Patent Application
20100275569
The present invention relates to a machine for processing yarns. More in particular, the present invention relates to a machine for texturing and interlacing yarns, for example multifilament synthetic yarns, in particular POYs (“pre oriented yarns”) and elastomers.
Treatment of synthetic yarns, in particular multifilament synthetic yarns, by subjecting them to a texturing treatment to obtain particular effects of softness and volume has been known for some time. Typically, this process provides for subjecting the yarn, such as polyester, Nylon®, polypropylene or the like, to a stretching and to a false twisting operation, in a section along which the yarn is subjected to a heating and to a subsequent cooling operation. The effect of this operation is to introduce, in the single filaments forming the yarn, a deformation that causes crimping thereof and consequently an overall increase in the volume and softness of the yarn.
Machines for performing texturing and false twisting are described for example in EP-A-1,630,268, U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,587, EP-B-0,882,146. In the last one in particular, there is provided a second heat treatment of the yarn after it has been subjected to a first texturing step. It is also known (see again EP-A-0,882,146) to feed two yarns, in particular two textured POYs, through an interlacing device positioned upstream of the second oven which thus performs a second heat treatment on a yarn formed by coupling two previously textured single yarns.
EP-A-1,598,457 describes a texturing and interlacing machine, wherein a synthetic yarn, for example a POY, is fed through a heat treatment oven, a cooling area, a false twisting device, a stretching roller and an interlacing device. The elastomer yarn coming directly from a bobbin is also fed to this last device. In the interlacing device, the elastomer is covered by the filaments of textured yarn. At the outlet of the interlacing jet, the composite yarn obtained is drawn by a roller and wound in a spool.
According to one aspect, an object of the invention is to provide a machine that is particularly versatile and allows different processes to be performed on yarns of the aforesaid type.
In substance, in one embodiment the texturing-interlacing machine according to the invention comprises, in combination:
With a configuration of this type, the machine presents high flexibility and can perform a plurality of processes on yarns in various combinations.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the stretching roller, the master roller, the stabilizing roller and the overfeed roller are controlled by motors configured to adjust the speeds of said rollers separately from one another. For example, there can be provided separate motors for each of said rollers. Preferably, the twisting unit will also have a separate motor, or if necessary a plurality of separate motors, one for each spindle or for a group of spindles.
Preferably, the supporting and unwinding member for the untreated yarn to be textured, for example a creel, is structured to simultaneously support and unwind four bobbins of untreated yarn to be textured.
In this way a machine with four individual positions is obtained, i.e. a machine in which four yarns to be textured can be treated in parallel along a common path where each motorized member can be controlled and regulated separately from the others.
Further advantageous features and embodiments of the machine according to the invention will be described in what follows with reference to examples of embodiment and are specified in the appended claims.
The invention will be better understood by following the description and accompanying drawing, which shows practical non-limiting embodiments of the invention. More in particular, in the drawing: la
With initial reference to
The yarn that forms the bobbins B1 is typically a multifilament yarn with continuous filaments, obtained with extrusion processes of known type. Single yarns F1 are unwound from the bobbins B1 and guided around a stretching roller 5. In practice, in this configuration each yarn F1 is guided around the roller 5 and around an auxiliary roller 5A forming a plurality of turns. The roller 5 is motorized by its own motor schematically indicated with 5B, at a controlled speed to obtain, in combination with the members downstream along the feed path of the yarns F1 in the manner to be described below, stretching of the filaments forming the yarns F1.
Downstream of the stretching roller 5 a path of the yarn extends, comprising in the first place a first oven 7 for heat treatment of each single yarn F1 coming from each bobbin B1 disposed on the creel 3. The oven 7 is designed so that it has a number of feed tracks of the yarn preferably equal to the maximum number of bobbins B1 that can be arranged on the creel 3, so that the various yarns F1 are fed along their own heating path inside the oven 7.
At the outlet of the oven 7 a cooling area 9 is provided. In some embodiments, in the cooling area 9 there are provided single cooling plates 9A, designed in a known manner (see for example EP-A-0,571,975). Preferably, the number of the cooling plates is also in this case equal to the maximum number of bobbins B1 that can be unwound in the creel 3.
Again along the path of the yarns F1, downstream of the cooling area 9, there is located a twisting unit 11, or more precisely a false twisting unit 11, i.e. suitable to impart a false twist on each of the yarns F1 individually (or on several adjacent yarns F1). In some embodiments, the false twisting unit 11 comprises a plurality of false twisting devices or spindles 11A. In one embodiment the number of false twisting spindles 11A is equal to the maximum number of bobbins B1 that can be disposed on the creel 3, four in the example illustrated.
