US2215391A - Process and apparatus for producing artificial filaments, threads, and the like - Google Patents

Description

p 17, F. J. COLLINGS 2,215,391

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 14,- 1935 2 he s-Sheet l INVENTOR 'FR-ANCIS JOHN COLLINGS BY HIS ATTORNEYS Sept. 17, 1940. ,F. J. COLLINGS 2,215,391

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1935 3 2 Z 1 ea Pm $5 n R o m TLT NOT E A w w H mm 5 C N A R F VIII/III].

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Patented Sept. 17, 1940 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR, PRODUC- ENG ARTIFICIAL FILAIWENTS,THREADS,

AND THE LIKE ,Franeis JohnC'ollings, Coventry, England, assignor to Gourtaulds, Limited, London, England, a

- British company Application December 14, 1935, Serial No. 54,495 Y 17 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture and production of artificial filaments, threads and the like (hereinafter referred to as threads) of varying thickness or denier, and to apparatus therefor.

I have found that threads of varying thickness or denier can be produced by moving the spinneret during spinning so that the distance between the spinneret and the means for drawing the thread away varies. The term means for drawing the thread away includes notonly the winding apparatus but also a wheel, guide or other device over which the thread is drawn to,- wards the winding device.

While the reciprocation of the spinneret is being carried out, the spinning solution may be Supplied to the spinneret at a constant rate or at a varying rate. The thread may also be wound up at a constant speed or at a varying speed. In this way further Variations may be obtained in the thread. v

A previously formed thread of any suitable material can be run into the thread of varying thickness produced according to this invention, a combined thread thus being obtained.

I eifect the reciprocation of the spinneret in the line of the direction of the motion of the thread.

The extent and speed of the said reciprocation may be varied in either directon andthe intervals between consecutive reciprocations may be regular or of any desired irregularity in either direction.

A suitable apparatus for efiecting the reciprocation of the spinneret is shown in the accompanying drawings which illustrate part of a spinning apparatus embodying winding means comprising the usual centrifugal spinning pots, but it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the centrifugal process.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus, partly in section,

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Figure 1, showing the means for reciprocating the spinnerets,

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Figure 1', showing the method of mounting the reciprocat ing bar on the coagulating bath and Figure 5 shows diagrammatically the general nature of the thread obtained.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the spinning solution is forcedby the pumps I through flexible tubing 2 andemerges from the spinnerets 3 into a coagulating medium 4 contained in a suitable bath 5. The resulting threads 6 pass over guides l and 8, around godets 9 and descend through funnels Ill to form a cake in centrifugal spinning pots H driven by motors H. are carried in the usual manner by arms l 2 pivotally mounted at i3 on a traverse bar it to which the necessary vertical reciprocation is imparted by traverse mechanism IS. The pivotal mounting of the arms i2 is for the purpose of lifting the funnels l0 clear of the pots ll when it is desired to remove finished cakes. The godets 9- are driven in the usual manner through bevel gearing I6 and means (not shown) may be provided so that the speed of rotation of the godets 9 may be varied as desired.

The spinnerets 3 are carried by a common reciprocating bar ll which is mounted on one edge of the bath 5, the method of mounting being as follows: Vertical rollers l8 are provided The funnels l0 on the upper edge of one side of the bath 5 and these engage the sides of longitudinal slots 19 provided in the reciprocating bar H (see Figure 4). allow of the maximum desired reciprocation of the bar H. An extension 26 of the reciprocation bar I! carries a buffer 2! and also carries at its extremity a stud 22. To the end of the bath 5 adjacent theextension 29 is secured a bracket 23 which extends beyond the end of the said The length of the slots H) are sufficient to extension 28 and carriesat its end a stud M. A

coil spring 25 engages the stud 22 atone end and the stud 24 at the other end. Thebuffer 2| consists of a bracket between the jaws of which is mounted a roller 26. A disc 2i is rotatably mounted in such position that when it is rotated in the anti-clockwise direction shown projections 28 thereon engage the roller 26 of the buffer 2| and movethe latter, and consequently the reciprocating bar ll, to the right.

