Patent GB-1004251-A (GB)
Title: Spinning multi-component fibers
IPC: D01D5/32
Filed: 1964-06-03
Abstract: 1,004,251. Spinnerets. AMERICAN CYANIMID CO. June 3, 1964 [June 10, 1963], No. 23080/64. Heading B5B. A spinneret assembly comprises, in combination, a spinneret holder including means to secure thereto a plurality of plates disposed in a stack accurately positioned with respect to each other; a spinneret mounted on said holder and having a plurality of orifices disposed in at least one row; a distributer plate mounted on the spinneret holder and having a plurality of elongated distribution slots divided into a first and a second group, the septum between any adjacent pair of distribution slots, one from each group, being aligned with its corresponding row of orifices; means for spacing the distributer plate a preselected distance from the spinneret to allow a distribution slot of each group to be in communication with each orifice; and means to supply a first spinning solution to the distribution slots of the first group and a second spinning solution to the distribution slots of the second group. The spacing means between the distributer plate and the spinneret may be a slotted plate. A further slotted splitter plate may be provided adjacent the distributer plate and associated with the spinning solution supply conduit to ensure that the spinning solutions are fed to the corresponding groups of slots in the distributer plate. In one embodiment (Figs. 1 and 2) spinneret plate 37, provided with a plurality of rows 44 of orifices 43 having a maximum diameter at that side of the plate facing the interior of the assembly, is adjacent spacer plate 47 having slots 48 separated by ribs 49, each slot 48 being associated with one row of orifices, and being at least as long as the row. Distributer plate 52 is provided with groups of slots 53, 54 separated by septa 55, each septum being adjacent the centre-line of its associated spacer slot 48, and being coextensive but narrower than slot 48. Thus, portions of a slot 53 and a slot 54 are associated with a spacer slot 48, and a row of orifices 44 so that two spinning solutions, supplied by conduits 35, 36 in holder 34, are extruded from each orifice 43 in side-by-side relationship to form conjugate filaments. The distributer plate 52 may be constructed of one plate only or of a plurality of identical thin plates mounted in alignment. The slots 53, 54 may be divided by supporting ribs. If the spacer plate is omitted, the maximum diameter of the orifices 43 is increased by countersinking to ensure that septa 55 are narrower than the maximum diameter of the orifices. The two spinning solutions are kept separate and guided to their respective groups of slots by a plate 58 provided with groups of openings 59, 60 to permit communication between conduits 35, 36 and slots 53, 54. If desired, plate 58 may be omitted, and separation of the spinning solutions effected by aligning groups of slots 53, 54 with holes appropriately spaced in otherwise closed conduits. In further embodiments, some or all of the dividing ribs in the spacer plate 47 may be omitted, and also a fine mesh screen may be placed adjacent the spinneret plate within the assembly to blow the interspace between the components of each conjugate filament. In one embodiment (not shown), the assembly, including spinneret plate, distributer plate, spacer plate and splitter plate, is circular in shape, the spinneret orifices being disposed in circular rows. The conformation of the orifices is not limited to rectilinear and circular rows, but may be e.g. radial lines, spirals or non-parallel lines. The two spinning solutions may be supplied to the spinneret simultaneously, or alternately and in varying proportions. The assembly may be used in wet, dry or melt spinning.