The false twisting unit 11 can be equipped with a single motor that operates the four spindles 11A. Alternatively, each spindle 11A can be equipped with its own motor 11B.
Each false twisting device or unit 11A can be designed in a known manner (see for example WO-A-03/014445).
Again along the path of the yarn, or of the individual yarns F1, downstream of the false twisting unit 11, a guide roller 13 for the yarns F1 is arranged, with which an auxiliary roller 13A is associated. Hereunder the roller 13 will be indicated as master roller. The rotation speed thereof is imparted by a separate motor 13B and is coordinated with the rotation speed of the stretching roller 5 so that in the section of the path of the yarn between the rollers 5 and 13 each yarn F1 is subjected to a stretching effect with a stretch percentage that can be regulated and modified by acting on the rotation speed of the rollers 5 and 13. Simultaneously, in the same section of path the yarns F1 are subjected to false twisting, which can also be set by acting on the motor or motors 11B. Typically, the peripheral speeds of the rollers 13 and 5 can differ by a percentage of approximately 1 to 2%.
Along the section of path of the yarn described above, between the creel 3 and the master roller 13, each yarn F1 is thus subjected to a texturing process which implies heating in the oven 7, cooling in the cooling area 9, false twisting in the false twisting unit 11 and stretching caused by the difference in speed of the rollers 13 and 5.
Downstream of the master roller 13 there is arranged, again along the path of the yarns F1, a second oven indicated with 15, to perform a second heat treatment on the textured yarn or yarns F1. This second heat treatment causes relaxation and shrinking of each yarn F1 fed along the feed path.
Guides, for example designed in the form of ceramic guides and indicated with 17, are associated with the oven 15, and define an alternative path for the yarn F1, outside the oven 15. In this manner, each yarn F1, or some of these yarns, can pass outside the oven 15 and therefore not undergo heat treatment after the stretching caused by the master roller 13. When several yarns F1 coming from the bobbins B1 of POY are fed along the path, usually the yarns all pass parallel to one another either through the oven 15 or outside the oven 15.
At the outlet of the oven 15 there is provided a guide 19, which diverts the yarns F1 delivered from the oven 15 toward a godet roller 21, hereinafter also indicated as stabilizing roller. The godet roller 21 is operated by its own separate motor 21B, so that its speed can be set individually and separately with respect to the rotation speed of the other rollers and of the false twisting spindles. Around the roller 21 and around an auxiliary roller 21A the yarns F1 form a series of turns and are then diverted downstream of the stabilizing roller 11 toward an interlacing device 23. In some embodiments the interlacing device 23 is an air interlacing device of known type and not described in greater detail here.
Downstream of the interlacing device 23 there is provided a further godet roller 25, hereinafter indicated as overfeed roller, with which an auxiliary roller 25A is associated. Around the roller 25 and the roller 25A the yarn indicated with FC delivered from the interlacing device 23 forms a series of turns and is then diverted along the final section of the path to a traversing device 27 which winds the treated yarn on a bobbin or finished pack. The overfeed roller 25 is preferably operated by a separate motor 25B, so that its speed can be set separately with respect to the other rollers provided in the feed path of the yarns and with respect to the speed of the false twisting spindles 11A.
In the configuration shown in
The reference F2 indicates the elastomer that is unwound from the bobbin B3 and, passing through the sensor 37, is guided around the stabilizing roller 21. Downstream of this stabilizing roller 21 the yarns F1 and F2 follow the same path and are joined in the interlacing device 23, where the filaments of the yarns F1 cover the elastomer F2. In substance, therefore, at the outlet of the interlacing device 23 a composite yarn FC is obtained, which is then wound around the overfeed roller 25 and taken up on the bobbin B2.
Ultimately, in the configuration of
In some embodiments the feed speed of the overfeed roller 25 is lower than the feed speed of the stabilizing roller 21. This latter, in turn, in some embodiments presents a greater feed speed with respect to that imparted by the feed roller 33 to the elastomer yarn F2. This yarn is thus stretched between the supporting and unwinding member 31 and the stabilizing godet roller 21.
The diagram of
Finally, the reference 50 indicates a control unit, connected to user interface devices 52, for example comprising a monitor or display and a keyboard, which controls and manages the speeds of the various motors of the machine according to the user's settings, for example on the basis of values preset in memorized management programs selectable by the user.
In
In the configuration of
Contrary to the configuration of
It is understood that the drawing shows just one example, provided merely as a practical demonstration of the invention, which can vary in its forms and arrangements, without however departing from the scope of the concept underlying the invention. Any reference numbers in the appended claims are provided to facilitate reading of the claims with reference to the description and to the drawing, and do not limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FI2007A000202 | Sep 2007 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IT08/00564 | 8/29/2008 | WO | 00 | 6/21/2010 |
