Patent GB-522017-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the production of staple fibre yarns and like products
IPC: D01G1/10
Filed: 1938-12-01
Abstract: 522,017. Forming staple fibre yarn &c. POOL, W., Dec. 1, 1938, No. 35016. [Class 120 (ii)] A staple 'fibre yarn or like product is formed by feeding a succession of flat wide groups of separated fibres to the tail of the yarn being produced in a direction across the length of the tail which is rapidly rotated solely by means of a gaseous vortex, the ends of the groups of fibres being taken up by the rotating tail and the vortex having an axial component away from the tail whereby each group of fibres is successively drawn away, after its ends are taken up, to form a new tail to the yarn which is continuously drawn away, as it is formed, against the drag of the axial component of the gaseous vortex. The groups may be formed by cutting from the separated filaments at the end of a bundle; the fibres may be still further separated after they are cut, and the groups of fibres may be mixed after they are cut with pre-formed groups of other fibres. As shown the filaments 1 from a package 2 formed by the method described in Specification 504,399 are separated by compressed air emerging from a flat nozzle 14, are further separated by compressed air emerging from a flat nozzle 17, and are cut by a cutter 18 of 'the hair-clipper type which is continuously operated and cuts the filaments when they are depressed into engagement with the cutter by deflector rods 21. The filaments emerging from the nozzle 17 are blown along a diverging channel plate 44 and as the ends of the filaments reach the end of the plate they are drawn downwards into contact with the tail 49 of the staple fibre yarn by air drawn through perforations 48, in the plate by an ejector 47 supplied with compressed air through a valve 37. As the ends of the filaments become entangled with the rapidly rotating tail 49, the filaments are cut by the cutter 18 and compressed air supplied through a valve 3 enters through perforations 54 in the side of the plate 44 and sweeps the cut ends of the fibres sideways through a flat channel 51 into a tail pipe 52 supplied with air by a valve 39 communicating with an ejector 55. The pipe 52 tapers from the ejector 55 towards the plate 44 and a pipe 57 conveys compressed air through a small bore 58 leading tangentially into the pipe to form the gaseous vortex which causes the tail of the yarn to be rapidly rotated ; the yarn is drawn continuously from the plate 44 through a guide 25 by a winding device 32 ... 36. In a modification the leading ends of the fibres are swept into the tail pipe and the freshly cut ends are entangled with the rapidly rotating tail of the yarn, The cut fibres may be fed indirectly to the rotating tail of the yarn and as shown in Fig. 10 the cut fibres emerging from the nozzle 17 are sucked down into a series of compressed spiral springs 75 carried by a rotating drum 70 and as the drum rotates a half revolution the springs are allowed to expand so that the fibres are spread out 'along the length of the drum, the suction being cut off as the leading ends of the fibres reach the bottom of the drum and the ends being then blown off the drum 70 into contact with the rapidly rotating tail 49 of the yarn ; as the drum rotates further air pressure is applied over the whole of the surface thereof carrying the fibres which are then free to be swept sideways by suction into the tail pipe 52. During the other half revolution of the drum 70 the springs 75 are contracted to receive a further supply of fibres from the nozzle 17 ; the springs are contracted and allowed to expand by mechanism in a drum 79 rotating with the drum 70. In a further form, Figs. 14 and 16, the cut fibres emerging from the nozzle 17 are deflected by a rotating rod 138 on to the leading rod of one of three groups of rods 123, carried by an endless chain 124 and covered with rubber to form a gripping surface. The groups 123 are separated by groups of plain rods 122 and the rods pass over drums 129, 130, the drum 130 being perforated and the perforations communicating with a suction conduit 144 so that the fibres are held on the rods 123 and carried between a pair of flat plates 145,146 to a partly cylindrical member 100 carrying an ejector 55 in which the rapidly rotating tail 49 of the yarn is disposed. The leading ends of the fibres lying on the rods 123 as they pass over the surface of the drum 129 are blown off the rods by compressed air supplied through passages 180 in the drum into contact with the tail 49 and a mixed yarn may be produced by feeding other fibres to the rods 123. As shown. fibres are fed from a roving 115 'through a flat slot 119 to bands 120 which feed them to the rods. 123 and as the ends of the fibres are laid on the rods a roller 131 is pressed against them so that individual fibres are pulled from the bands 120 and are carried on the rods 123 with the cut fibres from the nozzle 17 to the tail 49 of the staple fibre yarn. Specifications 484,190, 489,272 and 520,084 also are referred to. According to the Provisional Specification the support constituted by the rapidly rotating tail of staple yarn may be formed or augmented by a rapidly - rotated needle-like spindle or by a twist tube, e.g., that described in Specification 519,995, the filaments may be electrified by passing them through a gate tension device or by the means described in Specification 504,400.