Patent Application
20240240367
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a yarn.
Methods and apparatuses for producing yarns are known in principle from the prior art in a wide variety of different embodiments.
A known method of producing a yarn formed by spinning at least two individual fibers, implemented e.g. as a ring spinning method, comprises the following steps: providing at least two individual fibers to be spun to form the yarn to be produced, feeding the at least two provided fibers to a spinning device comprising at least one spindle element via a guide device comprising a plurality of, in particular cylinder-like or cylindrical, guide elements, and spinning the fed fibers in the spinning device, forming the yarn to be produced.
Corresponding methods of producing a yarn are well understood with respect to the influencing of the properties of the yarns that can be produced thereby, but nevertheless there is a constant need to develop methods that allow the production of yarns with improved properties. In particular, there is a need to develop methods by means of which yarns can be produced having improved properties with respect to the formation of so-called neps (knops, burls), i.e. yarns with a lower tendency to form neps, or yarns with low hairiness.
The present invention is based on the object of providing an improved method of producing a yarn, in particular with respect to producing a yarn with improved properties.
The object is achieved by methods described herein. The claims that are dependent thereon relate to possible embodiments of the method.
The method described herein generally serves to produce at least one yarn. Naturally, a plurality of yarns can also be produced by the method in a corresponding manner.
The method comprises three essential steps, which are explained in more detail below. In a first step of the method, at least two individual fibers are provided, which are to be spun together to form the yarn to be produced. The fibers can be e.g.
staple fibers. The fibers can also be referred to or considered as a roving or pre-yarn.
When a “fiber” is mentioned herein, this can therefore also be understood to mean a roving or pre-yarn. The fibers can in each case be provided via a fiber supply unit, such as e.g. a fiber bobbin, from which a fiber to be spun into a yarn within the framework of the method is unwound. The number of fiber supply units is typically determined according to the number of fibers to be spun into a yarn according to the method.
In a second step of the method, the at least two provided fibers are fed to a spinning device comprising at least one spindle element or bobbin element via a guide device comprising a plurality of guide elements. In the second step of the method, the fibers to be spun into the yarn are thus fed to a spinning device via a guide device. The guide device typically comprises a plurality of guide elements. The guide elements are typically arranged consecutively in the fiber guiding direction, such that a fiber to be guided can be guided from a first guide element to a further guide element arranged downstream thereof in the fiber guiding direction. A first guide element of the guide device in the fiber guiding direction is arranged immediately downstream of the respective fiber supply units in the fiber guiding direction; a last guide element in the fiber guiding direction is arranged immediately upstream of the spinning device in the fiber guiding direction. Between guide elements that are arranged one (immediately) after the other in the fiber guiding direction, although separated in the fiber guiding direction, suitable e.g. plate-like or plate-shaped support elements can be provided, which perform a desired supporting action for the fibers to be guided. Appropriate support elements can also be arranged e.g. between the first guide element and the fiber supply units.
Respective guide elements typically have a cylinder-like or cylindrical geometric form or basic shape; the guide elements can therefore be referred to or considered as guide rollers or rolls or cylinders. Respective cylinder-like or cylindrical guide elements are typically mounted rotatably around their axis of symmetry or central axis, such that a guided movement of the fibers to be guided in the direction of the spinning device can be enabled by rotating movements of the guide elements around their respective axis of symmetry or central axis.
Individual, a plurality of or all the guide elements can be provided with a particular adhesive area or surface, achieved e.g. by rubber coating, which allows a desired guiding of the fibers owing to an adhesive effect exerted on the fibers, i.e. in particular impedes or prevents an undesirable lateral slipping of the fibers in terms of the fiber guiding direction.
In a third step of the method, a spinning of the fibers fed to the spinning device takes place in the spinning device, forming the yarn to be produced. The spinning of the fibers to form the yarn to be produced typically takes place in a spinning region following the last guide element. The spinning device comprises at least one spindle element or bobbin element, on to which the fibers that have been spun together or the yarn formed by spinning the fibers is/are wound. A spindle element or bobbin element can be a bobbin or cop. The number of spindle elements or bobbin elements or the number of spinning regions resulting therefrom is determined in accordance with the number of yarns to be produced.
