US3478503A - Manufacture of a fancy yarn - Google Patents

Description

P. SEGUIN MANUFACTURE OF A FANCY YARN Nov. 18, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6, 1967 FIG. I

? INVENTOR PIERRE 3500/ BY 5W Q 1% ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1969 SEQUIN 3,478,503

MANUFACTURE OF A FANCY YARN Filed Nov. 6. 1967 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 t "/0 I'- z 2 s FIG. 2

INV ENT OR PIERRE SEGU/N ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1969 P. SEQUIN 3,478,503

MANUFACTURE OF A FANCY YARN Filed Nov. 6. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR E PIERRE SEGU/IV BY J/MW ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 5734 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for manufacturing fancy yarn especially helically wound yarn which utilizes means to allow the yarn to accumulate after being heat set and to simultaneously cool yarn to preserve the heat set before any stress is applied thereto.

The present invention relates broadly to a novel device for the manufacture of a fancy textile yarn, specifically a yarn having a helical shape. The invention relates further to a process for manufacturing such a fancy yarn.

The textile field has always presented an important area in the industrial processes of nations. Many uses are made of textiles principally, and most importantly, in the clothing field. However, the scope of the use of textiles extends to affect practically every area and every aspect of human life. In todays world, new uses for textiles are developed more rapidly than new methods of treating and producing textiles. Each new textile fiber composition, each new fiber shape, each new method of treating fibers and each new machine for treating fibers, broadens the feasible uses of textile fibers. Thus, as technology advances in the textile field, the advances create a pyramiding effect on the textile industry. However, even this pyramiding effect fails to meet the new demands for textiles. The demand for a given textile is often affected by the cost of the textile, so there is a complementary demand for more efliciently produced textiles. In view of these considerations technicians in the textile industry are constantly striving to improve the nature and the efliciency of textile operations.

This invention principally relates to a narrow part of the textile field, but due to the pyramiding effect of technological advances, the invention has potential applications throughout the broad textile industry. The specific area most directly affected by this invention is the area of fancy textile yarns. Fancy textile yarns are used in such applications as fur making and chenilles, but also extend to areas such as crepe fabrics, rug fabrics, and other areas incapable of enumeration. Being even more specific, the invention may be classified as affecting those fancy yarns comprising helically wound yarns.

Helically wound yarns are produced by coiling a yarn. It is known that any stress placed on a yarn will be retained to some degree, for example, housewives often curl ribbons by drawing them across a sharp edge. However, in specific applications, such as imitation furs and chenilles, the yarn must retain its coiled shape to a greater degree. Previously used methods of setting a curl in a yarn involve softening the yarn and stressing it. Other improvements comprise freezing the yarn after stressing by heat setting or evaporating a previously applied solvent.

In customary yarn spinning machines, the yarn on a package is placed upon a spindle and is led therefrom by suitable feeding means to a twister where it is twisted in a desired shape. In order to retain the desired twisted shape, the yarn must be treated to fix its artificial configuration.

3,478,503 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 "Ice It is known to manufacture yarns or threads of helical shape, particularly synthetic yarns or threads, by winding the yarn in a spiral form on a needle, subjecting the yarn in spiral form to thermal treatment, and setting it in this shape by subsequent cooling.

In this mode of manufacture, it is important that the cooling should be substantially complete before the yarn is wound onto a take-up spool or is further processed. Since winding is effected under tension, there is a risk of losing a part of the desired helical shape of the yarn if the cooling is incomplete when winding occurs.

Economical considerations favor natural cooling, for example, by air, since mechanical coolers are expensive and bulky. It is also economically important that the manufacture of the yarn be effected continuously. Furthermore, the apparatus should be as small as possible, avoiding for example bulky spinners or twisters which are immobile and are expensive to maintain.

The present invention provides a device and method for manufacturing a helical yarn by winding the yarn spirally on a fixed needle, heating the yarn in a spiral form, cooling the spiral yarn and receiving the set yarn continuously, wherein the said device principally comprises a rotary member having a needle which is held immobilized by magnetic means and an intermediate accumulator for heatset yarn.

The means for driving the rotary member are synchronized with means for advancing, accumulating and winding the helically wound yarn.

The means for accumulating the yarn comprises a member having an inlet and an outlet end mounted on a central pivot wherein the outlet end is provided with a weight to counterweigh yarn received at the inlet end. The pivoted member rocks at the inlet end under the influence of an accumulation of yarn and in this way closes an electric circuit which activates a wind-up system. When the yarn has been wound on, the strip rocks again toward the outlet end of its own accord and accumulation reoccurs.

The device for the fixing of the yarn may comprise any known means. Advantageously, it comprises a heater, for example an oven filled with saturated steam, which permits the setting of yarns of relatively high count, such as those utilized in the manufacture of imitation fur yarns, chenille, or carpet yarns.

