US2647285A - Method for crimping textile fibers - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 4, 1953 J. H. PFAU 2,647,285

METHOD FOR CRIMPING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed July 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l ORNEY Aug. 4, 1953 METHOD FOR CRIMPING TEXTILE FIBERs Filed July 2o, 195o 2 snelste-sheet 21 lNVENTOR JEL/u.: /74 PF4 y A 'a ff RNEY J. H. PFAU 256475285 Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y Julius H. Pfau, Yonkers, N. Y., assignor to Alexander Smith, Incorporated,a corporation of New York Application July 20, 195o, serial Nan/1,870

(C1. V12a-jet) f Claims.

l y This invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving the characteristics of textile fibers and more particularly for imparting a controlled artificial crimp to such fibers.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method and apparatus for the above purpose.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for crimping and setting textile fibers in which the crimping and setting operations may be con-` trolled independently.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

The invention is particularly applicable to ani- 15 tion; mal berS Of Short fiber lengths Such aS WOOl- Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a setting Itllnay also be applied, hOWeVer, t0 Other fibers, apparatus in which the fibers are held in comincluding vegetable fibers such as cotton, jute, paci-,ed ferm in a dye bath; Y hemp, rame and flax, continuous'laments Such Fig 3 is asimilar sectional view .illustrating as silk or uncrosslinked thermoplastic synthetic tliesetting step as carriedoui-,in asteam Cham.. fibers such as rayon, nylon, or the like, vdepending 10er; f n Y e upon the conditions maintained vin the crimping lFigI 4 isv a sectiona1 view illustrating. a furand Setting zones. ther embodiment' of the invention wherein'the In accordance with the present invention the fibers `are .set While vheld compacted in a Setting fibers are crimped mechanically and the crimp 3 Chamber; .I I is set into the fibers in a separate setting zone.y Fig; 5 is a Sectional View illustrating an em- The mechanical Crimp may be imparted" in V31` bo'dment of the invention wherein the fibers 0115 Ways aS by feeding a rODe 0r Shlhbing 0f are crimped by gear'crimpers and are.set in a fibers between feed rolls into .a mass of fibers stuing box;y f held under a back pressure sufficient to cause 3U I Fig 6 sa sectional,view-.illustrating the inthe bers to be folded over and crimped as they venden as appliedfe -a pair-0f belts having ser.. are forced into the mass. Ina further embodirated crimping surfaces; .1; ment the-fibers are crimped in a geatlimpe I Fig. 7 `is an enlarged sectional vview illustratcomprising a pairof luted rolls, either cylindriing a eene grimper; and cal or conical, between which the fibers are Fig 3 is a section taken en the une 3 3. of passed, or by means of a pair `of -belts having Fig- 1L serrated surfaces and held togetherunder suff- Referring to the drawings more in detail, the cient pressureto cause the bers'to be distorted invention s shown in Fia 1 asvappled to a and crimped as they pass therebetween. If the samer. Crimper Comprising a pair. of feed rolls nature of the fibers so requires they maybe pre- 40 la whichl are. dI-Wen. in any suitablev manner treated to soften the same sufficiently to permit and betweenrwheh arope Orembbing is passed the Crimping.` for crimping. A pivoted gate I2 mounted on a The bers thus treated have a crimp which is pedestal I3 by means of a pivot I4 and provided temporary and unset- In'o'de t0 set the crimp with a countervveightv I5 is lformeclvwith a surthus formed the fibers are introduced intoa zone face 15 which` is, adaptedlto engagev the surfaces wherein a mass 0f fibers are compacted and held ofthe feed rolls ISI.` and to form. in combination under pressure and are tfeited With Setting withsaid feed rolls .I0 a closed crimping chamagent While the COmDaCtng pressure'ls mam? ber I1 containing a vmass of bers .which are tained. The Settnr agent may be introduced into held compacted-under a pressure determined by the mass of bers in a Swing bOX wherein they the postion of the counterweight I5. The surface are held under pressure. 0r `the fibers may be I5 is shown as sloping to the left to provide an compacted and packaged 0r baled und'er'DreS- inclined .path over 4which the fibers, after being sure and introduced into a setting chamber con- @impeda the chamber 1v1, are diseharged as a taining a setting agent, such as steam under pres rope 2li of crimped fibers. The `crlmped, fibers sure or a heated liquid, such as a dye bath. .In are thus discharged from the .chamber I1 when either casethe iibersare held under pressure andthe treatment iscarried out' for a time to effect ai permanent set which -remains vin the fibers after they have beenreleased from 'the compacting force. "l

The novel features which are characteristic of this invention will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection 'withfthe accompanying drawings in which specific embodimentsy havebeen set forth for purposes vof illustration. i f In the drawings: Figi is a sectional view illustrating a` crimper and stuiiing box embodying the present inventhe pressure built up in the chamber I1 is sumcient to overcome the Weight I5 and cause the gate I2 to pivot about its pivot i4.

