Abstract: There is disclosed a mop head sheet-like fabric formed of a plurality of folded and twisted cords on each side of the midline of the fabric which are in side-by-side abutting relation to one another and have looped ends, the cords being bound together by a tape on each side of the midline adjacent to and inward of the looped ends, wherein the tapes have been perforated through with a patterning of needle holes; the fabric may be in a continuous form such as is sheeting and of a prescribed width, being that of approximately twice the length of the constituent cords. The fabric is easily handleable as is sheeting. Further disclosed is a continuous process for forming the present fabric, employing porcupine rollers to control the twisting of the cords and their side-by-side orientation, as well as their taping. Yet further disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out the process employing the aforesaid porcupine rollers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mop head sheet-like fabric formed of a plurality of folded and twisted cords on each side of the midline of the fabric which are in side-by-side abutting relation to one another and have looped ends, the cords being bound together by a tape on each side of the midline adjacent to and inward of the looped ends, wherein the tapes have been perforated through with a patterning of needle holes; the fabric may be in a continuous form such as is sheeting and of a prescribed width, being that of approximately twice the length of the constituent cords. The fabric is easily handleable as is sheeting. Further disclosed is a continuous process for forming the present fabric, employing porcupine rollers to control the twisting of the cords and their side-by-side orientation, as well as their taping. Yet further disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out the process employing the aforesaid porcupine rollers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mop head sheet-like fabric formed of a plurality of folded and twisted cords on each side of the midline of the fabric which are in side-by-side abutting relation to one another and have looped ends, the cords being bound together by a tape on each side of the midline adjacent to and inward of the looped ends, wherein the tapes have been perforated through with a patterning of needle holes; the fabric may be in a continuous form such as is sheeting and of a prescribed width, being that of approximately twice the length of the constituent cords. The fabric is easily handleable as is sheeting. Further disclosed is a continuous process for forming the present fabric, employing porcupine rollers to control the twisting of the cords and their side-by-side orientation, as well as their taping. Yet further disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out the process employing the aforesaid porcupine rollers.

Abstract: A friction spinning apparatus and process use at least one perforated roller enclosing a suction sleeve having the static pressure applied along its suction slot changing between a tip end of the fibre bundle forming the yarn and a downstream location of the fibre bundle whereby the tip end is subjected to a weaker suction effect holding it against the surface than is the stronger downstream part of the fibre bundle.

Abstract: Method and means for providing assemblages of fully opened and combed fibers for intimate blending with other staple fibers of a diverse type are disclosed, wherein combed tufts detached from preceding and succeeding tufts are moved in an air stream under subatmospheric pressure to a collection chamber. Movement by such an air stream assures that the parallelized fibers of the tuft are not disturbed but remain in a fully opened and combed condition for subsequent intimate blending. This method and means assure that the fibers are not bent, compressed or otherwise changed from their fully opened and combed state.

Abstract: Friction spinning apparatus comprises two rollers arranged in parallel closely spaced relationship so as to define therebetween adjacent the line of closest approach a throat and a fibre feed means for feeding fibres into the throat for twisting into yarn as shown in G.B. No. 2042599. The surface of each of the rollers has a roughness characteristic at most 250 micro inches (6.25 microns) and the roller having its surface moving from the fibre feed means into the throat has a roughness less than that of the other roller by from 20 to 100 micro inches (0.5 to 2.54 microns).

Abstract: Means and method are disclosed to clean the fiber collection groove of an open end rotor's cup by use of a flexible member rotated about the groove and counterrotated in the opposite rotational sense, it being the changeovers or reversals in rotational directions which apply through the tip of the flexible member the cleaning force at the points of changeover at the groove which effect the cleaning of accumulations of foreign matter. These changeovers are effected by changing relative rotation and counter rotation between the rotor cup and the flexible end member, and are controlled by a programmable control means which may include a microprocessor working through one or more motors, one of which may be a stepped motor of high torque values and occupying but little space.

Abstract: Friction spinning apparatus for producing a composite yarn has a groove or recess formed in at least one of the friction spinning rollers, to receive a strand guide tube which can then guide a core strand directly to the yarn formation line substantially at the nip between the rollers.

Abstract: A method of open-end spinning a yarn formed of two different types of fibers of staple fiber and a yarn formed thereby in which most of the outer fibers are formed of one type of fiber and most of the inner fibers are formed of the other component. The types of fibers are integrally linked by orienting and distributing the fibers as they approach the open end such that they lie substantially parallel to the open end and overlapping whereby part of some of the fibers of the inner type of fiber wrap around some of the fibers of the outer type of fiber.

Abstract: A friction spinning apparatus comprises two rollers in closely spaced parallel arrangement which define between them a yarn formation zone at an elongate gap along the rollers and a feed duct which extends into the gap so as to feed fibres directly into the gap in such a manner that they can fall directly onto the yarn. The feed duct is formed as two separate parts slightly toward the roller which turns into the gap so as to increase the proportion of fibres joining the yarn at the junction with that roller, one of which includes a planar jointing face of the feed duct and a co-planar first side wall of the fibre feed duct passage in the feed duct, and the other is a complex part defining the other walls of the fibre feed passage as well as a second planar jointing face.