According to the method, in contrast to conventional methods the at least two fibers to be spun into a yarn are fed to the spinning device not via one (common) guide element but via at least two separate, in particular cylinder-like or cylindrical, guide elements that are arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in at least one spatial direction. In other words, a first fiber to be spun to form the yarn to be produced is fed to the spinning device via a first guide element and a second fiber to be spun with the first fiber to form the yarn to be produced is fed to the spinning device via a second guide element which is arranged such that it is separated from the first guide element in at least one spatial direction.
Within the framework of the method, therefore, a guide device is used which comprises at least two separate, in particular cylinder-like or cylindrical, guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in at least one spatial direction immediately upstream of the spinning device. The guide device used within the framework of the method thus comprises at least two last guide elements; as will be seen below, these guide elements are typically arranged at the same level in relation to the spinning device, i.e. at the same distance from the spinning device, but laterally offset from each other. It can be seen from the above statements that the at least two fibers are fed to the spinning device via the at least two separate guide elements, arranged such that they are separated from each other in at least one spatial direction, immediately before being brought together at the fiber merging point. By means of feeding the fibers to be spun into a yarn via at least two separate guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in at least one spatial direction, it is possible to influence, i.e. in particular to increase, the free length of the fibers to be spun into a yarn between leaving the guide device and a fiber merging point at which the fibers are brought together, which has a positive impact on the properties of the yarn that is to be or has been produced. The increase in the free length of the fibers is due to the fact that the fiber merging point, at which the fibers are brought together, is comparatively significantly further away from the last guide elements and thus significantly closer to the spinning device when the fibers are fed via separate guide elements.
A corresponding fiber merging point typically represents part of a so-called spinning triangle. The fiber merging point in this case typically forms an apex of the spinning triangle facing the spinning device. The shape of the spinning triangle can therefore also be modified according to the method compared to conventional methods, since the spinning triangle is “stretched” in the fiber guiding direction owing to the aforementioned increase in the free length of the fibers forming the sides of the spinning triangle.
The method is based on the finding that, by means of influencing, i.e. in particular increasing, the free length of the fibers to be spun into a yarn between leaving the guide device, i.e. the respective last guide element (from the point of view of the fiber), and the fiber merging point at which the fibers are brought together, certain, in particular mechanical, properties of the yarn that is to be or has been produced can be obtained. This results in particular from the fact that the free length of the fibers to be spun into the yarn is increased (significantly) before the fiber merging point compared to conventional methods. The (individual) fibers can already be twisted (considerably) before the fiber merging point, which has a positive effect on the properties of the yarn that is to be or has been produced. With the aid of studies, it has been shown that in particular the formation of so-called neps (knops, burls) can be reduced in this way; the yarns produced according to the method accordingly display a (significantly) lower tendency to form neps and (significantly) lower hairiness. Accordingly, yarns with improved properties can be produced by the method.
The free length of a respective fiber between the guide device and the merging point can be in a range of e.g. between 4 and 20 cm, in particular in a range of between 7.5 and 15 cm and preferably 10 cm. In particular, from fiber lengths of at least 4 cm, in particular at least 6 cm, particularly advantageous fiber properties can be obtained. In principle, however, upper and lower exceptions to these figures are possible.
According to the method, in particular a spinning device is used of which the spindle element or bobbin element is arranged in alignment with a space formed between the guide elements by the spatially separated arrangement of the guide elements assigned thereto in the fiber guiding direction. The spindle element or bobbin element is accordingly arranged with a lateral offset relative to the guide elements assigned thereto in relation to the fiber guiding direction; in particular the spindle element or bobbin element, although separated from the guide elements in the fiber guiding direction, is arranged centrally between the guide elements assigned thereto. The same applies to the spinning of a plurality of yarns each composed of at least two fibers. In this case the respective spindle elements or bobbin elements are each arranged in alignment with a space formed between the guide elements respectively assigned thereto by the spatially separated arrangement of the guide elements respectively assigned thereto in the fiber guiding direction.
