US3399521A - Process and apparatus for the texturing of yarns and the like - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3,l 1968 G, THOMA ET AL. 3,399,521

Sept. 3, 1968 @THOMA ET Al. 3,399,521

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE TEXTURING OF YARNS AND THE LIKE Filed July 7, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q fi 1% ,.15

Georg Thoma Gerhard Wursf' .Hermann Geisf INVENTORS.

sept. 3, 1968 GTHOMA ET AL 3,399,521

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE TEXT'URING OF' YARNS AND THE LIKE Filed July '7, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Georg Thoma erhard Wurs? Hermann (5e/sf INVENTORS.

United States Patent 12 claims. (ci. 57-35) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Method of and apparatus for texturing a yarn wherein a relatively indestructible thread of cotton, flax, wool or silk is twisted with a destructible thread, the twisted threads being treated with synthetic resin to fix the indestructible thread and prevent relaxation thereof upon the destruction by solvent or mechanical breakup of the destructible thread.

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the texturing of yarns, in which an auxiliary thread is fixed to the thread to be textured and is subsequently removed.

By texturing is meant, in the sense of the invention, a change in the structure of the yarn by crimping and the like, in order thus to give the yarn an increased elastic extensibility and particularly an increase in volume or bulk. Such texturing can be produced by mechanical, chemical and thermal means, either alone or in combination with one another.

In practice, up till now texturing is undertaken, especially with full and semi-synthetic yarns, with the aid of, for example, the mis-matched twist method, upsetting chamber and the like. In most yarn texturing processes the curves or other distortions applied to the smooth yarn are fixed thermally. Also for yarns, threads or twines from natural fibers (for example cotton) some methods are known, by means of which texturing is supposedly possible, with the aim of inducing in these yarns an increase in their normal stretch as well as an increase in their volume (warp); thus providing for at least a socalled structural distortion, for example in the form of fixed-in loops or in the manner of crepe webs.

-In one of these processes cotton yarns of increased elasticity are produced by the treatment of high-twist yarns with cross-linked artificial resins, heat-setting the yarn in this high-twist condition, and subsequent slackening. By this method yarns are supposed to remain in spiral or crimped form.

A texturing process based upon chemical modification is also known. In this process cotton is made thermoplastic by the conversion of cellulose into ether or ester derivatives or by graft polymerisation. These chemically modified yarns are then heat-fixed during the various twist or crimp processes.

All these processes with the natural fibers lead however -to an increase in elasticity with respect to the texturing of full or semi-synthetic yarns of slight volume.

The object of the invention is the development of a texturing process as well as a suitable apparatus for carrying out the process, by means of which it is either possible in a simple way to texture yarns, threads, twines and the like of any desired composition or origin within the framework of controllable estimates, without having to make allowance for the considerable limitations of known processes. In particular, the purpose according to the invention extends to the texturing of yarns and the like, of natural fibers, particularly of cotton.

For solving this problem, the invention starts with the basic idea of fixing an auxiliary thread to the thread to be textured and then removing the auxiliary thread. A practicable solution for this basic idea has hitherto not been known.

The essence of the invention consists in the auxiliary thread being twisted with at least one thread to be textured, before fixing or setting and after the fixing or setting to dissolve auxiliary thread from the twisted unit. For carrying out this basic idea there are, however, substantially two important variants in execution. In one it is necessary for the auxiliary thread to consist of a soluble material which can be dissolved out from the twist unit by means of a suitable solvent. If the twist has previously been subjected to a corresponding fixing process, after the dissolving out of the one thread, the other thread remains immune with respect to the solvent and in the form irnpressed upon it by twisting.

How this form in particular is obtained depends upon the twist structure (twists, yarn strength), of the material and the characteristic of the individual threads brought together to be twisted and on the nature and intensity of the fixing. According to the invention, therefore, at least one thread soluble in a solvent is twisted with one or more insoluble threads, so that the insoluble thread receives the foundation for its later shaping (crimping or warping).

In the other embodiment of the invention, the auxiliary thread has a firmness or rigidity just enough to allow it to be twisted, and after the fixing is carried out, is broken by mechanical treatment of the twist or o-f the product obtained, the auxiliary thread fragments being then removed. However, here too the twisting of the threads is a necessary prerequisite, in order to give the thread to be textured the desired coils or loops requested for its stretch and warping, the separation of which is only possible after the auxiliary thread has been chemically or mechanically removed.

By altering the degree of twisting (number of speed of revolutions of twist) an alteration in warping may be obtained.

The warping also depends on the reciprocal cross-section behavior of the threads arriving for twisting. At the same time this process is applicable not only to double twists, but also to triple and multiple twists. It is merely important that of the yarns being twisted together one yarn portion must be removable.