Abstract: A composite yarn comprising a component of staple fibres and a component formed by a continuous strand is spun on a friction spinning apparatus. Staple fibres are fed to a twisting zone where the fibres are twisted to form a staple strand with one end open. The continuous strand is joined with the staple strand at a position within a portion of the staple strand which is in the process of being twisted, and such that fibres are joined with the staple strand both upstream and downstream of the joining position and some fibres join with the staple strand on both sides of the joining position. In this way a yarn is formed with some fibres forming an inner core twisted with the continuous strand, with some fibres forming on outer sheath around the core and continuous strand and some fibres having part of their length in the core and part in the sheath.

Abstract: A friction spinning apparatus comprises two rollers in closely spaced parallel arrangement which define between them a yarn formation zone at an elongate gap along the rollers and a feed duct which extends into the gap so as to feed fibres directly into the gap in such a manner that they can fall directly onto the yarn. The feed duct is biassed slightly toward the roller which turns into the gap so as to increase the proportion of fibres joining the yarn at the junction with that roller.

Abstract: This friction spinner includes an opening roller system for feeding fibers to and through a feed duct to a throat formed between the adjacent peripheral surfaces of two parallel drum rollers rotating in the same direction, one roller perforate so that air may be drawn thereinto through its peripheral surface, and the other imperforate, and rotating such that the imperforate roller rotates out of the throat and the perforate roller rotates into the throat when viewed from above. Yarn formed at the throat, by frictional contact of the fed fibers with the rotating surfaces, is withdrawn along the throat. The fiber feed duct is arranged to feed the fibers in an airstream having a direction inclined to the yarn axis of yarn being formed at the throat and providing a component of fiber movement opposite to the direction of yarn withdrawal, which is to say transverse thereto.

Abstract: A friction spinning apparatus including two rollers defining between them an elongate yarn formation area from which yarn is drawn axially of the rollers, has a fibre feed duct extending to a position between the rollers and closely adjacent the yarn formation area. The fibre feed duct includes a surface along each side adjacent the respective roller which surface is curved to follow the curvature of the adjacent portion of the roller.

Abstract: The yarn formation area of a friction spinning apparatus, in which the rotating friction rollers and the feed duct lie closely adjacent, is quickly and simply cleaned of remaining fibres at a yarn break and protection is provided against damage caused by excess fibres entering the area. One of the rollers, which is imperforate, is mounted for pivotal movement away from the area and at a break suction through the other roller is temporarily closed off from one end of the area toward the opposite end to eject the remaining fibres. Return movement of the roller is guided to ensure proper return to the operating position.

Abstract: A roller for a friction spinning apparatus comprises a hollow perforated base member of aluminium or similar material, with a chrome dioxide plasma coating at most 0.004 inch. The perforations are at most 0.03 inch in diameter and provide a ratio of hole to total area of at least 25%. The thickness of the base member is at most 0.125 inch.

Abstract: Spinning is started on a friction spinning apparatus by drawing the end of yarn back to a position adjacent the surface but in such a condition that it is free from the influence of the suction through the surface. This is done by closing off the suction while the end is in the position so that the yarn is drawn by an additional suction source into an adjacent position. The yarn end is drawn from one end of the surface to lie along the surface by gradually closing off the suction from that end toward the opposite end. Subsequently the suction is reopened to bring the yarn end under its influence to draw the end onto the surface so the fibre feed and take-up can be restarted.

Abstract: The invention relates to winding a yarn on a package. A package tray is provided which in an operative position retains the package out of contact with a package driving roller against the effect of a restoring force tending to move the package into driving contact with the driving roller. Retraction of the tray to an inoperative position so as to enable the package to be brought into contact with the driving roller is effected by reducing the restoring force.Preferably, the invention includes open-end spinning means for producing the yarn and retraction of the tray to the inoperative position takes place during a yarn piecing-up procedure.

Abstract: A composite yarn comprising a component of staple fibres and a component formed by a continuous strand is spun on a friction spinning apparatus. Staple fibres are fed to a twisting zone where the fibres are twisted to form a staple strand with one end open. The continuous strand is joined with the staple strand at a position within a portion of the staple strand which is in the process of being twisted, and such that fibres are joined with the staple strand both upstream and downstream of the joining position and some fibres join with the staple strand on both sides of the joining position. In this way a yarn is formed with some fibres forming an inner core twisted with the continuous strand, with some fibres forming on outer sheath around the core and continuous strand and some fibres having part of their length in the core and part in the sheath.

Abstract: In opening and cleaning fibers an improved method to increase the proportion of usable fibers in processable textile fiber stock using a plurality of bale opening machines feeding fiber to a line of fiber cleaning and mixing machines, following which the fibers are fed to a plurality of carding machines. At least some of the machines settings are adjusted to remove a higher level of waste, including trash and good fiber, than would conventionally be acceptable. The waste from the machines is centrally collected and passed to a fiber retriever which removes good fibers to return them into the line of cleaning and mixing machines.