WO2016142221A1

WO2016142221A1 - Device for crimping a tow

Info

Publication number: WO2016142221A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/054331
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wilhelm-Martin Callsen-Bracker; Ralph Bressmer
Original assignee: Oerlikon Textile Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2015-03-06
Filing date: 2016-03-01
Publication date: 2016-09-15
Also published as: CN107429437B; DE112016001061A5; CN107429437A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for crimping a tow made of synthetic filament strands. The friction is very high between the side plates of a crimper to be used for this purpose and said filament strands, in particular adjacent to a crimper gap that occurs between two crimper rollers. This causes a very high level of wear to the side plates and a large temperature increase in the adjacent filament strands. According to the invention, a rotation body is therefore arranged adjacent to the crimper gap inside a recess of the the side plate. The friction between the side plate and the filament strands is significantly reduced by the rotation of said rotation body. In this way, the wear of the side plate and the temperature increase of adjacent filament strands are significantly reduced. A crimper of this type is preferably for use in a system for producing staple fibres, in which a tow that has been crimped by the crimper is subsequently cut to form the staple fibres.

Description

The invention relates to a device for curling a tow according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a device finds particular application in the production of staple fibers. Before cutting a tow of individual synthetic filament strands into these staple fibers, the tow is crimped by means of a crimper. The filament strands are formed by extrusion of a polymer melt through spinnerets, wherein the tow is formed from a plurality of filament strands. Before crimping, this tow undergoes various treatments, for example, stretching treatments, heat treatments and / or relaxation treatments. Under certain circumstances, the tow is placed in a jug after extrusion and further processed in a second process cut and finally cut into the desired staple fibers. The crimper itself consists of a pair of crimp rollers which face each other, the tow being conveyed through a crimp gap thus created into a stuffer box. This stuffer box is formed by a bottom plate, a top plate and two side plates. The cover plate is pivotally mounted relative to the bottom plate and it can be applied for example by means of a hydraulic lid force from the outside on the cover plate. Depending on the size of this lid force, the tow is more or less strongly curled. Such a device is known for example from DE19537958C1. The side plates extend from the end of the stuffer box to the inlet of the tow into the crimper gap. The two side plates are adjacent to the end faces of the crimping rollers and thus prevent filament strands escape from the tow sideways can. Each side plate consists of a holding plate and a Druckbzw. Side window, which is embedded in the retaining plate. The seal towards the side of the Crimperspaltes out by means of the side windows. In order to better distribute the wear on these side windows, they are rotated during operation of the crimper. This prevents the crimper rollers and the filament strands of the tow from getting into the side windows. Despite this rotation, a high wear on the side windows, especially in the area of the highest load adjacent to the Crimperspalt. Furthermore, the friction of the filament strands of the tow on the side windows leads to a development of heat and thus to an increase in temperature of the adjacent filament strands. This friction, which is also responsible for the wear, is not significantly reduced by the rotation of the side discs, since the velocity vectors of the side window and the filament strands in different Liehe directions show. Due to the temperature increase of the filament strands, the quality of the end product suffers. In order to keep this temperature increase and the associated reduction in the quality of the end product within desired limits, a minimum amount of preparation fluid is needed. This preparation fluid cools the filament strands and also has a positive effect on the wear on the side windows. However, before the tow can be cut into staple fibers, this preparation fluid must be removed from the tow again. This is done under high energy use by means of an evaporator. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a generic device, by means of which the crimping of a Tows takes place in such a manner that the side plates rations with minimal preparation rationsfluidgehalt in the tow as little as possible subject to wear. Of Furthermore, a uniform and high quality of the staple fibers made from the crimped tow is required.

