Abstract: A microwave oven particularly suitable for laboratory analytical use is described. The oven is designed for chemical digestion and the drying of materials to very low moisture levels. The oven utilizes a rotating platform to move the material being subjected to microwave radiation through the oven chamber to ensure uniform contact of the microwaves with the material. Radiation mixers and radiation isolators are also used to disperse radiation in the oven and absorb excess radiation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quantitatively measuring volatiles, solids and solvent extractables is described which provides rapid and accurate determinations using microwave heating, electronic balance weighing and solvent extracting of solubles. The method involves subjecting a weighed sample to microwave drying for a preselected time, reweighing to obtain the dry weight and determine volatile loss, solvent extracting the dried sample to determine fats, oils and other extractables followed by final measurement of residual solids. The apparatus is preferably automated to sequentially actuate the required weighing, microwave heating, solvent extraction, redrying, reweighing and calculation of the percentages of volatiles, solvent solubles and solids. The apparatus and method are particularly suited for analytical uses in the food and dairy industries.

Abstract: Polyester polymer is extruded through converging capillaries at different speeds to merge and form a combined stream. The stream is cooled to form a filament, which is withdrawn at a high speed. A plurality of such filaments are combined into yarn which self-crimps upon heating. In some embodiments, the yarn has a variable denier.

Abstract: An automatic volatility computer and a method for automatically determining weight changes in substances containing a volatile material. In particular, an apparatus which automatically determines the percentage of volatiles in a substance which contains unknown quantities of polar volatiles such as water or moisture, solvents, plasticizers and the like. The apparatus provides rapid automatic analysis without operator assistance other than the placing of the sample on the automatic balance. The particular improvement in the present invention relates to the ability of the apparatus to project final dry weight without completely drying the test sample utilizing a short heat induction period. This improvement greatly reduces the heat time required and avoids overdrying of the test sample.

Abstract: An improved yarn guide assembly for selecting yarns individually from a group in the donning of a multicop winder, the assembly being of the kind in which each gap in a row of guide members is shaped to receive a yarn only if it lies in a unique plane, the improvement being that the yarn guiding surfaces of the guide members immediately beyond the gaps, are inclined to, and at least partially face, the direction from which the yarns approach the gaps and, optionally, that each guiding surface immediately beyond the gaps contains at least one ratchet notch.

Abstract: A process for forming a continuous filament yarn from a melt-spinnable synthetic linear polymer and novel yarns of polyethylene terephthalate and yarns of polyhexamethylene adipamide produced by the process, the process comprising extruding the molten polymer through a shaped orifice to form a molten filamentary material, passing the molten filamentary material through a solidification zone, passing the solidified filamentary material through a conditioning zone provided with a gaseous atmosphere at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the material and below its melting temperature, withdrawing the resulting filamentary yarn from the conditioning zone and winding up such yarn, characterized in that the gaseous atmosphere in the conditioning zone is compressed steam at an absolute pressure in excess of 5 psig and preferably, in the case of a yarn of polyethylene terephthalate, between 50 and 156 psig and preferably, in the case of a yarn of polyhexamethylene adipamide, between 14 and 70 psig

Abstract: Filamentary material is wound upon tubes mounted upon a winder. A traversing guide traverses the filamentary material along the package axis to produce a helical winding thereof. A control mechanism engages the filamentary material prior to completion of a winding sequence to cause the trailing end of the filamentary material to be wound for a plurality of turns in non-helical, close-order relationship on the package to resist subsequent unraveling of the filamentary material. The control mechanism comprises a movable arm which includes a contact edge oriented generally parallel to a plane defined by the traversing movement of the filamentary material. The arm is mounted for movement toward and away from such plane to contact the filamentary material upstream of the traversing guide and displace same out of the latter. The contact edge includes a stop for constraining the filamentary material for winding in a non-helical, close-order relationship onto the package.

Abstract: A rapid volatility analyzer is described, as well as a method for rapidly determining weight changes in substances containing a volatile material. In particular, there is described an apparatus which rapidly determines the percentage of volatiles in a substance which contains unknown quantities of polar volatiles such as water or moisture, solvents, plasticizers and the like. The apparatus provides rapid determinations without operator assistance other than the placing of a sample of the substance being tested on the electronic balance. The particular improvement in the present invention relates to the ability of the apparatus to project final dry weight without completely drying the test sample utilizing a short heat induction period. This improvement greatly reduces the heating time required and avoids overdrying of the test sample.