As has been mentioned, the guide elements are typically arranged at the same level in relation to the spinning device, but laterally offset from each other. Within the framework of the method, therefore, in particular at least two guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction or plane running transversely, optionally also at an angle, to the fiber guiding direction are used. Where guide elements each having a cylinder-like or cylindrical basic shape are used, these are typically arranged coaxially and such that they are spatially separated from each other in the direction of their respective central axes. Two guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction or plane running transversely or at an angle to the fiber guiding direction can be referred to or considered as a guide element pair assigned to a specific spindle element or bobbin element, via which the fibers forming the yarn to be wound on the respective spindle element or bobbin element are fed.
The free length between respective points at which the respective fibers leave the respective guide element in the direction of the or a merging point can be in a range of e.g. between 4 and 10 cm, in particular between 5 and 9 cm and preferably at least approx. 6 cm. In principle, however, upper and lower exceptions to these figures are possible.
Besides the described use of an arrangement of guide elements such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction or plane running transversely or at an angle to the fiber guiding direction, it is alternatively or in addition also possible, at least in principle, that at least two guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction running parallel to the fiber guiding direction or plane are used. At least in principle, therefore, guide elements arranged such that they are offset in the fiber guiding direction can also be used.
As has been mentioned, the fibers are brought together at a fiber merging point. The fiber merging point, as likewise mentioned, typically forms an apex of a spinning triangle facing the spinning device. The angle of the spinning triangle in the region of the apex facing the spinning device is typically in a range of between 0 and 90° or 1 and 90°; in particular the angle is less than 90°, in particular less than 45° and in particular less than 30°. The angle between the at least two fibers after leaving the respective guide elements is thus typically in a range of between 0 and 90° or 1 and 90°; in particular the angle is less than 90°, in particular less than 45° and in particular less than 30°. Accordingly, the angle is typically an acute angle.
Within the framework of the method it is also possible that at least three fibers are spun together to form the yarn. The at least three fibers are typically brought together at the fiber merging point. Yarns can therefore be produced from more than two fibers (multi-fiber yarns).
The spinning of at least three fibers to form a yarn according to the method can be carried out such that at least two fibers are fed to the spinning device jointly via a first guide element and at least one further fiber is fed via a further guide element arranged such that it is spatially separated from the first guide element in at least one spatial direction or plane. At least two fibers can thus be fed via a first guide element and at least one further fiber via a further guide element. In this context, even or uneven divisions of fibers over a given number of guide elements are possible, such that in the case of an exemplary feeding of four fibers and an exemplary number of two guide elements, two fibers are fed via a first guide element and two fibers via a second guide element or three fibers are fed via a first guide element and one fiber is fed via a second guide element.
Alternatively, the spinning of at least three fibers to form a yarn according to the method can be achieved such that the at least three fibers are fed to the spinning device via three separate guide elements arranged such that they are separated from each other in at least one spatial direction or plane, wherein at least one first fiber is fed via a first guide element, at least one second fiber is fed via a second guide element arranged such that it is spatially separated from the first guide element in at least one spatial direction or plane, and at least one third fiber is fed via a third guide element arranged such that it is spatially separated from the second guide element in at least one spatial direction or plane. Thus, each fiber can also be fed via a separate guide element.
Within the framework of the method it is also possible that at least two fibers and at least one filament—which can be a single or multi-filament—are spun together to form the yarn. The at least two fibers and the at least one filament are typically brought together at the fiber merging point. Yarns can therefore be produced from at least two fibers and at least one filament. An appropriate filament can be a continuous filament. An appropriate filament can be made of or can comprise an elastic filament material; a filament can be e.g. a filament of elastane (sometimes referred to commercially as Lycra), polyamide, polyester or polypropylene.
The spinning of at least two fibers and at least one filament according to the method can be carried out such that at least two fibers are fed to the spinning device via two separate guide elements arranged such that they are separated from each other in at least one spatial direction or plane, and the at least one filament is fed from a (separate), in particular spool-like or spool-shaped, filament storage unit, such as e.g. a filament bobbin, or via a third guide element which is separate from the two separate guide elements.
Naturally it is possible that the at least two fibers are fed to the spinning device with a pre-tension produced by a drafting, in particular a longitudinal drafting, of the fibers. The same applies to fed filaments. In particular, it is possible in this case to implement different drafting regions or zones, i.e. for example a pre-drafting zone and a main drafting zone, in which the fibers and/or filaments are subjected to different degrees of drafting.
