Abstract: .epsilon.-Caprolactam is continuously recovered from carpet made from nylon 6 face fibers and a backing. The carpet is fed to a separator to prepare scrap containing nylon 6 and auxiliary materials. The scrap from the separator is fed to a depolymerizing reactor to produce an .epsilon.-caprolactam containing distillate and more auxiliary materials. The .epsilon.-caprolactam in the distillate is separated from other volatiles and purified. The auxiliary materials are also recovered or re-used.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the tension on yarn withdrawn from a mass of compacted yarn within a confined space has a yarn guide element with a tubular wall portion defining a confined space for guiding and for accumulating a compacted mass of yarn, an inlet opening for entry of the compacted yarn mass into one end of the confined space and an outlet opening for allowing withdrawal of the yarn as a yarn bundle from the confined space. The outlet opening is an elongated slot that is provided in the wall portion of the yarn guide element and that applies tension to the yarn bundle withdrawn from the confined space. The slot has a preselected configuration so that the slot will vary the tension applied to the yarn bundle as the yarn mass moves from one end of the confined space to the other end.

Abstract: Multifilament synthetic polymer yarn is texturized by passing the yarn in a gas stream to a diffuser zone to cause the gas to expand and the yarn filaments to splay open. The yarn filaments are then separated from the expanding gas stream towards a continuous smooth side wall surface defining one end of a bulking chamber. At this end of the chamber the filaments are impacted with each other and the smooth wall surface to form a compact yarn mass. This yarn mass is pushed into and through a slotted portion of the bulking chamber. Simultaneously the gas passes through the yarn mass initially formed in the chamber and then discharges laterally from this mass as it is pushed into the slotted portion.

Abstract: Multifilament synthetic polymer yarn is texturized by passing the yarn in a gas stream to a diffuser zone to cause the gas to expand and the yarn filaments to splay open. The yarn filaments are then separated from the expanding gas stream towards a continuous smooth side wall surface defining one end of a bulking chamber. At this end of the chamber the filaments are impacted with each other and the smooth wall surface to form a compact yarn mass. This yarn mass is pushed into and through a slotted portion of the bulking chamber. Simultaneously the gas passes through the yarn mass initially formed in the chamber and then discharges laterally from this mass as it is pushed into the slotted portion.

Abstract: A method for texturizing synthetic thermoplastic yarn in a bulking apparatus wherein a heated, dry gas is employed to convey a yarn into a bulking chamber to form a compact mass of yarn. The process is characterized in that an auxiliary gas is introduced into the bulking apparatus at a lower temperature than that of the heating gas to convey the yarn during start-up and/or shutdown of the apparatus to avoid over-heating and fusion of the yarn, and to thereby prevent plugging of the apparatus.

Abstract: Multifilament synthetic polymer yarn is texturized by passing the yarn in a gas stream to a diffuser zone to cause the gas to expand and the yarn filaments to splay open. The yarn filaments are then separated from the expanding gas stream towards a continuous smooth side wall surface defining one end of a bulking chamber. At this end of the chamber the filaments are impacted with each other and the smooth wall surface to form a compact yarn mass. This yarn mass is pushed into and through a slotted portion of the bulking chamber. Simultaneously the gas passes through the yarn mass initially formed in the chamber and then discharges laterally from this mass as it is pushed into the slotted portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the inventory of a mass of compacted yarn within a confined space which comprises a yarn mass guide means including a cylindrical wall portion defining a yarn mass accumulation chamber, an inlet opening for delivery of the yarn mass into one end of the accumulation chamber, and an outlet opening for withdrawal of the yarn in the form of a yarn bundle from the accumulation chamber. The outlet opening is located in the cylindrical wall portion whereby the yarn bundle is withdrawn from an end of said yarn mass within said chamber towards a side thereof.