Abstract:
Apparatus and process for simultaneous crimping and commingling of continuous filament yarns are provided. The yarn is introduced as feed into a fluid contact chamber in which the yarn is contacted with a heated fluid, such as steam, substantially coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the fluid contact chamber. The yarn is then directed under the force of the heated fluid through a first energy tube wherein the yarn absorbs a portion of the heat of the fluid, and is then passed into an expansion chamber wherein the yarn impacts upon a portion of the interior surface of the chamber. The impacted yarn is then passed into a second energy tube wherein the yarn absorbs additional heat, and thence into a stuffer tube wherein the flow of yarn is impeded, thereby establishing a yarn plug from which crimped and commingled yarn is subsequently removed. In a second embodiment, the expansion chamber and second energy tube are positioned such that the yarn impacts upon an interior surface of the second energy tube.
Abstract:
Apparatus and process for simultaneous crimping and commingling of continuous filament yarns are provided. The yarn is introduced as feed into a contact chamber in which the yarn is contacted with a heated fluid, such as steam, at an angle of not greater than about 85* with respect to the yarn passage axis, and at a fluid velocity sufficient to vibrate the yarn and cause it to impact upon an impacting surface. The impacted yarn, together with the heated fluid, is then directed into an energy tube wherein the impacted yarn absorbs heat from the heated fluid. The heated yarn then passes into a stuffer tube wherein the flow of yarn is impeded, thereby establishing a yarn plug from which crimped and commingled yarn is subsequently removed.