Within the framework of the method, fibers with identical and non-identical chemical and/or geometric and/or physical, in particular mechanical, properties can be spun together to form the yarn. The fibers spun according to the method, where they are not identical, can therefore differ in at least one chemical property, i.e. in particular in at least one property relating to the chemical properties of the fiber, such as e.g. the chemical composition, and/or in at least one geometric property, i.e. in particular in at least one property relating to the geometry of the fiber, such as e.g. the fiber diameter, and/or in at least one physical, in particular mechanical, property, i.e. in particular in at least one property relating to the physical, in particular mechanical, properties of the fiber, such as e.g. fiber strength.
At this point, the general comment should be made that in principle, within the framework of the method, all the natural fibers, i.e. for example alpaca fibers, cotton fibers, cashmere fibers, mohair fibers, silk fibers, linen fibers, wool fibers, in particular new wool fibers, and/or artificial (synthetic) fibers, i.e. for example plastic fibers, in particular polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, viscose fibers, can be spun together to form the yarn to be produced. In particular, blends of natural and artificial fibers are also possible. The fibers can be continuous or staple fibers, depending on availability.
An (individual) fiber can also be made of or comprise at least two chemically and/or geometrically and/or physically different fiber materials. An appropriate fiber, accordingly also to be referred to as a blended fiber (blended roving), can accordingly be made e.g. of a first fiber material (roving material) and at least one further fiber material (roving material). A first fiber material can be e.g. a natural fiber material, such as e.g. wool, and a further fiber material can be e.g. an artificial (synthetic) fiber material, such as e.g. polyamide, polyester or polypropylene. The fibers can, as mentioned, be continuous or staple fibers, depending on availability.
Besides the method, the invention also relates to a yarn that is or has been produced by the described method, and to a textile product that is formed using a yarn produced by the described method or comprises at least one such yarn. The textile product can be a semi-finished product (precursor) or a finished product (end product).
The invention furthermore relates to an apparatus for producing a yarn formed by spinning at least two individual fibers, in particular by a method as described. All the statements made in connection with the method therefore apply mutatis mutandis to the apparatus.
The apparatus comprises as essential components a guide device comprising a plurality of, in particular cylinder-like or cylindrical, guide elements, which is configured to guide a number of fibers to a spinning device arranged downstream thereof in the fiber guiding direction, and a spinning device arranged downstream of the guide device in the fiber guiding direction comprising at least one spindle element or bobbin element mounted rotatably around a spindle or bobbin axis, which is configured to spin together at least two of these fibers fed via the guide device, forming a yarn.
The apparatus is distinguished by the fact that the guide device comprises at least two separate, in particular cylinder-like or cylindrical, guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in at least one spatial direction or plane, via which the at least two fibers can be fed or are fed to the spinning device. The guide device thus comprises at least two separate, in particular cylinder-like or cylindrical, guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in at least one spatial direction or plane. The guide device therefore comprises at least two last guide elements, which are typically arranged at the same level in relation to the spinning device but laterally offset from each other.
The apparatus can be formed as or can comprise e.g. a ring spinning machine or apparatus.
The spindle element or bobbin element of the spinning device is in particular arranged in alignment with a space formed between the guide elements by the spatially separated arrangement of the guide elements assigned thereto in the fiber guiding direction. A respective spindle element or bobbin element of the spinning device is accordingly arranged with a lateral offset relative to the guide elements assigned thereto in relation to the fiber guiding direction; in particular, the spindle element or bobbin element, although separated from the guide elements in the fiber guiding direction, is arranged centrally between the guide elements assigned thereto. The same applies to spinning a plurality of yarns from at least two fibers each. In this case the respective spindle elements or bobbin elements are each arranged in alignment with a space formed between the guide elements respectively assigned thereto by the spatially separated arrangement of the guide elements respectively assigned thereto in the fiber guiding direction.
In this way, it is possible to increase the free length of the fibers to be spun into a yarn between leaving the guide device and a fiber merging point at which the fibers are brought together, as already mentioned in association with the method, which has a positive impact on the properties of the yarn that is to be or has been produced. Accordingly, yarns with improved properties can be produced using the apparatus.