I1, the maximum of which is indicated at A,

may be varied both in the forward and return direction by varying the disposition and shape of the projections 28 and also by making the projections of diiferentfheight, as indicatedat 28', the roller 26 riding past a shorter projection earlier; than in: the case of. a longer: one. It: will thus be seen that the stroke of the reciprocating bar may be varied as desired. The disc 21 is driven from a motor 29 through chain gearing 30, as shown in Figure 3. By varying the speed of the motor 29, a further meansof varying the stroke of the reciprocating bar is offered.

The effect of the reciprocation of the bar I! is the production of threads in which thick portions 6' alternate with thin portions 6 as shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 5. During the forward stroke of the reciprocating bar H, the spinnerets 3 are moved away from the guides I so that the threads 6 are drawn away'from the spinnerets 3 at greater speed. Provided the spinning solution is supplied to the spinnerets 3 by the pumps I at constant speed, the increase in speed at which the threads are drawn away from the spinnerets results in a reduction in the denier of the threads. During the return stroke of the reciprocating bar I! under the action of the spring 25, the spinnerets move rapidly towards the guides 1 whereby the speed of movement of the threads issuing from the spinnerets is counteracted to a greater or less extent and this results in the production of thicker threads. According to this invention threads are obtained in which the thick portions which alternate with the thin portions may not only be irregularly spaced but may be of different thickness and length, so that practically every conceivable type of denier variation can be produced over any length of yarn.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for producing threads of varying thickness or denier comprising a plurality of spinnerets mounted on a reciprocating bar, a plurality of guides over which the threads eX- truded from the spinnerets and coagulated in a coagulating medium pass, a buffer mounted on said reciprocating bar, a rotatable disc provided with projections which by engagement with the said buffer move the said reciprocating bar in one direction and means for returning said bar in the opposite direction when said buffer rides past said projections, whereby said spinnerets are reciprocated towards and away from said guides.

2. Apparatus for producing threads of varying thickness or denier comprising a plurality of spinnerets mounted on a reciprocating bar, a plurality of guides over which the threads extruded from the spinnerets and coagulated in a coagulating medium pass, a bufier mounted on said reciprocating bar, a rotatable disc provided with projections of different height which by engagement with the said bufier move the said reciprocating bar in one direction and means for returning said bar in the opposite direction when said 'buiier rides past said projections, whereby said spinnerets are reciprocated towards and away from said guides.

3. Apparatus for producing threads of Varying thickness or denier comprising a plurality of spinnerets mounted on a reciprocating bar a plurality of guides over which the threads extruded from the spinnerets and coagulated in a coagulating medium pass, a buffer mounted on said reciprocating bar, a rotatable disc provided with projections irregularly spaced around its periphery which by engagement with the said buffer move the said reciprocating bar in one direction and means for returning said bar in the opposite direction when said buffer rides past said projections, whereby said spinnerets are reciprocated towards and: away from said guides.

4. Apparatus for producing threads of varying thickness or denier comprising a plurality of spinnerets mounted on a reciprocating bar, a plurality of guides over which the threads extruded from the spinnerets and coagulated in a coagulating medium pass, a buffer mounted on said reciprocating bar, a rotatable disc capable of rotation at varying speeds and provided with projections of different height irregularly spaced around its periphery which by engagement with said buffer move said reciprocating bar in one direction and means for returning said bar in the opposite direction when said buifer rides past said projections, whereby said spinnerets are r'eciprocated towards and away from the said guides.

5. Apparatus for producing threads of varying thickness or denier comprising a plurality of spinnerets mounted on a reciprocating bar, a plurality of guides over which the threads extruded from the spinnerets and coagulated in a coagulating medium pass, a plurality of godets capable of rotation at varying speed which draw the threads from the said guides and pass them towards a plurality of spinning pots, a buffer mounted on said reciprocating'bar, a rotatable disc capable'of rotation at varying speed and provided with projections of different height irregularly spaced around its periphery which by engagement with said bufier move said reciprocating bar in one direction and a spring for returning said bar in the opposite direction when said buffer rides past said projections, whereby the spinnerets are reciprocated towards and away from said guides.

6. Process for the production of artificial filaments, said process comprising drawing the filaments at substantially uniform linear speed in the course of their production and momentarily producing a stoppage in the drawing operation, thereby imparting a variation in denier to the filaments.