This object is achieved according to the invention by arranging a rotation body in at least one side plate of the crimper adjacent to the crimp nip. This body of revolution is located in a recess of the side plate. Preferably, both side plates are equipped with a recess and a rotating body. Adjacent to the Crimperspalt the largest force acts on the side plate, and it is precisely this rotation body is arranged. By rotating this rotating body, the friction between the filament strands at the edge of the tow and the lateral boundary is minimized. This reduces the wear on the side plates. Furthermore, the increase in temperature of the filament strands of the tow is less due to the friction to the lateral boundary. The amount of preparation fluid can therefore be minimized. Overall, this reduces the energy requirement of the entire staple fiber production, since during this less preparation fluid must be removed in an evaporator after the crimper. Depending on the end product to be produced, the evaporator can even be completely omitted after the crimper, which significantly reduces the production costs of the entire plant for staple aserproduktion.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a sphere is used as the rotational body. The rotation of a sphere takes place around its center and is not bound to an axis, as would be the case with a cylinder. The ball can thus rotate exactly in accordance with the movement of the filament strands in contact with the ball. To accommodate such a ball, the recess is preferably formed with a circular cross-section. This allows a similar storage of the ball within the recess. If a fluid for minimizing friction is provided between the ball and the recess, uniform flow states of this fluid are formed around the circumference of the ball.

Preferably, a side opening of the recess, which forms towards the Crimperspalt out with a circular cross section is formed. This side opening is preferably made smaller in cross-section than the diameter of the ball, so that forms a support within the recess to the crimper. This support forms the counterpart to the ball. The ball lies either with the complete circumference on the support, or it forms a constant gap between see support and ball. So a storage with minimal wear and the same, low friction is achieved in all directions of stress.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotational body is stressed by means of a spring in the direction of the crimping rollers. So a bias of storage is achieved. It does not matter whether the rotation body rests directly on the crimper, or on a support described above. The rotary body seals in conjunction with this spring the Crimperspalt to the environment, so that the filament strands of Tows are performed in their entirety in the stuffer box and not at least partially past it.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the recess is connected to a fluid channel, which from the recess to the Crimper rollers facing away from the side plate enough. About this fluid idid the recess preparation fluid is supplied. The preparation fluid flows around the body of revolution and finally passes from the side into the crimp nip and onto the filament strands passing there. This preparation fluid can perform so many tasks. On the one hand, it serves for the lubrication between the rotary body and the recess or support and the lubrication between the crimp rollers and the side plate. On the other hand, the filament strands running past the side plates are prepared by means of this preparation fluid. Thus, the harmful increase in temperature of these filament strands is reduced due to more favorable friction conditions. Furthermore, these filament strands are cooled by the preparation fluid, so that the still occurring increase in temperature is counteracted. Not only the filament strands but also the rotation body is tempered by means of the preparation fluid. As described above, the rotation body, the recess and the side opening thereof are matched to one another. When using a ball as a rotational body, recess and side opening each have a circular cross-section. Thus, the flow through the preparation fluid from the fluid channel to the Crimperspalt out evenly and with controlled, low pressure loss. Due to this targeted use of the preparation fluid at the relevant points, even less preparation fluid is necessary overall in order to achieve the desired high and uniform quality of the staple fibers. The spring and the pressure, by means of which the preparation fluid is supplied, are matched to one another in such a way that optimum gaps are established. Thus, just the required amount of preparation fluid enters the crimper and the friction between the moving elements is minimal. The fluid channel is in another embodiment of the invention without cross-sectional change in the recess over. This leads to advantages in manufacturing and assembly. For example, the fluid channel and recess can be produced with a drill or milling cutter. The fluid channel then has over its entire length a larger cross-section than the body of revolution. If this is the case, the assembly of the rotating body can be done from the outside. This is particularly important if the support is formed inside the recess and the assembly can not take place from the side of the crimping rollers.

In order to distribute the wear as evenly as possible on the side plate, it is formed, as already shown in DE19537958C1, from a holding plate and a side plate, wherein the recess is arranged in the side plate. The side window is designed to be circular and rotatably mounted in the holding plate. The rotation of the side window can be done by means of the device of DE19537958C1 or other suitable means. To ensure that the rotational body, despite superimposed rotation of the side window, is permanently adjacent to the crimp nip, the recess is arranged centrally in the side window.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the side plate, crimping rollers and rotating bodies are arranged in an operating state relative to each other such that a side plate gap is formed between the end faces of the crimping rollers and the side plate, such that a bearing gap is formed between the rotational body and the side plate supports that the rotational body protrudes into the Crimperspalt. This arrangement results in minimal friction within the crimper, without negatively affecting the seal to the side. The crimper with the device features shown above is preferably used in a plant for producing staple fibers. To produce the staple fibers is due to this Crimpers provide very little energy and the quality of the staple fibers is constantly very high.