As mentioned, the guide elements are in particular arranged at the same level in relation to the spinning device, but laterally offset from each other. The apparatus therefore comprises in particular at least two guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction or plane running transversely, optionally also at an angle, to the fiber guiding direction. Where the apparatus comprises guide elements having a cylinder-like or cylindrical basic shape in each case, these are typically arranged coaxially and such that they are spatially separated from each other in the direction of their respective central axes. Two guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction or plane running transversely or at an angle to the fiber guiding direction can be referred to or considered as a guide element pair assigned to a specific spindle element or bobbin element, via which the fibers forming the yarn to be wound on the respective spindle element or bobbin element can be fed.
Alternatively or in addition, at least in principle, it is also possible that the apparatus comprises at least two guide elements arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction running parallel to the fiber guiding direction or plane. At least in principle, therefore, the apparatus [can] also comprise guide elements arranged such that they are offset in the fiber guiding direction.
The apparatus can comprise a drafting device, which is configured for the drafting, in particular longitudinal drafting, of the fibers fed to the spinning device. The drafting device can be functionally and/or structurally integrated in the guide device. By way of the drafting device, different drafting regions or zones, i.e. for example a pre-drafting zone and a main drafting zone, can be implemented, in which the fibers are drafted to different degrees.
The invention is explained in more detail with the aid of exemplary embodiments in the drawings. The figures show the following:
The apparatus 1 formed as or comprising e.g. a ring spinning machine comprises the following components: at least two fiber supply units 4a, 4b, a guide device 5 arranged downstream thereof in the fiber guiding direction indicated by the arrow P and a spinning device 6 arranged downstream of the guide device 5 in the fiber guiding direction. The functional interaction of the aforesaid components of the apparatus 1 will be explained in more detail below:
By way of the fiber supply units 4a, 4b, which can be e.g. fiber bobbins, from which the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun into a yarn 3 within the framework of the method are unwound, the individual fibers 2a, 2bto be spun together to form the yarn 3 to be produced are provided. The fibers 2a, 2b can also be referred to or considered as a roving or pre-yarn. In the exemplary embodiment, purely by way of example, only two fiber supply units 4a, 4b are shown; however, the principle described below can be extended at will to more than two fiber supply units 4a, 4b and thus more than two fibers 2a, 2b. The number of the fiber supply units 4a, 4b is determined according to the number of the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun into a yarn 3 according to the method.
The guide device 5 is configured to guide the provided fibers 2a, 2b to the spinning device 6 which is arranged downstream thereof in the fiber guiding direction. For this purpose the guide device 5 comprises a plurality of—five by way of example in each of the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures—guide elements 5a-5e arranged consecutively in the fiber guiding direction, such that the fibers 2a, 2b to be guided can be guided from a first guide element 5a to the further guide elements 5b-5e arranged downstream thereof in the fiber guiding direction. The first guide element 5a in the fiber guiding direction is arranged immediately downstream of the respective fiber supply units 4a, 4b in the fiber guiding direction, and the last guide elements 5d, 5e in the fiber guiding direction are arranged immediately upstream of the spinning device 6 in the fiber guiding direction. Between guide elements 5a-5e arranged one (immediately) after the other in the fiber guiding direction, although separated in the fiber guiding direction, suitable, e.g. plate-like or plate-shaped, support elements 7 can be provided, which perform a desired supporting action for the fibers 2a, 2b to be guided. In the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, an appropriate support element 7 is arranged by way of example between the first guide element 5a and the fiber supply units 4a, 4b.
The guide elements 5a-5e each have a cylinder-like or cylindrical geometric form or basic shape; the guide elements 5a-5e can thus be referred to or considered as guide rollers or rolls or cylinders. The guide elements 5a-5e are each mounted rotatably around their axis of symmetry or central axis, such that a guided movement of the fibers 2a, 2b to be guided towards the spinning device 6 can be enabled by rotating movements of the guide elements 5a-5e around their respective axis of symmetry or central axis.
Individual, a plurality of or all the guide elements 5a-5e can be provided with a particular adhesive area or surface (not shown), achieved e.g. by a rubber coating, which allows a desired guiding of the fibers 2a, 2b owing to an adhesive effect exerted on the fibers 2a, 2b, i.e. in particular impeding or preventing an undesirable lateral slipping of the fibers 2a, 2b in terms of the fiber guiding direction.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
The spinning device 6 is configured to spin together the fibers 2a, 2b fed thereto via the guide device 5, forming a yarn 3. For this purpose, the spinning device 6 comprises a spindle element or bobbin element 10 mounted rotatably around a spindle or bobbin axis (not shown), on which the yarn 3 can be wound. A thread guide or monitor 16 is provided upstream of the spindle element or bobbin element 10 in the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures.
