US3550215A - Cross lapping apparatus and process - Google Patents

Cross lapping apparatus and process Download PDF

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Publication number
US3550215A
US3550215A US698842A US3550215DA US3550215A US 3550215 A US3550215 A US 3550215A US 698842 A US698842 A US 698842A US 3550215D A US3550215D A US 3550215DA US 3550215 A US3550215 A US 3550215A
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Prior art keywords
web
cross
gas
jets
lightweight
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Expired - Lifetime
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US698842A
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English (en)
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David W Trott
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Celanese Corp
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Celanese Corp
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H3/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length
    • D04H3/02—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of yarns or filaments
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/54—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties by welding together the fibres, e.g. by partially melting or dissolving

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of producing a nonwoven batting from a lightweight web of continuous filaments by cross lapping the lightweight web and an apparatus for cross lapping such lightweight webs at increased speeds, efiiciencies and uniformity.
  • This invention relates to the production of batting materials and an apparatus therefor.
  • Cross lapped battings have been previously known and prepared by various methods. More recently, methods have been developed for producing lightweight webs of continuous filaments whereby the lightweight webs can be cross lapped into heavier weight battings of high bulk. Such battings are particularly useful for the production of cushioning materials such as pillows, mattresses, furniture cushioning and the like.
  • the fibrous web produced is normally of a lightweight construction such as less than about 1 pound per square yard and more preferably less than /2 a pound per square yard. Many of these Webs have a weight measured in a few ounces or fractions of an ounce per square yard.
  • One object of the present invention is. to provide a novel, economical and highly efficient method for cross lapping light-weight webs of substantially parallel continuous filaments at increased speeds and etficiencies.
  • object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for improving the uniformity of cross lapped products.
  • Other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description which follows.
  • an apparatus for cross-lapping lightweight webs by means of a traversing structure which supplies a longitudinally moving lightweight web of continuous filaments onto a moving collection means by alternately moving the web in opposite directions across said collection means while depositing the web in a folded condition onto said collection means, the improvement comprising gas jet means positioned above said collection means and said web, said jets being positioned across the width of said web and being directed downwardly onto said web at an acute angle to the traversing means.
  • the present invention is directed to the process of operating said cross lapper wherein a high-volume air source of relatively low pressure is directed onto the falling web thereby substantially overcoming the air buoyancy of the web.
  • the present invention finds its greatest utility in the handling of fine, lightweight, diaphanous, flexible, cohesive, spread webs of substantially parallel, crimped continuous filaments as described for example in Belgian patent 656,031 and the corresponding South African patent application 64/5387.
  • the present process and apparatus substantially overcome the problem caused by the buoyancy in air and the air turbulence created by the rapid passage of the cross lapper over the collection means.
  • the lag time required for the freely falling web to reach the collection point is significantly reduced.
  • the speed of operation can be increased while at the same time, improving the uniformity of the cross-lapped batting produced.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one type of cross lapping apparatus particularly useful with the present invention showing one means for positioning the gaseous jet means;
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional schematic showing the path of the web in relationship to the position of the gas jets during the traverse movement of the cross-lapping apparatus.
  • FIG. 1 which illustrates a preferred type of cross lapper
  • a wide, spread web 9 of deregistered, crimped, substantially parallel, continuous filaments is supplied continuously to a pair of feed rolls 11 and 12.
  • the web drops down from the feed rolls into a wide pivoted chute 13 made up of a pair of relatively closely spaced rigid panels or doors 14 and 16 which are mounted for oscillating or swinging movement together about pivotal axis 17.
  • the web passes downward between the doors 14 and 16 and is distributed, by their oscillating action, back and forth across a continuously moving apron 18 (which is preferably a moving endless belt) to form cross-lapped batting 19.
  • apron 18 which is preferably a moving endless belt
  • Web 9 which may be 20 to inches or more wide for example, may be produced from a crimped tow of a great many continuous filaments such as 30,000 or more or less, by passing the tow through a banding device to straighten the tow, a threaded roll device to deregister the crimps of adjacent filaments and a series of air spreaders which subsequently spread the tow to a lightweight web.
  • This web 9 is fed to a cross lapper as illustrated in FIG. 1. The foregoing procedure is described in detail in the previously mentioned Belgian patent.
  • the unitary oscillating movement of the two doors 14 and 16 may be effected in any suitable manner, as by mechanical means pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 33, wherein the flow of fluid to the cylinder is regularly reversed by a suitable valve 34 controlled in turn by adjustably mounted limit switches 36, 37 which are engaged by laterally extending projections on the doors.
  • a limit switch 36 or 37 is tripped by one of these projections, causing the piston of the cylinder 33 to reverse its direction of movement.
  • a chute 13 makes it possible to produce battings whose width is considerably greater than the traverse distance of the lower end of the chute. For example, battings of about 84 inches wide have been produced with a traverse distance of only about 48 inches. This effect is particularly noticeable when the web is fed at a high speed. While not wishing to be bound by any particular explanation, it is believed that this effect is attributable to the air currents and dynamics generated in the operation of the device. However, this generated air current which is particularly useful for extending the width of the cross lapped material is also the source of the limiting factor of cross lapping speeds.