The device according to the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to some embodiments of the device according to the invention with reference to the accompanying figures.

They show:

schematically a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention

schematically a sectional view of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention along the

Level A-A

schematically a sectional view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention in the same illustration as in Fig.2

schematically a side view of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention

In Fig. 1, a crimper 1 can be seen, which is formed by two crimping rollers 2.1 and 2.2 and a stuffer box 4. The stuffer box 4 is delimited by side plates 8 and 9, a bottom plate 5 and a cover plate 6 to the environment. The bottom plate 5 is fixedly connected to the side plates 8 and 9. The cover plate 6 is pivotable about a horizontal axis by a cover force 7, symbolically represented by an arrow. At the entrance of the stuffer box 4, the two crimping rollers 2.1 and 2.2 are arranged, which are driven by a motor, not shown, in the direction indicated by the arrows rotation. The end faces of the crimping rollers 2.1 and 2.2 reach close to the side plates 8 and 9 zoom. The axes of the crimping rollers 2.1 and 2.2 are arranged horizontally and parallel to one another at such a distance that a narrow Crimperspalt 3 is formed between the crimping rollers 2.1 and 2.2, through which a tow of filament strands to be treated in the upset chamber 4 is pressed. Adjacent to the Crimperspalt 3 a recess 10 is disposed within the side plate 8, which is shown here by dashed lines, as it is covered by the outside of the side plate 8. Within this recess 10, a ball 15 is arranged, which seals the Crimperspalt 3 to the side. This ball 15 is also shown in dashed lines, as it is not actually visible from the outside. Here, for reasons of clarity not shown, is an analogous sealing of the Crimperspaltes 3 on the other side in the side plate 9. In operation of such Crimpers 1 strands of filament strands by means of the two crimping rollers 2.1 and 2.2, through the Crimperspalt 3 therethrough pressed into the stuffer box 4. In the stuffer box 4, the tow is crimped, wherein the degree of crimping is influenced by the lid force 7. On the right side, the finished crimped tow leaves the stuffer box 4 again.

2 shows schematically a sectional view of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention taken along the plane AA. Only the detail which is characteristic of the invention is shown here. The same reference numerals as in Fig.l are used. The Crimperspalt 3 is formed by the two crimping rollers 2.1 and 2.2 and sealed by the ball 15 to the side. This ball 15 is held in the recess 10 of the side plate 8. The ball 15 penetrates a side opening 11 of the recess 10 and rests on the crimp rollers 2.1 and 2.2. Between the side plate 8 and the end faces of the crimping rollers 2.1 and 2.2, a side plate gap 14 is formed. At the ball 15, the filament strands are guided past, wherein in the region of the ball due to the narrowest cross section in the Crimperspalt 3, the greatest force acts from the filament strands in the direction of the side plates. The ball 15 is rotated by the filament strands, whereby the friction of the filament strands to the side in this area is very low. This leads to both low wear, as well as low heat. In Figure 3 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the inventive device in the same representation as shown in Figure 2 schematically. Since Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are similar in many parts, only the changes will be discussed here, wherein the same reference numerals are used for the same components. Here, the side opening 11 of the recess 10 is smaller than the ball 15 executed. Thus, a support 16 forms within the recess 10, towards the crimp gap 3. Nevertheless, the ball 15 rests on the crimping rollers 2.1 and 2.2, so that a bearing gap 17 is formed between the bearing 16 and the ball 15. In the support 16, the ball 15 is held by means of a spring 18, so that a force acts in the direction of the Crimperspaltes 3. The spring acts between the ball 15 and a spring holder 19. Furthermore, between the recess 10 and the Crimperspalt 3 opposite side of the side plate 8, a fluid passage 20 is formed. The transition between fluid channel 20 and recess 10 takes place here fluently, but it could also be an abrupt transition, especially if the fluid channel 20 has a much smaller cross-section than the recess 10. Adjacent to the fluid channel 20 is on the outer side of the side plate 8 a Hose 21 is attached, through which a preparation fluid 22 is supplied. This circumstance is indicated by the arrows, which together symbolize the flow profile of this preparation fluid 22. The preparation fluid 22 flows through the tube 21 into the fluid channel 20, flows through it and subsequently enters the recess 10. The preparation fluid 22 flows around the ball 15, inter alia through the bearing gap 17, and leaves the recess 10 through the side opening 11. Due to the preparation fluid 22, in addition to the spring force of the spring 18, a fluid force acts on the ball 15. After leaving the recess 10, the preparation fluid 22 reaches the side plate gap 14 on the one hand and the filament strands which run past the side plate 8 on the other hand. By means of the preparation fluid 22 thus takes place a lubrication between support 16 and ball 15 and between the side plate 8 and the crimping rollers 2.1 and 2.2. In addition, a preparation of the filament strands, whereby the friction behavior of the filament strands improves and whereby the filament strands are cooled.