As can be seen with the aid of the figures, the apparatus 1 is distinguished by the fact that the guide device 5 comprises at least two separate guide elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in at least one spatial direction, via which the fibers 2a, 2b can be fed or are fed to the spinning device 6. It can be seen that the guide elements 5d, 5e are the last guide elements 5d, 5e before the spinning device 6 in the fiber guiding direction. The guide elements 5d, 5e are arranged at the same level in relation to the spinning device 6, but laterally offset from each other (see in particular
Using the apparatus 1 shown in the figures, a method of producing a yarn 3 having improved yarn properties formed by spinning two fibers 2a, 2b can be implemented. An exemplary embodiment of such a method is described in more detail below.
In a first step of the method, the individual fibers 2a, 2b to be spun together to form the yarn 3 to be produced are provided via the fiber supply units 4a, 4b.
In a second step of the method the provided fibers 2a, 2b are fed to the spinning device 6 via the guide device 5.
In a third step of the method the fibers 2a, 2b fed to the spinning device 6 are spun in the spinning device 6, forming the yarn 3 to be produced. The spinning of the fibers 2a, 2b takes place in a spinning region 11 following the last guide elements 5d, 5e. The produced yarn 3 is wound on to the spindle element or bobbin element 10.
With the aid of the figures, it can be seen that according to the method the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun into a yarn 3 are fed to the spinning device 6 via two separate guide elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction. The figures show that a first fiber 2a to be spun to form the yarn 3 is fed to the spinning device 6 via a first guide element 5d and a second fiber 2b to be spun with the first fiber 2b to form the yarn 3 is fed to the spinning device 6 via a second guide element 5e arranged such that it is separated from the first guide element 5d.
Within the framework of the method, accordingly, a guide device 5 is used which comprises at least two separate guide elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction immediately before the spinning device 6. The guide elements 5d, 5e are, as mentioned, arranged at the same level in relation to the spinning device 6, i.e. at the same distance from the spinning device 6, but laterally offset from each other. Since, as mentioned, the guide elements 5d, 5e have a cylinder-like or cylindrical geometric form or basic shape, in the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures they are arranged coaxially and such that they are spatially separated from each other in the direction of their respective central axes and thus separated from each other in a spatial direction running transverse to the fiber guiding direction in a parallel arrangement. Two guide elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction running transverse to the fiber guiding direction can be referred to or considered as a guide element pair assigned to a particular spindle element or bobbin element 10, via which the fibers 2a, 2b forming the yarn 3 to be wound on the respective spindle element or bobbin element 10 are fed.
By way of feeding the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun into a yarn 3 via separate guide elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction it is possible to influence, i.e. in particular to increase, the free length L of the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun between leaving the guide device 5 and a fiber merging point 12 at which the fibers 2a, 2b are brought together, which has a positive impact on the properties of the yarn 3 that is to be or has been produced. The increasing of the free length L of the fibers 2a, 2b results from the fact that the fiber merging point 12 is significantly further away from the last guide elements 5d, 5e compared to conventional methods, and thus significantly closer to the spinning device 6.
The fiber merging point 12 represents part of a so-called spinning triangle. The fiber merging point 12 forms an apex of the spinning triangle facing the spinning device 6. The shape of the spinning triangle can therefore also be modified according to the method, compared to conventional methods, since the spinning triangle is “stretched” in the fiber guiding direction owing to the aforementioned increasing of the free length L of the fibers 2a, 2b, forming the sides of the spinning triangle.
The angle α of the spinning triangle in the region of the apex facing the spinning device 6 is less than 90°, in particular less than 45° and in particular less than 30°. Accordingly, the angle α between the fibers 2a, 2b after leaving the guide elements 5d, 5e is less than 90°, in particular less than 45° and in particular less than 30°. The angle α is accordingly an acute angle.