This twist produced in the customary fashion is fixed within the framework of the preferred example of execution and subsequently subjected to treatment by solvents. This treatment has the consequence that the soluble auxiliary thread is dissolved out of or removed from the twist unit and that only a single or a plurality of threads remain immune to the solvent. The threads, thus remaining unaffected by the solvent, can now enter the space left free by the removed auxiliary thread being eliminated and remain therein, which results in a structural warping and an increased elasticity by virtue of a loosening of the thread structure.

Within the scope of advantageous developments of the invention a number of modifications are possible. One advantage according to the invention, is Ithe removal of the auxiliary thread, for example lby treatment -with a solvent, immediately after effecting the fixing process in the yarn. It is also advantageous to effect this treatment on the surface of the twisted and, if necessary, fixed yarn. At the same time the twisted yarn is first processed into a texture, a weft, a web and the like, and only after the fixing and the treatment with a solvent or with a mechanical apparatus is treated in one piece.

These processes directed to the fixing and chemical dissolution may, according to the invention, Ibe advantageously carried out, with machines, such as are for example used for chemical cleaning and finishing. By means of such devices it is also possible to remove the non-soluble yarns or surfaces from the solvent by rinsing, spinning and drying. It is, however, irrelevant whether the finished or half-finished product or the strand or the coil winding is treated in the apparatus. According to the invention it is merely essential for machines, known for other purposes, to be used for the process here described.

Within the framework of the invention it has further proved to be advantageous to effect the yfixing simultaneously with the twisting operation, especially as it is possible to combine this fixing process with the previously known twisting processes.

In one embodiment of the invention the soluble auxiliary threads, yarns or twists, are composed for example of cellulose, rayon staple, acetate or other cellulose derivatives, alginates, polyvinyalcohols or of polyamides.

It is of particular importance that such yarns produced according to the invention from cotton and the like should not lose stretch or elasticity or only lose their stretch or elasticity to a minimal degree, in the course of time; this represents a considerable improvement over known texturing processes for natural yarns, for example, by means of tensionless mercerisation.

According to the invention, not only yarns from cotton, but also yarns from, for example synthetic material, flax, linen, wool, silk or mineral substances such as asbestos and mixtures of any desired kind can be textured. The invention provides also :for a mixed yarn being twisted and fixed with the auxiliary thread and subjected to mechanical treatment or treatment with a sol-vent. In another embodiment the textured yarn from which the auxiliary thread has been removed is processed with threads of another composition into a mixed yarn. In this way the particular advantages of each component of the mixed yarn may be combined and a novel,.textured yarn of superior quality is produced, the mixture of threads from -wool and cotton of which with synthetic material, according to the invention, affords particular advantages.

Particularly advantageous, according to the invention, is the fact that threads spun from fiber mixtures can be textured, the character and composition of which can be chosen as desired. This applies particularly to mixtures of mineral and animal fibers with full or semi-synthetic fibers or threads, and which until now were not considered as being adequately or substantially capable of being textured.

According to the invention it is possible to texture yarns from the considerably varying substances, which until now were not considered as -being capable of satisfactory texturing; the invention can be applied also as the initial process for obtaining special textile effects, which owing to their variety are not enumerated here. For example, attention is drawn to the fact that, according to the invention, it has proved advantageous to twist the auxiliary thread as a supporting thread through one or the other threads in a known manner, so that the threads, which resist mechanical or solvent treatment, later exhibit the dimensional shape of a sheath twist with out a core. Furthermore, according to the invention, attention is drawn to the advantageous improvement whereby, apart from the auxiliary thread to be removed, at least one thread remaining in the yarn can be provided crosswise in S and Z turn. In this manner it is possible, for example, in the case of cotton yarns to achieve the same or similar warping effects, which have already been known until now only in completely synthetic and semisynthetic threads or yarns.

Another object of the invention is the apparatus for carrying out the `fixing and removal of the auxiliary thread from the twisted yarn. In one embodiment the invention is characterized by the provision of a container to be filled with sol-vent for the reception or passage of the yarn or the piece goods produced from it and the provision of a drying apparatus for drying of the product treated with the solvent and finally by providing a recovery vessel for the material dissolved from the yarn. Advantageously, the fixing apparatus may be previously secured to the solvent container in which apparatus the twisting present in the yarn can be set.

An advantageous development is made possible by the application of a continuously working device, consisting of an impregnating coloring machine, a pre-dryer, a fixing device, one or more solvent containers, a finishing v`bath and a drying device in conjunction with known conveying means for the continuous transport of the yarn or the piece goods.