The present invention also relates to a process for continuously manufacturing a helical fancy yarn by winding a yarn about a needle, heat-setting the turns thus formed, cooling and accumulating the said turns, and winding-up the yarn obtained, the said process being novel in providing a temporary accumulation step during the cooling operation and before the winding up step.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an apparatus which produces a yarn in a heat-set condition which yarn is capable of retaining that heat-set condition.

A further object is to provide means to produce the subject yarn wherein the yarn is fully cooled after being heat-set prior to any Winding-up or stressing operation.

Another object is to produce a yarn of the type described in a continuous manner by utilizing a stationary needle to receive a wound yarn prior to its being heat-set whereby yarn may be continuously wound on said needle while other parts of the apparatus are inoperative.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of producing yarns which allows continuous production of a perfectly set fancy yarn.

Another object is to provide a method for producing fancy yarns which avoids the imposition of stresses on the yarn prior to its being fully cooled and fully set in its wound condition.

Additionally, it is an object of this invention to provide a means and method for producing the yarn in an economical manner utilizing simple and sturdy elements.

The present invention will be more readily understood with the assistance of a specific embodiment, given purely by way of example. The invention is not to be interpreted as being limited to the specific example.

The example is illustrated in the figures on the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements and wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows, diagrammatically, the needle and rotary number, and the heater inlet;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the needle and its rotary member of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A' of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 shows, diagrammatically, the yarn-accumulation device.

In FIGURE 1 there is shown a section line B, upstream of which is the mechanical drive and supply (not shown) for the rotary .member and, a section line C downstream of which is the remainder of the heat-setting device as seen in FIGURE 4. In order to simplify the figure, the two limits serve purely for the exclusion of those elements which do not form a part of the invention. Any conventional drive and supply means may be used, in connection with this invention.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a rotary shaft 1 carries a rotary member 2, shown in detail in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The rotary member 2 has an inlet 1a and outlet aper tures 2a and 2b. The member 1 forms an axial conduit through inlet 1a and through member 2. As seen shaft 1 is hollow.

The downstream portion of 2 is recessed and encloses a shorter shaft 3 mounted on bearings 4 and 5 carrying a. pole piece 6 between the two bearings. Bearings 4 and 5 allow the body of member 2 to rotate while magnets 8 immobilize shaft 3. A needle 7 forms an extension on shaft 3. The needle is slightly frustoconical.

The pole piece 6 is disposed in an air gap separating two opposite magnets 8 mounted on a support 9. The magnetic flux is such that the pole piece 6 is within the influence of the flux.

It is clear that it would also be possible to employ a single horseshoe magnet or an electromagnet, i.e., equivalents are contemplated herein.

The needle 7 penetrates, downstream, into the inlet tube 10 of a heater 11 (see FIGURE 1), thus providing a continuous path for a helical yarn through the apparatus.

A grooved roller 12 bears laterally against the needle 7 in accordance with a predetermined arc. The said roller is positively driven at a slow speed by appropriate means (not shown) synchronized with the means for driving members 2 (not shown). Thus roller 12 may advance the coiled yarn along needle 7 at a rate synchronized with the rate of coiling in rotary member 2. Of course, any suitable driving and synchronizing means may be utilized and such means form no limiting part of the present invention. Those skilled in the art may readily perceive satisfactory means. The roller 12 is mounted on a lever 13 which pivots at 14 and which is biased by a spring 15 to provide contact with needle 7.

The heater 11 is prolonged in its downstream portion by a tube and a cranked tube 21, (see FIGURE 4), so that the path of the heated yarn is continuous and complete.

The device for accumulating and cooling the yarn comprises a hollow member 22 pivoting on a knife edge 23, or any other equivalent means having a low coeflicient of friction. The inlet end receives yarn from the heater and the outlet feeds to the wind-up (not shown). The member 22 is balanced by a weight 24 at its outlet and its rocking movement in the outlet direction is limited by an adjustable stop 25.

A point contact member 26 is fastened on the member 22 at the inlet end thereof. The said contact member is made of metal having a good resistance to arcing, such as silver.

A drop of mercury 27 in a suitable holder constitutes the other contact element of the electric switch for triggering the winding-on mechanism. The mercury switch is connected in series with a solenoid (not shown) and is adapted to energize the solenoid upon closing the circuit through contact 26. Of course, the armature of the solenoid is used to activate the wind-up motor. Any equivalent switching means are contemplated, however, for example, the conventional mercury switch-solenoid device illustrated in US. Patent 2,557,783.

The device functions in the following manner:

A yarn 28 fed into the inlet conduit 1a and the shaft 1; then it emerges thorugh one of the ports 2a or 2b. It follows, longitudinally, the surface of the rotary member 2, passing between the member and the magnets 8. Its path causes it to be wound spirally on the needle 7 which is magnetically immobilized within the moving member 2. The member 2 rotates at velocities on the order of 15,000 r.p.m. If desired, the yarn may be pretreated to adapt it to the coiling operation, e.g., by heat or solvent to soften it.