The location of the preparation fluid supply is chosen only as an example. The hose used for this purpose could be connected at any point on the side plate 8, for example on the upper or lower surface of the side plate 8. It is only important that the fluid channel 20 connects the hose 21 with the recess 10.

Instead of the ball 15, a cylinder, an ellipsoid or an egg-shaped body could just as well be used as a rotation body. The recess 10 would then have to be adjusted accordingly. However, the ball is the optimum shape for this application because it allows rotation in all directions, whereas the other bodies would rotate around an axis.

4 shows schematically a side view of the side plate 8 of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention. The same reference numerals are used as in the previous figures. The side plate 8 in this embodiment consists of a holding plate 13 and a side plate 12, which is mounted in the holding plate 13. The recess 10 is located centrally in the side window 12, which in 4 analogous to the second embodiment of Figure 3 has a fluid channel. Other components such as the spring 18 or the hose 21 are not shown. Within the recess 10, the ball 15 is arranged. The side window 12 is circular, so that it can be rotated within the holding plate 13. The necessary mechanism is not shown for clarity. This rotation leads to a uniform wear of the side window 12 by the crimping rollers 2.1 and 2.2 and the filament strands. The advantages resulting from the use of the ball 15, of course, be preserved.

In FIGS. 1-4, only one of the two side plates, namely the side plate 8, is shown in greater detail. Preferably, the side plate 9 is executed in the same way. The arrangement in the crimper 1 is mirror-symmetrical to the side plate 8.

The crimper 1 described above is preferably used in a plant for staple fiber production, by means of which very high-quality staple fibers can be produced due to the advantages of the crimpers 1 with particularly little energy.

Claims

claims

1. A device for crimping a tow, with a stuffer box (4), with two crimping rollers (2.1, 2.2) for feeding the tow into the stuffer box (4), wherein between the crimper (2.1, 2.2) forms a Crimperspalt (3) and with side plates (8, 9) attached to the

Limiting the Crimperspalt (3), characterized in that at least one of the side plates (8, 9) adjacent to the Crimperspalt (3) has a recess (10), wherein within the recess (10) has a rotational body (15) is arranged.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary body is designed as a ball (15).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the recess (10) has a circular cross-section.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the recess (10) to the Crimperspalt (3) towards a side opening (11) having a circular cross-section.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the cross section of the side opening (11) is smaller than the cross section of the rotary body (15), so that within the recess (10) has a bearing (16) of the rotary body (15) is formed ,

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the contour of the support (16) follows the contour of the rotary body (15).

Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a spring (18) is arranged in such a way to the rotary body (15) that acts on the rotary body (15) a force in the direction of the Crimperspaltes (3).

Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that between the recess (10) and the side opening (11) opposite side of the side plate (8), a fluid channel (20) is formed.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the recess (10) and the fluid channel (20) merge into one another without a change in cross section.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the side plate (8, 9) consists of a holding plate (13) and a side plate (12), wherein the side plate (12) is mounted in the holding plate (13) and wherein the recess (10) is disposed within the side window (12).

11 Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the side window (12) has a circular cross-section.

Device according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the side window (12) is rotatably mounted in the holding plate (13). Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the recess (10) is arranged centrally in the side window (12). 14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that side plate (8), crimping rollers (2.1, 2.2) and rotation body (15) are arranged in an operating state to each other so that between the end faces of the crimping rollers (2.1, 2.2) and the side plate (8) forms a side plate gap (14) that extends between the rotation body (15) and the side plate supports (16)

(8) forms a bearing gap (17) and that the rotational body (15) protrudes into the Crimperspalt (3).