In order to build up this pressure the incoming fibers are fed by the feed rolls I0 into the mass of bers already in the crimping chamber Il and are folded over to form spaced crimps as they are introduced yagainst the, compacted mass of fibers already-in thechamber. Hence the rope emerging from the chamber II is composed of fibers having a series of crimps the frequency of which is dependent upon the nature of the bers and the pressure exerted upon the gate I2 by the Weight I5.

In the embodiment shown lA the rope 20 is introduced through a hopper 2l into a standard baler shown as a cylinder 22 having, am end closure 23 which is secured to the cylinder Walls by suitable means such as a hinge 24P and a latch 25, and having. a. piston 26 for compacting the mass:- ofxfibers in the cylinder., Aa the rope 2l is `fe'darintci the` cylinder v22: the. piston 2E may bereciprocated; foirpaclringI the mass of 'fibers against thee end closure 23 and when the cylinder 22 has been filled: the: piston 2B- is advanced under suitable pressureto compactl and compressa the. fibers against thea end. wall 23 in a compact mass: 2T... The massfof fibers' 21',y while stili-held. under* pressure: bythe. piston 2.6;. ist then baled by suitable insana. as by wires 2:9. which may be inserted in the' the usualt manner to form a bale 28 secured. and-'held under a substantial: ccmpacting pressure bywires 29. The baienof fibers 2u mayn be removed from, the cyl,- inder 22 by releasing the latch 25 and may be introduced into arsettingfzieor may be: stored for' future setting.

Fig. 2 illustrates one: method of setting the crimp: in. the baled fibers wherein a` plurality of' bales moxmted om a. movable platform 30 are positioned in a tank 3i which may contain a setting agent such as a. solution 32? which. is circulated through the baliesby' means of. a circalati-ng impelfer Suitable steam pipes 3d are provided for maintaining the solution at a proper temperature. The solution may include adye inwh-ich case thesetting is: combined with the-dyeing step.` The bales are. srwwm as extending substantially entirely across.- theta-nk so that thev liquid must pase therethrough as it isI recirculated by the. impeller..

The fibers are maintained in the batti for a sufficient period of time to effect` a permanent set of the crimp, afterrwhich they may be removed and the pressure thereon released as by removing the Wires 29. The fibers may then: be carded and spun orl otherwise. treated'in. the

usual manner. y

in the embodiment shown'inFig; Sthebales 28` are shown as placed in a steamrchamber 40 wherein steamV is introduced through ai pipe 4I and is maintained under suitable conditions of temperature and pressure to effect the. setting ofthe crimp. The chamber is vented by pipe d2. AfterA the cri-'mp has been set' the bales 28 are removed from the-steam chamber andcarded and spun in the usual manner. As in Fig; 2, the bales extend entirely across the steamk chamber so that' the steammust pass therethrough in its path from the inlet pipe #Il to the discharge pipe 42'.

Referring. to Fig. the crimped rope 20 as received from'the crimper of Fig. 1 for example, is introduced by means of apivoted guide 42 to one of two cylmdersl; each of which is provided with a piston 44 for compacting the fibers therein and with a hinged gate 45 at the bottom for releasing the fibers after treatment. The gates 45 are secured to the cylinders 43 by means of hinges Ai6 and may be latched by latches 41. A manifold 48 extends around each of the cylinders 43 and is provided with a plurality of ports KS* for introducing a agentinto the cylinder. The setting agent, such as steam, is introduced to the manifold 4B by means of an inlet pipe 50. The set fibers may be discharged from the. cylinders- 43. onto a moving conveyor 5l.

In the operation of this device the bers are introduced into. one of the cylinders 43 (the right cylinder as: indicated in Fig. 4) by means of the guide 42. After the right cylinder 43 has beeniilledlto4 the. desired level the guide is shifted to the dotted position shown in Fig. 4 to introdfuce the fibers into the left cylinder, whereupon the piston la of the right cylinder is depressed fon compacting: the` fibers:- that. cylinder: against theA gateA 45. While the mass'. of ihersris thus held compacted the setting agent, such as steam or superheated; water, is .introduced through the' pipe- 50; manifold G8, and ports: its i-ntcfthe compacted-` mass of bers' inthe cylinder under conditions to set the crimp there- After a: predetermined time. the gate.- 5 is released and the fibeisva're removed from, the cylinder 43' onto the conveyor 5i. The gate, 45 is then closed and the piston, Mi elevated to. re.- ceive a new supply of fibers; Thel operation is repeated the `left cylinders.

This apparatus permits the fibers. to beureceisved;` continuously from the crimper and to be set in batches as desired. Obviously the rope 2Q from a plural-ity of Crim-pera may be,v fed into the, cylinders d'3 as'. above indicated. and the enitire mass: of fibers;- ronr all of' the crimpersA may be set. at. intervals depending upon: the capacity of the cylinders 43..