The yarn 28 forms turns which, under the influence of the thrust exerted by the roller 12, are displaced towards the end of the needle 7. Movement of the coiled yarn is assisted by the smooth surface of the needle and by its conicity in the direction of movement.

The turns are then heat-set in the heater 11 which may contain steam. Coiled yarn emerges through the tube 21 and accumulates on the member 22 until the weight is sufiicient to cause the member 22 to rock in the direction of the inlet to 22. At this instant, the pointed member 26 contacts the drop of mercury 27, thus closing the electric circuit and triggering the drive .of a wind-on mechanism in the manner described above. It is noted that member 22 in the empty state is displaced by weight 24 so that the force of gravity acts on yarn 28 and the smooth surface of member 22 allows yarn 28 to flow to the outlet end; then yarn 28 backs up and accumulates until the excess backup causes an overbalance at the inlet end having contact 26. When the contact activates the wind-up device, it may also deactivate driving roller 12 if such is necessary for smooth operation. In such a case, yarn accumulates on needle 7 and in heater 11. When the :weight of the yarn on the inlet side of the member has sufiiciently diminished, due to the winding-up step the member 22 rocks towards the outlet side, thus opening the electric circuit and stopping the winding-on mechanism. In extreme cases conventional means may be provided adjacent member 22 to aid in the cooling of the yarn, however, this is often not economical and in most cases is unnecessary.

The yarn accumulates once again and the cycle repeats. The member 22 many be connected in the electrical circuit through the agency of the knife edge 23 to complete a circuit through the contact and strip and other electrical components.

The device according to the invention, due to the high velocity of the rotary member 2 and the continuous nature :of the process, perimts a form of production which is useful from the industrial viewpoint. It may be utilized for any desired type of yarn, whether natural or synthetic, but it is particularly useful in the manufacture of imitation fur yarns, chenille and other yarns produced from synthetic threads such as polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, etc.

The circuit for operating the apparatus described herein forms no part of the invention per se and those skilled in the art may readily devise suitable circuits for operating the invention. However, for simplicity the use of electrical contact and driving means as described is preferred.

Having described my invention in full, clear, and concise language what I desire to protect by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A process for continously manufacturing fancy helically wound yarn comprising the steps of winding a yarn about a needle, sliding the formed coils of yarn free of the needle, heat-setting the helical turns in the absence of any appreciable stresses, completely cooling the helical turns free of the needle while accumulating the turns and before subjecting the turns to any appreciable stresses, and winding up the cooled turns in heat-set condition.

2. A device for the manufacture of fancy textile yarns including: a rotary mounted member having an axial bore therein permitting passage of the yarn through the bore and driving means; said member having a hollowedout inner portion coaxial and communicating with said bore; radial slots in said member communicating with said hollowed-out portion; the hollowed-out portion containing a needle mounted on bearings in said member; the needle carrying a polar part which is within the air gap of a magnet mounted outside the rotary member; means for continually advancing said yarn along said needle; a yarn setting chamber into which the needle extends, the needle terminating just inside the chamber so that the yarn falls off the needle in the chamber and is in a. complete relaxed state in the setting operation; and yarn collecting means.

3. Device according to claim 2 wherein the rotary member has a smooth outer surface with a tapering substantially frustoconical section.

4; Device according to claim 3 wherein said frustoconical section connects large and small substantially cylindrical sections with the needle within and said magnet surrounding the small cylindrical section.

5. Device according to claim 2 in which the means to advance the yarn out of the rotary member are constituted by a small wheel or roller, placed adjacent to the fixed needle, up the line with respect to the setting chamber, and synchronized with the rotation driving means of the rotary member and yarn collecting means.

'6. Device according to claim 2 further including yarn accumulation means receiving the yarn from the chamber, which permit the cooling of the yarn loops in a relaxed condition before collection.

7. Device according to claim 6 in which the accumulation means includes a channel horizontally mounted on a central pivot, the extremity of said channel opposite the yarn receiving end being equipped with a counterweight, the yarn receiving extremity rocking or tilting under the effect, of a sutfcient weight of yarn being received with means to close an electrical circuit in response to said rocking or tilting which triggers the operation of the collecting means.

8. Device according to claim 7 in which the channel is part of the electrical circuit through the intermediary of the central pivot.

9. Device according to claim 8 in which the electrical circuit closing means are constituted by a pivot switch which dips into a mercury bath.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,980,959 4/1961 Genovese 264168 XR 3,039,259 6/1962 Lenoble 5734 3,050,819 8/1962 Allman et al. 5734 XR 3,057,015 10/1962 Nichols et al.

3,071,917 1/1963 Fisher 5734 XR 3,147,578 9/1964 Callizano 5734 3,200,466 8/1965 Duga et al. 281 3,342,026 9/1967 Nichols et al. 5734 FOREIGN PATENTS 945,602 6/ 1956 Germany.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner WERNER H. SCHROEDER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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