman Kodak Co Method for the manufacture of filters composed of cellulose acetate
US3032829A (en) * 1958-02-11 1962-05-08 Celanese Corp Processing tow
US3050430A (en) * 1959-11-12 1962-08-21 Eastman Kodak Co Jet and method of filter manufacture
US3099594A (en) * 1960-05-05 1963-07-30 Eastman Kodak Co Method for blooming filter tow
US3120690A (en) * 1960-12-05 1964-02-11 Eastman Kodak Co Process and apparatus for preparing tobacco smoke filtering elements

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1632184B1 (de) * 1966-09-12 1971-07-01 Celanese Corp Führungs- und Einstellvorrichtung für ein Walzenpaar in einer Anlage zur Herstellung von Zigarettenfiltersträngen
US4435239A (en) 1982-03-19 1984-03-06 Eastman Kodak Company Pneumatic tow blooming process
US4468845A (en) * 1982-03-19 1984-09-04 Eastman Kodak Company Jet and bustle tow blooming apparatus for a tow blooming process
US6253431B1 (en) 1999-10-25 2001-07-03 Celanese Acetate Llc Air opening jet apparatus
US6543106B1 (en) 1999-10-25 2003-04-08 Celanese Acetate, Llc Apparatus, method and system for air opening of textile tow and opened textile tow web produced thereby
US8623248B2 (en) 2011-11-16 2014-01-07 Celanese Acetate Llc Methods for producing nonwoven materials from continuous tow bands

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1006871A (en) 1965-10-06
NL289200A (en)van)
BE628591A (en)van)
ES285285A1 (es) 1963-08-01
CH400884A (fr) 1965-10-15

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