' In a discontinuously working installation the apparatus according to the invention preferably consists of a rotatable container for the yarn or the product made therefrom, which is connected to a solvent container via a pump and to a heater via a blower; in the solvent circuit a filtering device and a distillation device are advantageously provided.

As the apparatus according to the invention may be constructed in a number of modifications, it is not possible to mention here all the advantageous embodiments. So as substantially to characterise the essence of the invention the following, among many examples are given below.

Example 1 A thread of 21/2 acetate, deniers 400, is twisted with a cotton thread No. 48. The twist so received is treated with a known synthetic resin preparation, which, for example, contains 40 grams/liter of .a Water-soluble synthetic resin capable of hardening, grams of Ureol (WZ) and 20 grams of a grip-inducing substance such as 6.5 grams/liter of 40% acetic acid, and 3 grams/liter of ammonium sulphate. With this solution the cotton is coldmpregnated and squeezed out. Subsequently, it is dried and the synthetic resin preparation hardened for about five minutes at 175 C.

After this fixing process the yarn is treated with acetone, whereby the 'acetate thread is dissolved and only the twisted and fixed cotton remains. As soon as the solvent is removed and the remaining cotton yarn is dried the cotton exhibits a high warping property with considerable elastic stretch.

Example 2 A textured twist of cotton, consisting of one thread in an `S-twist and one in a Z-twist position is subsequently twisted together by a texturing process with a smooth thread of wool, not yet treated with respect to volume, stretch and elasticity. The twist thus obtained has its component of the textured cotton a large volume, an increased stretch and good elasticity. The further fed-in wool on the other hand ensures for the so-combined twist the capcity of retaining warmth and thickness inherent in wool.

Example 3 At least one spun thread from a fiber mixture of wool and 35% of a polyamide-based synthetic material is twisted with an acetate thread. The thread is processed (Le. by weaving) as a warp and/or Woof to a surface area (textile) and fixed in this condition. Afterwards the .acetate thread is dissolved with acetone.

In the accompanying drawing the invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in which:

FIGURES l and 2 are diagrammatic views of a simple twist on an enlarged scale, of a cotton thread and an acetate auxiliary thread in different twist structures before the dissolution process:

FIGURE 3 is a view of the textured thread according to FIGURE 2 after the dissolution process;

FIGURES 4 and 5 show a cross-twisted thread structure, before and after the dissolution process respectively;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of a continuously operating treatment plant for fixing and removing the thread;

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of a discontinuously operating treatment plant for fixing and removing the thread; and

FIGURE 8 is a side view of a mechanical device for the removal of the auxiliary thread.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, an auxiliary thread, 1 of soluble Imaterial is twisted with a second thread 2 to be textured, whereby the thread 2 to be textured may uniformly be wound around the soluble auxiliary thread 1 (FIG. 2) or may be twisted together therewith (FIG. 1).

The auxiliary thread 1 may, for example, consist of cellulose, staple fibers, cellulose derivatives, alginates, polyvinylalcohols, polyamides and like chemically soluble substances, while thread 2 consists of cotton or other natural yarns. However, fiax, linen, wool, mineral substances and mixtures of any kind, as well as fundamentally full and semi-synthetic endless types and also fiber yarns of any kind are also suitable.

The yarn twisted according to FIGURE l is xed until the auxiliary thread is completely dissolved in known manner by treatment with a chemical solvent. Suitable solvents are known in practice. There remains the formerly twisted and now crimped thread 2 as illustrated in FIGURE 3, which is solvent-resistant. Due to the twist fixing the thread reacts to tension in the manner of a tension spring, as the turns tend, after the elimination of the load, to assume the normal position as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5, two insoluble threads 2 and 21 are twisted crosswise around the auxiliary thread 1 and fixed; thereafter the thread 1 is chemically dissolved.

In all embodiments it is essential that the removable auxiliary thread, during twisting and fixing, provide a support for the shaping of the insoluble thread and is eliminated by the removal process. The remaining thread may then move into the space originally occupied by the auxiliary thread if it is repeatedly stretched.

FIGURE 6 shows diagrammatically a continuously operating apparatus for xing and separating the twisted yarns, in which these threads may first be passed through an impregnating coloring device 3 containing a synthetic resin dye. The impregnated yarn, 1, 2 is passed through the pre-dryer 4 and the fixing compartment 5, in which the impregnation with synthetic resin is completed.V Subsequently the yarn is advantageously passed through several solvent baths 6 for dissolving the auxiliary thread 1 and finally through a finishing bath 7. The pressure rollers 8 press the liquid out of the thread and pass it on to work stations, not illustrated. The solvent contained in the containers 6 is frequently and/or constantly recirculated by means of a pump 9 and passed through a filter 10 with a distillation recovery device, in order to free the remaining threads and the dissolved material from the solvent.

