Patent ID: 7534379

Claim:
A process for making a cellulose acetate tow comprising the steps of: spinning a dope comprising a solution of cellulose acetate and solvent, taking-up the as-spun cellulose acetate filaments, lubricating the cellulose acetate filaments, forming a tow from the cellulose acetate filaments, crimping the tow by means of a stuffer box crimper comprising a pair of nip rollers adapted to engage the tow, a pair of cheek plates juxtaposed to said pair of nip rollers adapted to keep the tow between said pair of nip rollers, a pair of tow edge lubricators adapted to lubricate lateral edges of the tow immediately prior to contact with said pair of nip rollers and being ahead of and in contact with said pair of cheek plates, a pair of doctor blades adjacent to an exit end of said pair of nip rollers adapted to prevent the tow from sticking to said pair of nip rollers, and a stuffer box having a stuffer channel adjacent said pair of doctor blades adapted to receive the tow into said channel from said pair of nip rollers, and a flapper located at a distal end of said channel adapted to bearingly engage the tow, drying the crimped tow, and baling the dried crimped tow.