Referring tol the embodiment of. Fig. 5 a gear crimper is shown as comprising, a pair. of fluter rollsl 55% which receive a slubbing Ii of. fibersto be crimped and discharge the crimped fibers. into a,v hopper 561 of a continuous crimper comprising a cylinder 5-'I.` having an. end closure it and havi'n'g a reciprocatingv piston 55;. The end closure 58 is. shown asv hinged by a. hinge 691 and. is. held closed by a'compressiorr spring. 6I. The: piston 5B is adaptedxto he oscillated so as to pack the hersfinl the'cylinder 51 as they are. receivedfrom the hopper, to: maintain the bers under substantial pressure therein and to force the fibers out of the cylinder 51 when sufficient pressure is exerted to overcome the force of the spring Si and open `the `gate 58-. The' cylinder 5.1, is; pro.- vded with a pair of manifolds $3 having: ports. 64 communicating: with the interior of. the cylinder' 51' and supplied with'an inert medium such as -air under pressure through pipes. 65,. sol. as to provide an air lock to prevent the escape; ofv the setting agent. The cylinder 5l is' also provided with a plurality' of manifolds Eihaving ports G1' communicating with the cylinder 57i through which a setting agent, such as steam or superheated Water, is introduced as by means. ofV pipes 68'.

In the operation of this embodiment: of the in venticn the crimped bers from the gearv crimper 55 are held under pressure in the setting chamber 51' during such period as maybe recpiirecltol eff'ect setting of the crimp due tothe action4 of the steam or other setting. agent which is introduced `tlfnough the pipe 68..

will be serrated or crimped as it is fed between the belts and conveyed thereby to a discharge point Where it is discharged 4as a crimped rope 2li into the hopper 5t of a crimping chamber 5i as above described.

In the embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8 the crimping of the slubbing l l is effected by a fluted cone l bearing against the surface of a smooth faced cone '18. The slubbing Il passes around the iiuted cone l5 and advances toward the apex thereof. During this passage the fibers are forced into the corrugations of the cone 'i5 and are crimped, the crimped fibers being discharged as a rope 223 to the hopper 5t as above described.

It is to be understood that the various crimpers of Figs. 1, 5, c and '7 may be used in combination With any of the setting devices of Figs. 2, 3, fl and 5 and that selected combinations have been shown for purposes of illustration only.

In the above method, the raw fibers are rst opened, scoured, Washed and dried in the usual manner to form stock and under the desired conditions to leave the stock with the desired pI-I for crimping. The stock is then carded and formed into a condensed rope or slubbing which is fed to the crimpers above described where it is crimped. It is then compacted and set in any of the various setting Zones illustrated. For equilibrium conditions of moisture content and pH the setting time varies inverselyT with the temperature. With steam at a pressure of 20 pounds per square inch the setting time may constitute a few minutes, Whereas with hot Water or hot dye bath, a setting time of several hours may be required. In any event the mass of fibers is held under compacting pressure during the setting step.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of imparting a permanent `artificial crimp to textile fibers, which comprises gripping said fibers between closely spaced conveyor surfaces discharging into a substantially closed zone, and forcing the gripped fibers into said zone against the pressure of a mass of fibers held compacted under pressure in said zone, said pressure being adapted to cause the fibers to be progressively folded over and crimped as they are delivered from said conveyor surfaces, removing the crimped fibers from said zone and releasing thecompacting pressure thereon, transferring the fibers While free from said compacting pressure to a second pressure zone, applying pressure in said last zone to compress said fibers into a compacted mass, and subjecting said mass while under said compacting pressure to a setting agent for a period of time to effect a permanent set of said crimp.

2. The method of imparting a permanent artificial crimp to textile fibers, which comprises gripping said fibers between closely spaced conveyor surfaces discharging into a substantially closed zone, and forcing the gripped fibers into said zone against the pressure of a mass of bers held compacted under pressure in said zone, said pressure being adapted to cause the bers to be progressively folded over and crimped as they are delivered from said conveyor surfaces, removing the crimped fibers from said zone and releasing the compacting pressure thereon, transferring the fibers while free from said compacting pressure to a second pressure zone, applying pressure in said last Zone to compress said fibers into a compacted mass, introducing a setting agent into said compacted mass of fibers, and maintaining said compacting pressure on said mass until the crimp has been permanently set therein.

3. The method of imparting a permanent artificial crimp to textile fibers, which comprises gripping said fibers between closely spaced conveyor surfaces discharging into a substantially closed zone, and forcing the gripped bers into said Zone against the pressure of a mass of fibers held compacted under pressure in said zone, said pressure being adapted to cause the fibers to be progressively folded over and crimped as they are delivered from said conveyor surfaces, reinoving the crimped fibers from said zone and releasing the compacting pressure thereon, transferring the fibers while free from said compacting pressure to a second pressure zone, applying pressure in said last zone to compress said fibers into a compacted mass, introducing said compacted mass of fibers into a setting zone, and treating the mass in said setting zone While maintaining said compacting pressure thereon With a setting agent under conditions to eect a permanent set of said crimp.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 in which said setting agent comprises a heated fluid.

5. The method set forth in claim 1 in which said setting agent comprises steam.

JULIUS H. PFAU.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 332,514 Hamilton Dec. 15, 1885 2,311,174 Hitt Feb. 16, 1943

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