Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for converting tow into sliver including cutter rolls for cutting fiber to length, a collector pan for passing the cut fiber from the cutting rolls to a drafting section and a pin roll in the drafting section for combing and debonding the fiber. The collector pan is shaped to dispose the opposite marginal edges of the cut fiber web in registration with the main body of the web to ensure proper presentation of the cut tow fibers to the drafting section. The pin roll in the drafting section includes a plurality of projections having leading and trailing edges terminating in a tip. Each leading edge is angled to enter the tow web prior to entry of the associated tip. The arrangement of the converter affords high weight delivery of combed and debonded fiber with minimal defects.

Abstract: Vacuum spun yarn is produced that has strength property approaching that of ring spun yarn, and significantly greater than air jet spun yarn, and may be produced at speeds greatly in excess of production speeds for ring spun yarn. An elongated hollow shaft has a through-extending passageway from a first end to a second end thereof, with a portion of the shaft adjacent the first end being perforated (e.g. four equally spaced perforations). The perforations shaft in the direction of the second end from the through-extending passageway, and a generally spherical vacuum reservoir is formed in the shaft in communication with the passageway and perforations. The portion of the passageway between the shaft first end and the vacuum reservoir is significantly larger in cross-sectional dimension than the portion of the passageway from the vacuum reservoir to the second end of the shaft.

Abstract: Yarn having properties approaching that of ring spun yarn is produced by vacuum spinning, including directly from sliver. The elongated hollow shaft of the vacuum spinning apparatus has a vacuum reservoir, or interior chamber, that is generally in the shape of a right circular cone, and the interior passageway of the shaft from the first end thereof to the interior chamber can have the form of a right circular cone frustum. The perforations operatively connected to the interior chamber have a generally wedge-shape. The perforations and the passageway sections between the first end of the shaft and the perforations are dimensioned so that they allow sufficient air flow to achieve optimum fiber wrapping action.

Abstract: The tension of a web or strand being unwound from or wound into a ball or roll is controlled in an advantageous manner. The apparatus is particularly related to a creel for feeding out slivers of wool from a plurality of balls of sliver. The apparatus comprises first and second parallel rotatable shafts, the first driven at a relatively fast speed and the second at a relatively slow speed, and first and second rollers coaxially disposed on the shafts and rotatably mounted with them, the roller for receiving a strand wound thereon. The rollers are coupled so that they rotate at substantially the same speed. A clutch, responsive to a control signal, is provided for selectively coupling a first roller to the first shaft to rotate the rollers at a fast speed, or to couple the second roller to the second shaft to rotate the rollers at a slow speed. A switch, responsive to tension in the strand, controls generation of the control signal to the clutch.