Abstract: In the canning of tow produced by a synthetic textile filament extrusion line, a pair of deflecting rolls having radially projecting spokes are positioned immediately above the tow-receiving can for travel of the tow between the rolls to impose a folding or plaiting of the tow as it is deposited into the can, thereby reducing the linear velocity of the tow to mitigate potential entanglement of the tow within the can. The production output and operational speed of the filament extrusion process may thus be optimized without being limited by the downstream canning operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for crimping continuous tow of textile material and application of the finish to the crimped continuous tow, including a pair of rollers and a stuffer box chamber having two regions therein. In particular, the stuffer box chamber has a first region for crimping the tow and a larger second region for application of a finish to the tow. Using the novel apparatus to crimp the tow and apply finish thereto, improves adherence of the finish to the tow.

Abstract: An apparatus for crimping a continuous tow of textile material including a pair of molding rollers for initial molding and pulling of the tow, a pair of crimping rollers for molding and feeding the two to a stuffer box crimper wherein the tow is crimped. The novel pair of molding rollers includes the two spaced rotatable rollers cooperating with a side plate at each end of the nip between the rollers to define a rectangular space. Tow material is passed through the space wherein the tow is pressed and molded to the rectangular configuration. After the initial molding, the tow is passed through the pair of crimping rollers and fed into the stuffer box wherein the tow is crimped. Using the novel apparatus to crimp the tow drastically improves the uniformity of the crimped tow and the processibility or the tow. Furthermore, the novel apparatus allows for a significant reduction in the forces applied to the molding rollers and crimping rollers resulting in the reduction of filament distortion in the tow material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately setting a cutting gap of a fiber cutting assembly of the type having a cutter reel with a plurality of radially spaced apart, cutting blades and a presser roll mounted adjacent to the cutter reel and having a peripheral surface positioned at a predetermined distance from the cutting edges of the cutting blades to define the cutting gap. The apparatus comprises a gauge member at one of the cutting blade positions which extends radially beyond the radial distance of the blades and corresponds to the desired cutting gap setting, and means for electrically sensing contact of the gauge member with the presser roll.

Abstract: In the crimping of textile fibers, opposed rolls are rotated to force-feed the fibers through a nip defined by the rolls and into a stuffer box. A pair of cheek plates are pressed against the ends of the opposed rolls such that a front surface of each cheek plate engages ends of both rolls adjacent the nip to retain the fibers against lateral displacement from the nip. Atomized lubricating liquid is sprayed toward an inlet of the nip and against portions of the ends of the rolls approaching the nip, and against backsides of the cheek plates.