7. Process for the production of artificial filaments said process comprising drawing the filaments at substantial linear speed in the course of their production and momentarily producing a stoppage in the drawing operation by moving the spinneret substantially in the direction of drawing, thereby imparting a variation in denier to the filaments.

8. Process of producing artificial threads of varying denier, which comprisesextruding spinning solution through a spinneret into a coagulating medium, and in the course of production of the threads moving the spinneret back and forth substantially alongthe line of movement of the filaments, and during said back and forth movement of the spinneret drawing the threads away under substantial tension thereby preventing the production of curls, spirals or crimps.

9. Process of producing artificial threads of varying denier, which comprises extruding spinning solution through a spinneret into a coagu-' lating medium, passing the filaments to a guide and drawing the thread away from said guide under tension, and in the course of production of the threads moving the spinneret substantially in the direction of drawing to decrease the tension on the length of said thread between said guide and the spinneret and alternately moving the spinneret in the opposite direction to increase said tension and controlling the movement of the spinneret to confine its path to substantially the line of movement of the filaments from the spinneret to the guide, the tension on the thread 1 and the control of the movement of the spinneret together preventing the production of curls, spirals and crimps.

10. Process of producing artificial threads of varying denier, which comprises extruding spinning solution through a spinneret into a coagulating medium and drawing the thread away, and in the course of production of the threads moving the spinneret substantially in the direction of drawing to decrease the resultant drawing and produce a thickened portion during said movement, and alternately moving the spinneret in the opposite direction to increase the resultant drawing and produce a thinned portion during said opposite movement, and irregularly repeating said spinneret movements while a thickened and a thinned portion produced by a previous cycle are subjected to the same drawing action.

11. Process of producing threads of varying denier which comprises extruding spinning solution through a spinneret into a coagulating bath and drawing the thread'away at such linear speed and tension that the axis of the thread forms a catenary which lies in a substantially straight line and moving the spinneret axially and alternately but irregularly in opposite directions substantially along said line of movement of the thread, and maintaining the face of the spinneret substantially perpendicular to the thread while substantially preventing lateral movement of the spinneret.

12. Process for "the production of artificial filaments, said process comprising extruding spinning solution through a spinneret element into a coagulating medium, passing the filaments to a guide element, drawing the filaments from said guide element at substantially uniform linear speed in the course of their production,

and momentarily producing a stoppage in the drawing operation by relative movement of said elements, thereby imparting a variation in denier to the filaments.

13. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments comprising a spinneret element and a thread guide element for the filaments and an oscillating member having one of said elements thereon, and means for causing said member to operate slowly in one direction and rapidly in the opposite direction, whereby an abrupt variation in denier is imparted to the filaments.

14. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments comprising a spinneret element and a thread guide element for the filaments, and means for causing one of said elements to operate in one direction and rapidly in the opposite direction, whereby an abrupt variation in denier is imparted to said filaments.

15. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments comprising a spinneret element and a thread guide element for the filaments, and an oscillating member having one of said elements thereon and means for causing the said oscillating member to operate at a substantially constant speed in one direction and rapidly in the opposite direction, said means including a cam, a cam follower, and means connecting said follower with the oscillatory member, the construction and arrangement being such that an abrupt variation of denier is imparted to the filaments.

16. Apparatus for producing threads of varying denier, comprising a spinneret mounted on a movable element, a guide over which the thread extruded from the spinneret and coagulated in a coagulating medium pass, a rotatable disk provided with projections which move said element in one direction, and means for returning said element in the opposite direction.

17. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments, comprising means for drawing the filaments at substantially uniform linear speed in the course of their production, and means for momentarily producing a stoppage in the drawing operation, thereby imparting a variation in denier to the filaments, said apparatus comprising a guide and a spinning device relatively movable with respect to each other and means for producing said relative movement comprising a carrier having a buffer, and arotatable disk provided with projections which by engagement with said buifer move said carrier in one direction, and means for returning said carrier in the opposite direction when said buffer rides past said projections, whereby relative reciprocation of said guide and spinning device toward and away from each other is produced.

FRANCIS JOHN COLLINGS.

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