The method is based on the finding that, by influencing, i.e. in particular increasing, the free length L of the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun between leaving the guide device 5, i.e. the last guide elements 5d, 5e, and the fiber merging point 12, specific, in particular mechanical, properties of the yarn 3 that is to be or has been produced can be obtained. This results in particular from the fact that the free length L of the fibers 2a, 2b to be spun is increased (significantly) before the fiber merging point 12 compared to conventional methods. The (individual) fibers 2a, 2b can already be twisted (considerably) before the fiber merging point 12, which has a positive impact on the properties of the yarn 3 that is to be or has been produced.
The free length L of a respective fiber 2a, 2b between the guide device 5 and the merging point 12 at which the fibers 2a, 2b are brought together can be e.g. in a range of between 4 and 20 cm, in particular in a range of between 7.5 and 15 cm and preferably 10 cm.
The free length L′ between respective points 14, 15 at which the fibers 2a, 2b leave the respective guide element 5d, 5e in the direction of the merging point 12 can be e.g. in a range of between 4 and 10 cm, in particular between 5 and 9 cm and preferably at least approx. 6 cm.
With the aid of the figures, it can be seen that a spinning device 6 is used according to the method, of which the spindle element or bobbin element 10 is arranged in alignment with a space 13 formed between the guide elements 5d, 5e by the spatially separated arrangement of the guide elements 5d, 5e assigned thereto in the fiber guiding direction. The spindle element or bobbin element 10 is accordingly laterally offset (in relation to the fiber guiding direction) relative to the guide elements 5d, 5e assigned thereto; in particular, the spindle element or bobbin element 10, although separated from the guide elements 5d, 5e in the fiber guiding direction, is arranged centrally between the guide elements 5d, 5e assigned thereto.
In
With the aid of
The spinning of at least three fibers 2a-2c to form a yarn 3 can, as shown in
Although not shown in the figures, the spinning of at least three fibers 2a-2c according to the method could alternatively also be implemented such that the at least three fibers 2a-2c are fed to the spinning device 6 via three separate guide elements, arranged such that they are separated from each other in at least one spatial direction, by feeding at least one first fiber 2a via a first guide element, at least one second fiber 2b via a second guide element arranged such that it is spatially separated from the first guide element in at least one spatial direction and at least one third fiber 2c via a third guide element arranged such that it is spatially separated from the second guide element in at least one spatial direction. Each fiber 2a-2c can thus also be fed via a separate guide element.
In
The spinning of at least two fibers 2a-2c and at least one filament 17 according to the method can be implemented such that at least two fibers 2a-2c are fed to the spinning device 6 via two separate guide elements 5d, 5e, arranged such that they are separated from each other in a spatial direction and the at least one filament 17 is fed from a filament storage unit 18, in particular a spool-like or spool-shaped filament storage unit 18, such as e.g. a filament bobbin, or via a third guide element separate from the two separate guide elements 5d, 5e.
Although not shown in the figures, besides the described arrangement of guide elements 5d, 5e such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction running transverse to the fiber guiding direction, it is alternatively or in addition also possible, at least in principle, that at least two guide elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they are spatially separated from each other in a spatial direction running parallel to the fiber guiding direction are used. At least in principle, therefore, guide elements 5d, 5e arranged such that they are offset in the fiber guiding direction can also be used.
Within the framework of the method, fibers 2a, 2b with identical and non-identical chemical and/or geometric and/or physical, in particular mechanical, properties can be spun together to form the yarn 3.
Within the framework of the method, all the natural fibers, i.e. for example alpaca fibers, cotton fibers, cashmere fibers, mohair fibers, silk fibers, linen fibers, wool fibers, in particular new wool fibers, and/or artificial (synthetic) fibers, i.e. for example plastic fibers, in particular polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers or viscose fibers, can be spun together to form the yarn to be produced. In particular, blends of (individual or a plurality of) natural and (individual or a plurality of) artificial fibers are also possible. The fibers can be continuous or staple fibers, depending on availability.
An (individual) fiber 2a, 2b can also be made of or comprise at least two chemically and/or geometrically and/or physically different fiber materials. A corresponding fiber 2a, 2b, accordingly also to be referred to as a blended fiber (blended roving), can accordingly be made of e.g. a first fiber material (roving material) and at least one further fiber material (roving material).