Abstract: A guide encloses a group of traveling filaments arranged in a pattern forming a main longitudinal axis. The guide comprises a carrier movable toward and away from the filament group. A plurality of relatively movable members are mounted on the carrier for movement between open and closed positions. Those members form a through-passage for the filament group in the closed position. An actuating mechanism is operatively connected to the carrier and members for extending the carrier toward the filament group, and closing the members around the filaments to converge the filaments. Thereafter, the carrier is retracted to a position where a longitudinal axis of the through-passage is substantially aligned with the main longitudinal axis formed by the filament group.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for modifying melt spun filaments after extrusion and solidification by tensioning and exposing to a heated fluid environment. By this invention it is possible to directly form a melt spinnable filamentary yarn having properties similar to those of drawn yarns.

Abstract: A yarn for producing fabrics with a wool-like hand, by combining textured filaments with longer filaments preferably of larger average denier. The longer filaments thus protrude in loops from the yarn bundle.

Abstract: Manufacture of polyester yarns by a high speed draw spinning process in which the yarns are passed through defined fluid environments. Yarns are comparable in properties with conventional spin-lag-draw hot relax yarns.

Abstract: Manufacture of polyamide yarns by a high speed draw spinning process in which the yarns are passed through defined fluid environments. Yarns are comparable in properties with conventional spin-lag-draw yarns.

Abstract: A multifilamentary polymeric yarn capable of undergoing false twist texturing is passed through a friction disc aggregate under conditions (as defined) which produce periodic slippage with respect to the friction disc aggregate whereby recurring relatively tightly twisted areas measuring approximately 0.125 to 1.25 inch are substantially maintained along the length of the yarn intermediate recurring textured areas measuring approximately 0.125 to 1.25 inch which include a twist in the opposite direction. The feed yarn may be either partially oriented yarn or a drawn yarn. In a preferred embodiment the feed yarn is a partially oriented polyethylene terephthalate multifilamentary yarn. Unmodified texturing machinery can be employed. The resulting yarn is space textured and may be utilized to form a crepe fabric having highly desirable aesthetic characteristics.

Abstract: Stabilized stretch yarns of intermediate skein shrinkage and low torque which may be beamed without twisting are produced by draw texturing and stabilizing with little or no relaxation, preferably at relatively low temperatures. These yarns may be converted to wovens with adequate comfort stretch.

Abstract: Yarns of balanced low tensile characteristics, especially low tensile factor (TE.sup.1/2) are produced in high speed spinning (e.g. greater than 10000 fpm) operations including an annealing stage by process control, particularly inverse spinning temperatures for given yarn. Polyethylene terephthalate yarns of balanced tensile characteristics and tensile factor of as little as 15-17 are prepared directly from a spin draw line at maximum productivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and product for directly producing a latent heat-bulkable yarn from the same polymer composition in the same spinning process. The self-crimping yarn is produced from polyethylene terephthalate compositions which are melt spun at high speeds to form a plurality of spin oriented filaments. The filaments are divided in the spinning column into at least two groups and the two groups of filaments are subjected to different heat conditions, recombined, and taken up as a fully drawn yarn. The high spinning speed and differential heat treatment are selected to produce highly spin oriented yarn of relatively high spun birefringence with the conditions of spinning speed and heat treatment being controlled to produce a desired shrinkage differential between the two groups of filaments of up to 60 percent.

Abstract: A method for producing ingrain spun-like yarn simulating a blended staple yarn is described wherein continuous filament yarn is produced which has characteristics similar to blended staple spun yarns. Fabrics made from the yarns described herein provide a fine grained heather appearance without the normal moire or plaiting effect seen in previous ingrain continuous filament yarn fabrics. The unusual continuous filament yarn described herein is made by a texturing process which involves the combination of two or more differently dyeable continuous synthetic yarns which are false twist textured followed by overfeeding to an air bulking means. The preferred method utilizes false twist texturing of synthetic filaments such as polyester, nylon, cellulose acetate or cellulose triacetate and mixtures thereof wherein two differently dyeable yarns are combined with an air bulking jet interposed to act on the false twist textured yarn while it has a high residual torque and subsequently decaying said torque.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to yarn processing and in particular to a method and apparatus for detecting unwanted yarn wraps on rotating rolls and consequently severing the supply yarn to prevent further wraps being wound.

Abstract: A method for producing a spun-like yarn simulating a staple yarn is described wherein continuous filament yarn is produced which has characteristics similar to a staple spun yarn. The unusual continuous filament yarn produced is made by a texturing process which involves the crimping of a continuous synthetic yarn followed by overfeeding to an air bulking means and then to heat setting means. The preferred method utilizes false twist texturing of synthetic filaments such as polyester, nylon, cellulose acetate or cellulose triacetate and mixtures thereof with an air bulking jet interposed to act on the false twist textured yarn while it has a high residual torque and subsequently decaying said torque.