The apparatus according to FIGURE 7 serves for discontinuous treatment of the yarn or surface structures produced therefrom, for example, textiles, tissues, knits. The product to be treated is passed into a rotary liquidpermeable drum 11. This drum 11 is surrounded by a liquid tight container 12, which, as iin a chemical oleaning machine is connected to various cycle systems. The system may include the fixing process with a synthetic resin impregnation, which is discharged from a container 13 into the container 12 and returned by the pump 14. Furthermore, a drying circulation with fresh air intake, a heater 16, ventilator 17 and cooler 18, are advantageously provided.

Finally, the solvent found in the container 19 'is returned by the pump 20. In this cycle a distillation recovery device 21 'having a filter may be inserted. It is therefore desirable, to place this device parallelto it and to start operation when the product is being dried and fixed. -It will -be understood that all the processes have not to be carried out one directly after the other in the one apparatus. The machines may be provided as separate units.

In the embodiment -according to FIGURE 8 the manner in which the mechanical removal of the auxiliary thread 1 from the twisted unit 1, 2 may be carried out is shown. The twists 1, 2, are in this embodiment produced from a mechanically, easily destructible auxiliary thread 1 and the thread to Ibe textured, both having been fixed previously to being twisted. lDuring their passage through a mechanical treatment apparatus, which according to FIGURE 8 is formed by a meshing pair of cog wheels 22, 23, the twists 1 and 2 are worked in such manner that the preferably very thin and cheap auxiliary thread 1, which is shredded bit 4'by bit, while the thread is textured, as a result of its windings may withstand mechanical treatment. After passage through the pair of cog wheels 22, 23, the textured, highly elastic and distended thread 2 of any kind of material remains.

We claim:

1. A method of texturing a yarn comprising the steps of twisting `at least one relatively indestructible thread and at least one destructible thread; fixing the twisted threads by a setting treatment `to prevent relaxation of said relatively indestructible thread; and destroying said relatively destructible thread to leave said relatively indestructible thread in substantially its originally twisted condition.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said relatively indestructible thread is composed, at least in part, of nonsynthetic fiber, 4the fixing of the twisted threads being carried out by treating said relatively indestructible thread with a synthetic resin.

3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein said relatively destructible thread is more brittle than said relatively indestructible thread, the destructible thread being removed Iby breaking up said -destructible thread.

4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein said destructible thread is broken up by passing the twisted fixed threads between a pair of meshing toothed wheels.

5. The method 4defined in claim 2 wherein said relatively `destructible thread is soluble in a solvent and said relatively indestructible thread is insoluble in said solvent, the removal of said destructible thread being carried out by treating the twisted fixed threads with said solvent.

6. The method defined in claim 5 wherein said twisted threads are formed as a yarn into a falbric, the removal of said `destructible thread Ibeing carried out by treating said fabric with said solvent.

7. The method defined in claim 6 wherein said indestructible thread is composed of cotton.

8. The method -dfined in claim 7 wherein said destructible thread is composed of an acetate and said solvent is acetone.

9. An apparatus for tex-turing a yarn, comprising means for twisting at least one relatively flexible indestructible thread and at least one relatively brittle destructible thread, means lfor fixing the twisted threads to prevent relaxation of the indestructible thread, a pair of meshing toothed wheels, land means for passing the twisted fixed threads between said meshing toothed wheels for 'breaking up said relatively destructible thread to remove same from the twist.

10. The method defined in claim 6 'wherein said indestructible thread is composed of flax.

11. The method defined in claim 6 wherein said indestructible thread is compose-d of wool.

12. The method defined in claim 6 wherein said indestructible thread is composed of silk.

(References on following page) 7 8 References Cited 2,716,049 8/ 1955 Latour et al. 8--114.6 XR 2,731,788 1/1956 Danoldson 57--140 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,086,275 4/1963 Pritchard s-114.6 XR 1,162,983 12/ 1915 Crossland. 2,052,875 9/ 1936 Gammons. 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,387,320 10/ 1945 Foster. 2,476,262 7/1949 McKusker. 693,223 6/ 1953 Great Bntaln. 2,516,295 7/1950 Borton et al. 28-1.4 2,575,008 11/1951 Borgia 8 114-6 FRANK J. COHEN, Plfmary Emmmer- 2,603,551 7/ 1952 Ward et al. lo WERNER H. SCHROEDER, Assistant Examiner.

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