  • the present invention involved the placement of gas jet means 30 which are capable of issuing a large volume of relatively low pressure air or other gaseous medium such as steam, onto the top of the falling web being cross lapped.
  • gas jets Preferably, the gaseous jets need only be operated during the back stroke of the cross lapper such that gas issues alternately from both sides of the cross lapper during the back stroke thereof.
  • the gas jet supply apparatus 28 and 29 is conveniently operated under a surge tank effect wherein a plurality of gas jet outlets 30 are positioned along the lower side of tanks 28 and 29. While a plurality of jet openings have been found to be particularly suitable, a narrow slit spanning the length of the tank can also be used.
  • the tanks 28 and 29 are of sufficient size to supply the desired amount of gas to jets 30 in the desired manner wherein a high volume of gas at relatively low pressure contacts the fibrous web.
  • gaseous supply means from compressed air, nitrogen, steam and the like are connected to tanks 28 and 29.
  • Surge tanks 28 and 29 are supplied with shut off valves which are actuated in accordance with the swing of the cross lapper such as being actuated by limit switches 36 and 37 or in the like manner desired for the particular cross lapping operation.
  • the gaseous jet supply need not be attached directly to the cross lapping apparatus, it has been found to be most desirable as such attachment readily provides the air flow in the desired direction. It is particularly desirable to position the gas jets so as to direct the flow of air at an acute angle away from the side Wall of the cross lapping apparatus and the path of the web falling through such apparatus.
  • the angle of jet direction formed with the plane of web 9 falling through chute 13 and passing through the jet openings 30 is an acute angle alpha (a) of about to 70 degrees and more preferably about to 60 degrees. Angle alpha is varied, depending on the height of the jets above the outlet of chute 13, the angle of the cross lapping swing the width of cross lapping and the like.
  • Gas jet means 28 and 29 are preferably positioned on the lower ends of doors 14 and 16.
  • the jets 30, as noted above, preferably exhaust a relatively high volume of gas such as air from the gas chamber which is maintained at a relatively low pressure of about 0.05 to 15 pounds per square inch gauge pressure.
  • the a tual v 1- ume of air exhausted can be varied widely, depending on the various factors such as the speed of operation, the weight of the web being cross lapped, the width of the cross lapped batting and the like.
  • the most preferred gas pressure and volume of exhaust gas is readily determined empirically for the particular web depending on the weight of the fabric, the strength thereof, the air permeability thereof and the like.
  • the jets are regulated so that the velocity does not pierce, deform or tear the web being laid down.
  • the series of jets will exhaust about 0.5 to 10 cubic feet of gas per minute in a conventional operation wherein a web of about 50 inches in width is being cross lapped.
  • jets of about Ms inch diameter openings, spaced about 2 inches apart and operated at a gas chamber pressure of about 0.1 to 1 pounds per square inch gauge have been found to provide the desired volume and pressure for webs of less than about /2 ounce per square yard.
  • a slit jet can be used to thereby exhaust a band-like gas stream across the length of the web being laid down.
  • similar gas volumes and pressures are used.
  • the present process is utilized in connection with a plenum chamber for blowing the falling web outwardly away from the lower opening of the cross lapper, thus increasing the width to which the cross lapper can lay the web as described in the aforementioned Watson application, the presently described air jets are preferably synchronized so as not to conflict with the initial billowing of the web.
  • the described jets of the present invention can also be utilized to serve a multi-function such as for applying a bonding agent, colorants, solids and the like as may be desired along with the blast of gas.
  • a process for the production of a cross laped structure comprising continuously guiding and traversing a free falling longitudinally moving web of filamentary material across a collection zone while feeding said web onto said zone to deposit said web in a folded condition onto said collection zone, said traversing operation comprising the step of continuously directing a stream of gas at a pressure of from about 0.05 0t 15 pounds per square inch gauge downwardly onto said web during its movement to said collection zone at an angle of from about 10 to 70' degrees from the downwardly feeding direction of said traversing web, said gas stream being directed alternately then sweeps forward toward the center of the web as onto the top side of the traversing falling web forcing the web is traversed across the collection zone.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Preliminary Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
  • Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)
  • Spinning Methods And Devices For Manufacturing Artificial Fibers (AREA)
US698842A 1968-01-18 1968-01-18 Cross lapping apparatus and process Expired - Lifetime US3550215A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US69884268A 1968-01-18 1968-01-18

Publications (1)

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US3550215A true US3550215A (en) 1970-12-29

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US698842A Expired - Lifetime US3550215A (en) 1968-01-18 1968-01-18 Cross lapping apparatus and process

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US (1) US3550215A (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
JP (1) JPS545012B1 (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
BE (1) BE727021A (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
FR (1) FR2000366A6 (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
GB (1) GB1203746A (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)
SE (1) SE354084B (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1203746A (en) 1970-09-03
BE727021A (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png) 1969-07-17
JPS545012B1 (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png) 1979-03-13
SE354084B (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png) 1973-02-26
FR2000366A6 (US20030204162A1-20031030-M00001.png) 1969-09-05

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